Huffpo's front page right now has a gigantic picture of Steele with a link that says "War Within the GOP". Link goes to this:

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) the beloved libertarian, former presidential candidate and longtime skeptic of foreign military entanglements, put out a statement on Sunday congratulating Steele for having the courage to, as he put it, tell the truth on the Afghan war:

I would like to congratulate Michael Steele for his leadership on one of the most important issues of today. He is absolutely right: Afghanistan is now Obama's war. During the 2008 campaign, Obama was out in front in insisting that more troops be sent to Afghanistan. Obama called for expanding the war even as he pretended to be a peace candidate.

Michael Steele should not resign. Smart policies make smart politics. He is guiding the party in the right direction and we are on the verge of victory this fall. Chairman Steele should not back off. He is giving the country, especially young people, hope as he speaks truth about this war.

I have to ask myself, what is the agenda of the harsh critics demanding this resignation? Why do they support Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama's war?

The American people are sick and tired spending hundreds of billions of dollars a year, draining our economy and straining our military. Michael Steele has it right and Republicans should stick by him.

Paul's statement, of course, doesn't take into consideration that Steele and the RNC have put out at least two separate statements clarifying his remark -- essentially walking it back. If he's congratulating Steele for speaking truth to power, he's roughly two days late.

Now granted, regardless of who you are if you're not a paultard and you're not the half of the teaparty that runs little l, you probably recognize that Paul is on the outer edge of the mainstream GOP at best---fringe at worst. Still though, you have to figure:

1. The math has been done already. There are 'quite a few' people who are prone to supporting Paul---vehemently.

2. If Paul gets by with this one, you wonder what other GOP types might turn.