2007 vs. Present

[JWRIDDLER]

I really envy all of the Ron Paul veterans that were part of the 2007 Revolution movement. I wish I had been apart of it! I was 20, immature, naive, and too busy chasing tail to know any better!

The only thing I remember hearing about Ron Paul back then was listening to Sean Hannity complain about getting hit by snow balls thrown by Ron Paul supporters in NH and also Michael Savage calling Ron Paul a crack pot.... I now no longer listen to such neo-con propaganda radio programs.

For those who were part of the movement 4 years ago, what are some of the differences you are seeing between 2007 and now???

 

[newbitech]

I see
#1 Ron Paul in the headlines
#2 A strategy to win
#3 a growth curve for the movement

I don't see
#1 9/11
#2 a blimp
#3 Hucks Army

 

[pilby]

Last time around there seemed to be much more grassroots energy, unreasonable optimism & creativity. *So* many homemade signs & banners plastered everywhere.

Last time we constantly scanned the media for any slight mention of Ron Paul, getting excited at the tiniest bit of attention paid to him by anyone. Really the only headlines we made were for moneybombs.

And somehow we all seemed to think that straw polls and online polls (almost all of which RP won handily) were better predictors of actual results than real polls were.

 

[happyphilter]

I think missing the blimp is a huge setback for the campaign this election.

 

[muh_roads]

I don't see
#1 9/11
#2 a blimp
#3 Hucks Army

And thank god for that. Sick of seeing that stuff. More great progress coming down the pike.

 

[Firehouse26]

This:

I see
#1 Ron Paul in the headlines
#2 A strategy to win
#3 a growth curve for the movement

I don't see
#1 9/11
#2 a blimp
#3 Hucks Army

 

[ronpaulitician]

2007/2008
"Ron who?"

 

[happyphilter]

Last time around there seemed to be much more grassroots energy, unreasonable optimism & creativity. *So* many homemade signs & banners plastered everywhere.

Last time we constantly scanned the media for any slight mention of Ron Paul, getting excited at the tiniest bit of attention paid to him by anyone. Really the only headlines we made were for moneybombs.

And somehow we all seemed to think that straw polls and online polls (almost all of which RP won handily) were better predictors of actual results than real polls were.

I think last time all we had was the grassroots, the campaign seemed fairly unorganized. There was more energy and creativity, but it was also a much smaller group of supporters; back then the small few KNEW we had to be a little eccentric to get any attention. It's amazing how much attention we are getting this time compared to 2007, you're dead on right about the excitement we had over the smallest mention of Ron Paul.

 

[Indy Vidual]

Exactly 4 years ago (NH Day 2008) most "realistic" supporters were seeing the battle was hopeless and we knew Ron probably had no chance; It was a very sad day.
Today was HUGE for upward momentum, especially since Romney does not appeal to so many in his party.

Much better this year.

 

[BUSHLIED]

I think last time all we had was the grassroots, the campaign seemed fairly unorganized. There was more energy and creativity, but it was also a much smaller group of supporters; back then the small few KNEW we had to be a little eccentric to get any attention. It's amazing how much attention we are getting this time compared to 2007, you're dead on right about the excitement we had over the smallest mention of Ron Paul.

Well it is clear the media hasn't changed a bit...they still deliberately hammer him...even if they have him on more than in 08.

 

[bluesc]

2007/2008
"Ron who?"

2012
"Oh, that unelectable nutjob"

We still have a long battle ahead of us.

To the OP:

We came 3rd in Iowa, 2nd in NH. Top tier candidate, great staff, great strategy, and are beginning to be taken seriously by a few in the media.

 

[Mark37snj]

1) Much higher national debt
2) High Unemployment
3) More WAR WAR WAR
4) Obomo

1+2+3+4= RON PAUL SURGE!!!!!!

 

[TheNewYorker]

He's catchin on, I'm tellin ya!

In all seriousness, the grassroots was much more potent in 2007. This forum was more active, supporters donated more money, and we all got much more excited. But the official campaign sucked. They had bad ads, didn't spend money wisely, and, well failed.

This time around, it's the complete opposite. This time, the official campaign is much more on the ball, their ads rock, they have a winning strategy, and are dominating. If the media treated Ron Paul fairly, he would have easily won both Iowa, NH, and every other state. No other campaign in recent history is doing as well as Ron Paul's. He's dominating, despite the media and establishment's biased efforts to hold him back this time. BUT... this time around, the grassroots suck. No offense to yall (us all). I don't see this forum as active, I don't see as many people coming up with creative ideas or chipping in time to do what they can, and I don't see Ron Paul raising as much money from us. If Ron Paul fails to get the nomination this time around, it's OUR FAULT. PERIOD.

 

[happyphilter]

Well it is clear the media hasn't changed a bit...they still deliberately hammer him...even if they have him on more than in 08.

This time they are hammering him quite a bit, but there's a lot of positive coverage too. At least he isn't being outright ignored.

 

[Kandilynn]

I hated Huck's Army! I also don't miss This AD

 

[orenbus]

I see an official campaign more willing to adopt and accept some of the ideas coming out of the grassroots while at the same time balancing tried and tested approaches to political campaigning. Back in 2007 we had Anita Andrews going around the country telling us that the words Ron Paul Revolution and the signs that came with it was somehow a bad thing which all of us in the grassroots scoffed at and knew better. There were some in the official campaign back in 2007 that were putting out garbage ads and garbage ideas that didn't work well with where the grassroots was headed. The grassroots was really driving and directing the campaign more than the people in the official campaign was, mainly because most of the time they were doing whatever they could just to keep up with us.

This time around at least from what I can tell they are not promoting themselves as the experts in all things and instead taking in input from the grassroots and trying to figure out the best ways to use information and ideas collected to be at the tip of the spear on projects like phone from home and the money bombs which had it's origins in 2007. There are always things the campaign could be doing better such as viral tools to support money bombs like meters and charts to keep the enthusiasm up from those that are donating and coordinating donation efforts and there are a number of other things they could be doing better, but from 2007 to today the differences are vast, especially when it comes to public relations and offline marketing strategies.

 

[JWRIDDLER]

He's catchin on, I'm tellin ya!

In all seriousness, the grassroots was much more potent in 2007. This forum was more active, supporters donated more money, and we all got much more excited. But the official campaign sucked. They had bad ads, didn't spend money wisely, and, well failed.

This time around, it's the complete opposite. This time, the official campaign is much more on the ball, their ads rock, they have a winning strategy, and are dominating. If the media treated Ron Paul fairly, he would have easily won both Iowa, NH, and every other state. No other campaign in recent history is doing as well as Ron Paul's. He's dominating, despite the media and establishment's biased efforts to hold him back this time. BUT... this time around, the grassroots suck. No offense to yall (us all). I don't see this forum as active, I don't see as many people coming up with creative ideas or chipping in time to do what they can, and I don't see Ron Paul raising as much money from us. If Ron Paul fails to get the nomination this time around, it's OUR FAULT. PERIOD.

I was just thinking also about the 2007 TeaParty Moneybomb compared to the 2011 TeaParty Moneybomb. In 2007 it was over $6 million. 2011's didn't crack the $6 million. I was trying to figure out why that might be...

 

[happyphilter]

He's catchin on, I'm tellin ya!

In all seriousness, the grassroots was much more potent in 2007. This forum was more active, supporters donated more money, and we all got much more excited. But the official campaign sucked. They had bad ads, didn't spend money wisely, and, well failed.

This time around, it's the complete opposite. This time, the official campaign is much more on the ball, their ads rock, they have a winning strategy, and are dominating. If the media treated Ron Paul fairly, he would have easily won both Iowa, NH, and every other state. No other campaign in recent history is doing as well as Ron Paul's. He's dominating, despite the media and establishment's biased efforts to hold him back this time. BUT... this time around, the grassroots suck. No offense to yall (us all). I don't see this forum as active, I don't see as many people coming up with creative ideas or chipping in time to do what they can, and I don't see Ron Paul raising as much money from us. If Ron Paul fails to get the nomination this time around, it's OUR FAULT. PERIOD.

I don't entirely agree. I think a lot of burden is being taken off the grassroots this time around. We don't have to put up signs 24/7 JUST to get people to recognize who Ron Paul is. Also we have organizations to direct our creativity; I still have a box full of those "legalization" slim jims which I'm not entirely sure would be a great idea to impliment. I do agree some energy is lacking, but it is entirely possible that activity has moved to facebook or twitter.

 

[bluesc]

I was just thinking also about the 2007 TeaParty Moneybomb compared to the 2011 TeaParty Moneybomb. In 2007 it was over $6 million. 2011's didn't crack the $6 million. I was trying to figure out why that might be...

Crappy economy.

 

[Kandilynn]

In 2007, I paid $72 and become the organizer of a meetup group. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. We spent days making homemade banners and signs and sneaking around in the wee hours of the morning putting them up. We spent a ridiculous amount of money buying grassroots created campaign materials and we were harassed by the police three times that I remember. We contacted the official campaign for ideas on what to do and they told us to put out yard signs and bumper stickers, which we had already done. We had wild, enthusiastic optimism and crushing, devastating losses. I almost didn't get involved this time around because I didn't think I could handle the heartbreak of another loss. This time, I'm keeping my enthusiasm in check, but I am happy to see that 5 years of talking about Ron Paul and his message have seemed to gotten through to most people I know. (Although when I mentioned Ron Paul to my mom the other day she rolled her eyes and said 'OH NO! Not this again!')