Running for Congress

[Spideynw]

Another huge way we can help Ron Paul, is to take over the House in 2008. Is there any discussion anywhere about supporting liberty loving individuals in running for the House seats in 2008 (all 435 are up for re-election)? We have 180,000 of us donating to his cause. We only need 434 of us to get into the House to fix everything!

[torchbearer]

I'm running in louisiana 5th district. http://www.joinsanders.com

[torchbearer]

I'm running as a Ron Paul Republican.

[Spideynw]

So, I am sure like many others on the forum, I have never voted, let alone run for office. Learning about the presidential election has been very interesting. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to run for a House seat. Does anyone have any reference material on how to do so?

[1913_to_2008]

I would but, I have a felony and the American sheople would think I'm scum.....

[Bryan]

We have a sub-forum dedicated to it. :)

[thechitowncubs]

I would but, I have a felony and the American sheople would think I'm scum.....

You are. :p:p

[jumpyg1258]

Id like to and I am a USAF Vet and current government employee. What eliminates me is that I am agnostic and that I do not have a college degree. People tend to think if you're not religious then you can't have morals. People also believe that you can't be bright if you do not have a degree so that takes me out as well.

EDIT: Almost forgot to mention that another thing that eliminates me is that I do not have the money to run for an office.

[Spideynw]

I cannot find the sub-forum. =(

[Spideynw]

Id like to and I am a USAF Vet and current government employee. What eliminates me is that I am agnostic and that I do not have a college degree. People tend to think if you're not religious then you can't have morals. People also believe that you can't be bright if you do not have a degree so that takes me out as well.

EDIT: Almost forgot to mention that another thing that eliminates me is that I do not have the money to run for an office.

I think the religious and degree tickets are over-rated. And as Ron Paul has shown, you do not need to start out with money.

[aspiringconstitutionalist]

Id like to and I am a USAF Vet and current government employee. What eliminates me is that I am agnostic and that I do not have a college degree. People tend to think if you're not religious then you can't have morals. People also believe that you can't be bright if you do not have a degree so that takes me out as well.

EDIT: Almost forgot to mention that another thing that eliminates me is that I do not have the money to run for an office.

I probably would fall under the category of agnostic, but I call myself a Deist because I believe it's more reasonable than not reasonable to believe in an infinite First Cause that transcends the laws of time and space of this universe. I don't know the nature of that First Cause, or whether it has a form or even a personality (though I think it's likely, since as far as I know it would take a personal Being to choose to make something out of nothing), but I think the most logical thing to believe is that there is such a First Cause, though I have not found reasonable evidence to suggest that that First Cause has intervened in human affairs since Creation.

I plan on running for office one day myself, and I'm relying on the fact that many of our Founding Fathers also called themselves Deists (Jefferson and Franklin, most notably, both of whom held government posts), although they were a bit closer to a Judeo-Christian concept of God than I am. However, I've found that using the word Deist seems to be a little more acceptable than "atheist" or "agnostic," especially when people like Jefferson are brought up.

Also--screw money. That's why we've got a Revolution behind us.

[exformation]

Not enough to run sadly.

[Bryan]

I cannot find the sub-forum. =(

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=230 :)

[torchbearer]

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=230 :)

Thanks! I didn't even know where it was... oops...

[torchbearer]

If anyone needs help or advice, i am offering my knowledge to our liberty candidates.

[dougkeenan]

I'm running as a Ron Paul Republican.

That's great! Godspeed to your campaign!

[work2win]

Right now we have one man in congress serving as a thorn in the side of all that turn a blind eye to freedom and the Constitution. I want everyone to imagine turning that one into 4, and imagine how much more than 4 times the effect that will have now that the politicians realize there is a huge backing behind those 4.

If we put the full power of the Revolution behind Constitutional candidates, we should have an enormous effect.

[daniroyer]

I am running for Florida House in district 119 as a Ron Paul Republican. I'm not old enough to run for federal office and change starts at home.

If Ron Paul is elected, the states will regain much of their power. We need people in state office. If Ron Paul ISN'T elected, then it's up to us to not let his ideals fade.

MANY CAMPAIGNS DO NOT REQUIRE YOU TO SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY!!!

The State of Florida offers a petition method to get on the ballot for state congress. Or you an pay just shy of $2,000 to get on. For both of these, you can file a financial hardship form to have the fees waved if you honestly can't afford it. You can even file a hardship form not to pay for signature validation. After the election, or you drop out, if you have enough money left in your campaign account, THEN you pay the fees from the remaining funds.

I technically could file for financial hardship, but I'm too proud to. I think I'm capable of coming up with $.10 per signature (670 required, want 1000 to be sure) by May.

Time is about the only excuse. I am a stay-at-home-mom, so I have the time.

All you need is the time, the drive, and the faith to just do it. As Ron Paul has shown, that will get you the money you need through fundraising. And right now you have one of the best grassroots support network any candidate could ask for.

Change is made at home.

[Ron2Win]

Congress is next, but lets get first things done.

[freedominnumbers]

I have the perfect response for any candidate that says you are unqualified if you don't have a degree.

73% of Americans have not felt the need to earn a 4 year degree. Candidate ______ would have you believe that these 73%, of which I and most of you are included, are not capable of running our own lives and our own government. While candidate _____ obviously doesn't agree, I believe we are all smart enough to vote for a candidate based on his/her views and not a piece of paper.

[daniroyer]

I have the perfect response for any candidate that says you are unqualified if you don't have a degree.

73% of Americans have not felt the need to earn a 4 year degree. Candidate ______ would have you believe that these 73%, of which I and most of you are included, are not capable of running our own lives and our own government. While candidate _____ obviously doesn't agree, I believe we are all smart enough to vote for a candidate based on his/her views and not a piece of paper.

Oh, I know that's what I'm going to get railed on about. "You got a GED and you never finished your BA." That's why I'm running for office, duh! Perhaps if our schools weren't being turned into over glorified kiddie programming camps (and the attendance admin didn't call me an "overdeveloped whore" and that my health problems were "punishment for my sins") and if taxes didn't take nearly half of mine and my husband's paychecks, then perhaps I'd have a "true" high school diploma and a nice shiny BA on my wall.

Honestly though, the most educational part of my life has been out of school. Life is honestly the best learning expirence.

Okay, education is out of the way. Bring on the ageism! I get it from my car insurance company every year, it's nothing new.

[TwiLeXia]

Nice idea!! We should seriously have a thread of all the ron paul candidates who agree with his issues. And stickied, so that when we go vote we'll remember to vote for them as well.

[torchbearer]

Usually, depending on funding, you should start TV and Radio ads no sooner than a couple of months for local elections.. the lower your funds, the closer to the election you should start.
Think of it this way...
Start booking time starting on the election day, then work backwards. You don't need the commercial already produced to book the time. So, as you get money, book ad time starting on your election day, then work backwards.
Yard signs will pay dividends... in a state house race, you should aim at raising about $25,000.... $300,000 for a congressional race. If you can't get $1000 from family, you are in trouble.
Set up times to visit "power centers"... you will need to speak to your local fire departments, police departments, city halls, civic groups, charity groups, etc. do not think that ads alone can garner support.
Don't be humble... be a self-promoter(unless you have a campaign staff)...if you can afford it, get a treasurer. This will save you tons of headaches, i know... i've made the mistake of not having one...

Hit the nursing homes....they vote.

There is so much more... but i could go on for days on this topic... but funding is #1. no funding equals no ability to get your message out. Be confident and be bold... speak from the heart... be real... be true. Go negative only if there is a real negative people need to know in order to make an informed choice, don't make it personal, make it policy.

[Matt Collins]

It comes down to time as said previously.

Unless you have a phat bank account, it is hard to run for office because it consumes so much time and it is nearly impossible to have a job while running.

[kjk437]

Best of luck torchbearer.

I am but a wee lad of 20 at this point with at least 5 more years of college ahead of me (all right PhD!), but I have great interest in running for local politics while working as a professor. Hopefully this will transition into politics at a higher level, but I will take what I can get.

[daniroyer]

It comes down to time as said previously.

Unless you have a phat bank account, it is hard to run for office because it consumes so much time and it is nearly impossible to have a job while running.

That's why I'm doing this now. I've been staying home with the kids, so we're used to just living on one paycheck right now. I can do a lot and my kids are finally old enough to help.

[robert4rp08]

I probably would fall under the category of agnostic, but I call myself a Deist because I believe it's more reasonable than not reasonable to believe in an infinite First Cause that transcends the laws of time and space of this universe. I don't know the nature of that First Cause, or whether it has a form or even a personality (though I think it's likely, since as far as I know it would take a personal Being to choose to make something out of nothing), but I think the most logical thing to believe is that there is such a First Cause, though I have not found reasonable evidence to suggest that that First Cause has intervened in human affairs since Creation.

I plan on running for office one day myself, and I'm relying on the fact that many of our Founding Fathers also called themselves Deists (Jefferson and Franklin, most notably, both of whom held government posts), although they were a bit closer to a Judeo-Christian concept of God than I am. However, I've found that using the word Deist seems to be a little more acceptable than "atheist" or "agnostic," especially when people like Jefferson are brought up.

Also--screw money. That's why we've got a Revolution behind us.

I prefer agnosticism because deism is based on the possible existence of a God, whereas agnosticism is more broad. However, I think you're right about deism being more accepted.

It's badass that you're running for Congress. I've never been interested in history, politics, or economics (I'm a math/science geek) but the thought of running for some sort of office has crossed my mind.

[torchbearer]

Usually, depending on funding, you should start TV and Radio ads no sooner than a couple of months for local elections.. the lower your funds, the closer to the election you should start.
Think of it this way...
Start booking time starting on the election day, then work backwards. You don't need the commercial already produced to book the time. So, as you get money, book ad time starting on your election day, then work backwards.
Yard signs will pay dividends... in a state house race, you should aim at raising about $25,000.... $300,000 for a congressional race. If you can't get $1000 from family, you are in trouble.
Set up times to visit "power centers"... you will need to speak to your local fire departments, police departments, city halls, civic groups, charity groups, etc. do not think that ads alone can garner support.
Don't be humble... be a self-promoter(unless you have a campaign staff)...if you can afford it, get a treasurer. This will save you tons of headaches, i know... i've made the mistake of not having one...

Hit the nursing homes....they vote.

There is so much more... but i could go on for days on this topic... but funding is #1. no funding equals no ability to get your message out. Be confident and be bold... speak from the heart... be real... be true. Go negative only if there is a real negative people need to know in order to make an informed choice, don't make it personal, make it policy.

:cool:

[torchbearer]

^^^

[torchbearer]

^^^

[torchbearer]

bump

[Arek]

If I was already 25 I would be running. People love the liberty platform.

[daniroyer]

If I was already 25 I would be running. People love the liberty platform.

Have you looked into the age limit of your state congress? They're sometimes much lower and it would be a great way to gain experience.

[Jobarra]

Would love to run, but the money and the ability to speak publicly are holding me back :/ I could create bills, speak before congress with written speeches, and vote. My Rep, Jo Bonner, has voted for nearly every bad piece of legislation out there so I'm pretty ticked. In 2006 though, he had something like $1m to spend and ended the campaign with $350k in the bank. A third of his money comes from business PACs.

[ThinkAwake]

Wow... that would be a dream come true.... could we pull in enough aspiring politicians? I've learned so much about govt. thanks to Ron, I wouldn't doubt there are people competent enough to take the house back for the people in our forums alone.

[derdy]

Have we solidified Ron Paul's message as our platform? This is something that needs to be established from the get-go.

I know we all have different ideas etc that draw us to Ron Paul. For example, the abortion issue.

I've always been pro-choice, but Ron Paul has actually made me scratch my head and THINK about it. I've never had to deal with a decision like that, so I was just like, "Whatever." I'm still pro-choice, but my acceptance-window in a pregnacy in which an abortion can occur I have defined, unlike before.

This is what I'm getting at. Some of us will be pro-choice and pro-liberty, but the federal government is not granted that power in the Constitution. I also can't see that as a violation of the Bill of Rights and, thus, federal intervention at the state level. If that is a problem with a number of states then amend the Constitution and define what is acceptable and what is not!

The crux of Ron Paul and his message is OBEYING THE LAW and the CONSTITUTION IS THE LAW OF THE LAND! Period. Exclamation Point!

When we get blurry lines in the law, you get America circa 2007.

It's time to change that folks! :)