Actually, being ex-Navy, I prefer the blanket party route. I’ll get a couple of my sailor buddies to join in.

Ron Paul was stauchly opposed to it. I was staunchly in favor of it.

One day we’re riding in a car to an event in Victoria two hours a way. Ron berates me the whole way down for 2 hours about my support for the War. I stay silent, except to mention to him halfway through the trip that we needed to stop for gas.

Anyway, so we get to the event at the Fed building in downtown Victoria. He jumps out of the car, and screams at me, while poking his finger in my chest, “I will have nobody working on my staff who does not agree with me 100% on my position on Iraq. Not even you Eric. You change your views NOW.”

I had never seen him look so violent before. Not even the time when I messed up by putting him a car in San Antonio with an elderly woman who almost got us into 3 carwrecks on the way to the airport. (Boy, was he pissed at me that time.)

No, this time he literally got physical with me, poking his finger very forcefully into my chest, and cussing at me. (Ron rarely cusses.)

Well, we didn’t talk for 6 months after that. Finally, Tom said I needed to resolve the situation, that not talking to Ron was not healthy for our “office environment.”

I had to make a choice. Should I hold onto my beliefs and resign, or do as the Doctor said, and adopt his views.

I chose to hold steady on my beliefs, that the War in Iraq, was fully justified and that Saddam Hussein needed to be removed from power.

I told Tom, I’d resign in two months. And wrote a letter to that effect.

If any of you would like to confirm this story, I would urge you to contact two people:

Here’s the number – 202-225-2831

Their names are:

US Congressman Ron Paul and US House of Representatives, Ron Paul office, Chief of Staff Thomas Lizardo.

Go ahead, give ‘em a call.

If you’re too much of a coward to confirm the story, than I would humbly ask you to shut-up on the internet about unsubstantiated rumors and hearsay.

Further, if you would like more details, I can give you specifics. Call me on my cell 832-896-9505.

RON PAUL is raising MMMMMMMMMMIiiilllllllliioonnssss. Mmmmmmiiiilllliioonnnnnssss and mmmmmmmiillllliioonnnnnsss of dolllllaaaarrrsss. Bwah ha ha ha ha. Now at last the time has come to unleash the the r3VOLution. Arise my fellow libertarian minions! Arise! No longer must we hide our true selves as we walk among the people. Show yourselves, stand up and be counted! For now at last our time has come, and we shall rule the earth!!

And what is the first thing we shall do once we seize the reigns of power? I will tell you. We will give Dondero a wedgie.

I like the biblical saying, “By their fruits Ye shall know them.” You produce rotten fruit and will, by osmosis, be pruned from the orchard.

So, who do you support now?

Yup, that sounds about right to me.

No doubt, had to do with the Ron Paul mailer scandal. Paul’s campaign had sent out a mailer to Vets and Families of Active Duty all throughout SC implying that he supported the War in Iraq. The Charleston press exposed him on it. Politico.com even wrote a big story on the deception.

As more people come to learn of the real Ron Paul, they become turned off to him.

Eric Dondero, Fmr. Senior Aide
US Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
1997-2003

Personally, I think Ron Paul is still under the radar and will surprise in several states. Quite a fusion of revolutionary elements have fallen into Ron Paul’s lap. There are people willing to stand up for and even fight for his ideas–especially within the context of the corruption in Washington that has reached new highs under this congress and administration.

Yes, and like everything else you write, sending the message that “Paul might run 3rd party” is working against his chances of being elected. Just like continual references to howard dean and bleating about how he won’t win. Just like ridiculously overinflated expectations so you can complain about how disappointed you are a week later.

And why wouldn’t you try to work against the campaign? After all, you’re in favour of “3rd way” “moderate” politics, a half assed attempt to compromise between hard socialism and free markets, ie the statist quo.

And by the way, if any of you think I’m trying to deliberately sabotage the campaign, let me ask you, “Do you know where you are?” People, this is a site about 3rd party, independent, moderate, centrist politics. The reason I write about Ron Paul is because he’s genuinely bringing about a potential 3rd way in politics, and I’ve made no attempt to hide that I think he should ditch the GOP in favor of running 3rd party. I’ve said this many times.

Plus, if you think I have the power to sabotage anything, well, it’s much appreciated, but Donklephant isn’t anywhere close to being big enough to change opinions. I share my feelings about politics because this is a blog. I’m not an unflinching supporter of anybody, and since this is a site designed around the idea of questioning politicians, then yes, I’m going to question Ron Paul too. And if you have a problem with that, well, don’t come here anymore. Pretty simple.

Authors claim to like Ron Paul and then repeatedly slip in veiled insults, claims he can’t win, and attempt to associate him with Howard Dean and other failed campaigns.

It’s really a transparent attempt at sabotage.

And the WSJ has it wrong too, as the target is not first-time voters but the disgusted and disaffected people who stopped voting. Big difference, and that’s a large part of the support that nobody seems to gauge properly in all of the so-called polls, which tend to focus on likely voters who have voted recently.

The mainstream media always talk about his “lean staff” and “thin organization”, as if he has fewer people working for him than the other candidates. The truth is he has far more “boots on the ground”, and even more “planes in the air” and “boats in the water.”

The other media fallacy is the “will his online support translate into votes” question. If they had bothered to report on the straw polls, they would already know this is ludicrous to even ask. Ron Paul supporters are much more likely to donate money, wave signs, attend campaign events, talk up their candidate to their friends, discuss him online, put his bumper sticker on their cars, etc. Supporters this enthusiastic and dedicated are going to be much MORE likely to vote than “supporters” of the other candidates.