PLEASE VOTE!! Summary of Michael's "Let's Put On Our Thinking Caps" thread - A Plan
Edit:
Hello everybody. I am the author of this post for this thread and I have good news.
Click on the link below and you will see that RP HQ staff are already planning to do an event in NH in response to the Fox News cowardly exclusion of RP. It is interesting to note that what they came up with is similar to what I had come up with in this thread. I love it!
SO THERE IS NO REASON TO CONTINUE THIS THREAD. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED.
Here's the link to the Boston Globe article:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/po...
Go Ron Go - all the way to the White House!!!! With resourceful supporters like us he can't lose!!!!!!!!!
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OK, manystroms (Michael’s) thread, “Let’s put on our thinking caps...” process is working. One idea is starting to get more and more agreement. But before I summarize that let me give you a list of criteria that a really good solution would have to meet.
1. It would unite RP supporters and provide a channel for our energy and frustration by giving us all something we can do together about the cowardly foul play by Fox News.
2. It would not be something that could cause blowback in the form of bad press from the Old Media. In fact it would turn a bad press event into a good press event for Ron Paul and his supporters.
3. It would involve doing something similar to what we have already done that we have proven to ourselves and to the Old Media we can succeed at.
4. It would give undecided voters and leaners a chance to learn more about RP and so convert a significant number of them.
The idea that is starting to get the most agreement is to hold an RP rally in the same city as the Republican round-table forum. This breaks down into two variations on the way to conduct the rally and two dates for when the rally should be held and then there are a few misc. good ideas from various posts and comments including seeing if we can get CNN to televise it and inviting the press.
Regarding how the rally should be conducted some suggested that RP answer the same questions asked of the candidates during the round-table forum and others favor a regular rally with a speech. One person thought the event should be a townhall meeting style event and have RP answer questions from the audience after a short speech.
I like the idea of a townhall meeting since it would be a chance to convert some undecideds and RP leaners and so it would have more than just PR value and it also would more closely resemble the Rep. forum. Of course, it would depend upon whether the NH supporters could turn out a big enough audience of non-RP supporters to make it worthwhile (or not embarrassing). We would need to talk to the NH State Coordinator and others like Jane Aitkin to see which they prefer.
As for the rest of the details I feel it would be more effective to have the event the day before the Republican forum since this allows RP to make his speech a response, in part, to being excluded by undemocratic Fox News and whatever else he wants to say to turn it to our advantage (which he is a master at, right). Doing it before the Rep. forum would help to defuse the negative effect of RP not being in it.
The reason I don’t think we should have RP answering the same questions as the candidates is because the questions they are going to be given will be designed to fit the pro-war neocon platforms of the candidates and would not allow RP to talk about the issues in his own platform whereas giving a short speech would.
Naturally this event will cost some money: to advertise and promote it, rent a big place, maybe even bus people there, etc. And that’s where we come in. This will be our next big donation drive. Not for the purpose of beating our record (we’ve already won that game) but for a new and different purpose.
We get a website set up with a URL something like, “UndemocraticFoxNewsFund.com” and we set the target amount to raise and then we do a press release along the lines of, “Ron Paul’s supporters refuse to let Fox News’ undemocratic exclusion of their candidate from the upcoming Republican forum dampen their spirits and dedication and have planned for and are raising the money for their own New Hampshire townhall meeting one day prior to the debate.” (Sorry for the long sentence. No time to fix it.) Anyway there’s lots of ways this could be written to turn it into good press for us and bad press for the neocons.
There it is. The sooner we come to agreement on a plan and get it announced to the MSM the less time they have to spin this to their advantage and the more time we have to turn it to our advantage.
LET'S PUT THIS TO A VOTE!
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Subject: My vote
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Go Ron Go!!!!
Rally
The staff is already planning a rally so I feel it's best to leave it up to them, don't you?
They know what to do, they did it in Iowa.
Then it will just be up to us to be there, show our enthusiasm, and be well-behaved in the process.
It doesn't matter what Ron talks about....let them decide...maybe it could be about how the polling is bogus because it can be manipulated to leave people out and then those numbers used to further exclude people.
Hi, Jane,
I agree that we need centalized organization; that's why we've given so much for that. However, I believe that many of the ideas that have been generated here should be input to the central planning HQ group. For example, I like the idea of having our own 'roundtable' to talk about the central issues of Prosperity, Peace, Freedom in detail sufficient for others to understand them.
The central HQ should leverage the richness and genius of its grassroots support, and not supplant it. Thus, perhaps we need to continue generating ideas? Just my thought for the ...
re[love]ution,
Dennis
"The best way to insure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in nursery." - Disraeli
Don't Vote For Ron Paul for anything less than
Re[love]ution & Renaissance
Dennis
Hello Jane
Are you making this comment to the author of this thread (which is me) or is this in reply to some other comment? The reason I ask is because I already left a comment a few below you that said that RP HQ is already planning a rally and that there is no need to continue this thread. Did you read my comment?
As I said in my email to you earlier today thanks for all your hard work.
fight4liberty
No Town Hall
It would just be too wild. I am in New York and ready to drive out there on the sixth. have the bodies come out to New Hampshire.
A rally. Loud cheers for Dr, Paul.
Does he even need to speak? If so, then a short speech and ten thousand hip, hip, hoorays!
At the same time as the FOX thing.
The biggest problem would be crowd control, and local backlash at the Ron Paul "rock concert."
We would be on our best behavior. Meet-up groups keeping track of their own.
Thresh
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Hello everybody. I am the author of the original post for this thread and I have good news. Click on the link below which gives an article by the Boston Globe quoting RP as saying HQ is beginning to "...plan a rally that will take place at the same time the 90-minute debate will air on television. It will be taped at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown."
This is fantastic! They are already planning to do an event at the above college which, although it's a rally, is fairly similar to what I came up with as a result of summarizing Michael's original thread and doing this vote/poll on this thead!
Hey, what can I say. "Great minds run in the same channels" or whatever that old saying is.
Here's the link to the Boston Globe article:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007...
SO FOLKS THERE IS NO REASON TO CONTINUE THIS THREAD. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED.
Go Ron Go - all the way to the White House!!!!
fight4liberty
Please Vote
Leaning towards "no." Town meeting only works to the extent that other news media covers it. Any way to make it so newsworthy that they can't afford NOT to be there?
Lots of great ideas!!! This is fantastic. My thoughts...
..are this:
• How hard would it be for one to "guess" what the questions at the FAUX debate will be? I believe the DP users could guess them fairly close.
• What if we had an event the day before the FAUX debate. The event would be sponsored by US. We would invite C-SPAN and/or other informative media to the event. Dr. Paul could invite his fellow patriots who happen to be economists, retired military, etc., and they would field questions that have meaning (remember diamonds or pearls?). Have facts on hand and show the people the facts. Tell the truth. It's that simple, really. Is it hard to imagine defeating the FAUX network? Not when truth is on our side. Folks, you can't make this stuff up to be any more dire. Hollywood must be in awe of the federal government. It's the biggest thriller goin', and it's live. At the event, do we yell fire in the theatre? I'll leave that to Ron Paul. So, to sum this point up, we can show that FAUX is predictable and un-American in their endeavors. Beating the drums of war for these few, corrupt individuals, currently occupying the white house. Who are literally, in my opinion, too incompetent to understand something as simple as the concept of freedom.
• I think the town hall meeting is great. I believe we should have other tools such as overhead projectors that can show grade school info during the discussion. I don't believe this should be boringly long, but if the people stay then that's great. Have other people there who are experts in their fields on hand to either be involved in fielding questions or to emphasize what RP has to say.....or both.
These are my main thoughts thus far. Great comments in this thread!
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism."
-George Washington
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism."
-George Washington
This should be about Ron Paul, not Fox News
I agree with a couple of the other posters here. Whatever is done, it should be done to spread the word about Ron Paul, not to bash Fox News and call them names. Calling everyone names just makes us look bad.
Like it or not, they are a a corporation, not a government entity, and they have a right to invite or deny anyone they see fit. We're supposed to be the guys advocating property rights, remember? It's their money, their property, their employees, they can do as they wish and the only recourse we have is to vote with our pocket books.
This nonsense about them being "undemocratic" is, well... nonsense. You can say you don't agree with their perspective on what and who is newsworthy, but please don't make it sound like they are obligated to have him on.
This is about the free market and the market for good ideas. I agree with the idea of having a competing event. I think Ron Paul SHOULD be asked the same questions they are asking the other candidates, and it should happen at the exact SAME time as the debate. This is the only way you are going to get any media coverage - have it streamed out at the same time.
In fact, I would advocate making the set and audience look as much like the other debate as possible. I think the goal should be to end up with a YouTube of the debate with RP edited in. Then you could say "this is what he would have said IF he had been invited". It could be called "The Fox News Debate That Could Have Been - Starring Ron Paul".
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I would ask everyone to keep the name calling and bashing to a minimum. You may despise Fox News, but they are perfectly within their rights. Vote with your pocketbook and try to keep the angry e-mails to a minium so they can't hold one of them up as proof of how "crazy" and "rabid" we all are.
And no, I do not particularly like Fox nor am I affiliated with them in anyway.
We have pocketbooks, too
First of all, they are not completely private. They employ a publicly-granted monopoly on certain broadcast rights. That makes them a public trust and that is why equal-time laws exist.
Second, we can easily vote with our pocketbooks here without making a big stink and combined with any other actions. We can contact their advertisers. Their advertisers need to know that the real product FOX is selling (viewer eyeballs) is decreasing in value because of their actions. If we do not, we are not participating in the market. Unless you have a Nielsen box, nobody knows whether you actually watch FOX or not.
(List stolen from another thread)
That being said, the general event idea is good.
evought
Faith does not absolve us from trying to understand our world and make moral distinctions with the eyes and brain given us. Religion is as much responsibility as direction: Duty not Distinction.
Faith does not absolve us from trying to understand our world and make moral distinctions with the eyes and brain given us. Religion is as much responsibility as direction: Duty not Distinction.
Infomercial / Town Hall meeting
Putting together an infomercial, to be aired before, during, and after the Fox Forum sound good. Why not call it "Why Fox News is Afraid of Ron Paul".
This is great opportunity to not only get the message out , but to right all the wrongs Fox has done in the past. Call them on all their misrepresentations.
How about an infomercial video contest among us? I am sure the campaign is jammed up, let make it happen ourselves. We have plenty of tech savvy people that know how to edit video.
Lets hear some feedback and ideas people.
Yes!!!
Isn't this what we gave our money for?
Lets do this and do it big time!
Yes
To a civil gathering (Town Hall) that is conducted the day before their forum/debate.
This will bring us "Together" which is exactly the opposite of the “Division” that FOX is attempting to create! We must work together in a Civil manner to share Dr. Paul’s vision of Peace, Prosperity and Liberty to the masses. Falling into the News Corp trap that is trying to divide us this morning is the Worst thing that could happen to the Revolution!
Dr. Paul has said so many times… “The message of liberty unites”. Let us not forget the goal, which is to spread this message of hope to the masses and get Dr. Paul elected as our next President. Dividing our efforts by fighting FOX will only facilitate the opposite!
My Vote
IF this is the plan:(copied from above) 'I like the idea of a townhall meeting... it would have more than just PR value and it also would more closely resemble the Rep. forum. Of course, it would depend upon whether the NH supporters could turn out a big enough audience of non-RP supporters to make it worthwhile (or not embarrassing). We would need to talk to the NH State Coordinator and others like Jane Aitkin to see which they prefer."
"As for the rest of the details I feel it would be more effective to have the event the day before the Republican forum since this allows RP to make his speech a response, in part, to being excluded by undemocratic Fox News and whatever else he wants to say to turn it to our advantage (which he is a master at, right). Doing it before the Rep. forum would help to defuse the negative effect of RP not being in it."
Then, my vote is YES.
AND, I think that every attempt should be made to include local news reporters, national and international news. Streaming video is good, while "traditional" news reporting will lend a greater celebratory aire to the "Ron Paul Round Table Celebration." AND we can announce our New Year's Eve Money Bomb results. We must promote hard our New Year's Eve Money Bomb, in my opinion. The New Year's Eve fund raising takes on greater import now!
I will be watching for announcements of plans...
Will this come from Michael Nystrom?
Whatever is agreed upon, please place it as a sticky so we can find it easily.
Gwen Kraft
Gwen Kraft
"Personal Liberty & Personal Responsibility" -- Dr. Ron Paul
"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom." -- Bob Dylan
I am definitely for the
I am definitely for the rally.
I believe it should be the same day.
I think it should be a speech followed by questions like the townhall setting.
I would hope A LOT of people could make it. Over 1,000 minimum.
I do not believe the grassroots would have to raise funds for this as far as the venue, etc. In this Boston article it says:
"Paul's staff said they are beginning to plan a rally that will take place at the same time the 90-minute debate will air on television. It will be taped at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007...
Some of the other things in the article aren't exactly factual though, as the writer consistently called the forum a debate.
I was considering going to a rally in NH, but it was just too far of a drive from TN. Instead, I am going to buy tickets for the debate in Myrtle Beach, SC on Jan. 10th and attend.
Yes, I saw that Boston Globe article.
RP HQ staff have already put a plan in motion that is very similar to what I came up with for this thread!
"Great minds work in the same channels" or whatever that old saying is.
NO NEED FOR THIS THREAD TO CONTINUE. THANKS EVERYBODY THAT CONTRIBUTED.
fight4liberty
Edited: forgot to post link
Edited: forgot to post link to source in this post.
Rally
Dr. Paul is going to hold a rally concerning the exclusion. Please check forums.
"He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it." Confucius
Yes
Televised, same day (or day before), different location. Invite Kucinich over for that debate he's been wanting. That would gain a lot more attention than just a Ron Paul Rally.
"Every generation needs a new revolution" ~Jefferson
Join ours - http://www.ronpaul2008.com
"Every generation needs a new revolution" ~Jefferson
Join ours - http://www.ronpaul2012.com
yes, and.....
Simultaneous webcasts, inviting all press that have supported Paul and all that has criticized. We can give OM a chance to participate, but I think we should focus on the NM...
If we could rally all RP supporters to simulcast, advertise on the web, hold parties with their local meetups and include the event when canvassing, that is how we could bring the mountain to Mohamed (the event to the people).
Just my delusions of grandeur.
Lot's of quotes come to mind...
right on
yes
My Vote
Yes.
Make sure C-span is there!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHOR!!
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/48994
Yes, Town Hall
I also think the commercial would be the BOMB! But here's the twist (this is legal). Run the commercial During the debate!!! As a matter of fact, we could buy like half the commercial time.
Saving the world one post at a time!
Saving the world one post at a time!
yes
it should be an open dialogue forum.
uncensored questions from the audience and a random selection from online submissions.
Moderated for time, but not for content.
Simulcast perhaps?
I think the idea for this "alternate" forum is a good idea.....
Wouldn't it be great to have our own counter forum at the same time even on another channel... have Ron Paul answer the same questions that the other "candidates" are being asked in REAL time and have whatever "media" publicity available to cover it? Someone could then send right to YouTube.
Just a thought....
"Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom." Patrick Henry
No to ANY rally in proximity to the round-table discussion.
No to packing the round-table discussion with audience members who shout or moon it or make any type of protest.
What's the goal. To make yourself feel better? To "stick it to the man?" To "stick it to Fox"? To show "that I am somebody"? To show that "I'm not gonna take it anymore?"
Or.... To help get Dr. Ron Paul elected. To help Dr. Paul get more votes in NH and in other primaries.
That's the only question. Then ask yourself the next question. Would massive protest, rally, disruption tend to help Dr. Ron Paul get more votes (AMONG REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS) , or would there be risks (planted demonstrators, people being annoyed with audience protesters (like the 911 truthers trying to disrupt Bill Maher) that would tend to turn off potential Ron Paul voters.
So there's your answer. If you have the time to be in NH several days before the primary, your efforts would be much better served canvassing, talking to people, making arrangements to help drive people to polling places, and so forth.
Agreed.
"If you have the time to be in NH several days before the primary, your efforts would be much better served canvassing, talking to people, making arrangements to help drive people to polling places, and so forth."
Turn Fox's negativity into Ron Paul "positivity".
The MSM and establishment attacks, exclusions, and hits are just beginning. They know Ron Paul is a real threat now.
TELL 5 PEOPLE TODAY ABOUT RON PAUL.
No Provocateurs, Please
Use the event as a talking point while going door to door.
"They are so afraid of the Constitutional and Freedom message that they even excluded Ron Paul from their program, even though he is a front runner. Here's a brochure explaining what they are afraid of. They want to hold their power over you, and keep taking money out of your paycheck. Maybe even re-institute the daft."
wow. a voice of reason.
ron paul 2008
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if you build it he will come..........Ron Paul 2012.
digg http://digg.com/autos/First_Genuine_Chevy_Volt_to_be_Complet...
Yes
We should set up an advertising corporation or business similar to the Blimp and begin to schill for Ron Paul in whatever way we agree upon in a direct democracy type approach.
FreedomAdvertisers.com or something
The Revolution Continues at http://nationbuilder.org
I vote yes.
I vote yes.