Open Thread: What is Driving the Amazing Growth?

I'm 25 and I can't speak for anyone else. I'm sure every individual has a different experience with this message. My experience is one of discovery. Ideas and concepts I had not experienced before in any significant way have awakened me to new reality that brings me to life and being in the prime of my youth adds another element to it. One of hope. Of course I hope this is a shared sentiment amongst all demographics because it feels so good and its grounded in truth. You're not getting that from any of the other candidates.

We have a tough road ahead of us, but we have an entire history to help us make the right decisions. We just have to all bother to look. We can make some significant changes and Ron Paul has common sense answers, common sense that somehow didn't occur on its own. The idea of inflation is clear to me thanks to Dr. Paul. If you print too much money it loses value. The supply goes up, the demand goes down. It's worth less kind of like if there were more gold or more diamonds they'd probably a lot less expensive. The value is diluted . Makes sense.
If you interfere in the internal affairs of the nations some people will be angry, and some of those people may react. I think its best if we not interfere if we are not threatened, but I haven't just accepted these ideas without grounding them in something. Facts and critical analysis. I've been reading a lot, learning a lot, and thats the truly amazing part of this movement. So many of us have been motivated to learn...about everything. Our movement is great because we want to educate ourselves about our history, about why the concept of America so great, and about how we can use our past and experience to achieve the ideal, a nation full of all the promise and opportunity that freedom offers.
Liberty and justice for all.
That rings when you say it. Did you hear it?
Say it again.
Liberty and justice for all.
How can anyone make an argument against that. Why would anyone try?

We all have our different experiences. The internet just allows for more people to be exposed to theses philosophies. Its not so much about the youth vote or the black vote or the christian vote. Ron Pauls ideas appeal to anyone who hears them. I expect that people in all demographics are excited about the idea of liberty, or at least they will be when we share them.

freeatlast2008.com is Trevor's money bomb for 1/21. Let's get a banner up and support it.

Support your right to be here and speak your mind. The RPR is more than just a movement, it is a philosophy.

A huge sector of the people don't believe anything the government says. They distrust the news media to tell them the truth. And they don't even listen to politicians, who give non-answers to questions.

Then someone tells them about a man running for president whose words have the ring of truth. And he's the only one!

The most important thing is that these are the people who pay the bills for our welfare state, people who have been shouldered out of the political process by those who live off of their taxes. They are sick and tired of being taxed and pushed around.

A sleeping giant has been awakened. Each voter whose apathy has been cured is enthusiastically spreading the word.

I don't know if you can tell reporters that they are becoming irrelevant to the process, that their attempts to ignore or ridicule Ron Paul out of existence are demonstrating the Blow-Back phenomenon. But around here, people are eager to take a slim jim when I tell them, "Here are the reasons they don't want him on TV or in the newspapers." I passed out a lot of them to strangers who said they never heard of Ron Paul yesterday, with that line. People grab it out of my hand and start reading!

I think that Ron Paul's appeal is three pronged:

the content of his message,
his great delivery,
and his uncompromising consistency and total dedication to the principles of freedom.

For those of us who are tired of flip-flopping, double-talking, flavor-of-the-week politicians, a statesman like Ron Paul stands out like mount Everest in the middle of some smallish hills.

One thing that is certainly driving growth is the amount of exposure that has been achieved has crossed over an invisible threshold. There is a certain point where enough people support the campaign that it leaves the "whack-job" category and becomes a "movement."

Look at the tone of the coverage in the MSM, for example. It has changed in a subtle, but real, way. All "fourth tier" candidates get little or no attention, or are laughed at for embarking upon a Quixotic quest. Reagan was the most recent example of this effect - he was universally panned as an idiot, unelectable, near-nutcase until all of a sudden he had a support spike and won the 1980 Election.

Politics does not follow linear relationships. It's almost always exponential, though many times the front-runner experiences the exponential spike early in the run, and then appears to be linear. Other times, someone with charisma and a message that matches the times emerges from the back of the pack to take the lead.

Right now, we have a public sentiment that is sort of akin to that of the late 1970's. Back then, it was primarily due to economic issues (Carter stagflation) and a feeling that our best days were past. So, Reagan coming in with a message of hope and strength won the day. Today, the public is tired of fear, uncertainty, and doubt from both parties. The public is tired of constant war, and a general feeling of being overly restricted in too many little ways (think of things like tickets for cell phones in cars, seatbelt laws, etc.). In other words, the "security wonks" have pushed too far and it's making a lot of people uneasy because it's beginning to affect them personally in one way or another.

Throw into this mix a man of impeccible honesty and integrity, with a hopeful message and some personal charisma and an explosion of support is nearly inevitable.

The media recognizes a breakout when they see it happening, although usually a little late. They are in the business of selling commercials, and will cover whatever they think people want to see. And... they don't want to be on the wrong side of a popular shift in sentiment.

In summary, the reason's simple actually. It's just that the time is right.

Honesty and Bravery. Dr. Paul spoke the honest truth about blowback in the May 15 GOP debate. He was Daniel in the Lions Den. He did not back down, and that moment amazed me.

I doubted him at first when he talked about "bombing Iraq for 10 years" and "750 bases in 130 countries". When I did a little research, I found out he was totally right. From then on, i was hooked.

It all begins and ends with the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Ron Pauls message is honest and clear, the government is there to obey and serve the people not the other way around and we will never be able to fix this nations problems until we correct that one first. His introduction of the American Freedom Agenda Act is just the beginning of We The People taking back what is rightfully ours including electing him President of the United States.

My ideal candidate has the following traits:

• Brainpower: Knowledgeable, incisive and adept at problem-solving
• Temperament: Calm and rational in tense situations, showing grace under pressure
• Courage: Willing to take a stand and accept risks, regardless of political and personal fallout
• Vision: Promotes large goals for America and policies to fulfill them
• Communication: Can articulate and "sell" a vision for the country to everyday people
• Charisma: Has a dynamism and charm that encourages others to follow
• Integrity: Honest and trustworthy, engendering respect even among political foes
• Experience: Savvy about the workings of government so goals can become accomplishments
• Judgment: Has a track record of sound decisions based on facts, not hopes or emotions
• Management Ability and Experience: The pragmatic aptitudes that permit a person to plan, organize, lead and control; expertise scalable to a national level.
• Diplomatic Ability: Ability to appropriately deal with sensitive issues between people and countries.
• Economic Education and Experience: Demonstrates a solid understanding of economics; useful in promoting the General Welfare of the United States.
• Physical Health: Fit and trim; sets an example by following a healthy eating and exercise regimen.
• Constitutional Knowledge: The Constitution is what POTUS takes an oath to "preserve, protect and defend." Understanding and respecting the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the later amendments is mandatory!
• Life Experience: Schooling is good, experience is better.
• Compassion: Displays compassion for self and others; open to feeling.
• Self-Confidence: Displays poised and relaxed demeanor.
• A Balanced Life: Adept at juggling work, play, family and recreation.
• Resilience: Capable of bouncing back from adversity.
• Living in the Present: Old feelings do not drive present-day behavior.

Dr. Ron Paul exemplifies all of these traits, and he has honored us all with his decision to run for U.S. President. By so doing, he has committed to bear the burden of leading us out of the morass that former and future-former presidents have created for this country, and leading us into a prosperous future. How will he do this? By restoring order and following the Law Of The Land; the Constitution. He's not perfect but he has the perfect complement of aptitudes, abilities and experience; the Right Stuff.

COMMITMENT
Until one is committed, there is hesitation, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth – the ignorance of which kills countless idea and splendid plans: The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner  of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Begin it now.
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Ron Paul's bold commitment to run for president has genius, power and magic in it. Our country will reap the benefits of this commitment under President Paul.

it's the message. At least, that's what draws people to him. The president and Congress have atrociously low approval ratings and people want a change.

I think people are waking up to the fact that overzealous government driven my a few special interests hurts We the People. Now that we have myriad independent news and information sources, the general populous can easily access a wealth of information instantaneously rather than rely on the Old Media to deliver an hour of watered down "news".

What keeps people focused on the campaign other than the message is Dr. Paul's impeccable integrity and principles. Why else do so many work overtime and give as much as we can afford? Who else gets this support? And knowing that I'm not doing it all on my own only encourages me. Seeing the incredible efforts of other Paul supporters motivates me to do ever-more to get the good doctor elected.

I have been talking to reporters too, and chances are even the good ones won't always print things in context or the way you said them. The last article done did not reflect 10% of what was discussed between the 9 of us and the reporter (no offense Jose, we know you have editors) and the NHPR interview did not fit the reporter's 'angle' so the story lacked a point. (He thought we might all be yahoos when it turned out we are privately schooled, upper-middle types.)

We have our own press now, it's called the internet!

The next reporter I speak to is also going to be in for a shock, just like he was when I last spoke with him in '96!

Yazooo!
Oh yes, I would say that young people like Dr Paul's message because they have been taught to dig out the facts and face the problems head on. They are not fearful of upsetting the status quo. They can do the research themselves. They see government as too big, too expensive and too out of hand.

Hope this stays at the top for awhile...it is really useful to all of us. Thanks Michael for this and everything.

.
It's easy. Keep a 3x5 card next to your computer or phone. Make a short list - five points. You don't want to overwhelm the listener, or reader.

1. All soldiers out of Iraq, and the rest of the world, ASAP
2. Ending the dynasty of the Federal Reserve Bank
3. Repeal of the U.S.A. Patriot Act
4. Downsizing Federal Government; let the states run things (such as education, welfare, medical care, and so on).
5. The individual's rights are to be protected.

There's a short list. You can probably do better!

so, my 50-something girlfriend almost has me convinced WE are the young people they keep talking about. I see that he has a pretty large group of Baby-Boomers supporting him, like I am. In every video, it isn't only young people I see. The last few new members of our Meetup group are not exactly what one would call spring chickens, either, they are over the Boomer Hill. For our generation, we are finally hearing what we have been thinking for over 30 years now, and we are finally hearing it from Ron Paul. As for not thinking better of what to say until past the moment, don't worry, we all have those drats, and as you get older they come more often. ;)

Vali

'...truth is loved in such a way that those who love some other thing want it to be the truth, and precisely because they do not wish to be deceived, are unwilling to be convinced that they are deceived." --- St. Augustine, Confessions (10:23), 5th cent.

or at least becoming more open minded. Check out the interview I did with David Brody of Christian Broadcast Network: http://ronpaulfreedommess... or http://ronpaulfreedommess...

At the end I did get him to agree to not refer to "Ron Paul Mania" but to rather choose another adjective in his upcoming piece on Ron Paul. I'm going to follow it up with a letter of thanks and also include some suggestions and ideas for his piece.

The work we do DOES have an effect. A big, substantive one!

Yours in support of Ron Paul for President,

Steven Vincent
The Freedom Message
Web Site: http://www.RonPaulFreedom...
Email: FreedomMessage@sbcglobal.net

Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30 PDT, 5:30-6:30 CDT, 6:30-7:30 EDT
Call in number: 877-270-8714
Listen Live: http://www.RonPaulFreedom...

Meetup: http://www.ronpaul.meetup...
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/us...
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/21...
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/...

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”: Gandhi

It is beyond shocking to me that the federal government would PUNISH me because I don't want to take their National ID Card! No flying in a commercial airplane, no entering a federal building, no applying for social security, no opening a bank account, no picnicking at a federal park. And this will spread to no holding down a job, no driving a car, etc., etc., etc. The gall of THEM telling ME what I can and cannot DO!!!! And to tell us that pretty soon we will HAVE to CHIP our livestock or be FINED $1,000 per day per head! Unbelievable.

Ron Paul is incredibly popular with my generation (came of age in the mid-90's) because he is the President we wish Clinton had been.

"Every generation needs a new revolution" ~Jefferson

Join ours - http://www.ronpaul2008.co...

I'm almost 51 years YOUNG. I know a lot of folks who are in my age group who support Ron Paul. Actually, I know adults of all ages who support him.

Why do I support Ron Paul? Because he follows the Constitution. For a long time I've felt like a little bitty voice in a very big room saying, "If the people in Washington would just follow the Constitution, we wouldn't have all these problems. And we would have the government out of our personal business. Is anybody out there???" And along came Ron Paul and he has been there all along!!

He is the ONLY person running for president that I will vote for in either of the two Big Box parties!!

Are Democrats registering Republican for the primaries and then finding out Ron Paul really appeals? One article, "Democrats Should Support Ron Paul" (http://spirituallibertari...), mentions government surveillance.

Tell them that the American Public looks for honesty first and foremost. With Ron Paul they have found that. Second the American Public does not have all the answers, but they lean economically conservative, yet socially liberal in the freedom direction. Ron Paul is both economically conservative and very much for our civil rights. And finally, he does not have all the answers, but he knows what good government policy is and so argues strongly for it. This passion from Ron Paul tells us, "its time to give him a try".

The internet is the ONLY place that WE THE PEOPLE still have a large voice. With the click of a mouse, we can connect with more people than we ever could have imagined even 15 years ago. We can spread our message, our views, so fast and we do not need the media to do so.

This is our last patch of freedom that we have left, the internet. We have bipassed the mainstream media and no longer need them.

This goes hand in hand with Ron Paul's message. Independence from an overpowering central government. It's no difference than having independence from an overpowering central media.

I learned about Ron Paul through a gun forum at the beginning of this year. Why did I learn about him through there? Because more information is passed through the internet, than the mainstream media could even hope to achieve. We get to hear views, opinions of others and learn in a way that WE CHOOSE. No longer do we have to be force fed the opinions of the mainstream media.

We've found out the truth of what is going on in our country. Something we don't hear on TV. So naturally we are going to flock to where we feel the truth is, the internet.

Why is he so popular among young people?

I think it's important to stress that Dr. Paul's appeal is to all age groups. Not just the young. His image of " internet and young " needs to be changed to real grassroots people of all ages. To appear as a real presidential candidate, not just a phenomenon.

The reason he appeals to so many, is because he is real. We have not had that before.

His message is revolutionary (as it was when it was first ensconced in our Constitution) and the "Usual Suspects" have been ignoring it for over a century.

Anything that goes against the establishment and leads to liberty, is going to get people's attention.

Until the Election is Won!
Chaplain Steve

I would tell the media that the reason Ron Paul's ideas are so popular is because they are AMERICAN ideas. When you get right down to it, it is patriotism that is fueling Ron's campaign. Small government and freedom go hand-in-hand. The Libertarians have represented it for years but have always had the 3rd party obstacle killing the hope of would-be supporters. Now that there is nothing in the way of a small government message getting out, in addition to having an intelligent, consistent messenger to carry it, the "Revolution," until now a patient seed in fertile ground, can flower.

The reason Ron Paul's candidacy is so popular on the Internet is because 1) it has no other choice but to go there and 2) the Internet has a way of attracting detail-oriented, more philosophically-minded people to it. Those who are of passive mind and spirit are more likely to prefer a passive media source like television.

Why is he so popular among "young people?" It could be that they are less jaded. But it could simply be that it is a mistake of perception. Both young and old love liberty. It's just that in a grassroots campaign it is the youth that have the energy and free time to be the most active. They're who you see, but it would be a mistake to assume therefore that they represent the majority of supporters.

I have been pleasantly surprised that various media outlets have finally told the truth http://dailypaul.com/node... about our fine military donors. I'm very proud of them for their service and courage to stand up for what's right regardless of what may be politically-correct. THANKS!!!

It might also be that cool new ronpaulgraphs site, which rocks -- except for the fact that I spend way too much time obsessively looking at it. :) Or it might be something none of us has noticed yet? Whatever it is, it's FUN to see. And I can't WAIT to see Dr. Paul on Sunday and cheer for him in Orlando!!
JMR

When you analyze his record, it takes you breath away. Surely, it can't true? Yes, it is and that's why the voters who discover him, find him irresistible.

Treat the reporter like you would any other potential supporter. Ask him or her what issues are important to him or her as an individual. If they don't want to answer that question, ask him what issues are important to their readers (although this could be used as a set up :).

The Republican Party used to stand for something very distinct from the Democrats. The Republicans were for individual rights, private property, free markets, limited government, national sovereignty and lower taxes. Reagan talked about getting the government off our backs and unleashing the entrepeneurial spirit of the american people.

Unfortunately, the Republican Party has been taken over by those who support an active federal government legislating morality from a central authority. Under Republicans, the size and scope of the federal government has grown immensely. With that growth, our liberties and privacy have been diminished. Further, under the aggressive interventionist foreign policy of today's Republicans, Americans are less, not more secure.

With the changes in the Republican Party over the last 20 years, there is little distinction between the two major parties. Their priorities may be slightly different, but both parties are committed to using the power of a large central authority to dictate how we live our lives, educate our children, treat our illnesses, plan for retirement, secure employment, travel, invest, develop our property. In short, the Democrats and Republicans are simply arguing over WHO GETS TO RUN OUR LIVES.

Facing such a situation, many of us have opted out by either not voting at all, or by "throwing away our votes" for third party candidates who shared our values which seemed to have been abandoned by the "mainstream" candidates. Then along came Ron Paul.

Ron Paul wants to let each of us run our own lives in peace and security by ending the endless wars abroad, restoring the federal government to its limited, constitutional role, restoring value to our currency and cutting taxes. His message is the message of peace, freedom and security. Such a message, once heard, is irresistable. The message is larger than the man, and it is spreading like wildfire because it is true, it is just, and in their hearts people know that the way we have been going is wrong.

As a Ron Paul supporter, I find I don't have to convert anyone. all I have to do is get people to check him out and the message takes over from there.

It is the hope that we can, as a nation, restore the pride in America that has been so badly beaten, that generates so much excitement for Dr. Paul's campaign.

Sorry for the long post, but I am so damn excited about this campaign!!

Go Ron Paul!!!

My 2 cents to address the internet popularity 'phenomenon':

Mainstream media attempts in many ways to dictate was is newsworthy. On the internet the consumers dictate it.

The internet is a different beast than mainstream media. There is no big brother right now that can filter out the 'unpopular' news like mainstream media can. If mainstream media was as free-flowing as the internet I have no doubts that Ron Paul would have already had equal if not greater support there as well.

Well that saying isn't coming from me:-)

Cause behind the growth, as observed by PAHIII:

Ron Paul is our homeboy.

Ron Paul was on The Colbert Report and The Daily Show (I found out about him thanks to The Colbert Report and then I saw the re-run of him on The Daily Show the next day... being a Badnarik voter in 2004 I was instantly hooked. Funny that one appearance on both created a growth surge that countless appearances on TDS by McCain wasn't able to garner... more evidence of 'The Colbert Bump' I guess)

Ron Paul did an interview with a college kid in his dorm room. I think that kid's done more dorm-room interviews with other Politicians but like I said, Ron Paul's our homeboy, so his dorm-room interview was the coolest. The bottom line is that that interview really goes a long way in my mind of showing what kind of character Ron Paul has.

Ron Paul does not flip-flop. He is consistent in his answers. He stands out on TV because he is unlike the others who represent the following quote from 'Network' (great 1976 movie, watch it) where Howard Beale sums up TV:

Listen to me!
Television is not the truth.
Television's a goddamned amusement park!
Television is a circus, a carnival, a travelling troupe of acrobats,
storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks,
lion tamers and football players.
We're in the boredom-killing business.
So if you want the truth, go to God.
Go to your gurus.
Go to yourselves!
Because that's the only place you're ever gonna find any real truth.
But, man, you're never gonna get any truth from us.
We'll tell you anything you wanna hear. We lie like hell.
We'll tell you that Kojak always gets the killer
and that nobody ever gets cancer in Archie Bunker's house.
And no matter how much trouble the hero is in, don't worry.
Look at your watch. At the end of the hour he'll win!
We'll tell you any shit you want to hear!
We deal in illusions. None of it is true!

Doesn't that sound just a bit like the rest of the candidates? Maybe Hillary's position on the Iraq war, just a little bit?

Oh yeah, and freedom is popular:-)
-Phil Hemingway III

Because kids aren’t stupid. They know the country’s broken and that Washington has sold their generation up the river. They’re not happy they’re dying in a war which most of them believe to be over oil. They’re not happy about the education system which has done its best to keep them ignorant. They’re not happy about the monetary system and how it’s slowly strangling the middle class and enslaving the poor. The list goes on...

Bottom line they see a broken-down, sold-out system, and their whole lives all they’ve heard coming out of Washington are ideas that have perpetuated our nation’s decline.

They see Ron Paul as a beacon of light amongst all that muck, someone with honesty, integrity, a champion of the Constitution. And that gives them hope. It inspires them. Just as it has inspired us all.

tah
ronpaulnews.net

http://ronpaulgraphs.com/...

OH geez.. its crazy!!!

The young people in this country are tired of the smoke of politicians, republican or democrat. Lately it hasn't mattered which side you were on, the message was the same. Ron Paul is a breath of fresh air. He's open and honest and he has NEW ideas that are based on old principals. We're sick of hearing someone talk about what they're "going to do" but never acting. I've voted in every election since the year I registered to vote but it's been like choosing the lessor of two evils. I voted but in a presidential election, never for someone I truly believed in. I think Dr. Paul can make a difference. YOUNG PEOPLE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE! I'm so excited to see what God will do with this country if it is His will for Ron Paul to be president. But to sum it up I think that Ron Paul goes against the grain of society today, and I think that is exactly what all of the young people in this country have been waiting for.

Ron Paul is the only candidate, aside from Kucinich, who talks seriously about ending our military empire that we can't sustain. The difference is that Paul seems to be building bridges where Kucinich hasn't been able to, that is with fiscal conservatives who want a smaller government. The amount of military donations he's getting also is a sign that what he's saying is resonating, and that makes me want to believe that he is a viable representative for a real change in our foreign policy.

But I think there's still a lot of fear, uncertainty and doubt when most liberals and progressives hear Paul's stances on eliminating the department of education, medicare and social security. The way I rationalize it is that with a Democratic congress, Paul would be limited to where the Democratic base agrees with him, which is ending the war in Iraq and steering our foreign policy back to sanity. Everything else, he's going to have to create a popular consensus.

It is also refreshing to hear a principled conservative talk about a non-interventionist and anti-war foreign policy, especially during the debates. I liken it to when Stephen Colbert mocked George W. Bush to his face in the Press Correspondents Dinner. People appreciate whenever someone is able to speak truth to power, and I think there is a lot of truth that is resonating, and then being picked up on and remixed by supporters in videos on YouTube.

Another thing that most people overlook is Paul's humility. You can tell when you listen to him that he didn't have any master plan or make any huge promises about how he's going to fix everything. He is just sticking to the same principles that he's believed and supported all of his life, and he's not regurgitating talking points that have been fed to him from his pollsters. He's smart, quick on his feet, and you're likely to hear something new or different in each and every interview.

Finally, to see the exponential growth of the grassroots is exciting for people to be associated with. It is much like the libertarian bent of many open source software development, specifically in that it is exciting to see people take their own self-reliant initiative by taking various actions to help the campaign without specifically being asked to do so or instructed on what exactly to do. People are hungry for such an opportunity to feel like they can support something they believe in, and make a real difference. And it also helps to know how frugal & efficient the campaign will be, and how energetic an independently-guided, grassroots, get out the vote effort could be makes him have a real shot at reaching a critical mass by the time the primaries start.

My guess is the truth behind any phenomenon is usually simple. I'm not sure what the simple explanation is in this case, but here's my guess:

Message + Internet + War

MESSAGE: The message has always been appealing to a mass of Americans, but the stranglehold of the MSM prevented it from getting to the public.


INTERNET: The Internet, though not a total solution, has facilitated enough critical mass of support to start a very real fire on a national level.


WAR: I actually think the war issue goes well beyond a desire to bring the troops home. It involves an exacerbated mistrust of the government, the media, and serves as a catalyst to "wake up" many Americans. The "wake up" effect is heightened by other issues, such as the devaluation of the dollar and the illegal immigration crisis. The net effect: Folks are more willing to reconsider their positions and political beliefs.


The other two underpinning issues are (1) the man Ron Paul, himself, who is by every measurement genuine & full of integrity. (2) Because the media had no positive influence on the movement (i.e. it is only now acquiescing, or having its hand forced) and the movement is end-to-end substantive, they have little chance of derailing it... so there's no reason to believe the momentum will not persist and grow exponentially.

I feel that a big reason for Dr. Paul's growing popularity is his honesty and consistency.

He answers questions. He does not dodge them or speak ambiguously. Whether you agree with him on an issue or not, at least you know for certain where he stands. And as we approach the primaries and have more and more people beginning to pay attention to the process, Dr. Paul's honesty is touching the voters.

The rest of the field is tainted with a history of duplicity and people are tired of that. People remember things like "Read my lips" and "No nation building" and "It depends on what your definition of 'is' is" and they are tired of double talk from both parties.

Another factor is the way we Paulites are spreading the message. We are discussing Dr. Paul's qualifications in detail with our family, friends and neighbors. That is much more convincing than the 30 second sound bytes you get from the TV. When we convince a voter to join us that voter is going to stay with us.

Also, people are tired of the status quo in Washington as evidenced by the horrible approval ratings for the president (24%) and congress (11%). They rightly see that Ron Paul is the only candidate who will actually work for change and not just pay it lip service.

I had the same problem when I talk to folks on a daily basis. I made myself a talking points list that I keep on me all of the time. Nothing to long or complicated. I have it pretty much memorized now, but it helps me from forgetting and "what I should have said".

It's widely known that in this country only a very small minority of people ever show up at the polls to vote. If you ask why you always get the same response: "Why bother? They're all the same. Just a bunch of crooks." If you compare Dr. Paul to ANYBODY else running, even the VERY BEST of the rest, If you look at the folks who are supporting guys like Kunicich, you'll find some of the same reasons, but Ron Paul is the ONLY one who wants to get the government off our backs, and let's face it: that's what EVERYBODY wants. When was the last time you enjoyed a trip to the airport? Wouldn't you like to again? When was the last time you enjoyed the middle of April? Wouldn't we all like to again? When was the last time you picked up a paper without seeing the word "Iraq" on the front page? Wouldn't we all like to again? Which do you REALLY fear more? A terrorist attack or being confronted by someone from the Department of Homeland Security, the TSA, or the IRS? These organizations are UNIVERSALLY despised in this country, and yet Dr. Paul is the only one EVEN MAKING ANY NOISE about doing something about them. AND, not only THAT....but when he makes noises about getting rid of these horrific things and returning our lives to us and making us stop fearing our own government, it's obvious that he really means it. THAT's why.
www.paulforronpaul.com

America hates politics, for the most part. They ignore it for as long as they can, and then they look for a non-politician to vote for (hence, Schwarzenegger, Reagan, Pat Paulsen).

With Ron Paul's trajectory fueled by passion for freedom, he stands to benefit most from the increasing interest as we get nearer to primary day.

Further, since all the others sound alike and are wasting money pushing themselves on us, we're tired of them already.

IMissLiberty