POLL: Draft Ron Paul, indy run? I got 140 signatures today...

[SteveMartin]

NO we don't because he is being asked to run as an INDEPENDENT! (I know what the poll says, and that should be changed.)

 

[V3n]

We have NO shot of doing anything but participating in some quixotic notion of "rescuing the war party" by staying with the neocons and playing with their toys.

It's a lot easier to turn a boat than it is to build one.

 

[SteveMartin]

It's a lot easier to ride the express train over the cliff than it is to turn it around too. Doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

 

[V3n]

But if all the people we are trying to save are on that train, it doesn't do much good to stand outside holding signs and screaming when we could be on board applying the brakes.

 

[libertarian4321]

Ballot access already acheived. Do you read, or just whine?

Look, I don't mind people making valid points and having their objections, but to spout the same nonsense more than once in inexcusable.

Steve, maybe you should stick to comedy, because you have no idea what you are talking about.

Ballot access is NOT "achieved".

As an Indy, Ron would be on the ballot in exactly ZERO states today.

The Libertarian party has ballot access in TWENTY EIGHT states right now (its right on the home page at www.lp.org ). The tiny Constitution party doesn't say, but it probably has ballot access in even less states. "Ballot access" requires 50 states plus DC. So at this point, an indy or third party run is nowhere near full ballot access. The Libertarian Party NORMALLY gets ballot access in 48-50 states, but I know they are short of money this year (largely due to many Libertarians donating to Ron Paul's campaign instead of the LP), and will likely not achieve access in as many states as normal.

Ballot access is NOT "achieved."

 

[EastWindRain]

Excellent poll and thread. We need to have open discussion on this topic. In my opinion running 3rd party is now the thing to do. The movement wants to continue to fight. We don't want to give up. The world is screaming for change. Let's capture it, and deliver Ron Paul, who is America's and the world's hope for ending the Zionist Power Structure which enslaves us all.

 

[SteveMartin]

I suppose Bob Barr is not a good source for information on the LP's ballot status, nor is the incoming national chairman of the Constitution Party...both of whom I've been talking to on a regular basis.

L4321 knows better than those guys.

 

[SteveMartin]

67-34...still hanging at 2/3.

The grassroots is speaking much louder than any of us could...

 

[SteveMartin]

69-34...over 2/3!

 

[libertarian4321]

Paul starts at 11% as an independent candidate:

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_...rg_ron_paul_run_third_party_campaigns_in_2008

Its only one poll but its certainly more reliable than your own personal estimates.

That poll was taken in January, before either Obama or McCain looked like they would win. In the Hillary versus McCain poll, he did worse.

Given that Ron Paul has consistently finished at around 5% in the GOP primaries, including states with open primaries, its highly unlikely that he would vault to 11% in a general election.

Even if you really believe he'd get ballot access in 48+ states (HIGHLY UNLIKELY) and "start at 11%" today (which is not realistic), he'd still be nothing but a spoiler.

Look, I realize some of you are going to close your eyes, ball your fists, stomp your feet and REFUSE TO BELIEVE Ron Paul won't be President. I know I'm raining on your parade.

But it ain't gonna happen, folks. I know it, and Ron for damned sure knows it...and he's not going to embarass himself on a Quixotic quest just because some of you don't want to see reality.

I'd love to see Ron Paul as President, I may still "write him in" just as a protest act, but he's not going to win in '08.

 

[SteveMartin]

Translation for L4321,

"Let's just ride over the cliff."

Great idea!

 

[EastWindRain]

If Ron Paul received 50 000 signatures and donations from 50 000 people requesting that he run 3rd party, I think he would run 3rd party.

Somebody should put together a website promoting this idea.

 

[SteveMartin]

EWR,

YES!!!!! Would if I could.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

That poll was taken in January, before either Obama or McCain looked like they would win. In the Hillary versus McCain poll, he did worse.

Given that Ron Paul has consistently finished at around 5% in the GOP primaries, including states with open primaries, its highly unlikely that he would vault to 11% in a general election.

Even if you really believe he'd get ballot access in 48+ states (HIGHLY UNLIKELY) and "start at 11%" today (which is not realistic), he'd still be nothing but a spoiler.

Look, I realize some of you are going to close your eyes, ball your fists, stomp your feet and REFUSE TO BELIEVE Ron Paul won't be President. I know I'm raining on your parade.

But it ain't gonna happen, folks. I know it, and Ron for damned sure knows it...and he's not going to embarass himself on a Quixotic quest just because some of you don't want to see reality.

I'd love to see Ron Paul as President, I may still "write him in" just as a protest act, but he's not going to win in '08.

I'm not really into balling my fists and crying, but let's suppose he only starts at 8%. or 6%. Whatever, he still has 8 more months of campaigning and spreading the message. Even if he doesn't get elected, which we all agree is something of a long shot, we could do a helluva a lot more for the freedom movement by campaigning nationally for 8 more months than just flying under the radar until the Republican convention in September. What else am I going to do with my spring and summer? The Republican party left Ron Paul, its time for Dr. P to return the favor and show America that principles are more important than party.

 

[burningfur]

That poll was taken in January, before either Obama or McCain looked like they would win. In the Hillary versus McCain poll, he did worse.

Given that Ron Paul has consistently finished at around 5% in the GOP primaries, including states with open primaries, its highly unlikely that he would vault to 11% in a general election.

Even if you really believe he'd get ballot access in 48+ states (HIGHLY UNLIKELY) and "start at 11%" today (which is not realistic), he'd still be nothing but a spoiler.

Look, I realize some of you are going to close your eyes, ball your fists, stomp your feet and REFUSE TO BELIEVE Ron Paul won't be President. I know I'm raining on your parade.

But it ain't gonna happen, folks. I know it, and Ron for damned sure knows it...and he's not going to embarass himself on a Quixotic quest just because some of you don't want to see reality.

I'd love to see Ron Paul as President, I may still "write him in" just as a protest act, but he's not going to win in '08.

Finally, a realist on the boards. Where were you during Iowa, NH, SC, combating all those threads claiming total and complete victory in the polls?



You're right, that's why I voted horrible idea. The best way to send a message?

Write in Ron Paul.




And you guys think the media blackballed Ron Paul now?

Wait until he's runs as an independent. Then you will see serious black-balling.

 

[SteveMartin]

There will be some VERY BIG money players coming in if he goes Independent. Count on it.

WE can buy our own exposure with a new campaign staff that knows how....

 

[josh24601]

I used to reply to these threads trying to explain that the man does not want to run on a third party, until I realized that this is about what these people want, not anything about Ron Paul, and as such, trying to explain that Ron Paul doesn't want to run on a third party doesn't do any good because that's not what these people care about. They have their own agenda.

 

[burningfur]

There will be some VERY BIG money players coming in if he goes Independent. Count on it.

WE can buy our own exposure with a new campaign staff that knows how....

yeah, just like all those "millionaires" coming in to help.

I'm not trying to be negative, but at some point, we have to stop eating the pie in the sky.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

This country didn't deserve Ron Paul and they're going to reap what they sow.

 

[Melissa]

I choose this response

Just smart: GOP would never nominate him, parties are a curse anyway, and it COULD succeed.

Because if Ron Paul wants to do this I would be behind him 100% But until he says no way or yes of course I will still do what I do in the GOP.

But I will go down what ever road it takes to try and achieve freedom for me and my children and I hope Ron Paul feels the same and besides what do we have to lose anymore ....really ....our life...well for freedom its always worth everything we have.

 

[libertarian4321]

I suppose Bob Barr is not a good source for information on the LP's ballot status, nor is the incoming national chairman of the Constitution Party...both of whom I've been talking to on a regular basis.

L4321 knows better than those guys.

I'm sorry to hear that Bob Barr, apparently, is as clueless as you are, Steve.

Okay, you aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer, so I'll hold your hand and lead you through this (after you do this, help Bob Barr do the same).

Type "http://www.lp.org/index_ba08.html" in the little box at the top of your browser.

Notice the title of this page from the LIBERTARIAN PARTY WEB SITE is "Libertarian Party Ballot Access 08".

Now, go down the page and count up the number of states where the LP has ballot access. Use your fingers if you have to.

If you can count, you will come up with TWENTY EIGHT states where the LP has ballot access.

BTW, the LP sends out enough "help us with ballot access " solicitations that no one in the LP who opens his mail could possibly think the LP has full ballot access. BTW, the LP hasn't had its Presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states and DC since 1996 (when Harry Browne got about 0.5% of the vote).