Although the contest for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination has not gotten as much media attention as the Democratic one, it’s just become a bit more interesting. Why?

It’s not every day that a former third party candidate attempts to get the nod from one of the two national parties.

Ron Paul, the 1988 Libertarian Presidential candidate and nine-term Republican Congressman from Texas, has just formed an exploratory committee for a possible Presidential run.

I think that he should be the next President of the United States, and you should as well.

Firstly, he is one of the few members of Congress who consider the constitutionality of a law before they vote on it. He has earned the nickname “Dr. No” because he has voted against almost every spending bill or tax increase and refuses to bring pork back to his district.

According to John Berthoud, president of the National Taxpayers Union, “Ron Paul has always proven himself to be a leader in the fight for taxpayer rights and fiscal responsibility.” He added, “No one can match his record on behalf of taxpayers.”

A Paul administration would put curbs on America’s out-of-control government spending. Our fiscal irresponsibility has actually become a national security threat – our nine-trillion-dollar national debt is driving down the value of our currency.

Furthermore, much of this debt is held by the People’s Republic of China, whose leadership would like to take us down a peg or two internationally.

Paul has voted against the subsidies and other forms of corporate welfare that many politically-connected large businesses use to help undercut small business and against the various petty government impositions that cost businesses millions.

As President, Paul would put a stop to the erosion of Americans’ civil liberties that began under the Clinton administration and accelerated under Bush.

Paul voted against the Patriot Act when it was first proposed in 2001 and when it was renewed in 2005.

Ron Paul also supports a non-interventionist foreign policy. He opposed Clinton’s military adventures in Bosnia and Kosovo, Bush’s invasion of Iraq and recently has been active in opposing a possible American pre-emptive strike on Iran.

Finally, Ron Paul supports securing our nation’s borders. Millions of illegal immigrants cross over daily, straining America’s social services and leaving mountains of garbage that are a threat to wildlife.

Parts of our southern border resemble a war zone, with armed drug smugglers and even renegade Mexican army units crossing over and getting into violent confrontations with citizens.

Paul voted in favor of recent measures meant to cut down on human-smuggling rings and create a double-layered fence along the Mexican border.

Paul will push for these measures to be implemented, unlike Bush, who seeks to use “signing statements” to avoid actually enforcing the law.

- Matthew Quinn is a senior from Marietta majoring in journalism