Clean up our acts--or ten times $23 million won't be enough
$23 million WELL-SPENT is not at all unreasonable for a twenty-state campaign for Super Tuesday, and then we'll probably need another $20 million (Don't act surprised!) for the last twenty or so states through the end of March if the Republican nomination is not sewed up come Feb.6--as I strongly expect it won't be.
HOWEVER, if we can't clean up our acts no amount of money will bring us victory.
Official Campaign: Get your egos under control and COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE! Don't huddle in your war room and leave the rest of us in the dark! And answer e-mails, and at least act like you pay attention to suggestions from the grassroots--we may not have your lofty vantage point, but down in the trenches we can see a lot of cracks in the ground you can't, and we talk to real, ordinary, non-blogosphere people everyday, and have a feeling for how things are going on the ground. And HIRE somebody who understands inventory management and order fulfillment to get materials out the door FASTER--a LOT FASTER. And, hey, DELEGATE a bit--there's tons of talent in the grassroots in cinematography, advertising, inventory management, etc. etc. that you seem to be totally dismissing .
Grassroots: Get your tempers and mouths and hands under control! Then THINK, THINK, THINK--count to a thousand, and BITE YOUR TONGUES and stuff your hands in your pockets when you want to be rude or destructive or obnoxious, no matter how angry you feel. EVERYTHING you do reflects on Ron Paul when you're holding his sign or wearing his shirt---It's not just YOUR freedom of speech anymore! It's great to be rowdy and colorful, even bizarre, at Ron Paul Rallies. Go right ahead and get a bit crazy when you're yelling FOR Ron Paul--but you're shooting the campaign in the foot--maybe even the head---when you jeer rival candidates, trespass on private property, assault media personalities (no matter how despicable you find them), and generally make yourselves look like raving lunatic testosterone-poisoned barbarians. You're driving VOTERS (you know, those ignorant people who learn everything they know about Ron Paul from 30 second MSM sound-bites--but still VOTE) away from Ron Paul! No matter how ticked off you may feel, ask yourself before you DO ANYTHING---is what I'm about to do going to HELP or HURT Ron Paul win this election? That's the ONLY important question at this point in time. Please--it's all our future, the only one we have.
I'd even (gag, choke) wear a necktie for Ron Paul, if I thought it's help him. (I'll burn it the day after the election, hopefully on a victory bonfire--but I'd still wear it! Please tell me it won't help him...please...please...)
Winston Churchill: "It's not enough to do your best. It's enough to do what's enough."
It's true, true, true
Let's think over this good point one more time...
"You're driving VOTERS (you know, those ignorant people who learn everything they know about Ron Paul from 30 second MSM sound-bites--but still VOTE) away from Ron Paul! No matter how ticked off you may feel, ask yourself before you DO ANYTHING---is what I'm about to do going to HELP or HURT Ron Paul win this election? That's the ONLY important question at this point in time. Please--it's all our future, the only one we have."
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18
Brilliant article that explains why we love Dr. Paul:
http://lewrockwell.com/orig12/farber-r1.1.1.html
I agree with the advice for the grass roots supporters
I've never run a campaign, so I don't know what they are up against. But we definitely can and should keep our tempers under control.
The last time I wore a tie...
... was to attend a private meeting with Paul at a fund raiser in NYC. (Formal dress was specified.) Yeah, I don't like the things either.
As for your serious points, I agree.
A friendly amendment...
We, the grassroots, should refrain from offering advice or appealing to the NHQ until they have something in place to read our comments. There is an enormous amount of effort to advise NHQ, everything down to clothing. Well, currently, you may as well not write it because no one's reading it.
Focus on how we can improve ourselves. As Salt notes, we represent the Movement. Our Movement changes politics as normal -- not because we provide a face of a different pigment or a body of a different gender echoing the same tired tyrannical platforms -- but because we offer to humans the opportunity to take their lives back, to take their families back, from the tyrants.
But such change is scary. If you believed in the god-Pharaoh, and someone explained that they were getting rid of him, then you may well have feared that locusts would descend or the earth would open up.
Our proposition that you should live your own lives, and you should take care of your own family, and you should spend the fruits of your own sweat, and you should choose your own charities, and you should buy the products you like best, and you should be able to sell the product people want to buy, and you don't have to fight with peoples half a world away for some mistake some tyrant caused, is radical enough!!
Show them the LOVE in
re[love]ution,
Dennis
Don't Vote For Ron Paul for anything less than
Re[love]ution & Renaissance
Dennis
Right on!
But I still wish HQ would communicate WITH us! Isn't there any way to make an end run around HQ to communicate with Dr. Paul himself or someone in his family who has personal access to him? Something's GOTTA happen. If we don't clean up our acts and fight SMARTER, not just harder... I don't want to think about the probable consequences.
salt-of-the-earth
I agree.
I agree.
Bump
Bump
It had to be said...
I was truly embarrassed to be a Ron Paul supporter when I saw the video those fools chasing Sean Hannity down the street with Ron Paul signs in tow. That's simply not how you attract people to the campaign.
Worse than embarrassment...
those fellows possibly cost Ron Paul most if not all of the sympathy vote in NH from the Forum exclusion. Maybe 2 to 4% of the vote--NHers are proud folks. Mighty expensive snowballs. Ron Paul's presidency for a snowball... I pray not.
salt-of-the-earth
LOL... I hate ties too
I'll wear one if you do. :-P
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Get active NOW to put Ron in the general election. ronpaul.meetup.com
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What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
Wise words
...
I expressed this several times
The response from most posters was "go away" or "you're a troll" or "you're negative"..people don't realize that when they do things while carrying a Ron Sign or wearing a Ron Paul shirt they reflect not only on themselves but our candidate as well...
Just keep trying
You have my empathy. Sometimes it seems like there are
THREE Ron Paul campaigns: the secretive, unresponsive Official one; the Boots on the Ground who quietly, industriously, diligently canvass, post signs, talk to people politely, etc. ; and--for want of a better word--The Screamers, who are lots of fun at Ron Paul rallies but whose net contributions to the campaign are probably negative with their rude, bellicose behavior and words that drive undecided and ignorant voters away and dishearten and demoralize more civil Ron Paul supporters. What to do? Just keep going, I guess.
Winston Churchill: "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
salt-of-the-earth
Some Good Advice
What ever it takes. We must win.
Winning is more important than any of our own egos or even our own selves.
When we say it's for our children, we really mean it. I want my 7 year old to live in a free America.
I'm so proud to be associated with Patriots.
We had a GREAT gun show event in Bham AL this weekend. I mean really great. The snowball is getting bigger fast.
In Liberty's Cause
In Liberty's Cause
I agree
No more snowballs!!!
Let the votes speak.
FEC
If I understand correctly, FEC regulations doesn't allow the official campaign headquarters to really work with the grassroots.
I say we have to do all we can to talk to neighbors and friends, and get out this message to all we can, as well as become delegates. If we can "get out the vote" and the official campaign can woo the entrenched delegates of the GOP, that's a winning combination. Both party hack delegates/at large delegates and votes are going to be necessary for a win. (If only the governors and other party delegates would consider how much money their states could get if the Federal government didn't tax their citizens, they would support Ron Paul. They could even raise state taxes a little and have more for their own salary with the IRS abolished!)
You're half right
FEC regulations forbid the official campaign from controlling volunteers or directing their activities. And we can't tell them how to spend the money we donate. Please note that I didn't write that. But they can COMMUNICATE (say on their website) what they're doing and why---and we can spontaneously :-} coordinate ourselves. And they DO have a "suggestions" box on the website, but an awful lot of us feel that they never even read their e-mail, much less respond in any way. More--much more--transparency and responsiveness and feedback is what I'm urging. A weekly "pep talk to the troops" by Ron Paul that we can all access wouldn't hurt. And if they can hire a commercial ad agency to do their ads (I sure hope they're not just taking a videocam into a back room of HQ to shoot their ads--though some of them seem that way), there's absolutely nothing to prevent their hiring a talented commercial cinematographer, radio ad guy/gal, etc. who just happens to be their supporter as well.
salt-of-the-earth
I was wondering how to express this myself.
Great post, there is a time for action and a time for restraint. My wife and I have been Paul followers since this summer. I have always found that the best way to get the attention of an enemy is to ignore them and hold my ground. Thank you for posting this message. It was compelling enough for me to join this forum.
On the Money!!!
"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
excellent post
I could not agree more.
bump bump again
Gotta maximize HQ effectiveness. Probably would have been worth a few more points in NH, critical points.
amen, brother, testify...!
great wisdom...I agree with every word....you said it perfectly. For the sake of our country, I pray to God the sentiment is heeded. Thank you.
Bump
Bump
http://suzanrobertson.blogspot.com
Oh no, Criticism.
First off you are going to take a lot of heat for posting this thread. But anyone with an ounce of inteligence can tell you mean the best for Ron and the movement.
I will only comment to say Bingo, exact on the issue of HQ not harnessing this magnificent, brilliant bunch of concerned Americans. I can hazard to say that there has NEVER in our Nations history, been such an eclectic, diverse group of people SPONTANEOUSLY come together for one person, one idea, that of true liberty.
That is going to be the most tragic loss, if HQ does not change it's way. They have already lost an unknown number of good people to other candidates, or have dropped out altogether.
Oh well, lets put that last second effort into New Hampsire and hope for the best. Irregardless, Thank you for your service Ron Paul.
Just waiting to be called a troll
You're right--but I was expecting it. After some of the near-hysterical frothing-at-the-mouth threads last evening covering the Hannity incident, I was beginning to wonder if the inmates had finally completely taken over the asylum. I doubt many--if any-- of those testosterone-poisoned individuals are even going to read this attempt at positive criticism, but if it influences even one person to clean up his act and HELP not HURT Ron Paul I suppose it will be worth it. Please note that I direct my suggestions at BOTH the official campaign and the grassroots, though. We are running a terrible uphill race against powerful opposition; we can afford neither to carry dead weight nor shoot ourselves in the feet.
Well, I'd better take my own advice and log off and get out the door. The sun's up and daylight is being wasted.
salt-of-the-earth
Militant...
Paulestinians... and you know who you are... hell, everybody knows who you are... Read this book. Seriously.