I came to bury the Republic ...

Are you finished trying everything you can? Is this all you have? You don't truly undertsand what this is all about. Rome was not built in a day.

We are just getting started and you giving up? That is a shame.

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Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Let's not point the finger of blame. I knew a hundred posts like that would start after September 4th. I'm expecting most to blame others than Dr. Paul, though.

My only complaint toward Dr. Paul is he seems inadequately ambitious. He's a great mind, modest man, kind man...not very aggressive. He seems genuinely uninterested in becoming President.

SUPPORT OUR FOUNDERS' AMERICA
Support the Constitution of the United States

offering to help when I was trying to get "John McCain is a real ..."
distributed.

If you're going to make noises about "staying and fighting," then start fighting the real enemies, not those who care enough about you to tell you the truth. The real enemies are cowardice, apathy and ignorance.

John McCain coauthored the Immigration Bill with Ted Kennedy
John McCain voted for Social Security benefits for illegal aliens
John McCain voted for the assault rifle ban and restrictions on gun shows
John McCain proudly voted for Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Steven Breyer and David Souter
John McCain blocked all officials inquiries as to the status of Vietnam POWs and MIAs

Maybe, this time, enough of you will pass this on to your friends...

And I agree with the 'then leave' statements. You're welcome to come back when it gets easy again.

Aku Soku Zan

May you live forever, Bob-45.

Ron Paul is the great uniter, the income tax fighter...the military-supported, defender of the border...the political apathy solution and the champion of the Constitution! Doctor Paul is on-call!

This movement isn’t about Ron Paul. We are fighting for our very freedom. We are fighting for the rest of the world as well, for if America falls, the rest of the world will plunge into total darkness. We don’t have that much time. The United States is Germany in 1932 – right on the brink of tyranny. All of us are literally fighting for our lives.

You have two choices:
1) Fight with everything you have
or
2) Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you

You have that choice to make. Right now.

If you plan to fight, you can choose not to participate in the Ron Paul faction of the Freedom Movement, and that is fine. There are a lot of people working feverishly outside of the Campaign for Liberty and I’m sure you can find something to do. However, if you are going to stick around, take your negativity elsewhere.

If you choose #2, then go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms.

Cause patriots are throwing dirt in your grave.

Only a fool would say in retrospect that certain things could not have been handled better. Still, I think you sell Dr. Paul short. He had to rely on other people. Remember, he was traveling constantly, making speeches, rallying support and still finding time to vote on critical issues before the House. In the midst of all that, he was dealing with his wife's illness. Those who managed the office were more than likely overwhelmed by size and passion of the groups making demands on them. Exhaustion, frustation and confusion can easily come across as arrogance or laziness. This is not a good time for recriminations, it is a time to evaluate, learn and move forward.

The RNC's terror of Dr. Paul was made very clear by their treatment of him by the convention. Fear of Dr. Paul means fear of us all and those corrupt *(&#$%'s had better be afraid, very afraid. Short of an act of God, Dr. Paul could not have been nominated against such a stacked deck. He knew that and tried to prepare us for it in many ways. Let us all step back and look at the big picture. The first battle was fought to draw them out and to solidify the C4L. Now is the time to go to work and begin fighting the second battle, one damn voter at a time. We need good candidates in the midterm elections and to find a candidate who shares our values and can win in 2012. It is our turn to stack the deck. We have two years to our first test flight, four to make this bird fly!

I'm not happy either.... Everyday I get up trying to convince people of what the future holds... They either agree and do nothing or they just don't believe the information I'm conveying. This Campaign did go farther than I would ever have imagined. Lost battles, but we'll win the war when everything fails. We had nothing after the 1st revolution and we'll probably be there again. But we will be the voices of reason and the people they turn to... I believe it and will continue the fight until I leave this earth....

has it's advantages, but you make some valid points.

We all thought something should be done, but didn't know what. Dr. Paul is a very trusting man, which in politics, can be a detriment.

However, for me, its a huge asset and part of his personality.

This r3VOLution got much bigger than ever anticipated, and we are the ones who thought he could win - I don't think that ever actually entered Dr. Paul's mind.

We were hungry for someone like him but think the campaign was infiltrated from the very beginning - again, because of trust.

Overwhelming to identify problem areas when those in charge appear loyal.

I still say, he's put up with this for 20+ years, we must stay focused and build on this strong foundation. Nothing can stand if the foundation is not strong enough to support it.

We also felt if he got too strong, they would get rid of him -that was the biggest concern for me. By building this base, he accomplished more than he possibly might have accomplished as President.

To believe he could have become President (if he survived) was a dream we all wanted to believe. Remember how deeply infiltrated the system in DC is!

If he couldn't trust those in his campaign, how would he ever get things done as Pres?