UPDATE: Live from Iowa (Ames/Buses/Housing)

[Roxi]

Lets also remember that Steve works for the campaign for Liberty and not for the presidential campaign so technically by law he cannot comment on what the presidential campaign does. unless he now works for the presidential campaign which is a strong possibility.

I heard this morning that Steve is indeed on staff. http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=236008

 

[The Dark Knight]

I heard this morning that Steve is indeed on staff. http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=236008

Awesome! I would love to hear more from Steve on here. Maybe he can let us know the campaign's role in Iowa this time so there is not all this confusion.

 

[Roxi]

Steve Beirfeldt just called me to help clear some things up.


1. Craig bergman is not involved with the campaign in any capacity, nor did anyone from the campaign encourage him to go ahead with a PAC or any transportation plans for the Straw Poll. Furthermore, his post can definitely get the campaign in trouble with the FEC.

2. The campaign puts Iowa at the highest priority, and a plan will be revealed in the next few days to the grassroots and will involve tickets, transportation and lots of other fun stuff.

3. Any attempt to go ahead with an Iowa bus plan on the part of the grassroots would be reinventing the wheel, and putting our efforts on something else will be better served.

4. RP and the campaign is very serious about winning not just educating.

5. Communication from the campaign to the grassroots (and the forums) will be very different this time, and it is the goal of the campaign to work with the grassroots (legally) but in much better ways than the 08 campaign.

6. Steve has an appointment to talk to Josh later today for more information.


Hope that clears things up, should I start a new thread?

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

Steve Beirfeldt just called me to help clear some things up.


1. Craig bergman is not involved with the campaign in any capacity, nor did anyone from the campaign encourage him to go ahead with a PAC or any transportation plans for the Straw Poll. Furthermore, his post can definitely get the campaign in trouble with the FEC.

Not to be a jerk, but could these potential FEC problems be averted by not involving Craig in the PAC? Or, since the PAC hasn't incorporated yet is everything OK?

 

[ARealConservative]

Steve Beirfeldt just called me to help clear some things up.


1. Craig bergman is not involved with the campaign in any capacity, nor did anyone from the campaign encourage him to go ahead with a PAC or any transportation plans for the Straw Poll. Furthermore, his post can definitely get the campaign in trouble with the FEC.

2. The campaign puts Iowa at the highest priority, and a plan will be revealed in the next few days to the grassroots and will involve tickets, transportation and lots of other fun stuff.

3. Any attempt to go ahead with an Iowa bus plan on the part of the grassroots would be reinventing the wheel, and putting our efforts on something else will be better served.

4. RP and the campaign is very serious about winning not just educating.

5. Communication from the campaign to the grassroots (and the forums) will be very different this time, and it is the goal of the campaign to work with the grassroots (legally) but in much better ways than the 08 campaign.

6. Steve has an appointment to talk to Josh later today for more information.


Hope that clears things up, should I start a new thread?

the op opened this thread explaining that grassroots would not be directly involved in the bus plan any longer, that lifting would be done by hq.

They have asked our efforts to focus more on the housing and grassroots staffing for the Ames/Bus effort and I said we would do exactly that.

nothing directly about buses, just volunteer staffing, and housing during the straw poll.

In the last go around, my county had major problems dealing with Drew Ivers because he didn't really like that we were doing grassroots activities outside of his control. I hope the campaign isn't going to fight with the grassroots again!

 

[Roxi]

the op opened this thread explaining that grassroots would not be directly involved in the bus plan any longer, that lifting would be done by hq.



nothing directly about buses, just volunteer staffing, and housing during the straw poll.

In the last go around, my county had major problems dealing with Drew Ivers because he didn't really like that we were doing grassroots activities outside of his control. I hope the campaign isn't going to fight with the grassroots again!

I don't think that will be a problem... Steve expressly said that the campaign wants to work with the grassroots as much as legally possible.

As for Craigs post, I am not sure exactly how it can get the campaign in trouble, other than his claim that he was encouraged officially to go ahead with the PAC


My personal opinion is that if Josh has a plan to get trusted members of this forum involved in a PAC that we should wait for that to become official. I like Craig, but am now hesitant to trust him, even though I think his intentions were probably good, and just to alleviate the problems that had already arose about this issue.

I would also like to point out, that in the beginning of all this, nayjevin was merely trying to avoid reinventing the wheel on this matter, and pleaded many times with people to wait for some official word from the campaign, which now looks like what would have been the right thing to do. He was berated and flamed for this, which he admitted caused him frustration and to possibly go overboard in his posts, but that the initial reasoning for his hesitations remained. I don't speak for him in any way, but I wouldn't expect him to try so hard to point out possible objections in the future.

 

[Roxi]

Not to be a jerk, but could these potential FEC problems be averted by not involving Craig in the PAC? Or, since the PAC hasn't incorporated yet is everything OK?

That I can't answer, but the reason why Craigs involvement was a blessing was that he had a verifiable identity, was involved in the 08 campaign, and seemed to have some inside knowledge on what is going on officially.

Steve never said anything bad about Craig at all, or that he wasn't trustworthy, just that his post was very inaccurate, and he was not involved officially, and that his post could get them in trouble.

probably because of the highlighted parts below

I spoke with national staff who were already aware of the 527 PAC plans and they shared some information both public and private. The public details follow: Ron Paul directly said our goal in Iowa is 1st. To win. And they are committed to that, much more seriously than previously. Much of this is due to our efforts and the attention being generated from the grassroots, here on this site, and many other sources, including grassroots leaders in other states who strongly encouraged an Iowa first strategy.

I can say with absolute certainty three things: We still need to proceed with our PAC and were strongly encouraged to do so. We will need fewer buses and tickets than planned. How many fewer is not for public posting, but fewer is the word. The Campaign is going to commit "a significant portion" of the “Ready Ames Fire” money bomb directly to “Tickets and Buses”. The media was taking note and the words “Potential Frontrunner” were used more than a few times.



As such, both websites will remain and we will sign up riders, while both the grassroots and the campaign will make locations for both buses and supporter needs, publicly known. It will be a mutual effort without the need or risk of an actual coordination of any kind. The campaign is going to be utilizing the grassroots for turnout and they will be doing more of the recruitment and heavier lifting.

Buses and tickets therefore, become our secondary goal, and a supportive role, as our primary role becomes the grassroots: Bus leaders, training, housing, food, the entire logistics of 500+ activists on the ground for many days and weeks, leading up to the August event and then through the caucus. Our full plan will be available in a week or two as we redefine needs and work through the logistics of actually managing a vast network of volunteers over a significant timeline.


I sincerely wish to hear from anyone who wishes or plans to be here in Iowa on the ground and helping us out, my information is all public now and national is fully aware of the plan, my involvement with it, and with some clear direction, complete understanding and firm slap on the back, we are full steam ahead.

 

[The Dark Knight]

It's good to hear the campaign wants to be involved with busing and stuff like that. They will have much more money to be able to do it. I am glad we will follow a centralized plan from the campaign as opposed to a decentralized campaign some were advocating for.

 

[teacherone]

Steve Beirfeldt just called me to help clear some things up.


1. Craig bergman is not involved with the campaign in any capacity, nor did anyone from the campaign encourage him to go ahead with a PAC or any transportation plans for the Straw Poll. Furthermore, his post can definitely get the campaign in trouble with the FEC.

2. The campaign puts Iowa at the highest priority, and a plan will be revealed in the next few days to the grassroots and will involve tickets, transportation and lots of other fun stuff.

3. Any attempt to go ahead with an Iowa bus plan on the part of the grassroots would be reinventing the wheel, and putting our efforts on something else will be better served.

4. RP and the campaign is very serious about winning not just educating.

5. Communication from the campaign to the grassroots (and the forums) will be very different this time, and it is the goal of the campaign to work with the grassroots (legally) but in much better ways than the 08 campaign.

6. Steve has an appointment to talk to Josh later today for more information.


Hope that clears things up, should I start a new thread?

roxic-- thanks a lot for clearing things up.

i'm still unsure about one thing -- if Beirfeldt contradicts Bergman/RPN does that make the RPN PAC a scam and not to be trusted?

i've put in a bit of time on their site and don't want to volunteer any more if its not legit.

 

[The Dark Knight]

roxic-- thanks a lot for clearing things up.

i'm still unsure about one thing -- if Beirfeldt contradicts Bergman/RPN does that make the RPN PAC a scam and not to be trusted?

i've put in a bit of time on their site and don't want to volunteer any more if its not legit.

The way I see it, Ron Paul Nation, Craig and many others were advocating for a PAC to bus people to the straw poll because last time the campaign DID NOT. They wanted to get a plan in motion and i give them credit for that. Now we have learned that the campaign wants to be in charge THIS TIME. That's great! I prefer the official campaign because we can now all unite under a centralized plan. Dont call their efforts a scam because their intentions, I believe were honest. We need to all come together to win this for Ron and not fall into the childish behavior of calling people frauds and scams. Its not civil and has no place here! We all want Ron to win

 

[ARealConservative]

It's good to hear the campaign wants to be involved with busing and stuff like that. They will have much more money to be able to do it. I am glad we will follow a centralized plan from the campaign as opposed to a decentralized campaign some were advocating for.

both should happen. The campaign can't be everywhere in the state, so grassroots needs to pick up the slack.

for instance, in the last go-around, the campaign completely ignored the Eastern portion of the state, which includes some of the largest cities in the state nestled along the Mississippi River. If they intend to go that route again, grassroots needs to setup a plan to help get some of that populace to Ames.

 

[The Dark Knight]

both should happen. The campaign can't be everywhere in the state, so grassroots needs to pick up the slack.

for instance, in the last go-around, the campaign completely ignored the Eastern portion of the state, which includes some of the largest cities in the state nestled along the Mississippi River. If they intend to go that route again, grassroots needs to setup a plan to help get some of that populace to Ames.

Well it sounds like the campaign and grassroots will have to work separate because its illegal to work together. so good luck . Damn campaign laws

 

[Roxi]

The way I see it, Ron Paul Nation, Craig and many others were advocating for a PAC to bus people to the straw poll because last time the campaign DID NOT. They wanted to get a plan in motion and i give them credit for that. Now we have learned that the campaign wants to be in charge THIS TIME. That's great! I prefer the official campaign because we can now all unite under a centralized plan. Dont call their efforts a scam because their intentions, I believe were honest. We need to all come together to win this for Ron and not fall into the childish behavior of calling people frauds and scams. Its not civil and has no place here! We all want Ron to win

I agree with this too. I do think their intentions were probably good in nature. Though they were asked multiple times if this would be reinventing the wheel and had they talked to the campaign, or had any indication that the campaign wouldn't do this.

I don't think anyone is a fraud, but in the future I won't trust anyone else just on word on what is going on officially unless it comes from someone who is officially on staff.

 

[The Dark Knight]

I agree with this too. I do think their intentions were probably good in nature. Though they were asked multiple times if this would be reinventing the wheel and had they talked to the campaign, or had any indication that the campaign wouldn't do this.

I don't think anyone is a fraud, but in the future I won't trust anyone else just on word on what is going on officially unless it comes from someone who is officially on staff.

touche. The hard part will be getting the grassroots and campaign on the same page without breaking the law

 

[ARealConservative]

Well it sounds like the campaign and grassroots will have to work separate because its illegal to work together. so good luck . Damn campaign laws

grassroots has no problems working separately.

 

[Roxi]

touche. The hard part will be getting the grassroots and campaign on the same page without breaking the law

True, but from my experience working with the campaign last time as a grassroots leader, I think there are still a LOT of things that are perfectly legal for us to work together on.

 

[The Dark Knight]

grassroots has no problems working separately.

they cant work together (by law) so i would hope they have no problems, but they will probably have some problems along the way.

 

[The Dark Knight]

True, but from my experience working with the campaign last time as a grassroots leader, I think there are still a LOT of things that are perfectly legal for us to work together on.

What can we legally work together on ? I'm not familiar with the campaign laws, but they seem rediculous.

 

[teacherone]

The way I see it, Ron Paul Nation, Craig and many others were advocating for a PAC to bus people to the straw poll because last time the campaign DID NOT. They wanted to get a plan in motion and i give them credit for that. Now we have learned that the campaign wants to be in charge THIS TIME. That's great! I prefer the official campaign because we can now all unite under a centralized plan. Dont call their efforts a scam because their intentions, I believe were honest. We need to all come together to win this for Ron and not fall into the childish behavior of calling people frauds and scams. Its not civil and has no place here! We all want Ron to win

ok - i've thought all along that RPN was good people - it's just that when someone involved with the PAC says "Ron Paul's campaign told us X" and then someone involved with Ron Paul's campaign says "What that guy just said....total bullshit" then alarm bells go off.

so... it looks like the campaign itself is raising money and organizing buses. sweet.

let's win this mofo.

 

[The Dark Knight]

yeah I think the campaign got scared when they read this paragraph from Craig:
"As such, both websites will remain and we will sign up riders, while both the grassroots and the campaign will make locations for both buses and supporter needs, publicly known. It will be a mutual effort without the need or risk of an actual coordination of any kind."