[Parenthetical - I was working on a post about this subject to post here, when I got a comment at the Daily Dose (Ron Paul's Official Blog) that prompted me to alter it to post in response. Rather than hack it up to post here, I am posting it (nearly) verbatim. Here is the link to the original comment from Aubrey, to which I responded.]
I agree Aubrey. I don’t believe a third party run is a tactic to win the Presidency. For that, we have to win the GOP nod. The third party run is about moving liberty back to the forefront. Can you imagine Dr. Paul in a three-way debate with Hillary & Romney? It is about the message. If we can get respect for our position by eschewing a third party run, then great. If we get the same treatment we’ve gotten thus far – we are sneered at and marginalized if we are acknowledged – then a third party run should happen.
In a nutshell – If we don’t win the nomination outright, my feeling is that Dr. Paul can do the most to promote the liberty movement by not just packing up and going home.
If it is a brokered convention scenario, and we are not in a position to be calling shots – I think a third party break is a good tactical move. If we are in a position to have influence with delegates, then demand a seat at the table one way or the other.
I could live with a VP Paul. Unfortunately, none of the GOP candidates could. Just having him on the stage with them diminishes their stature. Again, I think a third party run would be a reasonable response to being denied a voice in shaping things.
Maybe Dr. Paul as the head of the RNC? It worked for Dean. I almost fell out of my chair thinking about that one! Can you imagine the discussions about the platform???
Can we still win the GOP nod? You betcha. But we aren’t exactly the odds-on favorite. The good news – we’re about the only one’s who haven’t been the odds-on favorite in the last 3 weeks. We’re just sitting back and collecting a few delegates here and there. Who else has the money to guarantee they’ll be in it till the end?
Mitt has his own money, but what if something comes along to knock him out of the race? There’s a diminutive doctor from Texas with $20,000,000 cash on hand and a few hundred thousand rabid volunteers, hanging out toward the back of the pack. Some might even say pacing himself. Like the tortoise who knew it was a long race, and that to win the day he had to keep something in the tank.
Did I hear that Dr. Paul was an avid runner? Possibly competitively (in his younger days)? Hmmm…. maybe he is pacing himself.
Just 9 more minutes till I can help gas up the tank. I hope everyone who reads this will do the same.
1 comment so far
I could live with RP, but I feel that would push independents to the left. There appears no good way for any conservative to win, simply because we do not have any running, except RP. The media has made sure he’s considered ‘fringe’. That’s the problem. Somehow, somewhere (and I hate this term) the conservative party needs a grass roots movement.
It needs to be organized, but with time, not money. I’d think it needs to start with onebody as a leader, and by voting within itself. No liberal garbage, no hacks moving an agenda other than a conservative movement. No trade-offs, no compromising on large issues.
People must be able to see the results of a conservative government and that just cannot be done from afar.
If RP was elected congress would shut down his aenda in a heartbeat, someone like this needs to go to the people (like Reagan did) and tell them their reps in DC are stoping a conservative agenda. With that type of clout, all of the rino’s could be eliminated and some libs, but it needs to come from the people.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:48 am
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