Posted on 11/07/2007 5:54:10 AM PST by theothercheek
Second-tier presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) pulled off a first-rate fundraising coup, netting $4.3 million in online contributions from 38,000 donors in a single day, bringing his total haul to $7.3 million in 4Q 2007. No other Republican comes close to Paul’s 24-hour feat, but Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has him beat at $6.2 million.
Paul supporters flashed their cash in honor of Guy Fawkes Day, which commemorates the would-be assassin of England’s King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was also the inspiration the novel-turned-movie "V for Vendetta," in which the lead character takes on a fascist government in England. In several GOP presidential debates, the libertarian Paul has all-but called George W. Bush a fascist – taking issue with the Administration’s policies on domestic spying, for instance.
So does this mean Paul has a shot at the nomination? In a word: Nah. The Stiletto agrees with WaPo political blogger Chris Cillizza’s: take:
Paul was widely seen as a political gadlfy when he entered the race, but through skill, luck or a little of both he has built himself into an Internet phenomenon. …
It's not yet clear that Paul's online national community can deliver actual votes for him. … While Paul is at the center of a national movement, it won't help him in Iowa or New Hampshire if thousands of people from California or Illinois are backing him. …
There has always been a pot of money that exists for unconventional candidates who believe the system is fundamentally broken and are only tangentially affiliated with a party. …
[H]is money and his message make him a actor in New Hampshire ... he remains a decided longshot ... the excitement and attention he is drawing would seem to be a perfect lead up to a third party candidacy if and when he loses the Republican nomination.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Jonathan Bydlak, the Paul campaign’s fundraising director posted a message on the candidate's Web site that the ka-ching means just one thing: “Ron Paul is for real." Maybe. But it appears his supporters are real (second item).
Note: The Stiletto writes about politics and other stuff at The Stiletto Blog.
Duncan Hunter? Small government? Bwahahahahaha. Besides, he’s unelectable. He ain’t got no CASH.
He’s not anti-defense, by the way, unless you’re talking about how he’s anti-defense of corrupt repressive monarchies.
Americans taxpayers have sent foreign aid to Saudi Arabia, did you know that? Guess they couldn’t have afforded the chrome spinners on their Mercedes-Benz limos if we hadn’t.
“The most realistic thing Paul has a shot at is shoring up the election for Hillary.”
It worked well for Bubba with a third party Ross Perot and 42% of the liberal vote.
“There has always been a pot of money that exists for unconventional candidates who believe the system is fundamentally broken and are only tangentially affiliated with a party. …”
This describes Kucinich perfectly. Not really a dem, just likes the lifestyle.
“I don’t know if they’re real or not, but I’m seeing an awful lot of Ron Paul signs in people’s yards around where I live - and these are not crack neighborhoods either - regular middle-class homes.”
I have posted this before, but now it’s getting really wierd here in central Michigan. I see signs for Ron Paul everywhere- there is a HUGE one in a guys front yard in the middle of town. Normal neighborhoods. His bumper stickers on SUVS and normal non crappy cars. A few Huckabee stickers. I don’t see anyone else. We were supposed to trend toward Mitt, but I don’t see any signage or stickers for him anywhere, and when I talk with people, they are not only not for Mitt, but against him. My normal, conservative neighbor (solidly republican-always with signage in her yard) is talking about democratic candidates this year.
A third of self-identified Republicans polled are fed up with the Iraq situation, along with about 70% of the independents and 90% of the Dems, and meanwhile all of the GOP candidates but one are talking about the prospect of not only staying in Iraq indefinitely, but broadening the conflict and nuking Iran.
I mean, holy cow! Talk about "out of touch with reality!!"
Whether 99.9% of Freepers like it or not, Iraq and the Middle East are going to once again, as in 2006, be the defining issue of this election. Do we want to charge fearlessly into another butt-whooping at the polls with a candidate who alienates 35% of Republicans and 70% of the independents?
You really think he’d keep the government the same size, or expand it?
If you want a candidate with a lot of cash, support Thompson.
“I don’t know if they’re real or not, but I’m seeing an awful lot of Ron Paul signs in people’s yards around where I live - and these are not crack neighborhoods either - regular middle-class homes.”
“Same story here in Virginia. The only signs I see in people’s yards are Ron Paul signs and I see them in respectable middle class neighborhoods. Also the only bumper stickers I’m seeing are Ron Paul and Obama and RP outnumbers Obama by roughly 3 to 1. Lots of military with RP stickers on their cars, too. From where I stand, the Ron Paul thing is for real.”
Same everywhere in Oklahoma and a significant part of Western Washington state.
Military to Cut Back on 'Stop Loss' | Associated Press | January 29, 2007
WASHINGTON - In an action branded a backdoor draft by some critics, the military over the past several years has held tens of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the job and in war zones beyond their retirement dates or enlistment length.It is a widely disliked practice that the Pentagon, under new Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is trying to figure out how to cut back on.
Gates has ordered that the practice - known as "stop loss" - must "be minimized." At the same time, he is looking for ways to decrease the hardship for troops and their families, recruit more people for a larger military and reassess how the active duty and reserves are used.
"It's long overdue," said Jules Lobel, vice president of the Center for Constitutional Rights and lawyer for some in the military who have challenged the policy in court.
"It has created terrible problems of morale," Lobel said last week. "It has in some cases made Soldiers feel that they were duped or deceived in how they were recruited."
SSHHHHHH they are liberals.
Exactly what I was thinking. I would not doubt that HRC campaign includes a third party strategy to split conservative vote.
Yeah, I really do think that Hunter is just more of the same old, same old. I didn’t say that I support the guy with the MOST cash, I said that Hunter doesn’t have enough.
I think they are “real”, real Democrats trying like hell to throw the election early in favor of Hillary.
If a whole lot of these people are coming from the Left, and trying to convince everyone that a “third party” organization is in order, it will bode badly for whomever the nominee happens to be for the Republicans.
My way leftest child hood friend, who hates Hillary, by the way. Just registered as a Republican, so he can vote for Ron Paul in the Primaries.
“I would not doubt that HRC campaign includes a third party strategy to split conservative vote.”
The flag that raised my suspicions is he raised over 4.5 million in one night. Only the beast has been able to do that!
In NH, Ron Paul signs outnumber all others. Large Romney signs are typically found in front of affluent houses; I suspect he is the pick of the country-club, party-before-philosophy set. There are a few Huckabee signs. I’ve seen no Hunter signs, alas.
Could this be another attempt at manipulating the election outcome?
“Second tier”
...LOL
apparently not.
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