Managing and Controlling the Moneybomb Email Addresses

[Rick Williams]

I've watched with interest the recent moneybomb threads (here and at Daily Paul) involving my former Breakthematrix colleagues Trevor Lyman and Kurt Wallace. These writings have been acrimonious and contentious, even to the point where Kurt at one point began threatening litigation. Such commentary is entirely unnecessary-- not to mention inappropriate in a community where we share common values, objectives and principles.

The point of dispute is who will manage and control the email addresses generated through grassroots moneybomb efforts. This is an important issue-- involving both financial considerations and the future direction of our freedom community. Yet in my view, the "solution" to the question of control is simple and straightforward. I believe that no single individual or interest group should be empowered with ownership or control of the moneybomb emails. Rather, the grassroots community itself should select a committee of trusted leaders to manage the email lists on a going froward basis. The committee would develop and implement published guidelines for usage of the email addresses, and would manage and oversee future requests by interest groups and candidates for access to the email lists. The email addresses are an asset-- one that should be utilized in future freedom efforts-- and I respectfully suggest that the correct approach to management and control of this asset is a shared effort involving our community as a whole.

 

[pmbug]

The campaign itself should have a list of everyone who has donated either last campaign or this one.

 

[Rick Williams]

Two separate lists are generated in a moneybomb effort. One is indeed owned by the campaign-- developed when people actually donate money. But a second (and earlier) list is generated when people pledge to donate in advance of the actual donation process. This is the "grassroots" list that I reference in my thread.

 

[pmbug]

Right. I got that. I would assume the campaign's donor list is superior to the pledge list. I imagine that a lot of people, like me, never sign up on the pledge sites but do donate. As long as the campaign is willing to send out emails supporting a grassroots moneybomb, I'm not sure what added value the pledge list may have. In short, my point was that I don't really get the "importance" of the pledge list. In any event, if the campaign needs funds, I would hope they would send me (and the list) an email. We all do what we can.

 

[afwjam]

I know from experience that this is an absolutely pointless conversation. There are to many large ego's involved that see only their prospective. There will be no compromise for the sake of Ron Paul. I started both the threads you are referring too, and it accomplished nothing positive, only a larger divide.

 

[JoshLowry]

believe that no single individual or interest group should be empowered with ownership or control of the moneybomb emails. Rather, the grassroots community itself should select a committee of trusted leaders to manage the email lists on a going froward basis. The committee would develop and implement published guidelines for usage of the email addresses, and would manage and oversee future requests by interest groups and candidates for access to the email lists. The email addresses are an asset-- one that should be utilized in future freedom efforts-- and I respectfully suggest that the correct approach to management and control of this asset is a shared effort involving our community as a whole.

I recommended this back in March. It's a good suggestion, but it did not take root.

Obtaining a single list would be nice, but our movement is fractured amongst different organizations that are protective of their survival. People do get their feelings hurt over the years. Friendships are made but walls are sometimes built. Throw in instigators and it's going to be a mess.

A number of phone calls have been made privately fairly recently which may help. I have no idea what you do or don't know about the situation, but it's been hashed out pretty well about the direction of certain parties.

I think Ron will have plenty of money, it'd be nice if we were able to work out a solution like the one above. People like Gage, Jeremy, Thomas, Mark (and many others) should be included. They've been throwing bombs for Rand, Schiff, etc for years.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SmgLtg1Izw

 

[Rick Williams]

Don't Give Up

I'm not surprised by Josh's comment that earlier efforts were made, and didn't succeed. But that's no reason to give up. Sometimes these sorts of contentious issues need time to season; and percolate; before they reach their time for resolution. A structure for cooperative action on the moneybombs is in my view essential. The existing state of affairs-- acrimony; moderator red flags; litigation threats; competing moneybomb dates; etc. etc. simply can't be tolerated. It hurts the cause. Something needs to be done.

 

[pacelli]

Unfortunately people have consistently tried to work on this issue as well as related powder kegs, and instead of doing the hard work over the past 4 years, people either ignored the threads, ignored the forums, or ignored the importance of the issues. I'm not giving up, the answers are in the past. As you said many times during your radio show last campaign, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. There is absolutely no benefit to re-thinking solutions that have already been proposed multiple times.

So the solutions are already there--the question is action. If nobody wants to act on the solutions, then we make this campaign a circus sideshow. The squabbles of the grassroots DURING THE CAMPAIGN is not only disrespectful to Ron Paul, but also greatly fractures the liberty movement itself. Curious timing. We had 4 years to work it out. It wasn't worked out, so we need to decide whether it is important enough to drag it through the mud NOW and tarnish Ron Paul's good name in the process.

I'm with Ron Paul. I don't need a trademark, I don't need to win a legal case, and I don't want credit for anything. I don't need to be "somebody" in the Ron Paul movement. I just want to see Ron win the campaign and become president of the united states.

I get the sense that many people in this "movement" have forgotten why we're moving at all. There is 1 man who struck the match-- that's Ron Paul.

 

[Rick Williams]

If It Can't Be Done . . .

. . . so be it. Perhaps this is a problem that can't be solved. Too many competing interests, etc. etc. I know that people like Josh and Bryan and many others have been trying.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Rick, I don't think that Josh said that it couldn't be worked out. Not at all.

In the end, I hope that what all of us wants is for the maximum amount of the donations to go to Dr. Paul's campaign.

 

[Rick Williams]

OK-- We Shouldn't Ever Give Up

I'm not saying we should give up. But several commenters have pointed out how difficult this problem is. And I think the July 4 moneybomb detracts from ReadyAmesFire. We should be doing multimillions on July 19-- instead we're facing two bombs that aren't coordinated. I think Paul suffers from that.

 

[jake]

Opinions are divided. Give what you can, when you can, problem solved. if the owner(s) of the e-mail list(s) love humans, they will use them to the best of their abilities.

 

[truthsaga]

Litigation? Are you serious? We should be free to donate whenever we please, but it is quite obvious the RAF money bomb is better placed for success (I love the July 4th theme, by the way).

However, rather then arguing and losing precious time that could be better served phone banking, handing flyers, freeway blogging, blogging, commenting, making videos, organizing etc., we could come out with a positive solution to this problem.

(Draft)
July 4th Theme Confirmed / Money Bomb Cancelled / Instead, Themed Website and Video's of The Ron Paul Revolution gathering "on the shores" for OUR REVOLUTION! Then promote the Ready Ames Fire Money Bomb on July 4th. So, we can motivate our base, spread the message, and the Ready Ames Fire Money Bomb will be the first shot fired in the revolution.

 

[Rick Williams]

ReadyAmesFire Should Produce Multi--Millions

The July 4 effort hurts ReadyAmesFire. We need to coordinate and concentrate our effort behind the stonger date and bomb on July 19; that bomb is critical and should be targeted to raise multi--millions for Ron's campaign. Many others here at RPF understand and have advocated this point; but so far their views haven't carried the day. Focus is needed-- and the focus should be on ReadyAmesFire. This issue is WAY too important to be left dangling on peripheral matters like ego and future financial gain from email lists. We're trying to elect a President of the United States-- personal agendas don't matter. July 4 needs to be DROPPED.

 

[pmbug]

I don't know about you guys, but July 4 weekend, I don't plan to be around my computer. I plan to be enjoying the weekend with my kids. I understand the idea of tying it to the 4th, but in reality, people make plans on holiday weekends. It's building in a degree of resistance that is counter-productive. People aren't going to get excited about watching or promoting a money bomb during a time when everyone is going to the park, beach, etc.

 

[LibertyEagle]

The July 4 effort hurts ReadyAmesFire. We need to coordinate and concentrate our effort behind the stonger date and bomb on July 19; that bomb is critical and should be targeted to raise multi--millions for Ron's campaign. Many others here at RPF understand and have advocated this point; but so far their views haven't carried the day. Focus is needed-- and the focus should be on ReadyAmesFire. This issue is WAY too important to be left dangling on peripheral matters like ego and future financial gain from email lists. We're trying to elect a President of the United States-- personal agendas don't matter. July 4 needs to be DROPPED.

I don't think anyone here would disagree about the two moneybombs, Jim. But, apparently, Trevor has said he will not cancel the July 4th moneybomb. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...ly-4th-so-Tell-the-Campaign-Not-to-Endorse-it.