When everyone is ready to focus on how Ron Paul can win the nomination let me know

I guess I'm what many of you may call a "lurker" - those shadowy unregistered guests that watch the revolution on DP through a window. For months I have watched and read. I guess I've been enlightened, bemused, disappointed and angered many times over as I tread around the perimeter of this board - never joining in, but feeling a part of it just the same. I guess it was like sitting on the bench during the football game as you watch your team play. In this case, though, I had benched myself.

So why did I, after months, decide to actually join your party here and toss my opinion into the mix? I guess you can say I wanted to do what I could to help the revolution. The Honorable Dr. Paul got my vote, and I want to help him and his cause for liberty and freedom.

But before I explain further, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I'm a 35-year-old father of two boys (7 and 2 - and let me tell you, they are smart, cute and funny). I'm an Army veteran, a Republican cured of apathy, and a small business owner. I am not a delegate, nor did I try to be one. I did vote for Dr. Paul in South Carolina's Primary - one of only about 5% in the state if my recollection is correct. I also donated to his campaign, put up a couple of signs, and talked to friends and family about the good doctor. Outside of that, I read the DP and a variety of other Paul-friendly sites. (Don't feel left out dailypaulers, I didn't register with any of their sites either).

Running my business, keeping up with the boys when my wife works (she's a nurse), keeping up with my oldest one's homework and school activities, going to soccer/baseball practice, and getting the family together for dinner every night pretty much fills my day. Could I have done more? Of course I could. Was I just not diehard enough to get the job done? Probably right. My point is this - I have done what I thought I could manage to do for the revolution.

At this point, the revolution has probably given me more than I have given it. Hope. Inspiration. Knowledge. Yes, Dr. Paul cured my apathy, and I thank him for it. I'm know involved in running a campaign for friend who's running for State Senate. He may not be the perfect Ron Paul Republican, but he's a free-market, fiscal conservative. Compared to the incumbent, he's waaaay more Paulitarian.

One of our campaign consultants told a story I'd like to share. He was working on another candidates run for the Statehouse and was organizing the volunteers. Many were out door knocking, others on a phone bank, some putting out signs. One little old lady in her 80s always attended the volunteer meetings, but since she was wheelchair bound, could never participate in any of the activities. But she wanted to be involved, was a big supporter of the candidate, and wanted to do what she could to help.

When election day rolled around, this little old lady signed up to be a poll watcher. All day long she sat outside the polling location in her wheelchair, greeting all the voters as they arrived, telling each one how she adored the candidate, and asking for their vote.

When the results rolled in, the campaign was victorious. Suprisingly, the precinct where that little old lady sat greeting voters carried the greatest percentage of the vote of them all. To this day, that representative gets comments like, "I voted for you after I met your grandmother at the voting booth!"

It didn't matter that the sweet old lady was not related at all. She had made an impact. Although she couldn't put up signs, couldn't door knock, couldn't become a delegate - she did what she could for the campaign, and her help paid off.

Some people may be able to donate a few dollars. Some can do their max donation and nothing else. Some can donate three hours on a Saturday to put up signs. Some can work phone banks in campaign offices as a volunteer every week. This is Ron Paul's Army. But you have to remember - it's an all volunteer Army. Most are privates - only some can be generals. Not everyone can become a delegate. But everyone can do a part.

Dr. Steve Parent, you sir, are a general in this army, and I thank you for your service. I will warn you, though, that the enlisted ranks can easily grow restless. Especially when they feel they are doing what they can, and the upper ranks are still critical.

Should an open forum be where general's orders are posted for action? As a veteran, I will tell you that generals never tell a private what to do. That's for the captains, lieutenants and sergeants. I'm afraid your plan of action - although it is great - have fallen on the ears of many who either can't or won't follow its direction. It is useless to become angered by the lack of effort for your war plan. Although everyone should be ware of the information you have, don't count on the footsoldiers to follow through on your plans.

In my opinion, it would be most beneficial to your cause to gather around your person an inner circle of like-minded officers of the revolution. Others that can and will follow your game plan. Reach out to those activits and delegates - create another board, an email list, or forum. Organize a unit of warriors for your mission, and you will see results. All the while, keep spreading the word to all in search of others to join you. But don't stand in front of the Ron Paul Army, yell out your orders, and then yell again when they are not followed.

Just like that little old lady in the wheelchair, some of us are just doing what we can to help.

Bill Hall

Maybe manystrom could give you keys to the front page. Your hard work is obvious, and deserves some headlines!

THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT GOVERNMENT
THE MORE I LOVE MY GUNS
FourWindsTradingPost

.. I grow weary of the veiled smear and logical fallacy that if you are not a delegate you are somehow an inferior Ron Paul supporter.

First of all, only a tiny tiny fraction of Ron Paul supporters can become delegates due to the simple fact that compared to the total number of Ron Paul supporters there are only a miniscule number of delegate positions.

Secondly, I personally have converted at least two dozen people to Ron Paul. My son converted two of his teachers and several students at his high school through wearing t-shirts, handing out slim-jims, buttons and dvd's. He also participated for two weeks in the Students for Ron Paul effort in Iowa trudging around in the bitter cold and snow canvassing and at night spending many hours on the phone calling voters when he could have been enjoying his christmas vacation.

I have never criticized the delegate process education efforts but you seem very comfortable diminishing the tremendous efforts and success made by those not involved as delegates by continually asking in a McCarthyite fashion, "Are you a delegate?" as a way to say "See! You are inferior to me and your efforts pale in comparison to mine. You should be ashamed and your opinions and comments are of less value because you are not a delegate."

Not everyone has the time, resources, disposition or opportunity to be a delegate but their non-delegate efforts and accomplishments have been just as important or more-so.

Who here speaks for everyone?

Viva Agora!
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
www.citizenduquesne.org

and really appreciate all the information you give. And try to help keep your posts up because they are excellent. I have attended my republican meetings and am on the ballot in August as precinct delegate.
So thank you very much. :)

I am not going anywhere and people like justjenmi and Laurie will not drive me away.

Everytime i ask both of them considering thay have been critical of me have they become delegates and what meetup are they from i find it amazing they never answer although Laurie did state 2 nights ago that she is not a delegate and the reason she gave was because of me she would not become a delegate.

Jenmi still has not answered these questions but yet they seem to be the loud voices on this forum against me.

Dr. Steve Parent