Is it time for Ron Paul to organize the grassroots movement?

I have been observing and participating in the Ron Paul movement for a while
and I have noticed some things that seem to be inhibiting its success.
While it is a great thing to see America coming together this way; across party lines,
race lines, and most other lines, it may be time for more management of the resources.
I have written about the Ron Paul "saturation" of the Internet and possible (probable)
negative peripheral affects of the flood of information in previous posts.

But I do feel like the time has come for Dr. Paul's campaign to begin an effort
in managing the inspired and passionate people participating in his movement.
My feelings are based on a few of things:

1. The message, while being sent far and wide throughout the Internet, is
   becoming diluted due to duplication of effort.
2. The duplication of effort is wasting resources that could be used on more
   concentrated and efficient communication methods.
3. Again, the saturation point of the medium (the Internet) is beginning to
   approach which I feel may be having a negative effect on the campaign.

I have already spoken to the saturation of Ron Paul information in a previous post on
my blog. Reactions have been mixed, but for the most part, people agree with me.
Although some have called me a shill attempting to prevent Paulers from
voicing their support. The duplication seems to have become almost more
of a problem than saturation. Using Digg as my prime example, as I almost always
do, I see duplicate posts, almost back to back, to nearly the same article or
information. Blog posts will be created with a single line in the body of the message
and a link to a video or another blog or site. Dr. Paul's recent visit to USC is a
prime example. I have seen many posts on Digg duplicating the same information,
linking to the same video of photo montage via their own blog, with no value
added.

Some could just be seeing the popularity of Ron Paul and exploiting it for traffic
to their blog (likely in some cases). But I also think there are many who think
they are assisting the campaign by providing these links. I believe
they are not and are helping to dilute the message and the likelihood that the posts
will become popular enough on networking sites to make the front pages. If the
bloggers are going to provide analysis, feedback or add value to a video or foreign
site link, that works for me. But linking to another site or blog as a portal does not.
Link to the source and help clarify and concentrate the message of the campaign.

So now may be the time for the campaign to make an effort at organizing the
resources. More press releases, letters from the campaign and the like can
help clarify and concentrate the message maximizing its impact. While it will
not be possible to get everyone on board, I think it will help in the long run.
It may also let some backers know that they can spend more time on the street
if they feel the work is being done well on the Internet.

I encourage everyone to get involved, voice their opinions and continue to
research the candidates. But if you are going to help people find Dr. Paul,
add some value to your links; write a commentary to give your point of
view. Let your friends and family know you are involved and how
they can become more informed.

The movement is afoot and gaining momentum every day!! Let's keep
up our efforts and become even smarter about it through cooperation
and hard work!!



Technorati Tags: ron paul, election, republican, 2008, president

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Giuliani's attempt to capitalize on Ron Paul's honesty.

Looking back on the infamous debate issue where Wendell Goler suggests that Ron Paul
thinks we invited the 9/11 attacks, and reading transcript and listening to it on
Youtube, I can see better what happened.

It does seem to me that Goler really did try to set up Dr. Paul by leading him down the
trail of what he already knew was going to be bait for the other candidates. Bait for them
to try to embarrass and discredit Ron. Let's look:

The end of Ron's first answer:

(Goler asking why Ron wants the nomination)

"....There's a strong tradition of being anti-war in the republican party,
it is the constitutional position, it is the advice of the founders to
follow a non-interventionist foreign policy. Stay out of entangling
alliances. Be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and
trade with them. Just think of the tremendous improvement of
relationship with Vietnam. We lost 60,000 men, we came home in defeat,
now we go over there and we invest in Vietnam. So there's a lot of
merit to the advice of the founders and follow the constitution.
My argument is that we shouldn't go to war so carelessly. When we do, the wars don't end."
(Can anyone argue with this? And isn't this what everyone agrees Bush did?)


So Goler goes on and tries to lead Ron somewhere really bad to most everyone:

Goler: "Congressman, you don't think that changed with the 9/11 attack?"

Paul: "What changed?"

Goler: "The non-interventionist policies"

Paul: "Non-intervention [ meant to say "intervention"? ] was a major
contributing factor. Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked
us. They attack us because we've been over there, we've been bombing
Iraq for ten years. We've been in the middle east. I think Reagan was
right. We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern
politics. Right now We're building an embassy in Iraq that's bigger
than the Vatican, we're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say
here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico?
We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the
perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us."
(Again, can anyone argue with this? Can Rudy? Is it not true?)

So now the kicker:

Goler: "Are you suggesting we invited the 9/11 attacks sir?"

Paul: "I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us
and the reason they did it. And they are delighted that we are over
there cause Osama Bin Laden has said 'I'm glad you're over on our sand
because we can target you so much easier' They've already now since
that time killed 3,400 of our men and I don't think it was necessary"

(Now let's look at this statement VERY carefully because Rudy is about to pounce on what he KNOWS is a chance to try to bury Ron AND gain credibility off of the backs of 911 victims. Did Ron agree with Goler? I cannot see how this answer agrees with him in ANY way! Ron's previous answer actually
answers THIS question...)

Guiliani (interrupts): "Can I make a comment on that? That's really an
extraordinary statement. As someone who lived through the attack of
September 11th, that we invited the attack because we were attacking
Iraq. I don't think I've heard that before and I've heard some pretty
absurd explanations for September 11th. [ applause ] I would ask the
Congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us he didn't really mean
that. [applause]"

(OK, so Rudy pounces! He is no dummy; he sees a chance to leverage his 911 "credibility" and notice how he waits for the applause to die before adding a suggestion that Dr. Paul withdraw the statement. Note that the applause is not what I would EXPECT if the I were in the audience and I did not hear some truth in what Dr. Paul was saying. I would expect roars or outrage; it wasn't there. And yes, it is an EXTRAORDINARY statement to a guy like him; the truth always is..
Of course, Rudy selectively mentions a sliver of the Ron's whole reason; Iraq attacks.)

And Ron fires back; deadpan with no fear THE TRUTH:

Paul: "I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach
and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed
the Shah, yes there was blowback. The reaction to that was the taking
of our hostages and that persists. If we ignore that, we ignore that at
our own risk. If we think we can do what we want around the world and
not incite hatred then we have a problem. They don't come here to
attack us cause we're rich and we're free. They attack us cause we're
over there. I mean, what would we think if other foreign countries were
doing that to us"

At this point, everybody on stage wants to gang up on Ron over this, but I believe he would have handled them all simply by pointing out the fact that his answer said nothing like Rudy's insinuations. But, to Fox's credit, they tabled it and prevented all of it. Rudy was chomping at the bit; literally begging for another 30 seconds.

Folks, these guys are smart. We may hate them and think they don't work in our interest,
because they don't. But we CANNOT underestimate them or we lose. Ron learned it from
this debate. The September debate was nothing like this. He ate them alive there!
I think he did just fine in this debate also, but allowing Goler to put that question (inviting 911)out there
without at least insinuating that the answer was no in some way was just an easy under hand
lob pitch for Rudy. And he jumped on it...

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Simple (and cheap) way to help Ron spread the word.

I have done this before and almost made it. But that was before my blog and
I posted it directly on Digg. But I will try it again.

I have created an easy and very cheap pledge on pledgebank.com to post
some Ron Paul campaign signs in your neighborhood. We will start small..
Just 25 signs, and I don't mean bug professional signs. I mean get the
yard sign from Ron's site or here from my photobucket album, go to
any office supply store or the grocery store or wherever and print 25
copies of any of these images on 8.5X11 sheets of paper.

Take them out and staple them to telephone poles, tape them to street
sign poles; any where people will see them. Try to find the highest
traffic area possible; local festivals, a bust intersection or next to a
busy highway! Lotta traffic there!

There will be people who will take them down, so try to put them
somewhere visible, but kind of inaccessible. High up on anything
works well. Those people might not be malicious, just want to keep
paper out of the area. They do the same thing with yard sale signs,
so don't take offense..

But get out and do it! You will be surprised how much it can help and
how few people really know about Ron....

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Some observations about Ron Paul's appearance on O-Riley's show.

I am not a regular viewer of Bill's show and I do not pay much attention to him.
I know he is a loud mouth who likes to talk about nothing of substance in general
and likes to hear himself talk. He adds little of value to the news since most of
his presentation is just his opinions... So I guess that is not really news at all..??
(Not that Fox news really shows anything of great value and nothing that can
be useful..)

But, as I and many others on Digg predicted, it was a shout-fest by Bill and
some interrupted answers to the same question over and over from Ron.
O'Riley never really did give Dr. Paul any kind of chance to answer any of
his questions, except for one point where I think the producers must have
told him that he had to give Ron SOME time... Ron did well considering the
context, of which there was none. Of course O'Riley is just looking for a
sound bite, 10 word answer, which is what he generally provides to his
viewers.

Personally, I think it was some kind of "freak show". O'Riley brought Ron
on to embarrass him, to show his (Bill's) "intellectual superiority" and astute
analysis of the situation in the Middle East in general. He has no clue!!
He would not allow any discussion about what got us into the whole mess
in the first place! Yes, it is a little irrelevant right now and we have to deal
with the situation as it is, but in order to do so, one must know how we got
here.

Ron's quotes from the debate are RIGHT ON THE MONEY!! None of them
want us there (another link to my blog, sorry). We have been there way too
long, way beyond THIS war in Iraq and we are in bed with the rich leaders
in the Arab nations who support terrorism and commit human rights
violations! No wonder they hate us!! Like Ron says, it is the policy that
is wrong! The world is less safe when imperialistic administrations like
we have now think that they can cram their ideals down the throats of
everyone else. It just can't work. Believe it or not GW, EVERYONE
wants to be free; not just Iraqis and Americans...

Should we step in when atrocities are being committed; yes.
Should we as Ron says, "...mind our own business, defend our borders
and defend this country..". Hell, yes! I have no desire to police the
world and the rest of America is getting just as tired of it!

Look at these polls:

Iraq CBS News/New York Times Poll. Sept. 4-8, 2007. N=1,035 adults nationwide
FOX News Poll: Even With Surge Improvements, Most Want U.S. Out Of Iraq (granted from July 2007)
Global Poll: Majority Wants Troops Out of Iraq Within a Year

Technorati Tags: ron paul, election, 2008, iraq

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More ways to get the word out on Ron Paul.

I was watching football yesterday and it came to me.

Why not make a sign and take it to the game? Walk it around both
inside and out. Do you have season tickets ( I can't afford them)?
If so, take a sign to every home game and display it.

Take one to baseball games if you go. Any where you can get exposure
to groups of people. Make one on a bed sheet with some markers
from your kids' drawers. Anything to get more people to hear Ron's
message!

And, do you know a celebrity? No matter how famous, infamous or
little known. Talk to them about Dr. Paul; see what they think and
ask for an endorsement! If you get it I will post it!

Oktoberfests should be cropping up, especially in the Midwest. Get
out and put up some signs. Staple them to telephone poles. Just an
8.5 X 11 sheet of paper with the stock yard sign from the campaign
website will do. I put a bunch of them up around a recent car show in
my neighborhood.

Try to get window or counter space at your local businesses. Get the
word out that way; as people pass buy or shop. Ask the business owners
about Ron Paul; pass out some information and tell them they can be on
our online Honor Roll of Businesses for Ron Paul. I will gladly post their info
on that blog!

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I guess more people agree with Ron on Iraq than anyone thought..

So, what did Ron Paul say at the latest debate?

Some quotes before the actual meat of this post:

"The people who say there will be a bloodbath are the ones who said it would be a
cake walk, a slam dunk and that it would be paid for by oil. Why believe them?
They've been wrong on everything they said..."

"Going into Iraq and Afghanistan and threatening Iran is the WORST thing we
can do for our national security! I am less safe; the American people are less safe
for this. Its the policy that is wrong!"

"...shifting troops around, taking in 30 more and reducing by 5; totally irrelevant!!..."

"What do we have to pay to save face? That's all we're doing is saving face!!"

Recently, so articles has come to light about the Republican voters and Iraqi
view on the troops in Iraq. Seems both of them want our troops to come
home (or at least get out in the Iraqis case). Yet all of the Republican candidates
(except RP) and GW insist that we must stay!

Well, you tell me. Look at these articles and tell me what we should do:

Poll:Majority of Iowa Republicans Wants Out of Iraq in Six Months

US surge has failed - Iraqi poll

So, what do you think? Was he right? Should we leave ASAP?

Seems both the Republican voters in Iowa AND the Iraqi people agree!

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Best Ron Paul quotes from the September Republican debate

I think, as many, that Dr. Paul did very well at this debate. He was handed loaded questions,
ridiculed by both the participants and commentators but he handled all of it with
grace and the TRUTH!

There were some great quotes from him while all of the other just spewed the same old
neo-con crap that they think everyone wants to hear.

Just a few that I thought were so direct and poignant that I cannot BELIEVE people
still are not in his camp:

On Iraq and removing the troops:
"The people who say there will be a bloodbath are the ones who said it would be a
cake walk, a slam dunk and that it would be paid for by oil. Why believe them?
They've been wrong on everything they said..."

"Going into Iraq and Afghanistan and threatening Iran is the WORST thing we
can do for our national security! I am less safe; the American people are less safe
for this. Its the policy that is wrong!"

"...shifting troops around, taking in 30 more and reducing by 5; totally irrelevant!!..."

"NO! I'm saying we should take our marching orders from our Constitution!"

The Huckabee debate:
"When we make a mistake, it is the obligation of the people to CORRECT the mistake,
not to continue the mistake!"

(My personal favorite! This is so true!!)
"What do we have to pay to save face? That's all we're doing is saving face!!"

On eliminating Federal agencies:
"Yes, we have every right in the world to know something about intelligence gathering,
but we have to have intelligent people interpreting this information."

(This is also a great one! Probably the best one!)
"Don't we remember that when you sacrifice liberty for security you lose both! That's
what's happening in this country today!"

It is so refreshing to hear a politician say these things. The rest of the "neo-bots",
minus Huckabee every once in a while, were just regurgitating the same old garbage
we always hear: "America is so great, but so feared and hated. We have to protect
our interests. The government can save us; even from ourselves."

Ron says the things people don't want to hear; the truth. We got ourselves in this mess;
we allowed the Federal government to get out of control, turn the world against us
and control our lives. Is this why people fear him and are so against his message?
How did American politics get to this? Dr. No is the only one who can save us and
save our country!


Technorati Tags: ron paul, debate, september, election, 2008

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