Ron Paul and the Freedom Movement must compete in the Fall 2008 General Election by Paul Farris
(libertarian)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Would the activists of the day have let Washington, Adams, Jefferson, retire to the farm or the legislature before victory was won?
Friends, the proposed 2008 DC March is going to be a boomlet unless the Freedom Movement quickly comes to terms with the future. The only march worth having is upon the inauguration of Ron Paul as president. But we have to have a serious campaign first!
Truly, the movement must be putting its efforts into applying loving pressure into convincing Ron Paul to run 3rd party. That includes running either in the Libertarian Party, as Paul's a lifetime member or the Constitution Party. A credible running mate with national cache, would include, Judge Andrew Napolitano or former New Mexico 2-term Governor, Gary Johnson.
If all the choices come down to McClinton or McBama and the freedom movement fails to offer up its own credible choice, then we deserve to be shamed, for failing to continue the fight for the hearts and minds by exposing, introducing, educating, and recruiting hundreds of thousands if not millions of new recruits to the movement by competing in the presidential general election. This whole exercise must be about educating the sheeple on how to regain their liberty, freedom, and their fleeting republic. Indeed, the people demand a choice not an echo.
Many lessons have been learned. We must put those lessons to good use in a fall campaign. One of the biggest lessons is the soft, lighter than grandma's biscuits, hq generated campaign ads. We needed hard hitting Ron Paul CPAC-speech type ads that went at our socialist competitors in the Gop. We need ads that compared and contrasted freedom and big govt statism. The freedom message sells when presented properly, yet hq had the money to put these ads together but failed miserably. We must heed these lessons for the summer and fall general campaign.
And a march on Washington DC, without the prospect of competing in the fall? Truly, your asking for a resounding bust, period. How many people are going to go to DC with the realization that we will have zero, zip, zilch, impact on the 2008 general election? Lets get real here. Without real focus, the freedom movement is already on the verge of fracture. We must move forward in earnest. Compete and never retreat!
After Ron Paul secures his primary congressional race on March 4th, Ron Paul must be convinced to say, 'damn the torpedoes' full-speed ahead', and dive right into a presidential 3rd party quest. Rest assured this will keep the movement together, focused and highly juiced and the money will indeed flow again when the people see their movement battle forward in earnest !
"Power, without a demand, concedes nothing!"
The Freedom Movement must battle forward denying the Gop the white house by running at them and condeming their welfare/warfare message by peeling off 10%, 15%, 20% of the general election vote, while at the same time educating and recruiting the masses to freedom's cause and for future electoral battles. Rest assured, the Gop will see the light when they know they will be forever denied the white house until they come to terms with the power of the freedom movement.
With the Republic itself hanging in the balance as we approach the abyss, let history show that we did not stand down from the fight!
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I completely agree, if the people don't see any light at the end of the tunnel (possible presidency on a 3rd party run) then the movement will crumble and our presence will be weak at the Washington DC March.
I think what people need to realize is he didn't intend to run and this hasn't been his campaign. He's been along for the ride and will only ride along as long as the grassroots push him to. He's not making the tough decisions of firing his campaign staff despite their serious blunders because it's not his campaign - it's theirs. He's just happy to be able to reach a broader audience and isn't as focused on winning the White House as his followers are.
If he does make a 3rd party run it must be with a different campaign staff that knows how to run a presidential campaign and he must come to the podium with a clear statement that he's in the race to win and not just to spread his message.
You know, there is a reason Congressman Paul didn't start the campaign as a third party candidate like he did in 1988. And guess what, you know why!
As a Republican, he's been on MANY national debates and is getting a lot more exposure on the national level than he ever would as a third party candidate. Have you ever heard the MSM even ONCE mention the Libertarian party of Constitution Party? No you haven't. This is why he's ruling out a 3rd party bid. If he goes 3rd party, then instead of getting .0001% media coverage, he will get a definite 0%. No debates, no stories, nothing.
However at the same time I completely agree that he has to keep this campaign going to the general election. Therefore what I suggest is for him to remain a Republican all the way until the Republican National Convention. Afterward, if he doesn't get the Republican nomination, AT THAT POINT he should go independent or something.
Just keep in mind Ron ran in 1988 and he has learned his lessons from that campaign. The result has been more support in the primaries than he ever got in the 1988 general election. Though his campaign isn't perfect, Ron is showing that he is learning from his "mistakes."
I kindly but strongly disagree for various reasons. The campaign has roughly 6 million left, a third party run would require 80-100 m USD and a very well organized campaign, it would be too expensive as an education campaign and not worthwile also. If the third party does not win (35% plus), Dr. Paul and the movement  will be reduced to ignorance after the election, with NO representation in congress and being despised by at least one Party as a spoiler. We have to plan for the middle and long term, not only short term. What is the influence of meaning of the Reform Party? 20% performance or so would get attention for a few days or weeks, but after that it will be dead silent, no momentum to carry forward. Only protests with no political power after that will people just make very frustrated and disgruntled and would seem like a "negative fringe group", not a positive driving spirit. If Dr. Paul does not get the nomination (it is still possible IMHO that he can get it), he will IMHO be in a very comfortable position to take control over the GOP after a humiliating defeat. The Paul supporters can have momentum by supporting Ron Paul Republicans where they can and just sit out during the election of write-in name.
After the defeat of the GOP, the responsibility will be placed squerely on the neocons and the spending of Bush during the past 8 years etc.. The GOP will have to do soalsearching and bound to embrace Dr. Paul's philosophies and go back to their roots. Dr. Paul could take a leading role, perhaps as GOP chairman etc.Â
Running as a third party is absolutely futile. There won't be a president elected on a third party ticked for many many years to come. Unfortunately, the powers that be in our two party system won't let it happen, green, reform, libertarian, doesn't matter. If you need proof, just follow Rep Cynthia McKinney's campaign. See how many ballots she gets on and how much face time the media gives her then you'll have your answer as to whether or not a third party run is a good idea or not. Â
I don't care if he runs or not at this point or not. I really don't. This election is lost to guys like me.Â
I suspect the dems will win based on momentum, the cycle and enthusiasm. They will increase the size of government as much as if not more than the repubs and then there will be an even greater % of the electorate owing their livelihood to government jobs and largess. In four years it will be even more impossible to elect a guy like RP because 70% of the population would be put out of work as a result. Try closing the departmentof education then. I dare you.Â
However, these arguements about why he can't run third party are nonsense. He's gotten all the free msm attention he is ever going to get as a presidential candidate. Now that they don't see him a serious competitor they will throw him a bone here and there and I suppose he is satisfied with that. In his defense, who the heck would want to be president anyway, really? But he got the attention. People now know who he is. He has some money. Libertarians are on the ballot on all 50. He has as much as 10% nationwide support as evidenced by the primaries. It would help the Libertarians with major party status in some states. There are more reasons to run third party than not. People will treat him as a  has been next time around. Now is the moment. The republicans aren't going to let him in. You're not going to be able to force him in at the convention. And even if you do he won't beat the democrats on the republican ticket.Â
I'm not as enthusiastic about this election any longer mostly because of the religious demands from vocal supporters. I want religion completely out of the political discourse period. No bibles, no korans, no thalmud....out out out. If a candidate is running hand in hand with any religion I'm out.
I'll vote for the guy who leaves religion completely out of any policy decision period. No religious agendas.
The candiadtes are burning money at a million a day. Mc Cains borrowing. MSM is providing free coverage for the selected group. Mc cain might go down in flames with special interests. We may get stuck with Obama (Mr Amnesty).
Ron Paul should spread that 6 million all over Vermont, Ohio and Texas Just to win or place. Forget about trying to show 3rd.
A Presidential run as the primary focus in Texas.   Even if you loose to Mc Cain.Â
Your district will still check the RON PAUL voting ballot box as their Congressman if the splurge does not work.
Looking at the overall picture we must consider the true business of government which is business. There are now too many entrenched interest both locally as well as worldwide to that will ensure the US continue on it's current path. As a nation that wanted to control the direction of the world now has opened itself up to the legitimate control by the world. It was truly ambitious of us to think we could take them all on an win. Like true current day Americans we wanted instant satisfaction with getting Ron Paul elected. So the question isn't how we get Ron Paul elected? But how do we leverage what we have created to allow us a voice in this group.
Moveon.org came about when Clinton was attacked and the country got tired of the Republican's narrow and obviously politically motivated attack on Clinton. To this day we are paying for defanging Clintons administration towards a more robust response to Bin Ladin. What has made the this organization succeed is that it took on a very narrow and pointed focus of attack yet through this opening it has become now a voice of it's own.Â
 We were throughly ambitious on trying to get Ron Paul elected. Our views and voice shouldn't start and end with Ron Paul. We should now focus on staying organized and change our tactics. We should begin by exerting pressure on specific targets. Like the Fed for example. The old tactic of divide and conquer. Next we can focus our attention on Nafta for example. By defining narrow goals we can slowly through our limited numbers take apart piece by piece the overall target which is to bring government back to what it should be. This I believe will re-ignite the our movement.
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