What is Ron Planning?

[Xyrus2]

To quote Ron:

"the chances of a brokered convention are nearly zero"

" I am committed to fighting for our ideas within the Republican party, so there will be no third party run"

"But I am a Republican, and I will remain a Republican"

Seems doubtful that he will try to take down McCain at the convention and will likely endorse him. But who knows.

If Ron Paul backs McCain, he will lose any and all credibility he has. He'll just be another roll-over-and-take-it republican.

But that is not Ron Paul. Ron Paul WILL NOT BACK MCCAIN! And if his supporters have any spine, they won't back him either.

So he didn't run the best campaign. That doesn't mean the message is any less important. It must be heard. And now, the best way for that to happen is to vote for Ron Paul. Write him in. If you can't, vote for someone other than McCain. Make damn sure the GOP knows exactly how you feel about the betrayal and indiginity shown by them against the only conservative that was really running.

Bitch. Complain. Yell and scream. Be angry. Be sad. They're perfectly normal emotions. But DON'T roll over to the GOP-MSM complex. Let it be known to them that you would rather see the republicans lose than have McCain be president.

Do you abandon your favorite football team because they have a bad season? Are you just a fair weather supporter? Did anyone think this was going to be an easy win?

Come on people. Ron Paul is a good man. Perhaps too good. But we didn't come out to fight for just a man. We came out to fight for a message of freedom and liberty.

I'm not willing to give up that fight. I am not a sunshine patriot.

~X~

 

[snaFU]

Honestly, I'm a little pissed off with the latest announcement. He's got millions upon millions that has still gone unspent, and now he is basically pulling out and concentrating more on Congress. I didn't donate money so he could retain his Congressional seat, I gave him money so he could promote his campaign for presidency. The Paul campaign can now do whatever they wish with all this cash, meaning they could put it all into the Texas Congressional race if they want. There are no campaign finance which say you must spend this money on just the presidential campaign.

And it's not like this decision was spur of the moment. Apparently, they hadn't been planning events around the country for awhile, and supposedly the only event scheduled after Super Tues. was a rally in Texas for re-election to Congress.

No third party run is BS in my opinion. The guy's got tons of support, and could draw an even larger crowd than he does now, especially if two war hawks like McCain and Hillary get the nominations. I just don't get it.

Third party runs are a waste...do you really want to help Hillary win the election?

 

[colin1]

Good grief people... go learn some facts before you puke out the crap in your head on these forums!

It is against the law to use funds donated for one campaign on a different campaign... RP cannot use his presidential campaign funds for his congressional run or a run for the senate.

Then, there is the issue for running for senate... he is not a candidate... or does the meaning of this have to be spelled out as well. Stop getting your information from the WONKedBitches or from WickedPedia... use some authoritative sources.

jeeeezzz... do some reading to learn something before typing this ignorant nonsense... then, do some thinking about what it all means. We're supposed to be the smart ones... it certainly isn't being demonstrated by some of the posters here.

+1776

Learn the facts and quit your bitching. It sounds to me like Ron's going to launch a seriously ass kicking new liberty movement with the grassroots at its core. We're in for an exciting future!

 

[jmc1144]

It is against the law to use funds donated for one campaign on a different campaign... RP cannot use his presidential campaign funds for his congressional run or a run for the senate.

Get your facts straight. Don't call others out when it is perfectly legal to do this. Here's a quote from a local Sante Fe paper with regard to Bill Richardson:

"One possible Republican Senate candidate, state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, said Thursday that he's leaning toward running for the Senate. But he said he might back out if Richardson jumps in the [Republican] primary. ``He'd be tough with all that federal money,'' he said referring to Richardson's presidential campaign funds -- which would be legal to use in a U.S. Senate race."

Source: http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/70029.html

And if you did any type of research on campaign finance, you would know that transferring these funds to his Congressional war chest is perfectly acceptable for Paul to do, and within his rights. In fact, the money continues to stick with a candidate, even if the election goes by and not all is spent. They then have the option to donate it to candidates they support, or to charities or other organizations.

 

[KingTheoden]

I don't even want to bring this up, but I just read this on wonkette.com's coverage of RP's announcement:

"Ron Paul is a genius. He amassed a war chest of 30 million dollars, spent almost none of it, and now goes back to Congress. He can use that campaign money to guarantee his reelection to the House for the rest of his life, or probably even get himself a Senate seat. Genius, I tell you. 99% of those people would not have donated a single Amero to help he retain his seat in Congress or for a Senate run and he knew it. Now he's flush and sitting pretty."

This couldn't be true- could it?

Wonkette is wrong on at least one front: HQ sure did blow through that money. They spent $17.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, an amazing amount considering the very, very poor campaign strategy (or lack thereof).

The campaign failed us. They failed to get the message out beyond our 10% core, something that Anita Andrews warned us about. They failed to confront vote fraud in New Hampshire thereby giving the greenlight for fraud elsewhere. They failed to purchase internal tracking polls as a response to the media's polls. They simply ran through our money like a 17 year old on cocaine.

By ruling out a third party run, I feel incredibly betrayed. I always assumed that that would occur. Frankly, a House seat is pretty meaningless nowadays. At the very least, it was highly misleading of the campaign to use messages like 'he is our last hope' and then sheepishly exit stage left.

 

[Ira Aten]

Honestly, I'm a little pissed off with the latest announcement. He's got millions upon millions that has still gone unspent, and now he is basically pulling out and concentrating more on Congress. I didn't donate money so he could retain his Congressional seat, I gave him money so he could promote his campaign for presidency. The Paul campaign can now do whatever they wish with all this cash, meaning they could put it all into the Texas Congressional race if they want. There are no campaign finance which say you must spend this money on just the presidential campaign.

Absolutely astounding statement.

I guess it would be best to have some more chicken shit people in Congress who have no fucking regard for the Constitution, and that would be better? In other words "my friend" you believe Johh McCain nver put a penney of his donations to the Presidential camaigns he has run ever since ABSCAM, into his Senate campaign?

You would rather have a guy in Congress who won't try to halt the NAU?

I tell you what. Call the campaign, and tell them you want your fifty fucking dollars back. I am sure they will be glad to send it back.

You will sure need it with Omama osama/Hillary Socialism running our nation.

 

[Tarzan]

Get your facts straight. Don't call others out when it is perfectly legal to do this. Here's a quote from a local Sante Fe paper with regard to Bill Richardson:

I DO have my facts straight... but it appears I need to elaborate so we don't get into a semantics war.

To use funds raised for a primary presidential campaign for any other purposes than that campaign, the candidate would have to withdrawal (drop out, quit, give up, admit defeat) or lose in their election bid to win the primary. That is why Richardson can use the funds more liberally... because he quit.

So... if Ron Paul quits he can use the remaining funds in a number of ways... since he says he will continue to be a presidential candidate at least until the convention (and I take him at his word) he cannot divert those funds. So, for the purposes of remaining in BOTH races (congressional and presidential) he CANNOT legally use the funds any way he wants.

If you had completed YOUR research of campaign finance rules you would have learned this. Making extrapolations from a single online article or using wikedpedia is no place to do research. Read the actual campaign finance regulations... I have.

 

[Jejuforliberty]

He's not pulling out. He's making clear he needs to win re-election to Congress. And he's pledging to go all the way to the Convention.

All he did, was rule out a 3rd Party run.

Dr. Paul is old enough to understand (even if WE don't) that 7 months is an ETERNITY in politics, and ANYTHING can happen.

Keep working. Keep working. Keep working.

All he did was rule out the one last chance of winning.

 

[Blythexo]

He doesn't have a war chest. Last I saw reported he was down to about $8 million. And that was before advertising for Super Tuesday.

Did you read the last paragraph from Dan on Daily Dose?
Ron Paul is not going to surrender, and John McCain will not take the Republican nomination without the fight of his life. Your donations and work as Precinct Leaders are needed now more than ever. Thank you all for everything you’ve done so far — the revolution has just begun.

Ron Paul is not going to surrender, and John McCain will not take the Republican nomination without the fight of his life. Your donations and work as Precinct Leaders are needed now more than ever. Thank you all for everything you’ve done so far — the revolution has just begun.

Ron Paul is not going to surrender, and John McCain will not take the Republican nomination without the fight of his life. Your donations and work as Precinct Leaders are needed now more than ever. Thank you all for everything you’ve done so far — the revolution has just begun.

Can you hear Ron now?

 

[demidog]

All he did was rule out the one last chance of winning.

Troll. A Third party run is an absolute and total waste of time and credibility.

When Ron Paul sent out the message that a brokered convention wasn't likely, he didn't expect Huckster to win any more states.

But in fact, it has been RP supporters who have done well in the caucuses and achieved delegates in states even when the popular vote was higher for other candidates. It is the delegates that count in selecting the nominee.

 

[KevinDW78]

I didn't donate money so he could retain his Congressional seat, I gave him money so he could promote his campaign for presidency.

Agreed

 

[Liberté]

No third party run is BS in my opinion. The guy's got tons of support, and could draw an even larger crowd than he does now, especially if two war hawks like McCain and Hillary get the nominations. I just don't get it.

He has been saying no 3rd Party run from the beginning! HE CAN NOT WIN AT THIS POINT! What don't you get? He has a right to concentrate on his House Seat, plus he is not dropping out, he still plans to keep running. How is it Dr. Pauls fault that you never listened (or believed) when he said no 3rd Party run?

 

[KevinDW78]

Ron's latest e-mail was simply a realization that the likelihood of him getting the GOP nomination was slim so he is shifting temporary focus to his congressional campaign in an attempt to secure it.

"Temporary" until when?!?! AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION!?!?! WHat an idiotic statement. THIS IS A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION and the primary is already almost OVER! WAKE UP! There is NO MORE TIME for "temporary"!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KevinDW78]

It is against the law to use funds donated for one campaign on a different campaign... RP cannot use his presidential campaign funds for his congressional run or a run for the senate.

Don't be ignorant - HE IS ALREADY DOING THIS! He is dumping TONS of money into presidential advertising in Texas - HOW CONVENIENT! He can advertise in Texas under the guise of it being his presidential campaign - what's the difference? Ron Paul is Ron Paul. If they see his name on the ballot, they mark it, regardless of what category it falls under.

 

[tpreitzel]

"Temporary" until when?!?! AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION!?!?! WHat an idiotic statement. THIS IS A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION and the primary is already almost OVER! WAKE UP! There is NO MORE TIME for "temporary"!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, yawn. So the man can't be running for the Presidency while executing his duties as Representative for his district? Answer: Of course, he can, is, and will continue to do so. Temporary means just that - until about $400k is raised, but as already mentioned, Ron isn't sitting on his hands while running for the GOP nomination. Your emotionally charged nonsense is growing old.

 

[KevinDW78]

is this just a thread for whiners and those who whine about whiners

This has become the new RP mantra for "if you're against the war, you're not a patriot and unamerican"

Since when is dissent not a fundamental in the concept of revolution? Just because this campaign has gotten to a point where the unification is falling apart doesn't mean that acting McCarthyistic.

 

[B of R guy]

Bottom line, I TOTALLY trust Ron Paul. He will make the right decisions for himself and our movement.

We should all remember that this is a long fight that will continue well after this presidential election.

Hunker down and keep working.

 

[KevinDW78]

So the man can't be running for the Presidency while executing his duties as Representative for his district?

I never said he couldn't - of course he can. I am challenging the notion that Ron Paul is "taking a break" from the presidential campaign when there is NO TIME to do so! He can run his congressional campaign PARALLEL TO, not INSTEAD OF.

At this point. The only viable strategy that appears feasible is to be waiting until after winning the Texas primary and then launching an independant presidential run. If he doesn't, I can't see how he can continue this fight. The man is 72 years old. He is not going to be a viable (literally) candidate in 4 or 8 years.

 

[FreeTraveler]

Ron Paul having a congressional seat in congress resulted in no changes to our foreign policy, infringement of civil liberties, or monetary policy. He was ignored and often voted alone. Going back to that congressional seat is not why I sent him money or spent time supporting him. He needs to run 3rd party in order to set the GOP straight. Either he'll win as a third party candidate or he'll prevent the GOP from winning with liberal John McCain. Either way he can demonstrate to the GOP once and for all that it can either move back to its conservative base or become irrelevant. Ron Paul is in the perfect position to win a third party run. McCain is hated by Republicans. Hillary is hated by everyone. Now is the time.

You're absolutely right. His Congressional career has been a complete failure. There's no value in a 20-year record of service that proves his long-term commitment to real principles, and that says he's exactly what this country needs to turn it around. What percentage of his supporters support him for any other reason than his principled stance, and the fact that those principles are RIGHT?

Ron Paul WAS a lone voice in Congress. If we can manage to get ONE MORE member of the House of Representatives that believes as Dr. Paul believes, OUR SUPPORT IN GOVERMENT WILL DOUBLE! Only two are needed to TRIPLE it. This isn't about one man, and only one man realized that at first.

I'm amazed at the people who see the little snowball rolling down the long, steep, snow-covered hill, and don't see the town down below that's going to be flattened. Just keep the snow falling and all the rest will take care of itself.

 

[Tarzan]

I really get tired of explaining this nonsense...

1. The Texas Republican primary is March 4th. (Democratic Primary as well)
2. There is a neo-con Republican running against Ron Paul for his congressional seat.
3. There is no democratic candidate for the seat.
4. If Ron Paul defeats the Republican challenger in the March 4th primary he will retain his seat as he will face no challengers in the general election.
5. After March 4th Ron Paul can focus his efforts on the Presidential Campaign.
6. If Ron Paul goes third party (which he said he will not) he would no longer be the Republican candidate for reelection to his congressional seat. Ergo, his house seat would not be assured in the general election.
7. RP cannot use funds, donated for his presidential campaign, for his congressional campaign (or any other office) unless he drops out of the presidential race or is defeated.

Is this clear enough? Do I need to draw some pictures?
How about a puppet show and I can act it out for you?

I too am disappointed at the course of events. I really hoped we could win a major victory as our first step to restoring a constitutional government. I knew it was a long shot... but I have still given it my best effort.

But the battle is not over... the presidential nomination is about delegates and getting exposure. I am going to post a message I sent to the Meetup Organizers that will explain why I think the revolution is not over and that we can still win back our government.

Self immolation (such as running as a Libertarian or third party) is not the answer.
Please see the next post.