Rand Paul's Iowa Inroads

[jct74]

Rand Paul's Iowa Inroads
Those who backed Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in 2012 are giving Rand Paul a long, hard look.

By David Catanese
June 17, 2014 | 11:16 a.m. EDT

DES MOINES, Iowa – Ramona Heller walked into the state Republican convention with an impression of Rand Paul largely formed by his father – and it wasn’t good.

As a local party official in a small village outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she had witnessed firsthand the brash takeover of her beloved GOP in 2012 by the so-called “Paulites” -- the term used to describe supporters of former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas – after his third place finish in the last presidential caucus.

“A lot of the things they tried to do to take over and get in were very unethical,” Heller says.

The procedural tactics employed by the Paulites won them control of the party, but left mainstream Iowa Republicans seething and bitter. So when Rand Paul took the dais at the Hy-Vee Convention Center Saturday to address the assembled 2,000 GOP delegates, Heller – a Rick Santorum supporter in 2012 – was prepared to sit on her hands.

“I wouldn’t have even considered him before this morning. He wasn’t even on my radar,” she says.

Instead, her reaction surprised herself.

“Holy shit, I would vote for this guy,” she thought afterward. “Yes, I was impressed.”

...

read more:
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/run-2016/2014/06/17/rand-pauls-iowa-inroads

 

[georgiaboy]

good read.

Lead on, Rand.

 

[specsaregood]

Instead, her reaction surprised herself.
“Holy shit, I would vote for this guy,” she thought afterward. “Yes, I was impressed.”

Clearly a member of the all important conservative christian voting block.

 

[WD-NY]

Great read - thanks for sharing jct

 

[CaptUSA]

“A lot of the things they tried to do to take over and get in were very unethical,” Heller says.

Yes. Following the rules is very unethical when you don't like the outcome.

It is nice to see Rand being able to cut through the blind devotion to the party establishment, though.

 

[boat6868]

Thanks to the OP for the link.

From the last line of the article “I was thrilled with his talk and surprised,” she says. “He came across as honest.” As more people hear him, particularly side by side in a debate, this is what they are going to come away with. It is what I have always thought when he is talking...nothing is forced...he is a true believer...and speaks the truth.

 

[LatinsforPaul]

From the last line of the article “I was thrilled with his talk and surprised,” she says. “He came across as honest.” As more people hear him, particularly side by side in a debate, this is what they are going to come away with. It is what I have always thought when he is talking...nothing is forced...he is a true believer...and speaks the truth.

Well said and I couldn't agree more.

 

[FriedChicken]

Yes. Following the rules is very unethical when you don't like the outcome.

It is nice to see Rand being able to cut through the blind devotion to the party establishment, though.

haha,
That was my first thought too. If she had said "a lot of the thing they tried to do to take over and get in were very infuriating" I couldn't fault her - if an organized group of socialist had done the same to us, we'd have the same reaction I'm sure. (I said socialist as an example, not a comparison).

But her choice of saying "unethical" is what rubbed me wrong. Everything was fair and square ... so in essence she must believe the rules are unethical.

I'm still for Rand being able to appeal to these people though. I think the immediate take over in 2012 was a net positive, but I can recognize that there were a certain amount of negatives as well. I, personally, don't have any regrets.

This gal in the article, though ... she seems flimsy. Wasn't going to vote for Rand because of his father's supporters - then swayed by a single speech despite Rand's own record in the Senate as being a strong conservative? She seems to pay no attention at all to roll calls and only rhetoric.
BUT ... that is the vote any winner has to win in order to win. So I'm glad Rand is winning it!

 

[Suzanimal]

Great piece on Rand.

This bit made me chuckle...

In fact, when Santorum took the stage, a handful of delegates noticeably filed off the convention floor and out into the hallway toward the bathrooms and concession stands.

 

[Crashland]

And remember people, this kind of impression was left after Rand delivered the "same old" speech he's been doing at all of these conventions. It's the same old tired speech to us, but not to most people.

 

[PatriotOne]

“A lot of the things they tried to do to take over and get in were very unethical,” Heller says

LOL...rolled my eyes so hard I think they did a 360 in my head. Uplifting article in spite of all the Ron bashing. If Rand can win over a Mitt Romney supporter holding a grudge well..........

 

[Vanguard101]

"“I asked a number of people, ‘Who was better? The man from Louisiana, the man from Kentucky?’ and invariably, everybody said, ‘The man from Kentucky,’” says Bissinger.

In fact, when Santorum took the stage, a handful of delegates noticeably filed off the convention floor and out into the hallway toward the bathrooms and concession stands. "

LMFAOOO

"While he labeled drugs a “scourge” on society, he explained that the judicial system has unfairly punished young people and minorities for a mistake that’s much more common throughout American society. But he tapped into the audience’s religious inclinations to facilitate his pitch.

“I’m not saying no laws. Most of us are Christians or Jews or of the Judeo-Christian faith. We believe in redemption. We believe in a second chance. Should a 19-year-old kid get a second chance? I think yes,” Paul said. “Let’s be the party that is for extending the right to go back to people who have paid their time, who have reformed their ways.”"

I'm going to start using this

 

[Uriah]

Great piece on Rand.

This bit made me chuckle...

I noticed people getting up and leaving the convention hall as well. Heck, I almost did leave myself but I wanted a comparison. Santorum didn't give a bad speech in fact, several people told me they liked his ideas. I'd rank the speeches Paul, Jindal, Santorum. I was impressed by Jindal's speech, mostly rhetoric but well delivered. I think he caught some attention that day too.

 

[Crashland]

Jindal did deliver a good speech. He has very little chance for the nomination but I am sure some other candidates might have him on their short list of VP picks if they were nominated, and he would probably be a decent pick. Not a great fit for Rand though.