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Posted on 05/07/2007 7:18:11 PM PDT by 11th_VA
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who barely registers in public opinion polls of the Republican presidential field, won last Thursday night's debate.
That was the unmistakable conclusion of the online poll posted by debate sponsor MSNBC, which registered Paul with higher positive ratings and lower negative numbers than any of the other nine candidates on the stage.
In ABC's post-debate Internet survey showed an even clearer victory for Paul, with the congressman taking more than 9,400 of 11,000 votes as of 12:30 p.m. Monday. (Rudy Giuliani is the next ranked candidate, with barely 150 votes.)
So are the polls missing a Paul boomlet? Is the famously contrarian ob-gyn -- a libertarian nicknamed "Dr. No" because of his propensity to vote against anything he believes contradicts the Constitution's original intent -- poised to surge into contention in the GOP field?
Not likely. What's more likely, based on Web traffic over the past week, is that Paul supporters have mastered the art of "viral marketing," using Internet savvy and blog postings to create at least the perception of momentum for his long-shot presidential bid.
The Ron Paul Effect
Since online polls aren't scientific -- people choose to take them, and many people vote multiple times -- doing well in them doesn't necessarily mean a campaign is on the move.
But Internet buzz can have a carry-over effect, said Peter Greenberger, an online strategist at New Media Strategies and a former Democratic political operative.
"It's evidence of something -- either passionate supporters, active supporters, or just one very savvy supporter who's able to vote several thousand times," Greenberger said. "If it leads to one or two stories in the mainstream media, that could lead to a bounce online, and could lead to some fundraising successes."
With strong support among libertarians who are unhappy with the top-tier Republican contenders, Paul has a robust online presence.
His MySpace profile boasts nearly 12,000 "friends." Today, his name ranks in the Top 10 among blog search terms at Technorati.com, behind Paris Hilton but ahead of Mario Lopez.
After Thursday night's debate, the comment sections of several major news organizations -- including ABC's -- were inundated with pro-Paul messages.
Viewers raved about Paul's commitment to abolishing the IRS, his steadfast opposition to a national ID card, and a forthright tone that bloggers said set him apart from the other candidates onstage.
In The Paul campaign did not immediately respond to a phone call and e-mail message seeking comment.
I suppose you feel just peachy about other unConstitutional legislative actions like the NFA of '34, McCain-Feingold, and to a lesser extent the USA PATRIOT Act?
Getting an "authorization for the use of force" is not "going to war". There is no "war" to win. This is Dr. Paul's reasoning. If we had declared war on Saddam's Iraq, with all the legal mumbo-jumbo that goes along with it, then Ron Paul would have no Constitutional beef with it.
I don't agree with him on this BTW. Yes, the War Powers Act was an illegal transfer of power. But you don't worry about that while people are trying to kill you. You use the tools you have until things quiet down, then you put the smack down on Congress for their hubris.
Well, bin Laden fled Saudi Arabia in the first place over disagreement with the Royal Family over the Gulf war.
We would have also provided a deterrent to every Muslim state, sending them a message that if they do not abide by US policy and cooperate in the GWOT, we can topple your government in a few weeks, with a 75% approval rating from the US public.
Look at how the Libyans turned over their WMD program after the war as an example.
Your point? Remember he attacked us because we ran from Somalia. Consider that the next time someone says Ron "Run away from Iraq" Paul is the right guy to be C-in-C.
I understand your point, but that shows just how much of a bloody idiot he is. When someone is shooting at your troops, you're in a war, any moron can see that, but Ron Paul can't. He is literally too stupid to be C-in-C.
They'll love Fred when he gets in!
You don't get re-elected that many times, while keeping your medical practice alive and current, by being stupid.
I sure hope so, man. Fred seems to be all right.
Yeah, that's where he ranks with me too.
this election will not be determined by one’s position on evolution.
The number one critical topic will be:
1. Life
others like it are:
2. War
3. Nat’l Security.
All are “life” issues.
fiscal responsibility is important, but for me, no one gets my vote who doesn’t understand that life is the primary right.
The real question, now, is what can the "Top Guys" do to gain Dr Paul's Conservative Street Cred?
I hear that writing a blog is what all the kids are doing to avoid chopping down trees to scuttlebut these daze ; )
Man, if ever there was a Sleeper Hit, Damn! Check-out the team's website at: www.ronpaul2008.com
Go Ron Go !!!
You made a big time acknowledgement with this ABCNews Story, Dr Paul!!!!
Go Ron Go !!!
Obviously, the Republican voters in his district disagree with you.
It is worth noting that you don't have a problem, apparently, with all the liberals who run as Republicans i.e. most of them.
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
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That means he wants us destroyed along with our allies.
Oh, and he's pro-abortion.
It was thrown in as a pejorative by Matthews. A political debate - especially one rushed like that circus last week - is not the appropriate forum to bring in the nuances of the General Theory of Evolution, its history, or its tenability.
Sources?
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