Posted on 09/02/2007 3:41:26 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
As the vote tallies were announced at the Texas Republican straw poll Saturday, at least one supporter of Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson couldn't contain his frustration.
"Fix!" he yelled from the back of the ballroom at the Fort Worth Convention Center. "There's no way."
The congressman put a great deal of effort into the event in his home state, even paying to bus in supporters. They seemed to be the largest force in town. So it was a disappointment to those supporters when he came in third.
Some were convinced that Dr. Paul won.
"The results are totally wrong," said Jason Scarbrough, a Paul supporter who lives near Houston. "There were 10 times as many Ron Paul supporters here than anyone else had. There's just no way."
Though there were clearly more Paul people at the straw poll event, the congressman with the libertarian leanings had a much smaller base of support among those who could vote.
Even Dr. Paul conceded that he didn't think he could win.
"They made it very restrictive," Dr. Paul said at a rally Friday night. "But we're trying to build the party. If they want us to build the party, we can."
Saturday's vote disappointed Kathy Massey, a 45-year-old Houston woman who works in the petroleum industry.
She described Dr. Paul as a man of integrity who wants the Bill of Rights restored – and a political titan.
"Las Vegas oddsmakers say he's the only one who can beat" Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ms. Massey said, without offering proof.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Well, just my opinion, but voting “against” someone (to me) is a tremendous waste of time.
I wonder how you manage to vote in local elections? State elections? Congress? Senate?
I’ve always thought the local school board election will probably change your day to day life more than almost any other office. Do you vote “against” people there, too?
The Internet reaches MILLIONS of people. How many folks are out there freely donating their own money and time to the other campaigns compared to Paul's? How many hits have Paul's website have gotten compared to the other campaigns? Google searches and other internet hits? Your correlation is specious.
Hell, even 10 percent of adults think Elvis is still alive. You're even more marginalized than that.
If that's true then the other campaigns are even marginalized than Paul's. Paul has TRUE grassroots support out there. You simply can't deny this.
They were never with us; they’re cranks, kooks, and disgruntled Paulistineans.
Oh, spare me. You use the megaphone of the Net. The mouse that roared, indeed.
And without Paul, the party would be even more Rockefellerian than it already is. So give Paul credit for preventing the party from truly becoming the Democrat's little brother.
And the GOP hasn't supported a candidate in his district other than L. Ron since 1998, so do us a favor and put away the paranoia card, m'kay?
Horse feces. The GOP has went out of their way to support Paul's opponent in the primaries. THEY HAVE NEVER SUPPORTED PAUL.
Tell us more about your love for Ron Paul.
Now that's a silly comment. Dr. Paul is a successful doctor who has delivered over 4,000 babies.
Maybe he should go back to delivering babies. He’s in the wrong field now.
Hatred? I’m laughing, silly.
Let’s call him Dr. Ron “Risible” Paul.
I think that is one of the best replies, concerning Ron Paul, that I have seen from you. Really. It was witty and not in the least bit offensive.
Yeah the article only focused on a few nutjobs that support Paul. It should have focused on all of Paul’s supporters, who by the way, are all nutjobs.
You can use it.
Painting with a broad brush tonight, newby?
“How many times do I have to tell you people, a Libertarian kook is not going to get elected president in our lifetime.”
That is absolutely correct.
The only kooks to be elected in our lifetimes are Socialist kooks. (God forbid the next one is Hillary).
“Yeah, let’s talk about loyalty. The GOP establishment has always tried to undercut Paul in every one of his Congressional races, even supporting the Dim candidate against him.”
You have it backwards. It is Ron Paul who went after another Republican in 1996, turncoat Democrat-turned-Republican named Laughlin. Yes, of course the establishment was horrified since they wanted other Democrats to turn GOP (eg good cosnervatives like Ralph Hall are welcome to the party). So you had a real conservative Paul whose previous race was 1988 LP race, running against an ex-Democrat Republican.
Anyways, after Paul defeated Laughlin in the primary, the establishment didnt help him at first ... but Tom DeLay was a friend and they did turn around and help him once he was elected.
The statement “The GOP establishment has always tried to undercut Paul in every one of his Congressional races” is untrue. He has had very little opposition in most of his races since 1996.
In considering the invocation of “evil” or "security" as the justification for abandoning ancient legal principles protecting liberty, one is reminded of the great exchange between Sir Thomas More and his son-in-law Roper in the play A Man For All Seasons:
Wife: Arrest him!
More: For what?
Wife: He's dangerous!
Roper: For all we know he's a spy!
Daughter: Father, that man's bad!
More: There's no law against that!
Roper: There is, God's law!
More: Then let God arrest him!
Wife: While you talk he's gone!
More: And go he should, if he were the Devil himself, until he broke the law!
Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?
This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down (and you're just the man to do it!), do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?
Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.