Are Ron Paul Supporters Real?

Blogger News Network ^ | November 7, 2007

[theothercheek]

Second-tier presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) pulled off a first-rate fundraising coup, netting $4.3 million in online contributions from 38,000 donors in a single day, bringing his total haul to $7.3 million in 4Q 2007. No other Republican comes close to Paul’s 24-hour feat, but Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has him beat at $6.2 million.

Paul supporters flashed their cash in honor of Guy Fawkes Day, which commemorates the would-be assassin of England’s King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was also the inspiration the novel-turned-movie "V for Vendetta," in which the lead character takes on a fascist government in England. In several GOP presidential debates, the libertarian Paul has all-but called George W. Bush a fascist – taking issue with the Administration’s policies on domestic spying, for instance.

So does this mean Paul has a shot at the nomination? In a word: Nah. The Stiletto agrees with WaPo political blogger Chris Cillizza’s: take:

Paul was widely seen as a political gadlfy when he entered the race, but through skill, luck or a little of both he has built himself into an Internet phenomenon. …

It's not yet clear that Paul's online national community can deliver actual votes for him. … While Paul is at the center of a national movement, it won't help him in Iowa or New Hampshire if thousands of people from California or Illinois are backing him. …

There has always been a pot of money that exists for unconventional candidates who believe the system is fundamentally broken and are only tangentially affiliated with a party. …

[H]is money and his message make him a actor in New Hampshire ... he remains a decided longshot ... the excitement and attention he is drawing would seem to be a perfect lead up to a third party candidacy if and when he loses the Republican nomination.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Jonathan Bydlak, the Paul campaign’s fundraising director posted a message on the candidate's Web site that the ka-ching means just one thing: “Ron Paul is for real." Maybe. But it appears his supporters are real (second item).

Note: The Stiletto writes about politics and other stuff at The Stiletto Blog.

[ejonesie22]

A little of both.

Given who I am responding to it works out...

[ksen]

LOL.

Hey, cut that out! I’m supposed to be in opposition to you, not enjoying one of your posts.

[mnehring]

If it’s foolish to support a pro-gun, anti-tax, pro-family, anti-big-government Republican veteran, then what the heck is Free Republic all about?

It's not foolish to support that. But we are talking about Ron Paul here, moderate Libertarian RINO.

[ejonesie22]

Sorry ;-)

Sad thing is that except on a few specifics and other little things there is probably only one issue we are in opposition on...

However it is a big issue...

[mvpel]

I don’t even really think we’re in real opposition on that issue, we just differ on how important it is in our choice of candidate - show-stopper, or saddle-burr.

[George W. Bush]

Right. I give up.

Well, in that case: www.ronpaul2008.com/donate.

; )    [We do have a reputation for persistence to uphold...]

Also you say we will respond, which I hope we do, but can you find any cities to volunteer to be the one blasted by a nuke we could have prevented if we had take an aggressive stance? It could save some paper work and planning on Iran's or whomever part...

Can you name a city that hasn't? Here, I'll parse it for you:

1. They live in cities. Therefore, they vote Blue.
2. So if you're right and they get nuked, it's their fault, not yours and the Dim herd is mildly culled. Darwin would suggest that the survival instincts and voting habits of that weak breed of Donkeys would be consequently improved in future generations but it seems that kind of stupidity is pretty genetically ingrained.
3. And if you're wrong and they don't get nuked, then President Paul and a conservative GOP can proceed to solve the country's longstanding fundamental problems caused, most briefly stated, by a refusal to abide the Constitution's sage fundamental laws on matters like abolition of the IRS, dealing with illegal immigration, entitlements, tort reform, education privatization, restoring civil rights including freedom of speech, well, all those things that conservatives barely talk about because they're...all hiding under the bed with you trembling in terror of Achmed's supposed Bomb. Well, except that Achmed and his Bomb are far more likely to be Paki or Saudi than Iranian. And that threat has not been mitigated in the slightest during the Bush years and has, in fact, grown considerably.

A country filled with sheeple that has cheerfully murdered 50 million unborn children while munching Doritos on their couches and watching Superbowls and following the every exploit of Britney Spears can't exactly be standing on a moral high ground to excite great sympathies over them.

So either way, I'm fine with it. And my politics and principles won't change either way.

The rest of you tried to reinvent conservative principle after 9/11 and continuing "compassionate conservatism" (genuine Texan Great Society liberalism, LBJ-style). What you reinvented was Wilsonian internationalism and nationbuilding and militarism which simply don't work in the 21st century.

Tell me, are you old enough to recall the LBJ years? I am, just barely. The future is grim for the GOP if some of you don't come to your senses and push a genuinely conservative agenda. It's the only thing that can win for us in 2008.

[ejonesie22]

No, it is much more than that.

RP want to pull off the world stage and try using old tactics to defend America from 21st century threats.

He has been against every intuitive we have tried to bring forth in this war.

He has been trying to lay blame at America's feet for this war, as are his supporters. While there may or may not be merit to that case, this is not the time and place for such debate. That only plays into the hands of the enemy, both foreign and domestic.

I consider that a big difference.

[ejonesie22]

I have no problem with most of that, though it does sound a bit callous.

However there are others who can push the parts of that agenda that are applicable who do not have a very dangerous and naive view of 21st century security.

[Allegra]

We'll be much safer after President Paul closes the southern border.

Smoking that stuff has long-lasting effects on your brain, you know.

[oneamericanvoice]

We had a Ron Paul supporter at our meeting last night, and she was a real “howling-at-the-moon” type. I don’t know why these people come to Republican meetings. Don’t they have their own?

[mvpel]

RP want to pull off the world stage and try using old tactics to defend America from 21st century threats.

No, he wants to pull our military force off the world stage and stop being the errand boy and sugar daddy for the corrupt thugs at the United Nations.

World trade and commerce, on the other hand, is something that he staunchly supports.

[mvpel]

So you’re just drowning in activists and volunteers for your local Republican party activities, are you?

[oneamericanvoice]

“Real” must have a different meaning in your universe. BTW, I’d be careful about the cat...their revenge is very real.

[Designer]

"I remember stories about an Anti-American Idol group who would choose the most untalented contestant and attempt to rig the vote."

What group is that? Is it fact or fiction?

"Could this be another attempt at manipulating the election outcome?"

Well, of course it is!

Keep watching as our country will be once again forced to accept another globalist who has been promoted by the same insiders who promoted the last dozen or so.

Or you could support Ron Paul, the only one who isn't like the others.

[oneamericanvoice]

One picture speaks a thousand words. Those are the misguided, misbegotten, and just plain evil...

[Red Badger]

I can't wait!...........

[ejonesie22]

It’s our military on that very stage that acts as a bulwark against those who wish to do us and our allies harm....

[oneamericanvoice]

I don’t know if they’re real or not, but I’m seeing an awful lot of Ron Paul signs in people’s yards around where I live - and these are not crack neighborhoods either - regular middle-class homes. There are alot of misguided people who don't even know that they are brainwashed. Also, people don't pay attention to what someone really stands for. They hear a few good things and then don't catch where RP goes off the left cliff.

[tioga]

I fear they will be beamed up to before Election Day...oh, wait — that’s the Kucinich followers...nevermind...sorry. ;^)

[Allegra]

I fear they will be beamed up to before Election Day...oh, wait — that’s the Kucinich followers...nevermind...sorry. ;^)

Easy enough mistake to make. Paul followers and Kucinich follwers are from the same solar system, after all. Just different planets.