Jesse Benton of the Ron Paul campaign says that I “twisted” the meaning of the pardon power. I don’t know where Mr. Benton got the idea that the presidential pardon power is intended to prevent “cruel and unusual punishment.” It’s not in the Constitution that his candidate so often professes to revere. Article II, section 2 states simply that the president shall have power “to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

He urges that when he mentioned the non-interventionist philosophies of Eisenhower and Nixon he was speaking only of campaign rhetoric, not conduct in office. This is weak. Eisenhower was the internationalist candidate, in contrast to the Robert Taft wing of the Republican party who favored a non-interventionist policy. Nixon competed with Kennedy in 1960 over who was the stronger cold warrior. He did promise peace with honor in 1968, but never said he would bring the troops home.

I’m all for reforming the tax system, but at least in the debates, Paul has not said what would replace the IRS. A sales tax? A VAT? He seems to like to leave the impression that he’d eliminate taxes altogether.

I have always favored smaller government – far smaller. But I don’t think you have to be a fanatic about it and in fact, overly ambitious or incautious approaches are doomed to failure in American politics.

I don’t think that citing the appearances of John Gibson and Anthony Napolitano on the Alex Jones program disposes of the problem. Your candidate (while not a kook himself) lacks a kookiness meter for those with whom he associates.

Finally, I have to tell you that I’ve received hundreds of emails regarding that column from Paul enthusiasts and you would be disturbed (I hope) to read them. In the first place, many are vile and abusive. Another huge percentage of the emails were cut and pasted and w were highly repetitive. Third, a significant number are disgustingly anti-Semitic. A mere handful were rational and clearly argued. You say that I’m “linking” Dr. Paul to “less than savory individuals” but I’m afraid he’s done that all by himself and if he doesn’t show some interest in shaking off those supporters, he is no better than they.