techPresident - The Rise of Ron Paul - Comments

Much more to Ron Paul

palongrifles — Mon, 28 May 2007 14:57:42 -0400

There is MUCH more to Ron Paul than his stance about the Iraq War. That's all you hear about him because that's all the Democrats will allow the media to say about him. The media has made the central issue of the next campaign "the war". The central issue ought to be all the unconsitutional agendas that BOTH the elephants and donkeys have brought upon us, and their constant erosion of the essential Bill of Rights. And that, my friends, is where the real Ron Paul stands. The main reason he is against the war is because nowhere in the Constitution is a president empowered to take us to war on his own. The role of congress is much more defined as to war making than merely passing bills (or not passing bills) to fund a war. Ron Paul stands for strict interpretation of the constitution and Bill of Rights. Period. That's the ONLY view on the subject which ensures ALL citizens are treated fairly and according to the founders intents. We watch Congress, the courts, and the President shred the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 10th Ammendments and say nothing, while allowing ourselves to be duped by the propaganda machine of big government, the big business of media.
And we focus on a war, ranted against mainly because a Republican President is "responsible" for it, while ignoring that the two parties have established a sleeper tyrany over us. Ron Paul is against tyranny and anti-Constitutional power grabbing - not just against the war in Iraq.

Agreement

Avery Knapp Jr — Thu, 24 May 2007 18:03:46 -0400

For a few months, I've predicted what you've articulated: Ron Paul is the Howard Dean of 2008. When I was interviewed by Robert Smith for the same segment on NPR, I too was surprised he only used 2 soundbites from me. But I disagreed with your conclusion, and Mr. Smith's conclusion, that Dr. Paul's success is due the Sanjaya effect, and I'm glad you've revised it.

People who are for less government and less war are real and numerous in America, and as Dr. Paul's pro-freedom message is heard by everyday people, it will resonate with people (including but not limited to Republicans), and Dr. Paul will make a large splash, perhaps all the way up to the convention. If nominated, Republicans will gain in registration numbers and popularity, not lose as in 2006.

This Iowa poll seems to suggest that there may be a split in the Republican Party: between those who want to end a war in a country that is not our enemy, and those who support Rudy McRomney. Incidentally, I don't see how Rudy McRomney can get the nomination: Rudy is pro-federal funding of abortion, McCain is pro-war with Iran and Iraq and pro-spending and wants to limit political speech (McCain-Feingold) not to mention his immigration stance, and Romney is PRO-SOCIALIZED MEDICINE! They may have money, but they lack conservative values.

Avery J. Knapp Jr., M.D.

Ron Paul and Howard Dean

Michael Cornfield — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:31:36 -0400

Great hypothesis, Micah.

The Q2 financial reports will teach us a lot more about extent and intensity of the Ron Paul boomlet.

a couple of points

Todd Zeigler — Thu, 24 May 2007 15:00:04 -0400

Good piece.

I think it is important to note that a primary reason Paul supporters are using these tools is because there is no on or offline campaign infrastructure to speak of. If you are a supporter of a top tier candidate, you are given plenty of ways to participate that don't involve the social web. Volunteer at a phone bank. Stuff envelops. Walk your neighborhood. Launch an online fundraising campaign. Host a house party (as opposed to a meetup). There are lots of options.

Paul doesn't have any of that, so the campaign and volunteers have no choice but to use free online tools like MySpace, YouTube, Eventful, Digg and Meetup to get their message out there and to organize. Supporters of traditional candidates have other options and are not being encouraged to do this sort of stuff.

I tend to think right now you have a relatively small group of people making a lot of noise as opposed to the Dean campaign where you had a genuine movement. Time will tell.

http://www.bivingsreport.com

The Rise of Ron Paul

Micah L. Sifry — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:40:16 -0400

I'm not sure how far we should take this analogy, but Ron Paul is to the Republicans of 2008 as Howard Dean was to the Democrats of 2004: the one candidate speaking out prominently against the war when his colleagues were silent or supportive. Since politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum, we shouldn't be surprised that he's starting to take off online.