When Ron Paul ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2007-2008, part of the unexpected support he received across the country came from his unorthodox (in the GOP at least) views on foreign policy, where he alluded to how America's interventions in foreign countries helped foment Islamic terrorism.
The 75-year-old Texas Congressman officially entered the 2012 race on Friday, and he's already shaking up the discussion. Though still considered to have no shot at actually capturing the nomination, Paul's Libertarian tendencies can actually provoke some serious discussions, such as when he alluded to supporting Americans taking heroin if they wanted to, during the first GOP debate earlier this month in South Carolina.
Although taken for laughs, Paul is focusing on something that needs much more discussion in this country; the losing "war on drugs" that's going on its fourth decade now.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2011.