Ron Paul Fans: An Observation and Question (house of representatives, 9/11, vote)

[LauraC]

I have been voting since I was 18. I'm 56 now and I have observed from time to time, a presidential candidate will run for President with ideas contrary to the norm/either political party. They will lose and there won't be a peep until another Presidential election where some other guy will show up from out of nowhere (meaning not in the national public political eye) shock the mainstream with their unconventional ideas about 1 or 2 issues and of course, lose the election.

But you guys (Ron Paul fans) seem to have organization and fundraising skills I have never seen before. So my question to you is, what are you going to do after the 2008 presidential election?

See, I don't understand why you don't develop a permanent platform that will stand the test of time and then try to run candidates that support that platform in local elections and maybe for the House of Representatives. In other words, actually build a third party (but don't call it that) based on a multi-issue platform, not just shoot straight for the top position only to go down in flames every 4 years and then disappear until another presidential election.

Am I wrong? Has there been any thought given to this?

[evilnewbie]

Actually Ron Paul has been saying this for a while now about supporters that are thinking about going into politics with these ideas. How it goes depends a lot on how ready society is ready for a change in political choices. Its not easy to create a third party when the Republicans and Democrats will try to sabotage your chances and the media refuse to give a third party any airtime... but we will see.

[firemed]

Originally Posted by LauraC

I have been voting since I was 18. I'm 56 now and I have observed from time to time, a presidential candidate will run for President with ideas contrary to the norm/either political party. They will lose and there won't be a peep until another Presidential election where some other guy will show up from out of nowhere (meaning not in the national public political eye) shock the mainstream with their unconventional ideas about 1 or 2 issues and of course, lose the election.

But you guys (Ron Paul fans) seem to have organization and fundraising skills I have never seen before. So my question to you is, what are you going to do after the 2008 presidential election?

See, I don't understand why you don't develop a permanent platform that will stand the test of time and then try to run candidates that support that platform in local elections and maybe for the House of Representatives. In other words, actually build a third party (but don't call it that) based on a multi-issue platform, not just shoot straight for the top position only to go down in flames every 4 years and then disappear until another presidential election.

Am I wrong? Has there been any thought given to this?

This is what a real Republican should do. This is conservative. A 3rd party should be for the spending Republicans that want more government.

[silas777]

I am not a ron paul supporter but I do agree with him about 67.4% of the time. First off, to really influence and enact policy you have to be either in the republican or democrat party, the cold hard facts are that we are a two party system. If you look back at 1988 when Pat Robertson ran for President even though he never came close to winning, his campaign was the begining of the Christian Coalition, one of, if not the, largest and well organized grass roots organizations in the history of politics, not to mention successful! Success being defined as, electing like minded people, from local pco,s, school boards, state legislatures and U.S, congressmen and women and most importantly changing the party platform and influencing policy. Pat Buchanan, to a lesser degree had a similar influence when he ran as the voice of Conservatives against Bush41 after he broke his no new taxes pledge. 1994 Newt Gingrich armed with the vision and plan of the "Contract for America" gathered a conservative coalition so huge they took over congress for the first time in 40 years. The reasons I dont see this current Ron Paul phenomenon ever achieving much change,(and I wish that it would), is, A) His support is very wide but not deep. ( Too many people from the anti war, 9/11 was an inside job, fringe.) that otherwise would have nothing to do with the republican party. B) His supporters dont understand that 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. C) Ron Paul himself is not an effect leader who can articulate a persausive libertarian / conservative message. What Ron paul needs to do is find those areas of agreement and build on those within the republican party, such as reducing the size of government, and stay away from the foreign policy issues that make him sound like a kook!

[paperhouse]

Originally Posted by silas777

What Ron paul needs to do is find those areas of agreement and build on those within the republican party, such as reducing the size of government, and stay away from the foreign policy issues that make him sound like a kook!

Ronald Reagan ran on smaller gov't, non interventionist foreign policy. Republicans were elected to end the Korea and Vietnam wars. Why not this one?

[djacques]

Ron Paul is simply telling the truth on foreign policy. In fact, if anything he's sugarcoating it. I'm not voting for him, but he's far from a kook on foreign policy (though I don't agree with complete withdrawal from the UN--I think for all its faults the UN is better than nothing).

[firemed]

Ronald Reagan was not unlike Ron Paul. smaller gov't, non interventionist foreign policy. He did build our troops. But he did not want to be a WORLD leader just the leader of this country.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by firemed

This is what a real Republican should do. This is conservative. A 3rd party should be for the spending Republicans that want more government.

The "Republicans that want more government" are the neo-cons, and they have indeed hijacked the Republican Party.

Whether you are liberal or conservative, starting a third party just isn't an option. The American system of government won't support it. Election after election after election has proven it.

If you really want to change things, pick one of the two parties and get involved. Get active locally in the party. Start to change things from the bottom up. That's how change happens.

[vickilynn]

Originally Posted by evilnewbie

Actually Ron Paul has been saying this for a while now about supporters that are thinking about going into politics with these ideas. How it goes depends a lot on how ready society is ready for a change in political choices. Its not easy to create a third party when the Republicans and Democrats will try to sabotage your chances and the media refuse to give a third party any airtime... but we will see.

I'm independent. I'm willing to listen. I'll vote for the best person. I think a lot of people are. Guess it will just take a while (which is why I mentioned on another thread that Paul is "before his time").

[firemed]

Originally Posted by vickilynn

I'm independent. I'm willing to listen. I'll vote for the best person. I think a lot of people are. Guess it will just take a while (which is why I mentioned on another thread that Paul is "before his time").

To put it in proper context he's from the past. What made this country great. Sometimes you have to get back to your roots.