[Doug Wead] Shocker: Ron Paul and rule 40, the new Romney nightmare

[sailingaway]

Aren't we only 1 or 2 delegates short of majority in Massachusetts as well? So we could potentially get Ron nominated if we can convince just 1 or 2 delegates from there to at least vote to nominate Ron (or even just vote for santorum or Gingrich, giving Ron a plurality). We need names, addresses and phone numbers for these delegates to try to send them persuasive material. Maybe a call from Ron himself?

Heck, if we are going to count states where we are only a few delegates short, don't stop there!

 

[libertyfanatic]

Glad that we have Mr. Wead working for us!

 

[Wooden Indian]

NOBP for me this time. This especially includes former Govenor Willard Mitt Romney.

 

[trey4sports]

we need to be very respectful and stand up for ourselves, but they need to know that our ragtag group of rabelrousers will not support the ravenously moderate flip-floppin' Mitt Romney.

 

[NoOneButPaul]

It seems to me a certainty that there is indeed a plan the campaign is going to execute. We are not privy to ( nor should we expect to be) all of the options the campaign is considering. I wish people around here would exercise more patience and confidence in RP's political skills. Ask any of Dr. Paul's opponents in his congressional campaigns and most will tell you "don't underestimate how cagey the old man is".

At least one of the cats is out of the bag...

Most important line of the article right there...

What this tells me is the VP consideration is one of MANY things they plan to do with our delegates.

I think they've got a plan, a really good one (the nomination not included, sorry guys) that we just have to be patient and watch for.

I think the details will be held onto until that Sunday before... when we have hopefully tens of thousands (if not hundreds) of people in support of the doctor.

They are planning SOMETHING but the question is what... If Rule 40 was one of the cats... what are the others?

 

[AJ Antimony]

Aren't we only 1 or 2 delegates short of majority in Massachusetts as well? So we could potentially get Ron nominated if we can convince just 1 or 2 delegates from there to at least vote to nominate Ron (or even just vote for santorum or Gingrich, giving Ron a plurality). We need names, addresses and phone numbers for these delegates to try to send them persuasive material. Maybe a call from Ron himself?

I thought Romney easily has the plurality (and even majority?) of MA delegates...

I would think that if you had a state that was 1 or 2 votes shy of giving Paul the plurality, the Romney/Santorum/Gingrich delegates would just let Paul have it. There really is no downside to doing this. Besides, if 75% of the national delegates are Romney people and Paul has no chance of winning the nomination, then why deprive the Paul people of their nomination? All you'd be doing is pissing them off.

I know that the act of nominating a 2nd candidate adds more time to the convention, but is it really worth pissing off ~25% of the entire GOP just to save an hour or two? Who knows, maybe the Paul people will be more inclined to vote Republican in the fall if the party itself treats them better.

 

[sailingaway]

I thought Romney easily has the plurality (and even majority?) of MA delegates...

I would think that if you had a state that was 1 or 2 votes shy of giving Paul the plurality, the Romney/Santorum/Gingrich delegates would just let Paul have it. There really is no downside to doing this. Besides, if 75% of the national delegates are Romney people and Paul has no chance of winning the nomination, then why deprive the Paul people of their nomination? All you'd be doing is pissing them off.

I know that the act of nominating a 2nd candidate adds more time to the convention, but is it really worth pissing off ~25% of the entire GOP just to save an hour or two? Who knows, maybe the Paul people will be more inclined to vote Republican in the fall if the party itself treats them better.

I think conservatives accross the board would feel the party represents them more if they were actually included, rather than choreographed or shut out, from the RNC.

 

[erowe1]

I think conservatives accross the board would feel the party represents them more if they were actually included, rather than choreographed or shut out, from the RNC.

Most of the RNC delegates may well fancy themselves as "conservatives." But my guess is that almost the only real anti-establishment people there will be the Ron Paul supporters. All of the others will be people who have proven themselves over the years to be loyal to the party and willing to put the success of its nominee above all else.

 

[sailingaway]

Most of the RNC delegates may well fancy themselves as "conservatives." But my guess is that almost the only real anti-establishment people there will be the Ron Paul supporters. All of the others will be people who have proven themselves over the years to be loyal to the party and willing to put the success of its nominee above all else.

Depressingly possible.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

If there was a strategy, Rand wouldn't have endorsed.

It seems to me a certainty that there is indeed a plan the campaign is going to execute. We are not privy to ( nor should we expect to be) all of the options the campaign is considering. I wish people around here would exercise more patience and confidence in RP's political skills. Ask any of Dr. Paul's opponents in his congressional campaigns and most will tell you "don't underestimate how cagey the old man is".

 

[KingNothing]

Kind of off topic...

What access to "The Media" would a contentious vice presidential nominee have?

All of it, I think. The media loves serving those in power, but they love drama even more. Paul could certainly give them that.

 

[sailingaway]

If there was a strategy, Rand wouldn't have endorsed.

I actually believe the line of discussion that says Ron didn't know Rand would endorse until 30 min before Rand went on Hannity, and Romney already knew, that Rand's discussions with Ron had been hypotheticals long ago, and Rand pulled the trigger when the 'I don't expect to have the delegates to win' email went out, his staff or he reading into it whatever they did. I don't know that, but it is one of the 'well sourced' lines of discussion out there, and I tentatively consider it the most likely at this point. I know Rand's STAFF thinks it is the right thing to do, and they have his ear, of course.

I don't see how anyone attuned to the fight the delegates were and even now are still fighting in the trenches would think the race was 'over' and that grass roots wouldn't feel betrayed by the timing.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

You talk trash on Gary Johnson, but you'd vote for Romney if Ron was on the ticket, even if it was VP to nullify his influence. Your logic doesn't make any sense. That's still a vote for tyranny.

I can't even see Ron accepting the VP slot.

If either Romney or Obama is going to win, I would vote for Ron Paul, even as VP, as better, more like replacing his House seat so he has a bigger profile. I have faith in Ron. Even if he ends up resigning, the potential of that action itself could be a better check than any other we would have, and an 'excuse' for Romney acting better if he really wants to and is just placating neocons himself (one theory floating out there). If Ron resigned, as a resigned VP he would continue, FOREVER, to have a higher profile.

I'd vote for it. I'd want us to nominate him from the floor though, so it is shown at least that nomination was won on his own strength.

But I want his speech as nomination for President. He has the states, we just need to get the Louisiana circumstances out there so it is clearly a scandal if Romney's credentials committee doesn't seat them.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

Sad how Romney would know before his own father.

I actually believe the line of discussion that says Ron didn't know Rand would endorse until 30 min before Rand went on Hannity, and Romney already knew, that Rand's discussions with Ron had been hypotheticals long ago, and Rand pulled the trigger when the 'I don't expect to have the delegates to win' email went out, his staff or he reading into it whatever they did. I don't know that, but it is one of the 'well sourced' lines of discussion out there, and I tentatively consider it the most likely at this point. I know Rand's STAFF thinks it is the right thing to do, and they have his ear, of course.

I don't see how anyone attuned to the fight the delegates were and even now are still fighting in the trenches would think the race was 'over' and that grass roots wouldn't feel betrayed by the timing.

 

[musicmax]

They are planning SOMETHING but the question is what...

SECRET BILLIONAIRE!

 

[amberjack]

It really feels like an attempt to solidify the republican base.

The Romney camp knows they cannot win without us but they know that we'd never vote for him as is. So how do they get all the libertarian leaning republicans on his train?

Have the Ron Paul delegates "force" Romney to accept Ron as the VP through this rule 40. Now all the Ron Paul supporters can vote for Romney knowing that their delegates "stuck it to the man".

Meanwhile the VP position is powerless to do anything.

 

[SilenceDewgooder]

At the start you were told Ron Paul would never be the nominee.. then you were told he would never get over 5% of the vote.. then you were told he had fund-raising issues that would end his campaign... then you were told he just wants a floor speech at the convention... then you were told he wants to influence the platform... now you are told that he could be nominated for VP... do you see a pattern of escalation? Do you remember Ron Paul told you?

I am in it to win it

Never take your eyes off the prize..

 

[jay_dub]

What is becoming obvious, to me at least, is that Ron is an opportunist. The game is still being played and options not yet seen may open up or be closed. What is important is to continue with the delegate strategy as that strengthens Ron's position and also the lawsuit has MAJOR implications.

Also coming into play is that Ron is getting invites on media shows and getting a fair amount of time. He is making the most of these so far and that helps gets his message out to the public. If this keeps up, it won't be "Ron Who?" anymore. His message will finally start being heard by the country at large. We might even see some more head to head polls with Ron vs Obama. This could really help in changing delegates minds at convention time.

This really is one of those "stay tuned, folks" situations that is very fluid. I have faith that Ron is maximizing his opportunities and we need to do the same. Together we can make Tampa a convention for the ages.

RON PAUL 2012!!! WOO-HOO!!!!

 

[trey4sports]

i hate to be a downer but ill say it again.....

There is no chance in hell Ron would ever be asked to be veep.

I highly doubt we have the delegates to go rogue and secure the vp slot at the convention. It would be political suicide by Romney. Rand on the other hand is much more electorally suitable but still a long, longshot.

 

[sailingaway]

You talk trash on Gary Johnson, but you'd vote for Romney if Ron was on the ticket, even if it was VP to nullify his influence. Your logic doesn't make any sense. That's still a vote for tyranny.

I can't even see Ron accepting the VP slot.

I don't know that Ron would accept the slot. But if he did, I'd be confident he would be independent because of his 30 year record. I would be voting for Ron, not Romney. I'd get a 'Ron Paul for VP 2012' bumper sticker made up.

Johnson is neither here nor there, I view him as a squishy candidate, and he isn't a real option to the two major parties. I would certainly vote for him despite that if he represented my views, but he doesn't.

I don't think Ron will be VP to Romney, but I'd vote for him if he were, because that would be better than the alternative and I'd be voting for the voice to be heard on a bigger stage of someone I actively believe in: Ron Paul.

Whether Ron Paul were running, as President or as VP or not, I simply wouldn't be interested in Johnson.