Is there less enthusiasm for 2012 than in 2008?

[PaulConventionWV]

I'm sort of taking a back seat for number of reasons, not least of which is financial.

But there is another reason, and that is that my "brand" of outlaw campaigning, both in word and deed, is no longer...wanted?...is the word I'm looking for.

I've gotten the message loud and clear, that this is a "mainstream" campaign to win, not to "educate", and that my style of "extremism" just does more harm than good.

Very well then. I'll sit in the corner and be good and of course continue to talk up Ron Paul to whomever will listen, donate when I can, but you can't do that and then expect levels of over the top grassroots enthusiasm like you had in 2007/2008.

In fact, the OP of this thread is on record many times suggesting people that think like me need to be "purged" and silenced about what we believe, so I find it odd that he now laments a lack of enthusiasm out on the hustings.

What exactly is your outlaw method? What did you do that was so looked own upon? Go door to door? Please explain. Also, how was this looked down upon?

 

[orenbus]

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.

this ^

 

[PaulConventionWV]

Organized support - MUCH LESS!

General support - MUCH MORE!

That means and I have seen that we really suck! - a lot less is happening. I really wish I knew how to change this. It could cost us the election.

-t

Dude, it's still September. Do you even remember what it was like in September 2007, or are you still thinking about November/DEcember 2007 and trying to apply it to September 2011? If you will take into account that the first primary isn't until February this time as opposed to January, then I think you would be a lot more understanding.

 

[orenbus]

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.

Hmm goodluck with outdoing 11/5 we lost that date due to outside influencing key members in our community. Man I'm still angry we lost one of our two major fundraising dates to a group that was pushing for 20k people to occupy wall street this past Saturday and they could barely put together a few hundred. Now we lose 11/5 because said group says they are going to knock out facebook :/

 

[hubze]

welcome to the forums man!

Thank you for the welcome! RonPaulFilms...thanks for letting me know! =]

 

[orenbus]

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.

Same.

 

[hubze]

I'm sort of taking a back seat for number of reasons, not least of which is financial.

But there is another reason, and that is that my "brand" of outlaw campaigning, both in word and deed, is no longer...wanted?...is the word I'm looking for.

I've gotten the message loud and clear, that this is a "mainstream" campaign to win, not to "educate", and that my style of "extremism" just does more harm than good.

Very well then. I'll sit in the corner and be good and of course continue to talk up Ron Paul to whomever will listen, donate when I can, but you can't do that and then expect levels of over the top grassroots enthusiasm like you had in 2007/2008.

In fact, the OP of this thread is on record many times suggesting people that think like me need to be "purged" and silenced about what we believe, so I find it odd that he now laments a lack of enthusiasm out on the hustings.

You are EXACTLY who we are looking for to help us...please come over to http://socialmediamarch.org and work with us to organize an online movement that stays the course...it is crucial this time around because the combination of mainstream support to win and grassroots support to REVOLUTIONIZE is exactly what we need to win...people are listening. It is a process and Ron dropped a seed in 2008 that has grown to become a small tree, and now it is our job to make it a HUGE oak that you cannot ignore!

We are looking for activists who want to take this message out...but do it in a very professional and organized manner so as not to make Ron look like a nut job, but make his supporters look organized yet MAD enough to not just shut up and take it!

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

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

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?316499-Ron-Paul-quot-infomercial-quot

 

[orenbus]

This, and the fact that it is still very early in the campaign. I really got involved after the Dec 16 moneybomb, and I kind of wondered whether there were ANY SUPPORTERS as early as September 2007! Seems like all the activity was November +.

Yes sir, started in May 2007 right after the Guilliani debate face off. Checked youtube videos on Ron Paul, found the Arizona guys making Revolution signs which inspired me to do the same got a few friends together and we started making signs, figured out how to make stencils, friend of mine starting selling tshirts and posters, we made videos, created a dozen web sites, went door to door, handed out fliers, sign waves, made video games, made a embedable video player, advertised money bombs, the list goes on and on. But yea we got started early on.

 

[orenbus]

I'm sort of taking a back seat for number of reasons, not least of which is financial.

But there is another reason, and that is that my "brand" of outlaw campaigning, both in word and deed, is no longer...wanted?...is the word I'm looking for.

I've gotten the message loud and clear, that this is a "mainstream" campaign to win, not to "educate", and that my style of "extremism" just does more harm than good.

Very well then. I'll sit in the corner and be good and of course continue to talk up Ron Paul to whomever will listen, donate when I can, but you can't do that and then expect levels of over the top grassroots enthusiasm like you had in 2007/2008.

In fact, the OP of this thread is on record many times suggesting people that think like me need to be "purged" and silenced about what we believe, so I find it odd that he now laments a lack of enthusiasm out on the hustings.

I agree 100% with Anti Federalist and in many ways I'm in the same boat, there are some things that would get the people sitting in the sidelines cheering to get in the game unfortunately those things are being looked down upon by many on this very forum. The Fifth of November money bomb being a perfect example, many of the more rebellious and energetic supporters would be willing to take risks that many others would not. This divide drives those that would otherwise do some amazing, creative things to the sidelines only to cheer those that follow the more traditional campaigning route.

Truth is you really need both groups, the rebelliously spirited side to attract those individuals that want to have fun and do things not done before or actions that maybe risky that provides adrenaline to their cause (risky dates for money bombs, revolution banners on overpasses, ron paul signs at other campaigns events, risky and creative [guerilla] marketing). And the more traditional campaigning group that followed tried and testing approach to winning an election (door to door, phone banks, gotv). A campaign that has both arms supported by dedicated individuals on both sides and perhaps some that are willing to participate on both sides of the lets say traditional vs. guerilla tactics forms of campaign would make a grassroots movement extremely powerful and would be presented as so, as it was in 2007. Some of the problems we had in 2007 are still with us today for example the Media Blackout being a major one and also the need to have many more volunteers to do Door to Door in NH and IA, but we have to pay attention also to the engine that recruits and energizes more volunteers to our cause.

 

[donnay]

I too, will continually support Dr. Paul as I have done for almost 30 years--no matter what. Because I believe in liberty and freedom. I agree with AF wholeheartedly. If you want the enthusiasm to be what is was in 2007/2008, you have to adhere to the ideas of unbridled liberty--the message Dr. Paul has been conveying for over thirty years, and it should be the message that every person should carry in their heart. The idea of liberty has to shake people to the core. You cannot subscribe to liberty only when it suits you, you have to know it, understand it and live it.

In 2007/2008 many enthusiastic people had just about given up on politics altogether. They were disgusted with the left/right false paradigm. Voting the lesser of two evils, still gives us an evil-- any way you slice it. When Dr. Paul threw his hat in the ring, for President, it was like a breath of fresh air--hope that all was not lost. Our Republic still had a fighting chance because so many people had been brainwashed and Dr. Paul's message of liberty and freedom started breaking people from their trance. It was not only encouraging it was powerful! It still is!

Whether people here want to believe it or not, Dr. Paul is out there in the trenches day after day continually trying to break people from their trance. If for nothing else, the history books will show he is a winner, no matter what happens in this election!

 

[bolidew]

Two reasons IMO:

Dr. Paul is not longer the only anti-establishment candidate, at least on the surface.

The campaign still has not done as well as the supporters wanted after 4 years.

 

[LeJimster]

No offense, but there are way too many negative people on this forum. It's part of the reason I don't post here much as many suggestions get shot down. I think a lot of you are jaded from the last go around and understandably so, but AFAIK there are still tons of meetup groups. Ron has/will have 4 campaign headquarters in various States with hundreds of volunteers in each State if New Hampshire is anything to go by. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we have that last time around? Did we have professional Ads by the campaign? Was Ron polling over 10% nationally? Did we have 2 CPAC wins under our belt? Did we have a Super PAC with a solid team? Was people cheering so enthusiastically for Ron in the debates? Was every other candidate talking about the FED and how we need to start thinking of getting out of these wars?

I mean come on guys. We're winning, the difference is night and day. You all need to look at the progress you've made and keep on spreading the word, because you're edging closer to the tipping point where the mainstream isn't afraid to go for Paul. They'll flock in droves once we hit that milestone.

 

[TexMac]

No offense, but there are way too many negative people on this forum. It's part of the reason I don't post here much as many suggestions get shot down. I think a lot of you are jaded from the last go around and understandably so, but AFAIK there are still tons of meetup groups. Ron has/will have 4 campaign headquarters in various States with hundreds of volunteers in each State if New Hampshire is anything to go by. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we have that last time around? Did we have professional Ads by the campaign? Was Ron polling over 10% nationally? Did we have 2 CPAC wins under our belt? Did we have a Super PAC with a solid team? Was people cheering so enthusiastically for Ron in the debates? Was every other candidate talking about the FED and how we need to start thinking of getting out of these wars?

I mean come on guys. We're winning, the difference is night and day. You all need to look at the progress you've made and keep on spreading the word, because you're edging closer to the tipping point where the mainstream isn't afraid to go for Paul. They'll flock in droves once we hit that milestone.

Great post! We ARE winning.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

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

People see what they want to see. Here is a sampling of what you seem to have been missing

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?302668-Visit-retirement-homes-and-talk-about-ron-paul-)&p=3434773&viewfull=1#post3434773

[URL="http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?314001-Grassroots-veteran-video.-Enjoy!"]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?314001-Grassroots-veteran-video.-Enjoy!

[URL="http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?307135-Where-I-am-what-I-have-been-doing-and-how-you-can-help."]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?307135-Where-I-am-what-I-have-been-doing-and-how-you-can-help.

[URL="http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?297645-NYC-Liberty-HQ-Tabling-in-the-heat"]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?297645-NYC-Liberty-HQ-Tabling-in-the-heat

[URL]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?313281-Earned-media.-Courtesy-of-Ron-Paul-NJ-Liberty-HQ.[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]

 

[InTradePro]

No offense, but there are way too many negative people on this forum. It's part of the reason I don't post here much as many suggestions get shot down. I think a lot of you are jaded from the last go around and understandably so, but AFAIK there are still tons of meetup groups. Ron has/will have 4 campaign headquarters in various States with hundreds of volunteers in each State if New Hampshire is anything to go by. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we have that last time around? Did we have professional Ads by the campaign? Was Ron polling over 10% nationally? Did we have 2 CPAC wins under our belt? Did we have a Super PAC with a solid team? Was people cheering so enthusiastically for Ron in the debates? Was every other candidate talking about the FED and how we need to start thinking of getting out of these wars?

I mean come on guys. We're winning, the difference is night and day. You all need to look at the progress you've made and keep on spreading the word, because you're edging closer to the tipping point where the mainstream isn't afraid to go for Paul. They'll flock in droves once we hit that milestone.

+Rep

 

[InTradePro]

People see what they want to see. Here is a sampling of what you seem to have been missing

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?302668-Visit-retirement-homes-and-talk-about-ron-paul-)&p=3434773&viewfull=1#post3434773

[URL="http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?314001-Grassroots-veteran-video.-Enjoy!"]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?314001-Grassroots-veteran-video.-Enjoy!

[URL="http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?307135-Where-I-am-what-I-have-been-doing-and-how-you-can-help."]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?307135-Where-I-am-what-I-have-been-doing-and-how-you-can-help.

[URL="http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?297645-NYC-Liberty-HQ-Tabling-in-the-heat"]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?297645-NYC-Liberty-HQ-Tabling-in-the-heat

[URL]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?313281-Earned-media.-Courtesy-of-Ron-Paul-NJ-Liberty-HQ.[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]

Very good selection.
+Rep

 

[Anti Federalist]

What exactly is your outlaw method? What did you do that was so looked own upon? Go door to door? Please explain. Also, how was this looked down upon?

Loud, raucous groups of enthusiastic supporters at sign waves, functions, yelling behind reporters and yes, even throwing well deserved snowballs at Hannity.

Revolutionary themed money bombs.

Wholly embracing "fringe" ideas. In fact, nothing is more disappointing to me than to watch a whole slew of "supporters" run around with their hair on fire after Ron Paul does or says something that, well, sounds like Ron Paul.

We truly are living in the Empire of Lies, and telling the truth is treason.

Treason is not mainstream.

 

[ItsTime]

No offense, but there are way too many negative people on this forum. It's part of the reason I don't post here much as many suggestions get shot down. I think a lot of you are jaded from the last go around and understandably so, but AFAIK there are still tons of meetup groups. Ron has/will have 4 campaign headquarters in various States with hundreds of volunteers in each State if New Hampshire is anything to go by. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we have that last time around? Did we have professional Ads by the campaign? Was Ron polling over 10% nationally? Did we have 2 CPAC wins under our belt? Did we have a Super PAC with a solid team? Was people cheering so enthusiastically for Ron in the debates? Was every other candidate talking about the FED and how we need to start thinking of getting out of these wars?

I mean come on guys. We're winning, the difference is night and day. You all need to look at the progress you've made and keep on spreading the word, because you're edging closer to the tipping point where the mainstream isn't afraid to go for Paul. They'll flock in droves once we hit that milestone.

Yup.. We are winning! +rep

 

[Anti Federalist]

All of the above notwithstanding, I'm still very upbeat.

As many have mentioned, Paul is polling way higher than last time around, the campaign machine is running much better and the ads so far have been top notch.