Do you want Jesse Benton involved in any capacity in Rand Paul 2016?

[puppetmaster]

I really can't see any benefits hiring him

 

[whoisjohngalt]

There aren't that many people with this mindset to make a difference. Not sure what you'll be doing in 2016, but I'll be doing everything I can to bring about liberty on a national level.

Yeah and all your efforts won't be shit compared to my money. But that's ok. I'm happy you do what you can.

I've been around Benton enough in person to form my own opinions. Thanks for your input. We will see if Rand will take the chance that there aren't many others like me.

 

[Deborah K]

"Original Intent" just explained this up above this post

His post backs up my post. Nice try.

Ron was running to win, but winning can mean more than just getting elected...


In fact I would say Ron was the only Republican winner in 08 and 12...

Reasons to run a campaign:
- to build an organization
- to raise an issue
- to spoil for / against a candidate
- to get other politicians on the record
- to build name recognition
- to prepare for a future run


So, if you look at that list you are forced to conclude that Ron Paul won, even though he didn't get elected. Getting elected into office isn't everything.

This is a back-peddle if ever I saw one.

 

[phill4paul]

Just because one donates to a campaign or an organization does not give one influence in operations, messaging, or policy.

For someone that claims to be an expert on politics and political campaigns that is absolutely the most naive claim I have ever heard.

 

[phill4paul]

Did anyone ever add up the total contributions posted in our money bomb threads? I'd be interested in knowing the numbers.

 

[puppetmaster]

Hiring family really make no sense IMHO. I think it just gives the other side ammo, trivial ammo, but still keeps things that matter away from forefront.
There will be many very qualified people beating down doors to be involved in Rand Paul's campaign.

 

[Matt Collins]

This is a back-peddle if ever I saw one.

Not at all. It's an understanding of the motivations of candidates... which isn't always to get elected.

 

[Maltheus]

I've donated thousands to Ron and was one of the senior grassroots organizers in my libertarianish (swing) state. I'm one of the few who've remained a precinct leader (recently getting re-elected) to put me in a better place to support his campaign. Former Paulers approach me all the time to ask my opinion on Rand. If he goes with Benton, then my opinion will be "remember what they (Benton and his crew) did to us in '12, do you really want to go through that again?" He won't get a dime from me (I've padded Jesse's pockets enough). I won't help to organize anything. The other organizers barely have their hearts in this and likely won't bother either (because I know they feel the same way after what he and his crew did to our county, and we've barely been holding the group together as is). And I give my committee position away to someone who likely isn't a Pauler (because we don't have enough willing to do it anymore) and I won't bother with my caucus. In short, he'll likely lose a close state, that he may have had a shot at otherwise, and for what? Nepotism? Especially with that Iowa scandal going on? I'd lose faith in Rand, if he were that short sighted. I truly believe it'll be the defining moment of his campaign. This is the time to raise a fuss, because it'll be too late once he makes his pick.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

Not at all. It's an understanding of the motivations of candidates... which isn't always to get elected.

Fwiw, I heard Ron Paul Jr. speak in Houston last night and he repeatedly stated that Ron did not want to win. So Matt is right about this if you believe Ronnie Paul at all. There are plenty of other reasons to hate Jesse Benton though.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

I've donated thousands to Ron and was one of the senior grassroots organizers in my libertarianish (swing) state. I'm one of the few who've remained a precinct leader (recently getting re-elected) to put me in a better place to support his campaign. Former Paulers approach me all the time to ask my opinion on Rand. If he goes with Benton, then my opinion will be "remember what they (Benton and his crew) did to us in '12, do you really want to go through that again?" He won't get a dime from me (I've padded Jesse's pockets enough). I won't help to organize anything. The other organizers barely have their hearts in this and likely won't bother either (because I know they feel the same way after what he and his crew did to our county, and we've barely been holding the group together as is). And I give my committee position away to someone who likely isn't a Pauler (because we don't have enough willing to do it anymore) and I won't bother with my caucus. In short, he'll likely lose a close state, that he may have had a shot at otherwise, and for what? Nepotism? Especially with that Iowa scandal going on? I'd lose faith in Rand, if he were that short sighted. I truly believe it'll be the defining moment of his campaign. This is the time to raise a fuss, because it'll be too late once he makes his pick.

But Matt says that there aren't very many of us out there. So it's OK.

 

[Matt Collins]

If he goes with Benton, then my opinion will be "remember what they (Benton and his crew) did to us in '12, do you really want to go through that again?"

And what exactly was that?

He won't get a dime from me (I've padded Jesse's pockets enough). I won't help to organize anything.

Nice to see that people are putting the end goal second to petty personality disputes

 

[Deborah K]

Not at all. It's an understanding of the motivations of candidates... which isn't always to get elected.

It's a back-peddle Matt. Your intellectual dishonesty is rearing its ugly head again.

Uh, actually did it ever cross your mind that maybe Ron's goal wasn't to become President?

Is this your opinion? Or do you have evidence to back this up? This outrageous statement implies that everyone who sent money in on Nov 5 to the tune of 6 million dollars believing it was to get him elected were duped by Ron! You had better be careful there, buddy.

Ron was running to win, but winning can mean more than just getting elected...

Open. And. Shut.

 

[Deborah K]

And what exactly was that?


Nice to see that people are putting the end goal second to petty personality disputes

Really Matt???? Talk about petty.

 

[JK/SEA]

my PCO position will be coming up for re-election. I'm the current PCO.

I am now, and have been thinking about running again to be in place for Rand if necessarry.....

i may just retire from politics, and watch the cluster fuck from a distance this time...

nice thread. Thanks for your thoughts Matt....gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

 

[specsaregood]

Really Matt???? Talk about petty.

I have a hunch that if somebody created a similar poll but replaced the name Jesse Benton with Matt Collins, the results would be eerily similar.

 

[phill4paul]

I have a hunch that if somebody created a similar poll but replaced the name Jesse Benton with Matt Collins, the results would be eerily similar.

LMAO. If I could I would buy you a beer for the effort, but I can't, so you would just have to settle for a +rep.

 

[compromise]

Mr. Benton is well qualified - he appears to have the necessary experience. I trust Rand to make the right decision here regardless of what he does (and I hope others do as well, not only regarding this but on other issues too), but I imagine he will have Benton as campaign manager.

 

[Deborah K]

Not at all. It's an understanding of the motivations of candidates... which isn't always to get elected.

And btw, this statement, in and of itself, is worthy of a thread all its own. "Candidates with motivations other than getting elected". Geee....who is going to donate to a campaign like that? And if the candidate doesn't make that clear from the onset - he is not worthy of one single dime.

FFS, Matt.

 

[Deborah K]

Mr. Benton is well qualified - he appears to have the necessary experience. I trust Rand to make the right decision here regardless of what he does (and I hope others do as well, not only regarding this but on other issues too), but I imagine he will have Benton as campaign manager.

I imagine he won't. Benton is a pariah.

 

[r3volution 3.0]

I want Rand to hire the best campaign staff he can afford; whether than includes Benton I don't know. I certainly have nothing against Benton, and I've never understood why some people do. I suppose he's just a convenient scapegoat. A lot of people had unrealistic expectations in 2012, and when reality slapped them in the face, they needed someone to blame.