Critique my Iowa letter

Looks good, except you may want to touch on the objection that if we pull out of Iraq that there will be chaos and more people killed. That seems to be the big concern about leaving Iraq.

I have two letters that I'm including in each envelope. One is printed from my printer and is similar to that posted above (full of factual information and Ron Paul's positions). The second (below) is hand-written.

My reasoning goes like this: hand-writing a letter has two primary purposes, (1) get the attention, and (2) trust. Thus, facts and positions don't necessarily have to be hand-written, but something personal and appealing could serve both the above two purposes while introducing more information.

To that end, here is my hand-written "cover letter":

Dear ____,

Hi! I'm so grateful for this chance to write to you from the other side of the country. Not long ago, I felt a great deal of apathy toward politics because none of the politicians seemed worthy of my trust. It seemed to me that compromise meant big money, and integrity was short changed. But when I discovered presidential candidate Ron Paul, and really investigated his constitutional principles and his voting record, I began to have hope that there remained at least one statesman whose vote could neither be bought nor sold!

Ron Paul has everything it takes to become our next president--except corporate backing. That means it's up to us to back him if we want him in. He is honest, courageous, wise. He is a leader like Thomas Jefferson in our day. And he has massive support from the "grass roots"--for example, his campaign has raised more than $9 million since October from tens of thousands of individuals like us.

Ron Paul has given me hope again, and now by writing to you, I hope to pass it on. God bless America.

Best Regards,
Duane Johnson

P.S. Go online to www.ronpaul2008.com to see his official campaign website.

(handwritten on a piece of notebook paper)

Dear so-and-so,

Who is Ron Paul?

As an Iowan I like alot about the letter. The part about the war and foreign policy should play well as small towns get hit the hardest by wars. Make sure you include the fact that he recieved the most donations from military personel, that is a very impressive fact and will keep people from seeing him as weak on defense or something like that. There are lots of old people here and focusing on how he'll keep SS and medicare afloat while still allowing people to have responsibility for themselves if they wish. At the straw poll there were literally lines and lines of the elderly following a few teenagers in Team Mitt shirts with signs that said follow me, so anything of interest to the elderly is going to be key in Iowa.

This was an emaill I sent to personal friends and family, being as such much would not apply or be useful in a hand written letter, other parts are redundant to you, my fellow Paul's and Paula's from slim jims and the like... would love your feedback as well

I know that most of you are used to me being the happy-go-lucky Jeff, but I have something I feel I must talk with you about. I know that this is Taboo. You shouldn’t talk about Politics, Jeff. However, since it has become apparent that I have become a parent, I now realize that I can not just sit idly by as our, and (son's name)’s fate, are decided. It is my duty as his father and as an American to become involved and to try to share with you some of the things I am learning.

I apologize in advance if I have offended any of you with this discussion. I thoroughly support the rights of each and every one of you to your opinions, and do not wish to ridicule or make light of your views. It is my hope that if I have been mislead, one of you will help to right my path. I will attempt to tread lightly.

My initial goal as I set forth was to try to find out which candidates (both Republican and Democrat) I would like to see on the Ballot when we vote in 2008. After the things that have happened in the last two elections, it is safe to say that the primaries carry more wait than they once did. If all we do is pay attention to one party, we will be stuck with the others party’s choice to run against, whether that is a Republican or a Democrat. Some people might call this hedging your bet. I believe it is fool hardy to think that one candidate/ party or another is unbeatable. I wont put all of (son's name)’s eggs in one basket.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matth.5:9

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matth.5:43-45

These are ideals that I was raised with. I am not so righteous as to say that I have always followed them, but they are how I plan to raise my son. Above and beyond all of my concerns in this coming election are the wars that we are finding ourselves in. I fear that if left on its current course, we will be in the throws of war with Iran, as well. We still are not finished in Iraq, nor Aphganistan. Today I hear in the news that Pakistan, which does have nuclear weapons has become a dictatorship. All of this leads me to fear for the legacy and future we are leaving for our children, nieces and nephews. (my son) is 1 year old, seventeen years will go by in an instant. Many of you have children that are older, meaning less time before they must sign up for selective service.

The war in Iraq has cost the People of the United States of America, $450,000,000,000, and this number is rising. But if you turn through the pages of the Wall Street Journal, you will find a disturbing trend. Defense contractors (such as: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, to name a few among the Publicly traded contractors) are all posting higher than expected profits. We have all seen what is happening at the gas pump as the Oil companies also post higher than usual profits.

But, We the People (according to the Constitution), are left holding the Burden for this war and these profits. When We, the U.S. Government (according to A. Lincoln this is a government of the people, by the people, for the people) borrow these great sums of money, where does the money come from? Is there interest on these ‘loans?’ How much interest would accumulate on a number like $450,000,000,000? Who is really winning this war? Whose war are We fighting?

My biggest fear, however, is the loss of lives. Lives that no matter your religion, Our God has created. This is by far the greatest cost of this and all wars. We went to Iraq on the premise of Weapons of Mass Destruction, there were none. Our President has stated that no link was found between Saddam Hussein and Al Queda. Since we invaded there have been more than 75,000 Iraqi Civilian Casualties. These are men (fathers, brothers), women (mothers, sisters) and CHILDREN (SONS and DAUGHTERS). This war was unprovoked. Is this how We spread Democracy?

Closest to my heart are the lives of OUR OWN SONS AND DAUGHTERS. These brave men and women have shown the ultimate willingness to protect and serve US, our freedoms and liberty. We have already lost more than 3800 Americans in Iraq. There have also been more than 28,000 American Soldiers Wounded. It is time that We begin to protect and serve them.

We have been in Iraq (a third world country) for 5 years (counting only this current war) and the majority of the information I have gathered above has happened since we were told “Mission Accomplished.” In recent news, we are being told by Republican and Democrat alike that there is no likelihood of the U.S. leaving Iraq before 2013. That is 5 years from now. Can We afford 5 more years? (not to mention Iran)

Amongst the candidates running for President in 2008, there is one man who has received more campaign contributions from our Military men and women than any other. This gentleman is Dr. Ron Paul., our Congressman from Texas. Ron Paul proudly served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the 60’s. He is a man who has witnessed the horrors war. From the onset, Ron Paul voted against the war in Iraq.

Dr. Paul (OB/GYN) has delivered more than 4,000 babies. He and his wife are the proud parents of five children and have 17 grandchildren.

In 20 years as a Congressman, Dr. Paul never voted for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. He is a man of true integrity, who is not swayed by lobbyists or backed by corporations. Here is a link to the U.S. Constitution, if you would like to know what sways this man’s decisions. http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charter... He presently serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Congressman Paul served on the House Banking committee, where he was a strong advocate for sound monetary policy and an outspoken critic of the Federal Reserve’s inflationary measures. He was an unwavering advocate of pro-life and pro-family values. Dr. Paul consistently voted to lower or abolish federal taxes, spending and regulation, and used his House seat to actively promote the return of government to its proper constitutional levels. Please note the committee’s on which he has served before deciding whether his ideas to end the IRS and Federal Reserve System are just foolish banter.

Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:He has never voted to raise taxes. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget. He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership. He has never voted to raise congressional pay. He has never taken a government-paid junket. He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch. He voted against the Patriot Act. He voted against regulating the Internet. He voted against the Iraq war. He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year. He introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress.
I believe that all of the above shows that this man has a firm understanding of the principles our Founding Fathers intended when they created our Country and our Constitution. Ron Paul understands government, medicine, banking and finance, foreign relations, diplomacy and most importantly Liberty!
Liberty- freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control, freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.
Lastly I invite you to watch this YouTube Video (there are thousands) about Dr. Paul. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_HuFtP8w8
Thank you all for you time and patience. I would love to hear back from each and everyone of you. I am still looking for a Democratic candidate.
Love,
Jeff

"affiliated", not "affilitated", second sentence, also "committed" not "comitted"

Some recent forums related to helping Iowa support Ron Paul with letter writing campaigns from other states:

Please write a thank you letter!
http://dailypaul.com/node/6898

Help Win Iowa! Letter writing campaign
http://dailypaul.com/node/6889

Adopt a county in Iowa
http://dailypaul.com/node/6457