A longtime critic was converted by last night's debate!

[sailingaway]

As some of you might already know, I write a weekly political column for a newspaper here in rural Arkansas. This afternoon, a fan and friend who has long been critical of my support for Ron Paul stopped by the office specifically to tell me that last night's debate had won him over.

When I asked him which of Paul's debate responses had inspired such a drastic shift in support, he specifically mentioned the one in which Paul dismissed Romney's suggestion that the President should consult with military generals before pulling out of Afghanistan and told me Paul was "the only one who was right" when it came to foreign policy.

This from a guy who a few months ago was telling me he wouldn't care if we turned the entire Middle-East into a giant crater, whether with nukes or otherwise.

In the short time I've been a member of this forum, I've read a great deal of posts critical of Paul's presentation, and while I agree our purpose could certainly benefit from a little polish, days like today remind me that the message is sometimes more powerful and unquestionably more important than the package in which it's delivered.

I have given out to much rep in the last 24 hours to give you any.....

 

[sailingaway]

This statement was POWERFUL. Im finding all across the board of Republicans this was the solidifying moment of the debate no matter what the media says. The reason this statement was converting people isn't because freedom was popular. It was because Ron Paul showed confidence and strength. Like many of us have been saying since day 1 of this go around. If Ron Paul lays out actual plans with details instead of education, he will be a force.

He showed confidence and strength when he told Guiliani to go pound sand, too, but it didn't have this reaction from as many conservatives.... I think people are war weary and those who weren't absolutely gung ho before now look at the deficit and shake their heads, thinking of how much we are spending overseas. It makes them more open to it now.

 

[nobody's_hero]

I think, true or not, the Osama bin Laden killing gave many (not all) conservatives a good stopping point with which they could claim victory and feel comfortable recalling the troops.

The window of opportunity may be small, though.

The propagandists have been spewing the nonsense that the "War on Terror" is far from over, and are trying to compile a list of people, real or imagined, dead or alive, that we'll "have" to take out before we could ever bring the troops home.

Sailing away makes a good point too:

More conservatives are open to the fiscal arguments against continuing the war, as well, so it seems.

 

[Koz]

days like today remind me that the message is sometimes more powerful and unquestionably more important than the package in which it's delivered.

Well said.

 

[Paul Or Nothing II]

In the short time I've been a member of this forum, I've read a great deal of posts critical of Paul's presentation, and while I agree our purpose could certainly benefit from a little polish, days like today remind me that the message is sometimes more powerful and unquestionably more important than the package in which it's delivered.

In fact, exactly the opposite of what you're saying happened. It was his PACKAGING that won him that point, he was simple, decisive, assertive & it gave people what they want to see ie a strong leader so it was all about packaging & he had it absolutely spot on on that occasion & a lot of us have shown appreciation for it in the related threads & that's exactly what most of us want Ron to do. He didn't have to change his message, all he did was make it simple, appealing & easy to understand for the people instead of going on a talk-frenzy like he usually does so that's what we need more of from Ron if we're to get anywhere close to even getting the GOP nomination.

 

[torchbearer]

good news.

 

[Travlyr]

In the short time I've been a member of this forum, I've read a great deal of posts critical of Paul's presentation, and while I agree our purpose could certainly benefit from a little polish, days like today remind me that the message is sometimes more powerful and unquestionably more important than the package in which it's delivered.

And another +rep for the new guy. This is good news.