Ron Paul Second At Natl'l Taxpayer's Union Straw Poll

[angelatc]

I can't believe he didn't take first, especially since he was a speaker! But if he can take 16.7% of the Republicans (assuming that the NTU is a largely Republican organization) and percentage of the Democrats too.....well, let's say this gives me hope.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1851469/posts


Live-blogging from our 2007 National Taxpayers Conference, we now have the results of our Presidential Straw Poll.

Every attendee of our Conference was given a chance to vote for any of the declared Presidential candidates, Republican or Democrat. After counting the votes, we can announce partial results.

Fred Thompson was the winner with 25.7% of the vote.

Ron Paul came in second place with 16.7%.

Rudy Giuliani placed third with 12.5%

Mitt Romney garnered 9.0% of the vote to snag fourth place.

The top five was rounded out by John McCain, who received 5.6%.

[angrydragon]

Fred Thompson number 1? Ron has been the rated by the NTU the top 3 or 4 people in congress to cut taxes and spending for many years now.

[jd603]

Fred Thompson knows absolutely nothing about economics, I smell a rigged poll. Or, the republicans don't see Ron as a republican yet and will not accept the fact that if they don't nominate Ron, that they have no chance of getting their guy into office. (unless they can cheat even more than last time).

[goldstandard]

Can anyone explain why Fred is number one? Maybe we should also focus on Ron's position on taxes and spending. "Get rid of them all?" How could we get his exact position out to the public (not sounding too utopian)?

[DrStrabismus]

They are the "TaxPayers Union" Maybe they like paying taxes....

[chandlerLBT]

Every attendee of our Conference was given a chance to vote for any of the declared Presidential candidates, Republican or Democrat. After counting the votes, we can announce partial results.

when did fred declare?

[angrydragon]

Oh he hasn't yet...haha wth?

[angelatc]

A poster in the comments section implied that Fred was a write-in.

[mikelovesgod]

How can you compare someone who wants to abolish income tax and the IRS with a guy who wants to cut taxes?

[jd603]

A poster in the comments section implied that Fred was a write-in.

Yeah, the guy counting the votes "wrote-in" Fred Thompson and all his votes.

[UCFGavin]

for right now...i'll take that. i think there are still a lot of people that are afraid to vote for dr. paul because of the "he can't win" bullshit.

[gregp701]

I think it's important to understand that Fred is a safety valve for the Repubs. There is no real front runner for them. He's getting lots of MSM reporting and is going to be hailed as the golden one.

I ask you all,......How many folks do you really think care enough to pay real attention to politics? This is nothing more than a popularity contest.

I have my conspiracy theories how this all works, but I'll keep em to myself.

Go Dr. Paul!!!!

[austinphish]

Fred Thompson is getting set up as the Republican frontrunner. Rudy McRomney is now running for VP.

2nd place is good, but that really hurt the credibility of the NTU. So who counts the Union's votes? Note to self: never give the NTU any money.

[DrStrabismus]

just attempting to do some guerrilla admining.

[Duckman]

Fred is the "ideal neo-con conservative candidate" or at least that is what I have heard him sold as. That's why I think he polls highly. However, I have also heard he is not actually as conservative as has been implied by the MSM.

Regardless, I think the enumber of neo-cons is shrinking, and that will continue to play well for Ron Paul...

How many die hard neocons will there be in November 2008 at this rate?

[LibertyEagle]

Fred Thompson is getting set up as the Republican frontrunner.


You are exactly right. I can't believe the stupidity of some voters. Fred has a big fat C on immigration from Americans for Better Immigration; he earned a so-so from Gun Owners' of America; he's a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; he voted for McCain-Feingold.

But, he sounds tough and has a good speaking voice. That's all that's needed for most of the people unfortunately. Of course, the fact that he's an actor doesn't hurt much either.

You ought to see on TownHall... Fred is posting an article every few days now. He never says a damn thing, but people just drool all over his every word. It's enough to make you sick.

[gregp701]

Fred is a CFR member.

This makes him unelectable as far as I'm concerned.

[Silverback]

Thompson has been the real frontrunner in this race for months, after the first debate I started hearing conservatives in the know speak of them as the "VP debates".

They've scripted every word he's said, every position has been calculated to capture as many primary votes as possible.The really sad part is he's a really weak candidate with no hope of winning a general election, he's managed to hide it by not actually announcing and thereby keeping complete control of his message, that will change.

Our great hope is that TPTB in the GOP realize that a status quo GOP ticket will get annihilated in the general, before the primaries. I think they will, sometime in Oct.

My great fear is that too many of those same people would actually prefer Clinton to Paul, that's how lost the neoconservatives are, and unfortunately they've taken a large slice of the base with them, step by step, over the edge of the cliff.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, this primary race only has two real contenders. We're behind, but we have the right man, the right message, and the just plain RIGHT on our side.

Thompson is weak, he's weak on life, he's weak on immigration, he's weak on guns, he's vulnerable from the right. He's weak on honesty because he pretends none of that is true, and he's very very vulnerable from the middle and the left because he's basically running for Bush's third term, and NOBODY WANTS THAT.

Let the other candidates support flow to Paul and Thompson, and don't get discouraged when Thompson gets most of it over the next few months. Keep the campaign viable and when the time comes for Paul and Thompson to go head to head Paul will mop the floor with him.

Or so it goes in my dreams.

[dspectre]

I think what you are seeing here is party loyalty and a resistance to change. However, I would be encouraged by the results. Most people aren't familiar with Paul, and I think it is just a matter of time. People will change. Also, if more people join the Republican party, this is definitely going to change.

There is a long way to go to the primaries, so be optimistic!!

Also, these people who claim to be conservative aren't really conservative. They are just Republican party loyalist. There is a difference between being conservative and being a member of the Republican party(especially now).

One more thing, the Republican party has lost membership over the years, so there is going to be a distorted loyalty to Neo-Con candidates.

[Revolution9]

I don't remember where I saw this today but it is entirely appropriate "The problem with political jokes is they get elected to office"

Best
Randy

[lucky]

Rediculous that Fred Thompsos is even allowed to be on the ballot at this stage.

People think Fred Thompson is like Reagan and I can tell everyone that he is no Reagan.

[buffalokid777]

Yeah, the neocons are trying to sell Fred Thompson as a Ronald Reagan....Just because he is an actor on a popular show like Law & Order is gonna give him a boost....and we know just how dumbed down a good chunk of the American public is (Can't beleive some of the crap the idiot brigade falls for)....Fred Thompson is on TV .... He must be the 2nd coming of Ronald Regan.....because fox news told me so......so I better vote for him...

One thing we can use against Fred Thompson is, this is who the Bush clan of criminals is getting behind.....

So it's always good to nail him by pulling the guilt by association card when talking about Fred Thompson.......

When someone you know asks about Fred Thompson, just say he's an awful choice....he's backed by the bush clan.....he'll carry on the Bush polices for 4 more years.....we'll never get out of Iraq....We need someone like Ron Paul who'll take us in a different direction.....Voting Fred Thompson is like voting for 4 more years of George Bush and his failed policies...... :)

[angrydragon]

Ah, but Ron Paul has the proven record of Reagan's rhetoric.

[mikelovesgod]

The power of Hannity and his ilk have more power and exposure than we can imagine.

[Brandybuck]

Can anyone explain why Fred is number one?
Eveyone's disillusioned of the first tier candidates. And because they don't think anyone in the second tier can win, they're looking for someone else to join the race. That's Fred Thompson. Because he hasn't declared yet, and because he hasn't really said much of anything substantive on the issues, he really doesn't have any negative reputation yet.

[UCFGavin]

can we get some good links in here to use against Thompson supporters? I know the Bush backers and the Cheney backers are supporting him. Can we get some more info on the things to use against his supporters?

[angrydragon]

Do a search for Fred Thompson or FT.

[mikelovesgod]

Fred is pro-amnesty, anti-gun rights, pro-war and foreign trade imbalances, and even admitted on Fox 2 weeks ago he would do nothing else but follow Bush's presidency. Ask if they like the status quo and if they do tell them to vote Thompson for socialism.

Otherwise there is a real republican and a guy who is not corrupted by politics which is not conceivable.

[Duckman]

Once the general public finds out more about what Fred Thompson stands for, I think the Republican Party is going to get some more proof of 'blowback'!

[angrydragon]

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=3273&highlight=fred+thompson

There's another thread, but basically the same thing.

[deborak]

That's disappointing that RP didn't finish first among this group. More and more I think it's less the issue differences that need to be overcome, but the ingrained stubborn fear of change among the people. It's easier for many to just bitch about the status quo than take a step into freedom.

[Patrick Henry]

I can't believe he didn't take first, especially since he was a speaker! But if he can take 16.7% of the Republicans (assuming that the NTU is a largely Republican organization) and percentage of the Democrats too.....well, let's say this gives me hope.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1851469/posts

2nd? I can no longer take these people seriously. What a disgrace!

[lynnf]

2nd? I can no longer take these people seriously. What a disgrace!


That's not the worst of it... here's what one of the morons on there said:



"I hope you don’t give any credence to a poll that has Ron Paul finishing second.

In fact, from now on that should be the litmus test to determine if a poll is even worth a damn. If Paul finishes above 1%, the poll is worthless."

How ridiculous, and typical of our competition!


lynn

[gravesdav]

I don't remember where I saw this today but it is entirely appropriate "The problem with political jokes is they get elected to office"

My signature:)

[purepaloma]

If Fred is for CONTINUING the war in Iraq, and possibly handling additional wars at the same time.........how is that going to reduce spending and thus the tax burden?

People are not thinking thus through properly, amazing how many have just bought into the decades of war approach.

[angelatc]

That's not the worst of it... here's what one of the morons on there said:
"I hope you don’t give any credence to a poll that has Ron Paul finishing second.

In fact, from now on that should be the litmus test to determine if a poll is even worth a damn. If Paul finishes above 1%, the poll is worthless."

How ridiculous, and typical of our competition!


lynn

I think that was sarcasm!

[Swmorgan77]

Fred Thompson knows absolutely nothing about economics, I smell a rigged poll. Or, the republicans don't see Ron as a republican yet and will not accept the fact that if they don't nominate Ron, that they have no chance of getting their guy into office. (unless they can cheat even more than last time).

Well Ron Paul has been honored by the National Taxpayers union for what, the last 10 years in a row?

Look its very simple. Fred Thompson's entry into this race is all about undercutting Ron Paul. The Bush machine is supporting him, they are afraid.