Lessons learned from the Ron Paul Presidential Campaign...

[TannerW]

Looking at reality, it's painfully obvious that RP simply WILL NOT win the GOP nomination. Before some of you jump on me for being a 'defeatist', all you have to do is read Dr. Paul's latest message, and you'll see that he has essentially said the same thing. It's sad, but true.

Now, we can all sit here and dog the mainstream media for exclusion and unfair coverage of Dr. Paul - or we can take it upon ourselves to devise a plan for the NEXT revolutionary candidate.

As much as Ron Paul's presidential campaign came to accomplish, they always seemed to be a few steps behind - largely because they were in unchartered territory, politically-speaking.

So, let's charter that territory. Let's create an honest and EXTENSIVE list of what was done right with this campaign, along with what could/should have been done differently. It will serve as a form of schematics for that future candidate who comes along with a message as positive as Dr. Paul's - and ensure that history does not repeat itself. It's about all we can salvage at this point.

 

[ruggedindividualist]

I think if he didn't think he had any chance he'd drop out. To think otherwise would not be consistent with his personality. As long as there is money coming in he will continue to provide another option for people besides war and Marxism. Sure he's a long shot, but he always was. Surely it's better that McWar is the leading contender than Romney, he is much easier to attack.
It's always good to plan ahead and strategize, though.

 

[vector35]

What worked:
Attacking the Federal Reserve, REAL ID Act, false flag wars

What didnt work:
nonviolent rebellion

Solution:
Lets do what the establishment does to foreign civilians.

 

[TannerW]

Off the top of my head, a few things I shook my head at...

The television ads
As soon as I saw that first one (He's Catching On!), I immediately knew where this campaign was heading. The fact that they would not only PAY someone for that small-time level of production, but that it would actually come to be broadcast to potential voters was dumbfounding to me. RP should've taken advantage of his wealth of tech-savvy supporters who could EASILY run circles around the paid producers - and for a fraction, if not 0%, of the cost.

A different kind of candidate requires a different kind of commercial - and, unfortunately, this never registered with the Ron Paul campaign.

The blimp
As cool as the concept was of a giant Ron Paul blimp, it clearly wasn't thought out at all - and actually put Elijah into debt with the blimp company. When you think how ineffective that form of advertising proved to be, it's hard not to wonder about how those donations could have otherwise been spent.

Mainstream Media
A lot of people want to simply point the finger at them, but here's the truth: if you don't take advantage of the media, they'll take advantage of you. Sure, Ron Paul didn't get enough attention on the debates, but think for a moment about how many people are probably watching those debates. Political junkies and candidate supporters. That's about it. Now compare that to the number of people who...

-Watch the Superbowl
-Watch the American Idol finale
-Drive past a billboard in Atlanta
-Listen to the radio while working
-Subscribe to a popular magazine
-Visit Yahoo.com or YouTube.com
-Travel through O'Hare International Airport in a day

Those are ALL golden opportunities for advertisement, and ways to get Ron Paul's name noticed by a FAR greater number of people than any debate would ever bring. To me, this was the biggest faux pas: not using all that money raised for effective advertising.

 

[Truth Warrior]

#1 Lesson ( learned again, confirmed again, reinforced again ):

"The system is corrupt, beyond redemption, and is not worthy of my support!"

#2 Lesson:

"If voting ever really changed anything, it would be illegal."

#3 Lesson:

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies."

#4 Lesson:

SNAFUBAR!

#5 Lesson:

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."

#6 Lesson:

"War is a racket!"
"War is the health of the state."
"War is not the answer."

Therefore: "The health of the state racket. is not the answer."



Etc., etc., etc. ...........................................

 

[Carehn]

Its not over yet.

 

[GayRPFan]

Its not over yet.

It's over....though there is always a statistical chance, but for all practical matters his campaign is over. Period!

 

[Kaneda]

I think, what would really help, would be to canvass town and ask people who didn't vote for Ron Paul, why they did it. Ask around, why people voted for the other candidates. Asking the older people would especially be interesting.

 

[KevinDW78]

Ron Paul needs to drop out of his congressional race. I do not believe in career politicians and feel that even being one runs contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. There is a reason House terms are only 2 years. I think if Ron Paul simply left the congressional race and made it clear an an energizing, motivating, inspiring speech that he was doing so to continue his full time work to serving the revolution that has begun, I think he would bring a lot more respect to the revolution by doing so.

 

[klamath]

More time should be spent by the candidate in person in NH.

Better organized and earlier precinct captains.

Don't spam and fight with other sites on the internet.

Spaming online polls is a waste of time.

Get better feedback on why people aren't voting for your candidate to make sure it isn't because of misinformation.

 

[ambiguousscion]

This thread is stupid

If you don't believe in the campaign, why are you here...

 

[Detonator]

I think if he didn't think he had any chance he'd drop out.

Perhaps his desire to educate people is stronger than his desire to be the president?

 

[TannerW]

If you don't believe in the campaign, why are you here...

I believed in this campaign from Day 1 and have donated a ton of money and time - but there comes a point where you have to take an honest look at the facts. If you truly believe that RP can pick up 1175 delegates before McCain gets 477, then you're past optimism and into delusion. Sure it's "possible", but it's also "possible" that the world could explode while you're reading this. Realistically, though, neither one's gonna happen.

But, whatever - if you wanna classify me as a 'hater', then that's your misguided assumption. Either way, you should still be able to recognize and list the successes (and failures) that the campaign has had up unto this point.

You can either write this thread off as "someone who doesn't support Ron Paul anymore" or take it for what it is as "someone who deeply supports Ron Paul and his message, and wants to see it succeed in the future, hence the title of the thread". Your choice.

 

[Kaneda]

It's over....though there is always a statistical chance, but for all practical matters his campaign is over. Period!

There always were two goals for this campaign, first the presidential and second, to spread the word. The first is a battle that seems lost at this point. But the second is a war, and that one cannot be lost, only postponed indefinitely, and that is our choice alone. Let's show america, that this isn't a campaign, it is a revolution.

 

[Swedie]

Ron Paul's Letter

There seems to be a tone of quiet surrender on securing the nomination. Please DO NOT GIVE UP!! I woke up in the middle of the night and realized the true impact of Dr. Paul’s letter to us (and the competition). It’s brilliant!

Please re-read Dr. Paul’s letter as many times as you need to, to “get it”. Dr. Paul is more intelligent and has more smarts and savvy than all of his opponents put together. With our continued loyalty, perseverance, ingenuity and hard work, this Republican nomination can be Dr. Paul’s.

Pretend you are McCain, Huckabee or any of their supporters reading Dr. Paul’s letter. Here are some excerpts that they will land on and remember. “With Romney gone, the chances of a brokered convention are nearly zero.” “…there will be no third party run.”

McCain and Huckabee are nearly broke. McCain is the anointed MSM winner. There may be a huddle between the two for a plan of action regarding the VP position. Whew, are they ever happy. They can relax a bit. Less spending of money they don’t have, going state to state, sleepless nights, bad restaurant food. Let that sink in please.

The message to us, his supporters. “If I may quote Trotsky, of all people, this Revolution is permanent.” “It will not end until we have won the great battle on which we have embarked.” “But that does not affect my determination to fight on, in every caucus and primary remaining, and at the convention for our ideas, with just as many delegates as I can get.”

This is a time when no MSM media coverage could work to Dr. Paul’s advantage. He is really the forgotten candidate until he rakes in dozens, maybe hundreds of delegates while they are all toasting each other. Our job is to make sure Dr. Paul gets as many of the remaining delegates as possible. Those of us in states that have held primaries and caucuses can help other groups by contacting the meet-ups and getting call lists. Making phone calls is not as effective as face to face, but it’s better than doing nothing. It’s time to quadruple our efforts, everyone, not just supporters in the remaining states.

Again, this is NOT the time to be giving up and second guessing what's going on. Let's get back to work, harder than ever!

 

[tbarnett17]

It's not over until it's over... so, we just need to work harder! Meaning spread the word about liberty, freedom and our currupt government, don't EVER allow lies to hide the truth, expose the media for what it is, and MOST IMPORTANT......


PUT MORE RON PAUL-ITICIANS INTO OFFICE!!!!!


I've actually considered running for public office because of Ron Paul, but I have no experience in it! -Tyler

 

[Captain Shays]

The more I hear that there are only two candidates left in the Republican race the more I DESPISE the MSM and ALL those who support the lies and corruption and foul deceipt that is ruining our country.

ALL of this falls into the lap of the media. Period.

They ignored us, and they ignored the military personel who gave so much and help so much hope in an honest candidate who they dreampt would become their Commender in Cheif. They stomped on the Constitution because as we all know and knew from the beginning this campaign wasn't about Ron Paul.
With ALL the other candidates it is about the candidate. Obama-inspirational, great speaker, good looking. Rudy leader mayor on that day. McCain, son of an Admiral, media favorite. It goes on and on and on.
Ron Paul is about nothing but the Constitution and our liberties. So if they ignored Ron Paul, they ignored the Constitution and all of us who love it and liberty.

Why is it that they talk more about Anna Nicole Smith and Brittney Spears than they do about Ron Paul? NONE of us are so stupid as to believe its not deliberate. This isn't the market we're talking about people! Its not that Americans really want to know what Brittney Spears is up to on any given day. Come on!
This is about promoting their pre-selected war mongerers, globalists and corporate elites and shoving them down our throats.

If I could get away will killing them and if it would make a difference I would do it whether I could get away with it or not. These people are destroying our country. They are enemies of the state. They are domestic enemies of the Constitution. They need to be hung from a high tree.

I will not give up. It looks hopeless but there is so much more at stake then we realize sometimes.

Look. We've all been around. You can go to just about any Obama, McCain orClinton supporter and they don't have the first frigging clue about the national debt and how it's caused or the transfer of our wealth from workers to Wall Street. They don't have the first clue about all the international trade agreements that are transferring our wealth and our production jobs to third world nations.
They don't talk about or care or know about the Constitution. They're inept view of American history is nothing but twisted distortions.

Now, talk to just about any Ron Paul supporter and they can recite facts, quote founding fathers and point out violations by Congress of the Constitution.

The confused ones who will vote for McCain because they get their information between Brittney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith and think they are experts on the causes of Islamic terrorism because they listened to Frank Gaffney on TV are subjects to propaganda which we're not subjects to. We know better and we know we know better. We seek truth on its own merit. They seek truth as a partisan trying to defeat some other partisan. They inform themselves as partisans. We inform ourselves as Americans. HUGE difference.

There needs to be a way to educate people by the masses.

We NEED Ron Paul to pick his VP NOW and someone who is high profile and worthy of respect. Bob Barr comes to mind but he doesn't have the sort of respect as Andrew Napalitano or Pat Buchanan. If Pat Buchanan decided to run as RP"s VP running mate and we could hold out until a brokered convention those two would beat the pants of McCain and his running mate whomever it might be. They would also defeat the Democrat in 08.

 

[Xenophage]

Ron Paul needs to drop out of his congressional race. I do not believe in career politicians and feel that even being one runs contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. There is a reason House terms are only 2 years. I think if Ron Paul simply left the congressional race and made it clear an an energizing, motivating, inspiring speech that he was doing so to continue his full time work to serving the revolution that has begun, I think he would bring a lot more respect to the revolution by doing so.

Ron Paul has been the lone voice of reason in the wilderness for a long time because of his congressional post. I do not look forward to losing that voice.

 

[Xenophage]

I think that more things went right than went wrong, by a long shot. Things went right that we could have never even foreseen. Almost everything *really* good, from youtube videos, to money bombs, to meetup groups were spontaneously organized by volunteers. We had a lot of amazing, inventive, energetic people working on projects to help the campaign as well, from the Ron Paul Blimp, to the Radio Show, to Call4Paul and more.

The things that went wrong? Some of it we couldn't do a thing about in the grassroots, and some of it was up to Paul and his campaign.

- Poor communication between grassroots and HQ early on in the campaign (this got fixed imo).
- Ron Paul started with virtually no name recognition.
- A lot of Republicans are really, really stupid.
- The circumstances surrounding both the Republican and Democratic races made it very hard to Paul to bring in the votes he needed. Obama stole our crossover votes, people voted Romney to stop McCain, Thompson if they were looking for a celebrity Reaganesque conservative, and Huckabee split the religious right with us.
- Failure to deal early and definitively with the racist smear.
- Failure to successfully peg Sean Hannity square in the face with an especially hard packed snowball.

Keep adding to the list!

 

[Xyrus2]

The fight to be the nominee may be all but over. But we still have work to do.

There are a number of states out there that have yet to vote. We can still show that in spite of overwhelming odds that we will still stand our ground. Make it KNOWN to GOP and anyone who cares to listen that we do not surrender. Make it known that we will not vote for anyone but Paul. And if McCain and the MSM think that our vote percent is not worth mentioning, then they are the ones that are deluded.

You can bet in the general election, McCain and the GOP think that we will support the republican nominee. Well if the nominee is Ron Paul then they would be correct. If the nominee is McCain, they are in for a very rude awakening. There is nothing they can do. There is nothing they can say. They worked tirelessly to screw us over. They laughed at us. They ignored us. The damage they have done is beyond apology.

Through their own actions, they have lost at least 6% of the republican vote. By their arrogance and ignorance, they have done more damage to themselves than any imagined damage a Ron Paul nomination would have caused.

We may lose the nomination. But I look at that as a victory. We have helped re-awaken the true conservatives. We have cracked the GOP/Neocon armor. And most importantly, we have defeated McCain. We defeated McCain not in the nomination, but in the general election. And when McCain gnashes his teeth in anger as he gets crushed in the elections, perhaps then he will realize that the Ron Paul supporters should have been treated with a little more respect.

Especially if he loses by 6%.

So let's see what we can do for the Ron Paul message.

~X~