BREAKING: Ron Paul OFFICIAL STATEMENT on DELEGATE STRATEGY

[jay_dub]

Do you have the letter? Because all I have seen is two sentences pulled from a letter and in fact one of them was not a complete sentence as indicated in the original quoting by a bracketed "the".

You're good at rhetorical questions, aren't you? All any of have is what we've all seen...duh.

In Ben Swann's piece about this, he cited FairVote.org to back his argument up.

Just in a common sense way, it seems ridiculous that Swann would have gone on the air with this had there been a sentence or two preceding the cited sentence that gave it different meaning. I trust that he has more than a couple of functioning brain cells.

Here's the video. He mentions FairVote at 1:57.

In all honesty, I haven't read the FairVote piece and I suspect you haven't, either, or you likely would have cited it in your numerous posts with your opinion.

 

[JWZguy]

here's the AZ law, as I said, I agree I think it is unusual, you just have to check out the individual states, too. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/16/00243.htm&Title=16&DocType=ARS

Thanks very much for posting that - is there any indication as to what the penalty is for not using your "best efforts?" If it's a fine, I'll pitch in right now.

 

[BenMuldowney]

Let me play devil's advocate here for a sec. There has been so much conflicting info on delegates bound/unboundedness (probably not a word) that I'm not sure what the real deal is. It may be a state by state issue, it may not. Regardless, if there was a chance that a lot of these "bound" delegates could indeed vote their preference in the first round, do you think the campaign would publicly announce and push that? I'm kind of reading this now like, "we" meaning the campaign, aren't going to tell you to give em hell in Tampa and do what you do best.... but it's up to you as INDIVIDUALS to do what you can?

if it were just state gop rules then this would not be an issue. the party has no enforcement authority to collect fines from participants. it is a state by state issue and each person needs to research their own state's code. i did mine (which i am not going to post) and it is a state law and there are stiff penalties when the charge is bumped up to a felony for conspiracy to commit election fraud. we are talking prison time.

 

[Carlybee]

Now is up to OWS to save the country. The Ron Paul campaign is owing to science and they are seeking what they already know. They lost their appetite for freedom. They are happy with knowing and gave up trying and experimenting with the new. The Ron Paul campaign aged quite quickly and now it has become part of the past. The future now remains unknown and new ideas and assemblies will be generated that we don't know. But be certain about this, gasoline is coming down for the election of Obama and everything will be dandy for November. After that - KABOOM - the State will fall on everyone like an anvil.

Ows is clueless...their idea of freedom has nothing to do with the Constitution..they just want the govt to write more laws and engage in more transfer of wealth which will decimate more jobs.

 

[sailingaway]

This doesn't make laws. And this doesn't change the way the RNC and GOP vote in congress. At our county conventions, we all voted in favor of several resolution, that are meaningless. The establishment doesn't care, nor do they go along with even their own platform.

All I can see that favors these resolutions, is that it might change the eventual rules of the RNC. Which would therefore change the type of republicans that eventually be elected into congress and the Presidency. Which I can see is the ultimate goal. And considering the "ultimate goal", this would make it a lot easier for future generations of liberty minded people to get delegates, run successful campaigns for congressional and senate seats. As it stands right now, only the neocon tea party and 'tow the line" republicans have an easy shot at being elected.
Ron Paul cured a lot of apathy for thousands of people. We have the numbers to change the future of the republican party. We have enough to begin squelching the bias corruption within the GOP.

Was this Ron Paul's ultimate goal? I'm still open to all idea's and reasons for what the Ron Paul and his campaign in doing. Heck, I'm even open to the idea that RP was threatened. And is now taking that threat seriously.

Ross Perot was threatened. And he had enough money to provide security moreso than the POTUS. So the threat he received, had to have come from within the government itself. Possibley the CIA. I know that sounds conspiratorial. But why would someone with so much money (enough to secure himself from some lone wacko), drop out of the race twice?

What ever the reason for this change in plans are, I don't like being forced to wait for an answer. I've already secured my spot at the convention. I took off work many days throughout this whole process. I've donated. Bought T shirts and spent many hours discussing the reasons why we should all support Ron Paul, how he'd change this country as president. A lot of time and effort.
And BY GOD I'm still willing to fight for this cause. I don't want to be thrown under the bus. I don't want my time, money and effort to end in vain.

Make no mistake. Im still in it for a win. But the campaign is walking on thin ice with me.

One more thing. At this site , they report that Romney only has 322 delegates. So why has the campaign reported that Romney has over 900?

BENTON is reporting over 900 which appears to be the AP count which still gives Santorum Iowa, with Ron getting one delegate, and gives Santorum half of Minnesota.

But Romney has a huge lead, and it would take an unusual course of events to block him and yet more would have to fall in place to get Ron the nomination.

but if Ron didn't get the nomination I want RON to have real power and influence with the GOP. Not Benton, Ron. And for that, we need as many delegates there as possible showing to whom we look and that we will be holding the RNC accountable. The delegates we get there and the crowds Ron gets are our real leverage short of a nomination. The party platform is more the flag you raise to show you won.

 

[JWZguy]

Right because he's afraid if he posts it here he will be complicit in a "conspiracy" and get thrown in jail. No wonder we aren't getting anywhere. Bunch of pansies.

That's hilarious - Ben, you think that posting laws can be interpreted as conspiracy? In that case, you are in far more danger just from posting on this message board at all. Better go off the grid completely.

 

[sailingaway]

Ows is clueless...their idea of freedom has nothing to do with the Constitution..they just want the govt to write more laws.

OWS is like the early teaparty. Some of them are real civil libertarians. Some may well end up here. Others are trying to take over an 'army' for their own purposes just as we have people coming here to try to do that with us. And as the teaparty had.

 

[BenMuldowney]

My gut still tells me Dr. Paul is going to win the nomination somehow. Hopefully my gut is right.

it will take divine intervention... i have not ruled that out.

 

[sailingaway]

if it were just state gop rules then this would not be an issue. the party has no enforcement authority to collect fines from participants. it is a state by state issue and each person needs to research their own state's code. i did mine (which i am not going to post) and it is a state law and there are stiff penalties when the charge is bumped up to a felony for conspiracy to commit election fraud. we are talking prison time.

I have to be skeptical about prison time in a party primary. I wonder if it is electors in a general election you are looking at? Even then I think the Constitution would prevail but I haven't researched that to know. I did see one state had a hefty fine in the state RULES which might or might not be enforceable, that I don't know, either.

 

[devil21]

My gut still tells me Dr. Paul is going to win the nomination somehow. Hopefully my gut is right.

I can't figure out whether the campaign is officially admitting "defeat" or if they're trying to get the party establishment and Romney supporters to get complacent.

As Ive said several times since yesterday, nothing changes for me. I'm still in this to WIN. The core group of supporters/delegates that's working toward Tampa shouldn't change anything based on these emails. There's a lot of conventions left and lots of delegate slots to fill. I can't believe the campaign would buy the AP delegate tracker nonsense as fact.

 

[Keith and stuff]

If we're not fighting for the Nomination it's hard to be excited about this. The country really can't wait another 4-12 years (If Romney wins) without real change. If it doesn't happen this cycle we are well and truly screwed. I doubt by the next cycle the Internet will be free anymore, and then we have no chanceto subvert the MSM. Police State is incoming and close, waiting for 2016 is not a solution.

Frankly even if the Nomination is a 1% possibility it's gotta be taken, because I really doubt we get another chance at this in 4 years. It's possible to setup a system for Rand to get a trench run to the Death Stars port, but I doubt things go that far. Now or never.

Yes, the country is screwed. Many of the best and brightest realized that years ago and decided to focus on a single state. It's called the Free State Project.

 

[lib3rtarian]

The more I think of this, the more I am getting pissed off at Benton. Why would he do this NOW? When we have had great showings and crowds at the conventions, and when we are winning DELEGATES?? WHY? WHY??? Talk about demotivation.

 

[tsai3904]

but if Ron didn't get the nomination I want RON to have real power and influence with the GOP. Not Benton, Ron. And for that, we need as many delegates there as possible showing to whom we look and that we will be holding the RNC accountable. The delegates we get there and the crowds Ron gets are our real leverage short of a nomination. The party platform is more the flag you raise to show you won.

The real power and influence Ron Paul yields is in us winning leadership positions throughout the GOP, not what will happen during the one day he'll speak at the National Convention. The best way to continue Ron Paul's legacy is to become the GOP and yet that has not been our focus at all. Yes we have successfully taken over Iowa, Nevada, Alaska, etc., but there are so many other states where it is surprisingly EASY to take over the GOP where we have let our opportunities slip by.

It's a real shame we have the organization to take over all these state conventions but right after the conventions are done, there's no organization left to continue the fight. We have dozens of people phone banking in LA and if those resources could be used to call Michigan and Washington this week, it would almost be a shoe in for us to control the entire state party in both states for the next two years.

 

[BenMuldowney]

Right because he's afraid if he posts it here he will be complicit in a "conspiracy" and get thrown in jail. No wonder we aren't getting anywhere. Bunch of pansies.

LOL @ panzies. you have no idea the costs i have paid in my history for fighting for freedom. i was about to post some positive comments on one of your posts. glad i read this in time.

 

[romancito]

My gut still tells me Dr. Paul is going to win the nomination somehow. Hopefully my gut is right.

Once Santorum and Gingrich endorsed Romney the odds for Ron Paul to win the nomination diminished to less than 10 percent. What I don't understand is why Santorum and Gingrich had to endorse Romney? Why couldn't they release their delegates and give them freedom to vote their conscience. I don't understand why Ron Paul doesn't make attempts to ask for Santorum's and Gingrich delegates and ask for their support. Dr. Paul really dosen't mean to want to become President. Only Romney seems to really want to become President this time. Even Obama doesn't look like he wants a second term. Let's face it, the government owns the country now.

 

[carterm]

what was the point of making this statement?

 

[sailingaway]

i have my reasons for not posting my state's laws. i have yet to attack you.. i like you. i love your passion.

i am feeling the same things you are right now. i have put a ton of energy into this process and i am sharing my opinions.

i am furious with jesse benton and the campaign for the way they have handled this. also, i read yesterday that ron paul criticized some of the more aggressive efforts of our delegates in AZ and/or OK. i am not sure that is true though. if it is true it is time for me to move on.

I don't think Ron has a clue what happened at the conventions. Benton or wead, who want everyone to play nice (and I'm not saying we shouldn't, if we are standing up for our rights at the same time) are the ones who said Ron was concerned about the stories in the media about US brawling when our folks were just punching bags after insisting on a roll call vote under the rules and didn't even hit back.

 

[Carlybee]

I suspect that RP being a principled person took a hard look at all the shenanigans and realized he could not compete with their illegal unscrupled tactics and that even if he had enough delegates for a brokered convention they would break their own rules to prevent it.

 

[BenMuldowney]

That's hilarious - Ben, you think that posting laws can be interpreted as conspiracy? In that case, you are in far more danger just from posting on this message board at all. Better go off the grid completely.

kathy doesnt speak for me. that is not the reason... think about it... it is not logical. posting the law would be the opposite of committing conspiracy. i have my reasons and kathy is wrong.

 

[jay_dub]

The more I think of this, the more I am getting pissed off at Benton. Why would he do this NOW? When we have had great showings and crowds at the conventions, and when we are winning DELEGATES?? WHY? WHY??? Talk about demotivation.

Do you REALLY think that Benton did this completely on his own without Ron knowing a thing about it?

I don't