Will Paul supporters unite this November or will the opposition movement go unnoticed yet again?

First a little background; I was born and raised a liberal, John Kerry was the first president I voted for, and I will never vote for another democrat or republican in my life (unless they are of the Ron Paul variety). I first came to this message board last May after I was blown away by Dr. Paul’s performance in one of the Republican debates and have found it very rewarding though I’ve done far more reading than posting. I also like to think of myself as an optimist and I truly believe that once people’s eyes have been opened like mine have, there is no turning back. Unfortunately it’s going to take much more than that to invoke real change. And witnessing the divisions on this board today saddens me because I see a movement in stagnation and in store for a possible regression in the near future unless people can compromise and unite this November and especially in the months leading up to it. You can forget about changing the Republican Party from within; the elite will simply not allow that to happen. Some still seem to be holding out for Dr. Paul to announce an independent or third party campaign; I ask these people respectably to please stop wasting your time. It has been made abundantly clear that he will not. From this point on the movement needs to begin seriously looking at viable options for November and to the future after that. One of the more popular options seems to be a write-in vote for Paul. While this may be ideologically satisfying, as far as getting the attention needed to the issues it will fail. Because Paul will not be a real candidate any write-in votes for him will be easily ignored by the media. Whether you like it or not getting the mainstream media’s attention is the biggest factor in changing the substance of political discourse and ultimately getting votes and real change. The internet, a groundswell of volunteers, and donations are crucial pieces but you need much more if you’re serious about making an impact. First thing that needs to be admitted is that no opposition candidate has a chance of winning in 2008 (Dr. Paul wouldn’t have a chance if he was on the ballot either). The only person who could possibly have a chance is Governor Ventura and the fact that he does have a chance is a big reason why he isn’t running IMO. The mess inherited in the Middle East and the increasingly fragile and volatile US economy will make the next four years hell for any president so it makes sense not to run if you think you can win (unless you’re a masterful Roosevelt-Kennedy like politician such as Obama or not planning for a second term like McCain). But that doesn’t mean we can’t make history this fall. In 1854 the Republican Party was a small group of fringe anti-slavery radicals formed in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska act and the expansion of southern aristocratic power. The escalation in prominence of the issues it was founded on allowed the party to increase it’s size throughout decade, absorbing disillusioned Whigs, anti-slavery Democrats, and members of various other third-parties effectively destroying the Whig party by 1858 and electing a President by 1860. Whether you agree with Lincoln’s tactics or not, the party accomplished the goals which would have been dismissed as crazy 15 years prior. I believe the times we are entering could be comparable to the 1850’s in terms of a new enlightenment in American political discourse. During the next 15 years I believe the biggest issues are going to be federal debt coming home to roust, the increasingly volatile US economy due to many factors such as monetary inflation in which blame can be placed on both parties, and the reality of the coming end of the American Empire as we know it today. We need to find and support not the Republican Party of today, but the Republican Party of the 1850’s and the only party that has that potential at this point in time is the Libertarian Party. It has a distinct advantage from a logistics standpoint as it’s the only third party with ballot access in at least 49 states. Now, I am aware with the issues people have with the Libertarian Party. It has enjoyed a long tradition of failure for over 30 years and it’s candidates are either as charismatic and electable as an inanimate carbon rod or Bob Barr. But times are changing. This isn’t the 1980’s anymore when libertarian-leaning conservatives were united under Ronald Reagan or the 90’s when they were distracted by Ross Perot. Bob Barr, though he obviously has his faults, is the candidate the opposition movement should support if it wants to begin step two of the revolution. Bob Barr is exactly the kind of candidate that would get the attention of voters increasingly worried about their wallets, the acceptance of big government ideology within both parties, and the disappearance of individual freedom. His experience and name recognition gives him a vitally important trust factor and will get him the sufficient media attention needed to get voters to the booths. Whether or not you agree with his particular brand of libertarianism, a libertarian candidate getting respectable attention and numbers (anywhere from 5-12 percent I think is very possible) would be huge as it gets them federal funding and credibility along with setting the stage for voters to re-think libertarian ideals and where the two-party system is taking us. You can point out all you want his questionable track record, but when I listen to him speak I can tell his change of heart and devotion to limiting the scope of government and increasing individual freedom (even if it’s in the form of legitimate federalism that would be a huge improvement) is genuine. Some have said that Barr is a opportunist and a distraction. Not only is this kind of thinking ignorant and immature (and wrong- for example Barr has been speaking out against the PATRIOT act sinse at least 2005 when he appeared on the Penn & Teller episode on Big Brother) but it is also detrimental to the movement. A lot of people, especially newcomers, seem to have been spoiled by Ron Paul. Your standards have now been raised to the point where it could actually hurt progress. You’re likely never going see another electable candidate with a track record as pure as Paul’s in your lifetime. Politics is not about purity; it’s about compromise and gradual progression. I am very serious about this; I believe the rise of a moderate libertarian party (emphasis on moderate- the country isn't ready for a hardcore libertarian ideology quite yet) over the next 15 years can destroy the Republican wing and significantly damage the Democratic wing of the two party monopoly much like the Republicans did to the Whigs and Democrats in the 1850’s. But this will never happen unless people can compromise and unite. I’m not a Libertarian party member, I’m just an optimist begging and pleading with thoughtful Paul supporters everywhere to put aside relatively petty differences and support the candidate with the best chance to make the most impact in 2008 in order to get the ball rolling for 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and beyond. In the words of Dr. Paul “this revolution is bigger than me.” Don’t let him down.