How many precincts had supporters scheduled to speak??

[Firehouse26]

I was making a three hour drive as the caucuses began, and listened live via C-Span on the radio to the Irvingdale precinct. At the beginning they were calling on those who would speak on behalf of the candidates. Bachmann had no one by the way. Anyways, when the gentelman for Ron Paul got up he immediately stated he was only speaking because "no one else volunteered to do so." Way to win them over! And although his heart was in it he just rambled on about how his 19 yr. old daughter got him interested in Ron Paul. This immediately alienated the older crowd in my opinion. It just sounded so rag tag which scares the 55 yr. old status quo repub. Now I know there's a great deal of precincts and the campaign can't guarantee a great mouthpiece everywhere, but it just took the wind out of my sails. Not to mention it was the location that Mrs. Santorum showed up to late to speak on behalf of Rick, and then they let her go over the 3-4 min. timeframe and said, oh well she earned it!

BUT...I don't want to end this post with negativity. We doubled our support from 08....FREEDOM HAS NO CEILING!!!! SOLDIER ON!!

[harikaried]

I spoke at a Dallas county caucus location and requested to go last... but they said they had given the last spot to someone else.

I gave the speech to maybe 500-600 and the crowd liked it. There were some reporters there that said I did a great job with the speech. Similar comments from random other people plus the Santorum speaker. One older lady (80+?) said she really liked that I didn't have a sheet or notes unlike the Gingrich or Romney speakers.

Turns out the last speaker was Rick Perry. But Paul still got more votes than Perry for this caucus location! ;)

[ronpaulitician]

I spoke at a Dallas county caucus location and requested to go last... but they said they had given the last spot to someone else.

I gave the speech to maybe 500-600 and the crowd liked it. There were some reporters there that said I did a great job with the speech. Similar comments from random other people plus the Santorum speaker. One older lady (80+?) said she really liked that I didn't have a sheet or notes unlike the Gingrich or Romney speakers.

Turns out the last speaker was Rick Perry. But Paul still got more votes than Perry for this caucus location! ;)
Nice job. Practice makes perfect. (Good job with your practice videos.)

[freeforall]

I was watching that speech on cspans live feed. They had two locations airing. My gut feeling was that those places were chosen because they would favor Santorum and Romney. It's hard to say though since I was not able to watch speeches any where else.

[Maximus]

I spoke at a Dallas county caucus location and requested to go last... but they said they had given the last spot to someone else.

I gave the speech to maybe 500-600 and the crowd liked it. There were some reporters there that said I did a great job with the speech. Similar comments from random other people plus the Santorum speaker. One older lady (80+?) said she really liked that I didn't have a sheet or notes unlike the Gingrich or Romney speakers.

Turns out the last speaker was Rick Perry. But Paul still got more votes than Perry for this caucus location! ;)

What was your speech?

[harikaried]

What was your speech?Slightly different from what I recorded before, but this is from memory but probably very close to what I said on stage:


Good evening. My name is Edward Lee. I would like to thank Aaron and George and many of your neighbors for letting me speak on their behalf about Ron Paul. My classmates have helped me travel hundreds of miles to spend my Christmas break and New Year's to reach out to literally thousands of Iowans like many of you here tonight. Instead of letting the media unfairly suggest that I support Ron Paul because he's the only candidate other than Romney to get on the Virginia ballot, I would like to personally share with you what I have learned in my last week of travel.

Most of us have one of three main concerns for a candidate: 1) the economy, 2) electability, and 3) integrity. Fortunately for us, there is a candidate that satisfies all three -- Congressman Ron Paul.

Number 1: the economy. We want someone who will save our country from the massive debt and overspending.

Ron Paul predicted back in 2001 of the housing bubble and ensuing financial crisis. These were not a random guesses; he understands the economy. He has a Plan to Restore America to save the economy and create jobs. It starts by cutting $1 trillion in spending in the very first year. This bold plan balances the budget in the first term while also reducing taxes. It also never breaks our promises to seniors and veterans, so not even one penny is cut from programs like Social Security.

Number 2: electability. We want someone who can beat Obama.

Ron Paul does very well in general election match-up polls. In fact, recent polls show him consistently tieing or beating Obama. If we focus on Independent voters, he is the candidate who beats Obama, and he beats Obama by double digits. Independent voters are key to winning the general election. They too care about the economy, and they want Ron Paul's Plan to Restore America.

Number 3: integrity. We want someone who is consistent and will keep his word.

Ron Paul has kept his Christian vow to his one high school sweetheart, now wife of 55 years. He has kept his Hippocratic oath to protect life by delivering over 4000 babies and zero abortions. He has kept his oath to defend the Constitution when he served in the Air Force and in 12 terms of Congress by only casting a principled vote for a Constitutionally-limited government. He will keep his oath as President to protect our country with an even stronger national defense, which he believes is the most important function of our federal government.

Those are three reasons that many Iowans support Ron Paul for President. My classmates and I also support Ron Paul for President because he will fix the economy, so hopefully when we graduate, we will be able to find work.

Ron Paul has a Plan to Restore America.
Ron Paul will beat Obama.
You can trust Ron Paul.

Please. Support Ron Paul for President.

[harikaried]

I was watching that speech on cspans live feed.Anyone know if there's a collection of live speech videos anywhere? There were quite a few reporters at my event including CNN, but I assume they were only really recording for Perry's appearance.

[kasjun]

I saw a video of a caucus in Iowa where they allowed 3 Ron Paul supporters. At our caucus only one for each candidate was allowed to talk and it was a 3 minute limit. I spoke for Ron Paul and used the state approved three min. speech. Luckily that is the one I had rehearsed the most. I think three minutes is enough at a caucus. If you talk longer the crowd gets restless as many have already made up their minds. The state sponsored speeches were good and it was easy to emphasize the strong parts but I wish they had emphasized how educated Dr. Paul is on economics and then worked into his forecast on the housing bubble. That to me is a very strong point and other candidates can't match that.

[Tax the Fed]

It is different by county of course.

In Van Buren County - Precinct 1 . . .
only one person to speak for the candidate - I knew the rule from my talks with the county GOP chair
but the RP advocate sitting next to me (who I nominated as a delegate later) got in a few words anyhoo.

But . . .

anyone wanting to be a delegate, gets to talk later.

Ron Paul after Ron Paul delegate potential stood up - some speeches were short, and some a bit longer (moi).

Funniest was a guy - Dan C. who had talked in the initial stage for Michelle Bachman who said . . .
"Well I could also be a delegate for Ron Paul"

haha the scumbag got to be the 7th (and last) delegate alternate - too funny !

38.9% Ron Paul
18.9% Mittens
15.6% Rick "dog pees on you soldier on" Santorum,

but the delegates at county convention in March are US - we all voted us all in !!