Posted on 07/16/2015 11:52:34 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Here is the guy who should be doing some cross-party fusion. He rallied a lot of Americans in bipartisan fashion on national security. He seemed to be playing his cards right. And . . . ? Bernie Sanders is kicking his butt in campaign fundraising. In fact, I dare say Sanders froze Pauls chance at fusion. All the little rich libertine millennials that Paul was counting on, instead got excited for Sanders. But I am still really surprised by this.
Paul only raised $6.9 million. Ben Carson raised $10.6. And that is money raised by the candidate, not the Super PAC. The fact that a guy like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84%, Mister Individualist, is having to depend on two outside Super PACs to raise money for him and neither have released totals yet is really surprising. I suspect it was a strategic miscalculation for Paul to enter the race when he did because it meant he could no longer coordinate with his Super PAC. Perhaps Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%s strategy of jumping in early stroked Pauls ego in a way that forced a strategic mistake. As long as Paul did not formally declare, he could fundraise with the Super PACs. But the moment Cruz got in, Paul felt compelled to jump in too.
To be fair, most of Pauls contributions are less than $200.00 a piece. That shows he has some real grassroots support. But thats not enough. He got in Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 63%s bed in Kentucky and McConnell made kissy face through his re-election. The moment McConnells victory was secure he kicked Paul out of the bed. Paul has misplayed his hand on social issues and, for large donors, national security issues too.
The blunt fact of the matter is that between Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%, it turns out the base loves Cruz more. Cruz raised $14.3 million to Pauls $6.9 million, excluding SuperPAC dollars. Cruz is second in the GOP race, behind Bush, with Super PAC dollars and it does not seem Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% will beat him when his Super PACs finally show what they raised.
I am genuinely surprised by this. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% should be doing much better. He actually has a good story. He actually has positions that set him apart from the GOP field. He has a built in base of support from his father. But remarkably it appears Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% will be less a factor on 2016 than his dad was in 2012. I really never expected that. And not only that, if you pay attention to the campaign schedule, Paul is marching to the beat of his own drummer in ways that suggest the drummer isnt really headed toward the White House. Michigan? Really?
What the hell happened?
That makes sense. Come to think of it, they might be just be druggies looking for a candidate that will legalize all drugs.
That is indeed a part of that group.....
>> How can libertines choose a socialist? <<
Seems to me that Erickson confuses libertines from libertarians. Big difference.
But then, what should one expect? Erickson also seems appallingly ignorant of the fact that red is the color of communism. So I find his “red state” blog worthy of my full inattention.
[And by the way, many well-known socialists and communists over the last 150+ years have been full-fledged libertines.]
Seems to me that Erickson confuses libertines from with libertarians.
Who knew little skulls full of mush were a fungible commodity. ;)
You can’t blame Erickson on the “red” issue, though I agree with you. Dan Rather and CBS made red/blue nation a fact of life before we had a chance to react.
He came across so snotty and rude from the get go...I guess he turned off a lot of people. And...most people don’t care much for the social and economic ideology of liberaltarians when push comes to shove.
Sure. Can't blame Erickson for starting the trope, but I think he shares a chunk of blame for perpetuating it.
>> Dan Rather and CBS made red/blue nation a fact of life before we had a chance to react <<
I didn't realize Rather had played a big role. But I don't dispute the point.
Anyway, I think one should remember also that USA Today, with their much-hyped color printing, produced that "colorful" map -- an image that proceded almost instantly to mesmerize so many in the MSM and even in the ranks of conservatism.
>> He came across so snotty and rude from the get go <<
Good point. Moreover, I think that if the GOP can’t nominate some kind of “happy warrior” for the 2016 race, Hilary will remain the overwhelming favorite to seize the POTUS jub. She may come across sometimes as a scolding school marm, but at least she doesn’t come across — à la Trump, Cruz, Christie and Paul — as a grouch.
(I just wish somebody would give Cruz a smile-and-humor transplant!)
maybe a bit of blame for perpetuating it, but keep in mind, the red/blue was started by Rather in early 1988......probably 20 years before Red State was founded, which was also long after the red/blue maps were everywhere.
I gladly yield to your superior knowledge of the matter. No argument. And I wouldn't rule out a conscious "conspiracy" on the part of Rather and his minions to execute what eventually became an important psychological and cultural coup.
Still, I have an unprovable suspicion that the infamous USA Today red/blue map of November 2000 was some kinda tipping point.
Specifically, it seems to me that the power of that image may have been what duped so many conservatives into adopting the perverse meme that red is the natural color for the right, and that blue is the natural color for the left.
First, let me say that I share all your concerns over this red blue thing, and for all the same reasons. Liberalism used to mean the exact opposite too....sometimes language just gets all too screwed up. This is the case here.
Now as for the history, for whatever reason, as a young pup, I was watching Dan Rather talk about returns in the 1988 primary season....as George Bush was pulling away from Pat Buchanan etc....HW Bush that is....and the states Bush was winning were in red. Rather said, and for whatever sick reasons I remember, “George Bush’s big red machine rolls on”.....
(now don’t ask me where I left my car keys and wallet this morning, I’ve no idea, but I remember this....)
From the primary season, the 88 general started the red state/blue state designation. Then the maps....and the rest is history.....
I really have no idea how I remember that, or WTF I was doing watching CBS.....for that matter.
Luckily(this time)these cretins came unarmed.
Sorry, now is not the time for cowards, particularly on this issue.
....HE'S DEAD JIM!
...END OF STORY.
boarders=borders
>> Rather said, and for whatever sick reasons I remember, George Bushs big red machine rolls on <<
A most interesting history lesson. Thanks!
For what it is worth these days, he comes across as intelligent, graceful and sensitive. He’s excellent at handling nasty liberals in interviews and he keeps himself out of negativity baiting.
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