2008 vs 2012

[tbone717]

As you all know things are looking much better this year than in 2008. I believe this can be attributed in large part to a much more effective strategy not only by the campaign, but by the grassroots.

In 2008, there was a belief among the grassroots that non-traditional means of campaigning (sign waves, blimps, literature drops, etc) were going to be successful and produce this wave of support for Paul from new voters, crossovers and independents. As we know, that didn't work and Paul received pretty much the percentage of votes that the state polls said he would.

This year is much different and we are already beginning to see the results. The campaign and the grassroots are working together in a much more targeted means and are using the enthusiasm of our base to reach out to a targeted group of people, i.e. GOP primary voters. With the Super Voter Bomb targeting 100,000 super voters in IA and NH we are getting campaign materials directly in the hands of people that we know have voted in the last two elections. With the phone from home program volunteers are contacting registered Republicans in the early states. The information we gather on the phone is used for voter ID purposes. This information is extremely valuable to the campaign.

I hope that as we get into the home stretch we can see more and more people from the grassroots assisting in these targeted endeavors. The goal is to win in the early states. And the proven way we can do that is by reaching our target market in the most time effective means with the lowest possible cost.

 

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

As you all know things are looking much better this year than in 2008. I believe this can be attributed in large part to a much more effective strategy not only by the campaign, but by the grassroots.

In 2008, there was a belief among the grassroots that non-traditional means of campaigning (sign waves, blimps, literature drops, etc) were going to be successful and produce this wave of support for Paul from new voters, crossovers and independents. As we know, that didn't work and Paul received pretty much the percentage of votes that the state polls said he would.

This year is much different and we are already beginning to see the results. The campaign and the grassroots are working together in a much more targeted means and are using the enthusiasm of our base to reach out to a targeted group of people, i.e. GOP primary voters. With the Super Voter Bomb targeting 100,000 super voters in IA and NH we are getting campaign materials directly in the hands of people that we know have voted in the last two elections. With the phone from home program volunteers are contacting registered Republicans in the early states. The information we gather on the phone is used for voter ID purposes. This information is extremely valuable to the campaign.

I hope that as we get into the home stretch we can see more and more people from the grassroots assisting in these targeted endeavors. The goal is to win in the early states. And the proven way we can do that is by reaching our target market in the most time effective means with the lowest possible cost.

If we win in the early states, when CNN shows its primary map, they will put won by: other

 

[CaptUSA]

Great post!

Everyone be sure to do some publicizing of the current drives. The SuperVoterBomb and the TeaParty11 moneybomb.

Phone from home. talk to people.

But dammit... DO SOMETHING! It's time to move!

 

[walt]

As you all know things are looking much better this year than in 2008. I believe this can be attributed in large part to a much more effective strategy not only by the campaign, but by the grassroots.

In 2008, there was a belief among the grassroots that non-traditional means of campaigning (sign waves, blimps, literature drops, etc) were going to be successful and produce this wave of support for Paul from new voters, crossovers and independents. As we know, that didn't work and Paul received pretty much the percentage of votes that the state polls said he would.

This year is much different and we are already beginning to see the results. The campaign and the grassroots are working together in a much more targeted means and are using the enthusiasm of our base to reach out to a targeted group of people, i.e. GOP primary voters. With the Super Voter Bomb targeting 100,000 super voters in IA and NH we are getting campaign materials directly in the hands of people that we know have voted in the last two elections. With the phone from home program volunteers are contacting registered Republicans in the early states. The information we gather on the phone is used for voter ID purposes. This information is extremely valuable to the campaign.

I hope that as we get into the home stretch we can see more and more people from the grassroots assisting in these targeted endeavors. The goal is to win in the early states. And the proven way we can do that is by reaching our target market in the most time effective means with the lowest possible cost.

That's really ignorant, bordering on stupid. Without 2008, Ron Paul is a no-name congressman in this race with no ability to raise funds.

 

[tbone717]

Walt in 2008 he raised a ton of money, but it didn't result in any victories. This time out the campaign and many in the grassroots are focused on doing what it takes to win - contacting GOP primary voters directly. We didn't have that in place last time at the same level that we do now. Phone from home, the super voter bomb and of course the money bombs can result in a win for the campaign. Right now it is about priorities and time management. There are hundreds of thousands of GOP voters in the early states that have yet to be contacted. There needs to be a laser like focus on these voters. The campaign has sent out numerous emails urging the grassroots to volunteer their time to assist in this task. We need all the help we can get to reach these people.

 

[walt]

Yes, but to discount 2008's efforts forgets that it brought his name recognition up and helped bring his book deals which play a huge role now.

Do whatever you want now (Joe in IL certainly does). But disrespecting 2008 means one is disrespecting thousands of hard working people and I won't tolerate that rudeness.

 

[tbone717]

I am not discounting what was done in '08 at all. I am simply saying that this time out we are much more focused on the task at hand. Right now the focus of the campaign is targeting GOP primary/caucus voters. There are hundreds of thousands of calls that need to be made. We need all the help we can get completing this task.

It's quite simple really. Take you cues from the campaign.

If you have money, then donate to the campaign. If you have already maxed out then donate to the super voter bomb. If you have time to volunteer, then sign up for phone from home or join one of the local phone banks. If you don't have either then feel free to come up with some creative ways to help.

 

[walt]

Encouraging the donation of funds to pay people who quit their jobs and sit in background earning RP2012 salaries but never lift a finger is not something I support especially when those people treat the grassroots like garbage.

 

[tbone717]

Encouraging the donation of funds to pay people who quit their jobs and sit in background earning RP2012 salaries but never lift a finger is not something I support especially when those people treat the grassroots like garbage.

I am sorry to hear that you feel that way. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the campaign staff.

 

[walt]

I am sorry to hear that you feel that way. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the campaign staff.

I'm sorry you are unaware of these issues. You must not be talking to too many people!

 

[seapilot]

I did not read he is discounting 2008 effort only its more focused now in which he is correct.

 

[helmuth_hubener]

Encouraging the donation of funds to pay people who quit their jobs and sit in background earning RP2012 salaries but never lift a finger is not something I support especially when those people treat the grassroots like garbage.

But with the SuperVoterBomb you know right where the money goes, and it's not to pay people.

I agree 2007-8 was great, literally: it was huge, enormous, gigantic, it was unprecedented. Nothing like that had happened before. It launched a new mass movement. That doesn't happen everyday. If some people disagree with our methods, if they think the stuff we did was stupid, let them try launching a mass movement.

But despite the fact that the OP should, indeed, have a little more deference to the tremendous achievement that was the 2007-8 RP grassroots campaign, he is right that Phone from Home and the SuperVoterBomb are two good projects. Neither involve donating money to the central campaign committee, if you are skeptical about how they use it. I myself am always skeptical. You can always donate to the RevPAC instead.

 

[Badger Paul]

We wouldn't be at this point if it wasn't for the 2007-08 campaign but we also wouldn't be at this point without our 2011-12 campaign either.

 

[chudrockz]

Tension and conflict between the grassroots and the official campaign are EXACTLY what Ron Paul's enemies want. Knock it OFF.

If you are a Ron Paul supporter, you are my ally. If you are Ron Paul neutral, you are my potential ally. If you are a Ron Paul hater, you are my enemy.

 

[freeforall]

i just want to point out that people who are new to figuring how they can help from many different circumstances and interests are paying attention to this banter. it takes some of the fun out of it. encourage people to do what you feel is most important, thank people for doing what they can and what motivates them, and keep doing as much as you can. as a newer supporter, i will keep saying this because it is important that we are working together and getting excited about every step towards our goal big or small.

 

[sailingaway]

I think a TON of people who have not voted because there was no one to vote for or are young would be enthusiastic, and still think we need to reach them. I think targetted efforts are the bread and butter of campaigns and we need to go after those, but I ALSO think that when those 'have voted in last two election' people are polled Ron polls lower than when independents and general population are polled (think Rasmussen v Des Moines Register polling company) and we have to lasso in those 'out of the count' people as well. I was GOP forever, but I'm not sure I ever voted in a primary before I voted for Ron Paul last time, and only looked into primary candidates because I was pissed at the idea of being asked to vote for McCain.

A lot more people are pissed, this year.

PS. I'm not pushing RevPac. I have more questions there than with the campaign. I am just pushing against cutting off what makes this campaign special and what exactly it is that makes this time Ron Paul's moment.

 

[Anti Federalist]

In 2008, there was a belief among the grassroots that non-traditional means of campaigning (sign waves, blimps, literature drops, etc) were going to be successful and produce this wave of support for Paul from new voters, crossovers and independents. As we know, that didn't work and Paul received pretty much the percentage of votes that the state polls said he would.

If it wasn't for those "unconventional" methods in 2007/08, RP would have no where near the needed name recognition he has now, and would have no realistic chance of winning the primary or the general, as he does now.

Those people on the front lines last time around were the "shock troops", doing everything they could to break down the establishment resistance that is still the single biggest hurdle we face.

If it wasn't for all those efforts, (now being mostly "poo poo-ed" and looked down upon), this campaign would be nowhere near as successful as it has been this time.

 

[kylejack]

The biggest difference to me is the foreign policy is now owned by Obama. Last time Ron Paul was swimming against the Republican current as they all clamored to endorse Bush war policies. This time these wars are now owned by the Democrat president, so we actually see some candidates condemning some of Obama's wars, especially Libya. We're now on the "right side" and we've been there all along.

 

[McDermit]

It was our actions in 07-08 that helped ron bring all of today's issues into the debate and into the mainstream. Ron is gaining more traction today, not specifically due to phoning, but because his message has become much more acceptable and mainstream. All the candidates are parroting at least portions of his platform. It was not phoning Iowa that kept this issues on the table the past 4 years, it was grassroots supporters demanding a focus on real issues.


People need to stop discouraging others from getting involved in their own way. Ron loves the creativity and has continued to request and praise our unconventional methods. No one here is suggesting that phone from home isn't imperative. I've made 4500 calls myself. But we still have 07-08 activists who aren't getting involved again because there's no familiar, energizing activity on a local level. We still need to create and maintain enthusiasm amongst the grassroots activists and the general public.

All work and no play leads to decreased productivity. Get people out and doing something fun and encouraging, and you get them reengergized so they'd geared up and excited about getting back on the phones. We need some fun, morale-boosting activities that made us great in 07.

Constrructive criticism is good when people are jumping on the bandwagon of an idea that will waste significant amounts of time and money. But when it's a one time event that won't detract from alternate efforts, just shut up and let them be excited about their event. Constantly taking the wind out of everyone's sails does more harm than good.

 

[tbone717]

If it wasn't for those "unconventional" methods in 2007/08, RP would have no where near the needed name recognition he has now, and would have no realistic chance of winning the primary or the general, as he does now.

Those people on the front lines last time around were the "shock troops", doing everything they could to break down the establishment resistance that is still the single biggest hurdle we face.

If it wasn't for all those efforts, (now being mostly "poo poo-ed" and looked down upon), this campaign would be nowhere near as successful as it has been this time.

While the unconventional methods of 2008 did get us where we are today, it is now time to look towards methods that are proven to target primary & caucus voters. Sign waving, posting on blogs, youtube videos, etc all have some merit, but it does not reach targeted caucus/primary voters as other more successful and time proven methods do. I am not looking down upon those efforts in any way, but encouraging those who wish to volunteer their time to follow the directives of the campaign. The campaign has urged people on numerous occasions to sign up for the phone from home program. They are doing so because this program works. If you have time to donate to the campaign, then why not do what the campaign asks?

And as a side note: Many of us were here in 08, just because we don't have 1000's of posts in a forum is no indication of how long we have been active and involved. This movement has been around a lot longer that 4 years. In fact many of us have been active for decades.