Worried about the blimp funding

I think it's important because it's so different and can generate interest in rural areas without good internet access. If you're in a small town and you see a blimp go by with a Presidential candidate's name on it, you're going to find it interesting because you've never seen one before. It will definitely get the barber shop conversations going. If, on top of that, it turns out that a lot of the people in that town haven't heard of Ron Paul, they might ask themselves why, since they read the paper and watch the nightly news. It might make them question whether they should trust that paper or news broadcast anymore since they're clearly not reporting the whole story. It might also cause them to get on the internet if they have it or go to the library and get on the internet and start searching political news. I swear a lot of people are just totally unplugged from the political process or they don't think it's important until the general election. The majority of people I talk to are just absolutely clueless about the election and aren't even ashamed of it. They just find it irrelevant, distant, and business as usual. Hard to believe when the government is taking 40% of their paycheck, but they've become used to the idea of high taxes and corrupt politicians and they feel powerless to change it. I think the blimp is an excellent reminder of how we CAN make a difference.

John Peterson
www.ronpaulyellowpages.com

By the way, there's another great project out there as well:

http://www.dailypaul.com/node/18754

a billboard in South Carolina.

With regard to the blimp, I think they're just getting it going. The mistake I think was trying to go north against the weather. In Carolina/Florida they will do fine. I notice they got a story in a major newspaper and in a TV station in the past 2 days, and now they're over Disney.

I don't know to what extent they're contacting all of the local newspapers in every little town they fly over. I think this is where the main attraction lies. But I think they still have a way to go in terms of PR, and this I see as the blimp's biggest liability. Also, after a certain period of time, it will get to be "been there, done that" sort of thing.

But I definitely think it's too early to judge now, and to keep it flying, esp. in preparation for the Florida and S. Carolina primaries, until Jan 18th, is a good investment.

After that - well, there are a lot of "mouths to feed".

I agree that canvassing and calling can't be beat and should be top priority.

On the other hand, we are getting basically NO press other than bad press in the OM, apart from great fund raising (which also is getting to be a 'been there, done that' story) and the blimp.

I LOVE the idea of billboards. If these Carolina guys can get a billboard set up for 850, that rocks. Now, after Jan 18th, the way I see it, the blimp is nothing more than a moving billboard. It's only advantage is getting news stories. If the blimp can CONTINUE to get news stories every day, esp on the local TV shows and in the local, community newspapers, then it is worth it to keep funding it. But Liberty PA has to really work the press hard to get such stories. If they don't, then for 400,000 thou a month, we could potentially get 400 billboards!

Really, I think a billboard will be seen by as many people in a day as the blimp, if not more. It's by the highway. It's on 24/7. It's lighted. It's legible.

So after this first blimp month, the blimp folk are going to have to make a case that the blimp is worth 400 highway billboards.

But I don't see anyone coming up with a MEGABILLBOARD package. Interestingly most of these in the Chicago area are run by Clear Channel communications - the company that Romney has just purchased (if I'm not mistaken).

The blimp generated enormous press when it was launched, but now the press on it has slowed down, so I fear that the law of diminishing returns is starting to kick in. The biggest problem is that supporters don't even know if the blimp itself is translating into votes, and if so how many? I donated to get the blimp off the ground, but now any extra money I have goes to Operation Live Free or Die, 30 Days to Iowa, or other grassroots efforts where I know money is being directly converted into votes. I'm guessing I'm not alone in my reasoning and this is why I think the blimp is getting harder and harder to fund.

or does that 50k more they need only keep them going till Jan 18th??

how much will they need after that?

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."
- Plato

wish it could be more but things are tight. They have to great videos on the blimp site to watch. It is an awesome blimp and everyone who worked to make it happen should be so proud. Maybe have a gift shop with stuff to sell like coffee mugs,baseball caps. Maybe promote and rent it as the perfect spot to propose to someone or get married in the blimp. Man that would get some publicity. Any Ron Paul fans out there want to get married in the Ron Paul blimp or renew their marriage vows.

Yes, this is a great way to promote Paul--a lot of bang for the buck. Please join us in contributing (or purchasing)!

Now that they finally offered a way to buy time other than Google Checkout, I just dropped a check in the mailbox yesterday for the blimp.

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1359304352
On TV.

So 1 TV story and 1 major newspaper story in 2 days.
Plus lots of local coverage that doesn't show up on the internet.

45,000 dollars they need still.