it's time to start thinking 3rd party run

[colecrowe]

www.ronpaulwhitehouse.com <--pledge here.


Face it, the GOP has rejected us. There is no plausible path to the nomination after today, none. The next stage in our ideological struggle to save this country is to undertake an Independent run for the White House. I realize there are a lot of naysayers on this issue. Some people think it's insanely hard to do and that it cannot be done. I submit the following points to argue otherwise. If you agree, please help me spread word about the site and make sure to signup today.


Ballot Signatures:
We need to gather about 800,000 signatures nationwide to get on the ballots. We have a wonderful precinct captain system to help accomplish this, and I've read reports that to hire collectors to do the job would cost about 3 million dollars. It's absolutely ridiculous to suggest that we cannot collect these signatures.

Sore Loser Laws:
Only four states in the country present possible issues with Sore Loser laws: Texas, Ohio, South Dakota, and Mississippi. There may be legal grounds to dispute these laws. More information here and here

Votes:
Polling done by Rasmussen a week ago showed that Ron Paul would garner between 7-11% of the vote in four-way matchups that included Bloomberg, Paul, and the GOP/Dem nominees. More info here.

Debates:
Perot got in them before, no reason we cant pull it off as well. If the polling above is true, then the media might actually let us in. Double digit support is the key, and it looks like we might be able to manage that.

A New Era:
We've learned some important lessons and made some mistakes, but the campaign activities have improved at the official level, and the grassroots got their much needed wakeup call that our attention starved methods are not very effective. We still have powerful weapons at our disposal, namely the 24 hour news cycle, new media, high name recognition, record high voter dissatisfaction, etc... Most importantly, we have the winning message and the dedication to spread it. Educating people takes time, we shouldn't give up yet.

..

 

[cindy25]

the model to use is the winning model of James Buckley in the 1970 US Senate race in which he WON as a minor party candidate (Conservative) in the 2nd most liberal state.

Ross Perot lost.

 

[PennCustom4RP]

I too think that a 3rd party run is certainly something for RP to consider, given these points.

The LP supports Ron Paul as their candidate, so by de facto, the RP platform becomes the LP platform.

Many Libertarians re-registered as republicans to support RP, and will more than likely leave the GOP following their respective primary dates, and certainly will bring those other GOP supporters of RP who feel disenfranchised by the shunning of the neo-con agenda, the GOP not representing the same conservative beliefs that they do.

The LP is an established party, having ballot access in most states, a much better avenue to take than starting a new party.

Our grassroots effort is something that Perot didn't have, and our money raising ability can rival and surpass what Perot spent on his campaign. At least our money raising efforts were consistently reported, albeit with surprise.

Many others of the GOP do not like McCain, and if he becomes the GOP nominee, will not vote for him.

Many Dems do not like Hillary, or Obama, and see them the same as the status quo of politics, no better than the McRomneys...all seen as pandering liars, not to be trusted.

If Bloomburg and Nader enter the race, this would give legitimacy by their name recognition, along with Ron Paul, the credibility of a 3rd party/Independent run, giving the American people more choice other than the anointed two party system.

Any 3rd Party run with name recognition is NEWS, even if not invited to the GOP/DNC debates, they can debate each other, and I have no doubt, The MSM will have to cover it, if for no other reason, but to not be scooped by another network by ignoring it.

The more choices, the more the people feel they are represented, the more defused the vote, only 34% needed to win.

Ron Paul can bring to light the liberal conservativeness and warmongering of McRomney, and the tax and spend politics of the Hillobama, as the war and economy have become the major issues this cycle.
The MSM wants to ignore all this, until they have no choice, because it came up and bit them on the ass.
Then the truth will be told.

 

[lasenorita]

I think we should prepare for a third-party or an Independent run or at the very least, let others know about the possibility. Consider it a fair warning to the GOP. If they want to keep the White House, their only choice is to nominate Ron Paul. Half a million people voted for him today --- people who have done their research and stood up for their country despite the ridicule and media blackout.

It's still too early yet to start threatening an Independent run, though. Ron Paul is still in the race (and will most likely be in it all the way to September). But it'd be nice to keep the GOP establishment and the other candidates on their toes...

 

[MayTheRonBeWithYou]

I think "Independent" is better than LP for now, although we are incredibly grateful for the support of the LP. I think it will be a lot easier for anti-illegal Republicans and anti-war Dems, as an example, to cast a vote for Ron Paul as an "Independent" rather than "Libertarian Party." Fairly or unfairly, the LP is considered pretty fringe, and it conjures up thoughts of drug legalization and prostution other such things. I'm not saying it's fair, I'm just saying it's the perception. At some point, after the 08 race, we could come together under the banner of the LP, or perhaps a newly envisioned party called the Liberty Party or something like that.

 

[morerocklesstalk]

I think running on the Libertarian party ticket would kill our chances with disgruntled Dems and even some angry Republicans.

Name and appearance mean a lot. I know when I tell my peers that my favorite canidate is Republican, they look at me funny and don't really want to find out more about Dr. Paul. So I would hate to have a similar problem as a Libertarian.

By running Independent we have no stigma attached and we can really reach people with just our message, no baggage.

 

[expatinireland]

One thing we should have learned is that it takes one hell of a lot of organisation to operate a campaign properly.

The sooner a decision is made to go independent, the better.

Canvassing for an independent run needs to start asap as many people will need to be registered to vote - every person of voting age will be a prospect for us.

The message needs to be refined ie RP is talking over peoples heads when addressing the FRB and monetary policy - this might be ok for the college campus but not for the average Joe.

No need to go with a tired old brand with an existing 3rd party as the media will only use that to marginalize the campaign.

 

[expatinireland]

It's still too early yet to start threatening an Independent run, though. Ron Paul is still in the race (and will most likely be in it all the way to September). But it'd be nice to keep the GOP establishment and the other candidates on their toes...

It will be too late to mount an independent campaign if we wait till September.

If we wait till September, my support will be lukewarm as I know we won't have a chance of getting the job done.

 

[colecrowe]

It will be too late to mount an independent campaign if we wait till September.

If we wait till September, my support will be lukewarm as I know we won't have a chance of getting the job done.

QFT

 

[smartpeople4ronpaul]

I know many people don't want to hear that but the republicans/media would not let it happen even if had enough support. Plus a 3rd party announcement will create an immediate bump in fund raising

We've fought a helluva fight... and who hear wants to stop now? I surely don't... a 3rd party run will let us fight all the way till the end. Either the libertarian or constitutution party...both have ballot access so it won't be a problem and both parties will support Ron 100%. Let's keep going!

Hey little 10-post- New Member, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!! You'd better get outta here. We don't need some brand new member giving us negativity.

 

[morerocklesstalk]

It will be too late to mount an independent campaign if we wait till September.

If we wait till September, my support will be lukewarm as I know we won't have a chance of getting the job done.

I kind of disagree. If McCain and Clinton are the two choices that are set in stone, coming in as an independent would really provide some momentum for many voters that may not like either canidate. (Ex- Thompson, Romney, Obama, and Edwards supporters).

If Ron Paul is saving his money, I would love to see media blitz of ads maybe a week after the last of the two canidates are anounced.

The Right wing talk shows could really garner us some support if they were having to face the options of voting for McCain or Hillary. We will be the anti-war canidate.

 

[literatim]

If Ron Paul decides at some time he wants to run 3rd party (which he won't). There should be a new party, the Change Party. I am seriously freaking tired of all those candidates shouting "change" as if they will change anything.

 

[expatinireland]

If Ron Paul decides at some time he wants to run 3rd party (which he won't). There should be a new party, the Change Party. I am seriously freaking tired of all those candidates shouting "change" as if they will change anything.

If the 3rd party option was chosen it would need definitely need to be a new brand.
RP would just end up getting marginalised again as a Libertarian or other existing 3rd party candidate.

I don't know the rules, but this late in the process I imagine it would be difficult to get a new party up and running in time for November.

 

[GoRon2008]

I would just like to say I will double my last donation if Ron announces 3rd party Run.

 

[colecrowe]

I would just like to say I will double my last donation if Ron announces 3rd party Run.

iNDY NOT Third Party!

But, yes, that is absolutely right. People are not going to keep donating if there is an insistence on continuing to run for the Republican Nomination, since he can't win it.

He can win as an independent however.

see my sig...

 

[MayTheRonBeWithYou]

If Ron Paul decides at some time he wants to run 3rd party (which he won't). There should be a new party, the Change Party. I am seriously freaking tired of all those candidates shouting "change" as if they will change anything.

Ahhh!! you're starting to come around!