List constructive criticisms for HQ here

[Greg in VA]

I agree with some other posters here: focus on the positives of a Ron Paul Presidency. Peace, prosperity, and preparedness. We'll fight terrorism better, have a stronger economy, and regain world leadership all while saving money, and bringing about sustainable government.

He needs to be portrayed as significantly different from the other Republicans, because he is.

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.

In addition to everything from Bradley in DC's first post these two ideas really need to be addressed, the first is simple message and theme, that people will understand. When you get into series monetary policy, gold standard, fed reserve, discussion you loose people, plain and simple. Also folks have been conditioned due to constant MSM brainwashing by CNBC (financial NBC network) and others that the Fed is good, in terms of stimulus.

These two links discuss a recent speech given by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (one Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis even discusses Austrian Economics)

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/

http://www.minyanville.com/articles/AXP-cof/index/a/15499

Anyhow we are against the wall so to speak, most on this forum at least those drawn to Dr. Paul based upon economic principles understand this. Somehow that message needs to get out and in such a way that people can understand, and most importantly use Bernanke’s words to frame the problem, it gives things credibility, then you can run an add, where you have Paul grilling Bernanke like he did, saying, so tell me how you are going to fight inflation by creating more inflation...

The other area were I think we are really hurting on is defense. I cannot emphasize enough how it needs to be stressed that Dr. Paul will make the nation stronger. Currently because of how the debates have gone and the other republican candidates Dr. Paul has been made out to be weak on defense. He needs to stress how he will defend the country but do so through constitutional principles. I am certain there are 100% more effective means of fighting Al Qaeda than the current idiocy of the Bush administration’s Global War on Terror that has been embraced, quite foolishly I might add by all of the other GOP candidates.

One other item, for Romney mentioned this during the SC debate, and I believe so has Bush and other CFR types on different occasions, about how we need to help reform Islam. It needs to be pointed out that it is absolutely not the prerogative of the United States to interfere in any religion, or to be responsible for bringing about an Islamic Reformation, some how some way, scholars need to be found, or other reputable sources that it is this very thinking that creates the blowback and unintended consequences and problems that we face. When Romney said this during the debate I thought he was completely nuts. Could you imagine the outrage in this country if the UN or some other nation decided that the Baptist or Evangelical Christian sects had to be "reformed"?!?

Our experience in New Hampshire should be a lesson.

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".

If Dr. Paul does NOT put out an ad to this effect, we will find it VERY DIFFICULT to beat McCain (and the rest).

Those who don't learn from the past are destined to repeat it. - Santayana.

We need to win a state convincingly very SOON guys and gals! That's the ONLY way we can protect Dr. Paul's donation base!

Come on! This ad won't cost much. Kids on YouTube can make vids in 30 minutes. We supposedly still have funds to make this ad with ease.

Kindly help me move this forward. Thanks.

Getting back to one of the key issues the proposed weakness of Dr. Paul on defense we really need someone to put together an add as outlined in rexsolomon’s post that I have quoted. A simple succinct message that shows yes we can take care of terrorist and do so in a legal manner, and a fiscal sane one to boot! Instead of 100 years in Iraq, and eternal war in the middle east and south west asia.

 

[Greg in VA]

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.

This is a great point and I think it should be framed as, we as Republicans are against wellfare for citizens in that it enables poverty for it takes away the incentive to wrk, yet how is that no single Republican question's having wellfare for sovereign nations. Need to point out how Japan, Germany, South Korea all have strong economies (trade surpluses with US) yet we given them wellfare by picking up the cost of defending them. Perhaps someone can craft a better message, but this point really needs to be hammered home.

 

[colin1]

Thank you everyone! What excellent, excellent ideas and great analysis (especially regarding the military situation). I don't pretend to be some sort of expert on campaigning or elections. But, I know what works for me when I hear it and I know what will work for the people that I know.

 

[Ninja Homer]

It took a while, but I finally got my ideas together...

The way I see it, there are 6 different kinds of marketing going on to attract supporters:

Paid tv/radio/print marketing: The most expensive way to market by far. Not only that, but Ron Paul's message needs a certain amount of educating, and you just can't do that in a 30-second ad.
Direct mail marketing: Campaign materials sent directly to people's homes. Still expensive, depending on how much is sent and what materials are sent.
Network marketing: One of the most cost-effective forms of marketing. Current supporters talk to people they know or meet to spread the message.
Internet marketing: Almost free, and supporters have this pretty much covered.
Grassroots marketing: Various projects that the grassroots done by themselves, such as the blimp. Paid for by supporters that like the idea; no cost to the campaign.
Free media attention: Interviews, debate appearances, etc.

The best way to maximize all 6 of these forms of marketing is to link them together as much as possible. There's an infinite number of ways to do this, but here's an example.

You can't educate somebody in a 30 second TV commercial about an issue like a foreign policy of non-intervention, but it's pretty easy to educate somebody with an internet video. So create an ad that tweaks people's interests, and then at the end of it, put something like, "To see the rest, go to justcomehome.com." You don't have to mention Ron Paul in the ad at all. Then when people go there, you have a longer video, maybe 10-15 minutes, educating people about a foreign policy of non-intervention, and after the video, it redirects to ronpaul2008.com.

Another thing you could do is ask for an email address before the video plays. You could also have a "Invite people to watch this video" option before it redirects to ronpaul2008.com. To maximize the email signups, you could set it up to automatically send pre-written messages when a person signs up. For instance, the first day it might just welcome them, the second day it might tell them how to find out more about Ron Paul's philosophy by directing them to certain pages of ronpaul2008.com, the third day it might tell them how to sign up for a meetup group, the fourth day it might tell them how to order campaign materials, the fifth day it might tell them how to canvass, the sixth day it might tell them how to be a precinct captain, etc.

Not everybody has internet access, so in the 30 second ad, you could also list a toll-free number to call and order a free DVD (more on the DVD later). Now to back up the TV ad, you can do the same thing with radio ads and print ads. You can also do some very cheap direct mail just sending a post card with the same message on it as the 30 second ad.

To get some free media attention out of it, you can put something a little shocking in the internet video to get the media talking about it. For example, "71% of Americans want the US out of Iraq immediately. Democrats were voted into office to stop the war. As of yet, they haven't done it when they've had multiple opportunities to cut off funding. This is taxation without representation, and it's time for the people to do something about it. People can send a message to Washington by practicing civil disobedience, in the spirit of Gandhi and Rosa Parks, by refusing to pay any income tax until they stop the war. As President, I will pardon any person who refuses to pay their income tax for this reason." Think that may turn some heads and get the media talking? I do!

We need an official DVD. I can't believe we don't have one already. There are some grassroots ones, but they are all pretty bad compared to what could be done in a professional studio. I'm picturing something like Ron Paul and his whole family introducing themselves to start. Then it goes to a one on one interview in front of a fireplace with flags and pictures of the family in the background. Go through all the issues, explaining them thoroughly, with Ron Paul talking directly to the camera.

There could be other sections of the DVD on how to talk to people about Ron Paul, how to educate people, how to canvass, how to get involved, how to throw Ron Paul parties, etc. This DVD could be used for direct mail, canvassing, sell it from the web site, it could be used for infomercials, etc. The raw video footage could also be put online somewhere so that supporters can download it, and use it to create their own custom DVD's aimed at a specific audience, create youtube videos, create their own TV ads, etc.

Schedule 5 or 6 rallies a day for 2-3 days leading up to a state's primary. Just schedule them, book the place and needed equipment, and let grassroots do the rest, like getting people there. Make sure you tell the press about the rallies!

Hold regular voice conferences. Talking directly to the supporters gets them fired up. You can do them every week or every couple days. You can use a teleconferencing service, or better yet, just call in to Ron Paul Radio.

Use some of the things that grassroots has put together, for instance, give some interviews on the Ron Paul Blimp!

Offer a youtube video contest. Some of the youtube videos have had over a million views. Offer an award (money, call from Ron Paul, etc.) and a lot more high quality youtube videos will be made. Think of the ROI on some good youtube videos with over a million views.

Last, but not least, Dr. Paul needs to start thinking, acting, and speaking as if he is already President Paul. All of his staff should start addressing him as President Paul to remind him.

 

[wowabunga]

Do not give fat cat media moguls our millions of dollars in the form of new ad revenue.

A very good discussion in the making "The Mother of All Ron Paul DVD's"
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=88750

- Spend big chuncks of our money on projects like info-tainment DVD's that bypass the main stream media.

- Look how big AOL became as they mass mailed the entire country with 3.5 discs ( the early discs now are collectables on ebay )

- The US Army pays big money and develops their own DVD games for recruitment efforts.

Anyone know of a good video game creator? Along side the Ron Paul message we should put a few games on the DVD to creatively educate joe sixpack about why his beer is costing so much more ? Disclaimer at end of game: drinking more beer will not make the problems go away faster. Letterman has a ongoing comedy segment where they "count the amazing number of clichés spoken by Mitt Romney". Remember that game "wack the mole".... maybe we add all the candidates and for example when you see McCain borrow one of Ron Paul's talking points you wack the mole... Huck borrows the phrase about power to the states.... wack'em... wack'n good...

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/10/david-letterman-on-political-life-now

 

[takadi]

About damn time. Finally some of the delusional sycophants on this board have woken up from their internet daze of worshiping the official campaign and finally decided to provide CRITICISM and accept it without calling it trolling.

A little late though.

Anyways, everything Brad has listed has been on my mind since August (or at least since that horrid "he's catching on" commercial), plus more.

 

[IamPersistent]

Infomercials

Sorry if this has been mentioned, I didn't read through all the posts. I remember that Ross Perot made a lot of head way by buying blocks of time to get his message out. I think it worked for him. Granted, the Paul campaign may not be able to buy prime time like Perot did, but I think the longer time to explain who Ron Paul is and what he believes is important.

One of the best videos I've seen is from the interview at Google. There was time in a and environment that isn't hostile like a debate to explain what he is about. I think also by talking to people who watch infomericals, you'll also reach a demographic that probably doesn't normally vote in primaries or vote at all.

 

[summjet]

Yes! Keep it positive. I hear non-Paulers say he seems too angry. He should be, but that turns some people off. We need to balance the urgency of our situation with a hopeful, positive message...............remember "Hope For America".

Also, we need to get first-rate MSM ads out there. Some people are hearing Rudy, Rudy, Rudy 25 times a day on TV and guess what. They think "he must be popular, so I guess I'll vote for him."

I have no idea what a top drawer marketing agency charges but I think it could make all the difference. I know that in the Northeast, if I see a funny, or thouching, or otherwise compelling TV ad it is almost invariably done by Hill Holliday, www.hhcc.com. HQ should check them out.

 

[BillyDkid]

And maybe address specifically the various "attacks" by the media and the disrespect shown to him and his supporters. Examples might me - he is a fringe candidate with fringe supporters, that he can't win, that all he is is a spoiler, that he is out of the main stream (which, of course he is, but the main stream are the one's who are wrong) and the general marginalization of the message by the media. Personally I would like to see Dr. Paul use a couple of million to put together a half hour presentation to summarize all the important points of his message and to let people know how precarious things will get if we don't change course. Or maybe he could hire someone to summarize the guts of the message - why he is running and why the message is so important - and send that out as an newspaper ad or something.

 

[USAF Vet Dan]

Take The Matching Federal Funds!

TAKE THE MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS!

I know, I know... the Constitution doesn't authorize it. But this is not unlike the issue of Dr Paul procuring funds for his congressional district constituency - the taxes were already collected so use them properly.

Also in defense of this proposal is that use of matching funds by the opponents gives them an unfair advantage. Even though the RP campaign raised more money in the 4th Qtr than any of the other candidates, Rudy Julie Annie and John "kill 'em all and let God sort it out" McCain ran national ads during the SC Debates. This would not have been possible without the use of matching funds.

TAKE THE MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS!!!

 

[dianeh]

TAKE the matching Fed funds! YES

Hey, RP can always return them after he wins, like he does part of his Congressional salary! The operative phrase here is "WIN"

 

[scandinaviany3]

eliberty ad

get that woman of color from their youtube page in one of the commercials pronto. I mean PRONTO....

Yah the woman in the eliberty ad did a great job

 

[scandinaviany3]

agreed

extremely good points! Dr. Paul has the exact right message, but the delivery isn't clear and concise enough for the vast majority of voters.

AGreed very much so...

 

[takadi]

Funny, this thread would be in the hot topics board a few weeks back.

Such irony that we're fighting against sheepery when it was a disease on these boards for the last half a year

 

[Thrashertm]

You are so right

 

[demokra5]

Slim Jims

I've got no solid information to back this up, but it seems logical to me. I have purchased from the Ron Paul website hundreds of "slim jims." Whenever I go out, I make sure to drop a few in the windshield wipers of the cars around me. The small, very affordable informational papers ended up costing me less than five cents each (I bought in bulk). That's less than a nickel to inform a person on the views on Ron Paul, not just bombard them with the name. The media doesn't give his positions, and 30 second TV ads can only do so much. These aren't people who care much about elections, but if they see an issue outlined that is of particular interest to them, they might just vote. His message is a good one, and if we could spread it, I'm sure it will stick. But it has to go beyond the name (which the media has all but defiled and defeated), there has to be more substance within the grassroots effort.

This is something that can be done completely independently as well (I don't belong to any MeetUp or Facebook group). If you don't want to buy them, download some from the website for free and print them yourself. Like I said, the message is a good one, but the majority of people have yet to hear the issues.

 

[dan barry]

new ad ideas?

90% of the Ron Paul supporters I know are gonna vote for Obama because they say that "Ron Paul has no chance in the end". Yes, THESE people are stupid, but lets come up with a t.v. commercial targeting THESE people. Ideas?

I'm in California where most RP supporters are lazy and have no time as well. Californians have until January 20th to switch to Republican on their Voter Registration cards....i just switched....hurry up...urge others.

 

[Crickett]

Again..RP has said that in a "democracy" like we have now, a third party ticket gets no respect. Yet, somehow he keeps mentioning the word libertarian, and the party. Many people see a third party as "communist". The MSM always call him Libertarian Ron Paul", to subliminally smear him. ALL references to libertarian should not come from him, the people who call other people, or the ads..
AND another comment on ads. They are supposed to evoke EMOTION. Make people want to DO something, which is VOTE for him. I have not seen even one ad that evokes emotion by the campaign, yet have seen a lot within the grassroots. Saw some FANTASTIC ones last night.
Also it is silly to have a grassroots liason who is being paid, and now you have to liason for him. HQ only seems to talk to us when they want something, not ever to find out what we want. They don't even answer emails.

 

[wfd40]

90% of the Ron Paul supporters I know are gonna vote for Obama because they say that "Ron Paul has no chance in the end". Yes, THESE people are stupid, but lets come up with a t.v. commercial targeting THESE people. Ideas?

I'm in California where most RP supporters are lazy and have no time as well. Californians have until January 20th to switch to Republican on their Voter Registration cards....i just switched....hurry up...urge others.

This is actually tangential to my number one suggestion to HQ... Dr. Paul must DECLARE that he is in this thing to WIN.. and begin behaving and speaking like he Truly believes that he can.

This involves changing the way he frames answers to questions, mentions other candidates' policy (or lack there of) and interacts with the MSM.

ENOUGH EDUCATING PEOPLE TO THE PROBLEM.. HE MUST BEGIN GIVING SOLUTIONS

Right now.. I think that a good portion of the grass roots just doesn't know whether or not Dr. Paul/HQ are in this to win.

Bydlack's letter today was fantastic and every time Paul does an interview or gets MSM face-time, the base feels re-energized.. but since we can't really control such, why not do a good job of what we can control.. COMMERCIALS.

The time has come to unleash, "STRAIGHT-TALK-ADS-THE-LIKES-OF- WHICH-MICHIGAN Voters-have-never-see" before... hard-hitting, yet hopeful.

To not do such, I think.. will lead to a complete dry up of grassroots $$$

 

[James T]

SC needs canvassers!!!!