News from Iowa

[nullvalu]

I think you should take the free ticket and the free ride....wear your Ron Paul shirt on the way up and vote for the good Dr.

lmao i was just going to post the same suggestion..

 

[Mom4Ron]

Does that gargantuan photo of T. Thompson mean that they're endorsing that chip-crazed fool?

I swear, every time I see his picture, I'm reminded of that cartoon guy that Captain Kangaroo used to talk to, Fred from Channel One http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/fred.htm

 

[LibertyEagle]

I swear, every time I see his picture, I'm reminded of that cartoon guy that Captain Kangaroo used to talk to, Fred from Channel One http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/fred.htm

How funny. I don't remember that thing. Good to see Mr. Green Jeans again though.

 

[poppop_schell]

I got a similar response from the reporter and forwarded everything to Jesse Benton, Joe Seehusen, and the other 2 Iowa employees of the campaign.

IMO, the only reason that Ron Paul has any recognition in Iowa is because of the Meetup Groups. I am totally UNIMPRESSED by the paid National and Iowa staff people. Messing up with no answer from the major Iowa newspaper is "criminal" negligence from a political standpoint!!!!

FWIW, there is an alternative campaign plan being developed by some VERY experienced politocs who helped in past Buchahan Iowa cmapigns that will be brought out IF the Iowa Straw poll is a disaster.

Also, there are MANY Iowa volunterers working VERY hard. They are distributing 16,000 DVDs especicially made Ames DVDs this past weekend AND this weekend. They got over half distributed this past weekend to voters doors. They could use help for next weekend.

IMO, there needs to be a MAJOR shakeup in the paid campaign staff. Too much is at stake to let incompetance and negligence stay in place.

 

[poppop_schell]

FYI, I have YET to receive any telephone numbers. Anyone here receive any? NOT hearing much about others getting them in the Iowa Meetups. This is after National took away Operation Spooner and PROMISED they would get telephone numbers out in just a few days????

BTW, I am a member of EVERY Iowa Meetup (about 15). I am hoping to have an Unbrella Iowa Meetup up and running before the Ames strawvote. The lack of UMBRELLA is showing how important it is to coordinate activities and lazer focus RP resources on key places and activities. There is also a National Unbrella of Meetups getting started. NO, the grassroots is NOT waiting for marching orders from National.

I did receive 50 mail and have sent them out. I asked for 50 more but so far NO response.

 

[Dave]

Mr. Schell - I think you've done some good things for the RP effort but I disagree with your assessment of HQ. I've met all the Iowa staff and most of the national staff and been impressed. These people are working as hard as they can and to the best of their ability, IMO. If you think someone isn't listening to you then just go do your own thing, but always identify yourself as "just a volunteer".

They can't even come on here and respond to your assessment due to FEC issues. It would be a waste of time, anyway.

Besides, you're responding to an issue that came up a week ago (and dozens of posts) and has since been resolved by HQ. The DM Register has included Dr. Paul in two "Where Republican Candidates Stand" features since the omission.

No looking back! Let's move onward to Ames!

 

[Lord Xar]

did you receive that mailing regarding the voter fraud and volunteers for iowa?

Perhaps it should be posted here.

 

[Shatterhand]

Mr. Schell - I think you've done some good things for the RP effort but I disagree with your assessment of HQ. I've met all the Iowa staff and most of the national staff and been impressed. These people are working as hard as they can and to the best of their ability, IMO. If you think someone isn't listening to you then just go do your own thing, but always identify yourself as "just a volunteer".

They can't even come on here and respond to your assessment due to FEC issues. It would be a waste of time, anyway.

Besides, you're responding to an issue that came up a week ago (and dozens of posts) and has since been resolved by HQ. The DM Register has included Dr. Paul in two "Where Republican Candidates Stand" features since the omission.

No looking back! Let's move onward to Ames!

Dave, can you tell us the latest from Iowa? The DVD drop off went well according to Gigaplex. But how else is everything going over there?

 

[LibertyEagle]

Schell, I finally received my numbers a couple of weeks ago. Many people are on their second batch. If you still haven't received yours, email Heather at..

[email protected]

 

[LibertyEagle]

BTW, I am a member of EVERY Iowa Meetup (about 15). I am hoping to have an Unbrella Iowa Meetup up and running before the Ames strawvote. The lack of UMBRELLA is showing how important it is to coordinate activities and lazer focus RP resources on key places and activities. There is also a National Unbrella of Meetups getting started. NO, the grassroots is NOT waiting for marching orders from National.

I think what he's saying here has merit. The ability to quickly reach Meetup group organizers by state, or nationwide, would be very beneficial it seems. It's not often that we have to coordinate at these levels, but when we do, it would be nice to have this capability at our fingertips. Otherwise, it is very time consuming or the ball gets dropped completely.

 

[Slugg]

I think what he's saying here has merit. The ability to quickly reach Meetup group organizers by state, or nationwide, would be very beneficial it seems. It's not often that we have to coordinate at these levels, but when we do, it would be nice to have this capability at our fingertips. Otherwise, it is very time consuming or the ball gets dropped completely.

That's easy enough....have a Ron Paul MeetUp coordinator meetup group. That way everyone is on the same mailing list.

 

[ARealConservative]

FYI, I have YET to receive any telephone numbers. Anyone here receive any? NOT hearing much about others getting them in the Iowa Meetups. This is after National took away Operation Spooner and PROMISED they would get telephone numbers out in just a few days????

BTW, I am a member of EVERY Iowa Meetup (about 15). I am hoping to have an Unbrella Iowa Meetup up and running before the Ames strawvote. The lack of UMBRELLA is showing how important it is to coordinate activities and lazer focus RP resources on key places and activities. There is also a National Unbrella of Meetups getting started. NO, the grassroots is NOT waiting for marching orders from National.

I did receive 50 mail and have sent them out. I asked for 50 more but so far NO response.

I've bit my tongue long enough.

We all see reality in a different way. In my view of reality, we have a guy who contantly likes to talk himself up, yet does nearly nothing for the campaign (nothign verifiable atleast)

Yes, you are in every meetup. I know - I get email responses to every single event you say no to. You don't go to any meetup meetings, but you constantly reply no to them. Are you aware of the number of emails that get sent from doing such a thing? It's the Dr. Schell spam hour in my inbox sometimes.

You don't go to meetings - we get it. So stop RSPV'ing no to them. We already know you aren't coming because that's how you roll.

And yes, I know how busy you are. We are all busy - which is why I don't waste my time joinging meetup groups when I have zero plans on working with that meetup group.

Seems harsh? Good. Quit saying derogatory things about HQ and I wont feel compelled to point out your own shortcomings!

 

[beermotor]

I've bit my tongue long enough.

We all see reality in a different way. In my view of reality, we have a guy who contantly likes to talk himself up, yet does nearly nothing for the campaign (nothign verifiable atleast)

Yes, you are in every meetup. I know - I get email responses to every single event you say no to. You don't go to any meetup meetings, but you constantly reply no to them. Are you aware of the number of emails that get sent from doing such a thing? It's the Dr. Schell spam hour in my inbox sometimes.

You don't go to meetings - we get it. So stop RSPV'ing no to them. We already know you aren't coming because that's how you roll.

And yes, I know how busy you are. We are all busy - which is why I don't waste my time joinging meetup groups when I have zero plans on working with that meetup group.

Seems harsh? Good. Quit saying derogatory things about HQ and I wont feel compelled to point out your own shortcomings!

I hope Mr. Schell will take this constructive criticism well. I had suspected something funky was afoot, and this seems to confirm that. Those who clamor loudly about the way the Freedom Train is being run seem eager to get control of the wheel and gas pedal. That's not a good impulse, I believe.

 

[Dave]

Nice envelope from Tancredo yesterday. The front says "Come to Ames on August 11 and Meet the Pro-Amnesy Gang...And Then VOTE AGAINST THEM!" It has photos of Romney, Huckabee, Thompson, and Brownback. It also says "Inside: Complimentary Ticket Vouchers to the Ames Straw Poll".

It had an actual stamp on it and was mailed from Richmond, VA. Inside was a 4-page letter from Bay Buchanan (Pat's sister and Poobah for Tancredo campaign) and a return form to request transportation to Ames. There's 2 silly little tear-off 'vouchers' to get your Ames Straw Poll tickets. They say to present them at the Tancredo tent in Ames to get your actual ticket for the poll. I'm sure you don't really need this voucher to get a ticket at the tent - do you think they'll turn away a supporter who left their voucher at home? Not a chance.

I'm sure all the candidates will have tickets available that day for anyone who comes to their tent and acts like they would vote for them. This is just how things work at this event.

 

[Dave]

I just heard a brand-new radio commercial for Romney. It's all about illegal immigration and how strong he is on the issue. It's nicely produced and if you weren't doing your homework on the candidates you would be comforted that he really gets it. I'd like you all to hear it but I can't find a link to the audio anywhere yet - I think it's too new.

 

[Dave]

Photos of Ron Paul signs

I've been working on a sign project. I own a little farmland on Iowa Highway 163 at the very edge of the Des Moines suburbs so I wanted to get some Ron Paul signs put up. I used two 4x8's so I could angle them toward the traffic from either direction. Literally thousands of cars go by these signs every day and I estimate they'll pick up an additional 25,000 each day during the Iowa State Fair as the high school across the street is one of the biggest 'park-and-ride' locations for the Fair.

A buddy helped me one day on the signs and now he wants one! When you use the soft sell and get someone involved in helping the RP campaign they develop some ownership of it, take some pride, and their commitment strengthens.

View leaving Des Moines:

View from sign to east:

Iowa corn to north:

View from sign to west:

View coming to Des Moines:

 

[Shatterhand]

Great Work, Dave!

That's fantastic stuff. I like seeing the photo of all the corn too. It adds a surreal quality to this whole Iowa thing.

 

[beermotor]

Agreed - GO TEAM!

 

[Dave]

New Iowa poll results today from American Research Group:

Republicans IA NH SC
Brownback1%1%-
Giuliani22%27%28%
Gingrich4%6%7%
Huckabee1%1%3%
Hunter2%1%1%
McCain17%10%10%
Paul1%1%3%
Romney21%26%7%
Tancredo1%1%1%
F Thompson13%13%27%
T Thompson2%--
Undecided15%13%13%

Here's the link: http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/

The things that strikes me as odd here are Giuliani ahead of Romney and Hunter at 2%. After Romney, it seems like the most notoriety in Iowa (of those participating in Ames) goes to T. Thompson, Brownback, Huckabee, and Tancredo. Like Ron Paul, Hunter has seemed to be under the radar. I'm sure it's all within the margin of error but I still find it interesting.

The earlier polls from ARG all seemed to favor McCain when other polls said something different. The ARG polls often seem to be at odds with the rest.

 

[stevedasbach]

Wow! That's a BIG jump in SC. He's been at 0-1% in every previous poll I've seen.