The national campaign is inept. Time for Grassroots to take hold the message!

[Corydoras]

-Create a PAC or similar organization whose only purpose is to create high quality videos and audio that can be advertised on national television and radio.
-Every week user submitted media will be added to polls and voted for by all members. The most popular will then be introduced to the public as commercials.
-Revenue for the official campaign is drying up. I am guessing mostly because donors do not think the money can be spent effectively at this point. If we can give people an outlet to practically put their money to use for the message of freedom, the message will continue well past this election season.
-At this time, all videos will include references to Ron Paul's campaign, but in the future, campaigns of other liberty minded individuals could be included, as well as general topics relative to the entire movement.
-Some of the user submitted Ron Paul videos on youtube are absolutely amazing but will never be seen by the millions that are waiting for this message. We can change that.
-Potential future candidates will also be submitted and voted on by users, and those that most effectively communicate the message of freedom will get no-cost advertising.

I like this a great deal. Maybe there already exists a PAC that can be turned to this.

 

[Russellk30]

I like this a great deal. Maybe there already exists a PAC that can be turned to this.

Thanks! But it seems that not too many people are willing to support good ideas these days. We are all too busy waiting for the billionaire to come and save us. I was hoping for a little support from grassroots when I posted this but people are kind of down after the primary losses.

I know little about web design and programming, but thanks to Ron Paul I am starting to learn. It is not wise for ones aspirations to be mostly dependant on the skills of others, but if people are willing to help, I'll be around. I am not giving up on the idea.

 

[pepperpete1]

I like your attitude. Keep on keepin' on!

 

[Penners]

Ron Paul is great and he will always be remembered as the leader of this movement, but it would be difficult to leave the message of freedom in the hands of the national campaign. Most of us can agree that his commercials have been at the very least lackluster and lacked passion, and at the worst undeniably awkward. The national campaign at this point also has some folks with questionable loyalties within it.
We will not abandon Paul now or ever, but an organization for national outreach has to be set up outside of the campaign. We will continue to promote him through this new medium until he no longer wants to campaign or wins the presidency, but after that, the message needs to continue. Here's the idea:

-Create a PAC or similar organization whose only purpose is to create high quality videos and audio that can be advertised on national television and radio.
-Every week user submitted media will be added to polls and voted for by all members. The most popular will then be introduced to the public as commercials.
-Revenue for the official campaign is drying up. I am guessing mostly because donors do not think the money can be spent effectively at this point. If we can give people an outlet to practically put their money to use for the message of freedom, the message will continue well past this election season.
-At this time, all videos will include references to Ron Paul's campaign, but in the future, campaigns of other liberty minded individuals could be included, as well as general topics relative to the entire movement.
-Some of the user submitted Ron Paul videos on youtube are absolutely amazing but will never be seen by the millions that are waiting for this message. We can change that.
-Potential future candidates will also be submitted and voted on by users, and those that most effectively communicate the message of freedom will get no-cost advertising.

The media has effectively silenced us, and when our movement is mentioned, there is usually some kind of spin attached. It is time to break out of the blackout. It is time for Americans to hear the message unfiltered and unfettered.

Any ideas? Anybody want to help organize this?

This is already being done... check out

http://www.ronpaulambassadors.com/

 

[Russellk30]

That organization is nice and all, but a little too centralized for my taste. Who do you think will have the final says of what content is chosen for distribution? Their board and marketing team. Probably the same marketing company that made Ron Pauls commercials! Just kidding though. Not saying its a bad idea or anything, just different than what I would like to see.

 

[thuja]

I think a proper accounting of what we got for our $20 million is a very fair question.

this one is always a good question. i want to know what my money is spent on, exactly. where is a list of expenses? why isn't it posted ? why is that a secret?
what i am angry about is not seeing any stylish ads.

 

[Ball]

There is not going to be a brokered convention.

With all due respect, you obviously don't understand the rules.

Even if McCain won every single primary and BS straw poll, he still wouldn't have a single delegate. State rules do not apply at nationals.

If you want specifics about how the national convention plays out, you can PM me. Needless to say, McCain DOES NOT have this sewn up (but I would like him to believe he does, hence my reluctance to post any more on this topic).

What Ron ought to do RIGHT NOW is say:

"I look forward to presenting our message at the national convention, and I hope to see you there!"

The fact that he doesn't demonstrated either his unwillingness to fight or ignorance of the process.

 

[Bro.Butch]

Ron Paul is great and he will always be remembered as the leader of this movement, but it would be difficult to leave the message of freedom in the hands of the national campaign. Most of us can agree that his commercials have been at the very least lackluster and lacked passion, and at the worst undeniably awkward. The national campaign at this point also has some folks with questionable loyalties within it.
We will not abandon Paul now or ever, but an organization for national outreach has to be set up outside of the campaign. We will continue to promote him through this new medium until he no longer wants to campaign or wins the presidency, but after that, the message needs to continue. Here's the idea:

-Create a PAC or similar organization whose only purpose is to create high quality videos and audio that can be advertised on national television and radio.
-Every week user submitted media will be added to polls and voted for by all members. The most popular will then be introduced to the public as commercials.
-Revenue for the official campaign is drying up. I am guessing mostly because donors do not think the money can be spent effectively at this point. If we can give people an outlet to practically put their money to use for the message of freedom, the message will continue well past this election season.
-At this time, all videos will include references to Ron Paul's campaign, but in the future, campaigns of other liberty minded individuals could be included, as well as general topics relative to the entire movement.
-Some of the user submitted Ron Paul videos on youtube are absolutely amazing but will never be seen by the millions that are waiting for this message. We can change that.
-Potential future candidates will also be submitted and voted on by users, and those that most effectively communicate the message of freedom will get no-cost advertising.

The media has effectively silenced us, and when our movement is mentioned, there is usually some kind of spin attached. It is time to break out of the blackout. It is time for Americans to hear the message unfiltered and unfettered.

Any ideas? Anybody want to help organize this?

Man. I'm with you if we get him drafted by a Party with ballot access, An Indy bid would take up too much $ needed for ads.

 

[thuja]

tell him so. maybe it will happen.

 

[Corydoras]

this one is always a good question. i want to know what my money is spent on, exactly. where is a list of expenses? why isn't it posted ? why is that a secret?

It's not a secret at all. It's public.
http://www.fec.gov/disclosure.shtml

There is, after all, a way that the press found out how much each campaign spent on doughnuts (Hillary's campaign spent something like $2k).

 

[SteveMartin]

We are still waiting to find out what the $27,000 expenditure (on top of his $99,000 salary) was to "J. Seehusen & Asoociastes," what the nearly $100,000 was to 3 people at the same address with the last name "Moore;" and, most importantly, how much was spent on national TV ads versus the production "costs" for those ads.

We need that information to determine the degree (if any) of possible corruption there may have been with regard to expenditures.

That ineptness and possible mafeasance existed already can not be denied by any honest observer...Just my opinion...

 

[me3]

Good link with comprehensive staff info
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/paul/paulorg.html

I will not get involved in any future campaigns that involve Snyder, Moore or Benton. Any one of those 3, and I will simply not participate, even if it is a RP 2008 independent run.

 

[orp]

go for a win at the convention

Dr. Paul should give some clear guidance at this point.

What he would like to see us do.

I was at a party last night, and five of us don't like the three choices.

I hope we keep on getting delegates and make this go to a brokered convention.

Do we back Huck to make a brokered convention? I don't like Huck either. I don't really want to see us back him.

HQ has blown this, in my opinion, and I would like to hear loud and clear from Dr. Paul.

My vote is, keep on trying for a brokered convention. The other choices are not acceptable.

I agree, there is no other acceptable choice available to us than going for a Ron Paul win at the Republican convention. For this, we would need a brokered convention and help from the Romney and Huck supporters to that end.
Above all, we need to work relentlessly for Ron Paul Delegates in every state where that is still possible. In our state (won't mention because don't need any more opposition than we already have) we are doing quite well at the moment.
There will be some pleasant surprises for all Ron Paul supporters. This needs to be the case in every state.

Forget the official campaign. They are of little or no help and, lately, actually becoming an obstacle to success. The troops need encouragement not some blather about all that we "have accomplished". The main work lies ahead: take that nomination for Ron Paul. McCain cannot win in November and everyone but the family dog knows this. The only chance Republicans have to win in November is if Ron Paul is the GOP candidate. We must continue to hammer than message home to Republicans who will become delegates to the convention.

Five months is an eternity in political time. McCain is vulnerable and anything can happen. We are in unchartered political waters. Don't lose focus. Work tirelessly for each and every Ron Paul delegate to that convention. At this point, that is all that matters......

 

[constituent]

The main work lies ahead: take that nomination for Ron Paul. McCain cannot win in November and everyone but the family dog knows this.

you've never met my dog.

 

[Free McKilt]

Coordinated PR

I agree that the national campaign did a horrible job. The idea of fighting the MSM and then handing them millions in TV ads was a perfect example of the cognitive dissonance of the campaign staff. Very amateur (or professionally hijacked).

Nevertheless, it's time to move on. I think the national campaign would have spent their money much more wisely had they focused on local newspaper advertising, coordinated letters to the editor, and training folks/meetups how to write intelligent and runnable press releases.

The argument always was that older voters weren't hip to the RP message. These folks still actually read the local newspapers. Also the local newspapers are desperate for ad revenue. And local papers are very sympathetic to their advertisers. For a fraction of the cost of the failed TV ads, we could have ran 1/4 page ads in every local paper in primary states for weeks.

So the recipe to make a media impact for the rest of this campaign and the continuing revolution:

1. Learn how to write press releases.

2. Coordinate letters to the editor. Especially when the book comes out.

3. Become involved in local groups. I'm running for the local food co-op board of directors. Local food security, local business.

4. When canvassing the neighborhood, don't be afraid to ask people to make a commitment (including money) in order to purchase ads.

5. Buy ads in local newspapers. The more ads you buy, the more sympathetic the local paper will be to our cause. They need the dough, and we need their support.