Lew Rockwell Blog on Ron Paul's New Strategy-a Must Read

[V3n]

Even early wins would have been shut out or crapped on by the media. The Internet is good, but still too young to reach every demographic in a National campaign. My biggest gripe is the media, not the campaign. To me, they are the Villain in this story.

This is a long term generational battle. It would be nice to start at the top (President) but realistically we have to start at the bottom. Still, having a man on National TV competing for the top moves us forward a lot quicker than anything else anyone could have done. That is why I still support him, his campaign, and the money bomb tomorrow.

 

[angelatc]

Lesson learned for the future -- an early win is an absolute must. If you look at the field as a whole (and it was a crowded field) all of them exited the race really early with the exception of Ron of course, and the three that won an early state. Historically too, it has been that way as long as I can remember.

Iowa was doable, as was Maine. NH was never really supposed to be ours, so doing well there probably was indeed good enough.

I think it's impossible to win when when we refuse to admit that we are losing. The tendency was to blame the media, blame cheating, blame stupid people...anybody except the campaign who was supposed to manage those obstacles effectively.

 

[Todd]

So, Ron Paul wasn't actually running for President, or at least, he wasn't running as hard as he could have....because he was running and educational campaign?

Everybody who knew this was coming raise your hand. 2012, meet 2008.

No..I'm saying that regardless Paul win or lose, it has always been about more than just the POTUS.

 

[jay_dub]

Lesson learned for the future -- an early win is an absolute must. If you look at the field as a whole (and it was a crowded field) all of them exited the race really early with the exception of Ron of course, and the three that won an early state. Historically too, it has been that way as long as I can remember.

Another lesson for the future. Humbleness is an endearing quality, but will only get you so far. At some point, you have to be assertive.

 

[sailingaway]

So, Ron Paul wasn't actually running for President, or at least, he wasn't running as hard as he could have....because he was running and educational campaign?

Everybody who knew this was coming raise your hand. 2012, meet 2008.

No, angeatc, just because he knew that he had secondary goals as well as wanting to win doesn't mean he didn't really try to win. This last week, and a couple other moves (the Idaho email) are specific staff decisions I have real problems with. But Ron was an underdog running, and had other goals as well. I think we all did. I want him to win as much as anyone but I ALSO knew we were changing the party, changing opinions, using Ron as the Pied Piper to wake up the apathetic -- as it worked so well for me, in 2008.

 

[Keith and stuff]

"The election of numerous libertarian candidates will be a lagging indicator, not a leading indicator, of the success of a libertarian movement. The population still isn't there. Although it will be."

I am not sure who Ryan W. McMaken is but I liked his blog post. However, to say although it will be, he has to either be extremely optimistic, lying to himself, or talking about New Hampshire and the possibility of the Free State Project being so successful that it helps bring about freedom in other states.

 

[tbone717]

Iowa was doable, as was Maine. NH was never really supposed to be ours, so doing well there probably was indeed good enough.

I think it's impossible to win when when we refuse to admit that we are losing. The tendency was to blame the media, blame cheating, blame stupid people...anybody except the campaign who was supposed to manage those obstacles effectively.

You and I are on the same page, always have been. Looking forward, I think Santorum's strategy of visiting every one of the 99 IA counties is a good one. NH requires alot of handshaking and kissing babies, and then if SC is 3rd again it will require a strong appeal to the Evangelical base. All three are doable with the right candidate, campaign and grassroots - but we are a long way away still. But at least we can look back on this year and learn a few things.

 

[Badger Paul]

I think McMaken is ultimately right but here's the thing: It isn't over until the roll call of states at the convention and then this campaign will be finished. We've done enough to earn the final act.

From there, the movement goes on...

 

[hrdman2luv]

Good article.

I was amazed at the reaction on this forum. Ron Paul is a truth teller. That is all he was doing in his email... telling the truth. There is not enough money to run ads on TV and who would want to anyway? Bribing the media to not lie in 30 second ads just never seemed like a good strategy to me.

He could've left out the "We can't win" statement..

 

[fisharmor]

He could've left out the "We can't win" statement..

I think this is the crux of the matter.
After so many convention wins, people started seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, and the guy in charge says "nope, that's not gonna happen".
None of us cares about the party platform and I'm not sure why Benton seems to.
The media has been looking for some indication that it's over for Paul for months, and Benton just handed them that indicator on a silver platter.
As far as anyone knows, from now on, Paul is no longer in the race.
And we have Benton to thank for everyone believing that.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Yet the word libertarian still has a bad taste in most Republican's mouth.

IMHO, most people were pretty neutral on libertarianism until establishment Republicans and neo-conservative pundits started to use it like a curse word during this election cycle.

 

[tsai3904]

The media has been looking for some indication that it's over for Paul for months, and Benton just handed them that indicator on a silver platter.
As far as anyone knows, from now on, Paul is no longer in the race.
And we have Benton to thank for everyone believing that.

Does it matter what everyone thinks? We have been winning conventions when Ron Paul had been an afterthought by the media. By the way, the ones attending these conventions are the most die hard supporters. Do you honestly think some supporters will now not attend their convention because the campaign says it's unlikely we'll win? It's been unlikely that we'll win for a very long time...yet we still win conventions.

 

[BenMuldowney]

Good article.

I was amazed at the reaction on this forum. Ron Paul is a truth teller. That is all he was doing in his email... telling the truth. There is not enough money to run ads on TV and who would want to anyway? Bribing the media to not lie in 30 second ads just never seemed like a good strategy to me.

i dont need lew rockwell to explain jack to me. i have rarely seen anyone criticizing ron paul... however.. i have seen people rightfully criticize the campaign and jesee benton. lew needs to get over himself.

 

[Travlyr]

i dont need lew rockwell to explain jack to me. i have rarely seen anyone criticizing ron paul... however.. i have seen people rightfully criticize the campaign and jesee benton. lew needs to get over himself.

That was Ryan W. McMaken's article and it is a very good read. People who are pissed off at the campaign either haven't done their homework or they think that Ron Paul is going to lead them to nirvana. The liberty movement is much greater than that. The powers-that-be (Bill O'Reily) told us long ago that Ron Paul was unelectable. That is because if Ron Paul becomes president their whole scheme comes crashing to the ground. It is crashing to the ground anyway, but they are not going to let it happen without cheating, lying, stealing, screaming, and beating their hands and fists on the floor first.

The R3volution continues and people need to realize that bribing the media to quit lying is a losing proposition especially when the campaign is not being funded by Goldman Sachs. Ron Paul is wise to not go into debt to fund the liars. Get off their backs.

 

[ClydeCoulter]

So, Lew is gonna school us, eh? I didn't see anything that hasn't been said over and over and over since 2008.

Fact is, "Hoarding cash for TX and CA", "In it to Tampa", "You need to learn the process before calling me out" statements made me think we were "In It To Win It" all the way to Tampa. Don't know about everyone else.

 

[Okie RP fan]

I have maybe seen one comment ill towards Dr. Paul.

To the author of that article, we have been complaining about Jesse Benton releasing questionable emails, press releases, etc. It is like he (Jesse Benton) has been on a roll the past couple days of confusing us supporters and saying things that make us question the campaign's true motives.

We have every right to question what a campaign is doing, especially one most of us have given a lot of money to.

And to those of you who criticize those who do question the campaign, back off. Ron Paul's campaign aren't the apostles of Christ, for crying out loud. Some people act like it is a sin to critique and question the campaign or Dr. Paul. No wonder some people think we are a cult.

 

[Matt Collins]

It's nice to see you coming out of the woodwork, Matt!

I've been very busy with the MN Convention this week

 

[Badger Paul]

"I've been very busy with the MN Convention this week "

Yes, a good thing because we wouldn't want any "incidents" there now would we?

Acutally, Minnesota should be fairly calm because the Paul forces will dominate the event, they are very well organized and the establishment is in utter disarray there.

The question is going to be on other state conventions like Michigan, Georgia, Mississippi and Vermont where attempts could very well be mind to unbind delegates there. We'll see if the campaign or the "regulars" or "officials" as I like to call them, will have people in those states to try to hold off on any "incidents".

 

[PC_for_Paul]

There was no internet

There was no internet in 1988, last time Ron Paul ran 3rd Party. Since then we have had Ross Perot, and more independents at lower levels.

I had hoped we would use the media blackout to move 3rd Party. I'm not a Republican. If we know the GOP doesn't want us, we know the media will black us out, then why even use the current political system to launch the revolution. This is Ron's last go, nobody else can hold this together.

I don't care if Ron endorses Mitt or not. I will vote Gary instead. What if MLK used the political system for equal rights? How long should we ride in the back of the bus hoping the GOP will let us ride upfront?

The revolution is called due to rudeness? you must be kidding me. Do you know what a revolution is? I am sure a revolution does not meakly hold it's tongue and fall in line and wait for the enemy to embrace it.

I'm glad I am not going to Tampa, I would not pay good money to sit silently. I would rather have supporters stand up and walk out than vote for Mitt.

If Ron were Ran's age, we would have the time. Who can come along and keep this at this level much less grow it? Talk about being realistic, when it's your last run, yes it is now or never.

 

[ravedown]

what the hell? is everybody giving up?

Lew Rockwell to Ron Paul Delegates: Consider Skipping the Convention
Lew Rockwell does not appear to enthusiastic as to what will come out of the Republican National Convention.

Writes Lew:

t will be a police-state hellhole, especially for anyone with libertarian sympathies. The swarming cops, SS, DHS, FBI, CIA, et al. will be looking for the chance to taser and cage Paulians. Trained agent provocateurs will seek to cause incidents.

I mean, he is not enthusiastic about the convention at all:

[T]he place will be full of the illegitimate rich lording it over you, arrogant types who made their fortunes through politics. A middle-class Paulian is dirt to these people. Third, the thousands of non-Paul delegates and alternates--like their heroes Romney, Palin, Gingrich, Santorum, etc., and like the media and the staffers--will be warmongers, torture fans, drone lovers, and concentration camp advocates. They will oppose the 4th amendment, the free market, Ron Paul and liberty--I could go on.


And he provides this advice to those who still may want to go:

Tampa, even more than the rest of the country, will be Occupied Terrritory. You could be targeted for wearing a Ron button, let alone refusing in some way to bow down to your betters. Now, you may want to go for the experience. Understood. After all, I did so myself, though in a less totalitarian America. But if you are a radical, keep your mouth shut, your smile pasted on, and your demeanor lackadaisacle, for your own safety. Obey everyone in a uniform or expensive suit.

And know this, some in the comments have suggested that Ron Paul has some secret plan, he doesn't. For all practical purposes the campaign is over. It's time to think beyond the Ron Paul campaign. It's time to think about other ways to advance liberty. The Ron Paul campaign has resulted in a great base of new people who are learning about liberty for the first time, they should continue their studies, they should start up blogs and learn how to communicate libertarian ideas. Let the politicians plot, liberty understood will defeat them every time, with no need to battle them at local, state and national conventions over Robert's Rules of Order that they will ignore. They can take a mic away, but they can't take out of a person's mind the beauty of liberty once a person understands it.