If you're from outside of Iowa don't go to Ames for the straw poll

[radiofriendly]

Don't go. Especially if you really want to go (you're obsessed!) and aren't a prof filmmaker or vendor. I know it's hard...it was loads of fun last time...I performed at Ronstock. But unless the campaign contacts me, I'm going to stay out of their hair.

Yes, it's hard!

P.S. O, yeah, my pic is from backstage with Ron at Ronstock in Ames '07!
swoon!

 

[KingRobbStark]

SO you don't care what Ron and the campaign has asked you not to do?

I won't go. I was just listening to this song when I was threading this thread.

 

[Esoteric]

I'm going, but I'm not even wearing a Ron Paul shirt. I will be in complete stealth-mode, as I would probably encourage others to do as well. We should speak with people cordially, but I wouldn't do ANYTHING organized, ie. "END THE FED!", a parade, etc.

 

[reduen]

So, Bauchmann and Pawlenty are encouraging everyone who supports them to come to Ames even if they do not live in Iowa and Steve B. is telling all Ron Paul supporters to stay home and donate if they live out of state....?

All I have to say is that we better win Ames this time...! If we do not, Steve B. has lost all credibility in my mind.

Again, the very people that they are trying to discourage from being there are likely the only one's that will go now..

 

[thehighwaymanq]

So, Bauchmann and Pawlenty are encouraging everyone who supports them to come to Ames even if they do not live in Iowa and Steve B. is telling all Ron Paul supporters to stay home and donate if they live out of state....?

All I have to say is that we better win Ames this time...! If we do not, Steve B. has lost all credibility in my mind.

Again, the very people that they are trying to discourage from being there are likely the only one's that will go now..

The idea is simple and I think very efficient. Take whatever money it costs to fly there ($300), take the hotel for a night or 2 ($200) and take food and all ($40) and instead of spending $500+ dollars on being in Iowa, just donate $500 dollars. Easier and more efficient.

 

[The Dark Knight]

@reduen
I dont think thats fair, if we lose Iowa, it will be because we did no get enough Iowan's to vote in the straw poll, not because we had enough out of staters show up.

 

[The Dark Knight]

nm

 

[Bruno]

@reduen
I dont think thats fair, if we lose Iowa, it will be because we did no get enough Iowan's to vote in the straw poll, not because we had enough out of staters show up.

+ rep

 

[belian78]

Well, I'm from central IL, and I went to Ames last time. From what I remember, if I wasn't working in the tent I basically just walked the grounds talking to whoever would stop and talk to me. The only problem with that being there were hundreds of us doing the same thing. There were RP supporters openly arguing with Brownback and Huckabee workers in the event area as strawpoll attendees walked by. Looking back on it I can see where that would have turned voters off going forward, where they might have supported Ron once their guy dropped out.. So I can see where the IA staff is coming from.

I still tear up when I think of the amazing time I had last time, but as much as I want to go again, I understand why we're being asked not to.

 

[Napoleon's Shadow]

Well, I'm from central IL, and I went to Ames last time. From what I remember, if I wasn't working in the tent I basically just walked the grounds talking to whoever would stop and talk to me. The only problem with that being there were hundreds of us doing the same thing. There were RP supporters openly arguing with Brownback and Huckabee workers in the event area as strawpoll attendees walked by. Looking back on it I can see where that would have turned voters off going forward, where they might have supported Ron once their guy dropped out.. So I can see where the IA staff is coming from..

EXACTLY. That's what the campaign is trying to avoid this time around.

 

[reduen]

Consider this DK/Bruno... Though many have seen me write this before in here, my son and I went to Ames last time. Because we did this Ron Paul received four more votes than he would have if we did not go. (Maybe more but we know of four for sure...) WE even got the few Thompson and Romney supporters to say that they changed their minds. (Who knows if they followed through...) Form experience I ran into literally no one who minded the fact that my son and I were from out of state and in fact we got many compliments for our dedication.

It is in that sense that I posted my remark above... Agree with me or not, that is certainly your choice but I did not just come up with it from the top of my head.

 

[V4Vendetta]

What??? we were allowed to vote in the strawpoll if we were out of state???? How did we get to vote?? no one told me!!!!!

 

[reduen]

Well, I'm from central IL, and I went to Ames last time. From what I remember, if I wasn't working in the tent I basically just walked the grounds talking to whoever would stop and talk to me. The only problem with that being there were hundreds of us doing the same thing. There were RP supporters openly arguing with Brownback and Huckabee workers in the event area as strawpoll attendees walked by. Looking back on it I can see where that would have turned voters off going forward, where they might have supported Ron once their guy dropped out.. So I can see where the IA staff is coming from.

I still tear up when I think of the amazing time I had last time, but as much as I want to go again, I understand why we're being asked not to.

Guess you were not very persuasive then, Ron Paul received more votes than he would have because I was there last time... (That can never be wrong…)

 

[LibertyEagle]

What??? we were allowed to vote in the strawpoll if we were out of state???? How did we get to vote?? no one told me!!!!!

No, he's saying he convinced others to vote for Ron Paul.

 

[sailingaway]

Guess you were not very persuasive then, Ron Paul received more votes than he would have because I was there last time... (That can never be wrong…)

But how many votes of people not even there would Ron LOSE by media reports of aggressive flyers against other candidates, or booing of other speakers? Or seemingly unfounded charges of vote tampering? I think people acting like they are at their grandmother's garden party trying to impress people who can hand out scholorships would be a good thing, but trolls WILL try to stir up bad behavior with 'excess enthusiasm', chanting, etc. and that is a concern. We now have an image with some GOP who don't know us, and too many have donated more than they can afford or have spent hours phonebanking to make it fair to change the tone of the event. The campaign needs to set the tone.

Give them Ames, we will have many other events.

 

[reduen]

What??? we were allowed to vote in the strawpoll if we were out of state???? How did we get to vote?? no one told me!!!!!

If you are referring to my post, no we were not allowed to vote. The votes that I was talking about were as follows:

1. The first security guard that we met when we arrived on campus.
2. Two nice elderly ladies that we met while holding big Ron Paul signs in the scorching heat.
3. One Ron Paul delegate who we picked up and got to the poll in time. (He had partied a bit too hard the night before and his ride left him..)

We also got video coverage of some of the shenanigans going on where they were conducting the poll and I am pretty sure we got that footage online for everyone to see… (I’d have to check that again though..)

 

[reduen]

But how many votes of people not even there would Ron LOSE by media reports of aggressive flyers against other candidates, or booing of other speakers? I think people acting like they are at their grandmother's garden party trying to impress people who can hand out scholorships would be a good thing, but trolls WILL try to stir up bad behavior with 'excess enthusiasm', chanting, etc. and that is a concern. We now have an image with some GOP who don't know us, and too many have donated more than they can afford or have spent hours phonebanking to make it fair to change the tone of the event. The campaign needs to set the tone.

Sailing, these are the very people that will not listen to the campaign no matter what they say... (The ones that you are concerned about...)

 

[sailingaway]

Sailing, these are the very people that will not listen to the campaign no matter what they say... (The ones that you are concerned about...)

Sigh... that has occurred to me, actually.... those who are really in it for their own rock throwing agenda, not to help Ron Paul.

 

[belian78]

Guess you were not very persuasive then, Ron Paul received more votes than he would have because I was there last time... (That can never be wrong…)

Where the hell did I say anything about how effective I personally was? Thank you so much for the insult. Myself, I have no doubt that I garnered Ron more attention than he would have, but that want the point of my post.

I was bringing the attention to the fact that swarms of out of staters just milling around is more of a detriment than a boon. That, and the ones being adamant about going are likely the same ones to get in verbal battles with other camps' workers, which looks very bad for Ron as well.

So you say you got Ron...wait for it.... 4 WHOLE VOTES!!! And how many others lumped you in with all the other outsiders milling around and actually used that as justification to rule Ron out as an option? Yes, I realize I'm including myself in that as well, hence why I will be abstaining from attending this year.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

I will be there, with my liberty juices flowing. Out-of-staters can attend the event, dispite the FEAR MONGERING coming from the official campaign, in order to keep us 'nutty supporters' away from the tame Iowans.

Let it not be said that we did nothing.

Overzealous, man. Overzealous and irrational. Let it not be said that we did nothing? Puh-lease. What are you going to do?