Time for a BOLD MOVE: Run as a Libertarian, with 400+ congressional LP candidates.

[Chase]

No. Would be a loss, we still have our 20 million for an advertising blitz.

I'm curious... how much does the LP usually spend advertising in a Presidential race? Maybe what the LP needs is "big guns" and a candidate like Ron.

I used to think going third party was a hugely bad idea... but I want to see the campaign do the best it can and I'm starting to wonder if the Republican party is where to get that done.

The Republican party presents us with a big problem, because the sensible electorate already left and went Democrat. The majority of the left-over Republicans are the crazies that support 100 years in Iraq or an expanded War on Terror. How are we going to convert *those* sheeple to Ron Paul?

The other big problem is that the other people we would hope to convert (non-Republicans) need to register Republican to vote for us. That alone is enough to scare off a lot of potential supporters. I know people whom I consider intelligent and well-read that are sufficiently distrustful of Republicans that it is a strong enough reason to turn them away from Ron Paul.

People are hungry for CHANGE during this election cycle. Both parties have failed them! The Republicans have gotten us into war and are keeping us there, and SO DID THE DEMOCRATS. If Ron Paul took the plunge and went Libertarian, we'd have an entire party backing us up, AND the 20 million dollars, plus whatever else we could raise from ourselves and the diehard LP members. Then we could do a huge ad blitz and blast the REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS for their failures on Iraq and on the economy, and promote Ron Paul as the *REAL* opportunity for change. Get a THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE into office. Now THAT'S CHANGE.

 

[richyrichard]

Just like Goldwater Conservatism died when he lost the primaries? Is your resolve so weak that you would give up on the ideals of freedom, liberty, federalism, and the constitution just because Ron Paul lost the primaries? How insanely worthless. This movement should never have been hyped to be a one year overhaul in the workings of US gov't, from the top down no less. Those of us who are true patriots to the ideals Dr. Paul has offered this election will not be bowing out of the primaries so soon. I intend to make it known to the parties that there is a very strong group of people who have realized they are outright lying too us when they make promises of cutting the budget of the federal gov't, and only pay lip service to states rights, and small gov't. You can spew your defeatist attitudes elsewhere.

Going over to the LP might be a good idea in some ways, but we will have a hard time taking voters from the republican party if they view us as the spoilers who got Hillary into office in 09'.

I agree. We should focus now on Ron Paul's victory in the Republican Party. If he loses, though, I think it would be better if he runs as an independent, not as a Libertarian. He would have more broad support if he does not identify specifically with the LP.

 

[MN Patriot]

No, starting a new party is NOT next to impossible. The LP did it 30 years ago, and they're still going nowhere! Why? Because they have the wrong message! They speak ONLY to the radical libertarians. There are many more libertarians in this country than will fit into their narrow little world. Trust me, it can be done, and it can be done more effectively and with much more success than the LP, Green, and other third party's have had.

But the LP only had ballot access in 6 (?) states in the first year. Perhaps Ron could do better as an independent, but it will cost alot of money to get on the ballot. Which is money not spent on campaigning.
The LP message is essentially the same message as Ron Paul's message.

As for reforming the LP, there has been much effort to do this. The guy who runs Holistic Politics was the founder of the Libertarian Reform Caucus which has been trying to reform the LP for 2 years now, with little success. He now believes it's an impossible task because the radicals have a hold on the party and will never cede their control to anyone who isn't as radical as they are. So, he has decided to start a new party, that is if Ron Paul doesn't get the Republican nomination.

Then this is the year for reform success. Get enough practical Ron Paul supporters in the LP and out-vote the radicals.

 

[MN Patriot]

I agree. We should focus now on Ron Paul's victory in the Republican Party. If he loses, though, I think it would be better if he runs as an independent, not as a Libertarian. He would have more broad support if he does not identify specifically with the LP.

There are still many people who have never heard of the Libertarian Party. I think most people don't have a negative OR positive perception of the LP, so running on the LP ticket wouldn't necessarily scare people away.

Of course the media would continue mocking him, because the LP "has never won an election, so their ideas are kooky".

Again, an independent campaign would cost more money just getting on the ballot than anything else. the LP is already on the ballot. Ron ran as a libertarian, so most LP members would welcome him back.

Getting on the ballot is TOUGH in many states.

 

[Karsten]

I totally agree with this goal.

 

[MN Patriot]

I'm curious... how much does the LP usually spend advertising in a Presidential race? Maybe what the LP needs is "big guns" and a candidate like Ron.

I used to think going third party was a hugely bad idea... but I want to see the campaign do the best it can and I'm starting to wonder if the Republican party is where to get that done.

The Republican party presents us with a big problem, because the sensible electorate already left and went Democrat. The majority of the left-over Republicans are the crazies that support 100 years in Iraq or an expanded War on Terror. How are we going to convert *those* sheeple to Ron Paul?

The other big problem is that the other people we would hope to convert (non-Republicans) need to register Republican to vote for us. That alone is enough to scare off a lot of potential supporters. I know people whom I consider intelligent and well-read that are sufficiently distrustful of Republicans that it is a strong enough reason to turn them away from Ron Paul.

People are hungry for CHANGE during this election cycle. Both parties have failed them! The Republicans have gotten us into war and are keeping us there, and SO DID THE DEMOCRATS. If Ron Paul took the plunge and went Libertarian, we'd have an entire party backing us up, AND the 20 million dollars, plus whatever else we could raise from ourselves and the diehard LP members. Then we could do a huge ad blitz and blast the REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS for their failures on Iraq and on the economy, and promote Ron Paul as the *REAL* opportunity for change. Get a THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE into office. Now THAT'S CHANGE.

Yes! People want "CHANGE", whatever that means. So we give them an opportunity for change. Ron Paul on the Libertarian ticket plus 400+ LP congressional candidates.

 

[DrNoZone]

Ron Paul is correct when he says that the system is against third parties. The fact that they got ballot access in most of the states is impressive. Do you not agree?

What exactly is the membership pledge?

Sure, it's impressive...to a degree. But what good has it done them?

The pledge:

"To validate my membership, I certify that I do not advocate the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals."

And if you take that to it's logical conclusion, you're basically pledging that you're an anarcho-capitalist. So anyone who is NOT an anarcho-capitalist, isn't welcome (which they'll find out shortly after getting involved in the party beyond signing up and reading their newsletter).

 

[wowabunga]

What What What will keep "them" from doing dirty tricks in the general election ???

Go out and tell your neighbors, talk to strangers. Win their hearts and minds... as many as you can. Spend equal time out in your neighborhood as you spend online. We have 70 some members in our meetup group... most I've seen of them is maybe a dozen of them.

-Ramblin Randy
Ron Paul is here to chew bubble-gum and Kick Ass, and he just ran out of bubble-gum

 

[ProBlue33]

NO

Wait until the GOP Brokered convention is over, thats plan A.

If he loses during that, move to plan B - LP at the very least he will screw the GOP for screwing him, and he continues to get his message out there right until Nov 2008.

Winning is the ultimate goal, but if you can't do that spreading the message is the next best thing.

 

[Karsten]

Too bad I'm not 25 and can't yet be a congressional candidate.

 

[Zibblu]

I personally think this is a good idea. My only problem with it is that I don't think it's a good idea to do it now. I would go all out for the Republican nomination and then assess things on Feb. 6

Imagine this general election scenario. Hillary Clinton vs. Mike Huckabee vs. Ron Paul

This would be the dream scenario in my view because both party candidates have so much resistance within their own party who would be looking for an alternative.

The resistance against Clinton among Dems is mostly because of her weak stance on the war. Enter Ron Paul to the rescue!

The resistance against Huckabee among Republicans is mostly because of his liberal fiscal views. Enter Ron Paul to the rescue!

In such a situation I can imagine Ron Paul gaining enough support to win. I think if Obama is the Dem. candidate, this won't work. It may work if another Republican wins other than Huckabee, but not as well. Paul may draw anti-war Republicans regardless. Paul may even draw from the Christian right.

One roadblock may be if another candidate (like Bloomberg) also announces a 3rd party run... Depending on the platform Bloomberg runs on, he could take much of Paul's support.

 

[MN Patriot]

Wait until the GOP Brokered convention is over, thats plan A.

If he loses during that, move to plan B - LP at the very least he will screw the GOP for screwing him, and he continues to get his message out there right until Nov 2008.

Winning is the ultimate goal, but if you can't do that spreading the message is the next best thing.

When is the GOP brokered convention? Their national convention is in September, too late for Ron to change to the Libertarian Party.

The LP convention is in May, I believe, because it will take all summer to get on the ballot in all states.