Due - appreciate and RESPECT your revisit to the issue - and re-evaluation.
When time and 'temperament' allow - I will do the same.
My really big issue was the speech before the House in which he blamed US foreign policy for the 911 attacks.
That one is a huge - and almost certainly insurmountable for me.
Whether that is exactly what he meant to say - it IS how it was perceived - and OVERALL voter perception is very important. Not 'perceptions' shaped by media - but perceptions shaped by the man himself.
Of course, the MEDIA (really, the PTB/powers-that-be, meaning MONEY INTERESTS aka. wallstreet, insurance, and the REALLY big money in the world) are going to do everything they can to paint an UGLY picture of Ron Paul.
That can be overcome.
When the man 'paints' himself, intentionally or not, in ugly colours - that is a candidate killer.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good ...