Is there less enthusiasm for 2012 than in 2008?

[DeadheadForPaul]

I'm not trying to be a debbie downer, but rather trying to figure out how to fix things.

I could be completely off the mark here, but to me, it feels like we don't have local groups doing as much work on the ground nor are we doing our own projects as a national group.

Last time around, local groups were making signs, putting them up, etc. Videos began appearing in May. So far, the only local group I've seen pictures or a video of has been the OC group that has been doing tables.

It also seems like Meetup.com is not the main communication device and Faceook has replaced it...yet nothing has replaced many now-defunct Meetup groups

Additionally, I recall from 2008 that we all donated to run ads in Iowa for the Straw Poll, organized the event in Iowa during the Taxpayers/Christian fiasco, etc.

Is it that the campaign is now doing these things?

What's going on and how can we change it?

 

[ItsTime]

Im going to be the first one to say it. Last time around we had a lot of anti-war people from the left donating and helping. Now that the media has blacked out the wars, they have become apathetic and not supporting Ron Paul this time around. HOWEVER, the republican support is WAY UP. Like 1500% up.

 

[Dorfsmith]

I can't speak for anyone else but from what I see here in Northern Arizona the enthusiasm is way better this time around. We've been knocking on doors, having booths at county fairs, been in parades, and setting up tables at every event we are allowed to. Yesterday we had a sign rally and the response from people driving by was incredible!

 

[TexMac]

Did you watch the CA Straw Poll vids? This campaign is different, in a GOOD WAY! Look where Ron is in the polls.

 

[ItsTime]

My meet up group has meet every month once a month for the last 4 years. Our numbers have grown. We have hit the fairs and other events with Ron Paul lit. We have had great feed back.

 

[DeadheadForPaul]

I can't speak for anyone else but from what I see here in Northern Arizona the enthusiasm is way better this time around. We've been knocking on doors, having booths at county fairs, been in parades, and setting up tables at every event we are allowed to. Yesterday we had a sign rally and the response from people driving by was incredible!

Are there any threads with pictures of this?

Videos?

If these things are going on, please publicize it to inspire others.

I've seriously seen evidence of 1 group doing anything - maybe I miss other threads but I'm on here quite a bit

 

[JohnGalt23g]

Nothing really needs to be changed at this point.

The fact is that last time around a lot of effort was spent, successfully, raising RP's name recognition. Seriously, in 2007, he was some idiosyncratic congresscritter from South Texas, who was known for voting no and giving speeches to an empty House chamber.

Well, those days are gone. Anyone likely to be able to be convinced to vote in the GOP primary knows who Ron Paul is. Whether they will vote for him or can even correctly identify his positions is another matter, but not one likely to be solved by activities we used to do to get his name out there.

They know who he is. The grassroots needs to get out and organize. That means making phone calls and going door-to-door, finding our people and getting them prepared to vote. It means finding Dems and Independents who are willing to register GOP, and putting the registration form in their hand.

It really is that simple.

 

[DeadheadForPaul]

My meet up group has meet every month once a month for the last 4 years. Our numbers have grown. We have hit the fairs and other events with Ron Paul lit. We have had great feed back.

Could you guys take pictures or maybe youtube vids and then make a thread here to inspire people?

 

[ItsTime]

Could you guys take pictures or maybe youtube vids and then make a thread here to inspire people?

Sure Ill see if others want to do that.

 

[DeadheadForPaul]

Nothing really needs to be changed at this point.

The fact is that last time around a lot of effort was spent, successfully, raising RP's name recognition. Seriously, in 2007, he was some idiosyncratic congresscritter from South Texas, who was known for voting no and giving speeches to an empty House chamber.

Well, those days are gone. Anyone likely to be able to be convinced to vote in the GOP primary knows who Ron Paul is. Whether they will vote for him or can even correctly identify his positions is another matter, but not one likely to be solved by activities we used to do to get his name out there.

They know who he is. The grassroots needs to get out and organize. That means making phone calls and going door-to-door, finding our people and getting them prepared to vote. It means finding Dems and Independents who are willing to register GOP, and putting the registration form in their hand.

It really is that simple.

I agree that things are different, but I'm seeing no evidence of this door-to-door, booths at festivals, etc. That's my point.

I'm sure there are groups out there doing hard work, but it is not being publicized and it needs to be. It is a motivator for others to take action

Plus, I think it is wrong to assume that everyone knows of him and his positions. There are many young, first-time voters, apathetic potential voters, and misinformed GOP voters who need a good dose of Ron Paul 101

 

[RonPaulFever]

My gut feeling is that a lot of people who were active last time around are waiting to see what happens. Many of them (including me) put forth a tremendous amount of effort and money and were crushed when Ron tanked in the primaries. It's only natural that they have some reservations about going full-throttle again, but if Ron gets some serious traction this time, expect total pandemonium.

 

[hubze]

I too am seeing a shift in the mainstream more so that in 2008...and am continuing the fight on our sites and blog. The media is definitely against us, but that is why we need to stay the course and fight because of what is at stake if we don't. =]

 

[anewvoice]

It's different this time, I think to a large degree there was a good deal of naivety in the grassroots last time regarding expectations, and this time we are better aligned. Some of that means people are being selective. 2008 had a much better economy than now so financially it is different.

I think the big difference for me, personally as well, is that I am not seeing, nor doing, the signs everywhere bit. That was an outburst from grassroots all over in protest of the media denying Ron Paul name recognition. Granted they are not fair in coverage but name recognition is not really an issue now.

And the campaign is doing things this time, we had little money before September last time and the campaign was constantly berated for not doing the job grassroots expected. Needless to say the official campaign has been much more effective this time, Iowa, and some of that removes the need for grassroots doing it.

In the end though, I think most will measure it on whether we can outdo the 11/5 and 12/16 moneybombs at some point.

 

[acptulsa]

Last round at this time we were screaming for attention in the face of a media establishment still pretending never to have heard of our man and a left coalescing around a guy we knew wasn't really going to give us peace in our time, but was being painted as some sort of messiah.

This time we're doing spin control and other such things to care for the seed we planted. Obviously this will seem less manic than plowing the virgin soil...

Look at the polls. So long as we keep moving them the right direction, obviously we're creating more net enthusiasm. This is a problem?

 

[Dorfsmith]

Are there any threads with pictures of this?

Videos?

If these things are going on, please publicize it to inspire others.

I've seriously seen evidence of 1 group doing anything - maybe I miss other threads but I'm on here quite a bit

Here's a couple that I started:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...A-Huge-Success&highlight=coconino+county+fair

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...-July-4th-Parade&highlight=july+4th+flagstaff

Here's our facebook page with lots of info on what we've been doing and have planned:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ron-Paul-2012-Flagstaff-Arizona/141707019230784

 

[TexMac]

My gut feeling is that a lot of people who were active last time around are waiting to see what happens. Many of them (including me) put forth a tremendous amount of effort and money and were crushed when Ron tanked in the primaries. It's only natural that they have some reservations about going full-throttle again, but if Ron gets some serious traction this time, expect total pandemonium.

I was in this group until about July. I put so much effort and money into the 2008 campaign that I was totally burned out. I tried not to even think about politics for a couple of years because the whole 2008 campaign was so heartbreaking.

It's not politics as usual for Ron Paul people, it's total commitment.

 

[InTradePro]

Four years ago Dr Paul had less then 3% support. I don't think we had any meetup groups, - correction some meetup groups at this time, some groups still started in December 2007. No official twitter or facebook groups.

There is still time, but the local groups want to start getting active soon. It's now time to get involved!

 

[Uriah]

The campaign is definitely taking a much bigger role this time around. I do think many people are burned out and don't want to commit so much time and energy and have it be "wasted". I have seen this first hand in Jefferson county Iowa(only Iowa county for Paul in 2008) but it is also early in the election cycle. The grassroots really got energized and motivated in late 2007 especially in December with that huge money bomb.

Everyone should also realize that in 2008 the liberty movement through Ron Paul had just come to life. Ron Paul was the first politician with his views to come along in a long time. What he spoke of was truly inspiring and new to many people. He was not like any candidate that most of us had every seen. The thought of electing Dr. Paul to President Paul was intellectually orgasmic. That feeling has tapered off and has now been tempered. Many don't think he can win with how things turned out last time.

With that said, the revolution is alive and well. The "new" factor has left us but we are still inspired and I see that everyday on the forums and talking with friends. I think some of us, myself included, are projecting our own feelings outward onto the grassroots. We want that crazy radical energy back but it can't come back like in 2007-08.

We are more mature and intelligent about how to win this. We are the tortoise in this race and the race ain't over yet.

 

[trey4sports]

I too am seeing a shift in the mainstream more so that in 2008...and am continuing the fight on our sites and blog. The media is definitely against us, but that is why we need to stay the course and fight because of what is at stake if we don't. =]

welcome to the forums man!

 

[pacelli]

Also recall that Trevor Lyman is no longer sending out emails or apparently organizing. I'm not trying to open this can of worms because we've been through it, but I think it is at least worth a mention since he was so active in 07-08.