Posted on 09/01/2007 12:48:20 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
FORT WORTH -- Rep. Ron Paul wasn't there for most of the first day of the Republican straw poll Friday, but his presence was felt everywhere.
In the "Ron Paul" placards people carried throughout downtown.
In the T-shirt likeness of him that supporters wore around the Fort Worth Convention Center.
In the signs posted in front of the convention center, on vehicles parked there and on some downtown businesses such as Four Star Coffee Bar.
Paul, of Surfside, didn't make it into Fort Worth until his night rally downtown. Nonetheless, he was a candidate who was impossible to ignore.
"We're going to surround the area as more people come," said Paul supporter Christopher Laskoski of Fort Worth. "You will see more ground support for Ron Paul than any other candidate."
Paul supporters are typically proud of their outsider status, but they yearn for mainstream media attention for him as a top contender for the GOP presidential nomination. Several, including Paul's son, Benbrook doctor Robert Paul, believe that their candidate would be one of the front-runners if the media gave Paul, a Texas congressman and former Libertarian presidential nominee, the attention they think he deserves.
Some Paul volunteers have complained about who can vote in today's poll.
The rules require straw poll delegates to have been a delegate or alternate to a recent GOP convention. But delegates can bring guests, and Paul supporters are trying to persuade delegates to take Paul supporters in with them to the candidate speeches that begin this morning.
"While we may not win the actual straw poll vote, we want to outnumber any of the other candidates' support to show that he has a strong chance in the actual primary, where all of the people in attendance will be able to vote," volunteer Clayton Slade of Richardson said.
They were outside the convention center Friday, many decked out in orange T-shirts with Paul's likeness saying: "Who is this man? And why is he going to win the Texas Straw Poll?"
In the afternoon, about 30 supporters crashed a rally that Rep. Duncan Hunter, a presidential hopeful from California, held outside the Water Gardens. As Hunter spoke to 50 Republicans about supporting the troops, Paul supporters stood just feet away, holding up Ron Paul signs.
"We're not necessarily against Duncan Hunter. We're just here to support Ron Paul," said Robert Brushaber of Austin.
AH, the joys of libertarianism hooking up with stalinists.
I’m sure it will be an eye opener. For every well meaning libertairian-conservative that likes paul, there’s a leftist to match him.
“Not just kooks, but jerks, too.”
You said it.
:o)
What motivates many Paulestinians, I think, is a romantic, idealist notion of “counterculture” - a lost Fountain of Youth full of Good vs. Evil combined with the inevitable process of aging and Gained Brains. It’s Socialism with adult reservations, hoping that, somehow, there’s a raging libertarian Movement out here somewhere they can just catch up with.
There was a contingent of medical marijuana folks at the GOP picnic a couple weeks back. All carrying RP signs. LOL
I respect and like most libertarians, even the “Big L’s”. This just isn’t the year for the Anti-Fiat-Currency crowd to be in the Republican Field disrupting conservatives. If we have a failing Thompson/Giuliani/Romney/Hunter administration in 2012, then, yes, let’s party.
With our best and finest men and women overseas, that simply isn’t negotiable. Politics used to end at waterline.
My feeling is this. IF you sound like Murtha and Pelosi on national defense, you will never get a nanosecond of my consideration. I don’t care if every other policy is 1000% conservative.
BTTT
The Eagle has talons for a reason.
PING PING PING PING AND PING AGAIN!
Even an addle-brained County Agent like me can see Paul is no conservative.
Thanks for an OUTSTANDING post.
Hank
That is the main reason why Rudy is hanging in there. He is portraying himself wisely as a tough SOB. America hates wimps
Don’t run for Commander in Chief if you are intrinsically allergic to commanding troops.
His former aide has a devastating critique of him now. Donndero is his name, I think.
We indulged utopia for 8 years under Clinton until realpolitik handed us our ass on 9/11.
And islam is not the only enemy. China, Venezuela, NoKo and Russia all need to be dealt with by someone willing to put the Vise-grips on their nuts.
We need a Sheriff/Deputy team, not a draw-the-drapes-and-hope-it'll-be-OK kinda guy who'd probably pick ACLU type guy as his VP.
Hunter is far superior to either. Ollie would even tell you that.
Liberals like Ron Paul the way conservatives “liked” Ralph Nader in 2000 — you recognize that anything that splits the opposition is a good thing for you, but that doesn’t mean you really respect or care about the flaky 3rd-party type that is splitting off even a small sliver of your oppostion.
These tactics won’t win a single vote. In fact, it will turn people away from Ron Paul faster than anything.
There's still an heir apparent lurking.. otherwise the RNC would be all over one or more of the current candidates.
Unless, of course, they're choosing to throw '08 to Edwards in order to further groom some incumbents for '12.
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