List constructive criticisms for HQ here

[thisisgiparti]

I think he needs some debate coaching and mock debate practice -- during debates and some interviews, he starts a sentence, then backs up and restates, which has him not exactly speaking in complete, coherent sentences. That is hard to follow. I know he can speak properly because I saw him do it in the speeches that he did at the Ft. Worth straw poll at the party the night before and the breakfast on the day of.

I think he has improved in the delivery by eliminating some of the shrillness that he exhibited in the first debates, and that is good. needs to up the game a notch just like the pros in sports do and talk a little like the "upper tier" candidates do - not in content, but in delivery!

lynn

he has improved in the shrillness, but now he occasionally seems sarcastic and hammy. he should not be taking debate cues from the other GOP candidates!

 

[angrydragon]

I think you're right ceitniear, Dr. Paul needs to stop using the word libertarian and use republican a lot more. He's a true conservative republican. Nothing wrong with libertarian, but most people don't know or just think less of you if you are.

 

[thisisgiparti]

After Guiliani admitted he hadn't read the 9/11 Commission Report, something that boosted my confidence in Dr. Paul's position on Bin Laden and foreign policy in general was Michael Scheuer coming out to say that Dr. Paul was right about Bin Laden.

Perhaps commercials introducing Scheuer and his credentials then him saying "Ron Paul is right about terrorism, they don't come here because we are rich and free, they come here because we occupy their holy lands, including a base in Saudi Arabia, and during the Clinton years the bombing of Iraq..."

Also, people need to know that McCain wants to be in Iraq permanently.

no way. Ron Paul comes across as a blame-America-first liberal, and he needs to capture the conservative base. with his credentials, he should be able to.

he mentions Chalmers Johnson's theory of blowback repeatedly. he needs to make it clear that we will stop propping up dictors and interfering in foreign governments, that the scale of our military has doubled since 911 while placing a tax burden on the next few generations of Americans, BUT that we cannot fight terrorism effectively this way.

we need subtlety and cunning versus brute force, or we risk angering the world when we cause civilian casualties in their homelands. he needs to make it clear that he only supports just wars, and that he believes in issuing letters of marque and utilizing covert ops. our CIA is best served when protecting the American people instead of corporate overseas interests.

 

[b_r_y_a_n]

1. Speak more calmly and slowly, lower the vocal tone a bit - stop rambling!
2. "It's the economy, stupid" - this is our strong point, focus on how the other issues are dependent upon it
3. Given the time constraints and the depth of the message, it needs to be consolidated and dumbed down a bit for the general public to understand; connecting the dots is a good way of doing this: China -> Pakistan -> Iraq correlation in the SC debate was nice
4. More active aggression, less passive aggression; don't be afraid to call out the other candidates on their inconsistencies; all the other candidates' rhetoric has no substance backing it - challenge them on this! i.e., how can we maintain our foreign policy AND cut taxes simultaneously?
5. Unfortunately, more sound bites are needed

 

[freelance]

I think Dr. Paul needs to come out a little harder against his opponents...well, maybe a lot harder. I think that everytime he has face time in front of a camera, he should be

1) Pounding McCain on his 100 years in Iraq statements, his burkas and plane ticket comments during the debate, as well as his assertions that the troop surge in Iraq is working after the US had more casualties in 2007 than any other year over there.

2) Going after Romney for his constantly changing positions, as well as for ridiculing Dr. Paul at the debate after RP stood up for him for his religion. If the American voters stand up for Romney in the election will he turn on them the same way?

3) Go after Guiliani for only being able to talk about 9/11 and how he's the great hero of 9/11. Why not ask Guiliani to talk about the real heroes of 9/11; the emergency service personnel who now dislike Rudy with a passion?

4) Expose Huckabee as being a liberal in conservative's clothes. Talk about tax hike Mike and his half a billion dollars in tax increases during his years of being governor of one of the poorest states in the nation.

5) Tell Fred to ask his writers for a better script.

I think the Dr. needs to not take the crap from his opponents that he has been taking during the debates and call them out on it. Ask them exactly what they find funny about US casualties or the economy or whatever the topic is at the moment. Shut em down quick and hard.

What you're talking about is a turnaround moment that we saw in The American President, when Michael Douglas said, "My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the President of the United States!" Remember that? He needs an Andrew Shepherd moment!

 

[angrydragon]

This is from another thread.

The quickest and most efficient way of beating McCain (and the others) in MICHIGAN is this:

Dr. Paul has to come out with a 'Just War' ad and say something to this effect:

'If I am elected President, I shall prohibit the CIA from meddling in other countries' political processes. But, I shall refocus the CIA towards hunting down our attackers on 9/11 - who are still very much alive despite trillions of dollars spent on the Wars and thousands of American soldiers killed or maimed.

Hunting down terrorists is a job for spies. Not the military.

Because we were attacked by terrorists on 9/11, as President it will be my solemn duty to bring these terrorists to justice, as required by our Constitution".

 

[ceitniear]

bump

 

[Leroy_Jenkems]

No thanks. This idea is about as good as your username would suggest it'd be...

Awww no, no, you've got me wrong!

I've read several other peoples' comments suggesting just this; what's the beef with taking the money and using it to get our man to the top???

 

[dkim68]

A Presidential candidate asking for suggestions from his Grassroots supporters. Gotta love Dr. Paul!

 

[wowabunga]

I've never seen a major campaign without a bus. In one of the campaigns that I worked, we used a train with a steam engine for a whistle stop tour. You can easily schedule (the operative word being schedule) 10 stops a day on a bus.

GOLD GOLD GOLD... paint that bus GOLD.

Quietly dedicate the bus to Rosa Parks.... mural on inside ?

You want some NASCAR name recognition and votes ? Get that very popular CMT tv show "Trick my Truck to deck out and customize the bus.

Have wavy banner on back of bus: "Legalize the Constitution".

GET HUGE MOMMA JOMMA red led message scroller and place one on both sides of the bus... the heck with stars and pin stripes paint jobs.... blast the viewing public with a direct sat downlink giving viewers a visual of the current "up to the second" national debt figures. Park bus next to Huckabee's bus for me please every chance you get. Pay the driver a bonus for each time he creates a "photo op" by getting our bus to shimmy up next to the other buses in the race.

Have nearly identical bus for HQ staff... when parked back to back artwork reveals a hidden message ( will settle for a flock of Peace doves headed into sunset ) Pack bus with communications gear, get a Motosat internet dish on the roof so HQ can keep in contact with grass roots. Sandwich Huckabee's bus between two at campaign stops. Going out on a limb here... get three buses and "circle wagons" around Huck's bus. Give third bus to the grass roots coordinator, so that when in town, all the local grass root "shakers and makers" can have access to portable conference room and com center ( and finally get some overdue recognition )

(Bump) I really like the idea of giving the grass roots arm of this effort their own command bus... WE DESERVE IT. Be the first on the block to have a campaign bus for "We The People".

Back to the small details, have a old fashioned destination marquee listing the next city. When parked (next to Hucks bus) change marquee to read WHITE HOUSE. Some photographer will turn visual into free PR in the local papers.

Vanity Plates is a no brainer............................................ DR NO

In other news; we did a grass roots event at a huge gun show today... very receptive crowd. Those who had studied Dr Pauls message were big time fans/supporters and were showing A LOT of enthusiasm. We had a very good day.

 

[DrCap]

Wow this is a really long thread, anyway here's my input:
I live in a mostly suburban, midwestern, almost purely republican area. I talk to people all day, every day and most people aren't going to get the intricacies of the argument.
RP needs to be a bit more of a sound bite man and a bit less of a professor. My wife even said, "oh he's like trying to teach people, he's so sweet." But that is not going to get votes.
Basic and blunt messages, both good and bad need to be sent out, in a way that my neighbors would get it. I never thought I'd hear the words 'Austrian school' in a presidential debate, but thinking about it more, voters aren't ready for that.

1). Homes prices have fallen only during the Great Depression, and 2007! (they will fall more)
2). The average family sends X dollars overseas (for military and foreign aid)! Get ready to write that check out for 2008. If the average family had to pay it's share of the current burden (debt + soc. security obligations) of the federal government today, the bill is $528,000 ($132,000 x 4). Can you pay this today, if not, why would you vote for the government to increase spending?
3). Why do we police the world, when no other country in the world helps us police it? Why do we police Japan, Germany, etc. Maybe they should pay for their own national secuirty now.
4). China is sitting on X billions of U.S. dollars! All Foreigners have XXX Billion dollars (I think saying 2000 billions is more understandable than 2 trillion for the average joe) Even a Billion dollars is not really understandable (it's kind of like, in astronomy, how far is a light year really?)
5). Why do most American families need both parents working now, when in 1950 we had only needed one breadwinner to make ends meet?
6). Why is it that every 'fix' to the healthcare crises has only resulted in more crises?
7). The free market will prosper if it is not overtaxed.
8). RP will deal with true national security threats swiftly (he's not a wimp).
9). Don't talk about eliminating the department of education, talk about returning education to the state and local governments. (most people have no clue what the DOE does).
10). Try to ignore the 'fringe' issues, people who are really motivated by the minor issues will research RP's platform and find out he's okay with alternative medicine tax deductions, even home schooling. Home schooling parents are motivated to learn about these details, but telling others about them is not constructive. Stay focused on the basics.
11). Every time the words 'eliminate the IRS' are used, it has to be clarified somehow - ie we can do this if we return to the budget of 8 years ago, our federal government had enough money then, or we can do this, if we bring troops home, or whatever, but this message alone will not be believable by itself.
etc.
Only Ron Paul talks about these issues!
Only Ron Paul, as president, will help you, as you sit on your couch, wondering if you should change the channel.

The message is in desparate need of being dumbed down, even for the white, republican, suburban, educated masses in my neighborhood.
Most people are not passionate enough about these issues to really research them (the passionate people we get anyway, because we do still hold the truth).

 

[goldstandard]

- hire communications expert
- connect to voters' VALUES
- make ads like "Morning in America" (Reagan)
- stress positives, don't try to educate

 

[angrydragon]

Someone said it this thread, hire the republicans that have dropped out of the party, or the non-active ones that have experience but just got out of the game because they hated the direction the party was going.

 

[b_r_y_a_n]

Follow the advice of this article:

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2008/01/this_rons_no_reagan.html

 

[Crickett]

STOP using the word Libertarian. The MSM keeps using it when speaking his name because older voters associate that word with Communism. I know this is true and have been saying it for months. Once you say that word people get suspicious subliminally. Thats why the MSM kept asking him abou 3rd party. Just don't use that word!!

 

[crazyfingers]

My advice for Dr. Paul (it's a little harsh but now is not the time for restraint):

1. Hire experienced professionals at all levels of the campaign. I can't stress this enough. This is the big leagues; spend whatever it takes to bring in people who have proven their worth through previous success.
2. Stay on message. Do not go off on tangents; do not allow yourself to be baited. Before speaking, ask yourself: "Will this make me appear Presidential?"
3. Speaking of appearance, spend $5000 for a top-of-the-line, custom-fitted suit. This is crucial if you want to be taken seriously.

Stay focused on the goal: winning the Republican nomination. Not "educating" the public about libertarianism. People want leadership, not lectures; that is what all of your opponents are selling because that is what wins elections.

I'm afraid you have vastly overestimated the intellect of the average GOP primary voter. Refuse to blame America for the actions of terrorist thugs. "Blowback" is real - you know it, I know it and the CIA knows it. However, constantly discussing it makes you APPEAR weak on national defense. Use the time to discuss proactive solutions instead (e.g. going after terrorists directly as opposed to hopelessly trying to mitigate a civil war in Iraq).

I know you want to get your ideas out there. However, you are fooling yourself if you think your candidacy alone will force a new direction in this country. Winning is the only option to bring about any degree of real change.

There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread; please heed them. At the current rate, your candidacy is set to fade quietly into the night. Do not let this happen! If you do what it takes to win, your supporters will continue to donate large amounts of their time and money. If you continue to do nothing more than put on a good show, you should expect interest in the campaign to decline at a rapid pace.

 

[hawks4ronpaul]

Stop attacking yourself. See http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=88483

Hire the woman that over 80% want to see as an RP spokesperson. See http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=60676

End with positive messages/solutions. See http://hawks4ronpaul.blogspot.com/

 

[midevilmark]

Please introduce the human element to the campaign. While all of us here understand and appreciate the economic arguments Dr. Paul is making at every debate, most Americans do not. Drive home the point in human terms. Every person watching the debates gets lost in terms of perspective when he says the war has cost $1trillion so far. Too abstract. But phrase it this way and you will see every man, woman, and child in America voting for you and you have not manipulated the truth one iota:
“The war was wrong before it started and it is wrong now. Not only has it cost us $1trillion, but it has cost us something far more valuable…life. So far over 3900 men and women have lost their lives in Iraq, and for what? 3900 men and women that will never see their mom and dad again, never pet their dog again; never see their children ride a bike for the first time; never say, “hey neighbor” ever again. So when you start to add up the cost of this frivolous war, just remember that it is measured in blood.

As far as the message about spending and the Fed, dumb it down. All people have to know is that they are passing on a $9 trillion debt to their children. “Look them in the eyes and tell them that tonight before they go to bed, and remember that when you go to the polls.” Anything more is too complex to explain in 30sec.

As far as a commercial goes, take the Reagan “Time for Choosing” speech, and edit parts out and overlay them with Dr. Paul saying essentially the exact same thing. That takes the wind out of all the others sails as far as who is the most Reganesque.

 

[Jive Dadson]

BETTER ADS that actually talk about Ron's issues - the war, monetary policy, etc.

Sell the benefit, not the feature. Every good sales person knows that. The one issue on voters' minds right now is the economy, in particular fuel prices. The single most important message is how Ron Paul will stop the economic and foreign policy madness that is driving up prices.

Bill Clinton put a sign in his office that read, "It's the economy, stupid!" It was his way of keeping himself on message. It worked, sad to say.

 

[AlbemarleNC0003]

I have spent most of my life as a Democrat.

What took this so long?