***RON PAUL UNCENSORED...PART II---Columbia, SC/Day before the SC Primaries!!***

[Mckarnin]

The Ron Paul Blimp cannot be censored (and it's very cool)!! That is why the blimp can generate press that cannot be generated through more traditional routes. The media in the markets we enter know that everyone in their city will see the blimp and that they will receive numerous phone calls about our presence from people on the ground. So, they figure they might as well get a piece of the action and cover us.

Yesterday we were reminded again that reporters who love the blimp also effect our chances of coverage. For example, yesterday we were live on MSNBC at 4:30pm because David Shuster of MSNBC loves the blimp and wanted to work us into his busy schedule.

Below please find *NEW* Ron Paul Blimp television coverage from yesterday, 1/18/08 the day before the South Carolina Primary.

National News- Filmed in Columbia, SC--MSNBC/Live with David Schuster, South Carolina Statehouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzZjpbpm06k
http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/CSS/img/hdr-bg-std.jpg

Columbia, SC--WIS-TV/NBC-Channel 10 (Aired during the 7:00pm news on 1/18) This one shows the Ron Paul Billboard too!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=agJt6d7Op8I
http://wistv.images.worldnow.com/images/202963_G.jpg

This one is also from 1/18 and is not specifically blimp coverage but the blimp begins the story and supports the premise that Ron Paul has passionate support in the interview.

National News-Filmed in Columbia, SC--CNN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyDH7BqoL44
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/2.0/global/nav/header/header_cnn_com_logo.gif


Even though there was fog our pilots remained on standby for hours waiting for the weather to improve and when it did they went straight to Columbia, SC where the blimp flew over tons of people, politicians and news crews for 1 1/2 hours.

!!FOUND!!More footage from Myrtle Beach, SC:

Filmed-Myrtle Beach at the debate aired in Columbia, SC--WIS-TV/NBC-Channel 10
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NMBJeg5Uav8
http://wistv.images.worldnow.com/images/202963_G.jpg



In the last 8 days we have received the following attention/coverage on tv news:

Here is the coverage that we found online footage of.

Savannah, GA--WTOC 11
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7601674
http://wtoc.images.worldnow.com/images/static/hdr/hdr_branding.jpg

Myrtle Beach, SC--Media General News Service
http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/gov-mark-sanford-and-the-ron-paul-blimp/229/

Charleston, SC[/B]--Live 5 News
http://www.live5news.com/news/state/13739657.html
http://media.live5news.com/designimages/wcsc_header_121207.jpg

Greenville, SC--WYFF 4
http://www.wyff4.com/video/15071916/index.html (In the browse section to the right click on "Look, Up in the The Sky, It's Ron Paul's Blimp")
http://www.wyff4.com/images/structures/headers/site_header_logo.jpg

Here is the coverage that we received reports about supporters seeing but could not find online...if you have any of it YouTubed or online let us know.

Myrtle Beach, SC---WFXB/WBTW They sent a joint cameraman and reporter up with us the afternoon of the debate in Myrtle Beach and we heard that we made the evening news there (if anyone has this footage it would be great)
**Pulled banner because there is a limit of 11 per post**
Myrtle Beach, SC[/B]--ABC WPDE 15
They sent a crew up in the blimp with us and filmed on the afternoon of the Myrtle Beach debate. We heard that we made the evening news there as well. In addition they have a follow up article (http://wpde.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=85069) about a game called "White House Joust" that the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce developed which "game involves maneuvering your favorite candidate's blimp to ram into the blimps of other contenders"
http://wpde.com/images/wpde/masthead.jpg

Charleston, SC--ABC News 4
http://www.acc-tv.com/images/wciv/elements/wciv_masthead.jpg
They filmed the blimp from the ground on 1/12/08 and featured us on the 11pm news that night (multiple supporters in South Carolina reported seeing this newscast). We received a call the next morning, Sunday the 13th from a reporter saying that they wanted to do a follow up story for the 6pm news. They came out to the blimp and filmed and supporters report our being on the 6pm news on the 13th in Charleston, SC.


This television coverage does not begin to represent the coverage we have received as we have also been featured in
newspapers, magazines and journals in our flight path, throughout the United States and the world.


We have been getting amazing coverage now that the Primaries have begun and are so pleased that the primaries are coming south (to better blimp weather). Now that the Ron Paul Blimp is covering primary states it is really hitting its stride. We plan to go to Florida for 10 days after the we finish in South Carolina with the primary on the 19th. Please help us meet our $100,000 goal by tomorrow so that we can be assured of enough flight time to hit Florida before its primary.

http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/images/main_02.png
www.RonPaulBlimp.com

We at the Ron Paul Blimp have all been busy, a good thing but it means that it's hard to take out time to keep everyone on the forums up to date. I think everyone in the Grassroots should be encouraged to see how much attention this initiative is getting. I know that I love seeing and hearing Ron Paul's name in the news.

For more information see our current calculated total media value: http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/MediaReportReference.php

Our media page:
http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/blog/archives/category/in-the-news

[Mckarnin]

I have to bump...while we all wait anxiously for the returns we can watch some press from yesterday in South Carolina.

[Iwantchange]

This is great!

[Bilgefisher]

I think it was genius to allow those reporters on the blimp. There is a little kid in all of us. I fully support the blimp. Well done guys.

[tsetsefly]

blimp

[wfd40]

Just caught Trevor's interview on msnbc for the first time... and let me just say, Fantastic job man!

Not sure what all the naysayers were talking about in other threads... you made the Revolution look relaxed, INTELLIGENT, and above all... totally cool :)

[Mckarnin]

I think it was genius to allow those reporters on the blimp. There is a little kid in all of us. I fully support the blimp. Well done guys.


Some TV stations have legal reasons why their crews can't fly. There have been several news crews that filmed inside the gondola (while on the mast) and lifting off from the ground and they were very sad when they had to stay on the ground...especially as their was usually another news crew that was getting to fly.

[Mckarnin]

Just caught Trevor's interview on msnbc for the first time... and let me just say, Fantastic job man!

Not sure what all the naysayers were talking about in other threads... you made the Revolution look relaxed, INTELLIGENT, and above all... totally cool :)

I agree, Trevor did very well. We need to show the public our good face. Pulled together, friendly individuals who are passionate enough about Ron Paul to think outside the box really go a long way.

[Tarzan]

I agree, Trevor did very well. We need to show the public our good face. Pulled together, friendly individuals who are passionate enough about Ron Paul to think outside the box really go a long way.

There was quite of number of media people on the ground around the statehouse. It will be interesting to see if the Ron Paul Blimp gets more exposure you were not expecting.
.

[Mckarnin]

There was quite of number of media people on the ground around the statehouse. It will be interesting to see if the Ron Paul Blimp gets more exposure you were not expecting.
.

If anyone sees any additional blimp coverage on the Columbia, SC flyover let me know. inquiries@ronpaulblimp.com

[Edu]

Blimp! Just a little bit more to go!

[Mckarnin]

Blimp! Just a little bit more to go!

We are very close and the blimp owner is being flexible, especially since this is the weekend and money transfers are going to be slow going. If we have it by tonight or mid-day tomorrow we'll be good to go. Thanks!

[Edu]

Ron Paul is doing well in Nevada! We need a west coast Blimp!

Remember, remember, media bias when voting in November!

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4906/nvqo0.jpg

(see numbers at the bottom)

[BreakYourChains]

Blimp

[V4Vendetta]

I have to bump...while we all wait anxiously for the returns we can watch some press from yesterday in South Carolina.

Wow girl,
The Campaign could use you, nice work!

[Mckarnin]

Ron Paul is doing well in Nevada! We need a west coast Blimp!

Remember, remember, media bias when voting in November!

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4906/nvqo0.jpg

(see numbers at the bottom)


That is just amazing that they would skip putting Ron Paul up. Ugh! I wish I YouTubed...we need something for non-RP people and RP people alike to demonstrate the bias. I think they will cover him more tomorrow but today they were all afraid of boosting him in SC with NV coverage.

[Mckarnin]

Wow girl,
The Campaign could use you, nice work!

Thank you.

[Mckarnin]

This is great!

We're already starting to gear up for Florida!

[Edu]

Blimp!

[fuzzybekool]

Blimp !

[Edu]

Blimp!

[Mckarnin]

Wow girl,
The Campaign could use you, nice work!


P.S. Come and ask any blimp questions you may have every night at 9:30pm EST on "Blimpette" www.justin.tv/blimpette :)

[Edu]

Can the Blimp possibly fly over the SuperBowl?
Does it need permission to pass over?
Can it fly around it close enough to get on camera?
Would it be as good to just be near it and the freeways connecting to it? I think the media might mention it if it was there, close by.

http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/

[Thomas Paine]

I'm going to take the contrarian view and state that after the election results in South Carolina, the blimp should be grounded. The blimp as a campaign gimmick that draws media attention reached the point of diminishing returns toward the end of December 2007 and has clearly outlived its newsworthiness. Continued funding of the blimp is draining away valuable financial resources from the campaign's GOTV efforts on the ground. The money that went to fund the blimp could have been used for a direct mail program at targeted likely Ron Paul voters and independents or other type of media that actually delivers Ron Paul's message. "Ron Paul Revolution" or "Google Ron Paul" does not deliver Ron Paul's message. It's time to ground the blimp and begin focusing the campaign's scarce resources for the next primary election.

[Edu]

It's already funded, $9000 will probably trickle in and no good business person would turn away the money raised so far even if the "goal" isn't reached. It's called "making a deal", you have the gold you make the rules.

I am sure there's a way to cut some costs.

Question is, would you pay to have it at the SuperBowl? Do you think that's worth another $100,000? Why?

You think beer drinking sports fans are going to remember 10 seconds of a blimp going over when it's vote day in a month? Mostly male audience? Should we hang some boobie looking balloons under it just to make sure they look and remember?

Is the county official in charge of giving permission a Ron Paul fan? Do you need permission? Can you say it's the People's air space and they can't keep us out? Any legal people out there ready to hit this with paperwork? Do the Feds own air?

What about taking the vinyl sign we already paid $25,000 for and attach it to a bunch of normal everyday balloons and let it float around the SuperBowl? Would that be original?

Can you attach some remote controlled airplanes to it and then guide it around?

What about doing that in the parking lot so it shows up on the side of the stadium? Maybe hold it with ropes so it stays there, while "but officer, it's out of control and we are trying to get it down". "it unrolled and we are reeling it in, it will only take an hour or two".

What if a bunch of Ron Paul supporters park their cars (100's) all in the same area and then we roll it out over the top of all the cars? Then if they have sky cams it will be visible.

Or on the same idea, why not put signs on each car roof so it makes one big sign?

What about attaching it between two normal (big size) balloons? Would that get more attention? Would that be cheaper?

Why not sell mini remote controlled blimps or balloon sign "bags" (with many normal balloons in it) to everyone so they can fly them "where ever they want"?

What if the vinyl was left outside and some random people put balloons all over it and it just started floating all over everywhere for days on end?

Come on people, I know you can be creative.

If we keep doing creative, unusual things that will get more attention.

So THINK!!!

[Mckarnin]

Can the Blimp possibly fly over the SuperBowl?
Does it need permission to pass over?
Can it fly around it close enough to get on camera?
Would it be as good to just be near it and the freeways connecting to it? I think the media might mention it if it was there, close by.

http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/

We at Ron Paul Blimp are working on a partnership that will let us fly a 30x90 foot aerial billboard banner of Ron Paul all around Phenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, etc... in the hours leading up to the Superbowl and perhaps for a couple days leading up to it.

[Mckarnin]

I'm going to take the contrarian view and state that after the election results in South Carolina, the blimp should be grounded. The blimp as a campaign gimmick that draws media attention reached the point of diminishing returns toward the end of December 2007 and has clearly outlived its newsworthiness. Continued funding of the blimp is draining away valuable financial resources from the campaign's GOTV efforts on the ground. The money that went to fund the blimp could have been used for a direct mail program at targeted likely Ron Paul voters and independents or other type of media that actually delivers Ron Paul's message. "Ron Paul Revolution" or "Google Ron Paul" does not deliver Ron Paul's message. It's time to ground the blimp and begin focusing the campaign's scarce resources for the next primary election.


I'm not sure how you can contend that the blimp is receiving diminishing returns after seeing the television media coverage at the beginning of this thread.

One thing that needs to be clear to everyone here is that the money that funded the blimp wasn't sitting in an account somewhere and people were like, "hmmm, how do we spend this?". Every bit of money that has been spent on the blimp was specifically received for the blimp when people purchased advertising on it. If there are other initiatives that can be proven more effective on the free market then they will receive funding of their own. The blimp did not use "the campaign's scarce resources", it garnered its own customer base and its own resources.

K

[Edu]

We at Ron Paul Blimp are working on a partnership that will let us fly a 30x90 foot aerial billboard banner of Ron Paul all around Phenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, etc... in the hours leading up to the Superbowl and perhaps for a couple days leading up to it.Can we buy/rent those in other areas?

Think BIG. Think distributed effort. Can we get meetup groups to rent or buy these things?

Can we get a trash bag or other company (white thin plastic) to make us a big bag that would be easily paintable in a garage and then fill it with a lot of regular balloons?

Is the aerial billboard maneuverable via remote control?

[Mckarnin]

Can we buy/rent those in other areas?

Think BIG. Think distributed effort. Can we get meetup groups to rent or buy these things?

Can we get a trash bag or other company (white thin plastic) to make us a big bag that would be easily paintable in a garage and then fill it with a lot of regular balloons?

Is the aerial billboard maneuverable via remote control?


The money for this project needs to be paid through our sister site:

http://www.ronpaulairforce.com/images/main.jpg (http://www.ronpaulairforce.com)

Right now our site reflects what we were planning a few days ago but after doing further research we realized how much more affordable the banner flying is and have switched to that. We'll be changing our page to reflect the more competitive pricing and new plan for banner towing tonight.

Aerial Billboard refers to a banner that is set up so that if flies flat like a billboard when tied to the back of a plane. This is the "skyboard" page for the company we are going to contract with: Aviad Skyboard Page (http://www.aviad.com/skyboards.html)

We have an agreement with Ron Paul Air Corps (http://www.ronpaulaircorps.com/) to borrow one of their 30x90ft. Ron Paul banners to pull behind the Aviad plane. http://www.ronpaulairforce.com/images/banner_big.jpg
We already partnered once before when the Ron Paul Air Force (http://www.ronpaulairforce.com) raised money to fly over Nashua, Manchester and Concord, NH the day before the primaries and the Ron Paul Air Corps (http://www.ronpaulaircorps.com) supplied the banner and shared the pilot they had already booked for the day of the primaries.