The only real youth and vigor that Republicans had captured, had been through Ron Paul's leadership and his popularity with college age voters (I've got two in my family).
So what did the Republican Party do with Ron Paul and his followers? They kicked him (and them) out of the tent, and branded him with a "nutjob" label).
Did anyone think about the fact that we were throwing out the most Internet savvy, the best grassroots organizing, the best fund-raising, the youngest and most dynamic people in this whole election cycle?
I'm sure that a lot of them voted for the 0.
I'm sure that a lot of them voted for the 0.
It was a tactical blunder of epic proportions. Most of them didn't vote for Obama, they just stayed home. The only thing that almost saved McCain was Sarah Palin. I don't know anybody who voted Republican because of McCain, either they voted against Obama or for Palin.
Without the small government, libertarian wing of the Republican party we end up with RINO centrist losers like McCain or Dole. And Democratic presidents.
I did my best but 19 yo daughter was for Ron Paul. And yes, there was enough overlap between Paul and other Republicans that he and his folllowers should be treated with respect. The Republicans needed every vote. And we will the next election. It never hurts to be kind at least to those who actually may vote for you.
The economy tanked at a very inopportune moment, Bush seemed clueless, and the war was not popular. And our candidate was clueless.
If we are going to do a preventive war 5000 miles away from America, it had better be quick. Now we are faced with the prospect of a SCOTUS with a liberal majority if one of our guys goes down.
SCOTUS is far more important for conservatives than the internal politics of Iraq. Bomb the crap out of Iraq all you want but getting bogged down in a land war is not a good use of political capital. Liberalism/socialism Harry Reid, Pelosi etc unfortunately while not nutty Islamists are right here in our own country and far more dangerous than nutty Muslims 5000 miles from here.
I do think that Ron Paul and his supporters could have been handled with a bit more respect. Yes, he can be a bit loony at times, but he’s right about a lot more than most Republicans are willing to admit.
I voted for McCain in the general election, but I did vote for Ron Paul in the primary, because I was not happy with the way conservatives were shut out of the nominating process.
“They kicked him (and them) out of the tent, and branded him with a “nutjob” label).”
Too many of his supporters are plainly certifiable. Eventually that stench attaches itself to the candidate that the fruits and nuts love.
You got that right!
As a libertarian-leaning conservative, I voted Republican quite often and contributed to both individual candidates and the RP before 2008. Though it is possible (though unlikely) that I may vote for a particular RP candidate again, I have resigned from the RP and will certainly never give the RP a nickel again.
RP loyalists can continue to advocate nation-building wars, national greatness conservatism, deficits, bailouts, pork-barrel spending, expanded entitlements, faith-based initiatives and utter incompetence. They can keep on touting how steadfast George Bush has been, and how brilliantly Karl Rove has advanced the conservative agenda. Just be prepared for the destruction of the Republic under a permanent Democratic Party majority.
If every Republican had voted for Ron Paul, we'd be welcoming a conservative into office.
Congrats to those Paulites who joined the GOP and helped elect somebody to something this fall.
Many of us know from experience: supporting candidates who get 9% in the primary or 27% in the general ... it gets old after a while.
There are 50 to 80 GOP House members who completely understand that much of the federal budget is outside the proper role of the federal government. If you are of such mind that absolutely none of them is “constitutionally sound” ... all I can say is that you probably want to just live in your own private Idaho ... no constitution is required. extraConstitutionalism and exobiology are an interdisciplinary study.