Just keep in mind that old saying - you can lose the battle but win the war. Millions of people who never heard of RP have some inking today that they didn't have a year ago. Let's see where the convention/delegate system takes us from here on out. I still think it's a good investment of time and money.
Why We Lost: The Campaign Was Never Running To Win an Election
- Thread starter bszoka
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Bradley in DC
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Sandra,
Berin may have few posts here, but he was not only a delegate candidate for Dr. Paul but was on the short list of us responsible for getting Dr. Paul on the ballot (it's very difficult for Republicans in DC) and for which was recognized by the official campaign. He's worked with many of the official staffers over many months trying to help them with many projects. While he speaks for himself, most other DC metro volunteers who have helped at HQ share his general sentiments.
There are no TV commercials, no radio ads, no mailings--not even emails!--in most states now. If they were running the win, you'd think the least they could do would be send out an email reminding Ron Paul supporters of the need to turn out to vote/show up at caucuses. They didn't do that much the week of the election here in DC, not to any supporters I've asked in Ohio, not in any current states from what we're seeing from posts on the forum here, etc.
In your state, certainly if there were even one competent person at HQ running to win the election, they could have caught the rules changes after the RNC by-law permitted date and other shenanigans that you and others have dutifully exposed.
The sad truth is that HQ is not staffed by the same committed, competent staffers we've seen among the volunteers like yourself.
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smartguy911
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Matthew P.
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Let us press on
I do believe that you're on to something here, though I don't know that I would go so far as to say that it is over (i.e. "we lost").
I also hesitate to post because it seems as if you cannot say something negative in these forums unless you have what, 1,000+ postings behind your name? (in which case I don't qualify).
Regardless, I don't see this as negative input; rather, constructive criticism - if even that.
I think that it is clear that Ron Paul HQ could have done much better. I was late jumping on the Ron Paul train, but since I did my wife and I have contributed to his campaign and been elected as delegated and influenced many people's votes in his favor. HQ has been bashed and raked over the coals numerous times (which you can see in many other postings) and now Dr. Paul has come out and seemed to waffle on his goals and objectives.
So what?!
The point is - neither you nor I can do anything about that now. All we can do is act with the information that we now have to affect the future, and the truth is, there is a lot still to be done. We are in it to the end - whatever end that may be. There is the possibility that we might tone down our political involvement after the November election, but it is also possible that we might get more involved at local levels and begin seeking offices so that we can continue to propagate the ideologies set forth by our Constitution and Dr. Paul. Then it will be an ongoing influence, one of education, person to person, life touching life. You know that is how the message spreads. What if 5-10 people who felt so passionately about this stuff, from every state in the union became active at local government levels (and some at national levels too)? What would the political structure look like in four years, at the next presidential election? Don't you think that more of America would be educated then, excited about liberty and true freedom? Don't you think that we could then have much more of a voice were Ron Paul to run again - and his idea could potentially resound with millions more?
No, my friends - the battle isn't over - it is far from that. We learn from our mistakes and press on. When you make a mistake once it is an education; if you make it twice then the fault lies squarely on your own shoulders.
I do believe that you're on to something here, though I don't know that I would go so far as to say that it is over (i.e. "we lost").
I also hesitate to post because it seems as if you cannot say something negative in these forums unless you have what, 1,000+ postings behind your name? (in which case I don't qualify).
Regardless, I don't see this as negative input; rather, constructive criticism - if even that.
I think that it is clear that Ron Paul HQ could have done much better. I was late jumping on the Ron Paul train, but since I did my wife and I have contributed to his campaign and been elected as delegated and influenced many people's votes in his favor. HQ has been bashed and raked over the coals numerous times (which you can see in many other postings) and now Dr. Paul has come out and seemed to waffle on his goals and objectives.
So what?!
The point is - neither you nor I can do anything about that now. All we can do is act with the information that we now have to affect the future, and the truth is, there is a lot still to be done. We are in it to the end - whatever end that may be. There is the possibility that we might tone down our political involvement after the November election, but it is also possible that we might get more involved at local levels and begin seeking offices so that we can continue to propagate the ideologies set forth by our Constitution and Dr. Paul. Then it will be an ongoing influence, one of education, person to person, life touching life. You know that is how the message spreads. What if 5-10 people who felt so passionately about this stuff, from every state in the union became active at local government levels (and some at national levels too)? What would the political structure look like in four years, at the next presidential election? Don't you think that more of America would be educated then, excited about liberty and true freedom? Don't you think that we could then have much more of a voice were Ron Paul to run again - and his idea could potentially resound with millions more?
No, my friends - the battle isn't over - it is far from that. We learn from our mistakes and press on. When you make a mistake once it is an education; if you make it twice then the fault lies squarely on your own shoulders.
therealjjj77
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Yeah, it was run to win the nation instead. And we just may win the election yet because of it.
satchelmcqueen
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We havent lost! Get in or get out! Dont post things on here for all the world to see that downs Ron Paul. Have you no thought? Or are you just a spy?
me3
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Berin is pointing out what we need to think about with candidates, Congressional and Executive going forward.
I agree with him. All of the folks who want to protest, good for you.
The next time around, the candidate and staff need to be held to a higher standard, much earlier.
I'm totally pissed off that the campaign is not spending the money sent in for the Presidential run supporting voters and delegates in the remaining states. For that alone, Snyder, Moore et al should be driven out of town.
Need I remind everyone that we needed $12 million in Q4 to win Iowa and NH. We did better, and the campaign came up short. I think because they set a goal they thought we couldn't reach.
Then Snyder comes out and says they need $21 million by Super Tuesday.
Then Benton tries to tell us the bulk of the money is being spent on private jets when the FEC filing doesn't bear that out at all.
When I think about the LIES and incompetence, but mostly the LIES from the official campaign, it makes my blood boil. People that have been around for awhile know how they sabotaged the Philly Rally, what could have been a major moment for the campaign. AARGH!
I agree with him. All of the folks who want to protest, good for you.
The next time around, the candidate and staff need to be held to a higher standard, much earlier.
I'm totally pissed off that the campaign is not spending the money sent in for the Presidential run supporting voters and delegates in the remaining states. For that alone, Snyder, Moore et al should be driven out of town.
Need I remind everyone that we needed $12 million in Q4 to win Iowa and NH. We did better, and the campaign came up short. I think because they set a goal they thought we couldn't reach.
Then Snyder comes out and says they need $21 million by Super Tuesday.
Then Benton tries to tell us the bulk of the money is being spent on private jets when the FEC filing doesn't bear that out at all.
When I think about the LIES and incompetence, but mostly the LIES from the official campaign, it makes my blood boil. People that have been around for awhile know how they sabotaged the Philly Rally, what could have been a major moment for the campaign. AARGH!
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nc4rp
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id like to 3rd that motion.
part of what Ron says is to throw off the opposition. dont take Congressman's Pauls words [to his supporters] so black and white. Hes a smart fella, you have to think smart to get his message fully and take it in context.
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me3
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Why? Because we're not supposed to learn from this?
This MOVEMENT is already pretty disorganized and decentralized. This is an opportunity to learn, and like it or not, what Berin wrote is true. HQ was incompetent, and the campaign rarely played to win.
me3
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Right.
Like Dr. Paul's "I'm winding down, there is no chance of conventional victory, but I'm not quitting".
Like how HQ has money, but won't spend it.
We've already been through this, the "shadow campaign" crap.
There is no shadow campaign, there was just an incompetent campaign run by HQ.
I went to a meetup group in NC where the RP coordinator for VA, NC and SC was there. He was completely clueless. This is the man coordinating 3 states!
What's on our resume?? What exactly do we need on our resume to constitute the right to criticize a campaign that we donate lots of money to?
How about what is on the resume of those working for the campaign? What works in a small district in TX does not cut it at the national level.
IMO the biggest problems were:
a)the ads were amateurish and did not correctly address the economy or attack Bush as being a fake conservative, or attack McCain
b)Did not reach out to democrats sooner (before registration switch deadlines)
c)was too nice in the debates, but that is part of who he is. Also too much rambling. Nobody understands that DOE stuff. Why didn't someone say after the first debate to drop that line? It was a killer
Flame me, ban me, whatever. The truth is the truth
What's on our resume?? What exactly do we need on our resume to constitute the right to criticize a campaign that we donate lots of money to?
How about what is on the resume of those working for the campaign? What works in a small district in TX does not cut it at the national level.
IMO the biggest problems were:
a)the ads were amateurish and did not correctly address the economy or attack Bush as being a fake conservative, or attack McCain
b)Did not reach out to democrats sooner (before registration switch deadlines)
c)was too nice in the debates, but that is part of who he is. Also too much rambling. Nobody understands that DOE stuff. Why didn't someone say after the first debate to drop that line? It was a killer
Flame me, ban me, whatever. The truth is the truth
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