I know this sounds funny, but I am literally packing my bags right now for China. It is not what you think. My wife, who is a neuroscientist, is presenting a paper at the Human Brain Mapping conference in Beijing. I'm just going along for the ride ;)

I was hoping to be able to slip out the back door and take a little break from the DP for the next 10 days or so, and let the moderators run the show.

But in light of the recent news - Ron Paul's email, and now Rand endorsing Romney - I realize it is incredibly unfair to the moderators, who do such wonderful work with such a thankless task. So expect a little chaos on the site over the next couple of days. The front page might not get updated as much. A lively and spirited debate is likely to ensue. But a little chaos is good, every once in a while.

But this brings up a point I've been thinking quite a bit about and would like your feedback on: The future of the Daily Paul. The Liberty movement is big and sprawling, and the only thing holding this faction together is Ron Paul. And now we are seeing it start to blow apart. People are canceling their subscriptions in droves. Traffic on the site peaked back in January. Ron Paul is retiring from Congress next year.

Does it make sense to go on with a site called the Daily Paul? What began as a search for truth has led us here. I'm not much interested in leading the masses into the Republican party. The Campaign for Liberty and YAL are professional political organizations that will no doubt carry on in that role. I understand that is the path for some, and I respect that. It is not the path for me, and I hope those who disagree will be gracious enough to respect that as well. This site will not become the Daily Rand.

But what will become of this awesome community? Is this the end? What direction should the community take from here?

All of your thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

I likely won't be back online for at least 24 - 36 hours. The flight to Beijing alone is 12 hours! I'll take some pictures and share them with you, somewhere, online. (Maybe here.)

Hold down the fort, be kind, patient and understanding with the moderators. It is really unfair to them for me to leave right in the middle of this. (Sorry guys!)

And if you can afford it, please make a donation to the site which will go to the unsung heroes behind the scenes here who make this site possible and keep this community together. We're good through the convention, thanks to the last moneybomb. Beyond that, we'll have to see. It would be nice to keep the site going through December 21, 2012, when we all check out anyway. ;-)

Thank you everyone for a wonderful ride. Remember that tolerance is the substrate of liberty, and freedom begins with you, It begins in your mind. (I've learned a few things from my neuroscientist wife.) If you are consumed with hatred, fear, anger or spite, you are not close to being free.

And while it sounds like a cliche, they're only cliches because they are true: Love is the answer. Find love in your heart and you will lack for nothing. It is the most powerful force in the Universe.

Onward, friends, with the LOVEOLUTION!

In Love,
Michael