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Subscribe to RSSRon Paul’s third campaign for president may not lead to the Texas Congressman being nominated at the Republican Convention in Tampa this August -- notwithstanding a lawsuit filed by supporters in attempt to make that happen -- but, from Maine to Alaska, the “Paul Revolution” has swept state Republican parties.
Out of the national spotlight, Paul activists have mastered obscure local party rules to win key positions of power at state conventions, infiltrating the Republican establishment across the country, including in the key swing states of Iowa and Nevada.
In Massachusetts, they even beat out many prominent pro-Mitt Romney supporters to win spots as Romney delegates. They are informally bound by party rules to vote for Romney still, but the open secret in both parties, is no one is really bound – one of the issues at the heart of the Paul supporters’ lawsuit against the national party.
Ben Margot / AP
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, cheer as Paul speaks at the University of California at Berkeley, Calif.
Paul’s strategy has always been to motivate “the remnant” to gain influence by getting involved in party politics, and described how that would happen to a small group of reporters in Columbia, S.C., in mid-January.
“We don't win over the insiders by becoming like an insider,” Paul said. “We win the inside over by making the outsiders become more appropriate.”
But what Paul activists have done in many places is learn the rules of the insiders and use them against them.
After being described as “an outlier for the Republican Party,” Paul Wednesday morning on MSNBC, explained how supporters will achieve his long-term goal of bringing the GOP around to accepting his political philosophy.
“I want to work on the platform,” Paul said, “but we know platforms don't change people's attitudes. That's what we want to do -- get attention to changing the attitude, so that we, who are perceived as outliers, become the insiders. And that's what's happening. … We're winning state delegations, state chairmen and small offices, anywhere from city councils to county commissioners.”
Paul supporters are winning elections and becoming party insiders: chairmen, national committeemen, executive board members, elected officials, candidates and delegates.
- In Iowa, four of Paul’s former aides hold leadership positions at the state party, including chairman A.J. Spiker – who was Paul’s state co-chair. At least six members of the Iowa State Central Committee are Paul supporters.
- In Alaska, Republicans voted Russ Millette as the party’s new chairman and Debra Holle Brown as co-chair, both Paul supporters. Local reports call this a sea change in state politics, after “at least 12 years of the Alaska GOP being run by what those party newcomers call ‘establishment Republicans.’”
- In Nevada, Paul supporters won 13 of 14 new elected executive board spots at the Clark County GOP. Four years after having the lights turned out on them at the state convention in 2008, Paul supporters now hold positions at local and county GOP offices across the Silver State.
- In Minnesota, the state Republican Party endorsed Paul supporter and economics teacher Kurt Bills for the GOP Senate nomination. He will face incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar in November.
- And in Maine, 21-year-old Paul supporter Ashley Ryan was elected as the state’s new Republican national committeewoman. The Paul campaign claims she is likely the youngest national committeewoman.
“Look at the next generation,” Paul said on MSNBC. “I mean, there is so much excitement out there. The big deal is that the next generation are sick and tired of what they're getting and they're looking for something. And what we're offering seems to appeal to the young people.”
Paul also explained that the goal of his movement “is to show that there's a political benefit toward accepting some of the views that we have.”
“I believe we're actually doing a favor for the Republican Party. If they would look to us for guidance and to realize that if they would accept some of these things, they might have an easier time winning.”
That said, not everyone's sold on just how lasting the impact of the "revolution" will be, considering Paul wasn't able to win a state in the GOP primary and didn't stop Romney, the most establishment of all the candidates, from becoming the nominee.
Asked which mattered more -- influence over party platform or being a state party chairman, Steve Schmidt, John McCain's 2008 campaign manager, dismissed either and said Paul supporters would be little more than a "hassle we'll have to deal with."
"I'm not sure that either have a particularly big influence on the direction of the party," Schmidt said on MSNBC. "When you have a state chairman who takes over a state party and the state party's dysfunctional, it's no longer relevant to the political goals of electing a majority, whether that's on the Democratic side or Republican side. Typically you see something that is taking place in California, for example, where you know the Republican parties become a small ideological clubhouse, totally faded to irrelevance where they-- factions gather twice every year to pass resolutions, denouncing the other faction, and it's a small clubhouse where people are relevant in the sphere of that small clubhouse, but no longer relevant in terms of being able to shape the outcome of an election -- to recruit candidates, to raise money, to register voters. And that's the direction these dysfunctional parties will go."
Jeff Johnson, a Republican National Committeeman from Minnesota, though, addressed the anxiety some in the establishment have over this increased participation by Paul’s followers.
“Ron Paul haters, get over it,” Johnson said. “If we don’t grow, we die as a party.”
Nearing the end of his career, Paul, 76, calls his movement an “ideological revolution,” one he says is “alive and well.”
And this year, as Paul disciples become more involved and win elections, it’s a movement the Republican Party is being forced to deal with.
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Do any of the posters here know anything about the ACT of 1871? Congress, without constitutional authority created the District of Columbia and the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES to govern it. The spelling in all caps indicates a corporation, just like the spelling of one's name in court. The Constitution for the united States is the real, true, original, and organic constitution that affirms our unalienable rights from God as opposed to our INalienable rights given and taken at the whim of the government. Ron Paul knows a one hell of a lot more than he dares to let on. His foreign policy is in line with the Constitution. His drug policy is not one of legalization as much as de-criminalization. If you don't understand the difference, look up Portugal's drug policy over the last 12 years, and how addictions there have fallen dramatically, drug trafficking has fallen dramatically, court and law enforcement costs related to drugs have fallen dramatically. Under a Paul administration, each state would be allowed to regulate drugs as they see fit. The policy of decriminalization is a medically and legally sound one. However, since the US government is the largest drug dealer in the world, the so called 'War on Drugs' will continue.
Ron Paul can go ahead and add his name to the list of traitors if he wishes to !
Traitors to what? How about you add your name to that list since you support one of two candidates who openly promise to violate the US Constitution. You can agree or disagree with Dr. Paul on matters of opinion, but there is not one member of the House or Senate who has so consistently stood up for the Constitution, so if that, to you, means he is a traitor, then you my friend are the enemy.
Ron Paul has many good ideas some of which are feasible and would work great some good on paper but not so good in reality problem is as an idependent he would split the republican vote and kill the chances of getting rid of ocrapa. I would love to see a good independent run that appealed to the best of both parties with out playing the p/c game and pandering to the small fringe groups and subcultures
There is nothing ahead but dark clouds as long as the Washington Establishment consists only of the two-party monopoly...does NOT matter which wing on this bird of prey you vote for.
I saw a glimmer of hope with Ron Paul, but it vanished after the media got through with him. Let's face it! Our corrupt government,along with its financial supporters, will use every resourse to keep itself from being dismantled.
I would like someone to comment, and explain 'why';
What constitutes oppression, and what level warrants Revolution?
Thanks, Dan
An oppressive government overtaxes, controls private business, operates schools that teach its propaganda, tracks its residents behavior patterns, limits the citizens access to programs that might change their view in unapproved ways
to be honest I think we are at that point where if the gov dont get back in its place we are going to have to shut them down and replace the majority of the employees because they have forgot that they work for the citizen not the other way around
Ron Paul is not someone I could vote for as too many of his positions are simply not viable in the real world. However, Paul brings something to the table that I find refreshing. He says exactly what he thinks. He doesn't tiptoe around. What you see is what you get. Romney should take a lesson, since he seems to be afraid to make any real position statements. Has he put forward one single position that isn't totally vague? I want specifics. What, specifically does he propose to do with social security benefits? What, specifically, does he intend to do about taxes for the super rich? What, specifically, does he propose to do about our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan? What, specifically, does he intend to do or not do in Syria? How, specifically, does he propose to increase federal revenues enough to start paying down the debt? What, specifically, does he plan to do to increase job growth? And don't tell me eliminating regulations and not taxing the rich will create jobs. We've already done that and so far all the extra money the rich have accumulated is just sitting in offshore banks and Swiss accounts. No businesses have been started or expanded by these billionaires. Criticizing Obama is all well and good, but what the hell is he going to do that will actually make any difference in the economy for the average working class person? Give me Ron Paul anytime. He tells the truth and says what he will do, exactly and precisely. Maybe that does make him a nut case. After all, when is the last time a politician told you the truth?
I believe we need more political parties, lots more. Maybe a couple dozen political parties could dilute the big money contributions to the existing parties that result in the corporations owning Washington. Congress doesn't represent us. It represents Shell Oil and Chase Manhattan and Bain Capital. The rest of us are just so much cheap labor.
the best way i can see to get out of the financial delema is to cut financial aid to all foreign countries and send them the food that their people need which puts our farmers and shipping companies to work in turn all support people would go to work to build and repair equipment, provide parts and raw materials. by doing this unemployment would drop to near zero the revenue base will go up, crime will go down and people in 3rd world nations will be fed instead of their leaders buying gold toilets WIN WIN SITUATION
"the best way i can see to get out of the financial delema is to cut financial aid to all foreign countries"
When to comes to total spending, foreign aid is less than a drop of a drop in the bucket.
Just when you thought the old fart was blown away by the wind, here he comes, back in the limelight with with his 137 delegates....LOL...
BTW - Gary Johnson is running as a libertarian. I wonder how many Paulies he'll siphon out of the Repubican party? Could be more trouble for NitWitt.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Re-read the article buddy, it says that delegates cannot really be bound to vote for any candidate, and if you look at the numbers of delegates who are Ron Paul supporters, but the Republican party claims are bound to vote for Romney you begin to see that he has more than enough support to cause a problem for Romney in Tampa. You just make yourself sound like an idiot when you claim that Ron Paul only has 137 delegates when the convention has not even taken place.
Here is the true count right now
http://www.thereal2012delegatecount.com/
The republicans and tea-party extremists could greatly benefit from some of Ron Pauls', philosophy of world affairs and some other ideas that could benefit the country. Hopefully he will tamper the extremism of the tea-party and their cadres
Discussions with Alexander the Great.
"Well Alexander what do you think about Paul? He has broken with the GOP and has begun to cause chaos among their ranks? Should we propose talks of him joining the Democrats charge against Romney?"
"I would be cautious in such pursuits as he is still a Republican. Ruse of revolution within ones own ranks is a convenient ploy that both confuses the enemy as well as making you hasty in your judgements for a quick win."
"I would watch his revolution somewhat more and if they come over willingly then proceed with more caution until they prove theirselves in many battles to a friend and not a foe.....at the first sign of betrayal slit all of their throats while they sleep and post their bodies for the rest of their cohorts to see which will inspire fear in their army and eventually break their army apart......let Paul make the first move in joining the Democrats."
dwighthugh - Actually Alexander the Great may not be the best role model for Ron Paul- after all Alexander did have his Persian Boy to warm his bed
And Ron Paul is after all homophobic and racist
Better to pick Goebels - if you tell a lie often enough they'll believe you - Oops - can't use Goebels that's ftom Rove's playbook
Maybe Hannibal - riding elephants and all that - sorry taken by the Republicans - did you ever wonder why the Republicans chose an elephant - other than they never forget and are afraid of mice
Oh well! How about just retiring after 26 years in Congress and offering nothing to better this country - collecting your salary and bennies - writing your periodicals filled with homophobic entries and rasict comments and collecting $900,000 and denying you had nothing to do with it
Dam - he's not a Libertarian - he's a dyed in the wool Republican!
RON PAUL THE HYPOCRITE
Last week Paul admitted taking tens of thousands a year in Social Security payments.
How does that make him a hypocrite? He has paid into social security his entire life, do you not think that he deserves to have his money back after paying in? He undoubtedly will never get more out than he has put in. If you had the option of keeping the money that is withheld from your paycheck every month, or continuing to let the government take it and piss it away, you would absolutely keep your money, unless you are an idiot.
A couple months ago Paul started looking like he was folding it up and going to support Mitt...so something must really be wrong with Mitt if Paul is still thinking of taking him on. Repubs have worst ticket in history, basically a religious Ross Perot who flipflops faster than a pancake because his brain is split between reality and the far right.
These Ron Paul people are just plain stupid idiots! The only thing they're doing is making sure Obummer wins in November. Stupid!
JR11 let me tell you something, Obama winning will end up being the best thing that has happened to this country for a long time, and not because Obama will "fix" anything. If you pull your head out of your ass for one minute and take a look at what is going on around the world you will understand that we are heading for the edge of a global financial cliff. Europe is on the brink of total financial collapse, China's economy is stalling, we are on the verge of starting a war in Syria and Iran. Why do you think the media is beginning to jump off of the Obama bandwagon? They do not want Obama to be president when all of this hits the fan, they want a "conservative" in office so that they can come around and say "see told you so, we told you that a Republican would just take us back to the Bush days". The end game here is to make sure Obama is president when this crap hits the fan so that the American people can see and understand how bad things can get if we continue down this path of tyranny and socialism.
The signs are all around you, oil is plummeting as demand falls (a sign of economic slowdown), we have seen global civil unrest with more certainly to come. Our own government is now making preparations for civil unrest, claiming that they can use the military as a police force, purchasing 450 million rounds of ammunition for HSA, supplying military armored vehicles to police departments, equipping drones to spy on American citizens, and claiming that the president can take over domestic means of production and arrest and detain American citizens without trial. Do you think this is all coincidence? If Ron Paul does not pull off a miracle and secure the nomination (which I think is out of the question at this point) I will be voting for Obama, not because I support him, but because a Romney victory will insure that we do not have a true conservative president for the next 20+ years.
There is not a dimes worth of difference between Obama or Romney. Voting for either is a vote for tyranny.
If you always vote for the lessor of two evils, than when will you vote for liberty?
It makes NO difference who is elected president unless we OUT the current congress and start over. We need term limits for congress but, short of that, they should all be booted every election until it becomes clear that WE THE PEOPLE expect the elected to work for US. Ron Paul has awakened something in people, and I hope the country continues to come out of its long slumber and stops the corrupt 2-party system which has ruined our country.
FACTS:
Republicans had the chance to nominate Ron Paul and they didn't do it.
Romney won the Republican nomination.
Ron Paul is a libertarian and whole most people agree with a little of the libertarian philosophy, most people don't agree with much of it.
The Libertarian Party has had a candidate on the ballot in most if not all states for the last 5 election cycles and that candidate has never gotten more than 3%.
How can you say that it is a fact that Romney has won the Republican nomination when the convention has not even been held yet?
How can you say that it is a fact that Romney has won the Republican nomination when the convention has not even been held yet?
Easy -- I live in the REAL world. He has the delegates. He will win on the first ballot (assuming he doesn't die between now and then) just like every Republican candidate has for president since 1944. The Republican nomination process is over. Romney won. You may not like that outcome but that is the outcome.
That's the thing Charlie he DOESN'T have the delegates we haven't even been to the convention yet as it stands Dr. Paul has 263 delegates
http://www.thereal2012delegatecount.com/
As I recall it was Eisenhower who won the Presidency through brokered convention so it's not over until it's over.
People like you are funny. At least Paul and his supporters are trying to change things. It's because of those like you that keep the status quo. Now look who's a stupid idiot heh heh.
At least Paul and his supporters are trying to change things.
The time to challenge Romney is over. Ron Paul didn't win enough delegates to get the nomination. Try again nest time. I'm no Romney fan but he is the Republican nominee and that's the reality.
Two words Charlie. President Eisenhower.
Yup, and we'll get plenty more of the same old same old for voting in one born with a silver spoon in his mouth heh heh. Keep voting in those dems and repubs LOL. I've always loved how those who finger point are no different than the other side is while maintaining the status quo heh heh. Can't wait till you join us in the working poor class LOL
Well, I'm off for a bit, will be back later heh heh
Have a nice day America LOL
Children call it campaign contributions - Adults Call it ~ Bribes & Payoffs
The Ron Paul movement and ideology reflects the fundamentals of our founding fathers, the Constitution /oath of office to be followed by us and our elected servant. It can't be denied, these rules are what made us a great nation. But only if there followed, and our country problems are as a result.
We have freedoms and civil liberties that people want in other countries, but their governments despise.
Compare the difference- Ron Paul supporters - reflect the average citizen, "We the People".. The democrats -republican parties - represent- the highest bidder or contributor.. That is not the average person but big business. Don't fool your self in believing otherwise..
Unless you have millions or billions, you can vote, but you won't be herd..it is just a pacifier.
Whoever is elected cant get anything done with this congress.I wish we could have term limits and elect fresh blood for congress.
So the anti war and attack the debt guy,Ron Paul is wacky? Obama is horrible but dont worry RP well siphon off votes and Obama well win. He then can finish off the usa as a country.Obamas support by so many is troubling considering his thinking.
He then can finish off the usa as a country.
The USA will do just fine. I'm 65 years old and I can remember the right saying the country was finished if Kennedy, LBJ, Carter, Clinton and Obama was elected. And I can remember the left saying the country was finished if Ike, Nixon, Reagan, H. Bush or W. Bush was elected. Well --- we're still the strongest nation in the world in spite of all the gloom and doom predictions. This nation is bigger than the particular president who is in office at the time.
Fundamental principles needed for mature human interaction are missing in much of today's society. The ability to cooperate, find common ground, work together, respect, and decency are going away.
There was a time, where people listened to each others points of view with respect and found the areas of common ground to weave a compromise that satisfied the most number of people. That has been replaced by a growing number of people who firmly believe they have reasoning superior than anyone else, and perhaps divine insight into what is right and there is no other course, despite people who are firmly and equally resolute in a different viewpoint.
What is lost in this game people are playing is the ability to solve real problems and move this country forward. This kind of approach is not tolerated in well run companies because it is rightfully seen as destructive to the overall success of the company. In America however, we are quickly destroying our ability to be a great country. Which will only lead to more figure pointing and name calling, and other things that would embarrass us if we saw it happening in our third grade child.
Pointing this out however does not solve the problem. How do we change the trajectory of this death spiral? That is the most difficult question. It has to start with what we can control and that is ourselves. We all must behave better and resist the temptation to make a blood sport out of politics. We need to start voting for leaders who are not single issue candidates or those who appear to be unable to use true leadership skills to move the country in a better direction. If millions of individuals starting acting in a way that is no-nonsense and more mature, we will head quickly in a better direction.
For the media's part. If there is one thing they have all gown to have in common is the ability to be sensational to driver readership. It is not the search of a basic truth, but what part of that story will get people to watch and read. So we must understand that no matter what our political ideals are, the media is not there to help us get to the truth in a reasoned way. That simply does not drive a bigger audience for them. What we can all do to help is to turn off the TV and instead get involved in your local community to help make everyone's lot in life better. We will all feel better for the good we do and our minds will be less poisoned by the complete garbage that passes as news today.
I've not taken sides in this argument. I'm not saying this is a democratic or republican problem. It is an American problem. We can't expect our politicians or the media to solve it. But individually we can all do our part to stay above the fray and start making it right. Live by example it the key. It can work.
If Ron Paul went one on one with Mitt in a debate he would tear him to shreds if he did not hold back any honesty and interest in exposing him. If he was younger and especially if he was very religious like S. Baptist, he would leave Romney in the dust.
Ron Paul is far more "Pro-Life than Romney. By religion, you must mean willingness to make war on the entire Islamic world.
Um BigBear Ron Paul IS a Southern Baptist just sayin ;)
It's about time. The GOP is a festering corpse of a party. I gave up on them back in the 80's. They need a new Ideology. Anymore, there are very few differences between the parties. The GOP needs to focus on governing instead of religion.
Neither Obama nor Romney have anything to offer the US but bankruptcy, endless war, poverty, tyranny and despair.
Vote Ron Paul if he makes the ballot.
Vote LIBERTARIAN if he does not.
Any vote for a Democrat or a Republican is treason against your own children.
Paul makes many valid points concerning the over reaching of the federal government and how this violates the Constitutional apportionment of powers between the State and Federal govenments. His best strategy, and that of his followers, would be to establish a viable third-party choice for middle class voters, who are not effectively represented by either of the two current major parties.