Are there more dormant supporters like me?

[gls]

I'll admit I didn't work as hard as I could for Ron in 2008 since it was obvious he wasn't in it to win it, and my free time/money is too limited to spend a lot of it promoting an "educational campaign". However if he is serious this time I will go all out.

 

[sailingaway]

Well, I gave money, but I live in California and didn't find out about him until the money bombs. I had heard people say on another forum that I might like him, and was thinking of looking into him, and when I heard the Nov 5 money bomb was going on, I gave some money (I despised McCain and thought Romney was a fraud but figured he'd win the nomination and I'd end up voting for him in the general.) I then started to look into him (yeah, I know, kind of backwards, but I had heard some good things said about him and Ron Paul supporters seemed so cute and idealistic when they had a money bomb going....and I'm a sucker for the Constitution...) ....anyhow, I learned I'd probably vote for him and gave more at the December money bomb, but had heard stuff said that was bad about him too, and hadn't really satisfied myself. Finally, I took the time to go right to the worst issue (newsletters) to find that it popped like a soap bubble when you look into it, and looking into it sold me on the man. Unfortunately, at that point the primaries were on us, and I could vote but wasn't a part of anything else. I donated to high tide and to some delegate efforts, but when I tried to sign up at Daily Paul there was a problem and I couldn't get on, and I didn't know how to navigate this sort of a message board, so I didn't even try here.

But I lurked, and tracked Ron, and joined Campaign for Liberty, and emailed and called senators when an issue was up... and donated to Ron's son's Senate campaign.... then in about March of last year, after Ron won CPAC, it caught my attention again, I could see things gearing up for another potential run, and I wanted a more active part. So I signed up here and at DP (this time it worked.)

Are there others?

Recently someone ran a poll here about when did people find out about Ron, in 1988, between 1988 and 2008, because of 2008 or afterwards, and two thirds, easy, hadn't heard of Ron until during or after the 2008 campaign.

We are starting with a very different sized base.

 

[fade]

I was a sophomore in college during the last election. I was involved, but not a ton. I went to a few meetup groups, donated a bit - but really got involved when I went to IOWA with the Ron Paul Christmas Vacation people. Since the last election was over I haven't hardly been on here or been as interested. Now that things are coming around and Ron may run again - my interest is peaked. I have a feeling a lot of people will be getting back into it rather quickly - and our grassroots numbers will more than double this time around.

 

[Maximus]

I voted for Romney (gasp!) in the primaries, and saw the light a couple months after that vote.

 

[Matt Collins]

Go here and reach out to Mark or John. They are great guys. There are tons of like minded people in Florida.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/usa/FL/

Yes I agree. Mark and John are indeed great guys.

 

[Matt Collins]

I'll admit I didn't work as hard as I could for Ron in 2008 since it was obvious he wasn't in it to win it, and my free time/money is too limited to spend a lot of it promoting an "educational campaign". However if he is serious this time I will go all out.

Ron didn't have electoral victory last election, but he was still the winner of 2008. Winning is not always the same as electoral victory.

 

[Matt Collins]

I'm 51 and my wife is 47. We both supported RP back in 08 and donated around $600 dollars to his campaign. Much to my chagrin in the last election, his campaign was run by a bunch of imbeciles. Hopefully he and his staff have learned a thing or two from that. If not, his campaign, once again, is doomed. I still support the man and if he announces, I will vote for him. Whether I donate monies to him remains to be seen as I will not give money to be spent by a bunch of rank amateurs that think all they have to do is spread the "reLOVEtion". .

Yes, things have changed drastically since then.

 

[Cowlesy]

This thread gives me hope.

 

[Nautargos]

I turned 18 just recently, and I'm even more passionate about the campaign than I was the first time around. Now I actually have some money and a more refined philosophy.

Being able to drive helps too, heh.

 

[anaconda]

Please rethink this one. Those Baby Boomers, which I not so lovingly know as the reality-challenged yet headstrong contemporaries of my elder siblings, are going to die off and leave this nation in a hell of a mess. There will be a lot of rebuilding for us to do. And if you can be ready to provide specialized and meaningful help with that, that would be good.

Maybe I should set up classes in how to schmooze older voters. Find out what a Packard (no, not a Hewlett Packard, a Packard luxury automobile) is, learn how to hum Take the A Train, and get your Thomas Jefferson quotes down cold. These things will help immensely.

Another good tune to hum:



And listen. They'll listen better if you listen first, so take the time to suffer a while delighting in their company. They'll spread the word better, too, if you do. And you never know when they'll tell you a great tale. I've heard firsthand accounts of a voyage in a covered wagon in my day. Sorry you won't get one of those...

Take The A Train music and Packard automobiles are the boomers parents generation. The boomers are Rock and Roll and Toyotas. Actually, many younger boomers were part of the 80's alternative scene.

 

[libertybrewcity]

I wanted to be active in politics since before I was 16, but the Republican Party never reached out to the grassroots or youth. I had so much free time that I could have gone door to door everyday after school and canvassed for candidates for years. I tried emailing the local Republican party, but they never got back to me. I think RP can have a whole other army of volunteers if they reach out the young people and get them off the computer and outside. I'm all in for RP this time, money and all.

Yes, things have changed drastically since then.

Like what?!

 

[RonPaulwillWin]

chicken butt

 

[thehighwaymanq]

I've said it before, but I think this election will be won by the youth. So many young people, including me, we're either to young to vote or thought they couldn't do what they wanted. This time it will be totally different. That entire 13-20 year old group is now 16-23 and are much more educated, informed, and prepared for the revolution.

If we do not support Students for Liberty and Young Americans for Liberty we will not win this election. We need to start running those college campuses, teaching people earlier, and have dozens and dozens of RP events led by those organizations in towns near to their schools.

 

[Matt Collins]

Like what?!

Well his staff is different and experienced now. There are professionals on the team who have won elections. And now he expects what will happen. And we already have a network in place.

 

[ForLibertyFight]

I was only 15 when I discovered the message of liberty through Ron Paul.
I did the best I could at that age, I put up signs, bumper stickers on my parent's car and tried talking to my teachers and neighbors about him despite my limited political knowledge.

3 years later, I feel much more educated and confident that I can eloquently persuade those around me to the message of liberty.
Also, I plan on starting a YAL chapter at my community college and volunteering by going door-to-door.
Already I have been talking to my peers, teachers and random people about Ron Paul and I can see that they are receptive to him.

I made a Ron Paul stamp that reads:
Disappointed in Obama?
Want Real Change & Hope?
Youtube:Ron Paul.

So far I've stamped at least 200 bills and I've only had the stamp for 3 days
I plan on keep stamping away and continue to spread the message.

And for those who are like me, continue fighting for liberty and for our future.

 

[PineGroveDave]

Well his staff is different and experienced now. There are professionals on the team who have won elections. And now he expects what will happen. And we already have a network in place.

Well, I'll remain "cautiously optimistic" and see what happens. The man already has my vote if he announces, but as with his last campaign I grew increasingly frustrated when most people felt that all was needed to win was to "spread the word" and they will come flocking. My wife and I not only donated, but we attended meetups (which we abruptly stopped as we couldn't take all the conspiracy theory folks that were all over the place.). If RP is to appeal to mainstream America, he needs to be "marketed" for mainstream America...and that is what wins elections folks.

 

[Rocco]

I was 16 in 2008 and was sort of starting to come around to Ron Pauls ideas, though didnt fully embrace him until after the primary was over. I was very dormant, half because my ideological world was being turned upside down and half because I wasnt sure about Dr Paul just yet. Now I plan on making up for some lost time! RP2012!

I have been supporting Ron Paul ever since I saw him in the first debate in 2007. I was aghast by how much information on him there was out there and what happened next in his campaign we all know was unbelievable. Ever since then I began educated myself then. Since I have yet to go to a meetup (I plan to attend April 19th) and I made my first donation last month. This is partly because I was 17 during the election in 2008 and couldn't vote but mainly because I was immature. This year will be different. I may stop attending community college to walk door to door in Orlando. I think just being young will help my case, specifically for older people (which my community is ripe with). Now I can't help but wonder... Is there anyone else like me? Anyone who was either to young or lethargic to commit in 08' but this year is dieing to make an impact. I yield the rest of my time for your response​

 

[Matt Collins]

Well, I'll remain "cautiously optimistic" and see what happens. The man already has my vote if he announces, but as with his last campaign I grew increasingly frustrated when most people felt that all was needed to win was to "spread the word" and they will come flocking. My wife and I not only donated, but we attended meetups (which we abruptly stopped as we couldn't take all the conspiracy theory folks that were all over the place.). If RP is to appeal to mainstream America, he needs to be "marketed" for mainstream America...and that is what wins elections folks.

Well the conspiracy types will be around and probably more active this time than last time. They are not always wrong, and many are good intentioned, but yes I feel your pain on that. We'll just have to learn to work together with everyone as I have done.

I assure you that there will be serious improvement in this campaign from the last one. It'll be day and night. I know this for a FACT.

 

[acptulsa]

Take The A Train music and Packard automobiles are the boomers parents generation. The boomers are Rock and Roll and Toyotas. Actually, many younger boomers were part of the 80's alternative scene.

He was talking about seniors. And while it takes a little work to get them past the notion that if they didn't see it on TV it must not be true, the seniors are the most receptive to our message and our principles. Much more, by and large and on average, than boomers.

They vote in greater percentages, too.

 

[PineGroveDave]

I assure you that there will be serious improvement in this campaign from the last one. It'll be day and night. I know this for a FACT.

And if that's the case, I can, in return, assure you that my wife and I will once again donate a considerable amount of money (well...we think $600-$1000 considerable to give to a candidate) and may even consider becoming active (as we last hoped to be) in spreading the word by getting more actively involved. Thank you for your attention to my fears/issues Matt.