American Spectator Slams Our Own Matt Collins

[Matt Collins]

That's just cold blooded - you need to STFU either voluntarily or by moderator.

Yeah he's on his way to being permanently banned.

How bad does it have to get before it's considered OK not to shake a political figure's hand? Richard Nixon bad? Fidel Castro bad? Adolf Hitler bad? Kim Jong Ill perhaps?

Good point.

 

[Matt Collins]

Finally, someone on my side of things. This is entirely about Collin's pride here.

No it's not, and it's written as --Collins'--

He knows full well there are a wealth of other things he could be doing that really do promote liberty, he's not doing them

Such as?

Acknowledging his support for HR 1207 isn't "discussing policy."

Right, because talking about current legislation and his sponsorship of it has nothing to do with policy whatsoever

It's your pride, again, Collins, and I'm not going to have a back and forth with you about it anymore.

You're wrong. And good, then I can spend time on other things than responding to your asinine posts.

Just go do what we supported you to do. Promote freedom with every ounce of strength you have or get the hell out of your position. I'm not looking to play politics, splinter a party, or place blame.

If you think there is going to be no friction in this process than you are naive.

The goal here is to change minds and advance freedom; you've forgotten that.

That's exactly what I'm doing.

 

[Matt Collins]

Ya, not only that, Matt got some publicity for a lot of our ideas that he eloquently wrote about in his reply. Win - Win

That's the idea. I am glad that some people realize this.

 

[Matt Collins]

You are not required to be nice to people all the time in any relationship. In this situation nothing that happened was rude in the slightest, nor was it taken as rude. The newspapers in question took a blog about who Matt prefers for a gubernatorial race with a metaphorical personal anecdote and turned it into a savage hit piece. I guarantee you Zach Wamp did not recall the situation as rude. In fact, he probably thought, good thing i cosponsored hr1207.

Exactly; thanks for providing a different perspective.

I didn't specifically say "I'm not shaking your hand because you voted for the bailout" but he shook everyone else's hand and I kept mine in my pocket. I didn't have anything nice to say so I kept my mouth shut (it was tough to do though). When I had something nice to say I said it, such as complimenting him for HR1207.

Criticism from party officials is one of the most powerful ways to affect the voting record of a politician. Guess where we learned that little aspect of TN politics?

ABSOLUTELY! That is why we have worked so hard to attain officer positions in the Nashville GOP - we have to be able to exert ideas and influence as Party officers (not speaking for the Party of course). It carrys a lot more weight when a Party officer says something than when the average voter / Party member says something. It's the bull pulpit if you will.

Negative information is how politicians learn what their constituents find unacceptable so they can calculate political risk when making a voting choice.

Yep. Now just imagine if everyone who disagreed with his bailout vote refused to shake his hand? Him, and every other politican in the area, would get the message VERY quick that those types of voting records are unaccepable.

 

[specsaregood]

That's the idea. I am glad that some people realize this.

I doubt the haters have as many accomplishments to point to in this "movement". Just let their insults go as no bother.

It's as if they don't realize that there is plenty of room for grandstanding in politics, its one of politicians favorite moves. You just pissed off your enemies and encouraged your allies, so be it.

There is a time to say, "ok, i'll get along" and there is a time to say, "I am here to stay and you will listen." The time to "get along" is when your opponents are at their strongest, the time to say the latter is when they are at their weakest. Which position would you all put the GOP in right now? I'd go with the latter.

 

[georgiaboy]

this thread is so reminiscent of the '08 campaign and the whole convention/delegate strategizing process.

There were debates ad nauseum on this forum about whether to infiltrate openly or secretively, with kindness or anger, as Pollyannas or Warriors.

It's situational, it's environmental, it's mystical. It ain't necessarily logical or predictable. And sometimes one strategy works one way & time, another works another way & time.

People & politics. Go figure.

 

[Deborah K]

this thread is so reminiscent of the '08 campaign and the whole convention/delegate strategizing process.

There were debates ad nauseum on this forum about whether to infiltrate openly or secretively, with kindness or anger, as Pollyannas or Warriors.

It's situational, it's environmental, it's mystical. It ain't necessarily logical or predictable. And sometimes one strategy works one way & time, another works another way & time.

People & politics. Go figure.

Spoken like a strategist.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

for those of you who weren't there and want to backseat politic, i can tell you from clear first hand experience, from being there, and from having spoken with Zach Wamp before in a critical manner, that he was CLEARLY working very hard to show us that he was improving his voting record.

the reason he was doing this was because he VISUALLY recognized what crowd we were with.

First off, at a press junket for Blue Collar Muse bloggers I confronted Zach Wamp, politely but firmly, about voting for the bailout. He apologized, publicly, then came and shook my hand for a near full two minutes, repeatedly saying "good question, i really mean that". (I DID shake his hand, but that is personal preference. and neither here nor there.)

Next time we see him at the GOP picnic, we are all wearing our GOP Excom laminates, and he says something to the effect of, 'I was the SIXTH person to cosponsor that bill. It's Ron's bill. We don't just need to Audit the Fed, we need to turn it on its ear. It's responsible for the crisis.' Matt didn't shake his hand, but Zach was walking backwards. At that exact same time I told him that we appreciated his vote, and that votes "like that" mean a lot to us.

It was OBVIOUS that he recognized us as the Ron Paul style Republicans and specifically told us what he knew we wanted to hear.

None of us have EVER kissed up to Zach in any way, all I ever did was confront him on the bailout. He clearly respects and understands that we have voters that think like us, and is starting to understand what votes matter to us. If we kissed up to him and made him think that he has us locked in already, he wouldn't care what bills we care about. I guarantee you that noone else at the entire picnic discussed a specific bill by its number, and noone was confronting him negatively about anything. the same thing happened at that press junket. It is the POLITICIANS JOB TO MAKE YOU LIKE HIM, not the other way around. he has a VESTED INTEREST TO MAKE YOU LIKE HIM. and most politicians are GOOD AT MAKING YOU LIKE THEM.

You are not required to be nice to people all the time in any relationship. In this situation nothing that happened was rude in the slightest, nor was it taken as rude. The newspapers in question took a blog about who Matt prefers for a gubernatorial race with a metaphorical personal anecdote and turned it into a savage hit piece. I guarantee you Zach Wamp did not recall the situation as rude. In fact, he probably thought, good thing i cosponsored hr1207.

Criticism from party officials is one of the most powerful ways to affect the voting record of a politician. Guess where we learned that little aspect of TN politics?

From the people already in the GOP. It is absolutely normal for an older party activist who is 60 or 70 to scream until red in the face, cuss, and run out of the room at a politician over appointments in the election commission, for example. Negative information is how politicians learn what their constituents find unacceptable so they can calculate political risk when making a voting choice.

Specsaregood, you haven't a clue as to what you are talking about. The idea is to spread a message of liberty and freedom as much as possible....that means educating and converting "enemies" (funny, Ron and other freedom candidates never considered them enemies....) Being an ignorant jackass doesn't further the agenda by any stretch of the imagination, and I'd like for ONE person to show me how that action does.

Whatever you say, Danno. More bad publicity for someone people were aching to dislike. Not all publicity is good publicity.

Barry, just be quiet, you're rambling. And I mean that in polite a way as possible. I've addressed everything you've attempted to communicate in prior posts. I suggest you backtrack and read them.

Collins, I've answered all your questions in prior posts. I couldn't be any clearer if I numbered them and typed in neon green text. Back to your old ways, once again. Hear what you want to hear, see what you want to see, believe what you want to believe. Simply frustrating, obnoxious, and irritating.

Refusing a handshake? Really?

Good job marginalizing yourself and others.

Silliness.

Bingo. I'm glad some people still have common sense. But, then again, everything he does he believes is a grand act of god to be envied. Worst of all, he can't swallow his pride. Apparently, it's about him and not liberty. Newsflash, Collins', being a dick isn't in your job description. Be one on your own time.

Then again, this is someone that isn't even a true believer in the Constitution and freedom. He's displayed instances where he believes it is permissible to violate property rights, such as stealing music from artists and movies on the internet. You shouldn't even be leading a charge in this fight, Collins'. You're just a hypocrite and you make me sick. Quit grandstanding when you have your own flaws.

 

[specsaregood]

Specsaregood, you haven't a clue as to what you are talking about.

Thank you. It really means a lot coming from you, seriously.

 

[yongrel]

I find it interested how many members of the liberty movement enjoy hitching their wagon to the favorite horse and then waving at the people as they ride by. Ambitious people attaching themselves to bigger names, so on and so forth.

Matt Collins certainly isn't the first person ever to make an effort to be the story, nor will he be the last.

It's a shame that his attention comes at the expense of his cause.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

I find it interested how many members of the liberty movement enjoy hitching their wagon to the favorite horse and then waving at the people as they ride by. Ambitious people attaching themselves to bigger names, so on and so forth.

Matt Collins certainly isn't the first person ever to make an effort to be the story, nor will he be the last.

It's a shame that his attention comes at the expense of his cause.

Agreed. Unfortunately, not many people here will view it that way.

 

[BarryDonegan]

I wonder if everyone else here had their blogs parsed for a hitpiece by a local Democrat rag how many of us might come across to others

 

[Matt Collins]

It's situational, it's environmental, it's mystical. It ain't necessarily logical or predictable. And sometimes one strategy works one way & time, another works another way & time.

That's kind of my point. In this situation by my judgment, this type of tactic worked. It doesn't all the time and it won't everywhere. But here it did.

 

[Matt Collins]

Newsflash, Collins', being a dick isn't in your job description. Be one on your own time.

Name calling... can you think of any thing of substance to say, or will you just continue to throw insults?

Then again, this is someone that isn't even a true believer in the Constitution and freedom. He's displayed instances where he believes it is permissible to violate property rights, such as stealing music from artists and movies on the internet..

Ok this is the most ignorant and untrue statement you've ever made. I have NEVER advocated theft of art (or anything else for that matter) be it film, music, or any other form.

 

[Danke]

"First they ignore you - Then laugh at you and hate you - Then they fight you - then you win”

Press on Matt!

 

[rockandrollsouls]

Name calling... can you think of any thing of substance to say, or will you just continue to throw insults?

Ok this is the most ignorant and untrue statement you've ever made. I have NEVER advocated theft of art (or anything else for that matter) be it film, music, or any other form.

I'm not name calling. That's simply how you're acting. How else does one label your actions? Saintly? I don't think so. Take it for what it's worth.

And you DO advocate theft; you just don't consider it that. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=198492&highlight=music+download 2nd post.

I'm not going to argue details with you. You really are back to your old ways.

Anyway, I like how you refuse to acknowledge the other, critical parts of my posts. Selective vision, once again.

 

[pacelli]

Narcissism or histrionics notwithstanding...

 

[Aratus]

as i sip my morning coffee...

I doubt the haters have as many accomplishments to point to in this "movement". Just let their insults go as no bother.

It's as if they don't realize that there is plenty of room for grandstanding in politics, its one of politicians favorite moves. You just pissed off your enemies and encouraged your allies, so be it.

There is a time to say, "ok, i'll get along" and there is a time to say, "I am here to stay and you will listen." The time to "get along" is when your opponents are at their strongest, the time to say the latter is when they are at their weakest. Which position would you all put the GOP in right now? I'd go with the latter.

this thread is so reminiscent of the '08 campaign and the whole convention/delegate strategizing process.

There were debates ad nauseum on this forum about whether to infiltrate openly or secretively, with kindness or anger, as Pollyannas or Warriors.

It's situational, it's environmental, it's mystical. It ain't necessarily logical or predictable. And sometimes one strategy works one way & time, another works another way & time.

People & politics. Go figure.

Spoken like a strategist.

matt collins, thee is now the center of attention.
you are young, grasshopper. the fine art of donnybrooking...



admittedly anyone inside the epicenter of a traditional
donnybrook sorta ends up slugging away at all in order
to reach the rim of the brawling throng, and then by degrees
upon feeling the jaw, one then tries to figure out if one
socked the jaw of a fellow partisan or even a relative or
close friend. sometimes the electrifying fury of the brawl makes
the sport ongoing and continuous. the metaphysical entity
that is the world wide web takes into cyber-space all that was
and is of and tew a traditional donnybrook or even a most modern
version of the same. ------in politics, the lesson is... one should not create
a donnybrook. there are days when you avoid a donnybrook or being
caught inside the same. --------we see almost a hemmingway-esque
sublimination of an old merrie sport to these metaphysical net-battles.


truely! truely! truely! there must be brief lull in Rand Paul's continually energizing
momentum gathering senate run... for now our dilligent campaign manager guy hath made 4
replies in short succession and order insted of {{{ drumrolls}}} one sweet, terse and succinct one...

 

[Aratus]

all true donnybrooks at their source...

"First they ignore you - Then laugh at you and
hate you - Then they fight you - then you win”

Press on Matt!

yes... tis wise words!
also keep in mind
--TIME IS MONEY--

 

[Matt Collins]

And you DO advocate theft; you just don't consider it that. [url]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=198492&highlight=music+download[/URL] 2nd post.

No, you're ignorant of the definition of theft. I've explained it multiple time, yet you refuse to accept current law and definitions on the subject.

Anyway, I like how you refuse to acknowledge the other, critical parts of my posts. Selective vision, once again.

I only respond to what is worth responding to.