Topic: Ron Paul
The Ron Paul Negativity Will End Now! There is absolutely no reason at all to believe for a second that Dr. Ron Paul’s Presidential campaign is coming to an end.by A.J. Antimony
(Libertarian)
Monday, February 18, 2008
It's truly amazing how it seems so many people jumped ship after Super Tuesday where the mainstream media told us that Congressman Paul did not win any states. It really sickens me how people let the mainstream media put them down so easily when this entire campaign has been a message to show the media who's boss.
It all seems to have been escalated by the letter posted by Ron Paul on February 8th. In it, he says that because Super Tuesday has passed, he will now be shrinking his campaign staff. It also says he will now be putting effort into his Texas congressional primary. Somehow people took this and ran with it claiming that Ron Paul has dropped out of the Presidential race. They do this despite the fact that the letter says "But that does not affect my determination to fight on, in every caucus and primary remaining, and at the convention for our ideas, with just as many delegates as I can get." They do this despite the fact that Ron Paul quickly released a video titled "Going the Distance." And they do this despite the fact that Congressman Paul has called for a march on Washington in 3-4 months.
I just don't understand how anyone could take this and claim that Ron Paul is dropping out of the Presidential race. I suppose they simply don't know how to read. Or, more likely, they are just letting the mainstream media get to them. After all, it's the MSM that is painting John McCain as the definite Republican nominee and claiming that they have accurate delegate counts to support it. To see past this anti-Paul material, one has to simply understand two concepts which really are quite simple to grasp.
1. The Republican nominee is chosen at the national convention and the national convention only. That is why they have a convention. Despite everything the media will pound you with saying John McCain is the Republican candidate, you have to remember that such a statement is BS until the Republican convention is over. Eight months of John McCain talk... people are going to get sick of it. That's the blowback for every state moving up its primary/caucus date.
2. You have to try to understand the delegate system. It's very confusing for most and it's ok if you don't get it (I don't!) but the important thing to get out of it is that just because CNN says state X is awarding 50 delegates to so and so, it doesn't necessarily mean that so and so just secured 50 votes at the convention. This is why different sources have different delegate counts. The delegate process is a LOT more than just a day of voting. Find out about the process in your state and you'll see that your favorite candidate can still pick up a lot of support!
Understand these simple concepts and you'll easily see that this Republican Presidential contest is by no means over. Congressman Paul says there is a lot of support to be won and a lot more work to be done. He's right! So if you're one of the people who has given up on the Ron Paul campaign, you better stop and reconsider.
With scheduled money bombs (President's Day, today!), NASCAR advertising, a freedom march on Washington, talk of a Rump convention, and the determination from Ron and the official campaign, there is absolutely no reason to believe the good doctor has dropped out of the Presidential race.
The views expressed in this
article are those of A.J. Antimony only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. A.J. Antimony is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
I don't know who your anger is directed at: the mainstream media not giving your candidate a fair shot, or the campaign itself trying to focus the candidate on retaining his seat in Congress. I'll put it on the latter, because the former consists of followers, not leaders.
I think Ron Paul will pick up three or four delegates tomorrow in Washington. Wisconsin is tougher, because he has to come in first in at least one congressional district. Even if he came in a strong second place in all the remaining states, that's not enough. Huckabee seems to have done that lately. Huckabee's message is "I'm not McCain", which goes a long way.
The only scenario that I can see where Ron Paul wins the nomination is a strage combination of John McCain lapsing into a coma from a brain aneurysm, Mike Huckabee getting caught on tape with a prostitute, and Mitt Romney disclosing that he personally authorized the importing of lead-based paint on children's toys. Aside from all that happening, the Paul campaign has an uphill battle to fight.
The Ron Paul campaign has been a bottom up effort. The top didn't have plans to spend what they got. When Ken Snyder sent out those pleas for money, the base was confused. He asked for another $23m after Christmas, but couldn't show how he made best use of the $5m in the bank. Now it gathers dust. He squandered the opportunity. The field could have gotten several million more when that was used up. All I saw were Obama and McCain TV ads on the news channels before Super Tuesday. Maybe they worked?
The reason why the base is not sending in any more money is that it doesn't believe the campaign will use it to get Ron Paul elected president. It's has nothing to do with bad vibes.
10 hrs into the President's day moneybomb has raised $20k. On Feb 1, there was $250k by the same time. If all it took was money, you'd see another million dollar day. I'll be surprised to see it hit $80k.
I have a pretty good understanding of the delegate system. Half of Romney's delegates will probably go over to McCain--not because they like him, but because they're afraid that the Democrats will win until the party is united behind one candidate. Even if that candidate is flawed, they'll take the glass half full.
I have to agree with DigitalBob in the above post. I've never seen such a squandering of so much goodwill, bottom up, grass roots, groundswell support in my entire life. Perot comes close but he was using a lot of his own money. Ron actually received substantial monetary donations from those that responded to his message. I've never seen a Ron Paul commercial on television or heard one on the radio or even seen a newspaper ad. Not to mention he hasn't been out on the conventional campaign trail tour bus. What is there for the media to cover.
Short of something cataclysmic (as described above) and even then it's doubtfu, I simply see RP fading away, not winning the nomination as it appears your article still holds out as a possibility.
I'm not buying into the brokered convention with the supposed 100's of delegates who in reality support Ron taking over the convention. I hear this talk on RP blogs and forums. Even if it were true it smacks of a coupe and I don't believe the American people will go for it.
Who is there for me to support? Where is Ron? He doesn't even maintain regular contact via the absolutely free internet. Followers need to hear from their leader on daily basis in the midst of a war/campaign like this one. How hard is it to leave a daily message? Answer, not hard at all.
As things stand now it all feels like passing the plate at church in order to pay the pastors rent and feed the deacons. No thanks.
There was a bottom-up approach; they should have combined it with a strong experienced campaign team, and I also wonder why there was no campaign bus, or perhaps there was: we have not seen it on TV. With that being said, Huckabee and Paul will not give up. They cannot get the majority even if one of them get all the delegates, but they can prevent McCain from getting the majority, which is quite possible. The GOP is divided as never before. My thinking is that most of the people did not hear about Paul: he did not had the name recognition. With Huckabee it was about the same, but since he mixed his religion with politics and popularism to get votes, he has had some success. After Super Tuesday McCain has not been convincing, and this is a big problem. My thinking is that many voters who wanted to vote for Paul (not the hardcore Paul supporters), voted for either of the other candidates, as they thought he would have the chance to win, although their wish would have been with Paul. Many anti-Iraq war people in the GOP (1/3?) voted for McCain, as he was seen as a maverick and known from the 2000 campaign. These people may well not have been aware of Paul's opposition and the delegates may well vote for Paul at the convention. It is certainly possible.
McCain has has the problem that a substantial segment of the conservative base does not trust him and see him as a RINO, and many may not vote. Perhaps some of them may vote for him if he is the nominee (albeit reluctantly), but there will be NO enthusiastic grassroot support, which is really required if you want to win an election. Paul has showed his potential to raise the most of the GOP candidates. He also enjoy the youth vote. In the Democratic Party, they have raised much more money and much more people voted for Democratic candidates than Republican on Super Tuesday: this should be a case of great consern for the GOP. They should also knwo that given the poll of 72% of people against the war, they face a major defeat with McCain. McCain could make more dumm mistakes, which would make him totally unelectible.
The campaign probably focused on a few states with TV and radio ads., not in your state so much?
I read earlier today that Paul did won Montana and another state. Many in the media apparently do not understand the whole process: the caucus is like a glorifies strawpoll, and there are more elections and meeting before delegates are announced. There is still a lot that can happen.
Jim, as for contactand info, since the beginning of this year there is a daily update on the corporate website, sometimes several articles a day. The other candidates get massive free coverage on the TV, do you see any of them giving daily updates? Also: a candidate would not write all info for everyone to see, you do want to keep strategy secret, one would certainly hope so!
You haven't seen "one Ron Paul for President commercial"? Well come on down here to Texas, we're getting bombarded with Ron Paul for Congress commercials on tv, radio, you name it, day in and day out.
And it ain't helping Paul. Latest polls according to the Galveston Daily-Record, has Paul running behind. They describe his reelection effort as having "dimming hopes."
Full story at www.mainstreamlibertarian.com
ideologies do not go away, Ron Paul is not my "leader", that is sooo communistic it makes me sick to even here it. Ron Paul shares this ideology and wanted to represent it in Washington. So no my money wasn't wasted. I do feel there is just no way to win, people don't like the truth and it's much easier to believe the lie, so they will vote that way. Mccain is the supposed front runner, so some will vote for him. Huckabee is running around trying to sound like Ron Paul with that miserable FairTax non-sense that so many people are actually buying, but they're gonna be pissed if they are small business or internet sellers and they have to maintain seperate bank accounts because now they have become the new tax collector. It also is not lowering spending and says so, it's the irs with a different name and a different way to tax people and nothing to stop them from raising a penny here or there either. Do people bother to look at the other aspects or really read the bill and try to understand it, no. They just do what is expected of them to do. It's just a no win. But at the same time my ideology has not gone anywhere and neither has it gone from others that I have read. I'm just tired maybe and a bit defeated. You can only knock someone down so many times till they decide to quit getting up and decide to get out of the game.
Bob, the "anger" is directed at the people who believe, mainly in part from the 2-8-08 letter, that Ron Paul is qutting. This article is showing that he clearly is not.
We know you're a disgruntled former employee of Dr. Paul, and now you are sending us to your own website for your anti-Paul propaganda. You're not fooling anyone. Get lost!
When I look over most of the comments today I'm thinking, "wrong target." RP has been steadfast in hitting the "correct target" all through this campaign on every issue. While others flounder he just keeps shooting and hitting the correct target everytime. Gotta love that...yes?
When all's said and done about McCain's actions concerning Vietnam Vets, POW/MIA's, and I do think that's meant to be, you might as well stick a fork in him...he's done...four in the air. That leaves TWO, Dr. Paul & Huck-a-wana-bee. After the March on Washington the Huckster will be exposed as just that. Then their's ONE by default.
I think it's poetic justice that RP will get there inspite of all the negativity, criminal MSM, criminal GOP, criminal Elitist. Gotta love the fact he doen't have any competition, either a Socialist, Facsist, or Constitutionalist will win. The American people will have a choice...
I'm still supporting Ron Paul, but I have to admit that his letter was very discouraging. I don't think he should have even released it. It specifically said that it's now almost impossible to secure a brokered convention (in which Paul had the best chance of getting the nod) and said that he for sure would not run as a 3rd party. That's where people deducted that it's the end of the line. I still support him ... but I don't find it difficult to understand why some people lost hope.
There was some speculation over that weekend that RP did not write that (very deflating and ill-timed) email, but since it has not been renounced, one has to wonder.
His message in the video from a few days later seemed very different to me, and we know that came straight from the horse's mouth, so I'm going with that as the gospel instead. Also, his speech in Lake Jackson over the weekend after the email was released was very positive, and he seemed relaxed and confident.
I think Dr. Paul may have a few tricks up his sleeve yet. Who knows, perhaps the email was a psyop of some sort to get the enemy to let its guard down, or to get some (much-needed) media attention (which it did, BTW). I think there's a lot going on we are not fully aware of, so let's just have faith in our fearless leader and march on.
I'm still voting for Ron Paul. In all my life I have never heard any public figure speak the way he does and send the message he does. I feel like I'm listening to an echo of our Nations birth when I hear him speak. At least a million other people in this country feel the same way as I do. The weight of future is on our shoulders. Its a heavy burden but someone must fight for what is right.
Dr. Paul just sent out an urgent plea for help with his congressional campaign, where he is under threat from a neocon shill who is against everything we all stand for. Even if you are maxed out on the presidential campaign, you can donate to the congressional campaign, and no, he can't use the presidential funds for the congressional race. We don't want him to feel he must drop the presidential bid, so please help with the congressional campaign if you can. Every little bit helps! After March 4, when his seat in Congress is secured, we can all get back to focusing on the presidential race.
What we really need is RP as President, but it is very important to him not to lose his congressional primary, so let's help him out. I gave to the Presidential campaign after midnight last night and the congressional fund just now.
I do feel it's essential that he continue the presidential run, as he can only do so much in congress, and this is likely our last chance to save this country. Dr. Paul has said so himself many times, that we must act quickly. I was at the Denver rally on Feb. 1 and he said if we are not successful, the future of our country is bleak. I agree. If anyone has not read this article, please check it out. It is right on about what we will face if we fail in our mission to get RP elected. Very bleak indeed.
Antimony said: "There is absolutely no reason at all to believe for a second that Dr. Ron Paul’s Presidential campaign is coming to an end."
JKHutz says: Au Contraire! IMHO, There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE AT ALL that Dr. Ron Paul’s Presidential campaign even exists anymore. There are NO ADS, there are NO EVENTS... there is NO CAMPAIGN.
Since Feb 5th, it is non-existent, and the currently remaining balance of $5M or so will very likely be "run down" paying for salaries and probably a "bonus" or "severence" for Snyder, Moore & Co. (for being such loyal friends and doing such a "great job") -- and then if by chance there is anything left AFTER THAT, I fully expect that it will go into some obscure multi-candidate "PAC" (to be supervised and administered by Snyder, Moore & Co. of course).
Sad truth is that -- like the racist newsletters 20 years ago -- this was NEVER really the Ron Paul campaign in anything OTHER than the use of his name, and an occasional appearance by the "candidate"; the whole affair from start to finish was the Snyder, Moore & Co. show (the only thing yet to determine is whether it was supposed to be a comedy or a tragedy... it seems to have been some combination of both.)
And BTW this comes from someone who "maxed out" his donation in the 3rd quarter, and quite frankly feels defrauded -- literally to the point of having been "conned" out of the money.
jkhutz: "There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE AT ALL that Dr. Ron Paul’s Presidential campaign even exists anymore"
1. Go to youtube.com 2. Find the Ron Paul video titled "Going the Distance" 3. Look at the date it was added. 4. Come back here and try to say that again
You have to remember Dr. Paul is battling in Texas right now since he doesn't have 20+ states to win all in a single day. He's there fighting for his Congressional seat and to win the state in the presidential primary. As Eric Dondero sai, "Well come on down here to Texas, we're getting bombarded with Ron Paul for Congress commercials on tv, radio, you name it, day in and day out."
Antimony, a statement from a candidate is meaningless.
I am speaking about actual EVIDENCE. You know, factual, objective, concrete THINGS.
As to Texas, I do not doubt that there are many TV commercials for RP's CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN. But that is not evidence that he is actively running for PRESIDENT; in fact the opposite, it is prima facie evidence that he is NO LONGER making presidential race a focus of any active effort, and that indeed he has abandoned that, in favor of returning to his seat in Congress.
And a few weeks after March 4th (and the McCain win in Texas to "seal" the nomination) it will be announced that the remaining money from RPPCC will NOT be spent on active campaigning (what would be the point?), but will instead be diverted into some type of quasi political cum educational foundation or PAC entity (and this will chime in very nicely with the content from the "The Revolution: A Manifesto" book) ...wait and you'll see.
Dr. Paul has tapped into a VERY passionate group of people who are wholeheartedly supporting his campaigns for Congress and President. You really think the good doctor is stupid enough to call it quits after the Texas primary? Do you understand how those hundreds of thousands of people will feel if he drops out? They would feel utterly betrayed and that their donations were wasted. He recently said he's going to take this fight to the convention as long as people keep funding it. Add a 20 year congressional career of complete honesty, and I believe that Ron Paul is telling the truth and is not acting like 'just another politician.'
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