Does Ron Paul have a better chance than people think?

[kylejack]

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?

Right, but unfortunately it was issued in his name.

Rush said it best earlier. Perception is more important than reality. If Ron Paul gets well on his way, this is going to be a huge deal.

 

[theoddity]

IMO (and I'm aware that this might be a gross-generalization), the vote is going to come down to Neo-Con vs. Ron Paul. The more neo-con candidates that are in the primary, the more diluted the neo-con vote is going to be, and the greater chance that Ron Paul has.

But that won't be enough. We need more non-Republicans or former Republicans coming back and voting in the primaries. If the colleges are plastered with posters and groups, we can also get alot of momentum there.

 

[swatmc]

Is it true that Bill O'Reilly's ratings are way down?

And if so, isn't that a good example of how people are simply "not trusting" mainstream pundits anymore?

 

[a_texian]

Something else to consider, that should definitely swing in Dr. Paul's favor, is the historically apathetic masses that are seemingly pouring out of the woodwork - mostly on the web - and are no longer apathetic.

Think about the pathetically low voter turnout that is the sad norm for our nation. Even France flat-out shamed us with their turnout this month.

Given that our general, voting-age populace turnout is something like, what, 30%(?), that gives us a 70% bloc of folks to tap into who would be vastly more apt to back a true freedom fighter like Dr. Paul than just another BS-artist politician.

I'm getting surprises every day with the groundswell of support I'm seeing for this gentle Statesman.

Ed Boyd

 

[lucky]

Yes

Right, but unfortunately it was issued in his name.

Rush said it best earlier. Perception is more important than reality. If Ron Paul gets well on his way, this is going to be a huge deal.

It will be huge deal and one hard to shake. I know he is not a racist in the least. Like I said before he is my Congressman and I have met the guy and us in his district know he is a good man and not a racist in the least. This will mean nothing though to the multitude that do not know him and have only recentlt heard his name for the first time. I expect this tidbit to be leaked soon and would not surprise me if it does before the next debate. The powers that be need to stop this man and if Ron Paul has to be defending his honor it will detract from his effectiveness during the debates.

Also and I know most here know this already. The mainstream media is beholden to the frontrunners. These front runners give them prestige when they can be paraded on their media but more important is the money. All the frontrunners are together gonna be spending HUNDREDS of millions of dollars on advertisement on their stations. The frontrunners can say who gets the bulk of the money for ads. As a business who has to make a profit this is a very huge deal. We also know that the McCains and Guiliani's and Clintons are buddy buddy for years now and can make back room deals.

It is gonna be a huge uphill battle as I said before. We all need to do all we can.

 

[Bradley in DC]

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?

He was not misquoted by an assistant--they were the assistant's words. Dr. Paul was miles away and did not review them or see them until well after the fact. He was NOT his usual happy camper self when he learned about it.

 

[Bradley in DC]

Excellent enthusiasm guys, keep it up!

In a sense, the primaries are a long way off. In another sense, there is so much to do before the primaries. Right now our priorities are fundraising and getting Dr. Paul's message out to voters. Everyone, please, keep track of family members, friends, neighbors, anyone else who is supporting or sympathetic to Dr. Paul. Do what you have to do to make sure they are registered to vote, get an absentee ballot or a ride to the polls. Everything hinges on turnout!

 

[lucky]

For sure the primaries are a long way off. The powers want a shakeout though and the best way is to just take one day, one week at a time. Luckily with the primaries a long way off it means that there could be a lot more debate and see if America is really ready to hear the mans message and is ready for change.

 

[JaylieWoW]

Ghost Writing

Look it up on Wikipedia:

Role

In books or articles where ghostwriters are being used, the division of work between the ghostwriter and the credited author varies a great deal. In some cases, the ghostwriter is hired to polish and edit a rough draft or a mostly-completed manuscript. In this case, the outline, ideas and much of the language in the finished book or article are those of the credited author.

In other cases, a ghostwriter does most of the writing themselves, using concepts and stories provided by the credited author. In this case, a ghostwriter will do extensive research on the credited author or their subject area of expertise. It is rare for a ghostwriter to prepare a book or article with no input from the credited author; at a minimum, the credited author usually jots down a basic framework of ideas at the outset or provides comments on the ghostwriter's final draft.

For an autobiography, a ghostwriter will interview the credited author, their colleagues, and family members, and find interviews, articles, and video footage about the credited author or their work. For other types of non-fiction books or articles, a ghostwriter will interview the credited author and review previous speeches, articles, and interviews with the credited author, to assimilate their arguments and points of view.

Ghostwriters are hired for numerous reasons. In many cases, celebrities or public figures do not have the time, discipline, or writing skills to write and research a several-hundred page autobiography or "how-to" book. Even if a celebrity or public figure has the writing skills to pen a short article, they may not know how to structure and edit a several-hundred page book so that it is captivating and well-paced. In other cases, publishers use ghostwriters to increase the number of books that can be published each year under the name of well-known, highly marketable authors.

I immediately went and researched "Ghost Writer" following Congressman Paul's statement. When I first saw it appearing on blogs the very first thing that came to mind was, "no WAY is that him talking, heck it doesn't even sound like him."

I went back through several speeches and really couldn't find anything else even closely following these lines of thought.

 

[Bradley in DC]

I immediately went and researched "Ghost Writer" following Congressman Paul's statement. When I first saw it appearing on blogs the very first thing that came to mind was, "no WAY is that him talking, heck it doesn't even sound like him."

I went back through several speeches and really couldn't find anything else even closely following these lines of thought.

My understanding is that Dr. Paul approved the idea of critiquing "affirmative action" in an article. The assistant than contradicted Dr. Paul's oft-stated views on individual right v. group rights to publish that offensive garbage.

 

[Minuteman2008]

I think McCain eliminated himself during these past two weeks with his actions. The real front runners are now Giuliani and Romney, and in the long run I think Romney is the one to beat, flip flopper or not. He's got the right answers for most of the base. I don't trust him one little bit, but I won't be surprised when he gets the nomination.

Even if Fred Thompson stays out of it, what about Newt Gingrich? He could step in and win it fairly easily if Romney proves a disappointment. It's great to hold out hope for Paul, but I think reality that he's like Tancredo, and running to make a point. Tancredo is running to pull the front runners to the right on immigration, while Paul is running to make a statement on non-intervention humble foreign policy. But neither will get the nomination (damn I hope I'm just being too pessimistic).

 

[billv]

I can't stand Gingrich, the man who has been married 3 times. If you can't keep a commitment to your wife, then how can you commit to the country.

 

[jimmyjamsslo]

YES!! A friend of mine is switching parties to vote for RP

I still don't know entirely how the nomination process works, but I recently read that New Hampshire is instrumental, and that Ron Paul had made quite a splash there. As for me, I've got my sister, my Egyptian friend who is a promoter is spreading the news, plus his wife is on board. Also, a middle-aged co-worker of mine who used to run around town registering people to vote DEMOCRAT has decided to switch parties, and said that he'll even do canvassing. I exposed him to Ron Paul via YouTube videos, and it was an easy 'conversion'! Common sense and acute intelligence, coupled with a sense of humility and a willingness to listen are qualities that most awakening Americans seek in our next leader.

Actually I've been only focusing on the positive aspect of RP's campaign, and FOR ONCE, my cynicism has abated, and I feel that he will catch on like wildfire in the next few months, especially after his upcoming appearances on The Daily Show, and the Colbert Report. The spark of hope has been rekindled for me. It will be amusing to see Colbert, the faux-conservative (or is he?) interviewing a genuine conservative that appeals across the political spectrum.

I think it is important, however, to emphasize the message, and regardless of the outcome of the elections, to educate people on the importance of shrinking the Leviathan known as our government. I think that my fellow liberals should warm up to this idea, especially in the wake of all the post-911 'protections', and the bloated monstrosity known as Homeland Security.

Speaking of which, I should add that my aforementioned Egyptian friend and I had a Gestapo-like encounter with that Agency and customs officials (ICE) here in the little Central-Coast town in which I reside . They appeared at my house in the middle of the night, about 15 men with guns and flashlights surrounded the house. A local policeman lied to me and tricked me out of the house and threw me in his squad car. My friend had a heated exchange with these THUGS, for over three hours! I called the news, and the Feds left EMPTY-HANDED! All because he had fallen between the cracks, lost in all the red tape, his status denied for no good reason at all. They even had a 'fake' warrant! I'll elaborate on this story if anyone is interested. This traumatizing experience is why I totally want a leader like Ron Paul in office, a leader who will respect the letter of the law, and not resort to cheap tactics like these. It should be noted that my friend has a wife and two children, and immigrated here legally.

As far as Gingrich is concerned: Hypocrite, prosecuting Bill Clinton?
I think the recent revelation of Newt's affair whilst married will not bode well with most Republicans, especially the family oriented sort.

 

[beermotor]

"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.

Remember - it's not the MAN, it's the MESSAGE. This is way more important than Ron Paul himself. He's merely a great mouthpiece for Mises/Rothbard/THE TRUTH on the national stage. He's exploiting that position. But Ron Paul did not divine The MESSAGE on his own, ya know ... lots of people have. It's greater than one person, greater than all of us. The message will live on regardless of transient politicking. And that is what is so wonderful about this newfound publicity... the message is starting to be broadcast to people who've never been exposed to it, and they are applauding it, agreeing with it. The revolution, it turns out, probably will be televised.

 

[Exponent]

(damn I hope I'm just being too pessimistic)

I think it is far better for Ron Paul's chances if we all are optimistic, and hope that we are not too optimistic, rather than being pessimistic, and hoping that we are too pessimistic. I'm generally a realist, which unfortunately is usually strongly correlated to pessimism, but I refuse to let that happen to me at the moment. I simply feel too stubborn. (Maybe Dr. Paul's stubbornness helps inspire me! )

 

[swatmc]

Any which way you slice it, optimism is the way to go.

Back in the 60's, the hippies had a chance to change the world for the better.
But they were childish, lazy, cowards that escaped from the harsh realities of existence in exchange for an acid trip.

Right now, I think that Ron Paul represents a real revolution. Not the illusion of a revolution. Reality is hard. Reality is ugly. Reality is unfair. Because of this it's our duty to change reality.

Everyone needs to be SHARP, focused, motivated, with the understanding that the people who make change aren't timid, insecure, or frightened. Everyone should have short hair and should be wearing suits. No bongo drums or mushrooms from the Ron Paul crowd.

Is real revolution possible? I think so... but it's up to us.

 

[JaylieWoW]

Remember - it's not the MAN, it's the MESSAGE. This is way more important than Ron Paul himself. He's merely a great mouthpiece for Mises/Rothbard/THE TRUTH on the national stage. He's exploiting that position. But Ron Paul did not divine The MESSAGE on his own, ya know ... lots of people have. It's greater than one person, greater than all of us. The message will live on regardless of transient politicking. And that is what is so wonderful about this newfound publicity... the message is starting to be broadcast to people who've never been exposed to it, and they are applauding it, agreeing with it. The revolution, it turns out, probably will be televised.

When someone criticizes me over Congressman Paul not being as "slick" or as strong of a public speaker as the more "popular" candidates, this is precisely the response I give them. It isn't about him personally at all, but about the MESSAGE itself, that of personal responsibility and liberty, which absolutely go hand in hand.

If that means I dress in tin foil, then I guess its time to buy stock in Reynolds Wrap!!

 

[MsDoodahs]

People surely don't WANT slick, do they?

Haven't we had ENOUGH of that crap yet?

Sheesh.

"but then people all were fools..."

(lol, I think that must be a subliminal skynard lyric thing)