Ron Paul – 2008
Finally, we see a Republican candidate acting like an actual conservative – encouraging small government (and shutting down the interventionist policies in Iraq etc) and individual freedoms (and not having the government spy on their own people). It seems like for a number of years in the US (and of course spilling into Canada) conservative = religious right and war loving, but that is wrong. I see Paul as getting back to the roots of conservatism (though he is religious). It will be interesting to see how the 72-year-old influences this election and right-wing politics around the world. Maybe at least we can stop hearing conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper saying "and God Bless Canada!"
Technically, Paul is a libertarian! But I agree entirely – he stands for a very different type of Republicanism than has been practiced of late. Small government, US fingers out of world quarrels, individual rights meaning something – we all need this badly.
Yes, he may be a libertarian ideologically, but he is running for the republican nomination. Some of his ideas are questionable such as shutting down the federal reserve and going back to the gold standard – but it is still refreshing to talk about these issues when everyone else seems to be saying the same thing.