(no subject)
A lot of libertarian-leaning folks are looking with favor upon Ron Paul, a former Libertarian Party candidate (1988), who is now seeking the Republican nomination for President. He's getting some media time, which is heartening, due in part to the fact that he's refreshingly straightforward and very quotable. He's also drawing some criticism and mudslinging, which means he's at least rocking the boats of the more traditional marionette candidates. He's probably the only Republican candidate who has a hope in hell of attracting any of the left-wing anti-war vote, especially since he is not looking to ram morality laws down people's throats.
BUT - but-but-but. . .
The question is whether those same liberty-leaning types are willing to help Paul get the nomination. Business as usual won't cut it. snowowl points out a few interesting stats in this post - she points out that he has more YouTube subscriptions than all the other candidates from both parties combined, that his name is the second most Googled item ever, the number one Wikipedia search, and according to Technoblog, the most blogged about.
That's all well and fine, in fact it's great. But YouTube, Google searches, Wikipedia, and blogs don't get people nominated for President. Primaries, in some states, or caucuses in states like mine (MN), are how a candidate gets delegates committed to him/her and thus secure the nomination before the party convention. Major-party conventions in recent years have become media events, not real decision-making processes.
In other words, people who like Ron Paul are going to have to get off their butts and enter the Republican nominating process, by working for Paul prior to the primary/caucuses or at the very least, showing up at the caucuses (in applicable states). If the guy stays well back of the Big Three front-runners and remains a mildly-amusing sound bite, all those bloggers, Wiki mavens, YouTube vid-watchers, and Googlers will never get a chance to vote for him because he won't be running.
So - pass the word along to all those folks who may not know when their primary or caucuses are (Minnesota's caucuses are Tuesday, 4 Mar 2008) or who may not be aware what the requirements are to participate (you must be a registered party member in some states, to play) to put up or shut up. Standing back and scoffing at the "corrupt system" is pretty much a guarantee of the same old shit. Give it a shot, and if we can't get the Republican nomination for Paul, then and only then we can go back to sulking.
BUT - but-but-but. . .
The question is whether those same liberty-leaning types are willing to help Paul get the nomination. Business as usual won't cut it. snowowl points out a few interesting stats in this post - she points out that he has more YouTube subscriptions than all the other candidates from both parties combined, that his name is the second most Googled item ever, the number one Wikipedia search, and according to Technoblog, the most blogged about.
That's all well and fine, in fact it's great. But YouTube, Google searches, Wikipedia, and blogs don't get people nominated for President. Primaries, in some states, or caucuses in states like mine (MN), are how a candidate gets delegates committed to him/her and thus secure the nomination before the party convention. Major-party conventions in recent years have become media events, not real decision-making processes.
In other words, people who like Ron Paul are going to have to get off their butts and enter the Republican nominating process, by working for Paul prior to the primary/caucuses or at the very least, showing up at the caucuses (in applicable states). If the guy stays well back of the Big Three front-runners and remains a mildly-amusing sound bite, all those bloggers, Wiki mavens, YouTube vid-watchers, and Googlers will never get a chance to vote for him because he won't be running.
So - pass the word along to all those folks who may not know when their primary or caucuses are (Minnesota's caucuses are Tuesday, 4 Mar 2008) or who may not be aware what the requirements are to participate (you must be a registered party member in some states, to play) to put up or shut up. Standing back and scoffing at the "corrupt system" is pretty much a guarantee of the same old shit. Give it a shot, and if we can't get the Republican nomination for Paul, then and only then we can go back to sulking.