From Your Experience: How is the movement doing?

[american.swan]

Can you relate your stories that can give us an impression of how well we are doing?

What is the general feeling on the ground in your location? What impression have to gotten from the people and from the yard signs or lack thereof? What are your church members feelings, if you attend church? Synagogue? College campus? Who's currently winning the election if your closest friends were the only ones voting? Do you think your meet-up is setting your district on fire or do you think Hillary is going to win your district?

I am guessing most people just don't care about politics in general.

So again, how is the grassroots doing? What are Doctor Paul's chances in your area?

 

[ckhagen]

For me, it's growing. Exponentially.

I'm speaking specifically within my church, our co-workers, my friends and fellow activists (in other pursuits). There are only maybe one or two people that I determined to be "lost causes". Within my circles it's like wildfire. The only thing that concerns me is our area as a whole. I worry about the hard-core GOPers here who support the party front-runner without question. There's a lot of them. I think of the large numbers of them and get overwhelmed at the idea of having to convert every one of them alone, but then I remember that it only takes a few...

 

[mavtek]

Honestly I think in most everywhere but my immediate area it seems we're gaining serious traction. I blame myself for this in a lot of ways as I can't get the word out as much as I'd like. Lets face it though Dallas as a meetup is floundering...... I don't understand why, at least we have Jarrod who has taken it upon himself to get us a little more motivated.

 

[derdy]

It's out of control!! From what I've seen, as soon as you start talking to people (and Ron Paul supporters are, by and large, much more informed and educated in the world around them) they have certain pre-dispositions on a lot of information on our lives and how it is the government should be responsible for it! However, once you break them down on the Constitution, most haven't a leg to stand on and, once being informed upong our Founders logic of the Constitution, they take the path of least resistance and say, "Let's look at the Constitution!"

That's my FAVORITE ARUGMENT!!! The argument that we shouldn't even be TALKING about this in our federal government!

 

[slantedview]

exceeding all expecations.

my only regret is that i've maybe been such an enthusiastic supporter, that i've really not converted many of my friends. somehow, it's backfired, though none of them really have a "candidate" yet.

 

[Original_Intent]

It is going extremely well.

My parents who are both very politically active in the local GOP, were hardcore Romney supporters and thought Ron paul was a joke. They are now both in.

At work last June, everyone who knew that i was was supporting Paul thought it was a joke. Now other cars are sporting Ron Paul bumper stickers (that the owners placed there, not me!) and I know of one person who is very active in a Meetup (from work) and several other people are definitely supporters.

Today I had a father and son who both work where I do and last week the father and I had a lively discussion about Ron Paul but he wasn't convinced. Today he brought his son by and said "This guy can tell you all about Ron Paul" and then we discussed him again - it seems that he heard about our little money bomb and realized this guy is for real. (He liked him from our previous discussion but felt he had zero chance).

The other day I went to pick up a knife I had on consignment at a pawn shop that is mostly guns. I said to the 20 something guy behind the counter "You guys should support Ron Paul, he is the staunchest supporter of the 2nd amendment." He gets a big grin on his face and says "Oh we are ALL about Ron Paul here, normally we have slim jims on the counter to hand out, but we are out at the moment.

We still have a ton of work to do, but it is looking a lot better than it did last spring.

 

[American]

Well I live in the mountains and the RP campaigning here has been pretty good. What really strikes me is I dont see any other signs except for a Hitlery sign here and there but I really wonder if the polls are completely fabricated with just using phone polling data and no real useful data that is current.

I have yet to meet a Ghouliani supporter, or anyone who even talks somewhat remotely nice about him.

 

[robatsu]

The Ron Paul Movement is marching onward into legitimacy now. Last spring, summer, and into early fall, it was a little lonely at times, being part of a small band of "nutcases". What I'm finding is that even where people don't support Ron Paul, or even know much about him, there is a growing awareness that the system is seriously out of whack. That is the fuel for the movement and the reason that all of us are supporting RP, who provides some answers. So I figure all these people I meet that are horrified at the economics, at what we've become as an agressor nation, etc, but not yet RP supporters are just one or two steps away.

 

[stalcottsmith]

I visited a client today who is involved in commodities trading and advises thousands of the top farmers throughout the midwest on when and how to sell their crops most profitably. I told him and a couple of his people about my political activities a while back and they were friendly about it and saw it as a curiousity more than anything. I wasn't even sure if they leaned Republican but I kind of sensed maybe they did. (A cool thing about Ron is knowledgeable Dems aren't going to automatically hate you for supporting him so you can comfortably mention him even in business circles.)

Anyway, the owner came right up and said to me this morning, "Your guy is doing really well! How about that 4 million!?! He's sounding better and better. I like him."

He is a sharp businessman, worth a quite a bit no doubt but comes from farming roots. Real people, ya know? Not unlike Ron Paul.

I figured since they're mostly from Iowa, they'd be turned off to Paul because of all the farmers on the take with Federal subsidies and stuff. When I got home, I heard about the CBOT traders cheering Ron's Bernanke-schooling.

Who knows? Maybe Iowa will come around. Would you give up your subsidies if you didn't have to pay Income Tax at all? Could we maybe grow something more profitable or healthier than corn, like, say industrial hemp or flax or spelt? And while we're at it, can we let sugar protectionism go and get real sugar cane syrup back into our food instead if HFCS?

 

[instep]

Hi. I've been a lurking a while now but none the less I thought I'd share my experience.

I first heard about the good Dr. in early September. Before then I was apathetic to politics or as I like to say rationally ignorant, but after I randomly saw some of his youtube videos he really clicked with me.

Since then I've. I've told my parents about him and now they are supporters. A good friend of mine who is pre-med really liked his stance on health care and now supports him. Within the last couple of weeks 5 of my Facebook friends spontaneously added the Election app to support Ron Paul. Hell, I even got an older Democrat couple to support him, and now they have a yard sign out for Ron Paul! I think the younger, apathetic generation are really turning on to Ron Paul. What do I think? "He's catching on. I'm telling ya.'"

 

[stalcottsmith]

I visited a client today who is involved in commodities trading and advises thousands of the top farmers throughout the midwest on when and how to sell their crops most profitably. I told him and a couple of his people about my political activities a while back and they were friendly about it and saw it as a curiousity more than anything. I wasn't even sure if they leaned Republican but I kind of sensed maybe they did. (A cool thing about Ron is knowledgeable Dems aren't going to automatically hate you for supporting him so you can comfortably mention him even in business circles.)

Anyway, the owner came right up and said to me this morning, "Your guy is doing really well! How about that 4 million!?! He's sounding better and better. I like him."

He is a sharp businessman, worth a quite a bit no doubt but comes from farming roots. Real people, ya know? Not unlike Ron Paul.

I figured since they're mostly from Iowa, they'd be turned off to Paul because of all the farmers on the take with Federal subsidies and stuff. When I got home, I heard about the CBOT traders cheering Ron's Bernanke-schooling.

Who knows? Maybe Iowa will come around. Would you give up your subsidies if you didn't have to pay Income Tax at all? Could we maybe grow something more profitable or healthier than corn, like, say industrial hemp or flax or spelt? And while we're at it, can we let sugar protectionism go and get real sugar cane syrup back into our food instead if HFCS?

 

[Revolution9]

I got a call today from someone I met weeks ago before my Fall Freedom Harvest Fest/Revolution RP awareness event. He said he had been hearing all the buzz about Ron Paul and was not political but was interested. He asked if he was the real deal..he would not think he would vote republican. I told him he is a once in a lifetime deal. He asked me to describe his platform so I did at length.. He said..wel sum it up.. I said ..umm "The slogan should be this Vote Ron Paul and get left the fuck alone" He almost choked with laughter. He wanted to know what he cpould do.. I sent him around the net.. To this forum and to youtube etc....get bumper stickered and get slim jims to pass out.

After the last debate a girlfriend of my sons phoned him and said her mom phoned and told her.."I don't know who that fellow they were booing was but I am voting for him!"

A girl at the organic co-op laughed about my tshirt the day after my Festival. I asked her what was funny. She said he didn''t have a chance and it was nutty. Two days ago..just three weeks later.she says.. "Every time there is a lull in conversation everybody around me starts talking about Ron Paul".

One of my clients paid for part of our meetup groups Mosaic RP 18x24 glossy posters..nice work..I told him to send fifty bucks to Ron and send me the confirmation and I will add three free hours of coding.. He has his mother voting for RP and she is in her 80's..

<http://www.ronpaul2008.com/>
Dear Daniel Visser't Hooft,

Thank you very much for your donation of $50.00 to the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Your donation will allow us to expand and grow our campaign.

We depend on donors like you to help us spread the message of freedom, peace and prosperity through Ron Paul’s candidacy.

Thanks for being a part of the campaign!

Your confirmation number:
121792-9XU68117ML058400M

etc..etc..etc.. Not a day goes by.. The local saying is not peace and love but freedom and liberty.

My opinion.. We are alomost a monolithic voting block amongst artists and musicians, young people and counterculture folks here. We are steadily and exponentially expanding and we are pwning America for Americans..again..

RP will go down in history as one of the most popular Presidents ever. The world will again respect the American people and hopefully the government as well. They will understand what true patriotism and freedom and liberty is and how to achieve it through a peaceful grassroots revolution.

There is hope. He's catchin' on I'm tellin ya!

Best Regards
Randy

 

[spivey378]

my roomate who is anti politics donated 25 for the bomb and signed his mom's email. his mom was kinda into him, but on the fence

the money bomb solidified paul for her


my other buddy was a hard core obama supporter and said to me tonite

"we should start doing some stencnilling"


hes catchin on!

 

[Broadlighter]

In an earlier thread I told my story about hanging out in front of a Trader Joe's store, handing out slim-jims and inviting people to our "America: From Freedom to Fascism" fundraiser night.

At first people were walking right by us, not wanting any literature, but then a wave of interest swept in. There was this one guy who said he was a Communist. He went in the store and came out to talk with us. I asked him why he was a Communist and his story was all about his dissappointment with his life and the government. We started telling him about Ron Paul and how he stands up to the corporate elite. He got excited and we invited him to the movie night.

More people expressed interest. The message is catching on, even though we are in a very liberal community - Santa Cruz, CA. Our meetup group keeps growing, too.

 

[NinjaPirate]

exceeding all expecations.

my only regret is that i've maybe been such an enthusiastic supporter, that i've really not converted many of my friends. somehow, it's backfired, though none of them really have a "candidate" yet.

Same here. I tried to convert two of my friends but they're stuck on Iraq. They want to "git the job done," and they're afraid the US will look bad to the world, and weak to Al Qaeda if we just pick up and leave. It's pretty frustrating. How can I effectively counter this??

 

[Eric23]

Same here. I tried to convert two of my friends but they're stuck on Iraq. They want to "git the job done," and they're afraid the US will look bad to the world, and weak to Al Qaeda if we just pick up and leave. It's pretty frustrating. How can I effectively counter this??

Tell your friends that the US is already looking bad in the world's eyes. Go to South American or Europe and ask the people what they think about our government. You won't get very many pleasant answers.

 

[derdy]

Same here. I tried to convert two of my friends but they're stuck on Iraq. They want to "git the job done," and they're afraid the US will look bad to the world, and weak to Al Qaeda if we just pick up and leave. It's pretty frustrating. How can I effectively counter this??

You're friends reply is classic and I LOVE refuting it!!...

If we just pick up and leave, what will Al-Qeadea do to America? In every sovereign-nation, with sufficient immigration-security protocols, at points of ingress/egress, Al-Qaeda offers NO threat (unless you provide one)!

 

[NinjaPirate]

Tell your friends that the US is already looking bad in the world's eyes. Go to South American or Europe and ask the people what they think about our government. You won't get very many pleasant answers.

I said that, too, and that we're the most hated country in the world. They still think that if we pull out it'll make us look even worse! I even argued that Iraq has had 4 years and trillions of dollars worth of support and they've made very little progess. Not to mention the fact that the Iraqi government took a month long break while their country is in shambles. Then she came back and said that people are too impatient these days and they have to realize that these things take time. I countered and said, well four years is enough, and we can't afford this war, and we have to borrow money from the Chinese just to keep the war machine going. Then we went on about the surge, and we should give that a try. And at that point I could've said Bush was a day late and a dollar short when he proposed that strategy, but I gave up. They likes Paul's ideas, but they want to see if the surge is working first before they fully jump aboard. It's so frustrating to try to convince people that we're not "Team America World Police." ...America (FU*K YEAH!!)

 

[Richandler]

We're catchin' on, but we need to catch on fire like Southern California. That hasn't happened. The little kid journalists on TV haven't made a mistake playing with their matches yet.

 

[amonasro]

Things are going well. My wife, who, along with everyone else she works with in the company, gets their news from the TVs hanging in their lobby--aka the MSM. Lately, instead of me telling her about RP, she comes back with something she heard about at work. Very nice that's he's hitting the mainstream FINALLY