A loyal and trusted reader passes along a revealing site used by the Ron Paul faithful in the Evergreen State to organize for county conventions and such. Note in particular the "Convention Bullet Points":
Do not wear Ron Paul Gear- You are the candidate and you are running for a delegate position. Create your own election flyer or card with you as the candidate running for delegate...you can list credentials- soccer coach, bible study teacher, veteran, home schooler etc etc..
Translation: you're screwed if you let on who your guy is. Must assimilate.
Do not mention the war, as this is a sensitive issue that will allow the other delegates to identify you as a Ron Paul supporter. And this will also serve to polarize our Ron Paul slate from other conservatives in at the convention. Represent a strong stance against Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, as conservatives love to hear these kinds of things. Also talk about LOCAL issues...Gregoires bizarra Park plan, property rights, You can mention monetary policy, national ID cards, the protection of civil liberties, NAFTA, immigration, etc. These are issues that conservatives will be receptive to and they are also issues that Republicans need to hear about.
Translation: do not let it be known what you actually believe. Throw in cute buzzwords that we think might appeal to conservatives, even if you don't actually believe what you're saying.
[Editors Note to Ron Paul organizers: almost any discussion of monetary policy in a short convention speech, especially including references to "sound money," is a dead giveaway that there is a Ronulan in the house.]
Again, Make no mention of the Iraq War- You will see how quickly the crowd will turn on you, and more importantly refuse to vote for you.
Translation: Again, be disingenuous. Don't let on to your fellow convention attendees why you're actually there. If they find out the truth they won't vote for you. Let's trick them.
Now, just about any attendee of GOP county conventions and/or legislative district caucuses will attest to the truth of these talking points. The Ronulans are often conspicuously well-dressed, absent distinguishing Ron Paul paraphernalia, and are rarely forthcoming about their Ronulan status.
They recognize they are a minority among self-described conservatives. Indeed by their actions and their own talking points, they appear to recognize that in many cases they are utterly outside the mainstream of conservative thought...but they want you to vote for them as delegates anyway.
Libertarian leaning Republicans who were drawn to aspects of Paul's candidacy remain a good fit for the broader GOP coalition and should be welcomed to the fold with enthusiasm. Yet, someone needs to call a spade, a spade and state for the record that quite a number of these guys are more trouble than they're worth. Their own actions keep proving it.
If you doubt that last point, behold the increasingly cult-like status of the Ronulan movement. Beware the Kool-Aid.
UPDATE: last paragraph fixed.
UPDATE II: headline fixed.
Sunday UPDATE: welcome readers from Orbusmax, Libertarian Republican, and most of all, Ace of Spades.
Another Sunday UPDATE: As of this typing, I note the original Ron Paul for Washington site that displayed the hilarity discussed above is offline. Coincidence?
Posted by Eric Earling at May 11, 2008 08:07 PM | Email This"Experience has shown that a phone call is the quickest, easiest, and best way to get in touch with each Ron Paul Delegate. When we get a supporter on the phone, we no for certain that we've made contact."
It would seem someone has stolen the missing 'k' and 'w' bookends from one of those words....what can you expect from the Paul-istinians though.
Posted by: Rick D. on May 8, 2008 07:59 PMBut the above details from the linked ronpaul web page are more than a little disturbing, in that as Eric correctly noted it shows a clear willingness to be deliberately misleading and say whatever they need to in order to achieve their objectives; whatever those objectives might be.
And speaking of said objectives: Latest CNN ''Election Center'' (R) delegate count shows the following totals thru 6 May:
McCain = 1409 (1191 needed to win)
Romney = 255
Huckabee = 275
Ron Paul = 26
That's right: Only 26 for Ron Paul.
Given that the (R) race for the nomination was over and done some time ago, I think it is a very fair question to ask the people who still appear to be campaigning for Ron Paul:
Just what IS their ultimate objective ??
If they want to constructively contribute in a positive way to crafting a final WA State and National (R) Platform that can appeal to a broad cross section of (R)s, (I)s, and even ''Reagan (D)s'', then as Eric noted they should be welcomed.
OTOH, if their objective is to try and force thru changes to the State and National platforms that in the real world are only going to help the (D) nominee in the General, that's a whole 'nother story.
Another way to read John's answer is that in effect he seems to be saying:
''Never mind if we have to be sneaky in order to achieve our objectives; why should anyone care about that; the end justifies the means.''
In reply to which I would say:
If Ron Paul had such a terrific agenda with broad and deep appeal, how come in open caucus and primary competition he only got 26 delegates to McCain's 1409 ?? That's more than a FIFTY-to-ONE ratio in favor of McCain. And it wasn't like RP had no money to get the message out; he raised major bucks.
Nevada Republican State Convention
McCain Delegates elected = 2 (aka Dark Helmet)
Ron Paul elected = 29 (aka the Doctor)
ESAD That is 29 + 26 = 55
And that is for starters because there are many other states where the delegates are not bound.
Locally Ron Paul is 5 x as popular now then during the month of the Caucus.
American needs Change and the GOP has the best agent of Change with a thirty year track record better than any politician.
Vote for Ron Paul
Posted by: Paul Lucero on May 8, 2008 09:00 PMAccording to one Paulistinian posting on a local blog sire, the plan is, "Ron Paul's name is going to be put up for nomination at the RNC. It only takes a majority of the delegations from as few as five states supporting a Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate, to force a floor vote on that candidate."
That's right.
Our office is in Seattle. We have to add (say) 8.9% to the sale price. But if we mail the product to Woodinvile, that jurisdiction charges (just guessing) 8.7%.
If we charge the consumer too much sales tax, we get in trouble.
If we charge too little, we get in trouble, or we have to figure out the correct amount of tax and send that in to the state.
If we say tax is included, we still have to send out a receipt showing the correct amount of tax being applied.
Most of our items are under $30. It will cost us more to have the bookkeeper calculate the tax and send out custom receipts than we make in profit on the items.
Seattle is going to lose a great deal of sales tax revenue, so our B&O taxes just went up.
Each jurisdiction where we sell an item can now charge us B&O tax because we have a legal presence in their jurisdiction. Our customer.
I had an executive decision to make.
-Calculate the tax correctly and lose money on every item through extra clerical and bookkeeping time.
-Stop selling our goods in every WA jurisdiction except Seattle. That would look great on our web page. "We sell this stuff all over the world, but not in Puyallup."
-Stop selling the stuff all together. It is not a big part of our business. Oh yeah, that will help the WA economy.
-Become a scofflaw. Just SAY we are selling it all in Seattle and hope we don't get audited.
Our bookkeeper said there were folks from Costco and Amazon at the seminar. What a nightmare for them. Some business buys $10,000 worth of desks from Costco to Go, and it comes out of a Woodinville store but gets delivered to Orting, they gotta be RIGHT. Cuz Costco is GONNA get audited. State would love to add some nice juicy fines and interest.
Pop Quiz, hotshot: How many more tax returns will Costco have to file each month?
By the way, you CAN'T calculate the tax by zip code. Some zip codes include 3 or 4 city jurisdictions. It must be by city name.
I am not kidding about this. It is new, and really stupid. And they are serious about it.
All I could think about was the Libertarian goal of reducing and simplifying taxes. I observed that maybe I should get a Ron Paul bumper sticker after all. (See, I told you it would get relevant.)
My office manager looked me dead in the eye and said: "Paultard."
As stupid as these laws are, supporting Ron Paul would be even more stupid.
Guess I have a business decision to make.
Hairy
Posted by: Hairy Buddah on May 8, 2008 09:49 PMIf that's the way you feel, have fun with your sales tax calculations. I hope they put you full time on the project.
And for RickD, I guess you have never made a typo, huh? Wow, a typo on the website? Great reason not to vote for a man who supports the US Constitution and limited government. Yeah, violation of eminent domain, trashing of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th amendments of the constitution daily, bailing out of homeowners with responsible homeowner's and renter's tax money - I can live with that - I just will not cotton to typos, dammit!
You've got your party's choice for president in 2009. Now shut up about Ron Paul and concentrate on your task at hand. Let those of us who support Ron Paul vote for him. After all, it's (sort of) a free country, even if you neo-cons don't like it!
Posted by: Politically Incorrect on May 9, 2008 03:09 AMGeee, such sweet words.
I just love it when a fool starts off with retard, yeah that will get people to help your cause.
No we are not happy with McCain, but Ron Paul went NO-WHERE, so please grow up and move on.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on May 9, 2008 06:27 AMThat political success has to come as a result of taking active steps... steps that amount to policy... to deceive the voters into thinking you're something you're not is directly out of the fringe leftist playbook. For example, that waste of air known as Barry Obama actually is working to make people believe that he can do something besides run an elevator.
These types of despicable positions and plans are what killed the Paul candidacy. Combine that with utter cluelessness in issues of foreign and domestic policy, along with the complete and utter political delusion that Paulistinians have shown throughout his campaign, and it's clear that Paul and his fellow morons never stood a chance.
The affiliation with Paul will destroy any chance for any of these clowns to achieve elected office, since affiliation with Paul is one of the few things worse then affiliation with Wright.
Posted by: Hinton on May 9, 2008 06:41 AMThe Cult of Ron Paulogy? Could have fooled me.
Posted by: Mike H on May 9, 2008 06:54 AMI always am amused by Republicans that start badmouthing Ron Paul when they just nominated John McCain. What a laugh, as if McCain really represents what most Republicans believe. I think that Republicans that voted for him mostly did so because they think he has the best chance of beating the Democrats. It had nothing to do with what he stands for. It is more important to them that a Republican win the White House in November than to be idealistic in their voting. It just sickens me, because I believe we could have won the White House with just about any of our candidates without prostituting ourselves for the RINO John McCain. Hillary and Obama are both very poor candidates. So making disparaging comments about Paul supporters is very hipocritical of you and all of the rest of the Republican whores that do so.
BTW I supported Romney. I aint afraid of the Mormons any more than I fear Catholics.
Do you even know what a neo-con is?
For your benefit, I will enlighten. A neo-con is an ex leftist who has embraced conservatism.
Many ex-libs who have embraced conservatism are Jewish and I suspect there may be just a little bit of antisemitism among the nutroots since so many of the conservatives they label as neo-con happen to be Jewish.
Posted by: deadwood on May 9, 2008 07:25 AMMethow Ken asks "If Ron Paul had such a terrific agenda with broad and deep appeal, how come in open caucus and primary competition he only got 26 delegates to McCain's 1409 ??" Answer: because McCain is mainstream, ie - more electable. It has little to do with the message or the philosophy of either candidate.
Libertarians always resonate more closely to my beliefs than lockstep Republicans who toe their party line. Read Madison's Federalist #10 again if you would like a refresher on the evils of factional government. The inability to control the power of political factions is what put us where we are today - we have two ethically and philosophically bankrupt parties with no viable alternatives. I will vote for McCain in an effort to prevent the next president from being Hilary or Obama, not because I think McCain is half the man Reagan was, or because I like him or agree with everything the Republican party stands for. In election after election, I won't vote for a Libertarian because it means not voting for the only candidate with a chance to defeat a Socialist Democrat - and hence voting for the Libertarian would be functionally equivalent to voting for that Democrat.
As for the point of Eric's post - I say "what is your point?" Show me a Republican or Democrat who will not say nearly anything necessary, disingenuous or not, to get elected. RP is not perfect. But his delegates were not advised to LIE, or MISREPRESENT FACTS, only to avoid topics that cause conflict. It seems to me that this is what is required to build a "big tent" (less factionalized) GOP. Focus on common purposes and political ideals rather than focusing on differences. Where am I wrong?
Posted by: srogers on May 9, 2008 07:41 AMThe first world empire needs to be created the American way before any other country does it.
I wish these Ronulans would shut up about the war and start acting like true conservatives, then we could join forces and maybe give them their own country where they can have all the gold standards that they want.
Posted by: William D Berg on May 9, 2008 08:06 AMthis is from delavar's website---
"Occupation is the single greatest recruiter and motivator in the jihadist's cause. While we occupy holy Muslim land, we will always have a highly motivated, patient terrorist threat."
"I will not support occupation for the sake of nation-building. No amount of tit-for-tat retribution will end the war on terror unless we first take their motivation away."
"Our very presence on holy Muslim soil fuels the fire of jihad against the United States and unites our enemies against us."
"Furthermore, if we pay attention to the declaration of war against us by al-Qaeda, we will notice that they fight us because of our continued support for apostate regimes that oppress Muslims. We must stop giving taxpayer money in the form of aid and support to oppressive regimes."
Posted by: kenmore on May 9, 2008 08:10 AMBut true conservatives do NOT believe in personal freedom. That is where we as Republicans must draw the line and Ron Paul has crossed it.
You Ronulans need to find another party.
Posted by: Jim Stack on May 9, 2008 08:17 AMIf you're not doing anything wrong you shouldn't have to worry about losing a few personal freedoms.
Posted by: hardcon on May 9, 2008 08:24 AMLuckily for us, support continues to grow. Ron Paul won't be elected, but he inspired a lot of younger people to work for personal and economic freedom. It won't all fall into place in 4 years or even 8, but as my generation takes the reigns of power, perhaps we can learn our lesson from those of you who came before us and squandered your chance to support freedom.
I can only hope my generation is more up to it than my father's was. Shame on you.
Posted by: Andrew Brown on May 9, 2008 08:51 AMYou don't realize how sick that sounds. It's the same as "If you have nothing to hide, why are you worried about a no-knock raid by the cops in the middle of the night?" "If you aren't carrying anything contraband, don't complain about the TSA searching through your underwear and wireless size-A bras"
You've been successfully converted into a sheep, hardcon. Or, maybe you've always been, I don't know. But, our founders fought a bloody war for much less than what goes on now in the country, as far as loss of basic human freedoms.
Ronald Reagan, the last true conservative in the white house, would probably puke all over Ed Meese's shoes if he were alive today hearing crap that is spouted by people like you. Disgusting!
(not R.R. puking, I mean your comment was disgusting, Hinton)
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 9, 2008 09:06 AMFor your benefit, I will enlighten. A neo-con is an ex leftist who has embraced conservatism."
Obviously, you don't Deadwood. I'll give you the true definition:
"A neo-con is an ex leftist who has embraced the GOP and calls himself a conservative because he cannot seem to win elections as a left-winger. He is still for big government, still for destruction of individual rights and freedoms, and still wants to invade the world, just different countries now. The neo-con does not have any respect for the sovereignty of America"
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 9, 2008 09:13 AMAlthough, Andrew, time is a factor too, because the way things are going, your generation may not be able to fight against government oppression easily. I am worried that your right to free speech, assembly, etc. will be gone before you get a chance. Then there's the big one, the right to bear arms. That is the end of the line.
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 9, 2008 09:19 AMGuess what! Isolationism doesn't work! We're not just going to put walls all up around our country and tell everyone else to keep out! You Ronulans can have your isolationism, not me!
Posted by: hardcon on May 9, 2008 09:30 AMAs I pointed out many of time, one of the main, if not the main, foundational points of the Republican Party, which held its first non-official meeting in Ripon, WI and was formally founded in Michigan, and who had Abraham Lincoln as its first Presidential candidate, was abolishon of slavery. The abolishonist, much in the line with the William Willberforce and the Quakers of England, found slavery to be abhorent and against the will of God. Some of the Paulites, like Bruce Guthrie, took the position that the Civil War should not have even been fought. I find this as anti-Republican orgins as I find the neocon philosophy and George Bush's form of Republicanism. Republican may wonder why they are in trouble. They need to look in the mirror to see how far they have strayed from the party of Lincoln. They need to look to long-term Republicans, such as Frank Schaffer, who now supports Obama and whose Father founded the pro-life movement, and see how the current administration has killed the Republican party. Now, McCain instead of supporting the troops by signing onto Sen. Webb's GI bill, instead has made the argument that keeping the troops on the battle field is more important that the troops themselves, irregarless of the fact that Webb's GI bill would increase the quantity and quality of new recruites.
Posted by: tc on May 9, 2008 09:37 AMI guess we could say the same for the Dem's Look how far that party has strayed. They are now the party of Stalin, Castro, Lenin and on. To them only the gov knows best and should run everything. If you want a close look at how the dem party has changed. Goggle the dem prez in WWI and see what he did when people protest that war.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on May 9, 2008 09:57 AMYou show your ignorance with every other sentence, Hinton.
By Sovereignty, people mean the ultimate authority that rests with United States above and beyond foreign influence. So, that word is not used when talking about foreign intervention vs. isolationism.
Ron Paul supporters think it is might stupid to worry about overseas terrorists when they can just wade across the Rio Grande into Arizona. Mr. Paul is for secure borders, unlike a certain Sen. McAmenesty.
Secondly, I refer to sovereignty (or lack thereof) when I read about this N. American Union crap, which would make us like Euro. countries are to their beaurucratic masters in Brussels, the direction of the UN toward trying to take away gun rights around the world, and our own Supreme Court's citing of foreign precedent in their decisions. I want none of that, and neither does a true conservative or a libertarian. You are neither, apparently.
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 9, 2008 10:05 AMMike, I gotta give you that one. One of the things I like(d) about McCain was his "straight talk" reputation. This whole gas tax holiday thing really looks like pandering. I find it difficult to believe that he really thinks it will have a positive economic impact. Same goes for his stance on global warming. I doubt many leaders truly believe that mankind is causing significant changes in the weather. The folks promoting global warming are just the usual crowd of anti-american, anti-corporate leftists.
Why is an environmentalist like a watermelon? Because he is green on the outside and red on the inside.
I do think it ironic that the supporters of the most honest candidate in the race find it necessary to be dishonest in their attempts to have their voices heard. An interesting study in irony and hypocrisy.
I think that we are about to get some really big whoppers from Obama. He has been the darling of the left in order to get nominated. But he has been strangely silent on specific policies. Once he formally gets the nod it will be time for him to make a big sweeping turn to the center. Standard Dems playbook. You watch, his specific proposals will cause anguish on the far left, but the MSM will trumpet them as proof that he is a uniter, not a divider. His actual policies (should our nation be so unfortunate to elect him), will be much farther to the left than his campaign position. He is a far, far leftist, but you watch. This wolf is about to don some sheep's clothing.
Hairy
Posted by: Hairy Buddah on May 9, 2008 10:51 AM"Libertarian leaning Republicans who were drawn to aspects of Paul's candidacy remain a good fit for the broader GOP coalition and should be welcomed to the fold with enthusiasm."
Let's just call things that are weird...weird...and I'd add the Free State Project to that list as well.
I just moved to Snohomish County and when I read the Snohomish County GOP platform I was astonished at how sensible, conservative, and well...agreeable it is.
If you want to be out of step with the national party simply support your local platform...you'll sound weird enough without the need to join a commune.
Posted by: Tracy on May 9, 2008 10:54 AMI agree with you Hairy, on the global warming/cooling/pretty-much-staying-the-same-on-average thing, and about the watermelons. Great to eat in the summer, but don't vote for em, for crying out loud.
Nice post by Tracy, too. Absolutely there are some very reasonable people at the local level. They don't have their heads in the cloud, in Karl Marx's "manifest" and Al Gore's "Inconvenient Snow-job". I will vote for said people. Even at the House of Reps. level (maybe not in Washington, but in conservative states) there are some decent people. There are hardly any in the Senate - it is like a bunch of Dukes, Barons etc. of the olde daze.
Sounds like people are starting to realize who John McAmnesty actually is. What took you so long?
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 9, 2008 11:14 AMWhat, you mean I should leave my comfortable yert (with free hemp, pachoolie, granola bars and broadband) for a single family home? It's hard to go back to reality.
If you choose to you can live your life alone,
some poeople choose the city,
me I choose the good old family home......
Cause I live and breath this Philadelphia freedom.
From the day that I was born I waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me knee high to a man (?)
gave me peace of mind my Daddy never had.
Elton John, back when America was a free country and he was not particularly gay yet.
Being a Canadian, I assumed (silly me) that "sound money" was a basis of the American Constitution. But then again, trying to cross your border leads me to assume that your Constitution is deceased. Who would the World elect? Ron Paul, duh.
Posted by: Lance Roseman on May 9, 2008 03:47 PMWe bring you peace and liberty!
I am not a believer in the �Politics of Fear�, nor do I believe the Government has my best interest in mind. The mass of the US government is now clearly beyond the control of BOTH PARTIES of government.
It's poor management is crushing the life from middle America and the rest of the world and I say enough.
I do not want to see the day of Food Riots in Los Angeles and believe me that day is coming if we do not change course. America has burnt every credit it has and bled the cash from every Joe and Jane in the country and it is not enough.
The troops and bases we so blissfully exported in the 1980s and the associated trillion dollars a year cost must be undone now to save the Union. Hundreds of thousands of Jobs went away and we did nothing. Bring them (Trillions) home now.
McCain is the worst GOP presumptive ever. I will never vote for the Man. The Lesser of Two Evils mantra must stop our willingness to fall in line for the pass fifty years has produced a system that is wildly out of control.
I work in the financial industry and most Americans have no true Idea of the state of union. It is not bad it is terrible! Now that the cost of a loaf of bread is going north of the cost of a movie ticket America is waking up.
So to all you good republicans that will bow to McCain I have one thing to relay to you. PLEASE STOP IT NOW before the DO nothing politics kill America. You must demand change and support Dr. Ron Paul not McCain.
I stand by what I said. I'll be voting for Ron Paul in November because the Democrats and Republicans are offering nothing but another 4 years of the same old crap.
If you don't like it, then too bad for you.
Posted by: Politically Incorrect on May 10, 2008 07:57 AMThe change that would bring about is Hillary Clinton or Barry Obama selecting 2 more Ruth Bader Ginsburg's (see communist) to the SCOTUS. Americans can't afford that kind of risk.
The Paulistininans need a new face for their product and run on the local levels first...or be relegated to the 'cult' status they've attained for themselves for the forseeable future.
Posted by: Rick D. on May 10, 2008 11:48 AM...Do not mention the war...
..first thing I thought of was the German episode of Faulty Towers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k7U-_tJVmw
GWB should have realized the first rule of modern warfare: kick the other guy's butt and get out. Don't stay around for "nation building" because that ain't the job of the military. The military's job is to kill people and destroy property for the government. Putting them in the role of nation building is like using a hammer to peel potatos.
Since McCain (if elected) is gonna continue the Iraq mess for the foreseable future, he's doing a good job of not getting himslef elected. So, since McCain is making mistakes that will most likely cost him the election, it makes every bit as much sense to vote for Ron Paul, who I like, versus McCain, who I don't like.
Posted by: Politically Incorrect on May 10, 2008 08:57 PMThey remind me of the D's who kept insisting Kerry was going to take the oath of office in Jan 2004 long after Kerry had conceded.
Posted by: Cliff on May 11, 2008 02:11 AMWe're going to link to this at Libertarian Republican blog. Hat tip to you and Sound Politics, of course.
Eric Dondero, Fmr, Senior Aide
US Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
1997-2003
Publisher, Libertarian Repubican blog
1. Not mention the war. Considering they are primarly running to influence the state GOP at this point since the presidential primary is done. This makes sense. The state of washington does not declare war.
2. Do not wear Ron Paul gear. This speaks more to the childlike behavior of the state GOP leadership than it does to Paul supporters. Many in the GOP leadership have such a knee jerk reaction against Paul that they ignore the fact that he is a better fiscal conservative than this party has seen in decades.
Yet if we examine what the McCain supporters have been doing in this state and across the country it makes these two 'tricks' of Paul supporters look like child play. First they are misrepresenting McCains positions to triek people into thinking he is conservative. They are ending conventions when they do not go as planned (NV). They are kicking out people who do not support them (FL and MO).
Paul people are not lying or misrepresenting. Just focussing on winning issues. That is what politics should be about. Unfortunately for us, the GOP now seems to think politics should be about deciet and lies.
Posted by: Lysander on May 11, 2008 08:32 PMYou guys are playing politics. That's totally fine. JUST ADMIT IT! You guys aren't the spotless innocent idealists you'd like to think you are. :)
Posted by: AD on May 11, 2008 09:19 PMKeep deluding yourself, Bruce, there have been some great Libertarians running for office, Ron Paul isn't one of them. Selling himself and his positions out for a bit of publicity......maybe he should be a Democrat instead.
Posted by: Doug on May 11, 2008 11:28 PMAnd the thing you have not caught on to yet AD is that they are not there just to support Ron Paul. They are their to support the ideas Ron Paul represents and most republicans agree with. Unfortunately there is a knee jerk reaction against Ron Paul - hence the reason not to advertise your support for him.
Callin Ron Paul the epitome of politicking is a bit of a misrepresentation. He is the epitome of a statesman. It really is unfortunate that his supporters can not advertise their support of him and not get prejudged and mistreated by party leadership.
Posted by: Lysander on May 12, 2008 04:49 AMRon Paul's forces quietly plot GOP convention revolt against McCain
Virtually all the nation's political attention in recent weeks has focused on the compelling state-by-state presidential nomination struggle between two Democrats and the potential for party-splitting strife over there.
But in the meantime, quietly, largely under the radar of most people, the forces of Rep. Ron Paul have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in St. Paul at the beginning of September....
....According to a recent Boston Globe tally, Paul has a grand total of 19 Republican delegates to Romney's 260, Huckabee's 286 and McCain's 1,413.
The last three months Paul's forces, who donated $34.5 million to his White House effort and upwards of one million total votes, have, as The Ticket has noted, been fighting a series of guerrilla battles with party establishment officials at county and state conventions from Washington and Missouri to Maine and Mississippi. Their goal: to take control of local committees, boost their delegate totals and influence platform debates.
Paul, for instance, favors a drastically reduced federal government, abolishing the Federal Reserve, ending the Iraq war immediately and withdrawing U.S. troops from abroad.
They hope to demonstrate their disagreements with McCain vocally at the convention through platform fights and an attempt to get Paul a prominent speaking slot. Paul, who's running unopposed in his home Texas district for an 11th House term, still has some $5 million in war funds and has instructed his followers that their struggle is not about a single election, but a longterm revolution for control of the Republican Party.
So eager are they to follow their leader's words, that Paul's supporters have driven his new book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto," to the top of several bestseller lists.
While Paul has consistently refused a third-party bid, he has vowed not to endorse McCain, a refusal mirrored by hundreds of his supporters who've left comments on The Ticket in recent weeks. And, no doubt, they'll flock back here today to spread the gospel below.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/05/ronpaulgop.html
If you are a Conservative, it's understandable that you won't vote for a Libertarian. So, why doesn't everyone stop talking about Ron Paul? The Libertarians are going to vote for him, not McCain or Obama. Since the Libertarians aren't going to vote for your candidiate, and you're not going to vote for their candidate, all the criticism of Ron Paul is stupid.
Posted by: Politically Incorrect on May 12, 2008 10:39 AMTranslation: you're screwed if you let on who your guy is. Must assimilate.
Lost in translation: GOP Establishment has successfully slandered your guy, so you must run on your own merits, who YOU are, and show them that you (like the majority of them) are a conservative Republican and believe in the values they believe in. Emphasize your own involvement in the community. Do not lie about it. Talk about who YOU are and what YOU believe, emphasizing the beliefs you share with most Republicans.
Translation: do not let it be known what you actually believe. Throw in cute buzzwords that we think might appeal to conservatives, even if you don't actually believe what you're saying.
Lost in translation: You agree with the majority of them on the majority of issues. Emphasize the issues on which you agree. (Sound familiar?) Do not lie. Just emphasize the issues you agree with the majority of Republicans, which are the majority of issues.
Translation: Again, be disingenuous. Don't let on to your fellow convention attendees why you're actually there. If they find out the truth they won't vote for you. Let's trick them.
Lost in translation: This is the only major issue in which you disagree, and you will not be able to persuade them in your 1 minute or less speech. Save that debate for another time. Also lost in translation: translator's own history of doing the same.
[Editors Note to Ron Paul organizers: almost any discussion of monetary policy in a short convention speech, especially including references to "sound money," is a dead giveaway that there is a Ronulan in the house.]
Note to Editor: With all due respect, Eric, my friend, your ignorance is showing. Sound money principles have long been a part of our Republican platform. Go back and read them, especially in your own county!
They recognize they are a minority among self-described conservatives. Indeed by their actions and their own talking points, they appear to recognize that in many cases they are utterly outside the mainstream of conservative thought...but they want you to vote for them as delegates anyway.
Not really. We just recognize that Ron Paul's enemies in the media and in the GOP leadership have done a number on the minds of grassroots Republicans. But really, our guy believes the way they do on the majority of issues, and so do we. In contrast, a minority of Republicans are really happy about a McCain nomination, because they recognize that what he stands for is so far removed from what the vast majority of self described conservatives do. He's the one who has to be disingenuous to get their votes.
Posted by: Michelle on May 12, 2008 05:24 PMDoris Grupa of Midstream Republicans passes along the McCain strategy used in the Evergreen State to organize for county conventions and such. Note in particular the "Convention Bullet Points":
Do not wear John McCain Gear- You are not the candidate. Your delegate position will be won for you by the Party Elite through parliamentary cheating. You will be announced as the "people the Republican Party wants elected" by leadership and no other communication will be allowed. You will be on a "Leadership" (NOT McCain) slate. Your own election flyer will be created for you at Republican Party expense and promoted, from the Chair, in violation of the rules, to the exclusion of any (God Forbid) "new" blood.
Translation: you're screwed if you let on who your guy is. Remember no more than 26% of Republicans can stomach John McCain..
Do not mention illegal immigration except to lie about McCain's positions, as this is a sensitive issue that will allow the other delegates to identify you as a McCain supporter and OPEN BORDERS Party elitist. And this will also serve to polarize our "Leadership" slate from other conservatives in at the convention. Represent a strong stance for "border security" to fool them as conservatives love to hear these kinds of things.
TRY TO FOCUS ONLY ON THE WAR AND PRETEND WE ARE FIGHTING THE DEMOCRATS IN IRAQ. Remember agreement with McCain on this issue, alone, signifies LOYALTY to the Party and the Fatherland. This is the only McCain issue that conservatives will be receptive to and they also need to hear about.
Do not mention John's global warming energy rationing, as this is a sensitive issue that will allow the other delegates to identify you as a McCain supporter, Radical Environmentalist and Party elitist. And this will also serve to polarize our "Leadership" slate from other conservatives at the convention.
ONCE AGAIN... NEVER FORGET... TRY TO FOCUS ONLY ON THE IRAQ WAR AND PRETEND WE ARE FIGHTING THE DEMOCRATS IN IRAQ. Remember agreement with McCain on this issue, alone, signifies LOYALTY to the Party and the Fatherland. We must unite the Party behind the 1000 year War and its leader. This is the only McCain issue that conservatives will be receptive to and they also need to hear about.
Do not attempt to defend McCain/Feingold!! This is crucial. Just change the subject and pretend it never happened.
Do not mention John's support for public funding for living embryo destruction, as this is a sensitive issue among Republicans (they're not like us, they actually believe that mass of cells is a human life) that will allow the other delegates to identify you as a McCain supporter and member of Republicans for Choice.
Translation: do not let it be known what John McCain actually believes, or that you, personally, don't actually believe anything unless it is politically advantageous at the time. Throw in cute deceptions that we think might appeal to conservatives, like that John supports tax cuts even though he voted against them.
[Editors Note to John McCain organizers: almost any discussion of immigration policy in a short convention speech, especially including references to "comprehensive reform," is a dead giveaway that there is a North American Union McCainiac in the house.]
Again, Make no mention of Global Warming!!! You will see how quickly the crowd will turn on you, and more importantly refuse to vote for you.
Translation: Again, be disingenuous. Don't let on to your fellow convention attendees why you're actually there. If they find out the truth they won't vote for you. Let's trick them.
Now, just about any attendee of GOP county conventions and/or legislative district caucuses will attest to the truth of these talking points. The McCainiacs are often conspicuously well-connected to the Pro-Choice, Gay Rights King County Establishment of the WSRP, absent distinguishing John McCain paraphernalia, and are rarely forthcoming about their liberal leanings.
They recognize they are a minority among self-described conservatives. Indeed by their actions and their own talking points, they appear to recognize that in many cases they are utterly outside the mainstream of conservative thought...but they want you to sit still for their Parliamentary despotism anyway and keep electing them to Party leadership positions.
"Free Trade"-leaning Republicans who were drawn to aspects of McCain's candidacy remain a good fit for the broader GOP coalition and should be welcomed to the fold with enthusiasm. Yet, someone needs to call a spade, a spade and state for the record that the entire leadership of the McCain team are philosophical Democrats, unethical parliamentary cheaters and the path to permanent Republican defeat. Their own election results in Washington State keep proving it.
If you doubt that last point, behold the increasingly fascist-like status of the McCain Elite Strategy. Beware the goose-step.
You know full well, as I suspect does Doug, that my own animus toward McCain as the GOP nominee has been quite publicly stated. I'm entirely unhappy with that turn of affairs and you'll not see me launching into much, if any, defense of the firmly pro-McCain folks or their approach to convention management.
That said, the tactics of your own compatriots, even in the face of McCain as the all-but-official nominee only pushes you farther to the margins. If you want to convince me McCain supporters constitute a minority of the party's leadership and grassroots activists then we have a deal. If you want to convince me that grassroots activists are missing the boat by not walking the Ron Paul gang-plank then we don't.
Lastly, the "sound money" reference wasn't to make a point about policy. If you want to talk monetary policy and the obvious need for a sound, strong dollar then that's another matter (in which McCain's credentials and related agenda items are not exactly outstanding). My point is that references to "sound money" at the conventions are almost exclusively limited to Paul supporters. They are a canary in a coal mine, regardless of the merits of the matter.
Posted by: Eric Earling on May 12, 2008 06:48 PM