Today I failed Ron Paul and the Liberty movement. Please learn from my mistake.

[phill4paul]

They say to never assume anything. For it makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me.' Well, not quite. Today, I assumed and made an ass out of only myself. One I'll be kicking for quite some time.

I could have delivered Ron Paul two votes in the Ft. Collins, CO caucas had I been diligent. Had I not assumed.

My sister and my neice both live in Ft. Collins ( myself in N.C.). Over the past 6 years I have introduced them to Ron Paul and the Liberty movement. They became what I would consider to be 'Paulians.' Often sending me RP links that I had over looked and discussing in depth his positions.
My sister even recently went to see RP speak and bragged about her fourth row seat. Even posted pictures from her camara phone to me.

Today, I woke up and sent them a reminder about the caucus...

To my sister I wrote: "Today is the Day! Bring a friend (or twenty) and vote Ron Paul 2012. All eyes on Colorado!"
To which she replied...." I am not registered as a Republican! Cant vote in the caucus." and
"I am unaffiliated. What can I say? I really dont care for Republicans. I did not know I could change it. Ignorance is NOT bliss."

To my niece I wrote.."Get thee to thine polls! Take a friend. Take twenty. RP 2012!"
To which she replied..."I didn't register republican.......I'm kicking myself!!!!@@"

So there you have it folks. I open myself up to excoriation and flaming. I'm highly deserving of it and nothing you could say can make me feel any worse.

I do hope that my personal screw up might motivate others to be more diligent. I myself will never again assume that just because someone appears politically savvy that they are in fact politically savvy. It is up to each of us to WALK each and every contact through this process. Hold hands and guide them. And NEVER assume.

:(

[Bruno]

You are forgiven. 100 GOTV phone calls as penance.

[The One]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IQAxtgzl6TU














J/K dude...don't sweat it.

[newbitech]

I had one person that happened to. Don't feel bad. That one person was my dad who I have been working on for ever. He finally came around to saying what the hell, I'll vote for Ron Paul. I didn't even think to ask him if he was even registered republican. I knew he vote for bush the last 2 times. Never in a million years would I think he would have changed his affiliation to vote for Obama!

The only way I found out was at the last minute. the week between Christmas and New Years. Last day to register was Jan 31st. He heard me talking to a few independents that I was trying to convince to register Rep and vote for RP. He tells me, oh when is the last day to register? I am like tomorrow! Why!??!?!

He couldn't change it in time. WTF! Damn!

[tbone717]

Man that is a heart breaker for sure. And I am sure you are not the only person where this has occurred.

It has been a belief of many going back even to four years ago, that the grassroots spends far too much time reaching out to non Republican voters. It is a noble idea, don't get me wrong, but it requires more steps to get that vote on election day, then it does with a registered Republican. While it is great we have so much vocal support from independents, if they are in states where they cannot participate in the primary or caucus without a registration change then all the support in the world isn't going to amount to a victory on election day.

[RDM]

“Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.”
You're mistake shined the light onto others to not make the same mistake.:)

[doctorfunk]

To be honest, I don't think it's all that uncommon. I think there are a lot of supporters that don't vote for one reason or another. I think it's one of the biggest factors in our failure to win a state thus far.

[CableNewsJunkie]

http://www.bluerepublican.org/

You might have to visit the link twice for the site to finally show up in your browser.

Anyone who lives in California or knows any Dem/Indy RP supporters in California - make sure they register Republican. That's at least one state that still has a decent amount of time before the registration deadline.

[tsetsefly]

It's ok... unless RP loses Colorado by 2 votes... which wont happen, lol.. I will register my mom and sister as abstnteee voters, order the forms for them, make them just circle them in and then ill send them!

[kathy88]

You are forgiven. 100 GOTV phone calls as penance.


HAHAHAHA. Nice. Good work anyway. Perhaps they will each convince other registered Repubs to go. So all is not lost. On a side note, I work with a gentleman from Colorado who mentioned that they do not allow absentee ballots? True?

[gerryb]

Why do people go to events to see Ron Paul but don't register to vote for him, or volunteer? We all know this is the case. 3,000 people showed up to his MN campaign HQ opening. MN borders IA... If those 3,000 folks took a few hour car ride each weekend for 2 or 3 weekends.. it would have been a landslide.

I've spent hundreds of hours in 08 and now.. and don't care if I ever meet him in person(I saw him in IA this year!) or shake his hand.

I just don't understand people.

[JuicyG]

Unfortunately Ron Paul lost between 2-3k votes in Nevada because those people were registered democrat. Those votes would have easily secured a second place.

[tbone717]

Why do people go to events to see Ron Paul but don't register to vote for him, or volunteer? We all know this is the case. 3,000 people showed up to his MN campaign HQ opening. MN borders IA... If those 3,000 folks took a few hour car ride each weekend for 2 or 3 weekends.. it would have been a landslide.

I've spent hundreds of hours in 08 and now.. and don't care if I ever meet him in person(I saw him in IA this year!) or shake his hand.

I just don't understand people.

I think there is an element of a cult of personality going on, especially with the college crowd. Ron Paul comes to town, its the cool thing to do. So they go, they cheer and then they go back to school and do nothing about it.

[Paul Or Nothing II]

To OP,

Don't worry, we all make mistakes, at least you had the courage to come out in the open to prevent others from making those same mistakes, which could prevent the rest of us from making similar mistakes in the future. :)


Why do people go to events to see Ron Paul but don't register to vote for him, or volunteer? We all know this is the case. 3,000 people showed up to his MN campaign HQ opening. MN borders IA... If those 3,000 folks took a few hour car ride each weekend for 2 or 3 weekends.. it would have been a landslide.

I've spent hundreds of hours in 08 and now.. and don't care if I ever meet him in person(I saw him in IA this year!) or shake his hand.

I just don't understand people.

I agree with this, what's the point of spending so much time on his events if they don't register & vote for him! Baffles the mind but then that's just how majority of the people are, is it any wonder why world is upside down where people use toilet-paper as money & don't vote for one of the few honest politicians EVER & then whine about it when they get bad governance! :(

[gerryb]

I think there is an element of a cult of personality going on, especially with the college crowd. Ron Paul comes to town, its the cool thing to do. So they go, they cheer and then they go back to school and do nothing about it.

That is a failure with the campaign, for sure. First rule of having an event is to have a sign-in sheet, and info/forms available. Rule 2 is to have a hat to pass. And 3rd, ask for volunteers.

I heard they had sign-in sheets in IA -- I would hope they have them at all events. I guess they don't have forms at each event, though.

[tbone717]

That is a failure with the campaign, for sure. First rule of having an event is to have a sign-in sheet, and info/forms available. Rule 2 is to have a hat to pass. And 3rd, ask for volunteers.

I heard they had sign-in sheets in IA -- I would hope they have them at all events. I guess they don't have forms at each event, though.

Some have made the suggestion to stop doing rallies and start doing town halls. We have voter ID info, we can invite undecideds to a local event fairly easily.

[Jingles]

Voting for Ron Paul in 2012 is the only reason I registered Republican when I turned 18 in January of 2009 and the only reason I haven't switched it.

[tsai3904]

I've tried to address this problem awhile ago:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?341322-Not-enough-focus-on-getting-supporters-properly-registered

It's obvious we don't do well in closed states because a lot of our supporters are younger and they have never registered to vote before or they are registered Independent. Our focus in closed states needs to be on holding events, finding out who are supporters and get them properly registered.

For every single event here on out, we need to make sure there are voter registration forms handily available, especially in closed states.

Also EVERYONE needs to know the rules and deadlines for their state. You can find them here:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?315740-State-by-State-Voting-Information

We have plenty of support out there but if they are not properly registered, it does not matter.

I think people overlook this simple aspect and aren't aware how big the problem is. I'm working with grassroots supporters in WY (closed caucus) and looking at the list of donors from the FEC and comparing it to a voter registration list I have for the state over 40% of the people who contributed are not registered Republican. These are all people willing to contribute money and yet they aren't properly registered. Imagine how many who support but don't contribute aren't properly registered.

[gerryb]

Some have made the suggestion to stop doing rallies and start doing town halls. We have voter ID info, we can invite undecideds to a local event fairly easily.

They did that in NH.. I think IA, too.

The rallies should only be held if they produce volunteers or donations. Otherwise just send them a projector and a youtube.

[pacelli]

To be honest, I don't think it's all that uncommon. I think there are a lot of supporters that don't vote for one reason or another. I think it's one of the biggest factors in our failure to win a state thus far.

WE NEED VOTERS>

To the OP- live and learn. Thanks for posting it.

[Jeremy Tyler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IQAxtgzl6TU



















J/K dude...don't sweat it.

Bahahahahaa...I was at work and watched this and had to contain my laughter.

[BUSHLIED]

you can't control anyone but yourself...! Forget about it.

[The One]

Bahahahahaa...I was at work and watched this and had to contain my laughter.

I miss Farley.

[abruzz0]

I felt the same way a week ago. I have a friend in Las Vegas who I turned on to RP a couple years ago, but she wasn't registered GOP before the deadline, so she couldn't caucus for him. I felt ashamed. It was my job to read up on reg dates to get people out there.

I need to get my brother registered here in Cali. He has zero interest in politics, but will vote for Paul if I tell him to, just to make me happy. ;o

[febo]

No you did not fail - they did - personal responsibility.

[TomtheTinker]

Don't bear yourself up..the rules set up suck in ny youhave to reg rep. Months and months in advance. Its bull shit
I could deliver 10 votes vs 3them if that wasn't the case.

[hb6102]

Mrs Paul has passed out cookbooks to everyone at some rallies, need to put a voter registration form in each one, with a friendly reminder about the deadline to register

[thoughtomator]

Open primary makes this so much easier... just convinced someone earlier today to participate in the VA primary after he mentioned he liked my Ron Paul sticker. Said he only votes in general election, but he perked up when I told him it was an open primary and he could vote in it. Told him to tell everyone he knows!

[Maltheus]

You can still help tonight. People running to be delegates have to go low profile. You can go, help distribute campaign materials (slim jims, super brochures, whatever), and perhaps even give the candidate speech for Paul. I'm pretty sure you don't have to be a Republican to do that, although it might be best to go to a registered RP supporter's precinct (backing them up).

[gb13]

Don't kick yourself, man. Every single one of us has a similar story, I'm sure. Posting here, in hopes that others don't make the same mistake, is admirable. Just get on the phones and turn that deficit into a surplus.

[eleganz]

You can still make it up by getting 3 registered republicans out to the caucuses....GO

[Cabal]

The idiocy of partisan politics is our greatest detriment. Amazing how naive people still cling to their bread and circuses.

[Jesubub]

They can still get their friends to the polls.

[pacelli]

Some have made the suggestion to stop doing rallies and start doing town halls. We have voter ID info, we can invite undecideds to a local event fairly easily.

I agree with this suggestion. The RP08 campaign had a huge rally at the END of the campaign.

The RP12 campaign is not OVER. They need to do town halls and campaign for more votes.

The campaigns should be able to trust the grassroots supporters that we will actually VOTE for Ron Paul.

You know how Ron Paul has these "shake hand, get picture" things after every rally? Well if you have already met Ron Paul, leave him alone and get the NEW people in there to personally connect with the candidate. I've met Ron Paul in person once, and the last time I saw him I made the conscious decision to leave him alone for the new folks.

If we started following this simple and polite suggestion, the campaign will get the hint and start doing more town halls to draw in new voters.

[pacelli]

Open primary makes this so much easier... just convinced someone earlier today to participate in the VA primary after he mentioned he liked my Ron Paul sticker. Said he only votes in general election, but he perked up when I told him it was an open primary and he could vote in it. Told him to tell everyone he knows!

Send that to the campaign please.

[walt]

He. I'd rather give props to someone who is frustrated by trying than to those who are arrogant and over-rate their impacts.

[phill4paul]

Thanks to all for your encouragement and also well deserved ass kicking ( I miss Farley too.). As I looked through my contacts today for confirmation I had another heart attack. Luckily all my family in Ohio that are 'Paulians' were already registered Republican. I DID remind them that early voting had already begun.
Thanks also to all that provided personal observations and remedies.
To those that offered penance. I'll take it and do it.
Onwards. Crying over the past does not move us forward. I learned my lessons and hope others will avoid the same mistake. I'll not be an Artie Fufkin over this again.

[tsai3904]

Luckily all my family in Ohio that are 'Paulians' were already registered Republican. I DID remind them that early voting had already begun

FYI, there is no party registration in Ohio. Everyone is just registered to vote and the primary is open to anyone who requests a Republican ballot.

[RickyJ]

Stop kicking yourself. It was your sister's fault for not registering, you can't do that for her.

The good news is she can vote in the general for Ron Paul!

Ron Paul will be in the general election either as the Republican nominee or a third party candidate.

[ShaneEnochs]

I have learned from your fail.

[phill4paul]

FYI, there is no party registration in Ohio. Everyone is just registered to vote and the primary is open to anyone who requests a Republican ballot.

Please provide me relevant links. It is not open primary according to this site...

http://www.fairvote.org/congressional-and-presidential-primaries-open-closed-semi-closed-and-top-two#.TzHMKcVSRMg