My take on the Romney Paul "alliance"

[ThePiousPriest]

Many have speculated as to why Romney and Paul do not seem to be going after each other as actively they go against Gingrich and Santorum. Some have said that Romney has offered Paul a VP slot to "take it easy on him". Unless Ron Paul has done an about face with everything we know in his life, I don't think this is the case. On the flip side, with Romney receiving many donations from Wall Street sources which we know have a vested interest in seeing that Ron Paul's policies do not become law, a proposal to take Paul along side Romney as VP would go against donor wishes.

I think a lot of it has to deal with the fact that Romney and Paul have both been in this position before, particularly at this stage of the game.Also, why beat a dead horse when everyone else will beat it for you? Everyone knows that Romney has baggage and it would be a waste of time for Paul to confront Romney with it, particularly since he did so back in 08. With that being said, I do think there is a lot going on behind the scenes. In all probability, this nomination process will only conclude in Tampa. No one is settled on Romney and Ron Paul's behind the scenes delegate strategy seems to be working (it was rather funny that CNN had to admit that their delegate numbers were bogus and Paul was 2nd in delegates).

Because things will resolve in Tampa, the delegates will be the solution to gaining bargaining power. Ron Paul could very well become the kingmaker with his delegates as I don't think it will boil down to a Romey vs Paul race. At the very least, Paul seeks to influence the party and the direction they take. If he perceives Romney to be the eventual nominee, trying to steer his decision making and rationale to a more liberty oriented position would make sense if Paul could not get the nomination himself. Everyone knows that Romney has no conviction and will say anything it takes to make the sale become president. Will it be a case of Romney appeasing Paul so some of the delegates will break his way? certainly but seeing as the GOP is about to fracture between the Lindsay Graham, John McCain and Mitch McConnell types leaving people like Jim DeMint, Mike Lee and Rand Paul in their own camp; This nomination is as much about the future of the Republican Party as it is about the future of the country as a whole, and Romney would be foolish not to see that.

In another scenario, Ron Paul could make a viable claim for the nomination itself through the delegates. While many in the media would spin that "Ron Paul is stealing the nomination" (when in all actuality the beauty contests mean nothing in the same way that the popular vote means nothing compared to the electoral college), other candidates around will cry foul. Having one less person doing so would work to your advantage as it could isolate others doing so and make them seem like sore losers. Hence the reason why Paul hasn't been going after Romney in a hardcore fashion. One undeniable fact is that Ron Paul oriented people are taking over the GOP at local and state levels and irrespective of the results of the nomination, the brush fires of liberty are being set in the minds of men. There is a sea change coming in US politics and the ideas of Ron Paul will have a strong foothold when the time comes.

 

[ctiger2]

Well, Mitt has been in ads by Ron already so it's not like Mitt's never been challenged by Ron. My simple take is Mitt doesn't want to offend Ron's supporters in hopes that he can get their votes in the end and Ron's strategy is to wait until the time is right and then expose Mitt. It's just too early for Ron to attack.

 

[cheapseats]

Ron Paul pointedly said in some interview or other that he has a FRIENDSHIP with Mitt Romney that goes back many years.

Ron Paul seems like the kinda man who would THINK TWICE AND PROCEED GINGERLY in attacking a friend. Moreover, Ron Paul looked to me to be (rightly) horrified when Rick Perry & Newt Gingrich slapped Bain Capital with the #VultureCapitalism label.

Speaking of, #VultureCapitalism is REAL and DEADLY. I have no familiarity with Bain to say whether they engaged in it, but SOMEONE does. If they DID, it should be comparatively easy to persuade Undecideds that Romney speaks with forked tongue. If they DIDN'T, they didn't. Legal tax evasion is NOTHING but another arrow in the TAX REFORM quiver.

Back to the "Romney / Paul" alliance, I will suggest that FIVE threads about it on Page One of Grassroots Central, PLUS several more in other sub-forums speaks to the meme being very EFFECTIVE on the rumor/speculation/argument/disagreement front.

DIVIDE & CONQUER . . . headlining in politics since Governance Slash Control Via Oppression was first concocted.

 

[TheGrinch]

My take on the Paul/Romney alliance:

The media has run out of fake hit pieces to try to slam Ron with (he has no dirt), so with the latest momentum he's gained, they turn to painting him like an establishment hack... After all the media lies, why would you ever ever ever beleive a word that comes out of their mouths about Dr. Paul, particularly a conspiracy theory?

 

[cdc482]

This is how it happened according to my imagination.

Carol and Ann were having some red tea with biscuits when Romney arrives in a Ferrari to pick up Ann. He spots Paul in his Ford and they talk about the election, while their wives finish their tea.

Ron was all like, "I need to win 1145 delegates, but even though I'll be in first, I won't quite make that number." Romney was like, "Same here." And Paul was like, "Hey. how about, if I come in first, you gimme your delegates," and vice versa. They both agreed, thinking they'd each ultimately win. Paul doesn't consider it a compromise because Romney would just have grabbed Santorum of Gingrich's delegates to win anyway (because they both hate Ron more than Romney, politics aside), and Romney considered it a win-win, because if he doesn't win, "Hey. why not the most honest guy? It'd be fun to live through."

 

[heavenlyboy34]

My take on the Paul/Romney alliance:

The media has run out of fake hit pieces to try to slam Ron with (he has no dirt), so with the latest momentum he's gained, they turn to painting him like an establishment hack... After all the media lies, why would you ever ever ever beleive a word that comes out of their mouths about Dr. Paul, particularly a conspiracy theory?

This^^. RP is the LAST person I would think of calling "establishment". It should be incredibly obvious to anyone who's been paying attention since '07 or even just this cycle that it's just a smear campaign.

 

[AuH20]

Also, Ron Paul may be securing potential funding sources for Rand in 2016, due to his cozy relationship with Romney. Face it. You can't run for president without a minimum of 3/4s of a billion dollars.

 

[Constitutional Paulicy]

Well, Mitt has been in ads by Ron already so it's not like Mitt's never been challenged by Ron. My simple take is Mitt doesn't want to offend Ron's supporters in hopes that he can get their votes in the end and Ron's strategy is to wait until the time is right and then expose Mitt. It's just too early for Ron to attack.

We can add this to the list of rational reasoning. Thank you for posting.

 

[cheapseats]

My take on the Paul/Romney alliance:

The media has run out of fake hit pieces to try to slam Ron with (he has no dirt), so with the latest momentum he's gained, they turn to painting him like an establishment hack... After all the media lies, why would you ever ever ever beleive a word that comes out of their mouths about Dr. Paul, particularly a conspiracy theory?

The more I see the less I know, but I know one thing:

It makes NO SENSE to say one trusts Ron Paul implicitly (INCLUDING not to compromise on core principles), then refuse to vote for him if HE accepts second fiddle on a ticket.

But if Ron Paul is gonna make a deal like THAT, I think HE would be better off and I know WE would be MUCH better off if he jockeys for Treasury Secretary or, better, Fed Chairman. Y'know...to preside over its dismantling.

I have NO RESPECT for the angle of Ron Paul back-peddling or softening his schtick to promote OR SAFEGUARD Rand's career.