Ron Paul is NOT coming to MI!

[The Lantern]

This is a big problem. Romney, Huckabee, Thompson, and Guiliani can campaign full-time. Paul and McCain have full-time Congressional duties.

McCain hasn't made a Senate vote since October. The taxpayers ought to get their money back from his salary.

 

[manny]

Please keep the faith. Ron has been fighting elections for 30yrs!

On some level I could see the sense in putting all our resources in NH or MI and trying to win there to "break out". But I think now the media would have ignored it, called it a fluke, ignored Ron after a day or two and the money would have been gone.

The others are blowing millions and not one has anything like "front-runner" status now. In fact all one hears is how much trouble Rudy and Mitt are in, Fred is finished if he doesn't win SC, Huck only appeals to evangelicals etc. So I think it's likely in a few weeks the field will be much thinner. This will make it a lot easier for Ron to garner attention in the media and in debates etc.

Also if Huckabee of all people is able to run tv ads in MI I get excited just thinking about how much TV exposure Ron will be able to get when he starts to spend his cash later. It will be huge. Just as the others are coming onto the downward slope, having fought each other to a standstill, suddenly there will come a genuine conservative, with a perfect record, insanely popular position on the war and a thorough understanding of economics.

I would be worried if Mitt had won everything so far and got momentum. But ask yourself, what have the others got for all their effort? Ron has beaten both Fred and Rudy and actually got some decent coverage. If he thinks Nevada is best for his efforts at the moment, so be it. But he is running a national campaign.

I do feel sorry for MI folks who were hoping he would make it but just use every setback to push on harder. Think it was easy when Ron was being outvoted 434-1, and ridiculed for it 25yrs ago? Then he kept fighting from that day onwards and I can't see him ever stopping. So we should fight.

It's up to the grassroots to make sure he keeps getting somewhat decent votes in these early states, keep getting new supporters, keeps getting donations, then Ron will come out swinging. 10% and 8% so far are not bad. It is frustrating that in both cases just a few more % would have got us third - ...well there's your motivation.

Nobody remembers the score at half time. Everybody remembers the team who scored the winning touchdown in the dying seconds.

 

[Richandler]

Looks like he's going to be in Nevada.

Since the news of Romney and now McCain, intending to pour lots of their money into Michigan, it makes sense for RP not to do so and concentrate his efforts of some of his money elsewhere. This is especially so since fundraising since January 1st has been lacklustre and RP can't be certain of the MLK fundraiser results. This is why donations NOW are so important rather than waiting for the next moneybomb. The uncertainty of moneybombs must be wrecking havoc for campaign planning.

This is what I've been saying. Paul is campaigning like he isn't going to get anymore money. Remember that is how he started the campaign, not expecting any money. Right now, we are giving Dr. Paul no indication that he'll be getting money for another week or so. This is a really bad grassroots campaigning idea. Paul asked us for 23 million. That won't happen now it seems because it turns out a lot of you, not all of you, but a lot have never cared so much about the message as much as they just care about winning.

 

[RobS]

i finally found another dune fan here.

nice!

May McCain's Sword Crack and Shatter.

Dune FTW

 

[Blimp Media Coordinator]

Don't give up Michigan, you are important. Get all your Dem friends to vote for RP around Ann Arbor and Detroit and we can win those delegates!

 

[the Winner is (R0N P@uL)]

what about Ad resources??????? in Michigan???????

are we even getting Ads run by the "Official Campaign"????

WTF is goin on??????

someone please tell me

Michigan is a treasure of Delegates

Ron Paul needs New Managemaent

he could show up for 1 day.....cmon..........

 

[fmontez]

This is what I've been saying. Paul is campaigning like he isn't going to get anymore money. Remember that is how he started the campaign, not expecting any money. Right now, we are giving Dr. Paul no indication that he'll be getting money for another week or so. This is a really bad grassroots campaigning idea. Paul asked us for 23 million. That won't happen now it seems because it turns out a lot of you, not all of you, but a lot have never cared so much about the message as much as they just care about winning.

Right on! You make money by spending money... 20 million isn't enough to last, it's a drop of what he will need, and if he doens't start spending it he wouldn't be getting any more. Doesn't matter if RP has 20/40/ or 60 million after Super Tuesday, if he doesn't have some victories he will be out of the race at that point. Once there is a front runner after Feb 5th that camp will start ranking in the money, and Ron Paul will be outspent 2 to 1. His advandage now is cash, but he is wasting that advandage... like I have been saying for awhile; he needs new national staff (with experience.)

 

[mavtek]

If things hold as they are I like the campaign's strategy concentrating on Nevada.

 

[Michigan11]

Ya he would be getting quite a few new, and even larger money bombs this month, if he was seriously spending the money he has on him, rather than holding on to it.

If he would have been spending it on tv ads, his numbers would be going up along with new donors, and new money bombs, it would be a perpetual cycle.

Therefore, I believe his campaign staff are the most negligent individuals in this run for presidency, and therefore are holding back the potential of the grassroots supporters engaged in this fight for freedom.

Wakeup Campaign Staff! Lead, follow, or get the hell out of our way!

 

[Marc3579]

Wow... I've been hearing this from people who tell me "I want Ron Paul to be president....but his strategy isn't working." He's been doing politics for almost 30 years. I believe he knows what he's doing. By focusing on Nevada he's working out there where he has a lot of support. It's also, one of the huge gambling communities in the US. Since, he's one of the few who'll open the Internet for gambling. I think that'll work in his favor.
Quit being fair weather supporters. "Oh he's not coming here...Well now I dunno about the money I gave him." Let him do what he's doing, the GOP of his district drafted a Democrat to run against, they invested millions of dollars along with endorsements from Newt, GWB, and etc. He still won. So, have some faith in the Doctor, I have faith in what he's doing.

 

[WRellim]

My hope for this election is that Ron Paul knows what he is doing and that he is a lot smarter then all of us. I honestly do not know much about primaries, caucus's, or how to win an election. Ron Paul is an incredibly intelligent man and I put my trust into the fact that he knows what he is doing. Winning a hotly contested state such as Michigan, Iowa, or New Hampshire is not a reality. Now a caucus state with a low turnout like Nevada we can win and get some delegates.

How is the above ANY different than...

My hope for this War is that George W. Bush knows what he is doing and that he is a lot smarter then all of us. I honestly do not know much about foreign policy, or how to win an war. George W. Bush is President and Commander in Chief and I put my trust into the fact that he knows what he is doing, etc. ad nauseum

You see the problem is really the same. Both men have chosen to surround themselves with "loyal friends" -- in the case of GWB, he has allowed Cheney to do all of the thinking, and the neocons to set the policy. LOTS of people believe that "the President MUST know things we don't" etc, etc.

In the case of RP's campaign staff, he has selected and appointed "loyal friends" who are mainly people that started working for him as young men. They seem to view him as a "father figure" and the LAST thing they will do is to try to instruct him or get him to change his mind. They are essentially "disciples" and "sycophants."

It get's worse, of course. Because when THESE same people are the one's screwing up, they will be very likely to do a CYA for each other, to not want to "bother" or trouble their revered Candidate with the "details" of the problems, and will instead do their best to cast the blame elsewhere (MSM, grassroots, etc) and simply to "move on."

I guarantee you there is NO systematic "post mortem" analysis going on of what worked or didn't work in each of these states, and what analysis IS being done is avoiding the key issues of what is wrong steps were made by the campaign staff (see, that is trying to "blame" people... and in modern American business practices, that needs to be avoided at all costs... it is derogatorily referred to as "the blame game". The end result though is that the source of the problem -- the root cause -- is never identified and therefore never resolved. The RP campaign staff is suffering from this same malaise. If it wasn't there would have been MAJOR changes in staffing and leadership long ago.)

 

[theskaven]

IMHO, Michigan is the most winnable state in the next set of primaries. The Democratic party has only one candidate on their ballot, and no delegates at stake, and voters can cross over. I think that large numbers of Democratic voters will cross-over to vote for the candidate who was against the war from the start.

 

[DaneKirk]

I would have liked to see more from the Official Campaign. BUT
They were very surprised with the turn out at the Mackinac Conference.
They were overwhelmed with the U of M Rally.
Michigan is a sleeping Giant.
Lets surprise them again.
Michigan is Arrakis, Harsh, barren, but rich.
We are the Fremen, our numbers are unknown.
We are strengthened by the harshness of our world.

Let the sleeper awake.

And I am assuming that Ron is Paul Atreides? And the Emperor and the Baron Harkonen are the government?

 

[WRellim]

This is what I've been saying. Paul is campaigning like he isn't going to get anymore money. Remember that is how he started the campaign, not expecting any money. Right now, we are giving Dr. Paul no indication that he'll be getting money for another week or so. This is a really bad grassroots campaigning idea. Paul asked us for 23 million. That won't happen now it seems because it turns out a lot of you, not all of you, but a lot have never cared so much about the message as much as they just care about winning.

Paul is campaigning like he isn't going to get anymore money -- but it is a SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. No results = No money.


Because, the REAL problem is as follows:

1) The grassroots were (apparently falsely) led to believe that the strategy was to WIN in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

2) The grassroots was told that $12 Million was needed by Dec 31 to accomplish #1.

3) The grassroots provided the $12 Million essentially a month early, as this total was (for all intents and purposed) reached by the beginning of December.

4) The grassroots EXCEEDED the $12 Million dollars by donating an additional $8 Million -- for a total of $20 Million by the end of the 4th Quarter.

5) Many of those who donated (often earning less than $30K per YEAR) either skimped on Christmas presents for their families (!) delayed paying various household bills (!!) and some even went into debt to donate just a bit more (!!!).

6) PUBLICLY, ON AIR, the candidate has stated that his campaign was "struggling to know what to do with all of that money."

And now, after FAILING to demonstrate that it actually followed through with the plan in #1, and keeping #6 in mind as well, along comes the campaign chairman (who draws a +30K per MONTH salary) saying that they need yet ANOTHER $23 Million, ASAP in order to "win."

Despite the fact that EVERY OTHER CAMPAIGN AND CANDIDATE has discussed their various "strategies" -- not just to their donors, but also publicly -- on TV and Radio in interviews and forums. (So is it some "secret war plan"? No one else seems to think so.)

But crucially, critically, THIS campaign believes that it does not owe ANYTHING for an explanation or information, or even a MERE HINT of it's strategy (even AFTER the fact to explain WHY the strategy was changed so dramatically in IA, NH, & SC and the other early states) to the people who are expected to sacrifice time, resources and money.

Instead the grassroots supporters are left to "speculate" on rumors and misinformation as to what the heck is REALLY going on... they are left to wonder and come up with a variety of "theories" what the "super-secret-brilliant-dynamic-duo-P.L.A.N." really IS for winning the campaign.

Even the recent addition of a "Grassroots Communications Coordinator" is nothing but a sad, sad joke... as nothing for actual communication has yet taken place -- the blog contains nothing but "wrapper" text around links to press-releases or news stories -- ALL information available either directly on the site, or elsewhere in the community.

In truth, it is the CAMPAIGN STAFF who are acting like spoiled little children that need to be taken to the woodshed and given a good, solid spanking.

And THAT is what is being done by the people NOT donating.

And it is also what is happening in each of the primaries (the VOTERS are saying "You have not convinced me to vote for you").

Most sadly is that, in the end the campaign staff WILL play the "blame game" just one time -- and they will (ironically) claim that it is the LACK OF MONEY that caused them to lose the election!

 

[dawnbt]

Paul is campaigning like he isn't going to get anymore money -- but it is a SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. No results = No money.


Because, the REAL problem is as follows:

1) The grassroots were (apparently falsely) led to believe that the strategy was to WIN in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

2) The grassroots was told that $12 Million was needed by Dec 31 to accomplish #1.

3) The grassroots provided the $12 Million essentially a month early, as this total was (for all intents and purposed) reached by the beginning of December.

4) The grassroots EXCEEDED the $12 Million dollars by donating an additional $8 Million -- for a total of $20 Million by the end of the 4th Quarter.

5) Many of those who donated (often earning less than $30K per YEAR) either skimped on Christmas presents for their families (!) delayed paying various household bills (!!) and some even went into debt to donate just a bit more (!!!).

6) PUBLICLY, ON AIR, the candidate has stated that his campaign was "struggling to know what to do with all of that money."

And now, after FAILING to demonstrate that it actually followed through with the plan in #1, and keeping #6 in mind as well, along comes the campaign chairman (who draws a +30K per MONTH salary) saying that they need yet ANOTHER $23 Million, ASAP in order to "win."

Despite the fact that EVERY OTHER CAMPAIGN AND CANDIDATE has discussed their various "strategies" -- not just to their donors, but also publicly -- on TV and Radio in interviews and forums. (So is it some "secret war plan"? No one else seems to think so.)

But crucially, critically, THIS campaign believes that it does not owe ANYTHING for an explanation or information, or even a MERE HINT of it's strategy (even AFTER the fact to explain WHY the strategy was changed so dramatically in IA, NH, & SC and the other early states) to the people who are expected to sacrifice time, resources and money.

Instead the grassroots supporters are left to "speculate" on rumors and misinformation as to what the heck is REALLY going on... they are left to wonder and come up with a variety of "theories" what the "super-secret-brilliant-dynamic-duo-P.L.A.N." really IS for winning the campaign.

Even the recent addition of a "Grassroots Communications Coordinator" is nothing but a sad, sad joke... as nothing for actual communication has yet taken place -- the blog contains nothing but "wrapper" text around links to press-releases or news stories -- ALL information available either directly on the site, or elsewhere in the community.

In truth, it is the CAMPAIGN STAFF who are acting like spoiled little children that need to be taken to the woodshed and given a good, solid spanking.

And THAT is what is being done by the people NOT donating.

And it is also what is happening in each of the primaries (the VOTERS are saying "You have not convinced me to vote for you").

Most sadly is that, in the end the campaign staff WILL play the "blame game" just one time -- and they will (ironically) claim that it is the LACK OF MONEY that caused them to lose the election!

QFT!

 

[Michigan11]

The campaign staff are worthless, if not for this election, they would all be on the unemployment line. This is a fact!

Fuck 'em, no money from me until I see some people I can take seriously.

Let's go, call HQ and tell them flat out, 'You Suck'! and 'We Want Accountability'!

We Want Ron In 08'

 

[WRellim]

He's been doing politics for almost 30 years. I believe he knows what he's doing.

Actually, he's been doing LOCAL, Congressional DISTRICT Politics in his home-town area where he has known and IS known personally by the local people.

Every bit of "politics" that he has done OUTSIDE of that district has been a pretty dismal failure, to wit, the FAILED 1984 bid for Senate (which required campaigning throughout Texas), the 1988 Libertarian bid (a failure not simply because he didn't win but because not a resounding success either, as he got a much lower % of vote than many previous Libertarian Presidential candidates).

A National Presidential primary campaign within the Republican party is an entirely NEW creature for Ron AND his entire campaign staff. They are playing WAY out of their league (and they seem to KNOW that, but are refusing to do anything to correct for it).

By focusing on Nevada he's working out there where he has a lot of support.

Ummm, yeah...

Here's what the campaign said in it's January 7th email:

"But New Hampshire is another story. There is a state and a people tailor-made for us. Live Free! Then there are Michigan, South Carolina, and Super Tuesday and its nearly 20 primaries."​

So where is the REAL explanation for the NH failure. And if Nevada is such a key state in a strategic plan (and not simply a last minute redirection of a campaign w/o a plan) then why was it NOT included in that listing of upcoming states? And why was Michigan so important to list, but now is all but abandoned? Seems like a pretty ad hoc campaign rather than some brilliant master strategic plan.

Let him do what he's doing, the GOP of his district drafted a Democrat to run against, they invested millions of dollars along with endorsements from Newt, GWB, and etc. He still won. So, have some faith in the Doctor, I have faith in what he's doing.

Yes, about that... if you examine the details of that primary campaign against crossover incumbent Greg Laughlin, you will find that Ron Paul was polling VERY low, in fact he LOST the primary, and had very low chances of winning the "runoff" until they were virtually "handed" the win by being given... well, I'll let Ron Paul explain:

But in the end, Paul capitalized on Laughlin's Democratic past to edge past him in the runoff and become the party's nominee. The National Republican Congressional Committee had printed a brochure condemning Laughlin as corrupt when he ran as a Democrat less than two years earlier. "We weren't doing all that great," Paul said. "And somebody brought me this brochure by the NRCC blasting this guy. So all we did was, we reproduced the whole thing." ​

So, despite all of the other campaigning efforts, etc... they "weren't doing all that great" (which, BTW is a euphemism for "they were LOSING big time!"). And then they received a little "magic rabbit" that could be pulled from the hat to devastate and undermine the opponent at virtually the last minute. Hmmm... Yah, that is GREAT campaign strategy... we just need lightning to strike again, in the perfect time and place, but this time against multiple candidates (whose foibles and skeletons have all pretty much been exposed already).

RP's campaign staffer's strategic abilities are NOT something I'd be willing to bet the farm on.

 

[AzNsOuLjAh27]

So get his son!

 

[RockEnds]

Nice emails from HQ - that's a load of BS.

An important economic ravaged state like Michigan to be ignored here -
a state which would be receptive to his economic message.

Who the hell is running this campaign ? Seehusen or Lew Moore still - damn !
The dumb and dumber duo.

Shut down the Des Moines, IA campaign office instead of those idiots in Des Moines asking this week to use the DM office to tell us RP delegates in eastern Iowa how to vote at the county conventions in March we all got elected to on Jan. 3 - we know how to vote already.

With those salaries saved buy Ron Paul a ticket to Ann Arbor - somebuddy - anybuddy ?

I'll second your motion.

 

[Jae0]

Paul is campaigning like he isn't going to get anymore money -- but it is a SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. No results = No money.


Because, the REAL problem is as follows:

1) The grassroots were (apparently falsely) led to believe that the strategy was to WIN in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

2) The grassroots was told that $12 Million was needed by Dec 31 to accomplish #1.

3) The grassroots provided the $12 Million essentially a month early, as this total was (for all intents and purposed) reached by the beginning of December.

4) The grassroots EXCEEDED the $12 Million dollars by donating an additional $8 Million -- for a total of $20 Million by the end of the 4th Quarter.

5) Many of those who donated (often earning less than $30K per YEAR) either skimped on Christmas presents for their families (!) delayed paying various household bills (!!) and some even went into debt to donate just a bit more (!!!).

6) PUBLICLY, ON AIR, the candidate has stated that his campaign was "struggling to know what to do with all of that money."

And now, after FAILING to demonstrate that it actually followed through with the plan in #1, and keeping #6 in mind as well, along comes the campaign chairman (who draws a +30K per MONTH salary) saying that they need yet ANOTHER $23 Million, ASAP in order to "win."

Despite the fact that EVERY OTHER CAMPAIGN AND CANDIDATE has discussed their various "strategies" -- not just to their donors, but also publicly -- on TV and Radio in interviews and forums. (So is it some "secret war plan"? No one else seems to think so.)

But crucially, critically, THIS campaign believes that it does not owe ANYTHING for an explanation or information, or even a MERE HINT of it's strategy (even AFTER the fact to explain WHY the strategy was changed so dramatically in IA, NH, & SC and the other early states) to the people who are expected to sacrifice time, resources and money.

Instead the grassroots supporters are left to "speculate" on rumors and misinformation as to what the heck is REALLY going on... they are left to wonder and come up with a variety of "theories" what the "super-secret-brilliant-dynamic-duo-P.L.A.N." really IS for winning the campaign.

Even the recent addition of a "Grassroots Communications Coordinator" is nothing but a sad, sad joke... as nothing for actual communication has yet taken place -- the blog contains nothing but "wrapper" text around links to press-releases or news stories -- ALL information available either directly on the site, or elsewhere in the community.

In truth, it is the CAMPAIGN STAFF who are acting like spoiled little children that need to be taken to the woodshed and given a good, solid spanking.

And THAT is what is being done by the people NOT donating.

And it is also what is happening in each of the primaries (the VOTERS are saying "You have not convinced me to vote for you").

Most sadly is that, in the end the campaign staff WILL play the "blame game" just one time -- and they will (ironically) claim that it is the LACK OF MONEY that caused them to lose the election!

QFT, Amen, Word, and DAMN STRAIT.