I know I'm new here, but it still surprises me every time I see the argument that candidate X or candidate Y is simply running to siphon support from Rand. Why would anyone go through the process of campaigning, hiring staff, traveling, sucking up to voters, debating, fundraising and so on and so on and so on for months on end when our sinister candidate X could just run a SuperPAC and nuke Rand with ads? Better yet, go on a talking head show and rhetorically kneecap Rand on TV! Saves a lot of time and effort! Even Lindsay Graham, who can't wait to confront Rand on a debate stage, is still salivating at the prospect of being "Your Commander-in-Chief".
What is wrong with the simple idea that a lot of Republicans with the ambition/ego/delusion to run for president have entered the race? Occam's Razor!
Is it really that hard to believe that this is all a game? Is it really that hard to believe the establishment, that picks their candidates has coerced some of the other candidates to distract and manipulate? During the 2012 debates, Santorum was chosen, yes, I'm going to use that rhetoric, chosen to go after Ron during the debates as a pathetic attack dog. Like clockwork, every debate he'd single out Ron, it became extremely obvious that the guy either had something super personal against Ron, or was told to go after him and attack his foreign policy in attempts to embarrass him.
Secondly, your options make it (the motives) too obvious. If they simply set up attack after attack, people catch on, so you make it subtle. Politics 101. Life 101. Strategy 101…
Thirdly, as if these career politicians really can't handle what you're saying: The campaigning, the staff, etc. This is what they do for a living, and to add, when you're financed through PACs and otherwise, I'm sure your points (finances) are last on their mind. Furthermore, these people are egomaniacs, they enjoy the spot light.
That's great that you and a couple other posters want to continue thinking this is all a fair game and all, but I've learned my lesson. I see you and a couple other posters who reflect your views have join dates of 2015 or a little earlier. I've been here, there, and done all that. I'm speaking from a personal experience. So, take it for what you will.
If my post comes off a little harsh, don't take it personally. I'm just saying, I, along with many, many others, have been through this charade before and have accepted it all for what it is.
The other candidates are still pieces in the game, even though there may not be a sinister conspiracy club explicitly telling them to run because Rand is in the race.
Regardless of these individual candidates' motives, they are Republican establishment shills whose mere presence will draw attention from an anti establishment candidate like Rand who is working 100 times harder than any of them to gain traction.
This is just two sides of the same coin. You acknowledge that there most likely is something in play in this race that is outright keeping Rand down - be it a grand conspiracy (that you said is unlikely), or that it's GOP establishment/M.I.C. shills doing it for their own gain… Regardless of how you try to rationalize it, the outcome is/will be the same: Rand/Ron Paul, liberty, etc. is being kept down and silenced by these forces.
I haven't even been paying much attention to this race and I certainly haven't been supporting Rand or any other candidate for that matter. But, when something does come across the computer screen, something catches my attention even so: Rand is being left out of many polls and tv spots. They are ignoring him and trying to erase him JUST. LIKE. THEY. DID. TO. RON.
