A blimp is a BAD IDEA - here is why

[Matt Collins]

Is it just me, or does anyone else see inconsistencies between the above two statements?

No, its called context. In the first statement I was referring to people who were not supporters and likely were not going to be supporters, at least not immediately.

 

[Matt Collins]

That's where he's going with this. He's talking about getting cozy with the establishment, which requires selling out.

Not at all... Rand hasn't sold out but yet Rand has neutralized a lot of potential establishment vitriol against him. Sorry, but one doesn't have to abandon principle in order to win; Rand has proven that.

I suspect this is also why there's an effort to talk down the convention/delegate strategy of 2012. The real power is at the conventions and in the officer positions. Paul Inc does not want another insurgent convention effort by the grassroots in 2016. They want to control the outcome themselves in accordance with the wishes of the RNC. Make it appear that convention politics is pointless and to just send money and follow orders?

huh? this makes no sense whatsoever

 

[Matt Collins]

Instead of thanking those who did donate, he spit in their faces as if they owed it to him.

Not at all, I have become very well trained and experienced because of it. I am always thankful for those who donate to productive causes, and I encourage everyone who wants to make a difference to go through the same training I have.

 

[cajuncocoa]

No, its called context bullshit. In the first statement blah blah blah blah blah

FIFY

 

[jjdoyle]

Not at all... Rand hasn't sold out but yet Rand has neutralized a lot of potential establishment vitriol against him. Sorry, but one doesn't have to abandon principle in order to win; Rand has proven that.

Rand has abandoned principle, by voting to give foreign aid to Israel, just because everybody else gets it.
He has no grounds to call for balancing the budget, for making the case of being a fiscal conservative, when he is borrowing money from China to give to Israel. He is like Rick Santorum apparently, in that sometimes he takes one for the team....

 

[Anti Federalist]

Not at all, I have become very well trained and experienced because of it. I am always thankful for those who donate to productive causes, and I encourage everyone who wants to make a difference to go through the same training I have.

At what?

Running pyramid schemes?

 

[acptulsa]

Looking forward to seeing you completely ignore this question. Thanks for nothing.

Just in case someone doubted my powers of prognostication.

 

[jjdoyle]

At what?

Running pyramid schemes?

Did you bill Ron Paul 2012, or Ron Paul 2008, for "expenses" after you "volunteered" time? Hahahaha...no? You didn't do that?
Sounds like you need to take the Matt Collins' Political Training for a Living 101 course.

Everything you do for a campaign, has an "expense" attached to it. EVERYTHING.
Gas in your car. Your time. Hotel. Phone bills. Internet bills. Even cable TV bills so you can torture yourself watching political attack ads and inform the campaign of those things.

There isn't one reason you shouldn't be billing the campaign for these things. I think some of the long-term members here might be able to bill Rand's 2016 campaign for time posting on RPF, trying to help spread the liberty message.

Don't be upset you aren't at the top of Matt Collins' political pyramid schemes you mentioned, use that to YOUR benefit.
I still think starting the PoAC PAC is what is needed for this movement, to help show the RNC that we are professionals, and can run big money political events simply for the sake of making a buck. It's what is needed, to continue to "play the game"...

 

[invisible]

Not at all, I have become very well trained and experienced because of it. I am always thankful for those who donate to productive causes, and I encourage everyone who wants to make a difference to go through the same training I have.

"I have become very well indoctrinated and experienced because of it. I am always thankful for those who donate to causes that I feel are productive, and I encourage everyone who wants to be made into a different person to go through the same sort of brainwashing that I have."

Fixed it for you.
Seriously, this is exactly what seems to be the case. You simply don't seem like the same person that you once were. I met you personally, and you seemed like a great guy, and I have always thought well of you. But something changed you in a big way, somewhere along the line. It's like your account here has been hijacked. Gunny is right, you seem to slip more and more into a parody of your former self with every post you make.

I'm not saying any of this to attack you, as I still consider you to be my friend. And as a friend, I'm only asking you to look at what you've become, look at what you've done to yourself, and how many of your friends you've caused to turn away from and ultimately against you. This is the same sort of thing you say to a friend who has become a narcotics addict or hardcore alcoholic, and you say it because you genuinely care about the person, not to belittle or insult them.

I just wish that you could go back to the way you were. I want the old Matt Collins back, the Matt Collins that refused to shake the hand of someone who voted for the bailout, the real one, not this imposter. I want THE Collins back!

 

[Brian4Liberty]

So what's the consensus? Do we fly a blimp or not?

 

[jjdoyle]

So what's the consensus? Do we fly a blimp or not?

Yes, and apparently we hope it ends like this:

That way, it gets some MASSIVE national media coverage, and it is the only thing talked about including the associated candidate's name FOR WEEKS.

 

[HVACTech]

"But you have yet to prove that someone--anyone--would have heard of Ron Paul if we hadn't shoved his name through the blackout."

the "blackout" was real. and it was strong. to pretend that it was not. is silly.
it was clear even by middle 07 that it was happening.
in hindsight, that was one of the many things that got my attention about the Guy.

our asses had been handed to us. long before the rally for the Republic.
that whole event was about flipping the "man" the bird.
Thanks for being a part of that..

+ rep.

 

[devil21]

Not at all... Rand hasn't sold out but yet Rand has neutralized a lot of potential establishment vitriol against him. Sorry, but one doesn't have to abandon principle in order to win; Rand has proven that.

I never said anything about Rand, the person. I was quite obviously referring to the Paul Inc apparatus that has grown up out of RP08/12, not the Paul men themselves. The apparatus is Saber, Rothfeld, Benton, etc. I've been impressed with what Rand has done as a Senator and how he's very skillfully played the game of politics. He's not running for Pres yet but I have no doubt that people that have positioned themselves to be close to him are already strategizing on how best to maximize their fortunes and influence when it does happen. I suspect some of them even hold positions, mainly foreign policy, that are not compatible with Rand's but that's an educated hunch.

huh? this makes no sense whatsoever

Whatever you say. Makes perfect sense to anyone that's been involved in this since the beginning. Don't you want to post Rothfeld's video just once more?

 

[Matt Collins]

Just in case someone doubted my powers of prognostication.

I couldn't even understand what you were trying to ask.... please rephrase it

 

[acptulsa]

I couldn't even understand what you were trying to ask.... please rephrase it

Let's see if I can keep it to two syllables or less.

Does it seem as if the mainstream has moved to Rand Paul because...

...Rand Paul has gone after Republican supervoters?

...Rand Paul has picked off low hanging fruit?

...None of this is in any way conventional--starting with efforts to shove Ron Paul through the blackout (efforts that were highlighted by a rather famous blimp), moving through the very radical new idea of 'educational campaigns', and crowned by the very Blue Republican movement that you spent hours and hours and hours trying to talk us out of doing, but is paying huge dividends now?

Take your time. I'd hate for you to choose a damned fool answer and get roundly roasted.

 

[amy31416]

Not at all, I have become very well trained and experienced because of it. I am always thankful for those who donate to productive causes, and I encourage everyone who wants to make a difference to go through the same training I have.

I know of many here who beg to differ, both in regards to you being grateful, and your capability of making a difference--but that probably has less to do with your "training," and more to do with your personality.

You don't even know who DebK is, nor do you have the foggiest clue what Angelatc has contributed. You're a great grassroots liaison. And in the way-back days, someone even searched you out to vet you, and couldn't find a single candidate or cause that you've donated to.

Did you miss the "Lead by Example, 101" course?

 

[Matt Collins]

But something changed you in a big way, somewhere along the line.

Maturity and experience. I wish more around here would change in that direction too.

I just wish that you could go back to the way you were. I want the old Matt Collins back, the Matt Collins that refused to shake the hand of someone who voted for the bailout, the real one, not this imposter. I want THE Collins back!

When I work for other people, I have to do things not to poorly represent them, and as such some of my personal freedom of expression (or protest) is limited. I still make it a point however to attempt to avoid handshakes of people who are actively harming the cause of liberty, if at all possible.



Oh, and if you read Saul Alinsky, you'll see that he teaches activists to move out of the street and into the realm of professional politics (cut the hair, wear a suit, etc) because one can be far more effective there..... the progressives have proved this over the last 100 years.

 

[Matt Collins]

Does it seem as if the mainstream has moved to Rand Paul because...

...Rand Paul has gone after Republican supervoters?

...Rand Paul has picked off low hanging fruit?

A lot of it is political environment too... Rand is very smart in the way he does things, but also the environment has made it possible for him to do the things he does. The Net generation, the hypocrisy of both Bush and Obama, the tea party movement, NSA and federal surveillance overreach, etc.


Rand is writing the narrative right now that he is the only one who can beat Hillary.


The people he is reaching out to will likely not cross over to vote in a Republican primary for him, but, that narrative is going to be one of the things he uses to convince Republican primary voters that he is the only Republican who can beat Hillary.

 

[Matt Collins]

And in the way-back days, someone even searched you out to vet you, and couldn't find a single candidate or cause that you've donated to.

Good, I want it that way. Makes opposition research much harder to do and is why I only tell people I know and trust what I have done and what I currently do.

If anyone can google me and see what it is that I do, that makes it easier for them to fight me. Not everything in the world needs to be transparent, sorry.


I was willing to share some with Deb but she refuses to become friends on Facebook, so if she can't extend any trust, then neither will I.

 

[angelatc]

Good, I want it that way. Makes opposition research much harder to do and is why I only tell people I know and trust what I have done and what I currently do.

If anyone can google me and see what it is that I do, that makes it easier for them to fight me. Not everything in the world needs to be transparent, sorry.


I was willing to share some with Deb but she refuses to become friends on Facebook, so if she can't extend any trust, then neither will I.

Damn - I really was dead on with the Pelosi comparison, wasn't I?