Ron Paul scales back hopeless effort, refuses to back McCain

He's not really quitting. He's not really suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He's not promising victory, just to keep on keeping on. But, in effect, Rep. Ron Paul, at 72 the oldest candidate for president and the only GOP candidate to oppose the Iraq war, is facing reality.

In a statement to supporters on his website, first mentioned here early Saturday, Paul admits, "With Romney gone, the chances of a brokered convention are nearly zero. But that does not affect my determination to fight on, in every caucus and primary remaining and at the convention for our ideas, with just as many delegates as I can get." In a new 14-minute campaign video, Paul says he wants to clarify some confusion

His campaign currently claims a total of 42, 1,149 shy of the total to win and some 650 behind the GOP leader, though other estimates give him only 16. He took third in Washington over the weekend and fourth in Kansas behind even Mitt Romney, who'd dropped out. Even if he won every delegate still available, Paul could not capture the party's nomination in September in St. Paul, which is no relation.

Despite ridicule by other GOP candidates, despite getting significantly less time to speak during debates and, in one instance, even being barred from a GOP debate by Fox News although....

he'd collected more votes than those included, Paul repeated his vow not to attempt a third-party bid, which would drain priceless conservative votes from the party's nominee. "I am a Republican," he said, "and I remain a Republican." He did say he'd be reducing staff and offices.

Now, whether the 10-term congressman with the libertarian ideals, actually endorses Sen. John McCain is something else. Paul has said we should bring overseas troops home and invest the saved money in fixing America; McCain has vowed to stay overseas, especially Iraq, as long as it takes for success.

This morning Paul told one of our sister newspapers, "I cannot support anybody with the foreign policy he advocates, you know, perpetual war," said Paul. "That is just so disturbing to me."

In his website statement, Paul then alludes to probably the largest factor for his refocused campaign: He's trying to run simultaneously for president and his House seat in Texas' 14th Congressional District and faces a challenger in the March 4 primary, Chris Peden, a city councilmen from Friendswood. So Paul will be on two ballots that day.

"If I were to lose the primary for my congressional seat," he said, "all our opponents would react with glee, and pretend it was a rejection of our ideas. I cannot and will not let that happen." In a new 14-minute campaign video, Paul says he needs to clarify confusion over his dropping out, that he is just altering his schedule to allow primary campaigning in his home district and he intends to compete fully in all remaining primaries and on to the convention.

Although largely ignored as irrelevant by many media outlets, though not The Ticket, the story of Ron Paul and his thousands of determined, sometimes aggressive, usually good-natured followers is one of the more interesting of the current election season.

Virtually spontaneously, disaffected Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and newcomers to the political process began gathering around the plain-spoken Paul last summer and with their nearly $20 million in smaller donations turned him into the most successful GOP fundraiser in the last quarter. On one day he raised $6 million online and was the only Republican to increase his contributions in every quarter of 2007.

With some 1,400 meet-up groups across the country, letter-writing and sign-waving campaigns and creative publicity stunts, they helped Paul to some second, fourth and fifth place finishes in states such as Nevada, Montana and Maine. He beat Rudy Giuliani in Iowa and Fred Thompson in New Hampshire and financed an eight-state advertising campaign.

His boosters, who worked the Internet assiduously to right wrongs and make Paul's case, maintain that a corporate-media conspiracy to ignore him prevented the former ob-gyn from getting his less-government message out to most Americans. He certainly was ignored and, only recently, included when providing poll results on TV. But additionally, his strict constitutionalist ideas for reducing the federal government and abolishing the IRS and Federal Reserve Bank and returning to the gold standard may be just too radical for a country today facing international terrorist threats and the current economic uncertainty.

Even the tone of hundreds of comments left here by Paul supporters changed in recent days from aggressive advocacy to reluctant acceptance of the disappointing reality of continued single-digit poll results.

It would be interesting if those supporters took the time here now to leave comments explaining why they think Paul never caught on to a wider audience (we already know about the media conspiracy) and what they think about his refocused campaign and their spent donations.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Jason]

I love it, Less Government, Less Taxes, Less foreign entanglements, and stronger monetary system, All Strong, and cemented platforms of Barry Goldwater, Robert Taft, and Ronald Reagan Conservative Republicans, and you call him a candidate with Libertarian Ideals. You are truly clueless.

[D. Pappas]

Even though we in the r3VOLuiton still hold out hope that Ron Paul can still take the nomination considering all the events that could happen before then, a strategy that has been working in my canvassing is to sell people on voting for Ron Paul to assure the conservative viewpoint will make it to the convention.

[karen]

Well you asked for our opinion of why Paul never caught on. Sadly, I believe the vast majority of the American people do not want to be responsible for themselves. They are uninformed on many issues (with complicity of the US media) and want government to solve all their problems. Until this changes, someone like Ron Paul could never be elected president.

That said, I think Ron Paul's supporters have done an outstanding job of advocating their cause, and have started a movement that over time will grow.

[Jason]

I love it, Less Government, Less Taxes, Less foreign entanglements, and stronger monetary system, All Strong, and cemented platforms of Barry Goldwater, Robert Taft, and Ronald Reagan Conservative Republicans, and you call him a candidate with Libertarian Ideals. You are truly clueless.

[Bill]

Dr.Paul has the cure for our country!

Liberty!

[Bill Geis]

The only HONEST man running...

RON PAUL!

LIBERTY!!!

[Bill Dodge]

Looking at the mathematical numbers of delegates shows that Ron Paul will likely win 9 of the states that have caucused so far. OldMedia says that certain candidates 'won' certain states, but they go off the results of straw polls, which can range from unreliable to dead wrong. Caucus states have not been won by anybody. 9 of them currently have Ron Paul as the leading candidate by number of delegates. OldMedia doesn't want Ron Paul to win (he'll cut their taxpayer-funded subsidies and grants, as well as get us out of Iraq - which they make a lot of money on) so they marginalize and black him out. Don't believe that he is quitting. Don't believe that he doesn't have a chance. He CAN still win. Believe.

[K. Peterjohn]

Mr. Malcolm has a factual error in his story. I live in Kansas and particpated in the Kansas caucus. Ron Paul finished third here with roughly 11% of the vote and defeated Sen. McCain in three of this state's 105 counties. Sen. McCain's 24% total was rather poor when compared with his February 5 percentages.

Many Kansans voting in the GOP caucuses have unpleasant feelings about the left wing national news media and many have opposed Sen. McCain's positions in the past.

Mr. Romney received substantially less than 1 percent of the vote and actually finished behind "uncommitted." Mr. Malcolm's claim that Romney defeated Paul in Kansas is incorrect.

[c. lenardo]

Ron Paul is not over yet...

100% on to the finish!

[Anna]

Every dollar we donated was well worth it. The Ron Paul message is priceless -- it is a message that can save the the USA and the American dream for our children and their children.

Other candidates are picking up the Ron Paul platform. We will support them and create a national 'America First' lobby as an answer to the 'special interest first' lobbies that are robbing America of its values and spending us into bankruptcy.

Restore the Republic -- support the Ron Paul platform with candidates across the country. Let's take back the U.S. House and Senate. Let's take back our government and get them working for America first.

[Ray]

RP didn't catch on with Republican voters due to his opposition to the Iraq war.

The Republican Party has "wrapped itself so tight with the flag" and "patriotism" that it is out of tune with the American people's wish to put an end to the war regardless of how it ends or is viewed (victory or defeat).

All of the candidates except for RP want to continue until we leave with "victory". The majority of the people voting in the caucuses and primaries sided with the war mongering candidates.

This will be just like Vietnam minus the large US soldier casualty count (Iraqi deaths are one million per some estimates) . I believe our economic cost is probably up there already.

Democrats took control of Congress because people felt we are going in the wrong direction as far as the war is concerned.

The Republican Party will lose in the upcoming elections for "not listening" to the wishes of the American people.

RP was offering "too much" change. He should have limited the amount of change that he'd try to implement in his first term (until people were ready for more). I believe many people were overwhelmed by the amount of change.

Even though he is a plain speaker, he probably needed to communicate his ideas by using visual aids.

As an example, I remember seeing on TV many years ago (PBS I think) an explanation why Social Security needed to be changed. The first visual aid showed a pyramid. The moderator pointed out that the original idea was that the people at the top of the pyramid would get their benefits paid by those below them. They were counting on few people getting the benefits be cause most people died by the time they were 65 (the age you could collect). What they didn't count on was better health care and the increase in longevity among the senior citizen population. The second visual aid showed what almost looked like an upside down pyramid. The moderator then pointed out that the number of people at the top of the pyramid had increased and there were less people in the lower portions of the pyramid. In summary, this could not continue. The system needed to be changed (e.g.,higher age requirements, etc).

[Macky]

Mr Malcolm,

I am a mature woman and have watched the decline of this country for decades. I appreciate the opportunity that you have given Ron Paul supporters to give their thoughts about Dr Paul. Consider my explaination of why he is not the leader of the GOP race campaign right now and maybe you will understand.
Ron Paul could have done exactly what the other candidates have done and said anything and made promises that they know the American people want to hear whether they plan on following through or not, but Dr Paul chose not to do this. He says exactly what he believes and knows the only way to save this country and the American people. Dr Paul is extremely transparent, so rare in politicians in this day and age.
Just for a moment, consider a man wanting to run for president saying that we need competing currencies instead of the FED. Remember that the FED is NOT a federal banking system but rather very wealthy and powerful private bankers. Our forefathers warned us about not letting this happen but the rich and greedy got their way and now they control OUR money.
Ask yourself how a brilliant and compassionate 72 year old man going up against the powerful bankers who now have our money can possible win?? Do you honestly think that they would relinquish the money and power because Dr Paul is correct? If you do you are very naive.
What about the CIA? Do you think that this covert, US government organization ,overthrowing foreign political leaders would allow Dr Paul to clean house with their department? Do you think that the IRS would allow Dr Paul to push to stop them from making people pay taxes on their labor (which is illegal and against the Constitution)??
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand WHY the elite of our country know that Dr Paul is a threat to their wealth and power so they make him out to be a kook and a radical when in fact, he is right on the mark and the only one who can save this country. Ron Paul supporters will be vindicated when the dollar crashes, the market crashes and this country if financially ruined but unfortunately being right sometimes does not make us feel better.
This is why the media ignores Dr Paul and his voice is not heard, not because he is crazy or radical but because he is right and he wants America to be what it used to be prosperous and free and the powerful and rich will throw every obstacle in his path to keep him from destroying their empire. His contributions and huge following is because his followers know that he speaks the truth and is our only hope.
Ron Pauls only mistake was to tell the truth (how refreshing in a politician) and the powerful media, military complex, large bankers, corporations and special interests do not want American's to hear the truth.
Mr Malcolm, think about what I've said and take just a few hours to study Dr Paul's platform and his voting record and watch his #1 utube video and you will understand. Thank you.

[Gordon-]

First of all, Ron Paul is NOT out of the race yet, and the ideals he represents will NEVER be out of the race! The seeds of Libretarism have been sown deeply this election and they will grow into a movement that will probably have it's greatest effect in 2012. Americans are very tired of senseless wars ie Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq. We need to stop using our money and soldiers to fight other people's wars. We need to secure our borders. We need to fix our economy. We need to aggressively seek peace before committing to war. If Obama gets elected as the big deal of JFK reincarnated, it will be the next four years of tax and spend and same old same old and people will be ready in 2012 for a real change...what our country was founded on...true freedom and true liberty without interference of BIG government. God bless Ron Paul and thank you for your hope in America. I have donated to his campaign and every penny was worth it to get the message out!~

[rich]

When JFK was assassinated, I believe something crept into the USA and ate the Government at the same time. We're still allowed to fly the flag, sing patriotic songs, participate in voting for pre-screened candidates, but I have a feeling we were all sold off by our business leaders and politicians. Our factories are gone, our constitution is only a paper rag, and we're all corporate employess of something darker than we can imagine.
I will vote for Ron Paul because I still feel something inside me that says The USA still exists, even though only an old idea now.

[john]

I am a republican and i will support Ron Paul to the end!How can we continue to support all the bloodshed?Does it honor the memory of 9/11 to kill more people?I don't think so.

I'm in New York BTW

[Devi Mariamne]

Ron Paul has lighted a flame that can not be extinguished!
His supporters in this country, Engand and Europe know that he is our only hope. The pap media, the money brokers and currupt government officials have no way seen the end of this man or the momentum he has behind him. For all of us who know what is really going on this country and around the world! , the Voice of Freedom rings true. All those with ears to hear will follow this man to the end. And it may very well surprise many who cannot here the bell toll for Freedom and Liberty.

[Sandra]

Ron Paul is the only one that could beat a Democrat.
McCain might as well go home.

[Jim Brown]

Your Query: It would be interesting if those supporters took the time here now to leave comments explaining why they think Paul never caught on to a wider audience (we already know about the media conspiracy) and what they think about his refocused campaign and their spent donations.

My Answer: It's ashame all Americans aren't as informed as Ron Paul supporters.

[Jennifer]

The election isn't over yet. Most delegates are not "bound" to any candidate, no matter what you hear. RP people are the most likely to volunteer, I believe, and I think everybody is in for a real shock at the convention. He may not win, but if he doesn't, all those people who called him "hopeless," "long-shot," "dark horse," etc - will realize that they were all that was missing.

"his strict constitutionalist ideas for reducing the federal government and abolishing the IRS and Federal Reserve Bank and returning to the gold standard may be just too radical for a country today facing [...] the current economic uncertainty."

I believe that only radical measures, such as his, will save us from the impending economic crisis.

[Cipher]

The majority of comments here are a perfect illustration why Ron Paul never caught on with mainstream America. His policies are generally too whacky and extreme for most Americans. Most level headed Americans never paid him much attention. Someone earlier made a comment about the "neo-Con" kool aid, and yet it's the Ron Paul supporters who are completely out of touch with reality. ie: The numerous RP supporters who continue to deny that the election is statistically over and there is NO way that Ron Paul will EVER get the nomination.

Further, they blame the big, bad, evil "Mainstream Media" for not covering Ron Paul more, and yet ignore the simple fact that there was never any interest in his campaign from anything other than a relatively small percentage of it's customers. News papers and other media outlets are a business, they cater to the interests of their customers, and their customers simply never saw Ron Paul as anything more than a novelty.

Ron Paul, his campaign and his supporters were never anything more than a sideshow to the real Presidential election process, And regardless of how entertaining it may have been, the party is over. No amount of denial or positive thinking can change that.

The "Ron Paul Revolution" foundered because Americans as a whole do not want revolution. They want mild change for the better.

[Linda]

I participated in my precinct caucus on Feb 5th here in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Ron Paul won almost half the 37 votes taken that night. McCain didn't get any votes. We have three Ron Paul supports going to the county and state delegate conferences, and I am assigned as an alternate. I'd say this is far from over.

The top reason I've found that Republicans don't want to vote Ron Paul is that he wants us out of Iraq. Well, if you are adamant about staying in the middle east, then do it legally. Make a formal declaration of war before Congress. This way by the time Dr. Paul is elected president, you have a man in office who will follow the Constitution and get us out of the UN. I think it would be refreshing to have military leaders conducting a war with clear objectives rather than politicians. Imagine the difference if General Schwarzkopf hadn't been stopped at Iraq's border during "Operation Desert Storm". Schcwarzkopf said "Any soldier worth his salt should be anti-war. And yet there are things still worth fighting for." I recommend pro-war republicans think about this and then read Dr. Paul's actual writings on the matter. There all over the internet; here is one widely distributed http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul57.html.

Then think about this, Ron Paul attracts voters from the democratic, libertarian and independent parties.

[Tyler Prochazka]

Your article would be more interesting if it cited true stats. Paul beat Romney 4 times over in Kansas. Get your facts straight. I live in Kansas, I know what I'm talking about. Don't believe me? http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#KS

[Roxanne]

WHY?
Because America is populated by ostriches who prefer to keep their heads in the sand while they loose their country and freedom.
WHAT TO DO?
Write in Dr. Pauls name on your ballot in November !

[TBR]

Ron Paul will stay in the race......I'm not going to sit here and argue about whether or not he can win at a brokered convention. I think anything is possible. It's not over until the fat lady sings.

The MAIN issue is that the GOP has dealt itself a fatal death blow by not backing Dr. Paul and instead anointing the warmonger McCain. If the GOP does not revive from this self inflicted wound than I will be happy. I hope they go the way of the bull-moose party.

The two party system is breaking the back of the independent spirit of America. Americans are ignorant because they do not bother to research about their candidate. They simply vote according to two little letters, R and D. This is why we are stupid and have allowed our elected officials to take advantage of us in the way of unconstitutional legislation.

NO MATTER WHAT happens in this election Dr. Paul will be remembered reverently by history as the man who reignited the independent spirit of liberty and freedom in America, and helped break the legs of those corrupt, corporate controlled Elephant and Donkey

[TL]

It is my view that people in this country do not take the time to learn about politicians. They allow the corporate media decide who is viable and who is not.

Ron Paul supporters are better educated politically that average voters. Most of us know that the other political candidate are lying scoundrels with records to prove it. The problem is, the media does not report this, nor will regular people look into it themselves.

I should know, up until last year I voted along with the rest of 'em. Never again. If Ron Paul can go to Congress and stick to his beliefs in the Constitution and Ethics, then I too can vote according to my beliefs.

And if the primary ends in a McCain nomination then I promise there will be no vote from me in the general election. Clinton, Obama, or McCain...three liberal, big government socialists. No Thanks. Even a Bloomberg Independent run would not be enough to bring me in, because it would be obvious to me that his entering the Presidential race is only to secure a Democratic win.

One day people will wake up and realize they have lost everything. On that day, I will take solace in the fact that I did not contribute to that by voting in the same corrupt people to run this nation. One day, it will all end and the last semblance of the American Republic will vanish into something different and less than appealing.

[Joshua Hakes]

The reason why Dr. Paul didn't catch on to a bigger audience is because the American populace are sheep, plain and simple. Americans are so caught up in our media-"culture" that they believe anything they hear and see on TV and make their choices based on that. With the media writing off Ron Paul and over glorifying mediocre candidates it is no wonder why the American't populace doesn't hear much about Dr. Paul. If they do they are too brain-washed with their celebrity-candidates rather than doing a bit of educational research on Ron Paul. And those that do are enlightened by what he says and believes in. It is indeed sad times for this country when our population is so indoctrinated in the Hollywood-American Idol mindset that we choose our political "elites" by having the media create them as media darlings and rub them in our faces every time we change the channels. This is by far media propaganda just to change peoples' votes based on who they want as a president rather than the people. Remember, it's the people who vote "You Decide 2008" not the media "We Decide 2008."

[Tess]

Dear Mr. Malcolm,

Ron Paul and his supporters have no intention of quitting, and absolutely no intention of supporting John McBomb, or the Huckster.

Why is the media so head strong to think such a thing. It is amazing that this man has so much support, and has had virtually no free media like all the other candidates have. Initially there were 11 Republican candidates and now there are 3, so I would have to say we are doing very well and will continue our fight to educate the American public on the Constitution of the United States. True Patriotism does not die, nor do principles, and that is what we are backing. It is ashame that it is taking so long for the Republican Party to see the best man for the job right in front of them, and they ignore him. Honestly, I sometimes feel that America does not deserve Ron Paul.
Maybe our country needs to be dropped to it's knees with the looming Depression in order for the the American people to realize what this country needs to be stable again. Ron Paul is the only candidate with true solutions, and the only candidate that will abide by our Constitution. I will be writing Ron Paul's name in on the ballot if he is not on it, but I have a feeling we are going to go the distance. Andrew I hope you can make the Ron Paul march which will be scheduled in Washington, it will be a sight to behold.

[Ronnie MacPhereson]

Besides the media blackout on Ron Paul, the other candidates, as well as most of the media pundits would openly ridicule Dr. Paul whenever he was mentioned. And they would mock his Constitutional and Conservative ideas with vitriol at every opportunity.

I don't think that uninformed people, and those without a conviction of character, want to associate themselves with someone so persecuted. It becomes a social taboo. No one wants to confess to supporting a "guaranteed" loser. And this is the picture the other candidates and the media have painted for Dr. Paul.

In short, he was a victim of enormous and choreographed character assassination. It's a sad day in the USA when the media gets to elect our presidents through the use of their propaganda machine. Despite everything, I'll still vote my conscious. I'll one day tell my grandchildren that I voted for America's last Constitutional Statesman.

- RM

[Brad Stallings]

Ron Paul has been a joke...from his campaign to his only platform of "America is bad". I am glad to see his negativism is not paying off in this election. None of the candidates are very impressive...especially Ron Paul.

[AG]

I think Youtube helped get the message out to a lot of young people and technically savvy people. This is the main reason he got the support he did.

As the internet goes more and more mainstream, the media will lose some of it's power and the ideas started by Ron Paul will stand a chance and probably create a stronger third party (democratic socialists, religious conservatives, and libertarian conservatives). Most countries in the rest of the world have more than two political parties, and while we have a few oddball party reps in congress, we are basically bi-partisan. That needs to change, and it probably will, as the traditional neo-cons party crumbles.

The dollar is going to be seriously devalued for some time due to all of our war spending. Invest abroad.

[Glen]

See y'all in Washington D.C. on whatever date is set. Lets show these people some numbers for LIBERTY and FREEDOM.

[Patricia in Illinois]

Hey, have you got it wrong in your 'hopeless' first line. RON PAUL is the candidate OF HOPE FOR AMERICA. He is a STATESMAN exactly what we need in this country now. People may say, ' It would take a MIRACLE for RON PAUL to be the United States President. ' That is fine because I believe in Miracles and in Ron Paul !

(And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Hopeless refers to the fact that mathematically there are not enough delegates left to win for Dr. Paul to catch the leader.)

[Only The Truth]

Have you ever tried to get the attention of a kid watching cartoons? You could light the house on fire and the kid would perish it. Unfortunately America is stocked with older kids who have been watching cartoons for their entire adult lives. The mainstream media has been feeding them the cartoons and continues to do so. Cartoons aren't real people ... when you figure that out it is liberating ... then you start feeding your mind the truth. The truth can be a shock to your system initially but that is to be expected when your being has been bombarded with lies for so long. Ron Paul speaks the truth and his courage and wisdom are exactly what this nation needs. His ideas only seem radical in comparison to the lies you've grown up with. What a total act of treasonist terror that big media doesn't let the people hear and see the truth. Why would they ... the truth is their enemy.

[RaferJanders]

Andy, there you go again using buzz words like "hopeless", with all the traffic on your blog people would think you were "Hunter Thompson", As for why you say he did not catch on, He only apeals to objective thinkers, not the fear driven mass, at the Convention next month as a Ron Paul Delegate, I will do my part to try and spread the word about the" peice of paper", as that sad little man GW called it. I have to hand it to you Andy anthing to keep a job in this country, are you going to go Tarpon Fishing? See all my brother and sister revolutionaries on the 21, Then we will just see won't we Ron Paul 08

[Chris]

I just want to take the time to thank you for writing truthfully about Ron Paul. All major media isn't even talking about him. Going with a story that he dropped out, and the delegate results from Washington are VASTLY flawed. As we continue to work up through the county and then state levels the truth will be known.

If everyone would just vote for who they think the best candidate is and not want to "waste their vote" Ron would be in first for the GOP. So many people my dad, my other family memebers say they like him best but don't want to waste their vote. Just vote for the candidate who will be best for the country and for you in the future.

[Chris]

It's simple. The reason that Paul is not more popular is of course related to ALL the media bias against him, but the major reason is that most people are uninformed if not downright stupid. They're single-issue voters, voting on popularity or beauty or some other singularly-envisioned support when they know really nothing about the issues and positions and records of those other candidates they vote for. They're voting on fear for either terrorism or for avoiding one candidate over the other - the age old lesser of two evils concept. It kills me that people get convinced to 'not waste their vote' and 'vote for a winner' to continue this charade. I feel lost with hope of a Ron Paul presidency waning. My only hope is that the message he speaks can reverberate and inspire other people to raise the mantle of libertarian ideals out of obscurity and into the majority.

If the media was more fair and not so opinionated against him, this would be a different race. If people weren't so stupid, it would be a different race. WHEN all the things Ron Paul has been speaking about and warning us about comes down and truly makes our lives fundamentally broken beyond denial, the races WILL change, I just hope I live through it.

[Holly]

Ron Paul hasn't quit or even slowed down.

The only reason why he isn't doing better is because most people don't know he exists. Thank you, corporate media!

Fall in love for the first time or all over again at http://www.apaulogist.com.

[Van]

Ron Paul is the thinking man's voter. Alas, we're a clear minority.

Why did Ron Paul's message fail to sweep the primaries?

Because understanding the message, requires some thought. Some real understanding about the issues, above and beyond what the layman is willing to invest (which is about 10 minutes!)

The American voter has become intellectually lazy, refusing to think for themselves and expecting - demanding! - that even ideas be prepackaged, polished, simple, and ready-to-eat just like our McDonald's meals.

Enjoy your $9 trillion dollar debt and your endless war, America. You've earned it.

[Steve]

Even though I am a Ron Paul supporter, I realize that his poor showing goes beyond any sort of media conspiracy. It is sad, but many, many Americans either want to ignore the Constitution, or twist the "general welfare" clause to mean anything imaginable. They truly want the government to be taking care so many aspects of our lives like health care. Ironically, many of these same people complain about how the government has messed up the war and No Child Left Behind, but for some reason they think that the government will get health care and expanded social programs right.

[sandy onks]

Ron Paul is indebted to no one. That says it all. He's all about the message and the people. Look for his march in Washington D. C. Go to ronpaul2008.com for updates.

The media blackout was similar to Goebbels during Hitler's day. The media blackout was most telling of the state of our nation. A man who stands, and has stood for 10-TERMS in congress, for national sovereignty, the Constitution and independence can't get fair airtime. What an insult to the American people's intelligence.

However, all candidates, dems and republicans alike, who speak for Council of Foreign Relations, et al., get the media anointing.

Do you think Obama was even heard of before the media push, and Oprah shoving him down the throats of the masses. He loves world governance as does Hitlery and, of course, warmongering McCain. It's abhorrent.

Again, Paul's campaign was much more useful to the people of the U.S. to disclose the real state of the nation on a much grander level. It's been a huge success. A great Wake UP call. A true REVOLUTION!

We've only just begun to fight.

.

[Patrick Williams]

Andrew,

To answer your question: Apart from the media blackout and/or ridicule, the reason Paul's message doesn't reach a wider audience seems apparent to me: Truth can suck!

I was attracted to Paul's message, which seemed to come from out of nowhere, because for once in my life I could understand and agree with a politician in a major party.

I always understood that the guy isn't perfect. He is not a slick speaker, for starters. And even his most lucid statements might sound jarringly simple to many voters, especially Democrats, who seem to love little details. But Paul's words convince me of some truth out there. I believe we are selling out our Republic, and our kids' livelihoods, for short term luxuries and digressions. I have a daughter who is 9 years old, and she is the main reason I voted Paul today in good ol' VA.

Thanks again for the thoughtful coverage - ToTT was the only one out there doing it!

[mike]

I voted for Ron Paul in the Virginia primary this morning.
1)Lack of media attention and negative media attention.
2) My wife said he came off "whiney" sp?'' So I'm married to a stupid who is more interested in image than substance. To my great dissapointment Paul so far has not presented his message in simple enough terms for idiots like my wife to understand. He does not present as "presidential".

[Rahne]

Uhhh...McCain is the same age as Ron Paul so why would you attack his age without mentioning McCain's....just shows the foolishness and hopeless bias in the blogs and the complete calculated bias of mainstream press....although the LA Times has not been as bad as CNN...

[Carroll]

I think a lot of people are right there with most of Paul's views, but were turned off by his stance on the war. I too was among those who criticized him for that, at first. But the more I listened to him, the more sense it started making. The government doesn't do ANYTHING right or well. So why should we all blindly turn our trust over to the likes of GW Bush when it comes to foreign policy, just because they scare us into thinking that we HAVE to be in Iraq or else there will be another 9/11 bi-daily?

The reality is that we are only stirring things up by being over there and abroad. If we focused all of our efforts, energy and money on defending our home territory, we would never have to worry...nobody would ever be able to take us down. But instead, we're on the other side of the world, bankrupting ourselves in terms of money and military to fight a battle that has been going on since the beginning of time (and all the while we are being invaded right under our noses)!

The idea behind the war is noble and well intentioned (just like so many governmental efforts that eventually fall flat because they can't realistically be sustained or maintained). But the harsh truth is that we will never completely eradicate the threat posed by Islam and the middle east unless we are willing to eradicate that entire civilization. Since NOBODY is advocating that or ever would, the next best alternative is to get out and let them sort things out on their own! Anything less than the former or more than the latter is a total waste of time and resources.

[Paul]

As a maxed-out, canvassing, precinct captain I am truly surprised at the number of votes he has gotten so far. Voting for Ron Paul is not a thoughtless vote and I am VERY encouraged that there are over 500K (so far) of us out there. A vote for Ron Paul is not a thoughtless vote, anyone willing to spend their vote for RP is someone that will make things happen at the grassroots.

Anyone who thought this would happen in a year did not understand how far from the goal we are today. Ron Paul has woken us up to fight for Peace, civil liberties, and our freedom. It wont happen in a news cycle, or in an election cycle.

We ARE NOT going away!

Thanks Andrew for always making space on your blog for Ron Paul and his supporters!

[gleec]

Ron Paul's ideas have not caught on with the general public because the media have colluded with government to brainwash the American population about the "threat" of Islamo-fascism to the point that people are willing to give up their civil liberties and flush the economy to "stay safe."

[WVLiberty]

Ron Paul inspired me to participate in the political arena to an extent in which I never have before. We made signs, drove people to the polls, and told everyone about his message. Yes, it is true that we have a two party system of Kool-Aid drinkers (Dems) and Cannibals (Republicans), but we must never give up for posterity's sake.

I don't see this as an end but just the beginning. We have to look at this from a "long-haul" stand point. Dr. Paul has mobilized the true patriots. Let's take that energy and win back our country no matter how long it takes. I'm ready to start a third-party that can achieve real results.

[AJ]

In 'blind' polls, where respondents are asked to vote based on candidate profiles rather than names, and Ron Paul easily won (granted it was limited in its options - http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/november2007/191107_zogby_poll.htm).

If this doesn't make it clear that all Ron Paul needs is more name recognition from the media, I don't know what does.

[Joe]

Most of the people in this country stick to a party line vote because of the partys founding principals. The partys no longer reflect their founding principals, but the sheep just keep following. When someone comes along that bucks the system they are painted as a radical.

Perhaps in todays climate, following the Constitution is radical.

[Attila]

The reason is very simple.

The ideas, that the "Good Old Man", Dr. RP, preaches are against the thinking and acting of the establishment. It is not the first time that revolutionary thinkers are willingly ignored.

RP's criticism of the establishment cannot be freely broadcasted; they are inflammatory in the eyes and ears of people who are in control and gain from the profiteering of any of the wars, globalization, money manipulation, illegal manpower use or gaining power from misrepresentation, fear mongering and power trips.

In the Hitler-Stalin-Mao systems an individual like RP would be executed or would be sent to the Gulags. As these options are not at hand, yet, for the establishment, RP’s “few words” already started the fermentation of thinking in many-many minds. The rational-critical words of RP have been aired and it is only time that his thoughts bear fruit.

Something has to happen! Otherwise the hegemony of the US, as the example of the World in many respects, will be demolished forever.

And let’s face it RP’s approach to attend the problems are the most logical.