Rand pulled out too early

[cindy25]

he should have stayed at least thru mid-March, if not to win then to educate. he has no race yet in Kentucky, and national attention is needed on some issues.

One example is draft registration, which Rubio, Christie, and Bush all support (Bush 41 did not in 1980, when male registration was an issue, neither did St. Reagan)

now is the perfect time to abolish this for men and women.

[LibertyEagle]

He didn't make the next debate and chances are he wouldn't make any of the rest, either. So, any national attention was not going to be much of anything.

[cindy25]

He didn't make the next debate and chances are he wouldn't make any of the rest, either. So, any national attention was not going to be much of anything.

true enough, but what about the appearances on Hannity and Kelley shows, on CNN and MSNBC? these are now lost

[puppetmaster]

he should have stayed at least thru mid-March, if not to win then to educate. he has no race yet in Kentucky, and national attention is needed on some issues.

One example is draft registration, which Rubio, Christie, and Bush all support (Bush 41 did not in 1980, when male registration was an issue, neither did St. Reagan)

now is the perfect time to abolish this for men and women.

I have an idea that may just propel him to the top...I will put the plan in order and post....he has suspended the campaign so far

[idiom]

Rand pulled out too early

Pity yo' daddy di'n't.

[jmdrake]

He didn't make the next debate and chances are he wouldn't make any of the rest, either. So, any national attention was not going to be much of anything.

How do we know that? He pulled out before the debate list was made. And considering he finished in Iowa ahead of Christie, Kasich and Jeb he could have raised hell over why they were allowed to debate and he wasn't. Besides, both he and Trump got more coverage by skipping a debate and doing their own events.

The irony is that while Rand got less votes than his dad, we are closer to the ephemeral "brokered convention" that we were hoping for in 2008 and 2012. A brokered conventions is almost a surety at this point. Trump is going to hold steady at 30%. Cruz will hold steady at 30%. The rest of the field continue to fight with Rubio for the establishment vote.

[CaptUSA]

Rand pulled out too early

Maybe he was afraid that bitch America would abort the liberty baby.

[presence]

[TheTexan]

Phrasing

[Peace&Freedom]

The viability of the whole campaign hinged on getting a top finish in IOWA, not on continuing to get in the debates. When IA went bust for him, and he was not qualifying for the next debate, there was no reasonable pathway left for winning. Rand appeared to think that all those cable news interviews and debate appearances were a substitute for building up an actual winning coalition within the GOP rank and file.

The campaign never seriously went after attracting religious conservatives, populists, the anti-establishment vote, and at least some fraction of the older Republicans who actually vote. He (and we) concentrated on doubling down with only depending on a mystery youth electorate who were historically known to not show up at crunch time---who again reliably, at crunch time this year, did not show up. Rand wisely pulled the plug at the right time, as the liberty movement (like Luke Skywalker) needs to vanish at this time, to figure out a better plan to beat the statist Sith Lords.

[derek4ever]

I have an idea that may just propel him to the top...I will put the plan in order and post....he has suspended the campaign so far

We'll be looking forward to your post!

[EBounding]

The small chance of him being in a debate wouldn't have been worth it. Remember, there are people working for him who need to find new jobs if the campaign isn't going anywhere--it wouldn't be right to string them along. It also wouldn't be right to string his solid supporters along.

I was surprised that Rand announced so soon, but I trust what he did was for the best.

[jbauer]

Pity yo' daddy di'n't.

Good deal!! Thought I was the only one who saw something dirty in that title.

[jmdrake]

People keep saying Rand didn't qualify for the next debate. But I haven't seen any evidence of that. How does the 5th place finisher not qualify for the debate but the 6th, 7th and 8th place finishers qualify? (Jeb, Christie, Kasich)

[69360]

I have an idea that may just propel him to the top...I will put the plan in order and post....he has suspended the campaign so far

The current tone around here has my sarcasm meter borked. I honestly cant tell if this is a serious post.

[July]

People keep saying Rand didn't qualify for the next debate. But I haven't seen any evidence of that. How does the 5th place finisher not qualify for the debate but the 6th, 7th and 8th place finishers qualify? (Jeb, Christie, Kasich)

Because they only accept the top 3 from Iowa, and the rest are based on NH and national polling averages.

Yes they are prioritizing polls over primary voting results. Carly didn't make the cut, and is arguing everyone who won at least 1 delegate deserves to be included, but they haven't changed their minds to my knowledge.

[Brian4Liberty]

The small chance of him being in a debate wouldn't have been worth it. Remember, there are people working for him who need to find new jobs if the campaign isn't going anywhere--it wouldn't be right to string them along. It also wouldn't be right to string his solid supporters along.

I was surprised that Rand announced so soon, but I trust what he did was for the best.

Agree.

And if Rand stayed in longer, there would inevitably be the complaints that "Rand stayed in too long" and "he just stayed in so that Rand Inc. could rip us off!"

[heavenlyboy34]

Pity yo' daddy di'n't.

LOL The inuendo of politi-speak is hilarious.

@7:40

[LawnWake]

Just posting to keep a thread with a title like this at the top.

[The Gold Standard]

Better than pulling out too late.

[specsaregood]

Agree.

And if Rand stayed in longer, there would inevitably be the complaints that "Rand stayed in too long" and "he just stayed in so that Rand Inc. could rip us off!"

Probably by the same people too.

[DP714]

Epic thread title is epic

[kahless]

I would have liked to have seen Rand stay in another week to spread the message as long as it was not going to be a half ass effort. Otherwise people may view it as just keeping people on payroll or similar to what Brian said above.

If Rand was streaming his events live on Youtube I would have preferred Rand stayed in the race another week since I believe it would be far more effective in getting his message out. People are more likely to have access to Youtube than Periscope's expiring links and they would continue to be viewed longer after the events.

I think the campaign gave Twitter's Periscope too much credit which I personally saw as a disaster that continued unabated with each event. They could not even pull it off at Twitter's headquarters. Periscope is a joke and using them only helped spread Periscope's brand.

[WTLaw]

I would have liked to have seen Rand stay in another week to spread the message as long as it was not going to be a half ass effort. Otherwise people may view it as just keeping people on payroll or similar to what Brian said above.

If Rand was streaming his events live on Youtube I would have preferred Rand stayed in the race another week since I believe it would be far more effective in getting his message out. People are more likely to have access to Youtube than Periscope's expiring links and they would continue to be viewed longer after the events.

I think the campaign gave Twitter's Periscope too much credit which I personally saw as a disaster that continued unabated with each event. They could not even pull it off at Twitter's headquarters. Periscope is a joke and using them only helped spread Periscope's brand.

What I hate is the vacuum. The liberty movement needs leaders. Presidential candidates are a good way of getting that type of leadership. I almost wish Amash would jump in today, not because he has a chance in hell, but because we need people making these arguments directly.

I totally get that Rand didn't want to waste people's money, and wanted to be seen being Kentucky's guy. That is very important too. But if he is going to withdraw, withdraw and burn them all down on the way out. Maybe THAT isn't his style, and maybe that was partially his problem.

[economics102]

Those who are saying his finish ahead of Bush/Kasich/Christie could help him argue for his inclusion in the next debate should keep in mind that Fiorina is essentially trying to make the same argument and ABC didn't budge for her.

[GunnyFreedom]

People keep saying Rand didn't qualify for the next debate. But I haven't seen any evidence of that. How does the 5th place finisher not qualify for the debate but the 6th, 7th and 8th place finishers qualify? (Jeb, Christie, Kasich)

"People" here, is just one person, who is clearly wrong.

[The Gold Standard]

People keep saying Rand didn't qualify for the next debate. But I haven't seen any evidence of that. How does the 5th place finisher not qualify for the debate but the 6th, 7th and 8th place finishers qualify? (Jeb, Christie, Kasich)

The requirements were top 3 finish in Iowa, top 5 in NH polls, or top whatever it was nationally, 5 or 6, I don't remember.

[LibertyEagle]

People keep saying Rand didn't qualify for the next debate. But I haven't seen any evidence of that. How does the 5th place finisher not qualify for the debate but the 6th, 7th and 8th place finishers qualify? (Jeb, Christie, Kasich)

That wasn't their criteria. Certain polls were. You know how this works, Drake. It's what they use to cut people out that they don't want on the stage. Did it to Fiorini too.

[LibertyEagle]

"People" here, is just one person, who is clearly wrong.

Okay. Show the proof that he did.

[LukeR]

People keep saying Rand didn't qualify for the next debate. But I haven't seen any evidence of that. How does the 5th place finisher not qualify for the debate but the 6th, 7th and 8th place finishers qualify? (Jeb, Christie, Kasich)

Did you not read the rules to the NH debate?

1) Place among the top three candidates ranked according to the popular vote in the Iowa Republican caucuses on Feb. 1, 2016. (OR)

1. Ted Cruz
2. Donald Trump
3. Marco Rubio
4. Ben Carson
5. Rand Paul

Those in bold qualified for the debate via the Iowa caucuses.

2) Place among the top six candidates in an average of New Hampshire Republicanpresidential polls recognized by ABC News. To be included, polls must be conducted no earlier than Jan. 1, 2016, and must be released to the public before 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 4, 2016. Poll averages will not be rounded. (OR)

1. Donald Trump
2. Marco Rubio
3. John Kasich
4. Ted Cruz
5. Jeb Bush
6. Chris Christie
7. Rand Paul
8. Carly Fiorina
9. Ben Carson

The ones in bold qualified via NH polling.

3) Place among the top six candidates in an average of national Republican presidential polls recognized by ABC News. To be included, polls must be conducted no earlier than Jan. 1, 2016, and must be released to the public before 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 4, 2016. Poll averages will not be rounded.

1. Donald Trump
2. Ted Cruz
3. Marco Rubio
4. Ben Carson
5. Jeb Bush
6. John Kasich
7. Rand Paul
8. Carly Fiorina

Those in bold qualify via national polling.





Rand did not qualify.