Just got back from Anita Andrews

[Man from La Mancha]

Getting a experienced qualified person with organisational skills to assist meet up groups makes sense, and that person has the right to protect their intellectual property and ensure campaign strategies are not revealed to others. What is bothersome, is a person with these skills should have anticipated the concerns of meet up group members who, thus far, have been marching to the beat of their own drum. Part of the overall plan should incorporate a friendly introduction to others and a general outline of the aims and objectives this person envisions. This would eliminate much of the frustration and speculation occuring now. A forum such as this would be a perfect place to make this start.

Exactly just keep us in the loop, one does not have to give away campaign secrets to do that. I haven't got a message from Ron on any of this.

.

 

[iamso910]

Have you been to the training, or are you just expressing your views on something of which you know nothing about?

Well, the second part of your question is an assertion, an ad hominem in fact.

No I haven't been to the training, but I don't see how that is relevant to my points.

My main point is, that if these ideas are valuable for grass roots action, then they should be disseminated widely and asap. I have not seen any arguments that suggest that such a request is not in the campaign's best interest.

Ideas evolve through debate and sometimes things only change when some political pressure is applied.

I appreciate everyone's efforts. It's natural that people with a common cause are not homogenous in all their thinking.

Some things that come from the official campaign will be wrong or can be improved. In such situations, a healthy debate is the best medicine imho.

 

[LibertyEagle]

I've seen the materials. If they are paying her to hand out this stuff - and not EXECUTE - it's a waste of money. Just like that songwriter, the fact that I can't get an official sign even though I've asked and those additional Iowa radio spots from a few weeks back.

It's my understanding that they are not distributing signs. What they have done is put the image on their website. It is up to you to take the initiative to create the sign or to buy it from someone else who has.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/get-involved/

As far as your opinion that Anita should be executing, goes, I can just imagine how that would be received. I mean, there appear to be quite a few people on this board that are having a hissy fit over her just training and distributing materials.

All this strikes me as a possible reason as to why the Libertarian party has never gone anywhere. People are passionate, yes, but they are unwilling to work together to achieve a common goal.

 

[angelatc]

I just don't see how all this work can be accomplished if the only people who know about them are the few people who went to these meetings...

She said you can't copy/hand out the material, but can you disseminate some of the ideas contained within?

The meeting in Chicago last Thursday spent the whole first hour going over the material with people who weren't able to attend her presentation.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Some things that come from the official campaign will be wrong or can be improved. In such situations, a healthy debate is the best medicine imho.

How can you effectively "debate" something, or judge whether it can or cannot be improved, that you know nothing about? At least wait until AFTER you attend the training.

 

[ButchHowdy]

" . . . All this strikes me as a possible reason as to why the Libertarian party has never gone anywhere. People are passionate, yes, but they are unwilling to work together to achieve a common goal."

Interesting . . . this is probably why we have so many 'religions!'

 

[angelatc]

My main point is, that if these ideas are valuable for grass roots action, then they should be disseminated widely and asap. I have not seen any arguments that suggest that such a request is not in the campaign's best interest.

Ideas evolve through debate and sometimes things only change when some political pressure is applied.

There are things in the packet that they don't want spread all over the internet because they don't want the other campaigns to know about them. That's why there are controls. It would be pretty stupid to let the other candidates develop counter-messages before the original messages oficially hit the airwaves.

IDeas can evolve from debate, but that doesn't mean that debates always end with everybody agreeing to, and happy with, the final product.

It also doesn't mean that everybody who has ever posted in an internet forum should get a chance to participate in the debate.

I don't like the public dessention. It's not the image we want to portray. I know there are some truthers who quit the cause because they expected him to support their conspiracy theories. If we're going to start losgin supporters over the fact that budget meetings and other grown-up discussions aren't open to the public then we might as well throw in the towel right now.

 

[Cowlesy]

All this strikes me as a possible reason as to why the Libertarian party has never gone anywhere. People are passionate, yes, but they are unwilling to work together to achieve a common goal.

I agree.

I just got back from the gym, fired up the forum hoping that this thread had bit the dust from last night.

I swear if Ron Paul himself came to give a campaign training seminar, people would question whether it was really him or really some evil robotic clone sent by the opposition to mess with the grassroots supporters.

 

[angelatc]

How can you effectively "debate" something, or judge whether it can or cannot be improved, that you know nothing about? At least wait until AFTER you attend the training.

If you can't accept that the official is going to make decisions that you disagree with then you're not going to do anybody any favors.

There wasn't anything in the presentation that requires any debate at this point.

 

[Bossobass]

My meetup group has 160 members.

My wife and I work door-to-door by ourselves locally, in between traveling to SC, NH and Iowa.

If someone can do something to prod some of the other 158 members to physically do something for the campaign, I'm 100% behind it, him or her.

I don't give a piss what sign I carry.
I'll wear whatever is hanging in the closet, so if someone hands me a different shirt I'll wear that.
The activity don't matter, as long as it's activity.

Nitpicking what sign you'll use? Makes me wanna push somebody down the steps.

There's strength in numbers. Get sharp on the issues so you can answer the questions and attacks and get the hell out there...NOW.

If Ms. Anita is helping in that respect, she don't need to bring her resume and interview for me.

Bosso

 

[angelatc]

The rLOVEution signs serve a purpose reaching out to a certain percentage of people. All Anita is saying is that the campaign needs to reach more people. If you think that the nomination can be won by using the same techniques, then you are entitled to your own opinion. I for one see the benefit of reaching out to the average voter in an effort to expand the base.

Absolutely. The percentage of people getting their political information from the internet is still far below the 50% mark.

College kids always get fired up about elections, but they rarely bother to vote in primaries.

There was so much more....I wish I could remember it!

 

[angelatc]

If someone can do something to prod some of the other 158 members to physically do something for the campaign, I'm 100% behind it, him or her.

I do exactly that for another group I volunteer with.

You're never going to get a 100% participation rate, but if you can get people to participate in one or two events, usually they'll stay active. for at least a little while.

1. Run a little fundraiser and buy bumper stickers and yard signs.

3. Make a list of things people can do. Make phone calls, walk on week days, walk on weekends, sign parties, door-to-door operations, volunteer coordinator, collect signatures,....whatever.

2. When people join your meet up, call them on the phone and welcome him/her to your group. Email is no substitute for the human touch. Offer them 2 bumper stickers, and a yard sign if they have a yard. They like the tangible stuff. Also find out what they do "in real life" to see if that skill set is something you can utilize. People are proud of what they do. Go over the list you made in step 2 and ask them specifically which areas they want to help in.

3. Try to plan a door-to door campaign in their neighborhood, and see if they'll walk with you. Next time a new member joins in that area, ask this member if s/he can walk with the new guy.

4. When you plan anything, go back to that list and call people who said they could help with those things. It's harder to say 'No" on the phone than it is to ignore an email invitation.

Yes, I know time is a factor, but "just" make "volunteer coordinator" one of the first spots you fill.

 

[Revolution9]

This just does not SOUND like Ron Paul anymore to me. I refused to sign the stupid NDA, so didn't go to this meeting - several of my friends berated me mightily for that, seeing it as "no big deal" but there is something that I just do not like about having a closed, traditional thing going on, versus the very open, free, insurgency that we (used to? / still do?) have going on.

The Senior Attorney at my sons Law Office said to never sign an NDA until it is time to collect money. Putting yourself in a position to get sued because you had the same idea, but did not know till you were told is plain stupd. I would take any NDA to a lwyer before signing it.. But that is me. Some of Cheney's arms dealng pals sent me an NDA when Cheney wanted to buy 2.5M metric tons of Heavy melting Steel.. I showed it to the Senior Attorney and it basically said that once we sign it any materials we had that were duplicate such as a catalog of all metal dealers worldwide would become an issue to sue us and take our profit. But it did not say it straight up. It was counched in connective sections quite trickily with the llynchpin consisiting of an adjective and an adverb... It was obvious once pointed out but did not seem suspicious to me at first.

Best
Randy

 

[iamso910]

There are things in the packet that they don't want spread all over the internet because they don't want the other campaigns to know about them. That's why there are controls. It would be pretty stupid to let the other candidates develop counter-messages before the original messages oficially hit the airwaves.

IDeas can evolve from debate, but that doesn't mean that debates always end with everybody agreeing to, and happy with, the final product.

It also doesn't mean that everybody who has ever posted in an internet forum should get a chance to participate in the debate.

I don't like the public dessention. It's not the image we want to portray. I know there are some truthers who quit the cause because they expected him to support their conspiracy theories. If we're going to start losgin supporters over the fact that budget meetings and other grown-up discussions aren't open to the public then we might as well throw in the towel right now.

Angelatc,

Thanks for providing some insight into why certain strategies may want to be kept secret.

Still, I think they would benefit more by making some of the strategy ideas public, so that more of the grass roots could adopt them.

 

[abstrusezincate]

I actually spoke with Anita a little on the phone tonight. Based on what I've read here, what I've heard from others, and what is being said, let me offer a reasoned opinion.

I think that information is always good, and it is up to us as individuals and as groups to choose if it is beneficial or not to the cause we are promoting. I won't be able to attend her meeting in PA because of timing issues, but if she is talking about how to reach past the internet, then that is a good thing.

I don't necessarily approve of the way they are going about this. Honestly, I'm not always impressed with the campaign staff and their actions either, but hearing what the woman has to say can't hurt and it might help. That's probably good enough.

We still have many challenges that we face as separate non-connected entities, and I think we'll need to continue to work together to make that happen. With that being true, I'm content to keep doing what we've been doing and go from there.

 

[Kuldebar]

My feeling is that having everyone call or e-mail the Campaign or Don Rasmussen is not a good method of clearing things up. Encouraging people to describe their experience at the events in places like this forum is the most efficient way of setting things straight.

The detractors on this thread seem to overlook the fact that this thread was started by an Andrews Event Attendee and the discussion followed on from there.

So, the more we can hear from attendees in this forum, the better.

 

[inibo]

Wow!


Proverbs 27:17

and

If I ever have any grandchildren, the stories I'll have tell...


​

 

[tmg19103]

I agree with Tom that it can't hurt to listen - and to do so with an open mind.

One of the geat things about a grassroots campaign is that it is creative in an authentic sense, and spontaneous in an enthusiastic sense. This in itself creates a snowball effect of ever growing support and a passionate feeling of being involved in something that not only you are a part of, but that is also a part of you.

I think it is key that we do not lose that creativity and enthusiasm.

However, that does not mean we should not listen to this woman with an open mind. Perhaps some of her ideas could fine tune our creativity and enthusiasm so that our work for RP is that much more efficient and effective.

I do think she has a tough job and that here is a fine line between benefiting a grassroots campaign and hurting it.

From that standpoint, I'd take what I want from what she has to say, and I'd leave the rest - while keeping an open mind. What I am concerned about is the name recognition issue, and what I'd be looking for from her is what she has to say on ways to increase public awareness of RP that goes beyond what we are already doing. THAT is something I'd surely work with.

-- Andy

 

[BlindD]

Spread 'Em

So let me see if I understand all of this: Amazing Anita (AA) shows up and convinces HQ that she's got "the secret." Her only requirement is that she will tell her secret only if no one will talk about it, except in the precisely ordained way that she demands. This demand is specifically created to make sure that she protects her ~$37.46 of profits from each group she talks to. The grassroots eventually learn about this material and slowly and carefully spread it around (keeping it secret from other campaigns), without offending AA non-disclosure agreements. Grassroots comes to realize that all of this is apparently going to require several months to spread around due to the secrecy thing, and we all come to realize that by the time the secret is fully out and put to good use, the election is over.

Is that about right?

Go to one of these meetings, get some ideas (if they are any good), and spread 'em around to the people who need to know about them. Then get shit done. How difficult is that?

"Secret" techniques are just so much BS in 3 months. Use 'em if they are any good, get crankin', blow the lid off the secrecy.

As far as I've seen over the past 4 months, the grassroots are far more creative and 3-steps-ahead of any conventional campaigning that I've ever seen or been involved with. Grassroots need to keep doing exactly what they are doing.

Grassroots IS the f*ing SECRET!!!!!! Jesus!

IN ADDITION to grassroots, crank up the 'AA secret' techniques if you feel like it. If you don't feel like it, then just keep creating brilliant grassroots strategies and results... like you have been doing for the last 4 months.

If anyone tells Grassroots to stop being creative and active, in any way whatsoever, then tell 'em to take a flying leap.

If HQ is really in love with AA, then they need to pay her a good price to 'buy' her secrets, and pay her a chunk of $$ to go out on the road and teach every meetup around the country, free-of-charge. Grassroots will eat it up and git-R-done.

 

[thomj76]

I went to the last meeting with Anita. There are some fantastic ideas to help get the message out the right way to the average voter. There will be action soon from HQ to help coordinate the local effort to local voters. I understand people's hesitation. Let's face it, a lot of people that support Ron Paul are pretty knowledgeable about what is going on.

That knowledge, however, does not mean that the average voter will get it. I think most of us have seen blank faces staring back as the facts are presented to them. It can be a very frustrating thing. The real key is how to tailor the message for the individual. Each voter has their own issues that will determine who they will vote for.

It is approaching the individual voter in the proper manner to allow them the chance to listen to the message.

I have said this many times in this forum long before I met Anita.

Be respectful, thoughtful, balanced and follow though with your actions. If your message reaches a few voters, but turns off more voters, then how helpful was your delivery?