HQ Suggestion - INTERACTIVE WEBCASTING: Why Isn't the Campaign Using This Technology, Instead of Running
Posted January 12th, 2008 by cactus1010
output
Dr. Paul all Over the Country?
Webcasting is the future. And the campaign should be using it. Someone posted this idea earlier, but I could not find that thread. Therefore, I am bringing this subject up again for the following reasons:
1. Ron Paul can reach tens of thousands of people all across the country all at one time.
2. It's cost effective.
3. Ron Paul can do this from anywhere... his home, his office, where ever he wants to.
4. It is interactive, therefore, he can give his speech and then people can ask him questions, just like a townhall meeting.
5. Webcasting can be transmitted, just like a network broadcast, to a townhall setting or an intimate setting in anyone's home where several undecideds have been gathered by a Meetup supporter or any Ron Paul supporter. This is not only one home but many homes in the same city, in the same state, in all the cities and states across the entire country all at the same time.
6. It saves Ron Paul, time and money.
This technology should all ready be in use by the campaign, because they are not able to get the message out in a 30 second or even a 30 minute commercials like they could with WEBCASTING.
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Questions can be emailed
The webcasts can be effective even if it's one-way. Questions can be emailed in advance or called in live. But just giving Dr. P an open platform would also be effective even if its one-way.
I know that several people earlier in the week said they used WC all the time at work so I know it can be done. Having an event at a regular time every week would be a great motivator.
Remember the spontaneous money bomb that occured a few days ago when Dr.P just mentioned we needed $23 million more. Imagine what the response would be if he announced an upcoming webcast. It would probably be the biggest political gathering in history as well the biggest ever on the internet.
Now that could really scare some MSM. They would be in a delima about whether or not to even acknowledge it, becuase it would in essence, be confirming their own demise and demotion to second rate status behind the internet.
Just curious - What do you think about the idea of a nationwide Energy Boycott with the savings going to RP?
Thanks Cactus1010
for following up on the idea. We discussed this topic earlier this week under a forum "The key to winning is weekly webcasting for RP voter recruitment parties". A lot of good ideas then and now, and I hope this webcasting ideal will continue to be pushed.
An interesting stat that shows the potential of webcasting is:
Network News Audience = 25 million US
Internet users = 215 million US
What a hell of an advantage! Plus we are not spending money in the enemy's camp! Also Webcasting give Paul enough time to explain his ideas which usually takes longer than he is given in a debate!
Thanks - yall keep it going!
I looked for your thread, but couldn't find it.
I just thought you had such a great idea, that it deserved some more exposure on this forum.
It still wouldn't have to take all Meetup members of 96,689 to have a Ron Paul Undecided Voters Party. Although, it would be nice, but not realistic. Even if only 25% were to participate and were able to get 10 undecideds to their party. That would be about 242,000 people per week and 3.1M per quarter, that's with one broadcast per week.
I also agree, that this format would afford Dr. Paul more time to articulate where he stands on the issues, in addition, to allow him to elabaorate more about exactly what he would do if he were president. Oh, I mean when he is president.
It would be great if Ron
It would be great if Ron Paul held a weekly webcast, and asked not only every meetup member to watch, but also for each meetup member to also have their families present plus 5 other families.
100000 meetup members. 4 people per family. 2.4 million person audience.
Why don't you do that yourself? Use the new media to create
videos with the message of Ron Paul? The tools are available and the plattforms also, here, www.wtpcast.com, I cerated it 2 weeks ago, tried to spread the word... but apparently, there are not a lot of people willing to take the initiative for this purpose!
As Dr. Paul continues to be marginalized and blacked out by
the Old Media, he and his campaign needs to look ahead to altenatives, in order to advance his message and keep it front and center.
Webcasting, in my opinion, is that alternative and the campaign should start putting this in place as soon as possible.
Send a email to HQ
Great idea
http://www.ronpaul2008.co...
Send them this suggestion with names of people who can set it up.
I'm voting for Ron Paul come hell or high water.
The vast majority of voters
The vast majority of voters clearly is not on the net for the bulk of their day, and they have more 'important' things to do than follow the campaign in much detail. This is reality today.
Yes
This workout will also allow him to be much calmer during the TV debates
This is a good idea
No question.
We need this to inform and activate the base!
Let's get it rolling. We can't wait for the NH govt. to act for us. Just like Bev Harrison said we need to know what the chain of custody is before the powers that be make the necessary changes with unused ballots to match the first outcome. Who is looking into this?
Hi. I did this job
Hi. I did this job (webcasting) for my university for 3 years. Webcasting is not very difficult to do at all actually, though there are still enough "gotcha's" to it that it is not a trivial matter. I built a standalone system that we used for any campus webcasts, up to and including our all-important interviews for the new university President, as well as for several events that we did for the Governor's office or the Board of Trustees.
It basically allowed for up to three camera/video inputs and up to four audio inputs (it was a small, "consumer-pro" video production console and audio mixing board connected to a webcasting computer). We even used the box to massively scale a very large, international event from our campus, but in this case (as would be the case in Ron Paul's case) our audio and video sources came from a professional video production console, and we used a hosting service to send the feed out world-wide.
That is the kicker. A hosting service should be used for the feeds to the world. All your webcaster needs to do is to be able to send the one good feed to the hosting service, and then the consumers on the internet get the feed from them - that's how you scale it. Our webcasting box cost less than $10K total, and we used another $10K worth of Canon XL and GL consumer-pro cameras and a handful of wireless microphones.
Everything scaled both into and out of the box. If we needed higher quality audio or video we tweaked the inputs, if we needed to scale our webcast for more consumers we contracted with a hosting service. The box itself (the webcasting computer) never had to breathe hard at all even when we had to "give it all it had" for the Governor or the Board of Trustees.
Again, it all (usually) worked well, and the more experience we gained with it, the more reliable our service got. We eventually turned it over to the regular campus videography group, and now it is a production service.
Cheers,
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. - George Washington
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel... The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. - Patrick Henry
He doesnt need this- he Needs to explain the race thing
I've been called Troll so many times on this board its not funny....
Now after reading this link and going to #9 is there anyone willing to listen?
Can I gell you something...if he does # 5 and # 11 alone he could gain momentum again...
No clue what I'm talking about? Then click the link and get these 12 steps to victory the HQ now. Time is of the essence.
-----------------DO YOU REALLY WANT RON TO WIN------------------
Ron needs more than just money. Send this strategy to mail@ronpaul2008.com and also to press@ronpaul2008.com if these ideas make sense to you
www.dailypaul.com/node/14...
I agree with this guy!
I agree with this guy!
Here's another one calling you a TROLL
Go run for president yourself if you're so critical.
What sense does it make to
What sense does it make to call someone who offers criticism of the campaign a troll? A troll is someone who posts something gratuitously fringe in order to get a reaction. If it's his bona fide belief that the campaign could be improved, why can't he state that?
Isn't trying to suppress or shame all dissenters the same as the neocon method of calling anybody who disagrees with the course the US is taking a traitor? Is it OK to agree with Ron Paul and yet disagree with some aspects of the campaign? Or not?
THANK YOU..VERY WELL SAID
The thin skinned masses on this site have forgotten what a Troll really is. I've been on this board for months and I've supported Dr. Paul in my personal life since June when I first got wind of him.
Squashing dissent is a neocon way of responding to critique. I fear that I see the same type of self induced policing going on here as you could see with the Bush administration.
If i were insulting Dr. Paul I'd understand...but we have to support the HQ with IDEAS and critique to help them. Ron Paul is not Jesus..he doesnt know everything thats happening on the ground
ron needs our help and these forums are a place to bounce ideas so we can help the campaign. flagging and banning good ideas is the exact opposite of Dr Pauls philosophy
-----------------DO YOU REALLY WANT RON TO WIN------------------
Ron needs more than just money. Send this strategy to mail@ronpaul2008.com and also to press@ronpaul2008.com if these ideas make sense to you
www.dailypaul.com/node/14...
I am running for president the moment i get your vote
This isn't some kumbaya meeting folks. Do you understand that we're trying to unseat the federal reserve?
Do you understand we're trying to nullify the Military Industrial Complex?
Do you realize we're trying to eradicate the IRS?
Perhaps a bit of a harsh critique is needed. I'm no pussy...My boots are laced up and I'm fighting online and in the real world for this message. Dr. Paul owes everyone like you and I to make sure we're equipped in this battle. Find my post called "Black Voters Will Forgive Ron If He.."
We can WIN but it will take more than pipe dreams and friggin pats on the back for every little thing that Dr. Paul does...
-----------------DO YOU REALLY WANT RON TO WIN------------------
Ron needs more than just money. Send this strategy to mail@ronpaul2008.com and also to press@ronpaul2008.com if these ideas make sense to you
www.dailypaul.com/node/14...
Let's Get 'er Done - Times A Wastin'
These are things the home office should have already been doing. I really don't know what they're doing sitting on the contributions. If we don't get a little push in Mich., NV., or S. Carolina.......Super Tuesday could end up being a Superdud for Ron Paul..............Money Bomb late January, just in time to remind neocons that Ron Paul has the money to hang around and wear their tired old candidates out! Even the neocons respect Money!
Webex is pretty much the standard
Webex is pretty much the standard for these sorts of things. No need to re-invent the wheel. I'm sure they would be willing to negotiate for a quantity discount.
Forget weekly webcasts, The campaign should have daily webcasts, even if it's only from Dr. Paul's plane. Keeps people connected and motivated.
While the previous poster may or may not be correct...
there are companies who provide this service and the cost is not prohibitive, nor is the process as complicated, when you let those who are in the business of Webcasting do what they do best.
And in the long run may end up costing less than if we tried to do it ourselves.
However, both may want to be checked out.
From an IT person, "So you want to broadcast on the internet?"
To get this ball rolling, we will need a few critical things.
To break them down into their primary (pun intended) units:
I. Hosting
II. Software
III. Hardware - Non-Computer
IV. Marketing
I. Hosting
Hosting, or the computer required to accomodate a MMORPG
(Massively Multiuser Online Ron Paul Grandstand) ((IT folks should
appreciate that, heheh)) is needed that is both capable of housing the
software, and providing the bandwidth needed to present the online
event.
Using a multiple host system, the cost would be minimal. Multiple
host systems are more easily described as:
We put the actual broadcast of the audio/video on a single system. That
system is purely dedicated to nothing but getting the outgoing message
onto the internet. It has no other purpose, so 100% of it's available
power and bandwidth can be harnessed in SENDING the broadcast across the internet.
We put another 'site' on a different server. This site contains all of
the INCOMING TEXT corrospondence that is moved through the system. Whether it is a live chatroom, or some sort of forum-based system, where people can post questions, assist in suggesting which questions would be best for Dr Paul to answer, and which can be accessed through a secure administration panel for a representative of Dr Paul's campaign staff to review the highest-rated questions.
This site can also be used for post-broadcast conversations, transcripts
of the broadcast in text formats, and to gauge the outcome of the broadcast through polling systems. For instance, "How well do you think Ron Paul answered the question about XXXXXXX", with a rating system built into it.
That system could then be used to determine whether more focus on, or a different approach to, answering the question should be considered.
The third system that would be needed would be one to house multiple
copies of the 'recorded event'. This would serve as a repository/archive of the audio/video segments. The video could be provided in 'whole' form, where a visitor could view the entire event - and could also be clipped for each individual question/answer, so a visitor could view the response to an individual question, without having to view the entire event. These clips would be useful for uploads to other video oriented sites, such as YouTube, to allow for faster and direct answers to individual questions.
Additionally, if demand for the video clips grew, the first system I discussed could have an 'alternate use' of hosting the archived clips when the live broadcasts were not taking place.
If future events were to be held, the 'archive' on the first system would
be temporarily taken down, and any incoming 'upload' requests to that system shut off during the duration of the secondary events, to give that system the full power to distribute the 'live' message once again.
II. Software
For the system to function, software is required to handle all the aspects
of what section I (above) has referenced.
Software for the actual video/audio capture and broadcast of Dr Paul's
comments during the event.
Software (hopefully the same program) to store a copy of the event.
Software to edit the broadcast into easy to index, easy to categorize and
easy to upload/download clips.
Software to run the question entry forms, question 'ranking' systems, polling and forum systems.
The last two items on that list are available at no cost to this cause,
because I already have licensed commercial copies of the software required to do them - and the hardware to get the job done.
The first item on the list, the actual 'broadcasting software', would
have to be researched and a suitable package purchased.
The second item, hopefully, is a part of the broadcasting software package.
III. Hardware - Non-Computer
In order to get Dr Paul on screen, and heard, a suitable environment will have to be obtained for the broadcast to be held. This is basically a press room where he can sit, or stand, and answer questions.
An adequate camera/sound system will be needed that can be directly set up to 'feed' into the server that broadcasts the event.
So, a camera/microphone.. perhaps one with USB support.. something like that.
IV. Marketing
It would be a wonderous feat if enough 'advertising' were done to get
thousands of people to log in for the live event. Though bandwidth issues
from too many people might cause problems overall.
Getting people to the LIVE version should not be the major priority here.
Getting some undecided voters is a great start - but those who are already waiting in anticipation for their opportunity to vote for Dr Paul should not be connected to the live event at all. We will need that bandwidth for the undecided voters.
Where the 'marketing' comes in will be after the event is completed,
categorized, indexed and edited into clips for ease of use. That is when
the word should go 'extremely national'. Whether it is through the MSM or
by clips on various 'YouTube' type sites, newsletters or blogs - getting
people to the resulting clips of information should be the larger goal
of any 'marketing' efforts.
Summary
There you have it. Building the sites themselves is not an issue. There
are plenty of us here with the capabilities to both build a secure system with all the bells and whistles that would be required. I could build them myself.
Video clip editing is also a no-brainer, as we have that already as well.
Hosting the site on multiple servers is not expensive, as decent hosting
providers (proven high-bandwidth providers, not the cheap low-bandwidth ones) are readily available for as little as $30 a month.
If someone could do some research into the broadcasting software, and hopefully find one that will create an archivable copy of the event, that would be great.
We would need three servers. I can suggest three different hosting providers that would be suitable to the task at hand, or someone else can.
We would need a domain name (just one) that would work. I would suggest not using something like 'RonPaulSpeaks.com', because some people would instantly think the information contained at the site was biased (even if it is), and not bother looking.
Dont run out and buy one immediately! If something comes along, it's best to ask the IT people both 'how' and 'where' to purchase the domain. Some domain registration sites have free 'tools' that are very valuable in setting up a domain structure like the one discussed here - while others sadly lack in them.
So, if you are serious, there's the long and short of one potential way
to make it work. Of course Dr Paul himself would have to approve the idea, because if he has no time to put into something like a 'monthly' or 'weekly' address to the internet, there is no need to set this up - and it is understandable if he would not have the time. I'm sure running for the Presidency of the United States has a way of filling up your daily schedule :)
CF
This is your second post on how complicated something like this
would be... Why is that? When there are companies who provide this service and do not charge an arm and leg for it.
Oh, and to answer your direct question..
"Why is that?"
Because setting up self-made systems is what I do. From the design of a site, to hosting it, to application programming and implementation, graphics, video, security.. you name it - that's what I do.
If a company can be found to handle all this stuff at a reasonable price, that's terrific :)
But if it was going to be a "Let all our IT professionals work on this", as was suggested, and which is what I was responding to, then there's a lot of things to consider.
:)
CF
Then Find One
If there is a company out there that can provide a service that will do everything I stated in my enormous post above, that's fantastic.
As my post stated, the actual 'capture and broadcast live' part of it is what needs to be researched.
One member said something about webex. They do the broadcast, interactive thing - true. From the looks of their 'live broadcast' pricing section, it costs 'as little as 33 cents per user, per minute'.
If this were to be something huge. say 10,000 people all logged in to view the live event.. that comes out to $200k per hour.
I'm unaware of how many people would be desired to 'show up' for the live broadcast. 10,000? More? Less? 1000? 100? I haven't a clue.
I was thinking more of 10,000 computers with maybe 100,000 to
150,000 doing the viewing. That $200,000 doesn't seem all that expensive to reach over a hundred thousand undecided voters viewing along side Ron Paul supporters in the comfort of the supporters living or family room.
Just my opinion, but it seems like money well spent, because in humanizes Ron Paul by viewing and interacting with him in a home setting.
You are never sure how a 30 or 60 second commercial is going to be received. However, with webcasting you get immediate feedback.
I apologize if I ruffled your feathers. It's just that you made it sound so negative and next to impossible to accomplish.
And I believe it could be so positive, if everyone put heads together and made it work.
No feathers ruffled :) It
No feathers ruffled :)
It CAN be done, but I wanted to give the "If our IT guys put it together themselves" answer to the question.
Using something like Webex is also a route that can be explored. I'm not shooting down the idea at all.
If Webex can provide the whole shabang at a price that is payable, then that's good all around, because building something that huge from 'scratch' can take months. We're not talking about a web forum, or a simple download dropsite for a few files, so it's pretty intense stuff.
I'd say, get someone with the 'authority' to get ahold of Webex (or whoever) and start getting quotes. Find out what IS included in their services, so whatever parts are not included can be worked on by our own techy guru types.
Building a broadcast specific forum with polls and rating systems, a question asking form, editing individual clips for future use, and stuff like that are things that are not hard to do - and dont take too long to get done.
Implementing broadcasting software, arranging bandwidth and setting up interactive live video streams.. now that's a pain :)
CF
at my company we use
at my company we use http://www.webex.com for all our big meetings & I think it may work for this
"Great men do not seek power, they have great power thrust upon them" - Klingon proverb
www.myspace.com/chapel_of...
www.ronpaul2008.com
Why do businesses continue to use the Interactive Webcast
network if it were not successful?
Do they not use webcasting
Do they not use webcasting mainly for negotiation situations?
No, that's not correct, many use it to promote products
to potential buyers.
Just look further down in this thread and see how one company uses it for product promotion.
And isn't that what Ron Paul is doing... selling his message to the American voter?
This is a product the American people have been waiting for, but so few even knows it exists. However, if they did, they would certainly want to vote for it.
That's where webcasting comes in, it will introduce Ron Paul to many more people then he would ever hope to reach by traveling from city to city giving speeches.
Okay. How about
Okay. How about this:
http://esm.cs.cmu.edu/
If you are suggesting this method over Interactive Webcasting,
I just don't think it would be as effective, because it would be like viewing youtube.
And youtube does not compare to Interactive Webcasting, it's like comparing apples to oranges.
Youtube will do. Much of the
Youtube will do. Much of the interactivity is inevitably lost anyway when the audience grows too big, regardless of medium.
Youtube is not the same as watching and hearing Ron Paul in real
time. And with an audience of undecideds viewing along side Ron Paul supporters.
There's a big difference between the two.
Wasn't Ron Paul's speech in NH Webcast on the RonPaul2008?
Mike
Who is Ron Paul? I am Ron Paul! We are Ron Paul!
"Fire Team for Freedom" on RonPaulRadio.com
Mondays and Wednesdays 10pm EST
or visit www.mikeandjake.com
The NH townhall meeting was supposed to have been aired on
local Public Access television The Public Access station site put up a video, however, that is not the same as webcasting, it was more like youtube.
You mean the one that did
You mean the one that did not work? :)
Again, need experienced IT volunteers. There are many of us out there who can do more than wave signs and knock on doors. The campaign simply needs to tap the vast resources (beyond money!) it has in all of us.
i like this idea
i've been jonesing for an RP video diary... but this takes it one step further.
I think people are missing the point here. I am not talking
about tens of thousands of individual computers. I'm talking tens of thousands of people watching maybe a few thousand computers.
If Meetup groups and/or Ron Paul suporters set up a computer at a rented hall or have Ron Paul get to gethers at their homes. This will not require a computer for each person attending, it will require just one computer for all those in attendence.
I don't believe it will be as cost prohibitive or as complicated as some may think or those who are trying to make it out to be.
Here's just one company that provides webcasting services
There is so much information regarding WEBCASTING on this site and here are just two.
http://www.vtnstudios.com...
Overview
Live, interactive webcasting is a communications tool that can deliver a specific message to a targeted audience. This targeted audience may be reached 24 hours a day over the public Internet or over private Intranets. In general, live event webcasting is ideal for delivering your message from “one to many”.
Public Network (Internet)
The public Internet enables over 100 million potential viewers to watch your live event. These potential viewers are globally dispersed and feature various degrees of connection speeds. Delivering video over the Internet requires the correct size video stream be delivered to each viewer based upon that viewer’s individual connection speed. VTN Studios has developed a delivery system called AutoStream that delivers the correct stream bandwidth and resolution to each individual viewer automatically, thus assuring the best possible viewer experience with the best possible ease of use.
This one is very
This one is very interesting..but we may want to use this over and over again. Is it cheaper to buy our own equiptment?
I've been saying this from
I've been saying this from the beginning. The campaign need to tap the grassroots, especially those in the IT sector, to accomplish this.
Cost is the only obstical
Setting up an online 'Town Meeting' type system is not difficult.
You just need to put a system in place to handle the needs of a multiuser environment.
Quick example, you would need:
A system where you sign up and get a password so you can participate (just like they have here). (easy)
A system for posting questions/concerns/comments to the site. (easy)
A method for the 'audience' to see the incoming questions and 'vote' on them as to how important they feel any individual question is. (easy)
A secure administration area so a person can review the most highly ranked questions and pass them on to Dr Paul (easy)
Dr Paul to sit at a microphone and/or webcam and answer the questions that are presented to him. (easy, once he sits down)
Dr Paul would then be able to communicate to any/all who were listening, via voice, video, or both.
A transcriptionist could be assigned to type out the answers Dr Paul provided to the questions, and they could be posted to the screen as he speaks (for hearing impaired people, or for future reference needs).
Here's where things begin to hit a wall. Yes, many large companies use the internet to have meetings and communicate with audio and video on a daily basis.
The difference between between what they do, and what is being proposed here, is the potential number of simultaneous participants.
A big company might have a few dozen people in on an internet conference meeting, or even a few hundred when you count those who can 'watch' but not 'participate', and things work fairly smoothly. But in the case of a campaign, you would expect there to be thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people who all want to participate in, monitor, or otherwise watch/listen to the broadcast.
A server that could handle such a task would not only be very expensive to use, but the software to run such a multi-user broadcast and bandwidth to carry the message, would either be massively expensive or just plain unobtainable.
An alternate solution might be to not have the broadcast go out live. It could be a pre-recorded system. All of the parts to how it would work, including the signups, question submission, 'ranking' of the importance of the question, final selection of the questions, giving them to Dr Paul and his recording his audio and/or video responses to them could be done without many computer/bandwidth problems at all.
Delivering the message would then be through numerous routes. Posting selections on sites like YouTube, or individual short-answers on the proposed site itself, would cut the cost and requirement for an insane amount of financial backing for computers and bandwidth.
Another way to accomplish the same feat would be to eliminate the audio/video aspects completely. The entire system could be set up with a 'live text chat' broadcast, with either Dr Paul himself typing the answers, or a transcriber typing the answers for him as he speaks.
All that amounts to is a chatroom. You can get tens of thousands watching that without much hassle - and the transcripts can be archived for reading at a later date.
Again, just as I pointed out in my first post to this board, the technological potentials of computers to assist us in both the campaign and voting processes of our election processes are both an inspiration and a 'cool new toy'. But there are underlying issues that make the ideas, no matter how well deserved, impossible to deploy.
Technology isn't ready for a low-cost solution to every desire for communications. It's out there, yes, but the costs are still astronomical.
Just an opinion from someone who has been in the business of internet based software and communications for over ten years..
CF
Cost is trivial if shared
You basically just distribute requests amongst many machines. Those machines that are overloaded simply get taken out of the pool and the web request is sent to another machine.
For $8.95 a month you could open a hosting account and put the webcast on your server allowing the front end "brain" access to the content.
Its called a distributed system; similar to google, it could be done "grass roots" with no long term investment just thousands of small machines (even your PC connected via DSL) sharing the load.
A little organization could go a long way, and the project fits beautifully with tech savvy RP supporters.
Think of WEBCASTING as a network much like Faux, CNN, MSNBC.
Webcasting is a broadcast like any other broadcast on any network, except this is the Intenet network.
And it's so much better because the viewers can interact with the broadcaster in real time.
This is the new technology... the wave of the future, that will eventually make the Old Media go the way of the horse and buggy.
HQ Suggestion:
HQ Suggestion:
add this to the front of your title!
That's what we've been doing to catch their attention
UPDATE :-)
thanks for responding!
they ARE watching us, btw!
Interactive Webcasting
I say add the tool to the tool box, but there is a population of voters who don't know what "google ron paul" means. They prolly think "google ron paul" is some foreign language.
The voters don't need to know one thing about computers or the
Internet. All they have to do is show up at a Ron Paul get together at a friend, neighbor, coworkers home... sit down in front of a computer screen and see and hear Ron Paul speak to them.
When he's done speaking they get to ask questions and he gets to answer them.
It's really that simple. Now if the campaign can only figure out how to do this, it would be great.
Maybe there are some savvy Ron Paul computer geeks who would be willing to help them out?
Several reasons.
1) They can't figure out HOW to use it. (They've tried and failed at several venues -- the Chicago Rally in September was one).
2) They would need to plan events more than a few days ahead of time.
3) It is NOT as effective as in-person campaigning (hard to get your picture taken next to a candidate on-screen... though I suppose we could get cardboard cutouts made).