The GOP Can't Complain When Ron Paul Supporters Cry Foul
It’s still early in the Republican primary season. Only 9 of the 41 primaries/caucuses have occurred. The nomination is a long way from being decided. Any one of the four remaining candidates can not only still win it, but can still win it by a landslide. Large victories on Super Tuesday and in the California, New York, and Texas contests can all but nullify any value of victories obtained so far. So why do the candidates fight so hard to win in small states like Maine and Nevada?
The answer is momentum. Right or wrong, most voters are in some way affected by their perception of whether each candidate has the ability to win, rather than strictly by their political positions. Republican primary voters consider two questions. Can he win the nomination? Can he win the general election?
Thus, victories in these early and – from a quantitative perspective – meaningless primary contests are valuable to candidates purely for the effect they may have on the minds of voters in bigger states.
Ron Paul has chosen to focus his campaign on the caucus states, where he can acquire delegates even if he does not finish first in the contest. That strategy seems to have been successful so far, as Paul has locked up delegates in excess of his percentage of the straw poll votes. However, he and his supporters also know that he needs a win in at least one state to avoid going into the big contests with the disadvantage of not having one.
Paul’s best shots to win so far have been the caucuses in Iowa, Nevada, and Maine. Since long before the voting started, Paul’s supporters have had their eyes on these states due to the receptiveness there to Paul’s ideas and the conduciveness of their caucus processes to Paul’s strong political ground game. Paul finished in striking distance of first in Iowa and lost by less than 200 votes in Maine. He finished far behind Romney in Nevada, but was in contention for a very respectable 2nd place finish. He ended up finishing a close third to Newt Gingrich.
Coincidentally, those three caucuses where Paul had the best chance to win are the only three states where some sort of controversy or irregularity has arisen in the election process.
The latest of these was in Maine, where the Washington County caucus was postponed due to a relatively benign (for Maine) weather forecast of 1-3 inches of snow. The Ron Paul campaign’s official statement pointed out that the Girl Scouts went ahead with one of their events in the very same county.
Washington County is one of Paul’s strongest in the state. It will hold its contest on Saturday February 12 and a lopsided victory there and in other towns that have not yet voted could conceivably allow Paul to win the state. However, Paul will have been denied the real value of his victory – the post-election, nationally-televised victory speech where all of those future primary voters see him firing up a raucous crowd of supporters.
In addition, Maine GOP Executive Director Michael Quatrano says that the Romney win on Saturday won’t be reversed even if Paul does end up finishing with more votes based upon the remaining counties. This is in stark contrast to Iowa, where Rick Santorum was announced as the winner several weeks after a Republican Party victory. Why the different treatment? It’s a legitimate question to ask.
It is not reasonable to assume that this all adds up to some sort of dark conspiracy against Ron Paul. There are many possible explanations, the simplest one being ineptitude. At the same time, it is naïve to deny that Paul’s campaign is opposed by the party establishment or to believe that this process is ever squeaky clean in any election year, regardless of who’s running. As government privileges give the two major parties a virtual monopoly on the political process, all primary elections should be watched closely for signs of corruption or fraud.
One shouldn’t rush to judgment on a charge that serious in a presidential election without compelling proof. That proof hasn’t been presented by anyone so far. However, when irregularities continue to occur and only in states where Paul has a good chance to win, an odor starts to arise that doesn’t smell like coincidence anymore. If this trend continues, then the GOP leadership shouldn’t complain if Ron Paul supporters start crying foul.
There are three contests left before Super Tuesday: Arizona, Michigan, and Washington. The Washington caucuses are Ron Paul’s best chance for a victory. Fairly or not, the pressure is on the Washington GOP to ensure that no appearance of impropriety occurs during this contest, especially if Ron Paul is in contention for the win. There is one way that they can avoid contributing to an unnecessary controversy. Run a clean and transparent election. Follow your own rules and don’t make any suspicious changes to procedure. Given the GOP’s performance so far this election cycle, one more coincidence will turn that funny odor into a downright stench.
Tom Mullen is the author of A Return to Common Sense: Reawakening Liberty in the Inhabitants of America.
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far to rare
I like your differentiated statement.
Thanks.
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my Ron Paul video collection:
www.youtube.com/austria4ronpaul
(4 years RP, over 2300 videos)
We need to deliver Washington state to Ron Paul
I believe we have a momentum going, and I am going to do all that I can to get a Ron Paul victory here in Washington state.
It's obvious you didn't proof
It's obvious you didn't proof read...
"Only 9 of the 41 primaries/caucuses have occurred." ok, Obama...
Here's how the votes really
Here's how the votes really added up according to an independent voter watch group:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?authkey=CKT21ZkH&hl=e...
We need to be the ones counting the votes to win this election.
Daily Paul Article Reposted on Forbes
http://specials.forbes.com/article/0ggjg8V1f9eCJ
I'm not sure what the "specials" section is, but I found this on a search.
Tom Mullen
author of A Return to Common Sense: Reawakening Liberty in the Inhabitants of Amer
3 party threat
Maybe Paul should have a press conference on the irregularities in the 3 states being too coincidental. He could demand the GOP stop creating irregularities and stick to the procedures laid out in advance. Paul could issue the threat of cancelling GOP champaign and switch to Independent if the cheating doesn't stop.
The media would be all over this, and Paul would finally be heard. I am positive the GOP establishment knows they will never win with Paul on 3 party ticket. They may think twice about keeping this scam going.
With the big negatives against both parties right now Paul just might pull out a win, on 3rd party ticket.
Win or not the way I see it, if your going down take down the SOB's with you.
Gold standard: because man can not be trusted to control his greed
"..., there lies a
"..., there lies a startlingly clear example of how loving something intensely can stimulate an equally intense and purposeful hatred of things by which it is threatened." Michael Scheuer
This is essentially why the establishment hates Ron Paul, because he is loved by so many that the establishment is threatened. Let's hope the corruption continues to the point where the Average Joe can see it clear as day, at which time I am confident the Republican Party will go the way of the Whig Party.
Election Fraud
Don't we Paulbots have an attorney or two somewhere in our ranks? Shouldn't the fraudsters be prosecuted? Or at least charges filed? I mean, breaking the law is breaking the law, as long as the prosecution has evidence. Or are the courts, state attorneys, and so on all in the Establishment's back pocket already? Are we fighting for a lost cause? Are we reaching the point of "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death?"
Freedom is my Worship Word!
Washington Anti-fraud effort
I think the Ron Paul campaign needs a well organized anti-fraud effort in Washington. Each Caucus needs a poll watcher that publishes counts on the web in tandem with whatever official count is going on.
We can win in Washington!
...if the people are too strong and too smart like they are in Wash. then, the dark forces might just abandon mafia style election fraud tactics and simply let the corp. media blackout a win.
Don't ever get discouraged! The Ron Paul rEVOLution is like an broken dam that the establishment is trying to plug with sand bags. The grassroots American support for Ron Paul is much much greater than the MSM would ever let you believe.
Stay positive..believe in yourself..believe in the overwhelming majority of Americans who stand by you!
Participate in America's future- Research Ron Paul- Truth will Prevail! You too, will be proud one day, to be able to say: "I was a Ron Paul supporter."
The GOP is BUSH
BUsh who engineered 911, Patriot act, illegal wars in IRAW, AFGANISTAN, acts of war with many other countries. TSA Homland Gistapo. The most evil vile criminal family owns and controls the GOP at present and is threatened by RP. How could we ever expect anything but what they are doing when the GOP is run by those responsible for mass murder, genocidal wars.
sovereign
Not to mention, the National GOP voices are now......
stating if there is a brokered convention, there choice for the GOP Nominee is Jeb Bush. Are you kidding me? They (the GOP) have such utter disrespect for our country due to their Globalist Nature. This is the only explanation for their choosing Jeb Bush with no concern whatsoever about the American Citizenry's response to such a choice for THEIR Nominee. They simply could care less, what the will of the American people is.
Right and those
Right and those "irregularities" are NOT coincidental ... ;)
TAKE OVER THE GOP!!!!!
Each and everyone of us need to become a voting member in the GOP. All elected official's in the GOP are elected starting at the precinct level. We have the numbers and the passion to take over the GOP. We need to be the District, County and State Chairman. If we have the votes, they will try to fight us, but the majority will make it through.
Learn the rules, become a voting member at the precinct level. Sign up at least 10 others to do the same. We can do this!!!!! I'm sick and tired of this sh*t and it's time to take over the GOP!!! Then we can make the rules, at least it will be fair.
PS, I don't care who is listening, at least in my state we out number them 3 to 1. but we all have to start thinking smart and take Action!!!
"If you want to change government, you have to become government" Ron Paul
For Freedom!
"Coincidence"
Tom Mullen wrote:
I'm reminded of another quote on coincidence, by Ian Fleming in Goldfinger:
Just sayin'.
Recommended reading: The Most Dangerous Superstition, http://www.larkenrose.com/store/34-books/2019-the-most-dange...
Coincidence (not)
TPTB are not going to back down and play nice. You can forget that. Everyone man up. TPTB are taking no prisoners. At least there is an audit trail in these states. Electronic voting is going to be a disaster if we don't do exit polling to confirm results. But, we can win if we want it. TPTB know were beating them and that we will triumph.
VA closed primary
The GOP changed the rules at the end of December. They've made their primary a closed voting primary. So no Paul Democrats or independants, unless they changed their party registration.
virginia isn't a closed
virginia isn't a closed primary. On december 28th the GOP voted to make you sign that you will vote for this candidate in the general election. Everyone still gets to vote in this primary.
VA doesn't register party membership
According to the VA Board of Elections that state does not use party registration in its voter registration process which makes its primaries open by default.
Also the "loyalty oath" previously required to receive a Republican Party ballot was dropped in January at the request of the state Republican Party.
Imo, so far the GOP Establishment deserves nothing from me
They called and asked me for a donation a few months back. I told them no. I don't trust the Republican party. You guys raised the debt ceiling in the House of Representatives, after a bunch of you were voted in to not raise it. I only trust Ron Paul right now and only he deserves and will get my money.
The guy said that they were the only ones that came up with a plan to balance the budget. I replied that those were just words. I added that I was a staunch Libertarian and was getting extremely suspicious of what was going on in this country. I meant it and still do.
There was more than that to the conversation, but I hope you get the idea.
Perhaps some might say that I don't give them enough credit for passing the "The Budget Control Act". I thought the Republicans that were voted in during the 2010 mid-term elections, were voted in to say no to raising the debt ceiling. I thought the American people had spoken and that the House of Representatives was "The People's House". I guess that's what I get for thinking. I keep wondering when enough is enough. It's got to the point to where I think that all this stuff other than Ending the Fed is just a bunch of hot air.
Since that time have I been given reason to be less suspicious of the GOP and what's going on with them? No. I can just feel the dislike they have for Ron Paul, and can see the disrespect and underhanded way they try to undermine his campaign. So far I have been given no reason to think I should give any money to the Anti-Conservative GOP.
I do not hold grudges against people forever. I'm forgiving. I might have to stew in some anger for a bit and hear more than just one single simple apology, that someone acts like should suddenly make 1,000 paper cuts they gave me go away immediately. But if it becomes clear they really are remorseful, then okay, apology accepted. But so far I remain extremely leery because the GOP seems hostile, or at the very least, underhanded.
If the GOP Leadership wants respect it needs to be earned. I realize that's a two-way street. If they believe we Ron Paul supporters as a group are disrespecting them, then I'd like to see them air their grievances. If they don't want any support from me then they can just keep on doing what they've been doing.
The debacle with Washington County in Maine really ticks me off. It shows they'll do just about anything to make Ron Paul look as if he's weak, and then try and wrap it up in a "who me?" angelic looking halo while holding the devil's pitchfork behind their back to stab you with as soon as you've turned around.
Does the GOP have something to fear? So far it's seems so. I think they have been consumed by the Establishment and do not want to admit that they support the Banking Cartel's debt-based economy based upon a debt-based currency, same as the Democrat Party.
The only difference that I see between the two parties is that most Republicans have signed Grover Norquist's pledge to not raise taxes. That's good! But I'm still wondering, and have been for eons now, when will we get the Government/Politicians and Bankers to stop blowing bubbles. It's obvious to me, that it won't be until such time that we End the Fed. And they don't want that because they look at it as that's "their money", not the American people's money.
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Richard Millhouse Nixon, a Republican, after totally closing the Gold window - "We're all Keynesians now."
The guy really should have learned to speak for himself. Perhaps he was a victim of the dictator fallacy.
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George W. Bush, a Republican, upon announcing that he was going to bail out the banks - "I've abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system."
Oh, that makes perfect sense, NOT!
"I am sorry we're having to do it," Bush said.
First, I don't believe he was sorry. Second, even if he were remorseful that is not sufficient for committing a criminal act of this scale. It deserves punishment beyond not being re-elected. But I guess I have to keep in mind that my rulers are above the law that the rest of us have to adhere to.
Don't steal, the Government hates competition - Ron Paul's desk ornament
Just my two cents
"If we lose freedom here there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth." -Ronald Reagan
When they took us off the Gold Standard they took away our money... in order to make it theirs. -OneTinSoldier
"Imo" isn't a word
Other than that, I loved your post. There's no upvote on blog replies though, so I had to post a reply of my own. :-)
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What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
IMO..
In My Opinion - for those who don't know what the abbreviation stands for.
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
In My Opinion...
There's also IM!HO, which merges tweetspeak with geekspeak, means In My NOT Humble Opinion - in the "C" programming language, the exclamation negates the logical expression to which it's applied.
Also sometimes "IMNSHO" - In My Not So Humble Opinion.
After all, doesn't The Good Doctor have enough humility for us all? ;-)
Freedom is my Worship Word!
I understand if you don't recognize it
I understand if you don't recognize it and what it means. I should have put it in CAPS. It's an acronym, an internet speak acronym, for...
IMO = In my opinion
IMHO = In my humble opinion
And thanks, I'm very glad to hear you loved my post! I worked a bit on making that one. So I am very happy to receive a compliment.
Thank you. :-)
"If we lose freedom here there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth." -Ronald Reagan
When they took us off the Gold Standard they took away our money... in order to make it theirs. -OneTinSoldier
GOP has already broken rules in Wasington
Their own rules say precinct caucus locations will be published in local newspapers by January 22. Didn't happen. Instead, a press release gave a) a website where one may look up one's caucus location and b) a contact person to telephone to learn one's caucus location.
That is only one example of the cheating that has been underway in Washington for several months. The list includes denying precinct committee officers choosing their caucus locations (living rooms) and imposing "pooled caucus" locations, denying requests to be appointed precinct committee officers in vacant precincts because the individuals were deemed Ron Paul supporters, denying requests for information . . .
Unless we OUTNUMBER the GOP RINOS in delegate numbers,
I just don't see how we can get the State Delegate slots to go to the National Convention.
If anybody can tell me how that can happen, let me know.
in the caucus states it is delegates that matter!
Go to the caucus. Bring friends. Be the RP ground troops.
Simple as that.
In the primary states, like mine, we pretty much have to depend on the caucus states to set an example and put RP on the radar. Otherwise the mass mind control media just creates the impression that Ron can't win/is too extreme/dropped out/wants to surrender to al CIAda/etc. and our ability to challenge that with a ground game among the general population is strained.
KEEP CAMPAIGNING.
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What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
Professional wrestling is less scripted...
They have stolen your future and killed millions (soon billions) in the process, but they'd never fix a predetermined election. A part of me enjoys watching this stupid country slowly suffocate and burn.
Don't like what the GOP does? Send them a message:
Join the 'un-registration' bomb after the convention:
http://www.dailypaul.com/212686/join-gop-unregistration-bomb...
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
After Paul WINS, why would you un-register?...
I'm not understanding, when Ron Paul takes the nomination, what would be the reason for un-registering from the party, that's when you party, party. Then we have to grow further, pull in the disenfranchised Democrats and of course the intelligent, thoughtful & aware independents.
No, the r3VOLution will take over the GOP thank you very much, kick out the GOP scum & then clean house in the Democratic ranks maybe even set trial dates for some of the previous Republican establishment that need to be brought to justice. No, no no, you are not paying attention, there are more Ron Paul supporters than GOP establishment, they will be run out of the party, kicked to the curb.
The NEW Libertarian Republican Conservative, is here to stay and grow and grow and grow. Freedom is not free, you have to work for it, but to walk away after a Victory doesn't make any sense at all. If you're suggesting Paul won't win, that's not something I'm willing to concede. He will win and is winning. The r3VOLution will NOT be televised, it will just happen.
They are fighting tooth and nail but the ideas are spreading, the light bulbs are flashing, and no gun can stop that. Freedom is coming to a neighborhood near you and just in time prevent WW3. So, it's just in time and about time.
So as Gingrich talks about auditing the FED (LIAR) Santorum calls himself a limited Government conservative (LIAR) and Romney shouts to the rafters about the CONSTITUTION, shrinking government and being a fiscal conservative, whilst boasting about maintaining this Empire of Militarism (CONTRADICTION/LIES/LIAR).
As you hear these statements from establishment fools, including Obama, as you read between the lines, the truth is self evident, the cat is out of the bag and you can't put it back in. They all want to be Ron Paul, because everyone wants Ron Paul as their president, but only the establishment no this fact.
They want us to believe he is fringe, but until Ron Paul supporters get organised and sign up in one central location, we will never really know, until after he's elected that is.
Sorry BugMan, I just can't back you on this.
Ron Paul Republicans threaten to quit the party?
If we did there would celebrations in smoke-filled rooms across the nation.
The GOP establishment would LOVE to see us quit the party.
What they REALLY fear is that we will stay and take over.
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Keep the Iowa Caucuses "First in the Nation"!
Bush "Fool Me Once..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKgPY1adc0A
"The world is a dynamic mess of jiggling things, if you look at it right." - Richard Feynman
Why should they?
Follow the rules and don't make any suspicious changes to procedure? Why not just do whatever it takes to get their anointed candidate to win and to keep Ron Paul out? What has been the consequences? There have been none, so why not just keep doing it?
9 of 50
41 remain.
There are more
Than 50 primaries and caucuses. Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, etc. all get to send delegates.
My libertarian blog
Virginia
Ron Paul also has a good chance of winning the Virginia primary on super Tuesday. It's him against Mitt straight up because they were the only ones to collect enough signatures to be on the ballot.
Virginia has an open primary system so democrats and independents can vote in the Republican primary. I know a lot of them who will vote for Ron.
Regardless of where the vote comes from, a win is a win.
Thetis
Unfortunately
RP is running about 20 percent in VA (see http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-ins...), and no, we do not have a good chance of winning the state.
Virginia is a winner take all state if one nominee receives more than 50.1 percent of the vote, which it's looking like Mittens will.
However, as you say, our primary is open, so anybody -- Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Purple People Eater -- can vote if they are a resident. I agree that the campaign missed an opportunity by opting not to court those voters in VA.
"Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition." -- Thomas Jefferson
80%
Is Mitt at 80% in Virginia?
About Virginia...
Do we know if there's a "Undecided" or "Other" slot on the ballot? If so, look for another Missouri-esque ballot where would-be Paul votes get split among those who "would have" voted for Santorum or Newt.
Nope.
Only two choices, Romney & Paul. No write-ins either.
Is it electronic?
That is the real question.
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Progress is precisely that which the rules and regulations did not foresee. - Ludwig Von Mises.
I agree
And I do believe that many of those democrats will actually vote for Paul in the general election. I think that very few will vote for him if he is not the nominee, but many will vote for him if he is on the ballot.
Forget the Reagan democrats. These are the Paul democrats! I look forward to VA!
Larry in North Carolina
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to not support Ron Paul!