How can we convince the "I like him but he 'can't win'" crowd?

How about: we won Louisiana.

Booyah!

Renewable Wealth - Profitable Green Investing

This is not a time to be quibbling around issues. These are dire times, we are already in some serious trouble. We can no longer afford to choose the lesser of 2 evils. It's time to ask who do YOU think is best fit for the job. Politician or a statesman?...

and then point out all the success RP has been having...

itworksmostofthetime

1) Once he begins to win (2nd in NV, possibly 1st in LA), simply say "but he can win."
2) If a third party gets greater than 15% of the popular vote (I think) the FEC recognizes that party as a "Major" party in the next election. This apparently has a slue of benefits. So, they are furthering a process that will give them MORE OPTIONS in coming elections.

"Your vote doesn't matter among the millions of other votes" is very convincing, I think.

A voter who imagines that he can affect the outcome of the election, is an idiot. It is mathematically impossible. No president has ever been elected with one single vote's margin, and never will. So the one vote you have, will never matter.

So voting is evidently not at all about influencing who will win the election. Voting is a symbolic ritual, a private matter, a kind of meditation which is disconnected from causes and effects in the real world.

You vote for what you believe in, for the sake of your personal conscience! No one will ever now what you voted for, and your vote will have no consequences at all. The only rational option is to vote to feel good.

First and foremost point out that *two* candidates are biting the dust - Thompson and Ghouliani... Soon Ron Paul's message will only be split among *four* war-mongers - if nothing else, tell them, just keep paying attention, Ron Paul's support is growing as word-of-mouth overcomes the medias blackout.
Tell them what do you want to vote for - warmongering or your CONVICTIONS... if you vote for someone who doesnt back your convictions you are GUILTY of perpetuating the sin.

Also note that even if Paul does not win the election, by voting for him you are helping to get the word out that our system is broken and this needs fixing and only if people STAND UP FOR THEIR PRINCIPALS will anything ever happen..
MOST IMPORTANTLY -POINT OUT THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT IN THE 60'S - IF NOBODY HAD PROTESTED, FAUGHT, RAGED AGAINST THE COPORATE FASCIST MEDIA AT THAT TIME we might still be dying in Vietnam - Past REVOLUTIONS SHOW THAT PEACE will always win out, but is it to be NOW or later??? that is the question - eventually PEACE will WIN OUT... but must the blood total be so high that we forever hand our heads in shame as in Vietnam that we didnt get our troops out of their sooner....
Then point out how we f&cked up the troops so bad that many never had productive lives ever - do you want to see that happen to THIS generation of troops.... and again remind them that our media IS CONTROLLED and show the evidence of descrimination towards Ron Paul who is calling out the Fascist Controlled Media - the evidence is on the internet... google Ron Paul and one thing will lead to another and hopefully their minds will be changed...
If this doesnt succeed, forget it, you are talking to a sheep... tell them if you want to remain a sheep and controlled then dont research for yourself - perhaps you can SHAME them into checking out Ron Paul...

otherwise I would give up.... I worked my sister and brother-in-law over til they gave in and watched the last debate and they support Ron Paul but still with reservations about his electibility - so I challenge them to test that electibility come their primary dates.... go and vote Ron Paul or sit back and be sheep

Dr. Paul won't win the nomination. He understands this. But, he is surprised by the support he is getting because he understands that there is a generation of persons who have heard the message of liberty without being fully indoctrinated in the message of statism.

He understands that you will educate your children in the message of liberty. It will be a slow revolution. I won't live to see it. You probably won't either. But, it will come.

"Cheers for liberty, my man."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qpVWPlqSAw&feature=related

"The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand
http://www.myspace.com/goldenstategalt

RON PAUL WINS!!

"It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it."

It is about them winning personally. Then go on to explain how candidates are picked for them and not by them. This is their opertunity to get their voice heard.
Unless they like the direction the country has gone in the last 60 years this might the best last hope to make a change in the right direction.

Tell that person that this kind of lemming mentality gave FOX news the power to choose our candidates for us. This isn't a popularity contest. Thinking like this might have mattered in a Nader vs. Gore type situation. But all of the other candidates suck big time in the same way. The only way we will make a difference for future generations is to show Coke and Pepsi that we are sick of drinking cola because our teeth are rotting!!!! Ron Paul is like fresh squeezed orange juice, chalked full of natural vitamins that prevent you from financial illness.

You aren't going to get liberty unless you ask for it. We have to show them that we are not going to stand for the status quo any longer. So any vote in the right direction is just that. Even if he doesn't win, no one else deserves your vote. period.

about Reagan too!

That if we are truly to be a free society then we must act accordingly. Specifically by voting. not just for the same select few, but for the truly independent thinkers who are not enslaved to a group of special interest.

i also mention what he has accomplished, WITHOUT MEDIA support.

by saying "Ron Paul IS winning - the media just isn't telling you about it". That gets them thinking... hmmm, really?! Then I say "yeah, Ron Paul has won just about all the Straw Polls... he's beaten Rudy and Thompson in most of the primaries already... and he just beat out Hillary in Nevada!". That is either enough to make them want more info or not. If so, give them a dvd - offer more info. If not, NEXT!

Joe

Tell them they can stay enslaved then. Go on, be the same slave to your government that you've always been. Don't cry or complain when you FRN's don't buy anything anymore and you can't afford to feed yourself because that's where we're headed.

Quote John Adams --

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

And then hit 'em between the eyes with everything you like from this thread. Great stuff here!!

I especially like the one about using their logic against them when it comes to polling data.

Viv la R3VOLUTION

Tell them we all lose unless Paul wins!

Then tell him that he can win!

To bad these sheep are getting others in trouble.

Based on my experiences, there are:

1.People who don't know much about Ron Paul, but respond to Ron Paul's messages almost right way. You should spend more time trying to find these people. There are so many out there. I found it's much better to spend time finding these people. These people are likely to become active almost right away like many people here. It's much better to find these people. But, still, the key is to present the right information. I got Ron Paul DVD's from a meetup and the DVD has been very successful.

2. People who say, "I like Ron Paul, but..." We need their votes, but they won't help us right away. Based on my experiences, it's better to leave them alone. Just give them an info package, slim jim, DVD, YouTube links, etc. and move on. My feeling is that these people will look around and eventually come around after seeing so many Ron Paul bumper stickers and hearing other people talking about Ron Paul. Some of them may even try to act as if he or she was for Ron Paul from the get go once they find out that a lot of people are for Ron Paul. Don't waste your time on these people.

3. People who are just not interested. Move on.

Merely "remind" them this remains their opportunity to communicate their true personal positions to the Republican Party, in the way that matters.

When the RNC and its nominee are shaping up their platform, they have NO way of knowing that you like Paul and his positions enough to vote for them -- unless you vote for him.

A single popular vote will never determine the nomination, but it can be a true vote for your beliefs, and one that encourages future pro-liberty candidacies.

I just don't get why people think the lesser evil argument applies to primaries, especially primaries where it doesn't matter which of the evil ones wins.

Ron Paul's foreign policy position of no nation building and no sending brave young Americans into harms way overseas to police the world is the same position that won George W. Bush the Republican nomination and the Presidency in the 2000 election. It is the only position with any potential of drawing the bipartisan and independent support needed to win in the general election.

While Americans were throwing Republicans out of office in droves in 2006, Congressman Paul received over 60% of the vote in his district.

According to the Federal Election Commission, active military donate more to Ron Paul than any other Republican. His record breaking 4th quarter fundraising of nearly $20 million leads the GOP and puts him on par with the leading Democrats.

Ron Paul is a Veteran, a Medical Doctor and married over 50 years to his wife Carol. He has 5 grown children and 18 grand children. In his 20 years in Congress, Ron Paul has amassed one of the most conservative and Constitutionally compliant voting records in American history. The man is a modern day Founding Father. The lobbyist call him "Dr. No" because special interest groups can never get any of our money out of him.

He is pro-life, strong on National defense, and gun owners have no better friend in Congress. He wants to cut taxes, cut spending, and secure the borders. He is a true Conservative. A REAL Republican who's rock solid record stands head and shoulders above any of the other Candidates.

PRESIDENT PAUL

Year after year, administration after administration, Republican or Democrat; nothing seems to be able to stop the unrelenting growth of government. Every time government expands, Americans must sacrifice more of our wealth and more of our freedoms.

The moment Ron Paul becomes President, the era of big Government in Washington is over!!!

President Paul would usher in a return to the Constitutional principles of limited government, just taxation, fiscal responsibility, sound money, free market trade, individual liberty and strong national defense.

Freedom, peace and prosperity is Ron Paul's campaign message. He wants to get rid of the income tax, abolish the IRS, end the Federal Reserve monopoly and he's in it to win it. Let's get back to the future; Back to the Constitution.

Vote Ron Paul! Thank You.

May our efforts in support of Doctor and Congressman Ron Paul's Campaign to be President of these United States of America be blessed with supernatural productivity and success

Listen People,
I was discouraged by NH and IA, but now I can see everything falling into place. All we have to do is make it to the brokered convention and then all of the American people will get to hear Ron Paul's message.
I guarantee you that once they hear his message, our numbers will grow exponentially. Currently we are getting endorsements and funding from first time donors at an unprecedented rate. Even Joe Scarborough of Morning Joe has complained about media bias. People are starting to wake up from the Neocon induced coma of apathy.
And the best way to get to the brokered convention is to donate to RonPaul2008.com so the campaign can afford television ads, which we all know are the best way to reach people. Give as often as you can, even ten dollars will make a difference. I have recently had a lot of people who had not followed the presidential race thus far, ask me about Ron Paul.
This goes to what I had always believed, most Americans are too busy during the Holidays to pay attention to the Presidential Race. But now, many Americans are starting to get interested and are starving for something other than choosing the lesser of two evils.
Once exposed to the message of freedom, there is no turning back.
I will give my life to Ron Paul and his message if given the opportunity.
We must exact revenge on any main stream media personality that says anything bad about Ron Paul by bombarding that person with intelligently reasoned e-mails describing the folly of the comments.
Listen Main Stream Media, we are not going to go away. You will have to confront the conscious Americans at some point in time. Ron Paul's message makes too much sense for us to easily disregard. It comes down to two choices, you're either with the American public or against us.
Ron Paul supporters, you must never lose heart, for we are in a battle of epic proportions. Everybody is against us, as you have seen. They are the Military Industrial Complex, the drug companies, the bought and paid for politicians, and the media. Ghandi once said that at first those in power seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always!
WE WILL TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK !!!

Most people I encounter suffer from a bad case of " It doesnt matter who I vote for " apathy. Some want to go for the winner, sounds odd but true. I have had a few gender and race ones as well. I always say research your candidate. If they are a member of the CFR or affilliated with them, dont vote for them. Then I explain what the CFR is and how this is a direct violation of our Constitution. If this fails, I say, well voting for the lesser of two evils IS still evil ! If you are throwing your vote away on evil, you might just as well give it to the good guy for once, Ron Paul.

Because the MSM selects the candidates and the voters are sheeps who follow the radio and tv commentators without independent thinking, the Doc has to change his plan of action. The strategy to go with the republicans was correct.After the republicans(MSM) will select the candidate,Dr. Paul must go independent.As an Independent( the MSM will have no choise to eliminate him from the race) the doc will have the direct benefit of the popular support of the millions of money contributors and followers.The Doc is the most conservativ Republican but "not enough" for the Republican Party recte MSM( O'Reiley, Hannathy, Medved etc....)

and who can really stay in it for the long haul?

RON PAUL FOR THE LONG HAUL!

Ron Paul - best finish so far - 2nd Place (Nevada)
Rudy - best finish so far - 4th place (NH)

So who is more viable again?

I'd be more interested in changing their voting habit than having them vote for Ron Paul. Them choosing Ron Paul I'd leave up to them. I'd be very happy if they'd choose him, obviously.

"Can't win?" "According to the big media polls?"

Does that mean that you don't really decide "who is the best candidate which fits your criteria", but rather, you listen to the media polls then decide who you vote for based upon what they tell you?
This usually gets an emotional response with them realizing that they were going to be a media opinion slave.

"Can't win?" "According to the republican primary results"
Same basic argument - Do you vote your conscience or what the hardcore republican zealots (majority of primary voters) herd tells you to vote?

It's not democracy if you ignore your own criteria and follow the lemming mentality.

rp08

tell them there is a vicious contradiction in what they are saying...cos if no one votes for him, then he won't win...this is true for every candidate...its only if one votes for a candidate that they have any chance of winning!...also ask them how they would feel about voting their conscience, their beliefs...everybody loves to do that...its just that they have never had the chance to...ask them that if there was an option between voting for hitler or for any other peace loving candidate and i hitler was assured of winning, who would they vote for?...just stretch their inherently illogical argument to its logical extreme...

Go to ManOfCommonSense.com and get the flyers.

Print them duplexed (the "Did You STOP Voting?" on one side and the "Common Sense = Accountability" on the other).

If THAT doesn't convince them to vote their beliefs... then I have to wonder if anything will.

they said the same thing about Ronald Reagan. (punkd!)

that they have nothing to lose by voting for him in the primary. It is not "helping a democrat".

Tell them they get no points for picking the winner... they should vote for the person they think is right. Ask them would they rather have bragging rights to the winner of the election or when it all comes crashing down would they want bragging rights to the person that predicted it would happen.

The media has brainwashed the American people to think that this is a popularity contest... the one with the most airtime would seem that way...

You will see this in how the polls(I know don't trust polls) swing towards the last winner from state to state...

Wake up people vote for your heart not what your told.

tell them he wont have a chance if nobody votes for him! Also remind them this is just the primary and not the election! and last say its not about who can win its about voting for what you stand for. If everyone voted for who was gonna win there would be no point in an election. THIS IS NOT A HORSE RACE!! Vote for who you want to win or dont vote at all! Thank you.

Keep in mind that the words "Ron Paul - He doesn't have a chance" have been reiterated by the mainstream media for months now like some kind of propaganda mind control mantra! I have been through this with people and it is very difficult to break through. I always mention the money bombs, the massive grassroots support (far exceeding other candidates), the amount of meetup members, the fact that Ron Paul support is growing bigger and bigger every day. Also remember to let them know that the polls are not counting independants, and that they are only polling people who voted for GW Bush (an incumbant) in the last primary. The republican base has shrunk because it is shifting away from its fiscally conservative roots and Ron Paul will harness those people that strayed from Bush. (Those people that are not being polled). I always tell people that it's just a primary election and to vote for the candidate that best represents their personal views. I always close by reminding them of some simple facts about Ronald Reagan. They said Reagan "doesn't have a chance", and that he was "unelectable", and "who would vote for an actor". Yet he won! The fact is Ron Paul DOES have a chance! As long as he gets the votes of everyone who likes him!

This has worked for me:

Ask them, "Where did you hear that he can't win? Who told you that?" I'm sure they will say the TV. Then ask them what the TV has told them that was good about RP. I'm sure your point will get across.

After you make this point, ask them, "Are you going to vote for who _you_ want or the candidate the media wants you to have." (sorry, does that make sense?)

Point out that he came in second in Nevada.

Point out that the other front runners are dropping like flies, they are broke, and like those who have voted for Thompson found, it is a wasted vote after they drop out.

Personal assure them that he will run all the way to the end, he will NEVER drop out and he most likely will win, the media just won't except this yet, why have they fought so hard to make him disappear.

Ask them if any other candidate's supporter has knocked on their door, and assure them it is happening around the country.

Tell them, "Guilliani is broke, Huckabee is broke, McCain os broke." Broke means no donations, no donations means no support, no support means no votes. This leaves Romney and Paul in the end. Do you think if it came to Romney and Paul, Romney would stand a chance?

He won't if you don't vote for him!

GO GET 'UM TIGER!!!

He can win, if every time you heard that, we had a vote for Ron Paul.

Tell them its going to be a brokered national convention and Ron Paul has more delegates than anyone else. Also tell him that most of the candidates are broke except for Ron Paul

I have a reply that works 100% of the time. I use their own reasoning to convince them. When people say Paul can't win because he polls at 4 or 8% I ask them if they believe that poll. Regardless of the answer I tell them that 70% of the voting public is anti war and it appears to be rising every day. That means ONLY an anti war candidate will win. A pro war candidate has a 30% chance of winning. If they are republicans this scares the hell out of them when the reality sinks in that their pro war candidate absolutely will not win. They like Paul on most issues anyway and if it means they have to fudge on the war issue in order to get a win, they'll do it. The response varies anywhere from "you are absolutely right" to no response at all. Not once has someone said I'm wrong because its THEIR reasoning I'm using. they love their polls so much, use it.

www.manofcommonsense.com

Great fliers, print them out, especially the apathetic voter one. They directly challenge the person to look inside and hit them with the truth. Leave them all over your community and people will care about real voting again.

We're going to clean up in the Louisiana caucuses, by the look of things, which basically means we'll have won one state. Beating supposed frontrunners left right and centre is a pretty damn good argument, especially if we can get that crucial first win and beat them all in the bayou state.

=========================
Live Free or Die - Amen to that

made a decision for themselves, just this once, our numbers would double over night. This mentality is pervasive. It is the most depressing indictment of the state of our culture and I hear it all of the time. The only way I know of to convince them is to win big in multiple states. They will not believe it until it smacks them in the face, again and again and again.
What this tells me is that people do not trust eachother at all in this country. Everyone thinks that everyone else is stupid and even though Ron Paul is the right candidate no one else will understand.

On the other hand, if you can convince them to donate a small amount to RP, they will have a tangible stake in this thing, that might help to pull some of the brighter ones over the fence.

Tell them it's pretty whoosie to choose a canidate based on what the media says their odds of winning are instead of who's message clearly represents your views and what you feel is in the best interest of the country.

Then tell them they can vote with a clear conscience and a profound sense of honor if they would vote for Ron Paul.

the Primaries are the time to vote your "CONSCIENCE" while the General Election is the time to vote for "THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS" (unless of course Dr. Paul is one of the two candidates in the General Election, then you are obviously voting for the "GREATER GOOD").

I tell them about all his grass roots support throughout America. He is considered top tier with the money sent to his campaign. Then I talk about the issue that concerns them the most. It works every time.