Where did the Ron Paul supporters go?

[idiom]

I've noticed a segment of the Ron supporters, even the ones who bitch about Rand all the time, they will mobilize and bring people in when something happens like Rand getting pushed out of the debate. That launched some of the highest activity in the whole campaign. I came here when someone I knew showed me a video of one of the 2012 county conventions in MO where the guy got arrested, I wanted to know why that happened because it didn't appear he was doing anything but standing up and speaking, in a place that was meant for people to stand up and speak. Then I started watching Ron's speeches and debates, and even though I'm not 100% aligned with his philosophies, I still wanted to see the man get his voice heard, and so did everyone on here. I think no matter where people stand on the issues, they need that kind of a spark to really buy into a movement.

It is the mark of authenticity. If you are being suppressed then you much be saying something someone really really doesn't want you to be saying

 

[Brian4Liberty]

I don't think Ron Paul was inherently anti-Wall Street, unless by the term you are strictly referring to corrupt crony capitalism. But in the sense of big business, public trading of stocks, etc., that's just the free market in action. Wall Street as an institution won't go anywhere if/when liberty takes over...it will just be forced to become more honest.

As I said in the OP:

Position: Anti-Wall Street. Ron Paul made it clear that he supports free markets and minimal regulation, but there was an anti-Wall Street component to that. Mostly it revolved around crony capitalism and the Wall St. interests that take advantage of inside access, which dove-tailed nicely with his Audit the Fed efforts. This overlaps to a certain extent with the Occupy Wall Street movement, which of course leans towards Bernie Sanders, with Sanders being the only candidate to emphasize it this year, albeit with socialist and government redistribution of wealth remedies.

Candidates: Bernie Sanders (for calling out the problems, but with counter-productive solutions).

As Ron said yesterday:

“On occasion, Bernie comes up with libertarian views when he talks about taking away the cronyism on Wall Street, so in essence he’s right, and occasionally he voted against war,” the former Texas congressman said when asked if there was a candidate who was truly for the free market.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

This forum and the movement in general always seeks to distance itself...but Ron also attracted race nationalists. Both black and white. I think its unfortunate this political climate puts us in a position to shun these groups as race nationalism overlaps in many ways with libertarianism.

This was about issues. I must have completely missed where Ron talked about the issue of "race nationalism". Mostly because Ron never said anything like that.

As Ron said many times, "freedom is popular". There are no special preferences in that.

Ron Paul also had support among military and LBGT people. A fair and equal politician will have support across the spectrum.

 

[Tod]

^ that's true for me.

 

[Warlord]

Ron had the full backing of Alex Jones and had moneybombs which allowed him to compete on the airwaves in Iowa. Like it not voters are fickle.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

^ that's true for me.

???????????? more like Rand compromised when he endorsed Mitt Romney, and continued to do things such as vote yes to sanction Iran. Just because he has done a few good things doesn't justify his bad actions...if I were to vote according to "but he does good things sometimes" vs principles and foundation based on non aggression, then I might as well just vote for someone like dennis kucinich or mike gravel...but I dont because they have no foundational principles. Rand abandoned principles, but tried to hold onto ideas that are founded ON principles...but some of his actions contradict them...so yeah, I was turned off and Im sure not the only one.

 

[JJ2]

Position: Limited size of government. It was a breath of fresh air from Ron Paul in the eyes of the average voter. Not so unique from veterans of libertarian elections in the past. He talked about which departments of government he would abolish. It resonated. Other candidates copied. But Ron stood out as being truly serious. This season, not so much talk about it from any candidates. Once again, it is assumed to be in the DNA of Rand, but it hasn't been a key talking point, at least not in these simple terms.

Candidates: Rand Paul by past association.

I thought it was a key talking point of Rand's. He was known for his line where he would always say that he wants a government so small you can barely see it.

 

[idiom]

Ron had the full backing of Alex Jones and had moneybombs which allowed him to compete on the airwaves in Iowa. Like it not voters are fickle.

Ron had people independently buying billboard space. The Money bombs weren't campaign organised, although they were facilitated by having a real time ticker.

The grass roots produced adverting and videos out the wazooo.

Rand never inspired anything like that.

 

[opal]

To the OP question.. where did the Ron Paul supporters go? I'm going to guess off grid and ex pat for some.

 

[RonPaulMall]

race nationalism overlaps in many ways with libertarianism. ??

1) ____________
Against affirmative action
2) ____________
Private business can exclude anyone they choose to.
3) ____________
No welfare / No minimum wage / No "safety net" (except for local charity)

They do have some similarities, but for vastly different reasons.

I wouldn't agree with that. There are probably far more "natural" libertarians in the white nationalist movement than the alternative medicine or anti-war movements. Hard to imagine a more libertarian person than Randy Weaver. Just because you don't approve of what he chooses to do with his liberty (go off in the woods and live with his own kind) doesn't mean you are a better libertarian.

 

[oyarde]

I dunno where they went .Gone though certainly .

 

[Erazer]

I dunno where they went .Gone though certainly .

Are you hiding them on your farm?

 

[ShaneEnochs]

I personally went to Sanders. I was mainly attracted to Ron Paul's anti-establishment rhetoric, and I think it's important to keep the Fed accountable. I also hate this endless war nonsense. So those were the issues that attracted me to him.

 

[euphemia]

I still support all those things. Unfortunately Ron Paul is not running for anything. Not really sure what else I could be doing beyond letters to the editor and calling my congressman and senators.

 

[LittleLightShining]

I think this is a great analysis of how Ron's positions were appealing to many and where they may have gone in 2016. Also what I think can't be stressed enough is the highly varied coalition he built together in 2008 and 2012. While of course he had the strong support of libertarians and libertarian-minded voters he built a coalition of many different groups. Off the top of my head I can think of the following groups (and there's probably more I'm forgetting):

1. Libertarians (of course)
2. Anti-War Voters
3. Privacy/Tech Supporters
4. Homeschoolers
5. Food Freedom Advocates
6. Alternative health/medicine
7. Anti-establishment voters
8. Pro-life/social conservative voters
9. Gun advocates
10. Anti-globalists
11. Fed skeptics/Austrian economic devotees

The groups above vary in size, some are significant and some are insignificant. A lot of the groups above are single issue voters and supported Ron for his position on the issue that mattered most to them, even if they didn't agree with everything. I think I might be leaving some groups out, but I remember he would do outreach with each of the groups from time to time. From interviews with Dr. Mercola to roundtables on Christianity he worked very hard to maintain support from all of the groups above which not only helped with his showing in the polls but also with fundraising.

His 2008 campaign materials were geared toward niche groups. It made reaching out and spreading the message to people who didn't identify as R or D easier-- for instance people who identify as Veteran or Homeschooler.

 

[Anti Federalist]

His 2008 campaign materials were geared toward niche groups. It made reaching out and spreading the message to people who didn't identify as R or D easier-- for instance people who identify as Veteran or Homeschooler.

To all the people sick of being pushed around, or watching others, pushed around by system.

To all the people sick of mandates and orders and edicts dunning us from our Pooh Bahs, Pashas and "leaders".

To all the people sick of having a government camera stuffed in their face and up their ass every minute of every day.

These are the people that connect to Ron.

These are the few left that understand we are no longer a "free country" and are pissed off about it.

 

[Deborah K]

That's the "dregs" a poster in another thread were calling people like that and others.

Claims they should be "jettisoned".

Does not understand that Rand Paul 2016 did exactly that.

And got a campaign in the low single digits and over before NH.

That sounds exactly like someone (whose name shall not be mentioned). How's that strategy workin' out for ya now?

 

[Tod]

I personally went to Sanders. I was mainly attracted to Ron Paul's anti-establishment rhetoric, and I think it's important to keep the Fed accountable. I also hate this endless war nonsense. So those were the issues that attracted me to him.

If you think it is important to keep the fed accountable, going to Sanders makes zero sense. He opposed Audit the Fed.

 

[ShaneEnochs]

If you think it is important to keep the fed accountable, going to Sanders makes zero sense. He opposed Audit the Fed.

He in fact voted for it: http://thehill.com/policy/finance/265556-sanders-to-back-audit-the-fed-bill

I know getting rid of the Fed is a huge thing around here but I have a different view on it personally.

Ron Paul was pissed cause Sanders removed an annual audit from the final bill so it just audited the bailout itself.

The reality is Govt accountability office (and some other depts) audit the fed annually already. No one wants fiscal policy to become a partisan football, so a senate run annual audit is dangerous. He instituted an audit of the bailout and it identified 16 trillion in secret low interest short term loans from the fed to pretty much everyone. So it got the job done, it just wasn't as crippling to the fed as libertarians like the Pauls wanted it to be.

I'm not a libertarian myself so I'm fine with the Fed being an independent agency.

 

[LittleLightShining]

To all the people sick of being pushed around, or watching others, pushed around by system.

To all the people sick of mandates and orders and edicts dunning us from our Pooh Bahs, Pashas and "leaders".

To all the people sick of having a government camera stuffed in their face and up their ass every minute of every day.

These are the people that connect to Ron.

These are the few left that understand we are no longer a "free country" and are pissed off about it.

Hi

I think that's right on-- to a point. I'm not that pissed off anymore. I just don't have the energy for it. I seriously pushed myself to the limit of my being working for Ron Paul, trying to build a "community" of sorts for our kind. And there are a lot of us and we really are everywhere now. But 2012? And the way that all played out... for me? pft politics. Not worth it for me right now.

I wasn't even going to vote this year but the more I think about Bernie the more I'm inclined to speak up a bit for him. I don't plan to try to convince anyone, but I do think there is value in supporting him, if not to toss a wrench in the system, then to build bridges with our counterparts on the left. The kids are already more fiscally responsible than the Boomers ever were. I had no clue about economics Before Ron Paul. I was a Bernie supporter!!! Then I heard RP and I was hooked. And then everything started making a lot more sense and I could see how it could work. Bernie's no Ron Paul, but his people (especially Gen X and younger) are the most likely to actually be us.