San Francisco straw poll for the GOP...

Awesome interview with John Stossel on ABC
Part 1 Responsibility of State government vs Fed - http://youtube.com/watch?v=UJz81lAwY0M
Part 2 Role of Fed Government - http://youtube.com/watch?v=ky3CTT7Hw4s
Part 3 Worldly Involvement & Iraq War - http://youtube.com/watch?v=5S7p0dICNdM&
Part 4 Immigration - http://youtube.com/watch?v=DVo9PapqYF0
Part 5 About Ron Paul & His Following - http://youtube.com/watch?v=VEyeb7iMArM

 

I like Ron Paul. I think if by some miracle he got elected President he wouldn't be able to do shit, but I still like the guy. At the end of the the day the President can't do it all alone. Even G.W. The Senate and the Congress do have some power even if they can never agree nor have the balls to do anything significant.

The best Ron Paul could do was sit there and veto bill after bill, nothing he would ever want to sign would make it through the mess that is the legislature.

I think it's fun to watch the Ron Paul movement on the Internet, he certainly does have a vocal following. But honestly, it's easy to see where his popularity really is. I've talked to my parents, my other family, my co-workers and 95% of the time you say, "hey, what do you think of Ron Paul" they respond, "Ron who?".

That campaign has dedication and enthusiasm, but it doesn't have numbers, at least not yet. But it will be interesting to watch anyway.

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Chuck,

You make me want to not give him money on Sunday. Ron Paul is all about personal freedom and states rights. Watch his 20/20 interview and he talks about the right of people to do what they want with themselves as long as they are not hurting others. He disagrees in a respectful way.

You remind me of fundamentalist Christians trying to hit me over the head with a Bible, only with politics. That tactic turns more people off than on. I suggest a more subtle and less assholish approach.

It's kind of like the obnoxious Paul supporters at the debates, if they would shut up and let him make his point when he gets a chance to speak, they would help him more than they do with their yelling.

People need to hear the message, not be annoyed by his supporters.

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Sky,

The one thing that really scares the crap out of me about Hilary winning the democratic nomination is that she may lose the general election.

She's a very polarizing figure, some love her, some hate her, she has a lot of support with democrats but very very little with republicans. I worry that she'll win the nomination, then lose a close race in the general election. And I'm really sick of republican presidents.

On the other hand, I don't think there's a Republican candidate that would beat Barak in the general election, but I'm not sure he'll get the nomination. I really do like the guy though.

Romney and Huckabee scare the shit out of me. If either of them gets elected, I would seriously consider moving to Canada because I don't think I fit in here anymore. I don't really like Giuliani all that much, but I think he wouldn't completely destroy the country so I probably could stay here.

I think it's going to be a tough election again. There are some very polarizing candidates on both sides and if we put two of them against each other I think we end up with another 2004 election when half the country wonders why the hell they still live here. I would much rather have someone who the entire country can get behind. Of all the candidates, I really think only Barak is that person, but I have serious doubts that we'll get to test that theory out.

--too long to read imo

 

I live here because it is the greatest country on the earth. Because at least I can still vote and select the individual I feel is best for the job.

This is American politics and what it has become. I don't like it any more than anyone else. But if change is what we need, then maybe we should use our vote to make that change.

None of these candidates are any better than any of you guys and gals here. They are people just like us who are driven by something they feel is right. We have to parse through all these issues and where they stand and then vote for the person who most closely aligns with your ideals.

I take great pride in knowing I can do that in this country. There are a lot of things I think need changing, but we can only do it a little at a time. Packing up and moving to a different country isn't the answer. Sometimes the changes for which we work aren't apparent in our lifetime. None of the Founding Fathers saw the extent of the fruit of their labors in the great country they founded. Exert what influence you have now through your vote, through teaching your children and through understanding the history of this country. Maybe someday we will make the changes that can steady the feet of our country.

 

I'm slightly afraid of posting this because I know it could possible spark a small firestorm, but I have a question about Ron Paul.

Am I the only one who feels as though Ron Paul's supporters want him to be president more than Ron Paul himself does? The whole Ron Paul grassroots stuff is very intriguing because of the way it's mainly participated in by random internet folks who are good at spreading word across the 'net. How badly does Paul want to be president, anyway? From some interviews I've seen, it seems as though Paul wasn't really trying very hard, and then, all of a sudden, some guy in Florida organized millions of dollars in a short time, and this caused other people to hop on board.

I'm not trying to start anything, at all. I tend to stay calm and objective when it comes to discussing politics (which I attempt to avoid, anyway, because it's hard to find others who can discuss it likewise.) I'm just posing a question.

As for my political leanings, well... let's just say I vote for whoever I feel is the best candidate, regardless of party.

 

Excellent piece on Ron Paul on PBS's NOW:

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/350/index.html

Click on the video link in the bottom right part of the Ron Paul section.

 

Land Of The Free - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsDlO2Lr_cg

 

Strygun,

I'd say he's fairly serious about being president, but at the same time he has always been realistic of his chances. I think his supporters at times have believed he would go further than he believed himself, but that makes him humble, it doesn't mean he doesn't want to be president.

Anyway, looking at the totals, it looks like he'll raise over $5 million today. I gave him $50 myself and I'm a democrat. It's time to start getting a different message out there besides the normal political BS. I think Ron Paul and Barak Obama do that well, although from different angles.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com

It's not too late to show your support

It just makes me laugh that tomorrow when the news picks up, the longest shot candidate will have raised more money than anyone else over the weekend.

 

The Tea Party was a complete success, actually... even including the media. Not only was Ron Paul all over the TV News and Internet Media today (Searching Ron Paul on google news for 'Past Day' results in 32 pages of articles), but check out his upcoming schedule:

Dec 18
Fox News Channel
1. Ron Paul on Fox & Friends 7:15 AM ET

CNN
2. Ron Paul on CNN American Morning 8:15 AM ET

MSNBC
3. Ron Paul on Morning Joe 8:30 AM ET

WHO Radio
4. Jan Mickelson interviews Ron Paul 9:00 AM CT

CNN Headline News
5. Glenn Beck interviews Ron Paul Check local listings

Dec 23
NBC
Meet the Press Check local listings

 

Hour long interview with Glenn Beck. Watch it. Send it to anyone you think may be interested in it. Awesome stuff; he actually gets a chance to explain his positions rather than spend 20 seconds talking about 5 of them at once.

Pt1 Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0oa0k4us8U
Pt2 Internationalism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buPSE-_gLMs
Pt3 Economy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSx6pvFrsdQ
Pt4 Foreign Policy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28p_MHf-sdM
Pt5 Resources and Entitlements: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7DlrP65etk
Pt6 Radical Supporters and Closing Thoughts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I13gK7EGWzg