 |
 |
Electable?
Posted January 10th, 2008 by kalle1939
output
After the NH vote was counted and I read the exit polls and the reasons people voted for who they did, I can either conclude that the American voter has a political IQ equal to their shoe size,or that Ron Paul did not get the message across to the voters, or that most did not consider him electable in a greater context. I hear the last item used more from people who votes.
For those of us who support RP it is obvious why we are for him and find it incredible that other people cant understand the message. I dont have any answers to any of these questions, but I think the Average American looks for a candidate that is assertive, progressive, cando person with lots of "cojones". Maybe if RP took the gloves off and went on the attack things would change. Maybe if he outlined specifically what they had to gain for voting for him. All kind of scenarios come to mind. Everybody voting has in their mind: what is in it for me. Just my 2c worth.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Hope
'the American voter has a political IQ equal to their shoe size,or that Ron Paul did not get the message across to the voters, or that most did not consider him electable in a greater context.'
All three, BUT, a strange optimism comes from that. Despite Americans' deep-rooted ignorance about economics and foreign policy, and despite Americans' fondness for celebrity-relatives-Ken doll candidates like Schwarzenegger, Bushes, Clintons, Giuliani, Romney, Edwards) and despite Ron's self-admitted faults as a messenger, we are 4th in votes and 1st in money raised. Keep hope alive - JP
Positives vs Negatives
People vote based on positives (what I get) vs negatives (what I don't want) from a candidate. So the opposition (and we give them plenty of ammo) piles on Paul negatives like racism (untrue but hard to prove a negative), tossing grandma in the street by doing away with social security, weirdo supporters like chasing Hannity down the street, conspiracy theorist believes 911 was an inside job, etc.. none of these have to be true.. they just have to 'stick'.
And what are the obvious positives? well, do you want more change like this, show a chart of skyrocketing mandates from the fed that cost us money and the dollar value dropping, or do you want Dr. Paul to get the fed out of the way? Do you want help with student loans, or do you want the feds out of education so the costs will drop?
I'm sure we can think of many of these issues. Paul needs POSITIVES! And he needs them to be front and center...
I recently read an article on carbon sinks in grassland farming trapping CO2 and actually reducing CO2 in the atmosphere -- much preferable to lowering omissions as it is immediate... but instead the fed subsidizes corn! .. http://www.lewrockwell.co... there are lots of environmentalists in Michigan ---
Sales
To be elected president today you have to be a salesman. Look at the presidents we've had. Any one of them could have been very successful selling cars. It's not so much the message, but how it's presented that gets votes from the masses. Think about Paul working at a car dealership. He wouldn't be very successful. If he doesn't get professional sales training, then that's where the TV commercials come in. Those need to make up for the lack of salesmanship. So far the commercials from the official campaign have not been good. For Paul to be elected, he needs new campaign management and a quality marketing team.
Republican Primary
Remember this is a Republican primary and not a general election, there is a difference in who is voting.
I've seen polls in both Iowa and NH that show Ron Paul has the highest UNFAVORABLE rating of all the Republicans (this is from Republicans). In both states I believe it was about 60-65%
What this means is that I think the people here have vastly overestimated the average Republican primary voters desire to return to a more traditional Republican Party platform. In NH even people opposed to the war voted for McCain over Paul and I think that speaks to "electability" in the minds of Republican primary voters. I think a 3rd place finish in NH would have convinced people on the fence in other states that RP was still electable, but I fear people who are not die hard supporters will be looking at other candidates. This may be why RP is showing up at 4-5% in latest polls from SC, MI, FL, etc.
What would need to happen now (IMO) is RP has to do great in the debate, NOT to us, the Ron Paul supporters, but to regular Republicans, this is a point many of you seem to miss. After than he needs to have a decent showing (I would say 3rd place) in one of the pre Super Tuesday states to have any chance.
Specifics
You are so right. Paul needs to add positives. For instance, do you want more college loan money available or lowered tuition after the fed gets out of education. Do you want more mandates added to your tax burden by bureaucratic decisions in DC or do you want fewer bureaucrats!
In campaigns, the candidates that win are the ones who step over from the debate onto the side of the people listening and show how they are on the side of the listeners and against the other candidtes. I saw a republican congressman when the GOP held, the House, the Senate and the Presidency talk about arrogant bureaucrats refusing to appear at hearings. I asked, 'why don't you fire 1/2 the bureaucrats'. Oh .. he said 'I wish we could' and I asked, 'if you can't do it with all three branches, you'll never do it'. He was really beaten. I saw a smile of recognition go across his face that I was using his tactic. the room was on my side against him.
That is what Paul needs. Bush held the Prez, we had a republican house and senate and spending (including mandates) went up.
If so,
then the Republicans that you site in the polls are hipocrites. Just look at the Repub. Party platform- It looks like a mirror image of Dr. Paul!
I really do not understand the mindset of someone not voting for a candidate because of the 'electability' issue. On local and state-wide races do we decide NOT to vote for a person running against some entrenched incumbent, who has boatloads of money and orginazation?
Of course not!! I have probably cast far more votes for someone who I admire and trust and I know does not stand a prayer of winning, than somebody who is a shoe-in. You vote to let the world know that you support the candidates positions. It is almost as if people are placing a bet, just to be on the "winning" side.
Yes he is...
Yes he is electable. I have posted this before on here. The good Dr. still does not have the name recognition he needs. I have talked to several people all over the US as I do software tech support and have brought up his name. Most still have no clue who he is. As I have said before, Howard Stearn JUST found out who he was the other day. But as time goes on, more people are opening thier eyes to what is happening to our great country. People are beginning to wake up and the more they look around, the more they will flock to the good Dr.
Nice
thats nice but unless these people are going to go vote in a Republican primary it doesn't really help. Unless of course RP does what he has been saying he wont and run as an independent or on a 3rd party ticket.