What's the best advice for Ron Paul?

[Paul4Prez]

Vote in the poll, explain your answers here, or add ideas that I've missed.

 

[christagious]

Campaign manager. Just like how rock bands aren't going to get big without a good manager.

Does Ron Paul or the campaign read these forums though? Is this useful at all?

 

[Tarabell952]

Hire a manager, someone who knows what they're doing. Ron Paul's message appeals to everyone. It wouldn't be that hard to get people to vote for him if they heard it.

I think he needs more TV ads. He's been blacked out by the media. So run an onsluaght of ads! People would consider him less fringe if they heard about him constantly. It doesn't matter if its from TV ads or the media. People don't remember where they heard the name. As long as they hear it enough, they will consider the candidate viable.

 

[Suzu]

You need to add "All of the above" to the poll!

 

[Liberty Star]

Some ideas:


- Appoint a grassroots coordinator/liaison ( already done ) - Check

- Review Official Campaign organization and expand/supplement/overhaul it to ensure to have a top notch org that actively engages with media and prospective voters with a consistent message

- Have ads that are consistent with RP message, better quality and content

- Improve coordination with grassroots, recruit talent from grassroots if needed

- Be as aggressive as RP was in last SC debate, they respect you more when you fight back

- Message of Change and Hope works, Fear message candidates are dropping out. Highlight message of change and hope and Iraq war/economy/liberties

- Constantly review grassroots created campaigning materials and put up quality, selected material ( print brochures, youtube vid ads etc) on some special server for all to access/download and print from a single point

 

[austin356]

FIRE YOUR FRIENDS GOOD DOCTOR!!!!


I think Dr. Paul's loyalty to his hundreds of thousands of supporters comes before his quarter century friendship with Kent.

 

[Gadsdenfly]

Send in the pros. (that are not clowns)

 

[Conza88]

Don't change a thing.

Ron Paul fken kicks ass...

PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE MESSAGE, AND WHEN THEY DO - THEY CONVERT.

BIG CAMPAIGN MANAGER?
- IS it a prerequsite that he supports Ron Paul?
- THat he is genuine?
- That he isn't bought?

fuck that shit. RP FTW

 

[LSUiLike]

I think Ron Paul needs to do a better job of telling the common folks why he is a better candidate for them than the other guys are. He is being painted as soft on terrorism and a blame-America first guy. His domestic plans are considered undoable - eliminating the IRS is a noble pursuit, but I think that's such a big jump from our current situation that it scares people away from Paul. He needs to explain how he'd work toward those goals without specifically mentioning cutting all those institutions.

Paul could have a less radical message that would scare those afraid of change less. He doesn't have to compromise what he stands for, but most people are afraid of radical change.

Paul also needs to explain how the other candidates just don't get it and how what they propose will bring our to its knees. He doesn't do a good enough job challenging his opponent's positions. People would probably get it more if he brought the fight to the other guys. He doesn't have to be ugly, just direct.

 

[Mike S.]

Make the message more mainstream.

There is generally one issue that keeps many folks from getting on board. I don't know how many friends have told me "I like a lot of his ideas but...". Rephrase his issue statements to not sound as scary to some folks. I see that this has essentially been done on the web site. But Ron Paul himself needs to phrase things this way when before the press or in debates. Saying or agreeing with statements like "Abolish the Federal Income Tax" on Meet The Press - Here is the transcript:

MR. RUSSERT: Let's start right at the very top, the issues. This is what you have been saying on the campaign stump, "I'd like to get rid of the IRS. I want to get rid of the income tax." Abolish it.

REP. PAUL: That's a good idea. I like that idea.

Viewers think to themselves: Our federal highways will close, our defense will not be funded, etc.

PAUL's response should have been more like "What I mean by that is to reduce federal spending to the point where the IRS is hardly even needed"

I was speaking to a normally very quiet friend of my wife about Ron Paul's foreign non-intervention policy and she started screaming at me that another Hitler would come to power. She sees Ron Paul base closure policy as a threat - she was raised in Austria and knows all about the Hitlers of the world. So can Ron Paul change his stand on this? No. But he could rephrase it by including an assurance that the U.S. WOULD come to the aid of any or our allies being invaded. We would wouldn't we? Even under RP, if Great Britain were being invaded, we would certainly come to their aid. So why not include that in the platform? Also, stress that America NEEDS a strong military for it's own protection and we can use all the money saved by bringing our troops home to help keep our military strong and up to date - this would bring in a LOT of folks scared that RP will weaken our defense.

Until these types of modifications are made, expect 5-9% of Americans to vote for him. Even with these modifications, he needs top-notch campaign management to win an election - addressed by the #1 choice in this poll. The modifications will bring in the Americans (besides Paulites) that pay attention and could get him up to possibly 20%. The top-notch campaign management will bring in many of the folks that don't pay attention.

 

[FreeTraveler]

My advice to Dr. Paul

"Run the campaign the way YOU want. You've done this a lot more times than any of us, and you're a consistent winner. Feel free to tell the grassroots folks who think they know it all to STFU and go be precinct captains."

 

[SeanEdwards]

Chuck the racists and nutters under a bus.

 

[dianeh]

he needs more expert help

"Run the campaign the way YOU want. You've done this a lot more times than any of us, and you're a consistent winner. Feel free to tell the grassroots folks who think they know it all to STFU and go be precinct captains."

Agreed, BUT--- he needs more expert help; the other guys aren't playing fair at all. (no surprise) This is way more big time than anything he has ever done--he has a real chance to win and needs all the help he can get. Just look at the advisors the other candidates have:

http://tobefree.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/skousen-election-manipulation-in-full-swing/

 

[Paul4Prez]

Any big-time campaign managers still out there that he could hire who would be friendly and trustworthy?

 

[Drknows]

To the people who voted these

Hire an image consultant and speaking coach.
Make the message more mainstream.

I shake my head.

If Ron Paul ever came out looking and talking like Mitt Romney i think i would go puke and then go scrape his name off my car.

* you would think everyone would vote Improve communications with grassroots. (if they really wanted to be heard)

 

[MayTheRonBeWithYou]

New manager and better ads.

 

[ErikBlack]

Hire a speech coach and political consultant who can help him rehearse every answer to likely questions and present them calmly, forcefully, and in a way so that even a 12 year old child could understand it.

Here is how I would do it. Obviously I'm no political genius so I'm sure an expert could help Dr. Paul present these issues in an even more appealing and easy to understand light. But I think that even my amateur attempt beats out the philosophical, stream of consciousness rants we are used to.
______________________________________________

THE WAR IN IRAQ:

The war in Iraq was started under false pretenses and has been an unmitigated disaster. 70% of the American people now want out of the war. I will honor the wishes of the American people and bring our troops home immediately.
______________________________________________

THE ECONOMY & INFLATION:

The federal government spends more money each year than it takes in through taxes. The difference has to be borrowed from foreign countries and the Federal Reserve who prints money out of thin air so government can spend it. This is the root cause of economic inflation, recession and depression. I will prevent a recession by reducing federal spending, reducing taxes, balancing the budget and steering this country away from bankruptcy. More money in the pockets of the American people and American businesses and less money in government and special interest coffers will contribute to a thriving economy.
______________________________________________

ELECT ABILITY

I believe in free markets, a non-interventionist foreign policy, small government, less taxation and personal liberty. These are traditional Republican positions. In recent years the Republican party has changed its platform. I intend to return us to the principles upon which this party was founded and be a servant of the people, not the neo-conservative special interest groups who have hijacked the Republican party.
______________________________________________

SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE

The country is in deep financial trouble. Our financial obligations far exceed our income and we don't have enough money to meet our obligations to seniors. I will immediately end American military involvement overseas and bring our troops home, saving hundreds of billions of dollars, which I will use to pay benefits for those who have become dependent. No-one will be put out on the street. At the same time I will allow young people to opt out of a system that is guaranteed never to provide for them in retirement.
______________________________________________

IMMIGRATION

Immigration must be dealt with on two fronts. We must physically prevent illegal aliens from crossing our borders and we must remove the incentive for them to try. I will bring all of our troops home from every country of the world and put a portion of them to work policing the border. As a disincentive to come here in the first place we will no longer offer free medical care, education or welfare to illegal aliens. We will no longer allow American businesses to employ illegal aliens at sub-standard wages which costs our citizens their jobs and causes resentment toward them.
______________________________________________

FOREIGN POLICY

I am running for president of the United States of America, not president of the world. My number one priority is to restore liberty, prosperity and peace here at home. As president I will not act as the world's policeman or the world's babysitter. I will invite all nations of the world to engage in free trade and travel with the United States but we will remain neutral in all conflicts which do not directly involve our national security.

______________________________________________

NATIONAL DEFENSE

America is the greatest military power in the world. We are surrounded on the east and west by two vast oceans and bordered on the north and south by friendly, westernized nations. America is in a better position than any other nation in the world to defend herself from aggressive attacks. There is no need for us to engage in national offense and pre-emptive war to protect our citizens. The resources we waste policing and bullying the world can be better spent here at home, ensuring that we build an even stronger national defense.

______________________________________________

 

[Paul4Prez]

Good answer

The war in Iraq was started under false pretenses and has been an unmitigated disaster. 70% of the American people now want out of the war. I will honor the wishes of the American people and bring our troops home immediately.

That works for me.

 

[amy31416]

Make the message more mainstream.

There is generally one issue that keeps many folks from getting on board. I don't know how many friends have told me "I like a lot of his ideas but...". Rephrase his issue statements to not sound as scary to some folks. I see that this has essentially been done on the web site. But Ron Paul himself needs to phrase things this way when before the press or in debates. Saying or agreeing with statements like "Abolish the Federal Income Tax" on Meet The Press - Here is the transcript:

MR. RUSSERT: Let's start right at the very top, the issues. This is what you have been saying on the campaign stump, "I'd like to get rid of the IRS. I want to get rid of the income tax." Abolish it.

REP. PAUL: That's a good idea. I like that idea.

Viewers think to themselves: Our federal highways will close, our defense will not be funded, etc.

PAUL's response should have been more like "What I mean by that is to reduce federal spending to the point where the IRS is hardly even needed"

I was speaking to a normally very quiet friend of my wife about Ron Paul's foreign non-intervention policy and she started screaming at me that another Hitler would come to power. She sees Ron Paul base closure policy as a threat - she was raised in Austria and knows all about the Hitlers of the world. So can Ron Paul change his stand on this? No. But he could rephrase it by including an assurance that the U.S. WOULD come to the aid of any or our allies being invaded. We would wouldn't we? Even under RP, if Great Britain were being invaded, we would certainly come to their aid. So why not include that in the platform? Also, stress that America NEEDS a strong military for it's own protection and we can use all the money saved by bringing our troops home to help keep our military strong and up to date - this would bring in a LOT of folks scared that RP will weaken our defense.

Until these types of modifications are made, expect 5-9% of Americans to vote for him. Even with these modifications, he needs top-notch campaign management to win an election - addressed by the #1 choice in this poll. The modifications will bring in the Americans (besides Paulites) that pay attention and could get him up to possibly 20%. The top-notch campaign management will bring in many of the folks that don't pay attention.

I voted for better communications with the grassroots, but you've made a very strong point here. These are important topics that absolutely need clarity. I fully believe that RP would, as president, defend our allies (with a declared war, of course) but he doesn't come right out and say that.

Most all of his focus is on the US right now, and I understand the reasoning, but his position on foreign policy and our allies could be clearer.

So campaign management and clarity to the mainstream would be tremendously helpful.

You can help personally also, by becoming a precinct captain and making sure that his positions are well understood.

 

[libertyguy]

Ron Paul is at his very best when attacked. It is then that he shows his righteous indignation and comes up with his best material. I would like to see him with that kind of fire more often. He is fighting for the little guy, but he needs to be less the statesman at times and more the attack dog. Attack those robbers, pillagers, and thieves who have stolen our good name abroad and our money and freedom at home!!! They have robbed us blind and now need to be kicked out of Washington (kind of material)