This Battle isn't over

[sailingaway]

I agree with sailingaway on this. Speaking as someone who donated to Rand and also called many, many Kentuckians for Rand. You've got to know that a lot of out-of-staters were calling and donating.

So, Ron Paul did help him. Quite a lot, I would say. But, I didn't do it, because of Ron. I did it for liberty.

I called as well as donated. And there were times when I absolutely did it for Ron, because I wasn't sure. During those times I told myself this was Ron Paul's son and I wanted him in the Senate where he could show us what he is made of, over six years. I'm still going to look at him at the end of that time, but THIS ACTION is not one I am going to like, years from now or ever. Ron Paul will not BE running to wake up college age Texas multimillionaires to donate to local races in Kentucky, for example. There are those who think 'compromise' is more effective at legislation, but it is NOT more effective at spreading a message that is never discussed, but hidden.

 

[Ender]

That's my point. You don't support because of Ron. Ron is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. He didn't create the idea of liberty.

Neither did the Founding Fathers; are they insignificant?

 

[opinionatedfool]

I know his money did. Speaking as someone who personally donated thousands, and got others to donate.

The only reason Rand got elected and has been in the spotlight is because of us. I hope he never forgets that.

 

[jay_dub]

Neither did the Founding Fathers; are they insignificant?

Truth bomb alert ^^^^^^^^^

 

[jj-]

The only reason Rand got elected and has been in the spotlight is because of us. I hope he never forgets that.

He knows, but doesn't give a damn about it.

 

[mbburch]

A little reality check here:

Politics is a really despicable, ugly business. But that is the system we live under. Don't blame Rand for the system. If you want to WIN at the national level, you cannot always go around saying whatever you want, even if it's the most principled thing to do. Period. That's a perfect recipe for LOSING; Rand understands this reality.

His election was a huge accomplishment for the liberty movement. Can you imagine how free this country would be if we could get 100 Rand Paul's into the Senate and one in the White House? The alternative is to LOSE and have the same bunch of criminals elected each year.

Ron Paul is an incredible educator and has done more for this movement than any of us could ever dream of. He built this movement and is still the leader. With that said, he cannot WIN elections on the national level. He won a Congressional seat in a very conservative area of Texas. That is completely different from the challenges that Rand faces.

Rand is not a great educator, but he can WIN. That's why these two are such a great team. Ron can say whatever he wants, and Rand can reach out to people like Hannity who are too stupid to be engaged intellectually. Rand is positioning himself perfectly for a presidential run in 2016, IMO will have an excellent chance of winning. But in order to do that, we need the Republican party. I know -- it sucks -- it's far from ideal -- but that is the system we are up against.

At this point Obama is going to be reelected regardless of what Rand does or says. Alienating Rand from the Republican party accomplishes nothing.

If Rand's voting record betrays the movement, then fine -- I'll help you throw him under the bus. That is not going to happen.

If nothing else, have a little faith that Ron Paul did not raise a phony.

 

[ClydeCoulter]

The vote and the speach must match, if not would we be here? Would Ron's voting record and hard work be known to us if he did not speak truth to power along with his votes all these years?

I have to admit that Rand's speach at CPAC today at the end did seem to attack the status quo similar to his dad, even though I do not understand yesterdays Hanity thing right before this weekend in Texas. I'm watching with scrutiny.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

I'll take a stealth Rand in 2016, if we last that long.

Even if Ron Paul himself endorsed Romney, he wouldn't get our support. So if Rand is endorsing Romney and everyone knows it equals zero support, it's a fairly useless endorsement. We'll still see a Romney loss in 2012.

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Rand Benedict

Love the implication that Rand Paul didn't discuss this with his father beforehand. You really think Ron Paul learned of this for the first time last night? Please. There's no way that Ron Paul thinks he's still truly "in it to win it" and his own son just shocked him. Get real.

 

[sailingaway]

Love the implication that Rand Paul didn't discuss this with his father beforehand. You really think Ron Paul learned of this for the first time last night? Please. There's no way that Ron Paul thinks he's still truly "in it to win it" and his own son just shocked him. Get real.

Rand would know before he asked that Ron would say he should follow his chosen path. Rand didn't have to ask until after convention.

I'm not writing Rand off on a permanent basis, but I am pretty disgusted with this action.

 

[gerryb]

How would Ron running 3rd party undo any of our progress? If you've taken over the party what difference does it make?

How do you feel about it as an individual who was committed to Ron Pauls strategy and spent hundreds of hours becoming an elected party representative of the GOP?

OH? You weren't elected to any party positions?

 

[Badger Paul]

Rand would not be in politics if it was not for the movement we created around his father's Presidential bid. This movement and the fanatical support it gave Dr. Paul gave it the attention it would not have had otherwise and made it into serious bid for the Presidency, not a vanity run. Without us, Ron Paul would have wound up like Fred Karger and Rand Paul would still be looking in people's eyes. Those are the facts and Rand feels now he needs Romney more than he needs us, that's fine. But there are consequences to that decision as he's going to find out for the next four years.

 

[cajuncocoa]

The only reason Rand got elected and has been in the spotlight is because of us. I hope he never forgets that.

yep, and +1 rep

 

[cheapseats]

How do you feel about it as an individual who was committed to Ron Pauls strategy and spent hundreds of hours becoming an elected party representative of the GOP?

OH? You weren't elected to any party positions?

Are you suggesting that if Ron Paul had seized the Libertarian Party nomination or if Ron Paul would endorse Gary Johnson over Mitt Romney, the people who became elected GOP representatives would say FUCK IT, I DON'T WANT THIS DUMB POSITION THAT I WORKED SO HARD TO GET. IF RON PAUL IS NOT 100% ALIGNED WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY POINT IN REMEDIATING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

 

[firemoth]

There is so much idiocy on this forum, I am astonished.

Take the blinders off.

Politics is a game.

Stop being so naive.

Look at the big picture. Listen to the campaign when they say Romney will never be more than just an asterisk in the history books. Rand is a very smart politician, and I'm sure he speaks with his father every day. Do you not think they discussed this before it happened? Of course they did! Rand is his father's son. If you pledge to never support him because of this, you will be contributing to the failure of our movement.

We will have 500 delegates on the floor (and I don't think the campaign is lying to us - if you do, you are beyond stupid). That means our chances of winning the nomination are slim. Not impossible, but slim. But who cares? We are winning local and state offices. We are taking over the party little by little. Rand is the most powerful member of our movement today. He has wide-spread support outside of our movement. He needs to maintain this support - OR WE LOSE FOREVER. Wake up!

 

[braane]

Those are the facts and Rand feels now he needs Romney more than he needs us

Do you want your country back, or your ego stroked?

Rand is a great liberty candidate, and will be for some time. We can't lose sight of what we came to do (get liberty candidates elected). Rand is our best chance to do so for the presidency in 2016.

 

[cheapseats]

There is so much idiocy on this forum, I am astonished.

Take the blinders off.

Politics is a game.

Stop being so naive.

Look at the big picture. Listen to the campaign when they say Romney will never be more than just an asterisk in the history books. Rand is a very smart politician, and I'm sure he speaks with his father every day. Do you not think they discussed this before it happened? Of course they did! Rand is his father's son. If you pledge to never support him because of this, you will be contributing to the failure of our movement.

We will have 500 delegates on the floor (and I don't think the campaign is lying to us - if you do, you are beyond stupid). That means our chances of winning the nomination are slim. Not impossible, but slim. But who cares? We are winning local and state offices. We are taking over the party little by little. Rand is the most powerful member of our movement today. He has wide-spread support outside of our movement. He needs to maintain this support - OR WE LOSE FOREVER. Wake up!

LIBERTY MOOVEMENT and TAKING OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY are not synonymous for Non Republican Freedom Fighters.

 

[specsaregood]

Rand would not be in politics if it was not for the movement we created around his father's Presidential bid. This movement and the fanatical support it gave Dr. Paul gave it the attention it would not have had otherwise and made it into serious bid for the Presidency, not a vanity run. Without us, Ron Paul would have wound up like Fred Karger and Rand Paul would still be looking in people's eyes.

And you say that as if it is some petty thing. Rand Paul answered one time that his medical practice was the #1 thing that made him happy in life, outside his family. He gave that up, risked his reputation, his livelihood. then moved away from friends and family to be in D.C. with people I'm pretty sure he has little respect for. Heck, the guy had to fight tooth and nail just to get permission to do eye surgery for charity while in the senate! Oh, but he'd just be looking in people's eyes if it wasn't for me, me,me.

Let's be real, he gave up and risked a lot of his own.

 

[Butchie]

How do you feel about it as an individual who was committed to Ron Pauls strategy and spent hundreds of hours becoming an elected party representative of the GOP?

OH? You weren't elected to any party positions?

I've spent plenty of time and money friend, I am a delegate, there were no higher up positions available in my district, perhaps you should look into MI rules before you bash me, also regardless of your position in the GOP who is gonna know what you do in the voting booth?

 

[ClydeCoulter]

It is disappointment that we are displaying. Again, right before a big event, bad news hits the streets. Contrast Ron's message yesterday to the TX convention with what Rand did on Hanity.
We Are Disappointed with the timing of this shit.