Would the perpetual optimists please...
...stuff it already?
I am still voting for Paul, don't get me wrong, but the same people who are cheerleading now are the same people who were saying RP would come in 3rd or even 2nd/1st in Iowa. It's time to face reality, folks:
- RP did not even place 4th. McCain and Thompson (wtf? Thompson?) tied in the 3rd place slot, a good 3% each ahead of Paul. (13% to 10%)
- RP needed New Hampshire, and now McCain is going to be the man to watch in New Hampshire. RP needed to beat McCain in Iowa. A 3rd-place or lower performance in NH will result in Iowa-ish performance in the rest of the states.
- Latest polls were putting Paul at 10% and rising. The results were not surprising as the optimists are attempting to say. The results in actuality reflected the polls. The media is not impressed and will continue to bury Paul.
it is a victory
10% is actually pretty amazing considering he (Dr. Paul) has to fight every main stream media and newspaper outlet in the entire country. That is an extremely steep uphill climb. And considering it's Iowa. I did not make any predictions, I was hoping for fourth, but Fred threw me off on that one, I didn't expect Thompson to do that well, it's baffling in fact.
This is certainly not a football game, and I hate to even make the analogy, but if the opposing team scores first early in the first quarter, do we all get up and go home? And say, aww heck, they've scored, so I guess it's all over for us?
There have been many good posts and analysis here. We need to keep doing what we're doing, EDUCATING folks. It's a big country with lots of people who do cheer for their candidate like they would a football team. That's why I hated to make the analogy. The VAST majority will not take the time or effort to find out truth about the issues or the candidate they support. For the last few decades, the one eyed brainwashing machine has done an excellent job. To undo that, will be a monumental task, but I never thought I'd even see this many, not nearly this many, waking up.
So, our work is cut out for us, if Ron Paul had placed first in every county, we would have no work to do. We would already be a Constitutional Republic of free people. But we're not. It is a gage of how sick the country is compared to the original Republic the founders gave us. We need to continue the cure. So yes I'm optimistic, a year ago, I held NO hope for the continued survival or freedom of this country. 10% is a very good number indeed.
Unfortunately, I agree
Facts:
Ron Paul finished EXACTLY where the latest polls had him
Ron Paul finished BEHIND "has-been" war monger McCain
Ron Paul finished BEHIND a half-dead TV actor that was talking about QUITTING today
The only "big" candidate Ron Paul beat was Giuliani - who didn't even RUN in Iowa.
Now...I am very well studied up on the nomination/national convention/delegates/primaries system, and DO understand that this is a 50 state marathon....
BUT - after seeing the increasing fervor with megamedia, and also the entire interested public following the process, I have come to accept the idea of "momentum" gained from the early states. In my analysis, Ron Paul needed to at least beat McCain in order to convince New Hampshire that he was legitimate...and the BEST vote for independents. He needed to beat Thompson...simply because he is an absolute paper tiger, puppet of a few well to dos. He did neither. Beating Giuliani in this race was akin to punching your pillow for half and hour and then emerging from your bedroom claiming you won a boxing match.
In my mind everything regarding the campaign strategy, and who exactly defines it, is to be questioned now. We are a "longshot" "darkhorse" candidate....see Pat Buchanan's website for a "darkhorse" strategy he drew up for Ron Paul in AUGUST (http://buchanan.org/blog/?p=829). It most definitely DOES NOT involve spending assinine amounts of money on 30 second TV ads in "early states".
Lastly, this is clearly NOT simply a cheerleading competition, or we would have won already. Quit "flagging" or shouting down as "trolls" anyone who comes here with questions, concerns, criticism, etc. They just MIGHT be potential voters.
"Luctor et Emergo" - Struggle and Emerge
Wrong Side of Coin..
Is the glass half empty or half full??
Only ***3%**** from third place - 1,500 people??? and thats bad??
Consider this - only a MERE MONTH AGO Ron Paul was polled at 3% and now he is double-digits at 10% in one of the MOST CONSERVATIVE states in the nation.... did anyone really TRULY expect any better?
I am HAPPY AS HELL he hit 10% and the demographics of IOWA were totally against Ron Paul as posted elsewhere.
Ron Paul pulled in 29% of independents... And alot of Democrats that like him had to vote for THEIR candidates... it is also do or die for them and their candidates and alot of democrats support Ron Paul but I am sure felt compelled to cast their vote on the democratic side, it is a very TIGHT TOUGH RACE ON THEIR SIDE ALSO...
Ron Paul is right up there and doing well.... KEEP IN MIND HIS SUPPORT IS GROWING EACH DAY... WE JUST KEEP PLUGGIN AWAY... I never expected him to pull in greater than 3rd and he is right there bubbling under third place... its not like he was 6 or 7%... NH is so close now we can concentrate 100% ON NH....
lets go and give them HELL... folks in NH....
NH is home of tax protester Ed Brown
I think Ron Paul will do well in New Hampshire because they saw what the IRS did to the tax protester Ed "Show me the law" Brown. Let's not forget that story and brush up on this tidbit so you have something interesting to discuss when trying to engage conversations with people tired of paying a huge portion of their paychecks to the IRS.
When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going!!
C'mon fellow RP supporters, let's get busy...get those bumper stickers on, wear your RP buttons when running errands, buy more Ron Paul t-shirts, so you always have a clean one ready to wear, ask the local meetups what you can do and plan spontaneous sign waving events.(Good exercise for those flabby upper arms, I tell you!)
It wouldn't be a revolution if it were easy. This double digit, beating Guiliani thing is encouraging. Let's build on it...
R3VOLution
T
roll
Lead, Follow or get out of the way!
We have to focus on positive energy! Your post isn't helping!
"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams
"The use of 'Conspiracy Theorist' or 'Truther' as a derogatory -- as an epithet almost -- is something the propagandists have perfected over the decades, and it's a useful tool for eliminating articulate dissent."
reality check, please
I think what the eternal optimists do not realize is this: there is only small slice of the population that is curious enough to learn about RP
Most people have other things on their mind. These are the guys we need to win over. I just saw Huckabee on the night show - he was smooth as baby's bottom.
Moral of the story: we need to be acceptable for at least a significant chunk of the mainstream. Otherwise we do not stand a chance. Bunker mentality and empty optimism will not get us anywhere.
Let's face it - the results were slightly disappointing, but this was just a first battle. Remember straw poll? Iowa was one of RP worst. There is still much to win.
Let's keep educating people.
Remember Washington
Baron,
If George Washington had assessed how BANGED up the American "army" was and how much BETTER the British were on a daily basis, we would be flying a British Flag right now, (although in many ways we are).
This is GET PUMPED UP time!!
Howard
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 8:36, 32; 14:6
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 8:36, 32; 14:6
CoIntelPro mind control....
troll....
Come on man...Are you trolling? Just a question
Look, O'Reilly and company were saying Ron Paul wouldn't muster more than 5 %. what is this jerkyness you are trying to propagate here?
Howard
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 8:36, 32; 14:6
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 8:36, 32; 14:6
but 3rd, 4th, and 5th were pretty damn close
So in my mind Ron Paul did a lot better.... think about this
Did Ron Paul get even 5% of the press that Freddie and Insane McCain?
GOOHLIANI FINISHED 6 SOLID points BELOW Paul. Fox didn't even have Paul at 6% and he beat GOOHLIANI by that amount!
Ron Paul 2008
Ron Paul 2008
Excellent point.
3rd, 4th, & 5th were neck-and-neck and we did this with very little good press and lots of weird press and did it in a challenging state.
Have you ever heard of having FAITH!
I said Ron Paul would finish 1st or 2nd. Sorry if I have faith in America but we DESTROYED Giuliani and broke double digits. John McCain WON NH before, so of course he would be a problem but our message is undivided by state lines and is getting stronger every day. Don't be afraid.
Kiss My Arse....
You ain't burstin my bubble negative neal! besides RP totally owned in Jefferson County Iowa kicked everyones ass.... dont believe me? Take a look http://www.iowagop.net/
We've got a place at the table
Paul's name was removed from Drudge halfway through the night and was added back later. We've earned a place at the table. Huck will get the spotlight and fade shortly thereafter. It's not going to be easy, but we did great in a state that depends a great deal on gov't subsidies.
nope
I disagree with you. Read some of the other threads for some perspective.
Right... just lay down and assume the fetal possition...
Or you can look at the facts:
We are running in WYOMING NEXT.... then NH
Thompson may do OK in WY (4th?) he will not do well in NH (a distant 5th?)
McCain has done well in NH in the past and is moving up... no idea how he will do here in WY. But... he is not financially well heeled and the GOP base still doesn't like him
Huck will try to ride the wave, but western Wyoming has a large Mormon population so I wouldn't know where to put him...(DR Paul, Mitt and Huck?) there is not the Evangelical base in NH as in Iowa... I think the Huckmeister finishes a distant 3rd in NH... Money may be headded his way... but so will the media scrutiny. He cannot last long if the media does it's "anti-evangelical" thing... that is a big IF.
Mitt has to make a strong showing in WY (my home), NH and SC to answer the bell after the beating he took in Iowa... so expect him to spend many millions. 7 mill in Iowa didn't do so much for him and he has already "loaned" his own campaign many millions that need to be repaid.
Dr Paul HAS MILLIONS more than the Huckmeister and McCain... and we have to keep up the pressure! KUDOS to all giving nearly 140k in 3 days... keep it up and keep donating to the grass roots!
This is NOT a bad day... not as good as we would have liked, but GET UP AND FIGHT!!!
Didn't the founders pledge their lives and fortunes?!?! This in ONE caucus in a long fight. FORWARD!!!
wants are unlimited, means are scarce...
....where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY. 2 Corinthians 3:17(b)
***wants are unlimited, means are scarce...***
I Understand Where You're
Coming from. But it's not a night to be depressed. It's a time to face reality however.
and we know we now have more work to do.
i'm assuming that this poster is doing more than just voting for Dr. Paul.
It's time to work more than ever.
Join a meetup group and get busy.
We are an army.
In Liberty's Cause
hmmmm, the polls were right. hmmmmm.
ron paul 2008
--------------
if you build it he will come..........Ron Paul 2012.
digg http://digg.com/autos/First_Genuine_Chevy_Volt_to_be_Complet...
optimistic can be realistic
I have been voting Libertarian for 20 years. I have never seen a candidate supporting the positions that Dr. Paul does achieve more than + / - 1% in an election. To see how far the grassroots has helped carry Dr. Paul in a few short months is truly remarkable. Dr. Paul himself has described how surprised he is at the acceptance of his message.
If this was going to be easy, it wouldn't be revolutionary. To truly transform our nation (even with a victory for Ron Paul as President) will take years if not decades. If we become discouraged due to one state (or frankly one election) we will NEVER win.
Every special interest in the country is against this revolution...defense contractors, bankers, medical firms, government employees, media, etc. They have hundreds of billions of dollars in annual revenues at stake. Under Ron Paul's message, the only people who win are the average citizens -- those who can only afford to donate an average of $75 at a time. We have only seen a tiny fraction of the bullets that will eventually fly in our direction.
So, this will take time and courage, but I still believe there are more average citizens than there are special interests. Be prepared that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
For our country to achieve a reasonably stable footing the first time took at least 40 years -- from before 1776 to the end of the War of 1812. We must have the same view. It may be our children or grandchildren who thank us for this beginning.
I am tremendously proud of Dr. Paul and everyone who is supporting him in every way. You have all restored in me a faith of the citizens of this country. We have only begun to fight.
Yes, the Iowa results were good news
Like the above poster, I've been involved in the libertarian movement for 20 years. I actually first got sucked into it in 1988, when Ron Paul ran on the Libertarian Party ticket. Back then, he got around 0.45% of the vote, something no LP candidate has topped since.
That Paul has gotten the media attention he has, and that he got 10% in Iowa, is phenomenal to me. I hope he wins, but even if he doesn't he is already the most successful libertarian politician in 100 years or more. Win or lose, this truly is the start of a revolution. That's damn exciting to me.
All that said, I didn't think he'd do that well in Iowa anyway. I have much higher hopes for New Hampshire, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and such states.
--
Faces of the Revolution
http://facesoftherevolution.com/
Libertarians Rising
libertariansrising.com
Ummm
Iowa is a farm state, RPis agianst FARM SUBSIDIES! people do vote thier pocketbooks....I figured 4th or fifth. I was surptised by Thompson, but actually happy about it-that could be an interesting, honest, fight between different opinions, rather than neo-con nonesense. Look at it this way-Romney is cooooked, and Guliani is, if not cooked, at least medium rare-both good things.
If you can'yt keep up optimism, then I suggest Stoli...;)
Mike Stahl
Mike Stahl
Why not be civil?
The most optimistic person I heard tonight was Ron Paul speaking to supporters a couple of hours ago. Six months ago, RP would have struggled to break 1%. Now he's at 10 or thereabouts. So face the facts, yes Sir, but keep them in perspective.
rdw
We all overestimated our chances in IA
So what? We're an excited crowd. We just got a bucket of iced water! Get energized with it!
IA is all for big central government, lots of farm subsidies. They don't care a bit about wars as long as they keep those subsidies coming.
They would never favor a small government, each one taking care of themselves!
Actually, an almost 4th place isn't all that bad considering the above. The media will still keep beating us down. Are we going to lower our heads to them??!!
Let's just get over IA and move on. We will need to do much better in NH and NV and SC. It's still very early.
JB
"You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. -- all I am offering is the truth, nothing more."
Ron Paul wins "independent" Republicans
MSNBC just showed that Ron Paul had the highest percentage of voters in the Republican caucus who identified themselves as "independents" with 29%. I hope the party wakes up and realizes that Ron is their best chance to enlarge the party and win in the general election. Huck would be crushed in a general election.
Amen to that ....
Amen to that ....