Tom Pauken, yet another big-government conservative Republican

According to the Austin American-Statesman, conservative Republican Tom Pauken plans to run for governor against Rick Perry next year. We'll probably hear him say he wants to fight for less government, but don't believe it for a minute.

The Statesman says, "Pauken is an old-school conservative, the type for whom Goldwater and Reagan are good." If he likes Ronald Reagan, then he likes big government.

Apparently Pauken helped "administer first lady Nancy Reagan’s signature 'Just Say No to Drugs' campaign." Kids should just say no to drugs, but grown-ups should just say no to the War on Drugs.

When it comes to education, Pauken doesn't want to get government out of it. He wants more "attention to vocational training."

The Statesman says, "He worries that the Republican Party has become unmoored from its conservative roots." No, Tom, the Republican Party is plenty conservative. The problem is, conservatives love big government.

People who want less government don't need more conservatives, Republicans, or Tom Paukens. If we had one Libertarian in office for every ten conservative Republicans, we'd be a lot more free.