Dr. Ron Paul: The GOP’s Dr. Howard Dean
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Blogging, Money, Polls, Technology
Oh yes, it’s in the tea leaves…the stage is being set for yet another doctor to capture the imagination of a disgruntled party.
I blogged about Paul yesterday, and today ABC News has a very similar story about the man, his politics and the buzz he’s generating on the web…
His name has shot up on the list of most Googled terms; it peppers the blogosphere; and it is attached to more than 100 networking groups on MeetUp.com.
Sound familiar? No? Well, here’s some more…
The campaign, however, insists the support is real. The day after the first Republican debate on May 3, the campaign Website had 706,000 visitors and, according to Benton, Paul has the most successful YouTube channel of any candidate. He is also the most requested Republican on Eventful.com, a site where users request candidates visit their city. Even more striking, Benton says since that May 3 debate, the number of donors to the campaign has increased fourfold.“I wouldn’t call it a grassroots effort, I’d call it a grassfire effort. It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” said Benton. “We couldn’t even manage it if we tried.”
Web sites popping up in support of Paul encourage users to network through sites like MySpace, to vote in online polls, to donate money and to join local Paul 2008 groups.
Raising Kaine feels a similar vibe…
I’m not a Ron Paul supporter, I think he’s dangerous because he has the kind of JFK/Barry Goldwater/Howard Dean aura about him that builds political movements. He’s got a very savy net campaign going; scoring on YouTube, MySpace, and winning online polls (so much so that some right wing sites are taking him out of their polls). This seems to be attracting more mainstream attention. Is it going to be enough to break through, probably not, but he may be able to resurect the coalition of libertarians, evangelicals and anti-tax conservatives that brought the Republicans big success in the 80s.
Right wing blogs are taking his name off of polls. This means two things. First, he’s winning these polls. Second, they’re scared of Paul. And that’s exactly where he wants to be.
Remember, we saw what a few hundred thousand dedicated people could do online in 2004. They built momentum in an otherwise boring race and the media latched on. After that, it was off to the races for Dean until his eventual implosion. And since I was part of the Dean campaign back then, I’m telling you that this looks EXACTLY like, but Paul’s is actually stronger because he has access to all of these additional online media tools like YouTube and MySpace, which gives him infrastructure he didn’t even have to build himself. Dean didn’t have this advantage, otherwise the Iowa caucuses may have turned out differently.
And here’s one last thing that makes Paul even more marketable than Dean: Paul is from Texas. And since no other GOP candidate carries that distinction, he could carry that state and eventually the nomination with it. So unless he makes some major mistakes in the coming months, I’m predicting that he’s going to be a major player in the GOP mix…and sooner than you may think.
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June 3rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Where Is Rudy?
Will Ron Paul & Rudy Giuliani Debate the Iraq War at Freedomfest?
The annual FreedomFest conference, has issued a debate invitation to GOP Presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul to use FreedomFest ‘07 as a debate venue to further explore their fundamental differences in foreign policy and the war in Iraq that were highlighted in the Columbia, SC debate.
To review the debate invitation – http://www.freedomfest.com/debate.htm
For more information on the July 2007 FreedomFest Conference in Las Vegas, go to http://www.freedomfest.com
So far, we have had no response from the Giuliani Campaign on the debate invitation. If you see Rudy, have him contact me about the debate invitation.
In the meantime. e-mail Rudy and tell his staff to respond to the invitation.
Thanks,
Ron Holland,
FreedomFest
June 3rd, 2007 at 12:47 pm
THANK YOU.
Finally an honest assessment of the situtaion.
He is for real and he HAS a chance to shock the world.
The neocons will attempt to destroy him…and that will backfire bigtime.
People of this country have had it with the lies.
June 3rd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
[...] no amount of online enthusiasm — which I share — will change that. Posted by Mona @ 12:59 pm, Filed under: Main « « Random musing: Republicans and Hollywood | Main| [...]
June 3rd, 2007 at 2:28 pm
In the end I think Ron Paul will have more grassroots support than Howard Dean had. His crossover appeal is very high, and as you point out, the evolution of the online medium – YouTube, blogs, etc. – allows him to stay firmly planted in the 24-hour news cycle. That wasn’t nearly as possible even four years ago.
I wrote an article a week or so ago about Paul’s chances in the general election:
http://republicanrenaissance.blogspot.com/2007/05/dont-fear-radical.html
The primary will be his toughest hurdle.
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Ron Paul was not mentioned at all on Meet The Press this morning, but, Fred Thompson was characterized by Mary Matlin as the Ron Paul type candidate of choice for the conservatives. It was pathetic to hear her use the words to describe Ron Paul and lay them on the table for everyone to see she is a Neocon promoting a counterfeit conservative, Fred Thompson.
Fred Thompson is their choice because he supports the war and also is in charge of the Scooter Libby Defense Fundraiser.
June 3rd, 2007 at 11:13 pm
[...] While not *exactly* flattering of Dr. Paul, Donklephant.com, a political commentary blog, has some interesting insight into Dr. Paul’s campaign. I post this, because it confirms most of what we believe: That Ron Paul’s campaign is gaining serious momentum, , our efforts are paying off, and that Ron Paul support is being silenced because the neo-cons don’t know what to do with us:  Remember, we saw what a few hundred thousand dedicated people could do online in 2004. They built momentum in an otherwise boring race and the media latched on. After that, it was off to the races for Dean until his eventual implosion. And since I was part of the Dean campaign back then, I’m telling you that this looks EXACTLY like, but Paul’s is actually stronger because he has access to all of these additional online media tools like YouTube and MySpace, which gives him infrastructure he didn’t even have to build himself. Dean didn’t have this advantage, otherwise the Iowa caucuses may have turned out differently. [...]
June 3rd, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Ronald Ernest Paul (born August 20, 1935) is a 10th-term Congressman, obstetrician (M.D.), and a 2008 presidential candidate from the U.S. state of Texas, seeking the nomination of the Republican Party.
As a Republican, he has represented Texas’s 14th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997, and had represented Texas’s 22nd district in 1976 and from 1979 to 1985.
Paul advocates a limited role for the federal government, low taxes, free markets, a non-interventionist foreign policy, and a return to monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He has earned the nickname “Dr. No” because he is a medical doctor who votes against the bills he believes violate the Constitution.[2] In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Paul is the “one exception to the Gang of 535″ on Capitol Hill.[3] He has never voted to raise taxes or congressional pay, and refuses to participate in the congressional pension system.[4] He has consistently voted against the USA PATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, and the Iraq War.
see >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul
June 4th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Who IS Ron Paul? They still need to know!!
NOBODY explains Ron Paul
BETTER than Ron Paul himself!
Here is an interactive audio archive of
Ron Paul speeches and interviews as a resource in chronological
order.
http://www.ronpaulaudio.com
June 4th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I agree completely – this is Howard Dean version 2.0. The same, Internet phenomenon, now powered by Web 2.0 . Ron Paul will DEFINITELY be a major player in the coming months. Whether it will be enough to win the nomination, no one knows. This is a very interesting campaign from a sociological perspective, however… and the power of the Internet is only growing. If RP doesn’t win, the next “Internet candidate” surely will.
June 4th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
All the more reason to push forward and promote a great American who can and will be elected if we don’t give up. Whenever someone says “he can’t win”, tell them that’s because 50% of Americans don’t vote. Give them a reason:
-Balanced budget
-Gold standard
-True formation for this country from the Constitution
-Non-police state
-Gov’t that is going to violate our freedom with Fed ID cards
June 4th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Email I sent to KFI Los Angeles ‘johnandken@johnandkenshow.com’
(they have a strong border control bias) maybe more emails of support for the good doctor will convince them or whoever your local radio show hosts are to educate the public about Debt Money if you don’t understand what this is Search Google Video “Money as Debt”
Message
I called your screener yesterday and asked about the lack of coverage of the Ron Paul promises, got some condescending response amounting to when he progresses significantly, will talk about him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8
Now either what he is suggesting is complete lunacy and you could address this, or your war on “illegal immigration� is completely inadequate, You want motivated listeners, educate them, I mean I can’t do it, they don’t get the money thing. It would seem given the info below which can be easily verified that the people in charge want a North American Union see the planned super hi- way.
I guess this Lou Dobbs piece is madness also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UpJnQ_NPlU
Your trying to fight this fight from the bottom up convincing listeners who can hardly afford it to traipse the country getting in the face of their elected officials who are beholden to the people that print the money. That’s like putting a shopping cart in the way of a big rig.
This is the real evil, if you only address what is in the “talking heads mediaâ€Â? you will never get to the core issue. They don’t want us to know –get it. The Fed Bank System and their international friends who are buying and building America out from under us.
Its been almost 100 years since the Fed took power, the Democracy is dying, no money, no campaign, no campaign no change. They print, they own, then give it to who will further the agenda. This is simple stuff no conspiracy here even a kid could get it. Most Americans think their money is backed by gold what a joke.
Ron Paul wants to take the printing press away. No money, no road, no North American Union, no Amero, no nothing for their new plutocrasy.
You think the illegals are coming in fast now wait.
**********
The article continues, “As do many modern rumors, fears of a North American Union began with a few grains of truth and leapt to an unsubstantiated conclusion.�
So, let’s take their proof on its non-existance and see if we can justify those “grains of truth� and “unsubstantiated conclusion(s)�
First, according to Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Bohigian, “�There is absolutely no U.S. government plan for a NAFTA Superhighway of any sort.� This is partially true. The NAFTA Super Highway will actually be built by international corporations like Cintra out of Spain and Macquarie out of Australia. The latter of which actually purchased 40 newspapers in Texas, newspapers which just so happen to be along the planned corridor route.
The master development plan for the first phase of the Trans-Texas Corridor 35 segment (TTC-35) was released. Designed by Cintra-Zachry, the plan envisions a parallel alternative toll road to I-35, funded by the private sector. The project will include multiple separate lanes for tractor trailers, passenger vehicles, commuter and freight rail as well as a utilities passageway.
Oh, and look where that is coming from, none other than the TXDOT Website.
(more…)
June 5th, 2007 at 9:43 am
So far Ron Paul has impressed me more than any other candidate, for one simple reason: he doesn’t bullshit and gets to the roots of the issue. While other politicians wax philosophic about the Iraq war, Ron Paul comes right out and says why they attacked us. While most politicians use double-speak rhetoric about taxes, Ron Paul wants to go to the source of the problem and abolish the IRS and Federal Reserve. It’s refreshing how straight to the point Ron Paul is.
I hope Ron Paul wins… we are in a golden-age of Joe Anybody having an equal voice because of the Internet, including Ron himself by leveraging You Tube and such. While media conglomerates will only feature the candidates that will most benefit them in the long run (ie: can be lobbied and bought), the everyday person has access to the most powerful and important tool we have ever seen as not only a nation, but as a whole planet.
June 6th, 2007 at 11:45 am
According to the latest MSNBC online poll, Ron Paul is percieved as the best candidate of all with 63% of the vote, while next in line is Rudy with just 9% Ladies and gentlemen, its a blow-out! Your next President of the United States is Dr. Ron Paul!
June 7th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
I don’t need no liberty. I need somebody to take care of me . Who’s gonna pay my welfare
June 10th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
[...] Why “Pauliacs”? Because these little proto-fascist right-wing populists are all over the intertubes trying to flummox politically unsophisticated progressives. Ron Paul is no more of a Libertarian than he is a Republican. [...]
June 17th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Folks it’s going to take a lot of money to compete against the bought and paid for corporate candidates Donate something/anything to the Dr. Paul Campaign. Ann
June 18th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Show your support! http://www.apopularitycontest.com/display_poll.php?ID=5374
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Read How Ron Paul Became President
A fictional case study about how a future terrorist attack against the US and the Bush administration response elects Ron Paul as President.
Learn what could happen when the United States is hit by another terrorist attack by Islamic extremists that creates an extreme response by Washington in The Final Presidential Executive Order at http://www.swissconfederationinstitute.org/swisspreserve14.htm
This is from a new free online book, “The Swiss Preserve Solution� & the excess reaction results in the election of Ron Paul as President, not in 2008 but in 2012.
June 30th, 2007 at 1:54 am
[...] 3 Dr. Ron Paul: The GOP’s Dr. Howard Dean [...]
July 13th, 2007 at 1:47 am
[...] Most comparisons are made between Ron Paul and Howard Dean because they are both anecdotally “internet candidates,” and has led many to wonder whether we’re in the early stages of a Howard Dean-like explosion. See Donklephant, Cadillac Tight, Ron Paul Revolution, et al. They are eerily similar: both began in obscurity, both are doctors, both are/were wildly popular on the internet, both surged in donations as a result. However, a historical comparison of their fund raising and polling returns show two very different campaigns. [...]