Benton: 'Dr. Paul will not seek to be nominated from the floor.'

[parocks]

And just like that, everything I've said about Benton this election cycle is proven to be true.

Bullshit.

Everybody has been blaming Benton for passing along the official Ron Paul message which comes from Ron Paul.

Benton isn't off the reservation. Benton would be fired by now if the things he's been saying weren't what Ron Paul wanted him to say.

Ron Paul doesn't hate the Republicans as much as many here do. Ron Paul doesn't want the Republicans to hate him (and Rand).

Ron Paul doesn't want to act as if a black swan event (Romney eaten by sharks) is a certainty. Ron Paul doesn't want to say "it's over, go home now"
because often Ron Paul supporters have fragile psyches.

Remember when Santorum just dropped out? Just dropped out. Are there people who continue to criticize whoever Santorums manager was for Santorum dropping out? Are there Santorum supporters who think Santorum will win in Tampa. After all, Santorum actually won a good number of states. And we didn't win any. (Except at the delegate stage where we really did great).

I should add that I'm in Maine and I want the people I voted for at the convention to vote for Ron Paul. I want our delegates to rip shit up if we can't vote for Ron Paul. But I have no problem with Ron Paul saying "hey, that's not me setting the arena on fire, those are my crazy delegates".

 

[LibertyEagle]

This whole thing is sad. We need to be rowing together. Not beating the shit out of each other.

 

[Aratus]

way way way way way way way way way back in 1944 ole harry truman got on FDR's
ticket becuz he looked at the way the pentagon in ww2 spent the taxpayer's money...

asking for a pentagon audit has rand paul sounding like a very astute principled senator.
i wish wish wish wish wish this could be a platform plank that goes the tampa distance.

 

[RickyJ]

Back in the day I stood up for Benton, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The doubt is gone, he is a horrible excuse for a campaign manager. With the resources we made available - people and money - a good campaign manager would have won this primary for Paul, or at the very least secured him major influence in the party from here forward.

Benton seems to be acting on behalf of those who want to marginalize Ron Paul. He behaves as if he has been paid off by a rival.

To be honest I never cared for the guy from day one even before he became the campaign manager this election. Ron Paul has a great message and ideas, but his weakness appears to be in who he trusts to work with him on those goals. Even in 2008 the official campaign didn't seem to be on the ball as much as the grassroots and in some cases it appeared they were working against them.

 

[cajuncocoa]

I'm confused. And this post might get me banned, but I'm going to speak out anyway.

A few months ago many activists (myself included) expressed the idea that we want nothing to do with the GOP in the future. And we were told by many on this board that we have to stay with the GOP and try to "reform" it -- because that's what Dr. Paul wants us to do.

I don't think that's a good idea at all. The GOP has made it clear as it can be that we're not wanted in their party, and they will do whatever they need to do; they will break any rule (or hips and fingers) to keep us out.

But because that's what Ron Paul said he wants, we have to do it, because this is the Ron Paul forum.

Many of us were thoroughly disgusted by Rand's endorsement of Romney on Sean Hannity's show.

We were told that the Pauls know what they're doing. The endorsement is meaningless, and Rand is just setting up for 2016.


Now, the campaign is telling us Ron Paul doesn't want to be nominated from the floor....and in spite of what RP wants, the delegates are going to do what they want to do anyway!

What if Ron doesn't want to rock the boat because nominating him from the floor would hurt Rand's chances in 2016?

Personally, I don't give a $hit about that...I would say "nominate him anyway!"

But that's me. Where the consistency from the "whatever Ron Paul wants, that's what we do" crowd?

 

[parocks]

Have yall considered that maybe Ron doesn't want to be nominated from the floor? I don't know either way, but I'm just saying, perhaps it's possible that Jesse is just doing what Ron wants? Something to think about seeing as Jesse works for Ron...


This is besides the fact that a nomination from the floor would not actually lead to an electoral victory.

Boo Matt Collins who might know what he's talking about.

Boo realism.

There are a lot of people here who think that bad news doesn't happen unless you talk about it. And Benton's the guy who talks about the bad news about not winning.

I think the delegates should nominate him from the floor. But Ron Paul distancing himself from this effort is what I would expect.

 

[TheGrinch]

I'm confused. And this post might get me banned, but I'm going to speak out anyway.

A few months ago many activists (myself included) expressed the idea that we want nothing to do with the GOP in the future. And we were told by many on this board that we have to stay with the GOP and try to "reform" it -- because that's what Dr. Paul wants us to do.

I don't think that's a good idea at all. The GOP has made it clear as it can be that we're not wanted in their party, and they will do whatever they need to do; they will break any rule (or hips and fingers) to keep us out.

But because that's what Ron Paul said he wants, we have to do it, because this is the Ron Paul forum.

Many of us were thoroughly disgusted by Rand's endorsement of Romney on Sean Hannity's show.

We were told that the Pauls know what they're doing. The endorsement is meaningless, and Rand is just setting up for 2016.


Now, the campaign is telling us Ron Paul doesn't want to be nominated from the floor....and in spite of what RP wants, the delegates are going to do what they want to do anyway!

What if Ron doesn't want to rock the boat because nominating him from the floor would hurt Rand's chances in 2016?

Personally, I don't give a $hit about that...I would say "nominate him anyway!"

But that's me. Where the consistency from the "whatever Ron Paul wants, that's what we do" crowd?

For one thing, Ron and Benton said they were not going to be seeking a nomination from the floor. Nowhere have they ever even hinted that the delegates should not.

Now of course it's debatable if it's worth causing that kind of ruckus if we don't have the numbers, which according to Dr. Paul's emails we do not, but Ron did say for the delegates to make as many gains for liberty as they possibly can....

 

[Aratus]

if if if if if if there is an actual grassroots fervor coming from the floor of the tampa convention that does not have an ounce of artificial astroturf
to it as we at home see a motivated momentum & energized sincere call for doctor ron paul, middle america would forgive us if a very long set of
ballot votes takes things from early afternoon to maybe 3 a.m EST even though mitt's dedicated people would be passing around tums aplenty...

 

[Natural Citizen]

Slim makes it sound like there's still a percentile chance. Ron said its impossible. Math doesn't lie; and besides it would make our movement the laughing stock of politics. I've seen how hardcore Paul supporters (borderline cultists) turn off average voters. Sometimes we're our own worst enemy.

I don't understand what an average voter is. What is that? Where does the comparison lay relevant to this theoretical above average voter you hint toward?

Also...I don't know what a hardcore Paul supporter means. Sounds like some Frank Luntz spin to me. Can you tell us what that means? Because there are millions of people who know and understand the idea of Liberty. These folks are not borderline cultists. That fodder reminds me of the old gag of pulling folks over or labeling them terroristic because they had a Ron Paul sticker on their bumper.

Now, I have no intention of squabbling about it. In fact, I don't evn care if you respond. But the spin on language I read in many of your postings is, in my view, borderline and are comparable to some of the spew read on extreme right wing platforms.

Correct me if I'm mistaken but I only comment on things as they appear to me. I would like to know what an average voter is though. Do tell, please. Share with us your wisdom...

 

[paulbot24]

I don't think that was what what I said was about. My point here is one I haven't made over and over, and it is that it isn't Ron losing that makes people leave it is not having him to fight for because his light is so bright.

I like bright lights.

THIS/\/\/\ People get discouraged in politics because they feel that nobody is fighting for their rights and for "the little guy" anymore. Discouragement becomes apathy, which becomes corruption when politicians feel nobody cares enough to be "watching" or to hold them accountable. Apathy and its associated unaccountability is what has created the mess we have on Capitol Hill. We've already seen what happens when Ron and others speak out vehemently against legislation like NDAA and the TSA. Not much changes but we at least know he won't stop giving them hell for trampling on our liberties. What happens when those few begin to disappear and retire? He is keeping an already deteriorating situation from spiraling into an even deeper abyss of hopelessness and despair which will only serve to embolden Congress to finish off our civil liberties and rights. I like bright lights too, especially as everything seems to get darker around us.

 

[Aratus]

we need to ban artificial astroturf from tampa, we need to keep the vote honest and upright.

 

[Starfield]

Dr. Paul will not seek to be nominated from the floor.

So... did he change his mind, or was the "delegate strategy" a load of crap from the beginning? How was the "delegate strategy" supposed to work without getting nominated from the floor‽

 

[pcosmar]

A good a place for this as any.



On One But Paul.

 

[RickyJ]

yeah.

Bump that shit.

I dare ya.




Guess who Greene County ended up supporting in '12?

Ron Paul.

ya know why?

Because the youth took over the Greene county GOP over the last 4 years.

Bump you saying you are working your ass off for McCain?

You could have taken over the county without ever once working your ass off for John McCain!

 

[TheGrinch]

So... did he change his mind, or was the "delegate strategy" a load of crap from the beginning? How was the "delegate strategy" supposed to work without getting nominated from the floor‽

Again:

1) He's not seeking it. It doesn't mean he wouldn't accept it if the delegates did.

2) He let us know quite a while ago that we only have about half the delegates needed to nominate him... Thus, I'm not sure why he'd be seeking something that he's told us himself he doesn't think we have the numbers to do, barring something unexpected.

People, please just stop with jumping to these brash conclusions. Use your head, because this is getting really old...

 

[LibertyEagle]

The nomination is right around the corner. Is this really worth all this arguing?

 

[Aratus]

this all has a front porch campaign logic to it. bill mckinley was coaxed to run from
canton ohio, ole george washington when out riding was asked to be C-I-C in 1789.
you have to have dr. ron paul thinking this one over in a good way without forging
a metaphoric verbal weapon barack obama can utilize in the fall campain against his
hypothetical challenger, our gentleman mitt from the baystate. so far we have not
seen dr. ron paul give the official nod to a rival competator as he tosses in his towel.

 

[sailingaway]

I'm confused. And this post might get me banned, but I'm going to speak out anyway.

A few months ago many activists (myself included) expressed the idea that we want nothing to do with the GOP in the future. And we were told by many on this board that we have to stay with the GOP and try to "reform" it -- because that's what Dr. Paul wants us to do.

I don't think that's a good idea at all. The GOP has made it clear as it can be that we're not wanted in their party, and they will do whatever they need to do; they will break any rule (or hips and fingers) to keep us out.

But because that's what Ron Paul said he wants, we have to do it, because this is the Ron Paul forum.

Many of us were thoroughly disgusted by Rand's endorsement of Romney on Sean Hannity's show.

We were told that the Pauls know what they're doing. The endorsement is meaningless, and Rand is just setting up for 2016.


Now, the campaign is telling us Ron Paul doesn't want to be nominated from the floor....and in spite of what RP wants, the delegates are going to do what they want to do anyway!

What if Ron doesn't want to rock the boat because nominating him from the floor would hurt Rand's chances in 2016?

Personally, I don't give a $hit about that...I would say "nominate him anyway!"

But that's me. Where the consistency from the "whatever Ron Paul wants, that's what we do" crowd?

Different people were always saying different things. Why don't you go through those threads and find out which ones from those threads are the ones taking which positions now. But working in the GOP and throwing away a chance for Ron to be nominated from the floor are not the same thing IF that in fact is what Benton was even saying. Working within the GOP could as easily mean fighting with Ron being nominated on the floor as this year's Goldwater to be an elder statesmen of the party still carrying his banner and letting supporters follow him. None of that stops people from working inside the GOP.

If, as speculation only, this were to try to position Rand as the head of the movement it is a bad idea, imho. PARTICULARLY if he is going to be making 'pragmatic political calculations' because the leader should be the beacon of liberty for people to be attracted to, and hiding your light under a bushel basket doesn't serve that purpose.

And to me that beacon is Ron in the forseeable future, at least, and nominating him from the floor, assuming we can possibly do it, is the only way to go.

Frankly, the GOP should want it too. ROMNEY won't be the change people are looking for, but people looking for change will see that the only place offering it is within the GOP.

 

[sailingaway]

Again:

1) He's not seeking it. It doesn't mean he wouldn't accept it if the delegates did.

2) He let us know quite a while ago that we only have about half the delegates needed to nominate him... Thus, I'm not sure why he'd be seeking something that he's told us himself he doesn't think we have the numbers to do, barring something unexpected.

People, please just stop with jumping to these brash conclusions. Use your head, because this is getting really old...

this is what I believe as well.

 

[RickyJ]

So... did he change his mind, or was the "delegate strategy" a load of crap from the beginning? How was the "delegate strategy" supposed to work without getting nominated from the floor‽

I don't think he changed his mind. If Ron Paul didn't want to be nominated from the floor he would tell us himself. I wouldn't pay much mind to what comes out of Benton's mouth.