MelissaWV
11-13-2011, 12:47 PM
Yes, another thread. It will get buried rather quickly, no doubt, but at least the headline will go out there.
The titles of these threads get tweeted and sent out there into the ether, and anyone would think that Ron's own supporters are the ones most vocally against him. Ron should have walked out. Ron's supporters should have done more. Ron should have worn a better suit. Ron should have walked over to Newt, gotten in his face, and "schooled" him. Are these things that you think would actually help Ron with GOP primary voters, and with the general public? Or are they things that would make YOU feel better?
It's amazing to me, reading these posts. People are saying that supporters there at the debate should have done more, but Ron was the first one to get applause during the introductions. He got a lot of applause for his few answers. People want Ron to walk off stage in a huff, but it would make him look like a whining old kook, and he would have been absent when Bachmann made her accusations. They're saying Ron should have gotten more time to speak, but are themselves ignoring what Ron says, and the sort of man he is.
Let's look at some facts:
No one applauded for any candidate during the introduction... until they got to Ron. Ron got the welcome one might expect for a teen idol or a much-lauded band, not a politician. Others got applause after that, but Ron's set the tone. People noticed.
Ron got 90 seconds during the part that aired on the east coast. It aired during primetime on a major network, which means it likely got more eyeballs than your average Fox/CSPAN/CNN/MSNBC debate. Those I've spoken to noticed IMMEDIATELY that Ron got almost no time to speak. They also noticed that he didn't try to butt in like some of the other candidates, or bully the moderators. They noticed he gave his responss quickly, and often beginning with a simple "yes" or "no." That's what happens when you actually believe in your answers.
Ron got to respond to two questions, and he knocked them out of the park. The question from the veteran even said he believed all torture was wrong. The rest tapdanced around the issue, but ultimately said that waterboarding wasn't torture, and that "enhanced interrogation" was okay. It came across as hollow to all but the biggest hawks, imo. Ron also added the word "immoral" which is vital. Torture IS immoral, in addition to being illegal. Think about that, audience. Immoral. You are cheering on an immoral act. You are cheering on the killing of a teen citizen overseas. You are cheering on the burning and zapping and cutting and waterboarding of people who might be innocent, and without any proof that it will yield anything but terrified screams. Immoral. Well-done, Ron!
Ron's responses during the last 30 minutes were blazing. Bachmann tried her best to throw him under the bus, but damn, not so fast. Ron immediately pointed out the fact that he wanted to go after Bin Laden years ago and was only angry it was not done sooner. This is what has been absent to a great extent from other answers. Ron does not simply want to stay at home and shutter the windows and bolt the doors. We've all known this, but it was succinctly expressed last night.
Just after the event, MSM stories mentioned Ron... mostly in conjunction with his answer about torture being immoral and illegal. This is the big to-do. The others looked downright evil. Cain said he would do whatever his advisors said. While some say Cain is surviving, I think this really was such a flat performance that he will shed some votes. Perry's "start at $0" has been ripped to shreds because he then followed up saying that Israel was a special ally. I did not catch all of the Sunday political shows, and am sure they will not focus on Ron, but the issue seems to be that everyone else is an idiot.
So, yes, Ron got almost no questions compared to the "main" candidates, but those candidates used the time to shoot themselves in the foot. Ron's time was well-spent, and did some good.
Instead of whining about what you think Ron should have done, even if it cost him the campaign, to stroke your ego... perhaps you could be getting him some votes, some interest, some donations, and some positive press. Let Ron Paul do what Ron Paul thinks is best. He has the most at stake here out of any of us. Not only is he running for president, but he has family that will be suffering the consequences of a loss for generations to come (I can only imagine how that weighs on him). He has put himself out there yet again, to be called a kook, a crazy, an isolationist, a racist, and a generally old and feeble guy. He is on the road all the time, and soldiering through a collection of days with the sniffles, and he conducts interview after interview with grace and a smile even as they heap insults on him or twist his positions. He is a gentleman. He is not here to bodyslam the opposition with mud and finger-pointing. He will do what he thinks is best. The rest of us can agree, choose to forgive it if we disagree, or move on to something better (and if you find it, please let us know, because I really don't see anyone better out there AT ALL).
My $0.02 :)
The titles of these threads get tweeted and sent out there into the ether, and anyone would think that Ron's own supporters are the ones most vocally against him. Ron should have walked out. Ron's supporters should have done more. Ron should have worn a better suit. Ron should have walked over to Newt, gotten in his face, and "schooled" him. Are these things that you think would actually help Ron with GOP primary voters, and with the general public? Or are they things that would make YOU feel better?
It's amazing to me, reading these posts. People are saying that supporters there at the debate should have done more, but Ron was the first one to get applause during the introductions. He got a lot of applause for his few answers. People want Ron to walk off stage in a huff, but it would make him look like a whining old kook, and he would have been absent when Bachmann made her accusations. They're saying Ron should have gotten more time to speak, but are themselves ignoring what Ron says, and the sort of man he is.
Let's look at some facts:
No one applauded for any candidate during the introduction... until they got to Ron. Ron got the welcome one might expect for a teen idol or a much-lauded band, not a politician. Others got applause after that, but Ron's set the tone. People noticed.
Ron got 90 seconds during the part that aired on the east coast. It aired during primetime on a major network, which means it likely got more eyeballs than your average Fox/CSPAN/CNN/MSNBC debate. Those I've spoken to noticed IMMEDIATELY that Ron got almost no time to speak. They also noticed that he didn't try to butt in like some of the other candidates, or bully the moderators. They noticed he gave his responss quickly, and often beginning with a simple "yes" or "no." That's what happens when you actually believe in your answers.
Ron got to respond to two questions, and he knocked them out of the park. The question from the veteran even said he believed all torture was wrong. The rest tapdanced around the issue, but ultimately said that waterboarding wasn't torture, and that "enhanced interrogation" was okay. It came across as hollow to all but the biggest hawks, imo. Ron also added the word "immoral" which is vital. Torture IS immoral, in addition to being illegal. Think about that, audience. Immoral. You are cheering on an immoral act. You are cheering on the killing of a teen citizen overseas. You are cheering on the burning and zapping and cutting and waterboarding of people who might be innocent, and without any proof that it will yield anything but terrified screams. Immoral. Well-done, Ron!
Ron's responses during the last 30 minutes were blazing. Bachmann tried her best to throw him under the bus, but damn, not so fast. Ron immediately pointed out the fact that he wanted to go after Bin Laden years ago and was only angry it was not done sooner. This is what has been absent to a great extent from other answers. Ron does not simply want to stay at home and shutter the windows and bolt the doors. We've all known this, but it was succinctly expressed last night.
Just after the event, MSM stories mentioned Ron... mostly in conjunction with his answer about torture being immoral and illegal. This is the big to-do. The others looked downright evil. Cain said he would do whatever his advisors said. While some say Cain is surviving, I think this really was such a flat performance that he will shed some votes. Perry's "start at $0" has been ripped to shreds because he then followed up saying that Israel was a special ally. I did not catch all of the Sunday political shows, and am sure they will not focus on Ron, but the issue seems to be that everyone else is an idiot.
So, yes, Ron got almost no questions compared to the "main" candidates, but those candidates used the time to shoot themselves in the foot. Ron's time was well-spent, and did some good.
Instead of whining about what you think Ron should have done, even if it cost him the campaign, to stroke your ego... perhaps you could be getting him some votes, some interest, some donations, and some positive press. Let Ron Paul do what Ron Paul thinks is best. He has the most at stake here out of any of us. Not only is he running for president, but he has family that will be suffering the consequences of a loss for generations to come (I can only imagine how that weighs on him). He has put himself out there yet again, to be called a kook, a crazy, an isolationist, a racist, and a generally old and feeble guy. He is on the road all the time, and soldiering through a collection of days with the sniffles, and he conducts interview after interview with grace and a smile even as they heap insults on him or twist his positions. He is a gentleman. He is not here to bodyslam the opposition with mud and finger-pointing. He will do what he thinks is best. The rest of us can agree, choose to forgive it if we disagree, or move on to something better (and if you find it, please let us know, because I really don't see anyone better out there AT ALL).
My $0.02 :)