Ron Paul's troops quietly take over some local GOP groups

If anybody thought the Ron Paul Revolution had expired, they need to rethink that one.

Clearly, the 72-year-old libertarian-minded Texas representative was not going to win the Republican Party's nomination this year with his 12, 20 or 42 delegates, whomever you believe. Sen. John McCain already has enough to win the GOP nod in St. Paul in September. So Paul has taken his well-funded campaign and gone rather underground to the local level where his loyal Paulunteers are organizing and taking over numerous county party operations in several states.

Quietly, beneath the political radar of the Republican Party establishment and mainstream media, they're laboring at the local level. Last month Paul forces read the party rule book in Missouri and elected about a third of the delegates to the state convention that will pick the delegates to the national convention.

Last weekend in Nevada they drove through a rules change in the state party convention that halted the approval of pre-approved slates of convention delegates as a means to eventually substitute their own supporters to travel to St. Paul and boost Paul's delegate totals for platform and other struggles this fall.

Using sophisticated communications techniques on the Nevada convention floor in Reno, Paul supporters transmitted mass text messaging to maneuver and direct their troops. When Paul appeared to speak, the ovation was thunderous.

At other times they shouted down the convention chair, Sen. Bob Beers. Taken by surprise the convention organizers and the McCain camp, which for instance had no supply of campaign signs to compete with the blizzard of Paul signs, eventually adjourned the convention in chaos without electing any delegates.

The excuse was the expiration of the convention's contract with the host casino. No new convention date was announced. The Ron Paul crews move on to their next target.

--Andrew Malcolm

                                                                                                                  Photo Credit: RonPaul.com

Comments

[ellen]

Ron Paul's book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto" came out justn today, and it is already #1 on the Amazon.com bestsellers list!!!!
Go out and get yourself a copy! Read it in public!

[Tominellay]

Andrew,
Thanks again for the coverage on your blog. We who support the Constitution and our freedoms are sincere in our support of Dr. Paul.

How would you like to win that Pulitzer?
Get this story of Nevada and Ron Paul Republicans into the print edition of the Times. I'm born and raised here. I've read the great Jim Murray, and I've read the cynical Simers; there's a clear difference, and you're good enough to know whom to emulate. Please choose the high road and write this story!

[keith]

Paulunteers is used because it rhymes with "volunteers", nothing bad or derogatory involved. Obamaniacs is a close comparison. You should be happy there's a little catchiness to it.

[keith]

"Romney won the NV primary, but has withdrawn from the race. Dr. Paul placed second, ahead of Sen. McCain. Why shouldn't the voters #1 choice in Nevada be appointed the majority of delegates? "

Romney got 51.1 % of the vote, Paul got 13.7%, McCain got 12.7% - how the heck do you figure Paul deserves the majority of the candidates, they were standing next to each other in the basement. This is what makes Paul supporters slimy to me, always so disengenuous on the use of numbers.

[Marla]

Mr. Malcolm,
Thank you for your fair posts! One correction on the Nevada convention: we did elect the 9 congressional district delegates. The votes were counted in 2 districts and half counted in the third when we were "recessed". There were 4 Ron Paul delegates elected to national in the 2 counted districts. 2-3 will be elected in the partially counted district. The ballots remain in a safe at the hotel/casino where the convention was being held. (See press release at www.ronpaul2008.com )

[belle]

Bravo to the r3VOLutionaries in Nevada and Missouri. We're here and they fear; we're loud and we're proud. I was at the book signing in NY at Borders Wall St. and it was the largest turnout ever at that store and the second largest ever.for Borders. There were probably a 1000 people there and the book sold out before Dr.Paul showed up! We clapped, we cheered, we saw our guy and it was a thrill. The Borders staff was shocked and overwhelmed that this humble man inspires such support.

Thanks again to the LA Times blog for recognizing (most of the time anyway) the phenomenon of this movement.

[MJ]

It is news like this which increasingly attracts me to the Ron Paul platform. It certainly seems that his supporters are committed, work within the system, and are truly patriotic. I hope they continue their work. It is good to hear of people enthusiastic about the Republic and that capstone idea LIBERTY.

Thanks for the information about the book. It is fairly priced and I will buy a copy and I think a second for my friend who kept telling me about Paul.

Thanks!!

[Joseph]

In response to the comment left by Keith...

"Paulunteers is used because it rhymes with "volunteers", nothing bad or derogatory involved. Obamaniacs is a close comparison. You should be happy there's a little catchiness to it."

Posted by: keith | April 30, 2008 at 12:27 PM

These derogatory names that groups give other groups whether it be the ones given to Ron Paul supporters, Obama supporters, Hillary, or McCain supporters only serve to further divide us. We're all Americans we need to come together and stop tearing each other apart in the name of our "leaders". We find ourselves alienated from each other and easily manipulated by the political powers that be and become complacent to obvious attacks on all of our liberties in the name of giving greater power to those who are in charge. We must concern ourselves with what is best for our countrymen, our children, their futures and wellbeing. What they have accomplished with something as simple as name-calling and distracting us from the real issues is that the general public now confuses love of country with love of government.

P.S. They're called public servants for reason...they are here to serve use.... ask yourself this question is it the other way around now?

[Parke]

Thanks Mr. Malcolm,

I feel like I speak for alot of Pauls supporters when I say it sucks having been treated like leapers for supporting an honest candidate.

And you are correct, we are getting involved at the local level. In my county we secured EVERY delegate for our country. This is big for our county. Instead of making our actions about Paul we are going to recruit like minded people and make a difference in our community. Paul is correct, keep it as local as possible.

All the people calling us names will be eating their words in 4 years when we come back and kick the MSM, the GOP and the elite square in the balls and secure the White House.

Think Im cocky? You betcha. None of us are going anywhere and we have 4 years to learn and gain experience. Im proud to be involved and will be teaching all the children in my family to get involved too.

REVOLUTION.

[TJ]

We will take the credit for starting the movement to really change America keep it the greatest nation in the world. We will not hold it against people who support other candidates currently. We will greet new supporters with open arms and show them the truth and the light.

[Neil]

Thank you for covering the Nevada primary in this story. Please consider writing an article for your print edition. It might very well stir up some controversey that could draw a lot of attention to you and your paper. A headline story about Ron Paul would probably boost circulation dramatically! Think of what a great, controversial story this Nevada primary is!

[pinky]

Ron Paul the the only true voice for THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!! CONTROLLED MEDIA & GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO put out this mans voice, BUT WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE SILENCED! THE VOTES WERE RIGGED!!! YOutube hacking democracy!!

SUPPORT RON PAUL & VOTE RON PAUL~~ TAKE AMERICA BACK ANYWAY YOU CAN!

[lastnymleft]

What's with this story, Andrew? It's not your usual style. Seems like you are just "mailing it in". But you're right. There is a tsunami of change happening within the GOP, thanks to the Ron Paul r3V0Lutionaries. We WILL take this country back, eventually, just as Barry Goldwater Snr did, though perhaps through a Ronald Reagan.

Have you noted that Ron Paul's new book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto", is #1 on the Amazon.com bestseller list? That should be worth a column, too, shouldn't it?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/ref=pd_dp_ts_b_1

[keith]

Joseph -

Every election comes up with nicknames, Obamaniacs like theirs. You think Paul supporters are special somehow? I just don't see how it's derogatory.

[Tess]

Thank you Mr. Malcolm for your write up on the Ron Paul Revolution. Have you read his book yet? It is a great read, one that all media, and government types should read, along with every American Patriot.

[Craig]

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

[Tasha]

But the REAL surprise to the old gaurd in Nevada was the new platform.

The 2008 Nevada Republican Platform demands an end to real I.D.,Military Commissions and Patriot Acts.

Says to return to gold standard (sound familiar?),for the government to butt out of homeschoolers lives, to support jury nulifiaction and much to the dismay of the McCain camp;

to dump the MCCAIN Feingold Act!

Rumor has it that McCain's camp & the RNC are PISSED!

[Freedom4America Group]

For a LSM writer your article was not half bad. You do know that McCain only has 800 or less BOUND Delegates. Right?

LSM only reports the total delegates and NOT the bound delegates.

Check out the site below that a very knowledgeable Ex-Democrat put together to show how Dr. Paul can still WIN.

http://www.rprradio.com/Win.html

Here's a recent message from Ron Paul and one of the many reasons we would not only support and vote for this STATESMAN but the ONLY person, other than family members, that we would step in front of a bullet to save:

----

America became the greatest, most prosperous nation in history through low taxes, constitutionally limited government, personal freedom, and a belief in sound money. We need to return to those principles so our economy can thrive once again.

Other candidates talk a lot about stimulus packages, but my record stands alone. I have fought for these measures in Congress as the Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology, and as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and will fight for their passage as president.

My plan entails four points: Tax Reform, Spending Reform, Monetary Policy Reform, and Regulatory Reform.

Tax reform means reducing the tax burden and eliminating taxes that punish investment and savings, including job-killing corporate taxes. If we cut spending to the level it was at under the Clinton administration, we can permanently do away with the income tax and the IRS. No true conservative would say that government was too small during the Clinton years!

There are several steps we can take to immediately ease the tax burden. I have proposed H.J. Res 23, which would repeal the Sixteenth Amendment and thus eliminate income, estate, and capital gains taxes. H.R. 191 would repeal President Clinton's 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits, while H.R. 192 would repeal all taxes on Social Security benefits. I also support legislation to accelerate depreciation on investment and end the practice of taxing forgiven mortgage debt.

In the area of spending reform, I want to eliminate wasteful spending, reduce overseas commitments, and freeze all non-defense, non-entitlement spending at current levels. I never vote for pork-laden bills, and I will veto them and any unbalanced budget as president. We need to refocus our national defense so that we guard our own borders, instead those of other nations. We can save billions if we stop subsidizing our trading partners in Europe, Japan, South Korea and other nations. Congress does not have the constitutional authority to send out foreign aid, and our current foreign policy of nation building is bankrupting us.

Monetary policy reform means expanding openness at the Federal Reserve and requiring the Fed to televise its meetings, as well as returning to sound money. Washington's disastrous fiscal policies, marked by shameless deficit spending and Federal Reserve currency devaluation, are some of the greatest threats facing our nation today. It is this one-two punch - Congress spending more than it can tax or borrow, and the Treasury printing money to make up the difference -- that threatens to impoverish us by further destroying the value of our dollars. It's time to end the fiat money system, legalize competing currencies, and restore soundness to our dollar.

Finally, we need to institute true regulatory reform by repealing Sarbanes/Oxley's regulations that push companies to seek capital outside of U.S. markets. Congress' rush to action after the Enron scandal gave us a bill that has heavily burdened small businesses and driven companies offshore. I also support repealing federal regulations that prevent financial institutions such as independent and community banks and credit unions from fostering economic growth.

A true package to stimulate the economy not only puts money back in Americans' pockets, it deals with the underlying causes of our current situation - an out-of-control foreign policy, runaway deficit spending, and currency devaluation brought on by the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies. When enacted, my plan will provide both short-term stimulus and lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity.

[david]

whats fair in love an politics,i say fire all the the dead beats in WASHINGTON D.C.. THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.IF YOU REALLY WANT CHANGE AN NOT MORE BULLSHIT..D

[altasophia]

Thank you for covering this story. In my opinion though, you made it sound like Ron Paul's volunteers were part of a "cult". I believe Ron Paul and his supporters have done a geat job getting the message of liberty out without going underground. However, it would be much easier to spread this message if the media would cover him fairly!

KEEP IT GOING RON PAUL!

[Michael Donoho]

When we finally wake form our inactive slumber, our country will be inrepairable. While we allow countries like China to have Free Trade with us, inotherwords norestrictive, Communist cheap labor to produce the products we once as a nation took pride in, our working class disapears and becomes less heard. Produced by the USA for the USA, is not a new idea, we had to develope it many times to continue to survive as a nation.

Ask yourselve, what more could we do to change our current situation in our nation, remembering that when one is "well" or healthy, he or she can help others much better. Then look towards Ron Paul, he seems to answer the questions with common sence. Something we as a people of the US need to embrace if we will continue.

All nations can fail, given time with corruption, greed, and no foundation. We The People need to be heard again!!!

MDD

[Rhys]

gee, it's like we've been planning this for months or something. It's like all that hype about poll numbers and primary results doesn't matter. Hmm... wonder who clued in on that before the dems. lol

[Dan]

MWAA HAHAHA! We're taking over!

[Canuck Student]

sophisticated communication ?? lol

thnx for the laugh Mr Malcolm. You rock. Btw McAmnesty dosent have enough "bound" delegates to win on the first ballot. The thing is we didnt want any media coverage of this and it seems you just blew our cover. Cool with me,

btw did you know Ron Paul predicted black Monday in 1983? 4 years before it happened? he predicted the recession of 1987. forward to 01:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GzRWSof8uQ

also tell me what you think of this ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaxdUPNYj2s

[jeremyemilio]

PAUL/clinton '08!