POLITICO -- on Benton's email

[HOLLYWOOD]

h xxp://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/05/paul-i-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-123491.html

Paul: I can't win the GOP nomination

By CHARLES MAHTESIAN |
5/15/12 10:51 AM EDT

Ron Paul hinted at it Monday, but today the Texas congressman confirmed something the campaign has never explicitly said before: He cannot win the GOP presidential nomination.

But in a convention strategy memo that followed up on his statement Monday about his campaign plans, Paul clarified the mission and shed more light than ever before on his intentions and expectations for the Republican National Convention.
From the Paul campaign's convention strategy memo:

We will head to Tampa with a solid group of delegates. Several hundred will be bound to Dr. Paul, and several hundred more, although bound to Governor Romney or other candidates, will be Ron Paul supporters.
Unfortunately, barring something very unforeseen, our delegate total will not be strong enough to win the nomination. Governor Romney is now within 200 delegates of securing the party’s nod.

​

While that news will come as a blow to some of his most ardent supporters, the acknowledgement lays out the contours for what constitutes success in Tampa.

As James Hohmann reported Monday, Paul wants GOP platform planks on monetary policy reform, prohibitions on indefinite detention, and Internet freedom. And he believes his campaign has amassed enough force to guarantee serious consideration of these "liberty issues."
Having signaled to the party the size of the movement and the issues that matter, Paul also sent a tacit message to his supporters with the memo.
By calling for a "large, respectful and professional delegation," the Texas congressman is subtly reminding his backers that some of the disruptive behavior that has marked recent state party conventions is counterproductive.

Read more about:
Ron Paul, Republican National Convention

 

[zHorns]

Well, now they made it worse.

Good job, Jesse!

 

[Tudo]

How I would love to run into one ( or more, the more the merrier ) of these reporters at the supermarket.

 

[Carehn]

Its like I don't even want to fight anymore.

 

[Danjlion7]

Great job, Jesse. Thank you so much.

 

[Lucille]

By calling for a "large, respectful and professional delegation," the Texas congressman is subtly reminding his backers that some of the disruptive behavior that has marked recent state party conventions is counterproductive.

I don't like it either, but why is it Paul supporters are expected to behave like angels when "conservatives" regularly boo him (and the Golden Rule), ridicule and insult Ron and us constantly, break rules, commit fraud and acts of violence with no admonishments from the Romney campaign or the RNC?

 

[bluesc]

I don't like it either, but why is it Paul supporters are expected to behave like angels when "conservatives" regularly boo him (and the Golden Rule), ridicule and insult Ron and us constantly, break rules, commit fraud and acts of violence?

Ignore the campaign and their requests.

 

[klamath]

Boy that artificial enforced bubble of enthusiasm has now been burst. How far will the drips crash.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Buck up, people. When did you ever think this would be easy??

 

[speciallyblend]

rename rpf "The Fudge" kinda like the drudge but f'ed up. who needs media blackouts from fox,cnn and msnbc. They have jesse benton. Johnson 2012 over romney

 

[Lucille]

Should we dedicate our resources to congressional liberty candidates now or what?

 

[speciallyblend]

Should we dedicate our resources to congressional liberty candidates now or what?

http://casida2012.com/

 

[wizardwatson]

Boy that artificial enforced bubble of enthusiasm has now been burst. How far will the drips crash.

I've noticed that a lot of posters who joined here in 07/08 have in general are much more accepting of what Ron and campaign are saying about the reality of the situation more so than a lot of newer members. I'm still wary of posting any "ok, what's next" posts for fear of getting reamed by the frothy "he's going to win" posters. I think all will still be well when this thing ends as far as the future goes but we have to get through this transition period.

 

[truthspeaker]

Forget this.

We've been fighting in Texas and California. We'll continue sending delegates. And I know every State convention from here on out, Paul delegates will still attend and fight for liberty. Respectfully. If we present ourselves as someone the GOP may want to ally themselves with, then we'll be able to make positive change for the long run.

 

[sailingaway]

He said unless something very unusual happens which was the truth a week ago and a month ago. But if we weren't in there fighting to win, if something unusual happened we would not be able to take advantage of it, and meanwhile our greater strength at convention gained through that enthusiasm would make them take us more seriously.

And it really pisses me off that they are letting that 'disruptions were our fault' meme go unchallenged, I feel betrayed on that point, frankly. We have to get the video to Ron about and of the OK convention. Anyone insisting they followed the rules would have 'caused disruption' and their hitting US with no violent response is not OUR fault.

 

[bluesc]

Forget this.

We've been fighting in Texas and California. We'll continue sending delegates. And I know every State convention from here on out, Paul delegates will still attend and fight for liberty. Respectfully. If we present ourselves as someone the GOP may want to ally themselves with, then we'll be able to make positive change for the long run.

And anyone still fighting in Texas or California should create a chipin here if they need help, since it appears the money will be better put to use by the grassroots who are getting things done rather than the official campaign that is trying to nominate Rand Paul in 2016 already.

 

[Athan]

Jessie, I've defended and cheered for you in the past multiple times.
I'm not doing it anymore. Your KILLING us man. Your litterally destroying any political pull we may have had.
I think the only way this situation is salvagable is to have you "resign" publicly from campaign duties and publicly "replaced" by someone who is more discreet publicly and can make all of us feel confident to continue again. Why should I from south Texas even go to Fort Worth? Goddamn it, when you screw up you go supernova.

FIX THIS. FIX THIS NOW.

 

[Lucille]

And anyone still fighting in Texas or California should create a chipin here if they need help, since it appears the money will be better put to use by the grassroots who are getting things done rather than the official campaign that is trying to nominate Rand Paul in 2016 already.

This too. I might still donate some to the next moneybomb, but not much.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

I've noticed that a lot of posters who joined here in 07/08 have in general are much more accepting of what Ron and campaign are saying about the reality of the situation more so than a lot of newer members. I'm still wary of posting any "ok, what's next" posts for fear of getting reamed by the frothy "he's going to win" posters. I think all will still be well when this thing ends as far as the future goes but we have to get through this transition period.

We're pretty much in a fight or die situation. A lot of the 07/08 posters have been fighting since 07/08, so it makes sense for them to continue fighting. People can jump ship at their own leisure, but there are a lot of us that will never give up.

And it really pisses me off that they are letting that 'disruptions were our fault' meme go unchallenged, I feel betrayed on that point, frankly. We have to get the video to Ron about and of the OK convention. Anyone insisting they followed the rules would have 'caused disruption' and their hitting US with no violent response is not OUR fault.

I'm pretty unhappy with that myself. We shouldn't have to fight propaganda from the campaign, but whatever. This is far from over, and we're further now than we've ever been.

 

[sailingaway]

And anyone still fighting in Texas or California should create a chipin here if they need help, since it appears the money will be better put to use by the grassroots who are getting things done rather than the official campaign that is trying to nominate Rand Paul in 2016 already.

I wanted the moneybomb to show that the grass roots is still behind Ron, despite these emails, but Benton is trying to make it impossible to get any credibility out of that for anyone not already watching this carefully. I don't know how it is going to go now.

With California, I really was hoping at least one of the PACs would do a little cable here. CA is so media bred and believes its own press, so to speak. This is going to be really tough to overcome. I think we need to focus on picking up delegates in districts where Ron's hard core support is solid and others don't bother voting, however, these 'announcements' really knocked our legs out from under us.

There is a phone from home bomb set for Monday, to Texas and Ca, fyi. The California campaign organizer, who is a long time Ron Paul hard core supporter made sure to send out an email yesterday letting everyone know we are still fighting and what resources are available to us. The Venice office has materials for canvasing and a phone bank (on top of phone from home) and we are all to get people registered. I think that is the next push, because voter registration closes May 21, and a bunch of people don't know they have to be registered Republican to vote for Ron, because the system has been changed for all other offices where you vote, and the top two, even if they are of the same party, go to the general election. That does not apply to the presidential election.