Dr Paul Must go 3rd Party After Tampa !

[liveandletlive]

This is the big mistake - to think its about "taking over the GOP". Its about taking over everything. The GOP is now an obstacle. Step over it Ron, run 3rd Party.

there's a reason why the Libertarian Party has achieved absolutely nothing in its entire existence.

 

[febo]

Ron Paul shouldn't run 3rd party. I think it's time to get over the idea of a president Paul.

I'm happy to do that. But I want him in the debate right up the the very end.

 

[febo]

there's a reason why the Libertarian Party has achieved absolutely nothing in its entire existence.

define "nothing", then tell me RP has achieved nothing.

 

[Fredom101]

there's a reason why the Libertarian Party has achieved absolutely nothing in its entire existence.

And what exactly has the GOP "achieved"? Lots of dead bodies in it's path to power.

 

[kathy88]

I wish that was the case, but going off of 2008 results I don't see that happening.
Paul got 1.1 million votes in 2008 primary

LP + CP in the general got 723k votes (~66% of Paul primary voters)

Now, LP membership in in 2008 was ~250k, I'm sure most didn't switch over to vote for Paul in closed primaries. I can't find CP membership but I'm going to assume 100k nationwide (please correct me if you have the actual numbers) I'll say at most 20% of them switched over then switched back, which by reading LP press releases this sounds about right. I will also assume every member of this 80% voted in the general (I don't know what percent of the LP actually votes, once again please tell me if you know)

So 723k - 280k = 433k. Now, this number will probably be lowered once again since we can't assume all 433k voted for Ron Paul in the primary, or even voted in the primary at all. In conclusion, I can only say based off of the 2008 results that about 1/3 Paul primary supports will vote third party. I would suspect the number to be a bit higher than 1/3 in 2012, but definitely not 90%. Also, it looks like the LP and CP should more than double their numbers from 2008 in 2012.

Good numbers. But let's also take into consideration the people who didn't bother to vote for Paul in the primary, but do vote in the general. For example, I work with 90 poeple. I've talked to maybe 50 of them about Paul. Of those 50, 35 "really like" or love Paul. Of those 35, 4 voted. 4. Now, I'm in an industry where most people I work with are out of state, but only 1 of them bothered to file an absentee ballot despite my constant reminders. I think in the general, against Obama, those numbers would increase, and more people would actually vote for Paul. I think this pattern would be repeated. I've never been an advocate for a third party run, and I know he won't do it, but if he did I think there would be a LOT more votes than people anticipate. A lot.

 

[BenMuldowney]

there is no way he is going to run 3rd party. why waste time war gaming it?

 

[JohnGalt23g]

Being in a third party is right where they want you. You can't take over the GOP if you are in the non-threatening LP or CP.

Cannot be repeated too often...

 

[JohnGalt23g]

And what exactly has the GOP "achieved"? Lots of dead bodies in it's path to power.

Path to power. Try keeping that phrase in mind. Because the GOP is the path to power. Even the power to diminish government power.

 

[Toxic]

Ron's not going third party. Him and Rand have a deal with Romney.

 

[Pisces]

Since Lew Rockwell came out and blasted Rand's endorsement, and Lew is close to Ron, I think it's safe to say their weren't any "deals" made, and Rand wasn't being tactical....he just actually supports Romney, and we need to dump Rand as any sort of libertarian whatsoever.

Are Lew and Ron still close? That Penny lady from the Kokesh interview made it seem like no one can talk to Ron these days without Jesse Benton's say so. I'm not sure I buy that but I'm curious if Ron and Lew actually talk or see each other in person much anymore.