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Ron Paul’s people are still striving to rack up as many delegates as he can at state Republican Party conventions before the Tampa .
He’s continued to do it too—even after his May announcement that many in media spun as “Paul drops out,” the Texas Congressman cleanly won control of his second state delegation at Minnesota’s state convention.
Paul can attract over 7,000 students to come hear him speak, a level of enthusiasm no other GOP figure can muster. He’s now got 110,000 signed-up members for his “Youth for Ron Paul” group.
Why are they so passionate about this unlikely political champion?
Most politicians sell comfort—that American is the greatest, rich and mighty and right, and what small problems we have can be solved by electing our guy and getting rid of the other guy. Ron Paul wins passionate devotion selling a vision of great discomfort.
The Goldwater movement in 1960 was seen as too young, too radical and too outside the mainstream by the GOP establishment of its day.
The religious right during the 1988 Pat Robertson campaign was seen as an overly loud and pushy minority. But just as those minorities grew and dominated the GOP, the libertarian-leaning energy of the Ron Paul movement is primed to shape the future of the Republican Party.
With their unique seriousness about reining in a government drowning in debt, neither the Republican Party nor the country can afford to ignore the concerns of Paul’s devotees.
Brian Doherty is a senior editor of Reason magazine and author of the new book "Ron Paul’s Revolution: The Man and the Movement He Inspired" (HarperCollins/Broadside).
reply to post by TinfoilTP
99% of his following will go sheepling along as soon as the Convention is over and he goes into retirement. There will be no Messiah figure to worship
Originally posted by freakjive
reply to post by getreadyalready
Sorry, GRA. I used to agree with you, often. However, I have to say that YOU are the one who has given up. I noticed it starting a little more than a month ago when the tone of your replies changed.
You seem to be buying into the same propaganda that I have addressed in this and many other threads.
Ron Paul is not and will not ever be considered a failure by people who understand the movement.edit on 6/5/2012 by freakjive because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by benrl
reply to post by TinfoilTP
99% of his following will go sheepling along as soon as the Convention is over and he goes into retirement. There will be no Messiah figure to worship
and thats what people don't understand, Its not about getting him elected, its about getting his ideas and voice heard in the Party.
Its proving people wan't what hes selling.
If not him, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rand Paul carrying his torch in a smarter more subtle way...
Originally posted by getreadyalready
Paul supporters keep celebrating this delegate strategy, which I feel is a dirty strategy. Winning all the delegates with none of the popular vote is a dirty way to win, even if it works. I don't blame him for concentrating on delegates, but it is only effective if he also has support of the people. If he wins the nomination, without winning any popular majority, then it is a stolen nomination.
I also gave up on Paul in 2008 for similar reasons. He short-circuits his own campaign. He has no intention of actually winning, he just wants to make a big splash and get a lot of attention.
Originally posted by blaenau2000
Being from the UK, I hear on ATS he is winning, I see the great videos on Youtube that are inspiring but on Sky, BBC news no mention of him.
I am a big fan of Ron Paul, but what is the truth?
Has he realistically got a chance or what?
Originally posted by MrSpad
Originally posted by blaenau2000
Being from the UK, I hear on ATS he is winning, I see the great videos on Youtube that are inspiring but on Sky, BBC news no mention of him.
I am a big fan of Ron Paul, but what is the truth?
Has he realistically got a chance or what?
No he does not. He has a small cult like following who often have bigger plans for him than he does. .
Originally posted by CORN IS NUTS
reply to post by Shadowalker
I completely agree with you Shadow; Ron Paul's message made me jump into the political arena this year. Thus I ended up being a Delegate in Minnesota (mind you where we won 32 of 40 delegates to go to the National Convention). And at 1st it was all about Ron Paul winning the nomination for me; as I went to county, congressional district, and finally the State conventions. It very clearly dawned on me that this WHOLE thing is not about A MAN. It is about a WAY OF THINKING and it has clearly taken a very strong hold within in our country. So if Ron Paul does not win the nomination I am very confident that this movement will not go away.
We ammended the State GOP platform to include / change to a Liberty way of thinking. Every resolution that supported a thought process of getting back to the Constition passed.
Next up; winning local and state elections. All the way down to the city level; this has already started. It may not happen quickly but we are taking our country back. The "establishment" people with in the party know this. They either have to change to support movement or will wither away like leaves during the Fall.
I am here for the long haul and will not stop; I also know a very large number of people (at least in Minnesota) will do the same. We are running for elected seats all across the state. City Council, House Reps., Financial commitees, Senate seats, etc. etc. The footsteps may not be very loud now.... but they are coming. Do you hear them?