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

[Matt Collins]

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.

Are you so narrow minded that you cannot possibly understand that many candidates run for office for other reasons than actually getting elected to office?! Are you unable to comprehend the fact that there are benefits to running a campaign even if it doesn't result in an electoral victory?

 

[Deborah K]

Are you so narrow minded that you cannot possibly understand that many candidates run for office for other reasons than actually getting elected to office?! Are you unable to comprehend the fact that there are benefits to running a campaign even if it doesn't result in an electoral victory?

Thanks for the neg rep Matt. Start a thread on it, Mr. Know-it-All! Enlighten me since you think I am so ignorant.

Anyone who runs a campaign with no intention of winning doesn't deserve to have that campaign funded.

 

[Deborah K]

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.

Educate yourself on him.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

Thanks for the neg rep Matt. Start a thread on it, Mr. Know-it-All! Enlighten me since you think I am so ignorant.

Anyone who runs a campaign with no intention of winning doesn't deserve to have that campaign funded.

Least of his sins. He is an absolutely awful campaign manager though and that should disqualify him if the other stuff isn't enough.

I'm much more upset with how he is so aggressive in using a family member for financial gain at the expense of that family member. The biggest thing is how apparent it was that he did not have Ron's best interests at heart.

Add to that, that no one speaks well of him. I've only heard people call him nasty name or say nothing, at all. Haven't even heard Ron say nice things about him. I've been around him three or four times and every time I get the same feeling as when I've been standing next to Rick Santorum. Shudder.

Rand is very smart. It would cost him about $5 million dollars in donations by my estimation. Not to mention he might keep some votes, but would lose the willingness of many to help out the campaign. I don't think this poll is going to help Mr. Benton's chance any.

 

[Peace&Freedom]

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.

I actually appreciate the concession that there are other metrics in campaign politics than straight out winning elections. The above breakdown is what 3rd party candidates and parties seek to achieve in the absence of winning office. BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN CONVEYING TO SUPPORTERS YOU ARE MAINLY RUNNING TO WIN OFFICE, while actually running the operation to achieve the other metrics. Benton represents the latter, bait and switch problem.

 

[boneyard bill]

Benton ran Ron Paul's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, and they were quite efficient. Ron was the only candidate to get on the Virginia ballot except for Romney. Santorum couldn't even field a complete delegate slate in his home state of Pennsylvania. I think most Washington observers agree that the Paul campaign was every bit as efficient and well-organized as Romney's was. They just didn't have all that PAC money helping them out. I disagree with the delegate strategy that they tried in 2012. I would have preferred for them to put more resources into the initial caucuses and primaries, but Jesse wasn't necessarily the mastermind behind that strategy, and it probably did help to build the organization that is still out there ready to go to work for Rand.

Of course, the Sorenson thing could change all of that. If it turns out that Benton was involved in illegal payments, of course, he couldn't be Rand's campaign manager or anyone else's.

 

[Deborah K]

Are you so narrow minded that you cannot possibly understand that many candidates run for office for other reasons than actually getting elected to office?! Are you unable to comprehend the fact that there are benefits to running a campaign even if it doesn't result in an electoral victory?

I'm still waiting, Matt. I'm not taunting you either. I really do think you should explain yourself here. You stepped into this shit, and now you've got it on your shoe with this comment:

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

Now start a damned thread and explain why anyone should donate to a campaign where the goal of the candidate and the team isn't to win!!

 

[twomp]

Why does Matt Collins always talk to everyone like children. Insecurity issues?

 

[MichaelDavis]

If McConnell somehow loses, and it's extremely rare for a Senate party leader to lose reelection, doesn't that say something about Benton?

It's not as unlikely as you might think. The Senator Leaders face a lot of the blame for Congress' problems. Dachle lost re-election and Reid almost lost re-election. McConnell is in a very tight race and Reid will be in 2016.

 

[phill4paul]

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.

If you don't have anything against him then you have not been here long enough or even bothered to find out why you should even have an informed opinion regarding the situation. Suppose all you want from a March 2014 join date. The rest of us have been here through it.

 

[r3volution 3.0]

Educate yourself on him.

I've been a Paulite since 2007, so I was there when the Benton-hating began, and I've probably read all the same stuff you have: I still don't get it.

I've had countless conversations at the Daily Paul over Benton, and I've yet to find anyone who can explain how he's a "traitor" or whatever.

It's one thing to say that he made poor choices for the campaign, impugning his motives is quite another.

And as for his competence: none of us had an inside view of the campaign, so how can we really judge the merit of his decisions?

...anyway, try to educate me if you want. I'm all ears.

 

[phill4paul]

I've been a Paulite since 2007, so I was there when the Benton-hating began, and I've probably read all the same stuff you have: I still don't get it.

I've had countless conversations at the Daily Paul over Benton, and I've yet to find anyone who can explain how he's a "traitor" or whatever.

It's one thing to say that he made poor choices for the campaign, impugning his motives is quite another.

And as for his competence: none of us had an inside view of the campaign, so how can we really judge the merit of his decisions?

...anyway, try to educate me if you want. I'm all ears.

Ahh, you're another Daily Pauler refugee. All I need to know. Have a good troll.

 

[Matt Collins]

Anyone who runs a campaign with no intention of winning doesn't deserve to have that campaign funded.

You continue to fail to grasp the concept that "winning" an election does not always equate to electoral victory.

 

[r3volution 3.0]

Ahh, you're another Daily Pauler refugee.

Refugee? No, I'm still an active member at the DP. My handle is "NowOrNever." Look me up.

All I need to know. Have a good troll.

Why am I trolling? Because you disagree with me about Benton?

 

[eleganz]

Ahh, you're another Daily Pauler refugee. All I need to know. Have a good troll.

Where is that coming from? DP has never been my home but I don't classify that as some sort of troll hq. I think revolution 3.0 made some level headed points.

 

[Matt Collins]

Now start a damned thread and explain why anyone should donate to a campaign where the goal of the candidate and the team isn't to win!!

You fail to comprehend that winning an election doesn't always equate to electoral victory. The two are NOT one in the same.

 

[Matt Collins]

Why does Matt Collins always talk to everyone like children.

Because lots of people around here act like them

 

[JK/SEA]

whats Lew Moore up to these days?......

 

[Matt Collins]

BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN CONVEYING TO SUPPORTERS YOU ARE MAINLY RUNNING TO WIN OFFICE, while actually running the operation to achieve the other metrics. Benton represents the latter, bait and switch problem.

Not really. If Ron had won the Iowa straw poll then it would've been a very different race from that point forward and he would've had a good chance at the nomination. However every competition after Iowa that he did not win made it less and less likely for him to secure the nomination.

 

[Matt Collins]

I'm much more upset with how he is so aggressive in using a family member for financial gain at the expense of that family member. The biggest thing is how apparent it was that he did not have Ron's best interests at heart.

You don't know what you are talking about.


You've stood next to him? You've been in the same room as him? And somehow you know everything about him?