Does Ron Paul have a better chance than people think?

[swatmc]

Seriously.

The front runners right now is Rudy Giuliani, McCain and Romney.

Those three guys have some serious flaws holding them back.

Giuliani has a clumsy personal life.

McCain seems out touch.

Romney is a mormon... which rubs people the wrong way.

I think if all the Ron Paul supporters keep doing what they're doing... we can make history.

What the hell is stopping us?

What else can we do to get the word?

 

[Bradley in DC]

There is, as you point out, for different reasons, a great deal of dissatisfaction with the top tier candidates. Rudy peaked in January of 2007 (WAY too early). McCain, well, everyone here in the Beltway knows he's not going to be the nominee (when he admits to having a temper that's not 10% of the story). Romney, while admitedly having great hair and great organizational skills, has never run a national election, is still somewhat unknown (though his money will fix that), and has a "flip flopper" record from his Senate run and gubernatorial record in Massachusetts to his current presidential race.

Currently the TV prosecutor image of Fred Thompson is the beneficiary of that dissatisfaction with the top tier. The reality and the image are not the same thing. He also has an "uneven" record on conservative issues. (Besides, he works in Hollywood--there just have to be scandals there, right?)

The debates--and fundraising ability--of the candidates will separate out the second tier from those that aren't going to cut it. If all of us cut checks for Dr. Paul, we should make that cut (this cannot be underestimated in importance). The next step will be to "break out" of the second tier and challenge the frontrunners. We are poised to do that.

In another post, I'll share my "grand strategy" of how I see Dr. Paul getting sworn in as POTUS in January 2009.

 

[swatmc]

Do you think there should be an effort to raise money from wealthy individuals that share beliefs with the good doctor?

I know that there are some wealthy libertarian celebrities out there.

Has RonPaul2008 contacted men like Clint Eastwood or Penn and Teller? I'm sure they can raise a nickel or two for Ron Paul.

How bout a live magic event hosted by Penn and Teller to raise money for Ron Paul?

I think there is a demand for a legit libertarian candidate.

Let's get creative people.

 

[CAKochenash]

I agree with you swat but here is my beef...IMHO, this campaign is nothing to take lightly. World politics could drastically change with Dr. Paul POTUS. We need to stay full force until he wins.

 

[TheConstitutionLives]

I think he does. I just had a friend text me out of the blue this morning saying "I wonder what we can do locally to help gain more support for Ron Paul, I am really liking this guy the more and more I read on him."

This came from out of nowhere. I've never even mentioned RP to him. He's just seen my MySpace page and that's it. Now, he's building a new "Mississippi 4 RP" MySpace page and is excited about getting the word out.

So, yeah. RP's got a better chance than some people think. Alot of folks are jumping on board this who were never political in the past.

 

[swatmc]

Absolutely.

But I think that the trick is to get people's attention. Nothing negative.

I really think that more people agree with Dr. Paul then they realize.

I think people might hesitate to support Dr. Paul because they've been programed not to go against the grain.

I'm voting for Dr. Paul even if he loses... I don't care.

Ron Paul needs to make a gesture that it's perfectly alright to support him (which it is).

Throw some events. Keep up with the TV interview. Use Youtube to the fullest capacity.

Some celebrtities are legit when it comes to supporting candidates.

For example, I think Clint Eastwood is a goldmine. Because it looks like he is on the same page with Ron Paul. He always said he was a libertarian. And having Clint endorse you will get a lot of people's heads to turn.

The Daily Show and Colbert are going to be a big boost.

But we need more. And Ron Paul doesn't strike me as the kind of candidate that would do any dirty tricks. So he needs to stay positive, in the spotlight, and keep getting people's attention.

Any other ideas on how to do this? (I'm sure this has been discussed before)

 

[kylejack]

I do not believe that Ron Paul is likely to win the primary.

But we will do our best, because this is something we strongly believe in.

 

[Suzu]

Bradley - I heard that Fred Thompson is very ill. Can't recall where I heard that, but I think I heard he has cancer. That would probably keep him out of the race, if true.

 

[kylejack]

Bradley - I heard that Fred Thompson is very ill. Can't recall where I heard that, but I think I heard he has cancer. That would probably keep him out of the race, if true.

He has cancer, but he's said that he has it under control.

 

[swatmc]

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt.

It's simple. Support Ron Paul with everything you have. Shed blood, sweat, and tears for the man.

And if he fails. If Mitt Romney or McCain or Giuliani or some other man (shmuck) wins... so be it... but not before the people rattle the cages and voice their opinion on how Ron Paul is the best man for the job.

 

[lucky]

doubtful

It will be an uphill battle like no other. First RP needs to get through these next debates. It is the calm before the storm right now. I have seen these things before and you can bet that there are many people behind closed doors and meetings on how to silence this man. Even the GOP HQ's investigators are right now trying to find anything they can.

I am expecting the attacks to start this week before the debates. Also we are going to see some curve balls trying to be thrown at RP during the debates. And all this is going to be the initial onslaughts.

I am sure that RP and his staff knows this and are working on strategies themselves. Hate to be a wet towel but do not be surprised if it starts getting ugly. This is national politics and the stakes are very high.

 

[swatmc]

Yeah... things are gonna get ugly.

Ron Paul doesn't strike me as being mean. That might be bad.

But what kind of dirt can they possibly dig up on the man?

Seems like he has behaved his whole life.

Is that even possible for a man to do so and still get involved in politics?

 

[kylejack]

It will be an uphill battle like no other. First RP needs to get through these next debates. It is the calm before the storm right now. I have seen these things before and you can bet that there are many people behind closed doors and meetings on how to silence this man. Even the GOP HQ's investigators are right now trying to find anything they can.

I am expecting the attacks to start this week before the debates. Also we are going to see some curve balls trying to be thrown at RP during the debates. And all this is going to be the initial onslaughts.

I am sure that RP and his staff knows this and are working on strategies themselves. Hate to be a wet towel but do not be surprised if it starts getting ugly. This is national politics and the stakes are very high.

Expect the racism allegations to surface in the mainstream media any day now.

 

[llamabread]

The thing is, Ron Paul has been true to the course, and not flip-flopped at all. He just says what he believes, and they are going to have a hard time finding something to attack him with. The only thing they have so far is that newsletter, but everything he said in there was true, and wasn't racist at all.

It will be fun seeing how they try to come at him next.

 

[kylejack]

The thing is, Ron Paul has been true to the course, and not flip-flopped at all. He just says what he believes, and they are going to have a hard time finding something to attack him with. The only thing they have so far is that newsletter, but everything he said in there was true, and wasn't racist at all.

It will be fun seeing how they try to come at him next.

The things said in the newsletter were totally inappropriate and Ron Paul will need to distance himself from them.

 

[lucky]

I am expecting the race card to be played any day now. What I am expecting and it is a favorite tactic but underhanded is the out of context quotes. It has worked wonders in the past and could again. It would set him up to look bad and he would have to spend valuable time explaining the nonsense.

I also have tried to see what they could find on him and done many searches looking. I know his record well. I have received his and my Senators votes and know Ron Paul and have followed him for a long time now. He has been consistent for as long as I have known of him. I know of him as a decent man and have never heard rumours of any hanky panky or back room deals that could come out.

 

[lucky]

Yes

The things said in the newsletter were totally inappropriate and Ron Paul will need to distance himself from them.

Yes they were and he will need to for sure. It could doom him if he does not handle it well but I believe he will.

 

[Tin_Foil_Hat]

My thought of the moment....

we pick our president like we vote for American Idol

....who is cute this week?

Who cares if Romney is a Mormon or Giuliani dresses like a drag queen looking for the next fix? What do they stand for?

America....where did our values go? History shows people get the government they deserve...

 

[ThePieSwindler]

Weren't the racially charged quotes not even his? He was misquoted by an assisstant or something, and he claims to not have ever uttered them?

 

[ronpaulitician]

I think he has a much better chance than people think (better than the 1% he polls in offline polls), but not as good a chance as some Ron Paul supporters think he has (worse than the 30% he polls in online polls). At the moment, I'd put his chances of winning the GOP ticket at about 5-10%.

It's gonna come down on getting people disappointed with
Washington in general to go out and vote in the Republican primaries.