It's time for Ron Paul supporters to choose between chaos and defeat or unity and victory.
This past week Nevada held its state Republican convention. As is likely to be the case in many other states, Ron Paul supporters were disproportionately represented among the delegates, making up close to half the convention membership rather than the 14% which he received in the state caucuses. With a strong grassroots organization, Paul supporters have dominated or taken over many district conventions nationwide, excluded delegates for other candidates, and sent large contingents to state conventions. Nevada is only the first in what may be a series of attempts to take over state conventions leading up to a similar takeover of the national Republican convention in August.…
Article comments
26 - Ken Fawcett
There is nothing "Democratic" about these conventions. Nor was that ever the intent. Like our Republic, safeguards have been built into the system to prevent "mob rule." It seems that history has shown us, the "mob" is often misguided, and prone to irreperable errors. If the Paul factions somehow prevail, history will record that at minimum they saved the GOP from certain death. As the convention nears, it will become even more apparent than it is today that a candidate who has "bet the farm" on four more years of the most unpopular presidency in modern history, has as much chance in the general election as an ice cube in the Sahara. If McCain is foisted as the choice du jour for Republicans, they will suffer defeat like no other party in history. And that will resonate down to the lowest levels of all contested races across the nation. In fact, the only election I'd feel safe in calling for the GOP is the 14th Congressional District, in Texas- the one Dr Paul has already secured.
St Paul 9-1-1PM
27 - Dave Nalle
Hey, if you guys are finished venting your outrage, I've put a trivia test on my home site to test your knowledge of the history of the Constitution. The first three to get the answers right will win a stylish "Unite or Die" T-shirt.
You can find the contest at The Republic of Dave.
Dave
28 - Daniel
Maybe if the Republicans get absolutely crushed in 2008 they won’t be such an utter disappointment in the future?
I'm not going to 'have my vote count' by voting for McCain, who doesn't deserve my vote.
By some fluke, if the Democrats don't have a landslide victory and McCain wins, we get 4 more years of Bush. That’s a waste of time.
It's true: the net effect of having McCain is very similar to having a Democrat. As long as the direction of this country stays steady, the speed is irrelevant. And McCain is status quo. More spending. It’s all about economics and our falling dollar. And McCain doesn’t have a clue.
29 - Dave Nalle
Maybe if the Republicans get absolutely crushed in 2008 they won't be such an utter disappointment in the future?
Your mistake here is assuming that there will BE a future for America as a free nation if the GOP loses the presidency this fall.
Dave
30 - Dr Dreadful
On the Amazon book link at the top of the article, Barry Goldwater looks as if he's playing one of those dance pad games you see at amusement arcades. I didn't realize he enjoyed shaking his booty!
31 - Dixon Cannon
Too late! We've watched the Republican party dissolve into a Neo-Con (National Socialist) movement over the decades. Don't forget - it's why the Libertarian Party even came into existance in the first place! They ain't gonna change now! This is a REVOLUTION in the truest sense of the word and we aim to continue revolting. It is the current Republican regime that will hand the Democrats the White House unless they get with the program and dump the Neo-Con agenda. The change is for the current Republican leadership - Live Free or DIE! As of 2008, the Republican Party of the last 40 years is no more. It HAS changed; the Ron Paul candidacy has accomplished that. It is the old Neo-Con factions and leadership that haven't gotten the message into their heads yet. Over the next four to eight years, we aim to implement those changes, solidify those changes and, in the long run, change this nation back to a Constitutional Republic. Get with it - or get out of the way! (Get it?)
32 - Gmartine
"Your mistake here is assuming that there will BE a future for America as a free nation if the GOP loses the presidency this fall."
Don't worry, us Ron Paul supporters will continue our fight for freedom.
33 - shane scheid
If the rest of the party has no problem linig up behind McCain, despite his unabashed loyalty to the new religion of Statism, Why can't they do the same for Paul? If the majority of the party is so brain dead that they are going to vote for the guy with the big "R" by his name regardless, why not have them vote for Paul AND get the support he commands as well? None of Paul's support is drawn from other candidates, it is all new voters. What better way to enlarge the tent?
The problem I have with this "unity" crowd is that unity for it's own sake (power) is the reason we are in this mess to begin with. We "united" eight years ago under a "compassionate conservative" that turned out to be not compassionate and even less conservative. Thus I ask, nay DEMAND, from those who would ask me to throw my vote away, WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE POLICY DIFFERENCE ONE CAN REALISTICALLY EXPECT BETWEEN McCAIN, CLINTON, OR OBAMA? As yet I have recieved responses to this ranging from uninformed drivel to outright huberous, but nothing substancial. Given the choice between uniting behind a naive socialist and death, I choose the latter. Literally. At least then my vote in some way dictates my future.
34 - shane scheid
The "unity" crowd can keep their crumbs. They have done this to themselves (I fortunately am simply too young to have played a part in their demise) and now they need a scapegoat. How hypocritical to denounce people "flooding" political conventions in a society based on representative gov't? For decades this coutries domestic AND foreign policy has been run by the loudest and most vociferous minority groups. Now that the citizenry has learned how this works and attempts to make the system function for them, they are accused of attempting some coup or takeover. This is simply ludicrous.
35 - belle
So, Ron Paul is right yet he is wrong. So, he should go along to get along. So, the GOP controls the process. So, Paulites should vote for a candidate they don't like just to prevent the election of another candidate they like even less. Even though, of course they have a candidate they do like.
Do you have any clue about what the r3VOLution is about? I don't think so, based on the tortured logic in this piece. Face facts: whether Ron Paul becomes president or not, he has been an unstoppable force that has greatly influenced this election process. We're loud, we're proud, and we're here to stay.
36 - Baronius
"As of 2008, the Republican Party of the last 40 years is no more. It HAS changed; the Ron Paul candidacy has accomplished that."
Ron Paul is a blip. He's the only candidate other than McCain, so he's getting the "anyone but McCain" vote in the primaries. He's fourth in delegates, with 8% the delegates of Romney, 8% as many as Huckabee, and 1.6% of McCain. That's not even Pat Buchanan 1996 territory; it's more like Alan Keyes 2000.
37 - Pablo
Dave said comment 23
"He's pro-inflation and fiat currency.
Not libertarian issues by any means. These are Bircher issues."
Your showing your true colors once again Dave. The manufacture of money out of thin air and then charging interest on it, is the scam of the centuries. The fact that you denigrate it with your bircher comment shows me once again that you are nothing but a shill.
Your so called libertarian ideals I find repugnant, as they make you appear as you really are for the sovereignty of the individual from where all else flows, when nothing could be further from the truth. You are the first to defend the FED, and the monolithic multi-national money interests that rule the planet. The Dr. Paul people are aware of this. Thus the rift, and I have no doubt that you prefer a McCain to a Paul.
I call you a shill for a reason Dave. It is not rhetorical, but in (my opinion) fact.
Newt Gingrich, Nancy Pelosi, James Woolsey, Robert Pastor, and John McCain are all on the same team. Your left/right paradigm has been discredited. So you point people in the wrong direction. It is interesting to watch you though, I get some sort of entertainment out of it.
Oh and one more thing Dave, regarding the article on your blog by John Gaver. I read the piece, the thrust of his argument, and the reason given for why these billionaires gather was for entertainment purposes. You can dice it up all you want, but thats the thrust of his argument. Sure Dave, the CFR, the Bilderberg, is a cute social club for lonely billionaires. That is why you are a shill. And only a fool would believe Mr. Gaver.
Cheers
Pablo
38 - Dave Nalle
Your showing your true colors once again Dave. The manufacture of money out of thin air and then charging interest on it, is the scam of the centuries. The fact that you denigrate it with your bircher comment shows me once again that you are nothing but a shill.
A scam run on behalf of the American people and to their benefit. BTW, notorious CFR member Milton Friedman supported the existence of the Fed, but I'm sure he's not your idea of a libertarian.
Your so called libertarian ideals I find repugnant,
That would be because you wouldn't know a real libertarian idea if it bit you on the ass.
as they make you appear as you really are for the sovereignty of the individual from where all else flows, when nothing could be further from the truth.
Sometimes appearances ARE reality. My long history of libertarianism isn't part of a secret conspiracy.
You are the first to defend the FED, and the monolithic multi-national money interests that rule the planet. The Dr. Paul people are aware of this. Thus the rift,
I don't know that I've spent any significant amount of time defending the Fed. I think they aren't doing their job terribly well. And I don't subscribe to your ridiculous theory about who 'rules' the planet.
and I have no doubt that you prefer a McCain to a Paul.
Well sure, as a presidential candidate. I like the idea of someone who can actually get elected. It doesn't matter how good your principles are if you can't get into office.
I call you a shill for a reason Dave. It is not rhetorical, but in (my opinion) fact.
Fortunately your opinion is not actually fact.
Oh and one more thing Dave, regarding the article on your blog by John Gaver. I read the piece, the thrust of his argument, and the reason given for why these billionaires gather was for entertainment purposes. You can dice it up all you want, but thats the thrust of his argument. Sure Dave, the CFR, the Bilderberg, is a cute social club for lonely billionaires. That is why you are a shill. And only a fool would believe Mr. Gaver.
Call me a fool then. Better a my kind of fool than your kind of paranoid loon.
Dave
39 - Pablo
Pablo yawns at Dave's lame response.
40 - spinnikerca
Reading all of these other comments, and your responses, I just want to point out something different in our world views here: you see McCain as a Republican, maybe a poor one, but better than Obama or Hillary. I don't see him as a Republican at all, and don't see him as better than the other two statists. Certainly not better than Hillary. The GOP won't even be running the least worst Democrat as nominee, if Hillary gets the Dem nod, in my opinion.
So it isn't a matter of 'win with unity' since a McCain win is no win at all, or 'lose with chaos' since McCain's candidacy simply has nothing to do with representing anything I consider to be Republican.
What value unity behind something you don't want, to begin with?