Quote :

"His supporters are more active when it comes to protecting their own egos and staying optimistic, rather than critically evaluating the race and forming a strategy "

that's actually one reason why I think he stands more of a chance this time around (albeit still a small one). He is changing strategy. Catering to the religious right in Iowa this time, for example.

12/14/2011 4:27:34 PM

catering to the religious right just plays into the point he was trying to make. That the GOP is the single most stubborn political establishment in American politics. It's following the laws of inertia at this point, and the base is not ready to meet a candidate like Paul in the middle, which is why he won't win the nomination.

12/14/2011 4:31:59 PM

there's still a pretty good chance he decides to run third party IF he wins Iowa and comes in 2nd in New Hampshire.

He won't be allowed on the ballot in every state but he can at least disrupt votes from both Obama and the republican nominee. That's what this country needs and he is just the man to do it.

12/14/2011 4:36:33 PM

Anyone else notice all the love Ronnie's been getting on the drudgereport?

12/14/2011 10:10:07 PM

Quote :

"that's actually one reason why I think he stands more of a chance this time around (albeit still a small one). He is changing strategy. Catering to the religious right in Iowa this time, for example."

Lol I meant strategies like door-to-door campaigning, robocalls and public demonstration instead of internet-poll-swamping, but indeed "pandering to a different audience" is a strategy too.

[Edited on December 15, 2011 at 10:21 AM. Reason : .]

12/15/2011 10:21:20 AM

Lol Rush just did a segment on Paul and called him a nut and a Truther. Good thing the GOP doesn't listen to Rush...

12/15/2011 12:42:48 PM

Lot of newt backlash, wouldnt be surprised to see Ron Paul leading in Iowa polls next week.

12/15/2011 11:41:31 PM

it's either RP or Romney.

problem for RP is he's further left than obama on all foreign issues. he wouldn't even be flying spy planes over Iran(he said tonight) like obama is in reality currently. not sure many people on the left, not to mention the right will be onboard with that much of an 'i dont care' approach to those issues.

[Edited on December 15, 2011 at 11:58 PM. Reason : ,]

12/15/2011 11:57:52 PM

I think RP would beat Obama before romney.

I think people would vote against the status quo with RP, before they vote for the cutthroat business elitist Romney, over obama.

12/16/2011 12:30:52 AM

I'm not sure why some people say RP can't beat Obama...

RP is huge with the independent and libertarian party, staunch conservatives will vote for him over Obama, and RP motivates people like me, who have never voted or donated before to become involved.

The other GOP candidates are more of the same bullshit from the last 10 years, and RP's fresh ideas are welcomed by many who are disenfranchised.

12/16/2011 12:57:12 PM

Quote :

"problem for RP is he's further left than obama on all foreign issues. he wouldn't even be flying spy planes over Iran(he said tonight) like obama is in reality currently. not sure many people on the left, not to mention the right will be onboard with that much of an 'i dont care' approach to those issues."

I wouldn't categorize his approach as one of "I don't care". I think he (and a lot of his supporters) care a lot, and they can see that our involvement is obviously not improving things.

He said it very succinctly in one of the recent debates - the people in the region (you know, the people involved in these disputes) should be the ones working things out. We are not an unbiased, third party arbitrator. The U.S. is very strongly biased, and we're hated for it.

Donate: https://secure.ronpaul2012.com/

12/16/2011 1:03:48 PM

I guess if your strategy is "the best defense is no defense" then RP is your guy.

12/16/2011 1:05:57 PM

Ron Paul has never talked about stripping down our national defense. He has strongly stated that national defense is one of the few areas that the federal government should be involved in.

Nation building on the other side of the planet is not defense.

12/16/2011 1:09:36 PM

Ron Paul would get a huge amount of the independent vote, he would get the Republican vote obviously (since they'll vote for anyone to get Obama out of the office) and he could persuade disenchanted Democrats

I don't see the same going for Romney

12/16/2011 1:12:07 PM

I disagree with a lot of RP's views, and some of what he says makes my eyes roll involuntarily.

That said, I think he's one of the few politicians, and the only presidential candidate who shows some semblance of being principled.

I'd vote for him over Obama just for the hope and change.

After this fucking NDAA debacle, i've lost all hope.

12/16/2011 1:23:46 PM

Ron Paul has to win, he is truly our only hope. Look at these staggering statistics. If you want to see the first 40, follow the link, I just included the ones that condemn our political system here

Quote :

" #42 In 1980, government transfer payments accounted for just 11.7% of all income. Today, government transfer payments account for more than 18 percent of all income. #43 A staggering 48.5% of all Americans live in a household that receives some form of government benefits. Back in 1983, that number was below 30 percent. #44 Right now, spending by the federal government accounts for about 24 percent of GDP. Back in 2001, it accounted for just 18 percent. #45 For fiscal year 2011, the U.S. federal government had a budget deficit of nearly 1.3 trillion dollars. That was the third year in a row that our budget deficit has topped one trillion dollars. #46 If Bill Gates gave every single penny of his fortune to the U.S. government, it would only cover the U.S. budget deficit for about 15 days. http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/50-economic-numbers-from-2011-that-are-almost-too-crazy-to-believe/comment-page-1#comment-91369 #47 Amazingly, the U.S. government has now accumulated a total debt of 15 trillion dollars. When Barack Obama first took office the national debt was just 10.6 trillion dollars. #48 If the federal government began right at this moment to repay the U.S. national debt at a rate of one dollar per second, it would take over 440,000 years to pay off the national debt. #49 The U.S. national debt has been increasing by an average of more than 4 billion dollars per day since the beginning of the Obama administration. #50 During the Obama administration, the U.S. government has accumulated more debt than it did from the time that George Washington took office to the time that Bill Clinton took office."

12/16/2011 7:14:26 PM

Quote :

"Ron Paul has to win, he is truly our only hope."

Ron Paul is the only presently contending candidate who I'd consider casting a vote for, but he's not our only hope. we are our only hope. that's what confuses me about people who have a knee-jerk revulsion to the Occupy Movement while simultaneously acknowledging the fucked state of things. this sinking ship will only be saved by the masses recognizing what's going on, deciding what they'd rather be happening, and then demanding that their will be carried out.

for too long human beings have deified the individual. there is no single hero who will save the day. existence isn't the simple narratives depicted in comic books, movies and camp fire stories. we're all in this together. we're all equally responsible for what happens and what doesn't happen.

12/16/2011 7:34:39 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-KtlX_qvI&feature=related

12/17/2011 12:42:32 AM

12/17/2011 2:48:07 PM

Quote :

"that's what confuses me about people who have a knee-jerk revulsion to the Occupy Movement while simultaneously acknowledging the fucked state of things. this sinking ship will only be saved by the masses recognizing what's going on, deciding what they'd rather be happening, and then demanding that their will be carried out. "

Sounds like you are starting with the premise that the Occupy Movement recognizes what's going on, knows what they'd rather have happen, and are making cogent demands.

ROFL

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 2:57 PM. Reason : ]

12/17/2011 2:57:13 PM

no, i'm not

i just acknowledge that it's the biggest effort people have made to do those things in my lifetime. the Occupy Movement is open to the entire public to infiltrate and help shape. getting informed and communicating and organizing with each other is the only power the public has. i think its a blessing that people are starting to exercise it. as for the specifics with how the Movement operate and proceed, well, you're welcome to be a part of it and influence what it's focused on. why not participate and make it more reflective of whatever it is you want, instead of just shitting on it all and contributing to maintaining the status quo?

12/17/2011 3:28:02 PM

Really? The biggest effort? Like the Tea Party never existed... And I'd say its done a far sight more than OWS could ever dream.

12/17/2011 5:13:48 PM

i'm not anti-tea party, but the Occupy Movement is bigger and its grown without corporate funding





[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 5:23 PM. Reason : ...]

12/17/2011 5:22:23 PM

Quote :

"its grown without corporate funding"

omg lawl


also, lawl @ attempting to draw any association between the ipad wielding hipsters in zucotti and muslim fanatics who are dying for their beliefs in the streets of egypt.

[Edited on December 17, 2011 at 8:23 PM. Reason : ]

12/17/2011 8:21:37 PM

Someone embed this... lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EQSOwgWG1c

12/18/2011 11:34:42 AM

Sweet

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/12/gingrich-collapses-iowa-ron-paul-surges-front/46360/

Quote :

"Gingrich Collapses in Iowa as Ron Paul Surges to the Front A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows that Ron Paul has taken the lead in the Iowa caucus race, while Newt Gingrich's support is fading fast. A different Gallup poll shows Grinrich still holding the lead, but slipping, while The New York Times has Paul in the lead as well. Gingrich has seen his numbers in the PPP poll drop from 27 percent to 14 percent in just three weeks, while his favorability rating is now split at 46 percent for to 47 percent against, the worst of any candidate not named Jon Huntsman. That's quite a fall for someone who looked to be running away with the state and taking charge on the national level. Mitt Romney has also seen his numbers tick up slightly (to 20%), putting him just behind Paul (23%) for second place. The poll measured voters who are planning to vote in the Republican caucus. Perhaps the most telling secondary question was, "Do you think Newt Gingrich has strong principles?" Only 36 percent say that he does, but for Paul that number was 73 percent. The bad news for Paul, however, is that when asked for their second choice for President, only 9% said they would vote for him after their preferred candidate. That means if supporters of any of the second-tier candidates sense defeat and decided to abandon their choice at the last minute, those votes are more likely to go to Romney. Even if Romney doesn't win, the stronger than expected showing could be the snowball that starts a primary avalanche for him. One other tidbit from the PPP poll, the first question about Barack Obama asked if the respondents think he was born in the United States. Fifty-two percent either said he was not or they're not sure."

12/19/2011 8:40:15 AM

The GOP establishment is in full panic mode.

12/19/2011 12:18:15 PM

the only thing the GOP is afraid of is that Ru Paul does a third party bid for the presidency

12/19/2011 12:33:32 PM

I'd be more concerned with whether an establishment guy runs third party if Paul wins

But yes, the threat of that 3rd party run for Paul puts the GOP in a tight spot. How hard do you go at him, and how much do you piss him off?

[Edited on December 19, 2011 at 12:56 PM. Reason : a]

12/19/2011 12:46:38 PM

I could search through the last 17 pages of this thread and it has probably been already addressed, but I'm lazy. I have seen a video online of Ron Paul rejecting evolution. I was wondering if this is true, if he is indeed a creationist/rejects evolution?

If so, would that impact his policies? For example, making creationism be taught in science classes? Is this a big enough deal to matter?

12/19/2011 1:09:00 PM

School curriculum is a States issue, not Federal and Ron Paul supports states rights and small Fed Government. So no, it would not impact his policies. However I wonder if he really is a creationist or if he says he is to appease the GOP majority. I just can't imagine a guy as intelligent as RP believing in Creation, however I also couldn't see him rejecting Evolution to appease the majority. Its just not his style. I'm a bit perplexed.

12/19/2011 1:35:02 PM

^thanks. I agree, it seems like he is trying to appease the right, but at the same time seems so out of character for him.

12/19/2011 1:38:52 PM

Fox&Friends ran a segment this morning asking if "the media was propping up Ron Paul." I was late to work because I had to clean the frosted flakes off of the TV

12/19/2011 2:09:09 PM

Quote :

"I could search through the last 17 pages of this thread and it has probably been already addressed, but I'm lazy. I have seen a video online of Ron Paul rejecting evolution. I was wondering if this is true, if he is indeed a creationist/rejects evolution? If so, would that impact his policies? For example, making creationism be taught in science classes? Is this a big enough deal to matter?"

Ron Paul has stated that he doesn't find evolution and creationism to be mutually exclusive. Evolution obviously exists.

I don't really agree with him, as I don't think religion is useful. In the context of federal politics, though, this is as irrelevant as anything could be.

Quote :

"Fox&Friends ran a segment this morning asking if "the media was propping up Ron Paul." I was late to work because I had to clean the frosted flakes off of the TV"

LOL

[Edited on December 19, 2011 at 2:26 PM. Reason : ]

12/19/2011 2:25:34 PM

Ron Paul is too old to be president.

12/19/2011 2:41:13 PM

The collective voice of the people is starting to make it through the cracks of the mainstream media's straight jacket. The establishment must truly be frightened. I hope this is just the beginning and not just false hope.

12/19/2011 3:19:57 PM

Quote :

"Fox&Friends ran a segment this morning asking if "the media was propping up Ron Paul." I was late to work because I had to clean the frosted flakes off of the TV"

hahahahaha

12/19/2011 4:49:33 PM

Paul looks like a lock to win Iowa, but never underestimate the power of money to swing (and rig) elections.

12/19/2011 5:22:38 PM

remember 4 years ago, in NY I think, they had poll-workers telling people they couldn't vote for ROn Paul because he had "dropped out of the race," only, he hadn't?

12/19/2011 10:05:58 PM

how good is the Iowa caucus in determining presidential nominees?

[Edited on December 20, 2011 at 1:25 AM. Reason : ...]

12/20/2011 1:18:24 AM

Not ironclad, but pretty damn good. An underdog winning Iowa suddenly puts them into the forefront of media coverage, and they can ride that momentum in other states. See also: Barack Obama.

12/20/2011 8:22:44 AM

Quote :

"Fox&Friends ran a segment this morning asking if "the media was propping up Ron Paul." I was late to work because I had to clean the frosted flakes off of the TV"

A+ post

12/20/2011 10:18:27 AM

funniest post of the year. props.

12/20/2011 10:20:29 AM

Wow, so the entrenched GOP hates Paul. He must be great for the nation then.

12/20/2011 10:48:52 AM

Ron Paul compared to Jesse Jackson's candidacy. Great article, despite my description: http://www.salon.com/2011/12/15/how_ron_paul_could_give_the_gop_a_heart_attack/

If Paul gets a win in IA, and even moreso if he follows that with NH, NV, or another early state, then it will be worse than Jesse Jackson or Pat Buchanan ever dreamed could be done to a person. And those two dudes got torn apart for looking sideways at the establishment.

Simply put, you would have essentially everyone who runs everything united under a common goal: anybody but Paul.

If somehow the establishment fails, and the stars align, and Paul wins the nomination and the Presidency, then a vote for Paul will turn out to be a vote for Boehner to be President.

12/20/2011 12:12:05 PM

http://godshammer.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/open-letter-to-lew-rockwell/

12/20/2011 12:18:48 PM

The GOP establishment doesn't hate Paul because he's threatening the establishment, they hate him because 70% of the GOP wouldn't vote for him and him getting nominated would be the death sentence for the party in 2012.

It's worth noting that his "lead" in Iowa isn't so much about him surging ahead, as other candidates surging backwards. The recent PPP poll that had so much coverage also found that only 9% of the GOP would vote for him if their preferred candidate didn't get the nomination. That's not a joke, folks, that's exactly what I'm saying above and what I've been saying.

Keep blocking that out though and focusing on the most optimistic and delusional interpretation of what's going on, if it makes you feel better, but it wont help Paul win.

12/20/2011 2:16:29 PM

Some people complain that he ruins the primaries by relying too much on independents, crossover democrats, and the disaffected. Others complain that he can't beat Obama and would kill the party. They can't both be true.

12/20/2011 2:23:20 PM

i could see myself voting for Paul for what i imagine would be the chaos that would ensue from his presidency.

I could see him causing a lot of the GOP to stay home, but i could also see him getting tons of independents and liberals out to vote.

12/20/2011 2:25:06 PM

Quote :

"The GOP establishment doesn't hate Paul because he's threatening the establishment, they hate him because 70% of the GOP wouldn't vote for him and him getting nominated would be the death sentence for the party in 2012."

That seems to be a contradictory statement....The powers that be wouldn't support him precisely because of his threat to their establishment.

it would be absolutely hilarious to see the GOP fallout should paul win the nomination

12/20/2011 2:25:39 PM