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I feel like I've been punched in the gut

Submitted by gee_blee on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 02:33

Daily Paul Liberty Forum

I think RP is blowing a tremendous opportunity to snowball this revolution. The groundwork has been laid for a magnificent independent run in the general election:

1) With McCain vs Hillary/Obama, the masses are HUNGRY for an anti-establishment, anti-politician alternative. RP could run right up the middle of those two and gain great attention/support. Large numbers of people truly hate those two/three.

2) He/we have built a fundraising network that could fund an independent run to the tune of $30 to $50 million. That would be more than enough to sustain a serious run.

3) At such an early stage (February), he/we have built a grassroots network (including growing ranks of precinct captains) itching to take this to November

4) If RP determines that a 3rd party label would be an albatross, he could run as an independent - we'd do the work to get him on the ballot.

5) It's hardly a given that the mainstream media would continue to ignore him in a general election, as his popularity/name recognition continues to soar, and because the field would consist of only three (or four). Remember, for most of the past year, RP was competing with nearly twenty other candidates for free media.

6) RP would stand a great chance of being included in the debates, and that would be historical.

7) The primary/caucus results show that RP is no Nader - he's got a substantial, unwavering base of support (10%?) and it's growing every day.

8) Not running in the general election would be akin to a sports team making the playoffs but opting not to play.

I don't get the value, at this point, for the Congressional seat. He's been there for ten terms, and has been relatively ignored till this year. And I also don't understand why there's a concern he could lose it - the name recognition he's gained in the past year makes winning it a given, even if he spent not one dime on it. He's gotta be a local folk hero at this point.

If he needs the income from his congressional seat, we'll do a "retirement" moneybomb for him, and he'll have more retirement money than he ever dreamed.

And why the loyalty to a Republican Party that has shunned him, ridiculed him? They've treated him as a kook. Why not inflict real damage, continue to expose them?

Run, Ron, RUN!!

not over yet

Submitted by cleverfool26 on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 11:24. Permalink

i am still fighting FTW, we will surprise everyone this fall. no 3rd party. we can take to the sky come nov. a lot will happen between now and then.
hope is not lost!!

Would this cure the hurt?

Submitted by Ron Garcia on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 11:03. Permalink

If we win another state? The sooner the better ain't it. Hang in there.
McClain will retire a loser, believe me.

"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

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"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

I can empathize with your hurt

Submitted by sunliner70 on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 10:51. Permalink

but if you want out go!
but if you want to hear what RP is saying then follow him otherwise you are stirring up resentment on this site. This is a republican battle now!

Out?

Submitted by gee_blee on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 10:57. Permalink

You miss the point.

There's no need to announce a run in the general election for at least two more months. Yes, he should keep his primary campaign alive.

What disappoints me is RP's statement that he will DEFINITELY not run 3rd party/independent should he lose the nomination. That is something he's never stated before.

And it's a crying shame.

ACTUALLY HE STATED THAT ALMOST THE FIRST DAY

Submitted by Julius Scissor on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 10:59. Permalink

Ron Paul will win this election

YOU HAVE POSTED THIS AS A TROLL!!!

Submitted by Sapphira on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 03:19. Permalink

"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." Mae West

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"This used to be a government of checks and balances. Now it's all checks and no balances." (Gracie Allen for President 1940)

3rd parties NEVER work.

Submitted by WRellim on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 03:10. Permalink

1) The masses are eating up OBAMA and his vague feel-good message of "change" -- others are AFRAID and will run for cover under Hillary or McInCain. TRUE Conservatives with be apathetic, stay home, not vote, and hunker down for the long-night.

2) There is no "fundraising network" -- there were thousands of individuals who were each MOTIVATED to donate expecting results. Results not appearing and motivation disappears. AND $30 to $50 million is PEANUTS in a general election across all 50 states. Try $300 to $500 Million.

3) Growing ranks of precinct captains? Only 17,000 signed up, less than 1/10 the needed number. Many signed up w/o a TRUE commitment to do the whole job, and morale among many is faltering or already dead.

4) 3rd party and "independent" are the same thing. Independent just means MORE work, since you have to create a structure from scratch and get NO "free" ballot access in any states.

5) The mainstream media uses 3rd party candidates as a "freak side show" portion of the entertainment business -- even Ross Perot was treated this way.

6) RP would stand NO chance of being included in the debates. The debates are now run by a private corporation that is owned equally by the RNC and the DNC. Outsiders will NOT be allowed to play, and POLICE will be used to enforce this. (They proved this with Nader last time around).

7) 10% is POLL numbers. If it TRULY were 10% of the population and they were TRULY committed to ACTUALLY voting, then his numbers in the primaries would have been 5 times higher.

8) Actually RUNNING in the general election would be akin to a couple of fans trying to jump onto the field during the playoffs (hint, they would be "escorted off" by the police). This is a RIGGED game, don't you get that yet?

As for the rest... I really don't think you understand much of anything regarding this campaign... or politics, or well, anything?

3rd Parties (or Independent runs) CAN work

Submitted by gee_blee on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 10:41. Permalink

1) A significant chunk of the populace are indeed turned off by the establishment choices, and would be turned on by a Paul run.

2) There is indeed a fundraising network (we've proven it); it still exists; $30 to $50 million is more than sufficient (with RP's grassroots army) to gain the necessary exposure and be taken seriously.

3) That's right, 10%, but in only ONE month's time! This could continue to grow. And morale would be invigorated with the general election campaign announcement.

4) No, 3rd party and independent are not the same thing. For example, Perot, with no 3rd party label pinned on him, received much media play. But I'm all for a 3rd party run. The independent option is there if RP deems it preferable.

5) Wrong about Perot. In June of '92, he was actually leading in the polls. He was only treated as a freak after he acted like a freak (by suddenly dropping out).

6) It would be awfully difficult to keep RP out of the debates if he's polling 15+% by September, which I believe he would. Hell, I believe the polls would show close to that NOW vs McCain/Hillary.

7) You underestimate the base of support he has - there's a large faction of non-Republican registered voters out there who would turn out in November for Paul.

8) Of course it's rigged, but think about where RP was in terms of name recognition 9 months ago and where he is today. Then imagine what his stature could be like 9 months from now.

As for you, I don't think you comprehend the power of RP's support, and of this revolution.