Ron Paul may not follow conventional party politics by any means, but that's exactly why I think he is the best candidate in the 2012 presidential race. Needless to say, eight years under pure Republican politics from Bush did us no good, and electing a Democrat didn't change much despite the campaign slogans.

Either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party has controlled Congress since 1856 and the presidency since 1852. To combat this, the online organization Americans Elect was formed, dedicated to wresting control of the presidency from polar extremes and handing it back to the political center.

A political column

Sean: It's comical that the loudest supporters of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act are the same people who demand that the federal government get out of their hair. If there is anything that proves mainstream Republicans are not for small government, it's this.

Just when you thought the GOP couldn't get any more desperate in picking their nominee for the 2012 presidential election, think again. About two weeks ago, following the GOP presidential debate on foreign policy, lo and behold a new savior appeared, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

A political column

Ethan: Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, the nation has heard too much heated rhetoric on the issue of genuine health care reform and not enough facts. The first fact that should be considered in any health care reform plan is the spiraling rise in treatment costs.