There is no question that folks who joined in 2009---some were 1988 Ron Paul for Prez supporters.
From our 21st Century age, I want those who joined in 2007 to share their experiences.
From an internet microcosm perspective...how did you find the forum? What were the most interesting activist ideas on the forum? What was accomplished?
Some of you have been here longer than me, and certainly much longer supporters of liberty than me....and I'd like us to share thoughts to see where we cross or differ.
Going to bed now...will see if I get a response by tomorrow.
We both got here at the same time.
After following the career of Ron Paul, his writings and speeches going all the way back to the 80's, it was natural, a given, that Mrs. AF and I would, in spite of our well founded cynicism of the political system, jump in and commit 100% percent to the campaign. Not to mention his interviews on regular basis on the Alex Jones show. Love him or hate him, Jones has been a steadfast and constant supporter of Ron Paul and his show brought thousands of people to the campaign, including us.
So, signing up at RPF was a "natural" as well.
What was exciting was, after attending various "libertarian" functions and seeing a turnout of a couple dozen people at best, attending a NH GOP straw poll fundraiser in July 2007. Hundreds of people turned out and RP won in a landslide in that poll.
And even more exciting was the further manifestation of something that first hit me at an "anti Kelo" protest in New London CT in 2005.
Something struck me as odd from the very start and it wasn't until an hour into the whole thing that it hit me: this crowd that was around us, that we were a part of, all of us raising loud voices in indignation,
had no clear political lines of demarcation.
None.
There were republicrats and libertarians, greens, anarchists, vegans, gays, gun owners, church groups, and "unaffiliated" of all types, blue collar, white collar, retired, business owners and unemployed, all united against a government ruling that was so over the top everybody could see it.
After getting my head thumped at the RNC in 2004, in what amounted to mostly a partisan bitchfest, this was an epiphany.
More than anything, that is what prompted both of us to throw in behind the good Dr. We realized that there was no other man in all of politics that could unite such disparate factions under a common banner of freedom with nothing more than the force and moral
bona fides of a lifetime of scrupulous honesty and integrity and commitment to freedom.
The most exciting ideas and moments?
The "money bombs" without question.
Some hated the idea of the 5th of November. I liked it from the start, although I had my doubts as to whether anything would happen, a money bomb "dud" would be the worst possible outcome.
Well, the rest is history of course, on my own end, to the tune of 6 grand or so I suppose, if I had to add it all up. Coming out of Fanuiel Hall in Boston on the evening of the 16th and doing a triple take at a fellow patriot's laptop at the donation widget, literally brought a tear to my eye.
That was, in a 25 plus year span of various political "activism", the high point for me.
I'd double it to do it all over again and have that effect and impact on people. I regret not a single penny.
What was accomplished?...ah, now you've opened a can of worms.
The cynic, the pragmatic pessimist in me wants to say, wants to
scream in frustration, nothing.
Not a fuckin' thing: world without end, hallelujah, amen.
But that would be a lie.
The fact is the political and real world landscape of 21st century America has been rocked to it's core by all of our efforts.
Our man didn't win, we didn't win a campaign, we didn't win respect or a seat at the table. That is to be expected. When you start off by saying to the assembled masses that the "emperor has no clothes" and all your most cherished notions and ideals are mostly nothing more than lies and puffery, you're not likely to be well liked or respected. Ron Paul won't be winning any Dale Carnegie awards anytime soon and neither will any of us.
What we did do, is propose an idea so simple and yet so revolutionary at the same time:
the government must follow it's own laws and constitution.
This idea is now out there, it's not going away and the powers that be now must deal with it. How they deal with it will probably determine our next course of action, but what cannot be done now is have it swept under the rug, dismissed or disregarded.
Millions of voices said this:
"This is the law, this is the constitution, you are not following it nor upholding your oaths. We know this and nothing you can say or do will dissuade or discourage us.
We
will have our liberty.
The next move is up to you."
