I neglected to mention yesterday that Dr. Ron Paul, Republican congressman from Texas, has officially thrown his hat in the presidential ring. Paul is a hardcore libertarian Republican who consistently votes against anything he believes isn’t explicit authorized by the Constitution, earning him the nickname “Dr. No.” (Paul ran as the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee in 1988.)

In fact, one of the more amusing stories I’ve heard about Paul is how he endeared himself to some animal rights activists who wanted him to sponsor a bill cutting off foreign aid to a country (can’t remember which) where dogs are used as food. Paul cheerfully agreed to sponsor the bill on the grounds that he’s opposed to all foreign aid whatsoever!

Anyway, if you’re a non-interventionist libertarian (as opposed to those libertarians who mysteriously believe that limited government ends at the water’s edge), then Paul is your man. In fact, see here for a vote-by-vote comparison between Paul and Chuck Hagel on issues of war and peace and civil liberties (via).

Of course, he stands about as much chance of getting the nomination as his left-wing counterpart, Dennis Kucinich, stands of getting the Democratic nomination. And it’s almost as likely that he will be roundly ignored by the press. But what does it say about how far the GOP has strayed from its alleged limited government philosophy that someone like Paul is such an outlier?