Here's an interesting Wired blog with good links and lots of comments about Ron Paul's fifth-place showing in the Iowa straw poll. It notes that the Paul campaign didn't pay for buses, that supporters organized their own buses and other transportation through MeetUps and other online methods. Several peopole are impressed that Ron's impressive Internet presence, while at this point translating into only 2 percent or so in the conventional polls, managed to translate into 9+ percent on the ground in Iowa. And in the video clips I saw there were plenty of Ron Paul signs on camera. And here's an analysis saying Huckabee and Paul were the clear winners and Ropmney the loser, in that Romney did less well than pre-event polls would have predicted and Huckaee and Paul did considerably better.
I understand a lot of the Paul supporters who were committed enough to come to Ames were not Iowa residents and couldn't vote, but wanted to demonstrate their support anyway. And there are claims that while most campaigns spent a lot of money on the Iowa straw poll (Romney dropped millions), the Paul campaign actually raised money during the campaign. That's not bad for momentum.
I still don't expect Ron to come close to the nomination, but his campaign could turn out to be the most significant libertarian-oriented mass movement of our times. I don't agree with him on everything -- he's less open on immigration than I am, for example -- but I've known him for about 30 years and I don't know of a more sincere successful elected Congressman. He's the real deal, and despite the fact thathe's not exactly dripping charisma, I think that's coming through.
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5 comments:
Are you kidding? He's loaded with charisma, if you love freedom and a good man! I'll be seeing him in three days, can't wait!
More than anything else, I intensely dislike and resent the comment often added, of all things by supporters, " I don't expect Ron Paul to win the nomination."
Its defeatist. Ron Paul can win the nomination, he is the right guy and the only truly qualified person in the Republican contest fit to lead the nation for all the people. If you don't think he can win, why mention it? Just work harder. Comments like that deflate potential supporters because many people want to back a candidate that can win. If Ron Paul's own "supporters" keep repeating like a mantra that he can't win, it will discourage new people coming on board because they might well say, " IF his own people don't believe he can win, maybe I ought to support someone else who can win." Electability is a major criterion for many voters. It does not help when so many RP supporters adopt this defeatist (and completely unknowable) and counterproductive attitude.
Ron Paul can win!
Ron Paul has over 30,000 registered volunteers. More than all other candidates combined (maybe more than any candidate in history). And more registering now at Meetup.com.
Of all the candidates, Ron Paul is 1st on YouTube, Meetup, MySpace, Technorati, Alexa, Clickz, Google, etc. The old media is just too slow to realize what is happening.
Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were doing about the same in the 'Scientific Polls' at this stage in their elections. 'Scientific Polls' at this stage only measure name recognition. Over the next six months Ron Paul will gain name recognition. Most people who learn about Ron Paul become major supporters.
Ron Paul never voted for the Iraq War
He voted against the Patriot Act
He voted against regulating the Internet
70% of Americans want us out of Iraq and want change. Ron Paul is only republican candidate against the war. Ron Paul only needs about 30% vote from republicans sick of the war and abuse of powers to win in republican primaries.
Interestingly, Ron Paul has the most contributions from U.S. military personnel and veterans above all other candidates. So support the troops and vote Ron Paul!
Ron Paul can win if we all join together. We can overcome in a similar way that Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and our Founding Fathers who faced tough odds and succeeded in bringing positive change to the world.
Seriously, look back in history. Amazing and miraculous things are possible if you believe.
The thing to get clear on is this:
No other republican can beat a democrat, period. It's just not going to happen. Ron Paul is the only one who can do it, because he can appeal to a broader range of folks than just the pro-war sheep (who are dwindling, and FAST). The republican party has got to turn itself around, and Ron Paul is the only guy they can do it with. It's him, or a democrat. ANY democrat, not even Gravel or Kucinich would lose to Rudy McRomneyson. That's how much the general public hates the republican party right now. CF the lackluster crowd. Ya know, if it weren't for all the out-of-towners Ron Paul attracted to the Straw Poll, I wonder if that 30k crowd would have only been 20k, barely 50% of the 40k as predicted by the state GOP?
Come on folks, WAKE UP. If you're a party hack, this is the only way. Of course, I should note, I am not a party hack at all, but an independent (with an eye for strategy).
Alan:
He doesn't have Nuremburg charisma, that's for sure. (Can you imagine Dr. Paul with the torchlights, the mass applause, the fanaticism? Nah, me either.)
I met him at a Mises circle event in Houston last year, and in person he has a good bit of charisma. He doesn't seem to want to run our lives, though, so maybe I'm unusually susceptible on that account.
And he's the reason I'm still proud to call myself a Republican (pointing out, of course, that I'm a Ron Paul Republican).
I don't think he can win, but I'm for him, all the way.
Semper fi, peace and freedom,
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