GOP Establishment - an insider

[Bertrand]

I had lunch with a GOP party insider today (chief of staff for VA AG - AG will be running for gov.). He is very involved with the party establishment. Here's the gist of what he had to say the establishment felt about Ron Paul:

1. They are very impressed with his fundraising.
2. They respect Ron Paul a lot as a person
3. While they still do not take him "seriously", they are worried about how he might influence the election.
4. If Paul got the nomination, the party would be behind him 100%.
5. Establishment does not like Huckabee.

I was actually rather heartened talking to this guy. He wasn't going to vote for Paul in the primary but had no hard feelings towards him, even for his war stance.


New stratagy: It looks like no one will win a majority electoral votes - good for us. In the second round of voting, I believe it's a free for all. If we're all delegates We just all vote for Paul, even if he won no states.

 

[Broadlighter]

It's been my sense that a lot of people in the establishment actually like Ron Paul, but dare not say so. Money talks and everyone who listens does what their told out of self-preservation.

We have to take this out of the hands of the monied interests. We're not going to get any help from establishment sources.

 

[azminuteman]

While they still do not take him "seriously"

WHO do they take seriously???

I think that Biden is the closest I could take semi-seriously at this point.
Hillary is serious but I can't take her seriously.

Rudy McRomneybee are all the same.
Tancredo comes across as serious so I would accept his name as an answer; I don't take him serisouly.
Hunter fails to stand up to Huckabee from stealing his ideas so he is a joke.

Paul is the most serious candidate that I take seriously and is willing to discuss serious issues.

 

[chinaCat]

WHO do they take seriously???

I think that Biden is the closest I could take semi-seriously at this point.
Hillary is serious but I can't take her seriously.

Rudy McRomneybee are all the same.
Tancredo comes across as serious so I would accept his name as an answer; I don't take him serisouly.
Hunter fails to stand up to Huckabee from stealing his ideas so he is a joke.

Paul is the most serious candidate that I take seriously and is willing to discuss serious issues.

I dont know how you interpreted it but when he says seriously I feel he is talking about his chance of winning the nomination, not his positions.

 

[dirka]

Guys I'm totally cerial!!

 

[ckhagen]

Based on the hostility I've encountered, while at the same time hearing rumors about local GOP insiders being pro-Paul, I think there may be quite a few establishment GOP in the closet regarding their Paul support.

 

[ctb619]

WHO do they take seriously???

I think that Biden is the closest I could take semi-seriously at this point.
Hillary is serious but I can't take her seriously.

Rudy McRomneybee are all the same.
Tancredo comes across as serious so I would accept his name as an answer; I don't take him serisouly.
Hunter fails to stand up to Huckabee from stealing his ideas so he is a joke.

Paul is the most serious candidate that I take seriously and is willing to discuss serious issues.

I think it is a matter of them doubting Paul's ability to win the nomination.

 

[Mandrik]

WHO do they take seriously???

I think that Biden is the closest I could take semi-seriously at this point.
Hillary is serious but I can't take her seriously.

Rudy McRomneybee are all the same.
Tancredo comes across as serious so I would accept his name as an answer; I don't take him serisouly.
Hunter fails to stand up to Huckabee from stealing his ideas so he is a joke.

Paul is the most serious candidate that I take seriously and is willing to discuss serious issues.

Seriously?

 

[OptionsTrader]

Guys I'm totally cerial!!

lol, manbearpug flashback.

 

[bobmurph]

I have a friend who worked in GOP politics for several years. I haven't talked at length with him about Ron Paul's standing among the GOP establishment, but he did say that Huckabee has been a guy for many years that has had the support of the GOP to be a presidential candidate someday...obviously his time is now...we'll see how the Huck can handle the limelight.

When Paul gets the nomination I do believe that the GOP establishment would support him full force.

 

[torchbearer]

lol, manbearpug flashback.

PigManBear

 

[Ethek]

The MSM is holding back the tide on RP. The big question is where is the tipping point? I'm not sure anyone knows. It may not be the 16th. It may not be the blimp. It may take a surprise win in Iowa because I don't even think a win in NH is enough.
It is already being discounted as another Buchanan or McCain

It my come down to Super Tuesday or it could come down to door- to-door campaigning for public perception in the days leading up to the convention. I just hope we hit that tipping point in stride because the biggest test of all would be round #2 of the convention. Liberty thrives best in the light, not back room deals hustled by party insiders.

 

[trey4sports]

im glad you guys are optimistic but i believe when RP gets the nomination hell will break loose and the GOP will probably split in two...

 

[bobmurph]

The MSM is holding back the tide on RP. The big question is where is the tipping point? I'm not sure anyone knows. It may not be the 16th. It may not be the blimp. It may take a surprise win in Iowa because I don't even think a win in NH is enough.
It is already being discounted as another Buchanan or McCain

It my come down to Super Tuesday or it could come down to door- to-door campaigning for public perception in the days leading up to the convention. I just hope we hit that tipping point in stride because the biggest test of all would be round #2 of the convention. Liberty thrives best in the light, not back room deals hustled by party insiders.

Name recognition is STILL the biggest problem we face. Put up signs. Knock on doors. Tell your freinds and family to discover and donate. We need to cover this freakin country with the official Ron Paul yard signs. Even the most oblivious people will look him up if they start seeing Ron Paul 2008 at every other intersection. We have the grassroots base to be able to accomplish this...it's just a matter of actually getting out on the streets and doing it.

 

[torchbearer]

im glad you guys are optimistic but i believe when RP gets the nomination hell will break loose and the GOP will probably split in two...

The GOP will split in two if he doesn't get the nomination.....

 

[rich34]

Huckabee will not be president no matter how bad the social conservatives want him to be. He's not running against John Kerry. Them Clintons no the game and they'll spread his dirty laundry out all over the country. And while the Clintons have skeletons as well you have to remember something about that bunch, they're like teflon nothing sticks. Seriously only a candidate with a clean record and constitutional ideas is going to beat them. I just wish we could convince the rest of the republican party that.

 

[Ladiliberty]

Here in my neck of the woods the only signs of an upcoming election are RON PAUL signs...On cars, on bumpers, in yards, along highways and interstates, and on tee shirts!

 

[bobmurph]

im glad you guys are optimistic but i believe when RP gets the nomination hell will break loose and the GOP will probably split in two...

They know that (splitting in two) would be the end of neo-con stranglehold on the GOP. They can't do it. The neo-con message is not strong enough to build a new party from the ground up. The only reason they're in power right now is because they've hijacked a major party from the inside out. The only way they can gain power is to take over from within...they can't build something new.

 

[Energy]

3. While they still do not take him "seriously", they are worried about how he might influence the election.

This bothers me every time I hear it. Not taking him seriously (in getting the nomination) based on what? Polls? The power of the establishment keeping guys like RP from winning?

And then worried about RP influencing/spoiling the election? That's why we have elections!

 

[user]

I would really be surprised if the GOP got behind RP 100% after he wins the nomination. I'll take it though.