It doesn't stop with Ron Paul (RUN FOR OFFICE YOURSELF!)

[theknightshift]

In light of the question...

Want to know what to do "after" Ron Paul?

Here's something that we should have been doing alongside Ron Paul, and for many years already...

Run for office yourself!

No other candidate for President has given me such hope and optimism, as Ron Paul has. But all the same, he's just one man and he can't do it alone. America is rotting away throughout and that's not going to be remedied by the election of one person. Ironically that one person can do immeasurable damage if he's the wrong person (yeah I'm looking right at you George W. Bush). And it's a much harder thing to create than it is to destroy.

Ron Paul is a good man. If we are wise as a country, we will ask him to serve us as President. But it's as unfair to us to expect him to shoulder ALL of that burden as it would be for him. That's not what the Founders intended anyway: they had it in mind that we the people would govern ourselves. That requires vigilance and it requires hands-on responsibility across the board, not just at the upper echelons.

So... have you ever considered running for office? If not, why not?

I did it a year ago this week when I ran for school board here. It wasn't something that I'd planned to do at all (as a matter of fact, the whole thing pretty much started as a joke on live local television). But one thing led to another and before long I was filing to run, as one candidate in a field of 16 running for 5 new at-large seats.

It was a LOT of hard work. And I didn't win a seat. But you know what? When the final votes came in, it didn't matter, and I haven't regretted not winning at all: the entire experience was much too wonderful. In three short months I came to learn more about the political process and election laws than I had in my entire life before that. I wound up meeting a lot of terrific people. And, it was just flat-out fun! Here's the first TV commercial from my campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLi5B0Iefsk That alone was worth running (especially getting to equate No Child Left Behind with the Death Star :) )

I don't know if I'll ever run for school board again. One thing that I personally learned from the experience is that one doesn't necessarily require or need to seek out political power, in order to make a difference. So many things have happened since then that have demonstrated that. Right now I feel like I'm having a better influence on education in this county off of the board than I would have been on it.

That, and I'm gonna do my darndest to encourage other people to run for office too. At whatever level. 'Cuz if it's not you... then who's it gonna be?

Why should elected offices only go to the powerful and the well-connected? How the hell do most of them get off believing they're "owed" that anyway?

Why the hell should we be expected to believe that only "they" deserve to be the ones running this country? The Founders wrote the Constitution so that anyone could read and understand it. You don't have to be a lawyer or a corporate bigwig to appreciate and follow through on it.

So yeah: if you have a thorough-enough grasp of the Constitution, and personal responsibility and responsibility to your community, what more do you need to run for office?

THAT is what Ron Paul is all about. That's what he's tapped into. And Lord willing, he will be our next President and he'll start to make things right up at the top where the past few Presidents have made a complete FUBAR of things.

But Dr. Paul is going to be at the top. It's going to be up to the rest of us to take care of things wherever we are. We can't rely on the the government as it is anymore. It's time we step up to the plate and *become* the government that the Founders envisioned.

So I ask you, from the bottom of my heart: consider running for school board, or city council. Heck, you should consider even running for state legislature... or even U.S. House! And why shouldn't you? Look at the people who have come together to support Dr. Paul. If you put yourself out there and stay true to yourself, you'll probably find a lot more support for your own candidacy than you can possibly imagine.

And like I said before, running for office is a hard thing to do... but what worthwhile things in life are ever easy? But it's also an awful lot of fun.

It's like this: you can either go with the flow, and die in your bed many years from now after a life of comfort and contentment, with not much to show that you were here.

Or you can get up and do something to rattle the cages, and make damned sure that "they" never forget that once upon a time, here you stood and would not yield.

And to hell what people like those in the GOP leadership, and Red State, and Free Republic, and Fox News, and others of their kind have to say about it.

Hell, I used to be a member of Free Republic. And Free Republic has not accomplished a single damned thing in its entire existence! Not anything at all. Oh yeah they'll boast about standing up to Clinton and meaningless pageantry like that... but what about seriously shaking things up? They can't do it because they're too locked-in to the party mindset: it's impossible for them to think outside the box. I don't know of a single person on that board who actually ran for office on their own, except for me... and that probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been banned from it to begin with.

If you are expecting leadership or even sympathy out of those outlets, you are wrong. Their sole purpose is to corral and control for sake of power. They aren't about encouraging and building up people to take control of their own lives. So of course they oppose Ron Paul and what he stands for: because in his worldview, people like them aren't needed anymore.

Ron Paul, and those who support him, have a dream of a new world. A better world. And people from "the old way of things" have no place in that world.

They've had their chance. They've been weighed in the scales and found wanting. They are dying off. But they can do a lot of damage on the way down. Which makes it all the more important that people like you and me stand up and make sure that they go down hard and that they stay down.

What do you have to lose? You are going to die someday anyway. You might as well slam the door as hard as you can before you leave.

"Die before you die. There is no chance after." -- C.S. Lewis

Ron Paul is a good start. Even if he is never elected President, he is showing the way. And for that alone, he has already made history.

But all of this will be for nothing, if we don't take the initiative on our own.

If you are reading this, please, I urge you: wherever you are, run for office. However you can. Don't do it for the power. But if you are on this forum, then power is probably something that doesn't interest you much anyway. Do it because you want to serve others.

Be bold, but be humble. And you'll no doubt be as amazed as the rest of us at how far God will take you.

[KoozieChaz]

I like this idea. Whenever I see a ballot with an unopposed candidate I always write myself in on a matter of principle. I've told a lot of friends to write me in, but I'm not sure they take me seriously. I guess ACTUALLY running would be the next step...

[Mortikhi]

I think I'll run for Representative of District 1 in Florida, especially after finding out that my rep voted for the thought crime bill.

[theknightshift]

BTW, when I ran for school board last year I chronicled *everything* on my blog (you can find an archive of it at http://theknightshift.blogspot.com/2007/02/complete-list-of-school-board-campaign.html) about the campaign: from filing the paperwork, to fundraising, to doing candidates forums, to designing and putting out the yard signs... right up to making several posts on election day and then winding down the campaign. The biggest reason I did that was so that other people might find it and use it as a resource, if they ever want to know what it's *really* like to run for office.

Hopefully some will find it and think to themselves "I could do that. I can do that. Maybe I will do that!" :)

[Patrick Henry]

I think I'll run for Representative of District 1 in Florida, especially after finding out that my rep voted for the thought crime bill.

"He's catching on... I'm tellin' you." :D

Nice Avatar. :D

[Brad Zink]

This is a great idea. It's something that the local Meetup groups can get started: running against local politicians on a platform similar to Dr. Paul.

All house seats are up for grabs every two years!

[TooConservative]

In light of the question...

Want to know what to do "after" Ron Paul?

Here's something that we should have been doing alongside Ron Paul, and for many years already...

Run for office yourself!


This is an outstanding idea and I hope others continue to promote it. This year, it is more possible to get Ron Paul-style Republicans elected than at any time I can think of.

Look at the success of the only midterm election where Ron Paul's new congressional ally, Dr. Braun of Georgia's Tenth district, overcame the GOP establishment funded and supported favorite. Robert Novak said it terrified Republicans in Congress. We need to terrorize them much much more, both with Dr. Paul and with other candidates as well.

I can't imagine anything that would make Ron Paul happier than to elect some more constitutionalist, conservative, libertarian congressmen to help him in Congress and to elect other officials and board members following his agenda for liberty and small government.

[Abyss19562]

I'm gonna run for President in 2012 !! MIKE WALKER FOR PRESIDENT 2012 !!

[Channing]

I agree we need to do that. President Paul will need as much support as he can get from Congress and state legislatures.

[Bison]

If you live in Missouri, the Constitution Party of Missouri is looking for candidates to run in the up coming election. You can see the info on their home page. http://www.constitutionpartymo.org

[ItsTime]

My family was talking about this today. The revolution STARTS here it doesnt END here!

[MS0453]

This is only the beginning. You said it perfectly. We need to continue to educate (ourselves and others) and impact the system.


By the way,...Best. Political Advertisement. Ever. :)

[theknightshift]

This is only the beginning. You said it perfectly. We need to continue to educate (ourselves and others) and impact the system.


By the way,...Best. Political Advertisement. Ever. :)

Thanks!! :D

[JoshLowry]

Stick around regardless of election turnout.

We are going to continue hosting this forum and will be co-naming this freedom loving community LibertyForest.com

:)

[Bison]

Right on!

[MS0453]

We are going to continue hosting this forum and will be co-naming this freedom loving community LibertyForest.com

:)


Awesome.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

I have no social skills, so I can't run :p I'm an armchair politician. Well, maybe I will..... I'm very young

[theknightshift]

I have no social skills, so I can't run :p I'm an armchair politician. Well, maybe I will..... I'm very young

Jeremiah said that he was too young.

Abraham said that he was too old.

Moses said that he had a stuttering problem.

Job was bankrupt.

Paul was a murderer.

Lazarus was dead.

Yet God used each of them in a mighty way.

Don't sell yourself short. There is literally no telling what God can use you to do, if you are willing to be used by Him.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

If I run I will be running as a dem or a gop... it's like a waste of time to devote yourself to the LP

[literatim]

Remember folks, we need delegates.


If I run I will be running as a dem or a gop... it's like a waste of time to devote yourself to the LP

GOP. If you run for Dem then there might be issues with people having to choose between voting for you and Ron Paul.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Remember folks, we need delegates.



GOP. If you run for Dem then there might be issues with people having to choose between voting for you and Ron Paul.

ha. not in this election :) I'm not old enough! I'm talking about some other office

[TooConservative]

Stick around regardless of election turnout.

We are going to continue hosting this forum and will be co-naming this freedom loving community LibertyForest.com

That's great. This community and movement need to keep growing.

I hope we can field candidates for Congress too. We could rebuild Ron Paul's Liberty Caucus.

[parke]

Great idea. If we keep our base together it should become easier to do.

[Matt Collins]

A GOOD WAY TO START is to become a member of your local city/town council advisory board. Many city councils have volunteer groups of people who are appointed to specific topical committees such as the alcohol board, the farming board, the education board, etc etc...

[JosephTheLibertarian]

A GOOD WAY TO START is to become a member of your local city/town council advisory board. Many city councils have volunteer groups of people who are appointed to specific topical committees such as the alcohol board, the farming board, the education board, etc etc...

how do I do that?

[Nate K]

what positions are there that one can run for?

i'm thinking of majoring in political science and going up the ladder in politics and hope for Congress. what are the beginning steps?

[jgmaynard]

I had run for City Council twice in the city where I used to live, and I managed one state rep race. It's really a wonderful, rewarding experience. NOTHING in the world politically feels better than voting for yourself.
Also, if you are thin-skinned and feel bad when people don't like you, run for office. You will NEVER feel that way again. I used to worry that people didn't like me, then I ran for office and now my skin is thicker and harder than an electroplated Rhinocerous. :)

JM

[Brian4Liberty]

Great idea!

We need an Army of Ron Paul "Mini-Me's" to run for Congress! Or would that be "Mini-No's"? Ron will need some help in Congress...

Seriously though, all that public speaking and fund-raising is tough work.

[work2win]

With this support base and network, we should be able to get some US House Reps elected. We can focus our energy and money on a handful of constitution-oriented candidates.

[MikeStanart]

Jeremiah said that he was too young.

Abraham said that he was too old.

Moses said that he had a stuttering problem.

Job was bankrupt.

Paul was a murderer.

Lazarus was dead.

Yet God used each of them in a mighty way.

Don't sell yourself short. There is literally no telling what God can use you to do, if you are willing to be used by Him.



Very wise words indeed.

[FreyForCongress]

Kind of neat to see this thread pop up here. I've been a lurker on here for a while but I'm a huge Ron Paul fan from down here in Texas. I got the opportunity to meet him at a fundraiser at Blinn College and at the Texas Straw Poll. He actually inspired me to run for office and I am currently seeking United States House of Representatives District 10 in Texas as a libertarian. We have websites set up at www.freyforcongress.com and www.myspace.com/freyforcongress2008.

The more people we can get into office who will fight for liberty, the better this country will be!

[ChicagoLawyer]

What everyone should be doing is getting active with their local Republican Parties. Either run for office or encourage freedom-loving candidates to do so. We can change the GOP, and the GOP is a major party. Third parties have no future and the Democrats really are a bunch of socialists. As hard as it seems, going into the GOP, making friends and turning hearts and minds is what we need to do--now, and after Ron Paul;s campaign is gone.

[Nate K]

Kind of neat to see this thread pop up here. I've been a lurker on here for a while but I'm a huge Ron Paul fan from down here in Texas. I got the opportunity to meet him at a fundraiser at Blinn College and at the Texas Straw Poll. He actually inspired me to run for office and I am currently seeking United States House of Representatives District 10 in Texas as a libertarian. We have websites set up at www.freyforcongress.com and www.myspace.com/freyforcongress2008.

The more people we can get into office who will fight for liberty, the better this country will be!

good luck bro i'll be joining you soon.

[Brian4Liberty]

Kind of neat to see this thread pop up here. I've been a lurker on here for a while but I'm a huge Ron Paul fan from down here in Texas. I got the opportunity to meet him at a fundraiser at Blinn College and at the Texas Straw Poll. He actually inspired me to run for office and I am currently seeking United States House of Representatives District 10 in Texas as a libertarian. We have websites set up at www.freyforcongress.com and www.myspace.com/freyforcongress2008.

The more people we can get into office who will fight for liberty, the better this country will be!

Good luck!

Did you consider running as a Republican like Ron Paul?

Also, I saw your name and thought it was a Futurama reference! Bender for President!

[FreyForCongress]

Good luck!

Did you consider running as a Republican like Ron Paul?

Also, I saw your name and thought it was a Futurama reference! Bender for President!

In this district running as a Republican is not an option. The district was recently drawn up by DeLay and has a millionaire Neo-Con named Michael McCaul as the Rep. His family has connections with both Clear Channel and Diebold, so winning a primary was out of the question. But with the message I am presenting I am getting a lot more support than I expected.

[theknightshift]

What everyone should be doing is getting active with their local Republican Parties. Either run for office or encourage freedom-loving candidates to do so. We can change the GOP, and the GOP is a major party. Third parties have no future and the Democrats really are a bunch of socialists. As hard as it seems, going into the GOP, making friends and turning hearts and minds is what we need to do--now, and after Ron Paul;s campaign is gone.

Here's the problem with the Republican Party: it's sole motive, with very little exception (and Ron Paul is one of them) is to acquire power for sake of power. It is no longer something defined by a common set of noble ideals that many work toward. In fact, those very ideals which used to be the basis of the Republican Party, to hold them means to be ridiculed and castigated by the party's leadership and most of the rank and file.

(This is the fault of the so-called "neoconservatives", who are much closer in mindset to the Nazis and Stalinists than they will ever admit, because like them they too are fixated on power for sake of power.)

That said: I do kinda understand where you're coming from. But I have to disagree about the viability of third parties. Ron Paul is testament to their strength. His may be something that third parties have needed all along in this country: not a clean break from the two-parties, but a tertiary transition from one major party into something entirely separate.

And after that, perhaps a day when we don't consider party affiliation at all... because there really is nothing meaningful about whether a person is a "Democrat" or "Republican" or whatever. It shouldn't be a party label that defines a person, but his or her ideas and beliefs. I'd rather vote for someone who can think for himself, rather than vote for someone who can only think what he's told to believe.

[JoshLowry]

Kind of neat to see this thread pop up here. I've been a lurker on here for a while but I'm a huge Ron Paul fan from down here in Texas. I got the opportunity to meet him at a fundraiser at Blinn College and at the Texas Straw Poll. He actually inspired me to run for office and I am currently seeking United States House of Representatives District 10 in Texas as a libertarian. We have websites set up at www.freyforcongress.com (http://www.freyforcongress.com) and www.myspace.com/freyforcongress2008 (http://www.myspace.com/freyforcongress2008).

The more people we can get into office who will fight for liberty, the better this country will be!

Howdy Rick!

I live in Texas' 10th District. I was thinking about running in 2010 on the Republican ticket. Hopefully we can bounce some ideas off each other.

Welcome to the forums!

[realitywiz]

Excellent thread, Knightshift!!!

On this note, I would like to extend an invitation to Freedom Force International, an organization dedicated to taking back the power centers of society. Freedom-loving people need to take over government, media, etc.

http://www.freedom-force.org

Freedom Force was founded in 2002 by G. Edward Griffin. At that time, the political landscape looked a lot darker than it does now. Ron Paul has brought the winds of change necessary to take back the country.

Take a look at Griffin's speech at a Ron Paul rally in Mountain View, California a few months ago...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sw6zhIiGCvg




_________

[Malakai0]

I think I'll run for Representative of District 1 in Florida, especially after finding out that my rep voted for the thought crime bill.

I'm in Florida's 9th district. We need a constitutionalist republican running for the house seat here. I'd vote for a libertarian too of course but reclaiming the republican party is a more practical goal with several generations of 2 party brainwashing.

[Malakai0]

You will have about a thousand times better chance winning for state house seats first.

[Richandler]

If their is anyone running in California I would donate and vote for them.

[theknightshift]

You will have about a thousand times better chance winning for state house seats first.

I've a good friend who is running for state house here where we live. He's definitely of the Ron Paul/libertarian stripe. He was also a fellow candidate in last year's school board race.

[ChicagoLawyer]

I wish third parties worked, but they just don't. I tried to make the Libertarian Party work for years, and for a while in the 1990s we thought that it might--but I came to the conclusion that it can't. There's a reason no third party has become a major party since 1860: we don't have a proportional representation system. We have a first-past-the-post system in almost all US elections. That means that voting third party often really is "throwing away you vote." A party can't grow enough to overtake another.

I know some of you are thinking "well, if we do it right, and with the energy of the Ron Paul movement, we could make it work." Guess what--Ron Paul has this energy BECAUSE he's in a major party. Stick with it. Become, and stay, a Republican. We'll bring the party back to liberty. There is no other option.

[theknightshift]

I wish third parties worked, but they just don't. I tried to make the Libertarian Party work for years, and for a while in the 1990s we thought that it might--but I came to the conclusion that it can't.

Here's the problem with the Libertarian party: it tries TOO MUCH to be like the two major parties. Those do have a solid lock on most of the political power in this country... for the moment. But the Libertarian (note the big "L" as opposed to "libertarian" philosophy) is too focused on getting just enough votes in an election to be on the ballot for the next election without having to gather signatures on petitions to do so. They want "legitimacy" as a party when instead they should be focusing more on the libertarian message.


There's a reason no third party has become a major party since 1860: we don't have a proportional representation system. We have a first-past-the-post system in almost all US elections. That means that voting third party often really is "throwing away you vote." A party can't grow enough to overtake another.

The reason no third party has become a major party is because the Democrat/Republican duopoly has rigged the election laws so that independents and third-party candidates don't have equal ballot access.

On a level playing field, you would see not only a third party but perhaps a fourth and a fifth one also.


I know some of you are thinking "well, if we do it right, and with the energy of the Ron Paul movement, we could make it work." Guess what--Ron Paul has this energy BECAUSE he's in a major party. Stick with it. Become, and stay, a Republican. We'll bring the party back to liberty. There is no other option.

I would much rather bring American back to liberty. I can not trust the Republican party to do that anymore. I have much more faith in individuals, than I have faith in any political party.

Parties inevitably become about one thing only: securing and maintaining power.

And in that regard, the Republican party has become a massive disappointment.

[MS0453]

Just something to consider for those considering a run...

...spreading the message of liberty is not always an easy task. What's helped Dr. Paul, and all people for that matter, get elected is name recognition. The fact that he was a popular doctor and delivered a ridiculous amount of babies certainly helped him. All I'm trying to suggest is, that having people know who you are, is a big positive. :D

[Mortikhi]

So what would be the best steps to take if you plan on running?

I'm talking about pre-running work i.e. campaigning without running.

[literatim]

I think a PAC should be started to accomplish the goal of taking back the Republican Party. I have no idea how to start or run a PAC, but I have ideas on what it could do once started.

[TheEvilDetector]

This is what I have been saying for some time now.

60,000 in meetup now and that will grow to 100,000+ before general elections. If just 1% of those people commit to running to congress, then the rest of the network can help them in their respective districts. Congress can then be reclaimed for the people. It is not a complicated suggestion. The question is, does anyone have the balls to rock the establishment like Ron Paul? Ron Paul can't do everything himself, people need to step up and do the same.

DONT FIGHT THE CITY HALL, BE THE CITY HALL
(it is a far more intelligent approach to getting things done compared to civil disobedience, protests or anything else)

[noxagol]

I have thought about running for the fed house, but my district is really big, like 1/5 of Illinois, district 19 for those who care to look. Though I have thought of running for state house, which is a much easier task, hard, but still much easier. Though at this point it is pretty much a dizzy day dream. I don't even have enough money to donate to Ron Paul and I am not even old enough yet at only 23. Plus I think people would sooner kill me before vote for me because I want to take away government.

[TheEvilDetector]

I have thought about running for the fed house, but my district is really big, like 1/5 of Illinois, district 19 for those who care to look. Though I have thought of running for state house, which is a much easier task, hard, but still much easier. Though at this point it is pretty much a dizzy day dream. I don't even have enough money to donate to Ron Paul and I am not even old enough yet at only 23. Plus I think people would sooner kill me before vote for me because I want to take away government.

This is precisely the point I keep trying to make. You are no longer alone.
There will come a day when every county in the United States will have a Ron Paul meetup in it.

Meetups near you can help you with your campaign, wherever you are.

Imagine, all the meetups getting congressional candidates elected in their districts.

Whether or not Paul is elected. There is still hope that this country can return to its constitutional foundations.

[theknightshift]

This is precisely the point I keep trying to make. You are no longer alone.
There will come a day when every county in the United States will have a Ron Paul meetup in it.

Meetups near you can help you with your campaign, wherever you are.

Imagine, all the meetups getting congressional candidates elected in their districts.

Whether or not Paul is elected. There is still hope that this country can return to its constitutional foundations.

Bumping this one back up, just for your last point.

Dr. Paul has done plenty of good already. The seed has been sown.

[Fields]

Resurrecting a great thread from the dead.

[yankee_blue]

IMHO, I think we need to concentrate on getting involved in GOP politics. Start becoming operatives within the GOP. We could surely take a page out the books written by the Neo-cons and theocons. Do we have folks ready to run for party offices in the upcoming state conventions???