What is the best strategy for Rand (revised)?

[jkob]

That proves absolutely nothing. The runner up last time was Santorum who is polling at *% this time. That was an extraordinarily weak field where Ron was a protest candidate and he still won zero states and only got 10% of the vote.

Winning and getting votes isn't a sign of strength. Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlent y did horribly last time. They were still stronger candidates than Ron Paul, because they had a scenario where they could win. There was not scenario where Ron Paul could win. Ron Paul did as well as he could in ideal conditions and finished 4th.

Do you see the media fluffing Rand up before Iowa and New Hampshire like they did Santorum and Huntsman? I don't. Rand never had a chance of winning with his current strategy, he never had a chance of co-opting the Republican establishment but they were happy to leave a permanent stain on him.

I don't know how you measure strength but Rand is running a campaign of a guy who drops out before Iowa and people forget even ran, not a guy that has even the slightest chance of winning. How is Rand going to generate excitement? Mock it all you want but we've ceded the college campuses and internet message to a communist, that was a big part of Ron's image and being able to generate that amount of excitement is infectious. Educational campaigns aren't useless, they set the stage for something down the line and Rand has seemingly squandered that base of support to cozy up Mitch McConnell for what benefit now?

 

[mrsat_98]

Make the Federal Reserve an issue.

 

[William R]

Stop attacking Donald Trump!! Every time he does he sinks in the polls. Rand just doesn't get it. Republican voters want an outsider. I hate to say it because I can't stand him, but Cruz is a much better candidate. He's hitched his wagon to Trump and is just out of the top tier while Rand continues to sink. Rand has made one mistake after another and he got killed on Twitter yesterday after attacking Trump.

https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/tw...that-the-gop-base-prefers-reality-star-trump/

 

[acptulsa]

Mock it all you want but we've ceded the college campuses and internet message to a communist, that was a big part of Ron's image and being able to generate that amount of excitement is infectious. Educational campaigns aren't useless, they set the stage for something down the line and Rand has seemingly squandered that base of support to cozy up Mitch McConnell for what benefit now?

College campuses in Iowa are not likely to be Sanders strongholds. We have ceded nothing. Iowa caucuses full of college students for Rand could well be very persuasive. Having young people show up in a caucus and remind the older people of aspects of conservatism and American heritage that they themselves have forgotten is enough to convince them this candidate is a miracle worker, and Fox won't be in the room to herd them back into the sheep pen. And I'm willing to bet 75% of the American population couldn't pick Mitch McConnell out of a lineup.

Keep spreading the doom and gloom, though. Enough practice and you might learn how to make it convincing.

Make the Federal Reserve an issue.

I'd like that. I'm sure we all would. But we really haven't had much luck in figuring out how to make that a red meat issue that voters can sink their teeth into. It should be. That is what happened to the middle class, after all--few people can get raises fast enough to keep ahead of the devaluation of the dollar. The question is, how do you take someone from zero to sixty on that subject in a thirty second sound bite?

 

[WeTheVigilant]

Attacking Trump is the wrong idea - if voters are looking for an anti-establishment candidate, I don't think attacking the most popular anti-establishment candidate is going to capture much positive attention. He needs to out-Trump, Trump, and he CAN because Rand is the REAL anti-establishment candidate and he needs to steal his own thunder back.

 

[William R]

Also attacking Trump makes Rand look like an ingrate. Rand called Trump and asked if he'd like to play a round of golf. Trump said sure and they played on one of Trump's luxurious courses. During the match Rand solicited a 10 thousand dollar contribution for his trip to Central American so his group could do the free eye surgeries.

Simply put, Rand has run an awful campaign.

 

[jkob]

College campuses in Iowa are not likely to be Sanders strongholds. We have ceded nothing. Iowa caucuses full of college students for Rand could well be very persuasive. Having young people show up in a caucus and remind the older people of aspects of conservatism and American heritage that they themselves have forgotten is enough to convince them this candidate is a miracle worker, and Fox won't be in the room to herd them back into the sheep pen. And I'm willing to bet 75% of the American population couldn't pick Mitch McConnell out of a lineup.

Keep spreading the doom and gloom, though. Enough practice and you might learn how to make it convincing.



I'd like that. I'm sure we all would. But we really haven't had much luck in figuring out how to make that a red meat issue that voters can sink their teeth into. It should be. That is what happened to the middle class, after all--few people can get raises fast enough to keep ahead of the devaluation of the dollar. The question is, how do you take someone from zero to sixty on that subject in a thirty second sound bite?

I guess its good to be optimistic but the polls are spelling doom and gloom not me.

If Rand wants the Fed to be an issue then he has to come out strong against it and start advocating ending the fed like his dad. Nobody gets excited for audits and then what? Rand needs to stop worrying about winning support from the party and start worrying about winning support from actual voters and the voters hate the Republican Party establishment. Cruz kept his campaign alive by telling the truth about Mitch McConnell while Rand's went down the tubes.

 

[William R]

One smart thing he could do next week in the debate if the chance comes up he should go after moderator Hugh Hewitt. If say Hewitt asks the other people on stage if they think Trump is a conservative Rand could turn the tables and say, well I would challenge your conservative credential because in 2012 you said you would support Obama before my father.


http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/12/hugh_hewitt_conservative_radio.php

 

[Working Poor]

His tax plan and his stand on criminal just reform are his 2 strongest IMO.

 

[jkob]

I still stand by my assertion Rand should of called Christie 'fat boy' in the first debate during the exchange. Out-Trump Trump, Christie deserves to be shamed for his weight considering his positions on drugs. I think it would of gotten him attention and people would of thought he was tough, people would remember him at least and name recognition is half the battle. I think he'd be polling better right now if he did. He can't let these losers bark him down, he needs to show them no mercy.

 

[Natural Citizen]

If we consider the future. Meaning 2020 and beyond, I think he'd do himself best to educate himself on what the rest of the world is actually doing at the moment. There is a lot going on. Critical things that affect the U.S. Economic restructuring, trade restructuring, currency restructuring, infrastructure restructuring. That kind of thing. That's just me talking, though. Most will likely disagree. And that's okay, I suppose. Those sanctions on Russia were the most knee-jerk amateur thing I've seen from our elected ones in some time. And the rest of the world took notice of that. Well...they took notice in that fiasco over in the Ukraine as well. Is no wonder that our own traditional allies are jumping ship and heading over to the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank. They are starting to see the cartel style of economics that has historically been hidden start to make its way into the public sector. And thats a fact, jack.

End of the day he is going to have to choose to be an issues representative or a go with the social flow kind of guy. It's that simple.

 

[Dianne]

He should come across with the zeal of Ronald Reagan such as here. This imo is one of the top 3 best speeches ever made in human history. Rand should emulate the energy and genuineness, something I know he's very capable of. With the issues important today of course. Reagan speaks to people directly, not in undefined terms. Powerful but meaningful words.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qXBswFfh6AY


In fact, after re-watching the speech again. Almost the entire speech is still relevant, sadly --. Change some numbers...

You are right on spot. Rand should "emulate the energy and genuineness, something I know he's very capable of". That is what is missing from his campaign. That's why I've said over and over again, Rand doesn't really want it. His hearts not in it. That is what I interpret from his day to day campaigning.

If he wants it, I want to see energy, zeal, and strength to go the entire mile.

 

[CPUd]

You are right on spot. Rand should "emulate the energy and genuineness, something I know he's very capable of". That is what is missing from his campaign. That's why I've said over and over again, Rand doesn't really want it. His hearts not in it. That is what I interpret from his day to day campaigning.

If he wants it, I want to see energy, zeal, and strength to go the entire mile.

You appear to know nothing of his day to day campaigning.

 

[cindy25]

Trump has had a massive amount of luck, as world events have just gone his way. the Syrian refugee crisis coming at this point is something out of a novel. but that can not continue. people want an outsider-hence Sanders, and the socialists in the UK. if luck goes Rand's way he could be the outsider pick in January or February.

 

[Badger Paul]

"Supporting McConnell was the easiest and best decision he has made."

How 'bout we split the difference and say that it was one of those "seemed like a good idea at the time" decisions?

It's amazing how the political winds can shift with the space of just a few months. Obviously, three years ago Rand felt to win he couldn't be seen warring with the Senate Majority Leader and someone from his home state. That's not illogical. It's just that now it makes him look establishment and that's why his attacks on Trump have no effect.

But I will still argue Rand got very little in cozying-up with the powers-that-be. McConnell has endorsed him but hasn't done much more than that. He hasn't helped him with fundraising, which you would think by who McConnell knows with money would be an advantage. It hasn't been. Rand's been forced to pay for a caucus he shouldn't have to pay for. He endorsed Romney in 2012 by jumping on the bandwagon while his father was still in the race in humiliating fashion. What he get out of it? A convention speech no one remembers anything he said and his staffers given plumb party posts at the time. Now several of them may well be heading to the hoosegow.

I know for Rand the legacy of trying to gather signatures in some mall parking lot while his dad was running as a Libertarian for President was pretty painful. I understand he doesn't want to be a cult leader I get that. But he has to realize all his butt kissing has done is tie-him up with a very unpopular leadership. Even if Trump implodes the person ready to pick up the torch is Ted Cruz, not Rand Paul. Cruz called McConnell a liar on the Senate floor. In another day and time if that happened Cruz would be eating lunch in a Senate janitor's closet. That's day has passed has Rand simply failed to understand this and that's his biggest failure.

But it's not a career-ending failure. Rand screwed up but he can save himself by dropping out of the Presidential race and winning re-election to the Senate. Then if the GOP loses in 2016, he can be in a great position to pick up the pieces or be a principled anti-establishment opposition leader to any GOP administration. As I said, even if Trump imploded, Rand isn't going to benefit. He's just completely in the wrong position for this particular campaign and unless something earth-shattering happened it is not going to improve.

All you fellows talk about the "long-game", well this is the long game. I'm looking well into the future and Rand is still young enough to play a part in it. Learn from your mistakes and move on but the worst you can do is be a Rick Perry and look foolish in the process. Guess who's career is now over with?

 

[clint4liberty]

2nd GOP Debate Strategy

Default What is the best strategy for Rand?
A) Attack Donald Trumps hypocrisy and/or platform - Advantage: Works if voters are smart. Disadvantage: Voters might not be smart.

B) Attack Donald Trumps mob ties- Advantage: Works great if voters are moral. Disadvantage: Voters might not be moral.

C) Promote Rand running a doctors office in White House- Advantage: Could get low information voters. Disadvantage: Media might ignore it.

D) Promote Rand Paul's platform- Advantage: Educate the populace. Disadvantage: Might not capture voters attention.

E) Promote Rand's voting record- Advantage: Will show he truly is anti-establishment. Disadvantage: Might be too complex for voters.

F) Focus on Delegates at Conventions- Advantage: Could work with Mitch McConnell on his side. Disadvantage: Might turn off voters in General Election.

Voters are looking for a emotional, but calm delivery, crowd engaging/pleasing, 10 second sound bite, say on stage what we would say(no pc), and restate your platform emphasis on border security, tough on fiscal discipline/budget, and health care.

 

[clint4liberty]

If I was on stage I would say this in my opening and closing question or remarks. "If you want to make America Great Again for real then I am your candidate. I went to Washington DC in 2010 to defeat the Washington Machine and Unleash the American Dream. Stand with me and this great effort and we will make America Great Again for real. Yes, from sea to shining sea we will never surrender our safety or liberty. This nation is our last best hope on earth and I/we will lead decisively and boldly starting on day one."