Topic: Ron Paul
Ron Paul's Strong 4th Place in Michigan Paul makes a dent in the GOP electorate even with the hammering of the MSM smear campaign.by Michael McDonnough
(libertarian)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
It seems that the Paul camp will bring more about 54,000 votes in Michigan taking a strong 4th place finish in that state. He beat the pants off of Giuliani, and Thompson in a trouncing that was nearly their combined total votes.
It is not as good a finish as I am sure many of his supporters wanted but reflects that the smear campaign is not an end to the Ron Paul Revolution. The momentum is still growing but if it stays as it is Paul will end up with only about 10% of the GOP electorate if there is no improvement.
If he can get enough airtime to explain his rather complex and dynamic positions his momentum might grow to the point that we end up in a brokered convention. Paul really needs a win in a state. Perhaps Nevada will suprise us.
It gets a little tough to watch this process when you have a horse in the race for the first time in your life. It has been for me at least. I am betting that a lot of people who are like me and never pay attention to this corrupt process are feeling the same frustration.
It is a tough thought to think that there might indeed not be even 10% of this nation that are smart enough, educated enough, and not sold out enough to understand just how badly this nation has to change in the direction that Ron Paul would take us.
Perhaps when we are in soylent green lines people will start to wake up but it will of course be too late at that point.
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...If he can get enough airtime to explain his rather complex and dynamic positions......
Complex and dynamic positions ? Why a 4 yr old child could understand them... (run out and find me a 4 yr old child... I can't make heads or tails of them...)
Forgive the tribute to Groucho Marx, I just couldn't resist.
In all honesty though, his positions really aren't that difficult to grasp. It's like you want to bonk someone on the head and say... "Hello!!!?? Anyone home? Just what is it you don't understand?"
Who knows, perhaps there are too many people out there who are so terrified of the truth, they simply choose not to understand it. So they go on cheering for meaningless generalities from the other candidates.
I can only hope that lightbulb goes on a little faster for these people. Have you ever notived that Dr Paul is rarely debated from the others at the debate? Outside of snide remarks and innuendo, he's rarely challenged. Just goes to show you.... when you say the truth... it makes for a short conversation.
Your article sounds exactly like a comment I posted earlier today without the knowledge of the MI results. Yes, we need the media, because unfortunately voters are sheep for the most part and the MSM is their shepherd. If we keep Ron Paul running in this thing we can build tremendous momentum. The presidential race is a marathon and we have to keep putting our man in fresh shoes and socks. Thompson and Guilliani may be out soon. Huckabee is running on a shoestring budget and appealing mostly to over-the-hedge religious types like my Mother. Nevada, if you're out there, we need a big shot of support from you for the best candidate for you and for all of us. I hate this political with a passion, and the way America votes is so disheartening I feel we deserve what we get. But Ron Paul brought me into the game and I will proudly see this thing out as long as he and his supporters want.
Posted By: Michael McDonnough
Date: 2008-01-15 22:58:52
Jeff,
The light bulb indeed. A bonk in the head indeed. And a huge effort to educate the stupids that vote without any critical thought or self education on the issues that should be involved in the process of selecting this nation's leader.
Posted By: Scott McDonnell
Date: 2008-01-15 23:00:31
Being from MI, I am actually pretty happy with the 4th place showing. Ron Paul got 50,000 votes here which is 20,000 more than Iowa and NH combined. and beat Giuliani and Thompson again (odd that I do not expect the media to refer to Giuliani or Thomspon as "long-shots" or stop talking about them.)
The national campaign had mostly written off Michigan because of the struggle and uncertainty of our primary. Our resources were extremely limited and we had one campaign staff member here for about 1 1/2 months only. So, all of that was pure grassroots. We had trouble getting signs, literature, etc... (because of the focus on IA and NH.)There were no TV ads, only a few radio ads on obscure stations.
Ron Paul could have done EXTREMELY well in Michigan, maybe even won it if the campaign had put more focus here. They had some pretty built in support. I don't think the campaign realized that, but in the end 4th was good and in some case better than many of us thought.
I only hope their strategy will work. I only hope they realize that they can only rely on grassroots to get them so far, that traditional campaigning and retail politics has to take over.
We believe in you, Ron Paul and so far it is working out like you suspected. I only hope it is a winning strategy.
Jeff, I think it's not that they are so terrified of the truth or that they're unable to comprehend it, it's that they are in complete denial of how quickly this house of cards is imploding.
Looking at the exit polls, the vast majority of Republican voters in Michigan were baby boomers who are retired or who are on the portico of retirement. They've paid a lot into social security and hope to get quite a bit more out (at least in nominal terms). The last thing they want to do is to upset the status quo-- they're whistling past the fiscal graveyard, so to speak. They don't care if the system goes down, so long as it goes down on someone else's shift.
Meanwhile, "We will win in South Carolina," McCain said. "Ladies and gentlemen we're going to win South Carolina," Huckabee declared. Haven't these guys forgotten that it is Thompson's turn to score?
Kimble,
You know, I never really thought about the fact that so many of the people voting are baby boomers. What a joke! The same generation that goes on and on congratulating themselves about shaking their fists at the establishment and "letting it all hang out" and who could ever forget the classic "open your mind" puke. What a joke! These are the upturned noses and fluttering eyelids who tell younger people "you just had to be there" -Had to be where?!!! Uninformed and on a runaway train to nowhere, voting for moderates who will keep us at war? Somebody needs to get smacked with a lava lamp.
Ron Paul avoided Michigan this week to concentrate on Nevada, also as MI is a winner takes all state in terms of representatives and good strategy to concentrate on NV> If Ron Paul can win NV or fare very well, he will not only have a lot of momentum again, but also media exposure. Indeed the showing in MI was solid, judging that he did not campaign there actively. He saved a lot for Florida, NY and California and rest of super Tuesday, while most of the others are not in a comfortable financial position, which limits their campaigning up to Super Tuesday and beyond. To us it is actually good that Romney won MI, which was make or break for him, just like NH was make or break for McCain. Romney already spent ca. 20 m and not so much so show. SC does not look at primaries so far to decide. Hope Jones fromm NC can also campaign. He may eventuall get an important endorsement from Richard Viguerie, who represents an intellectual evangelical Christian grouping. He has set up a website www.ultimateronpaul.com and he was the guy that took the Goldwater 1964 conservative mail order movement further, that lead to reagan's success in 1980. We need and can achieve victory this year: believe it. With the four states so far, there is no clear winner. Paul should fare better in SOuthern States? Goldwater did not fare well initially in 1964 in the Republican primary. Many people does do not know about Paul yet, his name and face, let alone his policy. Hard grass-roots and professional work is needed, together with a very strong compaign, that should add strong people. More endorsements will also follow. If we can have a good showing in SC and win NV, Ron Paul is set up very good still. With a reasonable showing in these states, still in the race. When Thompson drops out, Ron Paul would get most of his supporters, as the only conservative left. He may endorse another candidate perhaps, but bul of his following will vote for Ron Paul. MI is disappointing to him (and Rudy): they polled a bit better than Paul, in any case Thompson, but disappointed. And we are on the pie now at last, so can see some name. I know 10%, 8% and now 6%, but we have progressed from 5th to 4th place. Winning will never be easy. We have the advantage that we still have a lot of money, and the other candidates have made serious blunders in the debates. McCain is not well liked in the GOP establishment, some see him still as the who could beat a Democratic candidate. Romney would not have the same appeal to Independents and Democrats. Paul has the strong non-opportunistic appeal to them. The challenge is to get the majority of Republican nomination, which may not be decided before the RNC in St. Paul (very significant name!). Think positve and make it happen for our St. Paul!
Posted By: carol mcgovern
Date: 2008-01-16 14:23:53
Dr. Paul has got to get public exposure, when and if that happens he should concentrate on exposing things such as the: (Montebello Conference)the secret meeting between Bush, Canada's leader, and the Mexican president. Purpose being: create the NORTH AMERICAN UNION, SPP- Security, Prosperty Partnership, a new currency the Amero,( roads already in the process of being built) (Nafta Super Highway)etc., etc. Couple his comments with factual evidence.That will get their attention, if it doesn't nothning can. The Federal Reserve talk and all that currency information is a little above their heads. Stick to trashing the so called trade bills and the resultant destruction of our economy. Our chief exports today are SOY BEANS and SCRAP METALS. I wonder how many potential voters know that.Incidently naming the geniuses responsible for the state of our demise as a once powerful economic nation, would seem to be a good thing. Nafta, (the "Global Economy")chief cheerleader being Ms. Clinton, not to leave out, Mr Guiliana, his law firm is providing the legal muscle on behalf of Cintra a Spanish firm, they will operate the toll roads being built extending from the new deep sea ports in Mexico thru our country to Canada. This effectively eliminates the need for ports in the U.S.of any importance also eliminating U.S. truck employment of any importance.This to anyone listening is more evidence of the fact that both parties are wings of the same bird. Responsible to only their corporate puppeteers. If Dr. Paul could wangle any of this information into his conversation it would very effectively illuminate the serious and intentional shortcomings of his fellow candidates and those of the other party.
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