Allen West hinting he may run for President in 2016 per twitter

[sailingaway]

GulfDogs  ‏@GulfDogs
Allen West Hinting At Presidential Bid? “Remember, Abraham Lincoln Only Served One Term In Congress”#teapart ... http://shortxt.com/GxGgwvO

http://weaselzippers.us/2012/12/01/allen-west-hinting-at-presidential-bid-remember-abraham-lincoln-only-served-one-term-in-congress-before-he-ran-for-president/

we don't seem to have opposing candidates any more.

[erowe1]

Ah hahahahahahhahaha!!!

Ahhhhhh hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

*breath*

Ahahahahahahahahahaha!

[sailingaway]

I had a similar response, but it was preceded by a dumbfounded double check.

It is politics as usual, however.

[thoughtomator]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

[juleswin]

And the position for token, empty headed, black republican is filled. And I thought Alan Keyes was going to fill that spot

[AGRP]

Allen West is a great American.

[jkob]

Alan West/John Bolton superticket

BOMB EVERYTHING

[TCE]

Allen West is a great American.

Sean Hannity wants his phrase back.

Let West run for President. Can anyone name the last sitting member of the U.S. House who won the Presidency? I can't, either. And I looked it up. West isn't even a Congressman anymore.

[Sola_Fide]

Losing candidate.

[ronpaulfollower999]

I think he's just saying, "I'll be back."

[Vanilluxe]

West is going to let the Democrats win all 50 states plus D.C.

[Anti Federalist]

I thought he was already mayor of Quahog?

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Nothing says 'viable in a national election' like losing your House seat to a drunkard.

[dinosaur]

Allen West is a great American.

A great american who saw no problem with the loss of our right to a trial by jury through the NDAA?

[Kords21]

My reaction as represented by Lt. Cmdr Data


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLIU5tC3LAs

Allen West for POTUS? Please...

[emazur]

I was really hoping we'd heard the last of this pussbag after he lost his seat last month

[Elwar]

Yes please!

Split the Florida "tea party" vote!

Tell all of your neo-con friends that Allan West is a great challenge to Marco Rubio.

[trey4sports]

Allen West is a great American.


I think the j and k keys on your laptop are malfunctioning

[sparebulb]

Yes please!

Split the Florida "tea party" vote!

Tell all of your neo-con friends that Allan West is a great challenge to Marco Rubio.

This^^

[NIU Students for Liberty]

If Herman Cain can be passed off as the GOP's token black candidate, I unfortunately see no reason why Republicans wouldn't rally around West.

[Matt Collins]

yet another non-serious candidate running to get a book deal, tv show, radio show, etc :rolleyes:

[Matt Collins]

Yes please!

Split the Florida "tea party" vote!

Tell all of your neo-con friends that Allan West is a great challenge to Marco Rubio.Precisely what I was thinking :D

[John F Kennedy III]

Sean Hannity wants his phrase back.

Let West run for President. Can anyone name the last sitting member of the U.S. House who won the Presidency? I can't, either. And I looked it up. West isn't even a Congressman anymore.

He would come in 3rd in his own state at best.

Rubio
Jeb
West

or
Rubio
Rand
West

[Brett85]

At least half of the people here will probably allow Allen West to win the GOP nomination in 2016 since they won't be supporting Rand.

[Smart3]

I was hoping West would dethrone Scott, so Crist the Messiah could become Governor again. Florida really needs a Savior.

[Anti Federalist]

At least half of the people here will probably allow Allen West to win the GOP nomination in 2016 since they won't be supporting Rand.

I think you're being a little overly dramatic.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Rand endorsing Romney, in the venue, manner and timing he chose to do so, was a shitty move, both personally and politically.

It gained nothing and pissed off a bunch of people for no good reason.

Barring any nonsense in the next four years, and assuming we're all still here, I'll support him.

It just won't be with the passion and idealism and one hundred and ten perecent that I did with Ron.

[TCE]

At least half of the people here will probably allow Allen West to win the GOP nomination in 2016 since they won't be supporting Rand.

West won't even be a serious candidate. His goal will be to be in the top half of the field. Christie, Rubio, Daniels, Huckabee, Barbour, Palin, and Jeb would all finish better than West.

[Brett85]

I think you're being a little overly dramatic.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Rand endorsing Romney, in the venue, manner and timing he chose to do so, was a shitty move, both personally and politically.

It gained nothing and pissed off a bunch of people for no good reason.

Barring any nonsense in the next four years, and assuming we're all still here, I'll support him.

It just won't be with the passion and idealism and one hundred and ten perecent that I did with Ron.

There was nothing wrong with Rand's endorsement of Romney, and it gained him a lot. He would have no chance at all to win the GOP nomination if he hadn't endorsed Romney. He would've been seen as someone hostile to the party and someone who contributed to President Obama being re-elected, and rank and file GOP voters wouldn't even consider voting for him. The criticism of Rand for the Romney endorsement is ridiculous, illogical, and invalid. However, Rand does deserve to be criticized for voting in favor of sanctions on Iran, because that is an example of a vote that actually has significance, not a meaningless endorsement. However, I'm not one of these people who can't support a politician because I disagree with one vote they took.

[AuH20]

I think you're being a little overly dramatic.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Rand endorsing Romney, in the venue, manner and timing he chose to do so, was a shitty move, both personally and politically.

It gained nothing and pissed off a bunch of people for no good reason.

Barring any nonsense in the next four years, and assuming we're all still here, I'll support him.

It just won't be with the passion and idealism and one hundred and ten perecent that I did with Ron.

But many of those people are ultimately unappeasable in the long run. Let's be serious here. The whole slight of Rand endorsing Romney is one of the long litany of abuses that Rand Paul has committed against the most faithful. And for the record, I have no qualms with those voicing their criticism of Rand, since vigilance is largely the hallmark of our movement, but those questioning his motivations I have no use for. IMHO there is a line between vigilance and paranoia.

[Anti Federalist]

I feel like Nicky Santoro in Casino hollering at Ace Rothstein about going on TV.

"He could have endorsed him without going on fucking Hannity! You wanted to go on TV!!!"

He could have endorsed after Tampa, in quiet press release.

It was a chickenshit move, plain and simple.


There was nothing wrong with Rand's endorsement of Romney, and it gained him a lot. He would have no chance at all to win the GOP nomination if he hadn't endorsed Romney. He would've been seen as someone hostile to the party and someone who contributed to President Obama being re-elected, and rank and file GOP voters wouldn't even consider voting for him. The criticism of Rand for the Romney endorsement is ridiculous, illogical, and invalid. However, Rand does deserve to be criticized for voting in favor of sanctions on Iran, because that is an example of a vote that actually has significance, not a meaningless endorsement. However, I'm not one of these people who can't support a politician because I disagree with one vote they took.

[sailingaway]

Different things are more or less important to different people. No one OWES anyone support, they will support those who inspire their support. What inspires their support will differ from person to person.

[Brett85]

He could have endorsed after Tampa, in quiet press release.

The reason the endorsement came before the convention was so that Rand would get a speaking slot at the RNC convention. He wouldn't have been able to speak at the convention had he not endorsed Romney before hand. Let's keep in mind that Romney had already won enough delegates to win the GOP nomination by that point. The race was over.

[sailingaway]

Actually, unless you think Ron was LIKELY to win at any point, there were other gains on the table that were reasons for his running, and we were just starting to get to those in my opinion. Momentum was booming and he was getting thousands of people at his events. What about RON's ability to speak, unedited at the convention?

You are free to see it as you do, but others see it differently, and that is simply a disagreement that motivates people in different directions. YOU can't judge for others who they should support, they have to do that, and you are the only one who can determine who inspires your support. If I told you you HAD to support someone you simply didn't like, that would be nonsense.

Having said that, I will likely vote for Rand, the only way I can imagine that I wouldn't is if someone I supported more ran, and I don't think that is likely to happen. Other than Ron, I don't even know who that would be. But you couldn't have KEPT me from supporting Ron, it was internal, and you can't force people to react the same way with someone they feel differently about.

[AuH20]

Actually, unless you think Ron was LIKELY to win at any point, there were other gains on the table, and we were just starting to get to those in my opinion. You are free to see it as you do, but others see it differently, and that is simply a disagreement that motivates people in different directions. YOU can't judge for others who they should support, they have to do that, and you are the only one who can determine who inspires your support. If I told you you HAD to support someone you simply didn't like, that would be nonsense.

No one here is imploring someone to vote or support a candidate that is at odds with their moral conscience. But to openly question the motivations of a man that slogged through hell to get to this point is highly insulting. Those who do, can go jump in the closest river with concrete shoes as far as I'm concerned.

[Brett85]

YOU can't judge for others who they should support, they have to do that, and you are the only one who can determine who inspires your support. If I told you you HAD to support someone you simply didn't like, that would be nonsense.

I'm not telling people that they have to support Rand in 2016 if he decides to run. I'm just telling them that they're essentially helping someone like Allen West or Marco Rubio win the 2016 Republican nomination by refusing to support Rand.

[sailingaway]

I'm not telling people that they have to support Rand in 2016 if he decides to run. I'm just telling them that they're essentially helping someone like Allen West or Marco Rubio win the 2016 Republican nomination by refusing to support Rand.

Like you helped Obama win by voting for Baldwin?

The reason people like Obama and Romney can win is because too many people already are willing to abdicate their vote that way. If NO ONE voted for a candidate they didn't think was good, many of the latest presidents would have had a harder time even getting nominated imho. That is the standard I am shooting for, personally.

[Brett85]

Like you helped Obama win by voting for Baldwin?

The reason people like Obama and Romney can win is because too many people already are willing to abdicate their vote that way. If NO ONE voted for a candidate they didn't think was good, many of the latest presidents would have had a harder time even getting nominated imho. That is the standard I am shooting for, personally.

I live in a non swing state, so my vote for President didn't matter at all. However, I think it's clear that Romney was essentially the lesser of two evils compared to Obama, and I don't believe that Rand would actually be the lesser of two evils against someone like Rubio or West. Yes, Rand isn't perfect, but he's not evil.

[AuH20]

I live in a non swing state, so my vote for President didn't matter at all. However, I think it's clear that Romney was essentially the lesser of two evils compared to Obama, and I don't believe that Rand would actually be the lesser of two evils against someone like Rubio or West. Yes, Rand isn't perfect, but he's not evil.

Are you certain? Alot of people would disagree with that statement. :)

[sailingaway]

I live in a non swing state, so my vote for President didn't matter at all. However, I think it's clear that Romney was essentially the lesser of two evils against Obama, and I don't believe that Rand would actually be the lesser of two evils against someone like Rubio or West. Yes, Rand isn't perfect, but he's not evil.

My point is that everyone is going to make up their own minds, and my opinions, or yours, as to a candidate, aren't theirs and don't control them. You are basing your actions on YOUR opinions, and others will base their actions on their own opinions. It doesn't make sense to argue about it, because 'you can't force someone to like beer', as Justice Holmes said in one of his more lucid opinions.

You can give them reasons to change their minds, but you'd get more flies with honey than vinegar, I expect.

[Brett85]

My point is that everyone is going to make up their own minds, and my opinions, or yours, as to a candidate, aren't theirs and don't control them. You are basing your actions on YOUR opinions, and others will base their actions on their own opinions. It doesn't make sense to argue about it, because 'you can't force someone to like beer', as Justice Holmes said in one of his more lucid opinions.

All right. I see your point. Sorry for bringing this thread so far off topic. That wasn't my intention.

[sailingaway]

All right. I see your point. Sorry for bringing this thread so far off topic. That wasn't my intention.

We both drifted off topic. Sorry. 2016 is a ways off.

[Anti Federalist]

The reason the endorsement came before the convention was so that Rand would get a speaking slot at the RNC convention. He wouldn't have been able to speak at the convention had he not endorsed Romney before hand. Let's keep in mind that Romney had already won enough delegates to win the GOP nomination by that point. The race was over.

And that accomplished what?

Throw your dad under the bus, for 15 minutes of non prime time speech making, at a convention that has generally been dismissed as a clown show?

And you all are right, 2016 is along ways away.

I'll drop it as well.

[Matt Collins]

I think you're being a little overly dramatic.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Rand endorsing Romney, in the venue, manner and timing he chose to do so, was a shitty move, both personally and politically.

It gained nothing and pissed off a bunch of people for no good reason.
As has been explained multiple times, Rand didn't have a choice and he was keeping his word. And apparently Ron didn't have a problem with it, not to mention that the timing was what it was, after Ron finished campaigning.

[Matt Collins]

Like you helped Obama win by voting for Baldwin?Except that Romney wasn't a liberty guy, and Rand is.

[Matt Collins]

And that accomplished what?

Throw your dad under the bus, for 15 minutes of non prime time speech making, at a convention that has generally been dismissed as a clown show?.He didn't throw Ron under the bus at all. And that 15 minute speaking slot helped elevate Rand to a prominent position of leadership within the Party making it much easier for him to win the nomination in 2016 (unlike his dad who was seen as nothing but an outcast by most of the party).

[sailingaway]

As has been explained multiple times, Rand didn't have a choice and he was keeping his word. And apparently Ron didn't have a problem with it, not to mention that the timing was what it was, after Ron finished campaigning.

What do you call the speech Ron made hours earlier about what he would do if he were president, in front of the Texas GOP convention?

[sailingaway]

He didn't throw Ron under the bus at all. And that 15 minute speaking slot helped elevate Rand to a prominent position of leadership within the Party making it much easier for him to win the nomination in 2016 (unlike his dad who was seen as nothing but an outcast by most of the party).

That is one line of thought here, but there is more than one line of thought on it, and people aren't going to agree on that imho.

[Matt Collins]

What do you call the speech Ron made hours earlier about what he would do if he were president, in front of the Texas GOP convention?And the letter he sent out suspending his campaign that went out prior to Rand's announcement?

[sailingaway]

And the letter he sent out suspending his campaign that went out prior to Rand's announcement?

it didn't say 'suspending campaign' it said he would continue to fight for delegates, but not put more money into upcoming primaries. The speech hours earlier makes it pretty clear he didn't see it coming Matt. Those who were watching closely aren't going to be convinced. There are better tacks you can take from the 'it can't be done over, let's move on from here' side, imho. It just makes people mad to go over the same disagreement, and doesn't do anything constructive.

[Anti Federalist]

As has been explained multiple times, Rand didn't have a choice and he was keeping his word. And apparently Ron didn't have a problem with it, not to mention that the timing was what it was, after Ron finished campaigning.

I do not recall where he promised to make a chickenshit move and wholeheartedly endorse and promise to work for the GOP nominee on Hannity's show, while Ron's campaign was still running.

And in retrospect, he would have come away with a whole truckload of credibility, had he told the truth, and said something like this, after the nomination:

"As a member of the GOP I feel it is my duty to endorse the GOP candidate for president, Mitt Romney. However, I have serious doubts about Mr. Romney's commitment to issues that I feel are the most important facing this nation, namely, the rapid and out of control growth of government. I know millions of other Americans feel the same way. I would therefore submit, that if Mr. Romney truly wants to win this fall, that he address these issues in a sincere and in depth fashion. Failure to do so will almost certainly result in a failure to mobilize the base and grassroots of this party, resulting in a loss against President Obama. My door is always open if he would like to discuss these issues and ways in which we can bring them to the electorate."

We all saw this coming.

How come you "pros" couldn't?

A statement like that would be remembered and would be historic.

Nobody will remember his 15 minutes at the clown show come 2016, but to a large part of the active grassroots that he's going to need in 2016, including me, he came off looking like a horse's ass.

[John F Kennedy III]

I thought he was already mayor of Quahog?

Haha. How accurate is Family Guy?

[Origanalist]

Wasn't this about Allen West? :rolleyes:

[compromise]

I don't think Allen West is stupid enough to attempt a presidential run so fast. If he does, he'll be out of the race before the primaries begin.

[KingNothing]

And that accomplished what?

Throw your dad under the bus, for 15 minutes of non prime time speech making, at a convention that has generally been dismissed as a clown show?

And you all are right, 2016 is along ways away.

I'll drop it as well.


Yeah, I read that Ron was going to disown Randy for throwing him under the bus!!

[KingNothing]

That is one line of thought here, but there is more than one line of thought on it, and people aren't going to agree on that imho.


Just because there are multiple lines of thinking does not mean all are valid or equal.

[KingNothing]

I don't think Allen West is stupid enough to attempt a presidential run so fast. If he does, he'll be out of the race before the primaries begin.


Never question that man's stupidity.

[Matt Collins]

I do not recall where he promised to make a chickenshit move and wholeheartedly endorse and promise to work for the GOP nominee on Hannity's show, while Ron's campaign was still running.Ron had ended campaigning at that time, and yes go back and look at the interviews, Rand absolutely promised to help defeat Obama.





And in retrospect, he would have come away with a whole truckload of credibility, had he told the truth, and said something like this, after the nomination:

"As a member of the GOP I feel it is my duty to endorse the GOP candidate for president, Mitt Romney. However, I have serious doubts about Mr. Romney's commitment to issues that I feel are the most important facing this nation, namely, the rapid and out of control growth of government. I know millions of other Americans feel the same way. I would therefore submit, that if Mr. Romney truly wants to win this fall, that he address these issues in a sincere and in depth fashion. Failure to do so will almost certainly result in a failure to mobilize the base and grassroots of this party, resulting in a loss against President Obama. My door is always open if he would like to discuss these issues and ways in which we can bring them to the electorate.".That's effectively what he did, he slammed Romney on foreign policy a week after he endorsed him.

[LibertyEagle]

I think you're being a little overly dramatic.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Rand endorsing Romney, in the venue, manner and timing he chose to do so, was a shitty move, both personally and politically.

It gained nothing and pissed off a bunch of people for no good reason.

Barring any nonsense in the next four years, and assuming we're all still here, I'll support him.

It just won't be with the passion and idealism and one hundred and ten perecent that I did with Ron.

Damn it. More of this shit. He HAD to endorse Romney. HAD TO. I know you remember how his father was marginalized because he left the stupid Republican Party for just a year or two. I also know you remember that his father endorsed more than one person who was a complete piece of crap, BECAUSE he was a Republican. When asked, he said HE HAD TO.

So, if you are going to continue this, then at least be fair and hate on his father too for doing the same thing that his son did.

/end rant

[trey4sports]

The only thing Rand could have potentially gained in endorsing Romney in that particular venue at that particular time would have been some power within the Romney Administration. Be it a cabinet position or even just some goodwill in the Senate towards passing Rands agenda.

However, since Romney lost Rand could have ended up simply sending out a quiet Press Release endorsing Romney to avoid being pigeonholed as the non team-player like his father was. I mean, that is really the only thing that was actually gained when everything finally played out.

[dinosaur]

I mean, that is really the only thing that was actually gained when everything finally played out.

no endorsement = no speaking slot
speaking slot = national player status
endorsing on Hannity = more Hannity air time for Rand
quiet press release by the son of Ron Paul = Fox would have been all over that anyway (in a not so quiet kind of way)

[Brett85]

And that accomplished what?

Throw your dad under the bus, for 15 minutes of non prime time speech making, at a convention that has generally been dismissed as a clown show?

And you all are right, 2016 is along ways away.

I'll drop it as well.

I apologize for getting this thread off topic in the first place. I shouldn't have brought up Rand. However, I just have to respond to the part in bold. Rand did not "throw his dad under the bus." Rand endorsed his dad in the GOP primary, campaigned for him in Iowa and New Hampshire, and didn't endorse Romney until long after almost all other Republicans endorsed Romney. Rand was one of the last Republicans in Congress to formally endorse Romney. Mike Lee, who some consider to be a liberty candidate, never even endorsed Ron and ended up endorsing Romney in February or March. I could understand how people could be angry at Rand if he had never endorsed his father and had endorsed Romney while the primaries and caususes were still going on. However, that simply isn't the case. Rand endorsed Ron very early on and didn't endorse Romney until all of the primary contests were over and it was clear that he had enough delegates to win the GOP nomination.

[Anti Federalist]

Damn it. More of this shit. He HAD to endorse Romney. HAD TO. I know you remember how his father was marginalized because he left the stupid Republican Party for just a year or two. I also know you remember that his father endorsed more than one person who was a complete piece of crap, BECAUSE he was a Republican. When asked, he said HE HAD TO.

So, if you are going to continue this, then at least be fair and hate on his father too for doing the same thing that his son did.

/end rant

I don't recall him going on a hostile radio show host's program to do it.

And I don't recall his timing being so piss poor.

Yes, this shit again.

[compromise]

Mike Lee, who some consider to be a liberty candidate, never even endorsed Ron and ended up endorsing Romney in February or March.

In Lee's defense, he's a Mormon from Utah, so he did have a lot of pressure on him to endorse Romney, even early on.

[KingNothing]

I don't recall him going on a hostile radio show host's program to do it.

And I don't recall his timing being so piss poor.

Yes, this shit again.

Yes, Rand should never do anything to appease or attempt to win over others and he should only go on shows like Alex Jones where he can preach to the choir. We don't need to play politics or expand on our base!!!

[LibertyEagle]

I don't recall him going on a hostile radio show host's program to do it.

And I don't recall his timing being so piss poor.

Yes, this shit again.

Because, AF, he was not trying to reach US. He was trying to reach Republicans who listen to Hannity's show. You know, the people who stiff-armed his father, that he MUST win over in order to have a chance in Hell of ever receiving the Republican nomination. I would imagine he figured that WE would have the brains to figure this out.

Damn people, don't you get it? There are not enough of US. Not NEARLY enough. He can't just circle the wagons and preach to the choir. Sheesh. I thought we were supposed to be the smart guys.

[jmdrake]

Yes please!

Split the Florida "tea party" vote!

Tell all of your neo-con friends that Allan West is a great challenge to Marco Rubio.

The problem is that Rand Paul is positioning himself for that same split. This election when Huntsman and Perry dropped out, there was no one to split off moderate votes from Romney. (Well...Gingrich was in, but everyone knows he sucks). I'm not sure who the moderate of 2016 will be (Chris Christie?) but he needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. And building up own own forces is more important than wistfully hoping that some vote split will work to our advantage. So far, after two presidential elections, that hasn't happened.

[erowe1]

I don't recall him going on a hostile radio show host's program to do it.

And I don't recall his timing being so piss poor.

Yes, this shit again.

It wasn't bad timing.

Can you imagine how much worse the people thinking there was some ongoing strategy for Ron Paul to get the nomination at the convention would have been if Rand hadn't played his role in letting out their steam by endorsing Romney when he did?

[Anti Federalist]

Because, AF, he was not trying to reach US. He was trying to reach Republicans who listen to Hannity's show. You know, the people who stiff-armed his father, that he MUST win over in order to have a chance in Hell of ever receiving the Republican nomination. I would imagine he figured that WE would have the brains to figure this out.

Damn people, don't you get it? There are not enough of US. Not NEARLY enough. He can't just circle the wagons and preach to the choir. Sheesh. I thought we were supposed to be the smart guys.

I understand that perfectly.

Why do you think I am an idiot?

I would hope, after five years of you and I talking to each other, that I haven't left that impression.

I think it was a stupid move, that it did not accomplish those goals, and in fact left the whole situation worse off than had he not done so at all, both from our limited perspective and from the larger, "grow the group" perspective.

[Eric21ND]

Because, AF, he was not trying to reach US. He was trying to reach Republicans who listen to Hannity's show. You know, the people who stiff-armed his father, that he MUST win over in order to have a chance in Hell of ever receiving the Republican nomination. I would imagine he figured that WE would have the brains to figure this out.

Damn people, don't you get it? There are not enough of US. Not NEARLY enough. He can't just circle the wagons and preach to the choir. Sheesh. I thought we were supposed to be the smart guys.
I think a great many of us in the liberty movement grossly underestimate the ignorance and miseducation of the general public. You are really starting at ground zero with most people, and even worse, you're fighting against years of miseducation in public schools. People weren't taught many of the things Ron Paul speaks about. It's a sad but true reality. That's why Ron often gets these bewildered looks from people upon first brush with him. Now some people are quick and curious learners so they invest the time and effort into educating themselves to what Ron Paul talks about, they eventually come on board in a matter of weeks or months. The vast majority aren't that intellectually curious and chalk Ron Paul up as a crackpot.

Where Rand comes into this is that he can speak to that enormous segment at their level of understanding. Changing the minds of men and ultimately the direction of this country is going to be a long slog, not a Blitzkrieg maneuver, which was ultimately what the Ron Paul campaign of 2008 and 2012 were. Remember it took 16 years from Ronald Reagan's brilliant "A Time For Choosing" speech in 1964 till the electorate changed significantly enough to usher him into power. What is the timetable for the liberty movement to finally get our opportunity and implement our ideas into policy? Will it take 16 years from Ron Paul's campaign in 2008? I don't know for sure, but with the technological advances in information dissemination, I can be certain it will be less than 16 years. I always thought with the internet helping spread these ideas and people educating their family, friends, and neighbors, we were looking to cut that time frame in half. So it will take 8 years from Ron's initial campaign which planted the seed to bare fruit. That would be 2016.

[Eric21ND]

I understand that perfectly.

Why do you think I am an idiot?

I would hope, after five years of you and I talking to each other, that I haven't left that impression.

I think it was a stupid move, that it did not accomplish those goals, and in fact left the whole situation worse off than had he not done so at all, both from our limited perspective and from the larger, "grow the group" perspective.
I'm glad you weren't penning newspaper headlines during colonial times about the Continental armies initial defeats and setbacks.

[AGRP]

Because, AF, he was not trying to reach US. He was trying to reach Republicans who listen to Hannity's show. You know, the people who stiff-armed his father, that he MUST win over in order to have a chance in Hell of ever receiving the Republican nomination. I would imagine he figured that WE would have the brains to figure this out.

Damn people, don't you get it? There are not enough of US. Not NEARLY enough. He can't just circle the wagons and preach to the choir. Sheesh. I thought we were supposed to be the smart guys.

Ill actually defend you on this. Its not feasible to have "pure" representatives at this point because theyll just get kicked out. Its going to take a few more years for the general public to come around. It took them around 10 years to come around on the issue of marijuana.

[Shane Harris]

Ill actually defend you on this. Its not feasible to have "pure" representatives at this point because theyll just get kicked out. Its going to take a few more years for the general public to come around. It took them around 10 years to come around on the issue of marijuana.

Only ten years? Its been way longer than that, and only half the people have come around to it. Imagine if half the population still thought interracial marriage should be illegal. That's what we're up against. Pure ignorance and hypocrisy and stupidity ingrained from a very young age.

[Eric21ND]

It wasn't bad timing.

Can you imagine how much worse the people thinking there was some ongoing strategy for Ron Paul to get the nomination at the convention would have been if Rand hadn't played his role in letting out their steam by endorsing Romney when he did?
This is right on the mark. The Ron Paul campaign tried to let supporters down easy and it backfired. It only prolonged the agony. Reminds me of this scene in Moneyball.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJYu0ia3fvo