Ron Paul's biggest obstacle is that he has far more common sense than then average, self-centered & short-term focused American. He actually thinks and talks in complete thoughts. Sadly, that makes him unelectable in our selfish, soundbite culture.

Finally, a reporter who actually covers something interesting and having to do with changing our country for the better. You'll be considered a patriot for many years.

people shouldnt let the media decide who the next presidentis. Dont be lazy. Get online and read EVERYONE'S platform. Go to discussion groups and see what others are saying. Get informed. This is the 3rd "internet" election where information is readily available to the masses. If you dont like Ron Paul at least know what he stands for because you went to his site.

Yes, it is probable that Ron Paul has added staffers in the past few days, and may have up to 30 in Iowa. In October, Obama had 145 paid staffers in Iowa, Edwards had 130 and Clinton had 117 and all have probably increased their numbers. I don't know about the other Republicans, and wish you would report on the staffing, spending, and funding source(s) of all of the candidates. Thank you

Ron Paul's organization may not be as big or slick as that of others, yet if Paul has a chance, it will be because the people catch fire for Liberty. Paul had no organization to raise 19 million either, or to raise a Blimp, but the people accomplished it all. The same must happen for him to do well in Iowa. No bus will pick you up...you must make the trek yourself Iowan, for Liberty, and for Ron Paul.

He is Mainstream and the News Mafia had better get out of our way.

RON PAUL 2008

Well, that was a breath of fresh air. It wasn't even a smear article. Just good old reporting that included real information.

Thank you.

I voted for Bush twice. This election I am either voting for Ron Paul if he makes it on the ticket.If not, I will vote for Obama. Everyone else is no different than what we have. Wake up America. Please

Can Paul Go mainstream? Can birds fly? I am a 30 year old engineer with a wife and child. I would think I am pretty mainstream and I wholeheartedly support Dr. Paul. Nuff said.

I have carefully avoided becoming familiar with Ron Paul. Time is valuable and he is so unelectable that there is no reason to be aware of his thinking. I thought a lot about Ralph Nader and it was always a waste of time.

Ron Paul is mainstream...just not mainstream media.

Thank you very much for your positive comments regarding Dr. Paul. They were a breath of fresh air!

Heck yes, Dr. Paul can do anything. He has not become mainstream as he already was mainstream-the media just did not notice it until now. What a flashback-to the time of Goldwater and forty-four years ago.

Reporter Jason George quotes as his expert on Iowa Republicans one Professor David Redlawsk. True to DNC Swamp law, Mr. Redlawsk is a Democrat activist who's contributed big bucks to (among other Dems) John Edwards and Tom Harkin.

The DNC Swamp reporters can't seem to find an "expert" who isn't part of the 1/10th of 1 percent of Americans who are Dem Party uber-activists. But this can't be bias. Must just be a zillion-to-one coincidence...

"Ron Paul is mainstream...just not mainstream media."

Sadly, this is absolutely true.

Ron Paul received contributions from over 100,000 different people this quarter. He received $18,000,000 from those 100,000 people. His support is wide and deep. Look around your town and notice you see RP signs everywhere. Grab a cup of coffee and go to http://freeme.tv

My wife and I are in our mid 50's. I am degreed in Politcal Science and Economics, but I haven't voted since the late 90's. I donated $100 December 16th to Ron Paul. I've printed out a stack of Ron Paul brochures and am attending a "meet up" group tonight at the Farmers Market. I've never done anything like this in the past, but this is so fun!!!

I think I am main stream.

I am a college graduate, on the board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and a half dozen charitable organizations and served more than 10 years as Director of Marketing for a Fortune 100 company.

I am rgistered and voting for Ron Paul. Join the "Smart Revolution"!

Wow C. Perry...that's just fantastic reasoning. How's the sand anyhow? While you're busy with your head burried, the rest of us will try to repair the hell-hole this nation has become by voting for the one candidate who stands for something other than pandering.

Enjoy voting for the lesser of two evils again this season - it'll still be a vote for an evil. The only reason he'll be unelectable is because of chuckleheads like yourself.

"IF you believe the polls" is the key phrase in the article.

thats funny, they haven't been that reliable in the past for anything I'm not sure why now they are the gospel.

Let the people vote and find out, all these anti opinion pieces empower the campaign.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/

"I have carefully avoided becoming familiar with Ron Paul. Time is valuable and he is so unelectable that there is no reason to be aware of his thinking."

Ah, a call to ignorance - great strategy.

If you've 'carefully avoided' learning anything about this great American and statesman, how are you certain he's unelectable?

Time is indeed valuable but isn't the future of our country worth the 15-20 minutes it takes to research Dr. Paul's deeply principled and steadfast voting record in congress when the heavy lifting has already been done for you?

Try a little honesty. Advance the reasons why you support a different candidate instead of running around advising Americans to put on blinders this election for the benefit of your candidate.

America is waking up, realizing that it is not Government that makes us great it's the liberty of the people. Ron Paul sees our current Federal government as it is, a sort of parasite living on our collective backs pretending to protect and serve. Ron Paul knows that a constitutional government serves a critical purpose in our society and that without that function there is no America...We are beginning to understand just how far away from that function the Federal government has strayed. He is correct in saying we have become a nanny state that polices the world. I don't think there is an argument about that so much as there are people that believe that is a good plan and those of us who don't...Ron Paul is Hope for America. If a married 30 year old hard working professional with 3 small boys and a mortgage isn't part of the mainstream then who is?

"Imagine a pair of Ron Paul supporters and it’s doubtful that Carl and Leslie Bockenstedt come to mind: The couple is married, middle-aged and Mormon, and neither knows much about MySpace."

My wife and I are middle-aged, Mormon, and Co-Chairs for the Page County (Iowa) Ron Paul campaign. Oh, and I am also a family physician, chief of staff at our local hospital, the father of two school-aged children, and the reluctant owner of two spoiled cats. I guess WE don't come to mind either when you try to pigeon-hole Ron Paul supporters.

By the way, I am NOT a "paulite" and would request that you stop using the term. That is unless and until you start referring to our opponents as "McCainites", Giulianitards", and "Huckabozos". Thank you for your time.

Great piece. I was at a party last night that covered the whole political spectrum. The name on everyone's lips? You guessed it! Young, old, radical, conservative, Dem, Rep and Green were talking of voting for the Good Doctor. Whether he gets the nomination or not, his words are inspiring a groundswell. This will leave America a fighting chance for survival against the gangsters in Washington.

Great article!! Thank you for the straight up reporting.

-A Ron Paul Supporter

Ron Paul is not mainstream or electable if people don't think he is. It's all perception. There is a guy that I work with that won't even look into him because he thinks he's "too extreme, or too good" to get elected. It's like speaking it into being.

I think its funny how this article starts out talking about a main stream middle aged mormon couple that know little about the internet and love Ron Paul and then asked if Ron Paul can appeal to the main stream. I think you have your answer.

Thank You for a fair story.

Add two more "mainstream" Paulites to the list. I'm a 29-year old, former, die-hard conservative and my wife's a 29-year old, apathetic liberal...and we're both voting for Ron Paul in the Ohio primary.

Fair artical, thanks. Wish I was a bright-eyed cllege student but alas, I am just a soon to be middle -aged man completely fed up with politics as usual. I switched parties after a life time so that I can vote for Ron Paul.

HI, Thanks DR. No RON PAUL will win because the TRUTH will.

I am more than intrigued by Ron Paul, but wonder how he will respond to Bhutto's death. This moment may well determine if he is my candidate. How safe will my children be under his noninterventionist policies in this world of terrorism?

Here's some of what Ron Paul was writing in his newsletter in the 80s and 90s:

"Regardless of what the media tell us, most white Americans are not going to believe that they are at fault for what blacks have done to cities across America. The professional blacks may have cowed the elites, but good sense survives at the grass roots. Many more are going to have difficultly avoiding the belief that our country is being destroyed by a group of actual and potential terrorists -- and they can be identified by the color of their skin. This conclusion may not be entirely fair, but it is, for many, entirely unavoidable.

"Indeed, it is shocking to consider the uniformity of opinion among blacks in this country. Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty, and the end of welfare and affirmative action.... Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the "criminal justice system," I think we can safely assume that 95% of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.

"If similar in-depth studies were conducted in other major cities, who doubts that similar results would be produced? We are constantly told that it is evil to be afraid of black men, but it is hardly irrational. Black men commit murders, rapes, robberies, muggings, and burglaries all out of proportion to their numbers.

"Perhaps the L.A. experience should not be surprising. The riots, burning, looting, and murders are only a continuation of 30 years of racial politics.The looting in L.A. was the welfare state without the voting booth. The elite have sent one message to black America for 30 years: you are entitled to something for nothing. That's what blacks got on the streets of L.A. for three days in April. Only they didn't ask their Congressmen to arrange the transfer.

So I won't be voting for the bigot, no matter what he promises.

For all the media focus on his more unusual positions and his Internet supporters, Ron Paul has more mainstream appeal than any other candidate:

He is the only candidate on the mainstream side of all these issues:

Against the Iraq war.
For smaller government.
Against illegal immigration.
For lower taxes.
For a balanced budget.
For civil liberties.
For the Constitution.

Think about it. Can you say the same about any other Republican or Democratic presidential candidate? You can't.

On top of that, he's got more integrity than Americans have ever seen in a presidential candidate before, and a decades-long record of consistency the other candidates would give all the high-priced campaign consultants in the world for.

I think one of the most "telling signs" in your article were the carpools and buses set up for carrying voters to the caucuses. Ron Paul supporters will be there-- regardless! Several weeks ago when all other candidates' rallies were shut down due to ice, who showed up and did not cancel? Ron Paul supporters! Watch for it again!

Cheryl,

The newsletter racism smear was discredited months ago. The words weren't written by Ron Paul, and appeared in his newsletter without his approval. He has apologized for them.

More importantly, the words are directly at odds with his philosophy of liberty for all, and totally out of step with his decades long record of published writings. Search his Congressional site. Search RonPaulLibrary.org.

The New York Times dismissed the issue many months ago, concluding the words and the phrasing were totally out of step with anything ever written by Ron Paul.

Who in the mainsteam media will have the stones to see what is developing and will be able to later claim "I was one of the ones that called it first?"

[quote]
True to DNC Swamp law, Mr. Redlawsk is a Democrat activist who's contributed big bucks to (among other Dems) John Edwards and Tom Harkin.

Posted by: Bruce | December 27, 2007 10:06 AM
[/quote]

According to Opensecrets.org, Professor David Redlawsk has given $2900 to Democratic politicians in the past 5 years. This is what Bruce consiers "big bucks".

Vote
Can Presidential Candidate Ron Paul go mainstream?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1379

.

Ron Paul 08, here's another vote! Wake up people.

I am a married mother of 4 boys, all of whom I homeschool. I voted for Bush twice. I am very thankful to Dr Paul for waking me up to politics and showing me that there is another way besides the corrupt way that has been going on for decades. My husband and I have become politically active because of Dr Paul and will stay active so that we can take our government back - which is how it's supposed to be - By the People, For the People. Ron Paul gives us all hope for change. Finally.

Thank you for writing such an unbiased article. Other journalists could learn a thing or two from you.

Gosh, isn't it just amazing that average Americans could support the U.S. Constitution? How utterly shocking that people with full-time jobs and families actually support the founding philosophy of this country.

And to think that some supporters of the Constitution -- Patriots, they're called -- have accomplished so much of this using innovative online techniques.

In truth, all any of us need to do is to read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. For it is not just Dr. Paul per se that we support, but the message of those documents that he has championed unwaveringly through the years.

Ron Paul is a national treasure for apparently being the only consistent supporter of the Constitution in the entire federal government. Every moment he is on the public stage, he inspires everyday Americans and terrifies the corrupt political establishment.

We should be so lucky to have him as President.

How can you possibly be a "spoiler" in the primary/caucus process?

Mainstream media is dead. They are out of touch with reality and the people know it.

Thank god for the internet.

Snalg, I would not so quickly dismiss Ron Paul because he is too full of common sense. I think Ron Paul appeals to the common American, even though the MSM would like to dumb us down and make us think that we're hopeless. We the people, are the ones with the power!

RON PAUL is up to double digits at 10% in your mainstream polls, AND nobody has covered the story yet that there are WAVES of newly Registered Republicans across the nation who aren't getting phone calls in a 600 person sample size national poll. All I have to do is look out my window, look on the streets, and listen to my conscience. RON PAUL is leading. Here are some interesting points: the only candidate who can beat the democrats is RON PAUL. If he doesn't get the nomination as the Republican candidate, I suppose there is a slight possibility of a third party campaign. However, conservatives know, this would take from the conservative vote, leaving plenty of room for any of the top three democrats to defeat any of the republican candidates (Check the Top 3 dems VS any REP in mainstream polls) The only exception is RON PAUL. So bottom line: Its either RON PAUL or one of the three democrats. So the real question is; IS THE MEDIA READY FOR RON PAUL TO GO MAINSTREAM? lol!

A "spoiler"?

For whom? The people that vote in the primary for him?

He's real, he's got the people in the ground, and he has the money to go the distance. In fact, he probably has more money than some of the candidates Fox News, MSNBC and CNN are trying to shove down our throat.

He's no "spoiler" for anybody except for the idiots that want continued war and overspending overseas. The big surprise is most people don't want that. So he's no "spoiler" at all, he is simply, "The one that people want."

This is Iowa, come on, of course Ron Paul CAN and WILL win. My parents live in liberal Northern California and they tell me there are dozens of signs all over town in support of Ron Paul, and not a single one for any other candidate, Republican or Democrat.

130 paid staffers or 30 paid staffers, it doesn't matter. What counts in the end is voters willing to get out on a cold January night to vote for a candidate. Ron Paul's supporters are super-motivated and will pull off a peaceful freedom-loving coup.

RP will get a strong third, at the worst, in Iowa.

That means he will soundly beat Ghouliani, McCain, and Thompson, and discredit the pollsters.

To those of you who have doubts about Ron Paul: If you don't like Dr. Paul, fine. Don't vote for the person, vote for the Constitution. Look at the voting record of all the candidates. Look how many times each candidate referred to the Constitution and voted according to the Constitution. Watch the debates and see if there is any candidate who always goes back to the Constitution when it comes to domestic and foreign policy issues.

Then, if you are real Americans, vote for what defines these United States as a political entity: The Constitution of the United States. It is that simple.

Houston for Ron Paul!

I have carefully avoided becoming familiar with Ron Paul. Time is valuable and he is so unelectable that "there is no reason to be aware of his thinking. I thought a lot about Ralph Nader and it was always a waste of time.

Posted by: c. perry | December 27, 2007 9:50 AM "

Umm. Wow. Please stay home on election night.

Jeebus, that's the most incredible thing I've read in a long time.

I pray most Americans aren't like you.

Go Ron Paul!

Where is the apathy folks? I thought one vote didn't matter. Once people see Paul as president they will see things can change for the better if more people would become involved. I live in Indiana and for the first time have donated to a candidate. Bumper stickers and yard sign for me.

Cheryl:

That article was written by Eric Dondero, a Ron Paul staffer who Paul immediately fired after that article was printed in the Ron Paul newsletter.

Get your facts straight Cheryl.

Here is another "main stream" Paul supporter. I am a 39 year old Platoon Sgt in the US Army, my wife is a 34 year old UCC minister. While I do play World of Warcraft, I'm not what you call "internet-savey". I have to wonder what Ron Paul being a spoiler is all about? Is it that he might get more votes than the media says he should?

Come out to Rand and Palatine @ noon in Arl Hts on 12.29.07.

Watch alot of citizens of Illinois self organize for the message Ron Paul is speaking up about.
All types of folks, from all walks of life. Just showing up to say we believe in the message to our fellow Americans. Comming together in peace is what Ron Paul Brings.

We are tired of endless War, Torture, Deficts, and inflation.

Mitt cries, Huck insults religion by using it as a campaign slogan, Rudy remains sick, Tancredo quits, Fred sleeps and Ron Paul raises $6 million dollars in one day. Except for Dr. Paul, "[t]here's not a dime's worth of difference between" Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas, banning books like America Deceived (book) from Amazon, warrant-less wiretapping and the PATRIOT ACT. They are both guilty of treason.
Time to take sides, fellow patriots, you're either for liberty and Support Dr. Ron Paul or you're against liberty and damn us all.
Final link (before Stark County DIstrict Library bends to pressure and drops the book):

Dr. Ron Paul is mainstream!

www.aLoveLetterToAmerica.com

I voted for Bush twice and plan to vote for Paul or Romney.

Where have thes people been? on another planet it seems.
Guess what? Paul is the main "stream" on the new media.
The Old media is just now wondering if he's mainstream.
C'mon MSM get with the new century.

The power of the people will be felt in the upcoming months. Ron Paul has my family's vote along with most of my friends. These are people who don't normally vote. They will now. I'm in SC and hear a good bit about him. I think he is even stronger in the upstate. Dr. Paul has my full support. First time I have ever donated to a campaign and also bought a t-shirt and some bumper stickers. I am so excited about this election. It is time to take our country back from those who wish to profit off the people at the people's risk.

I'm big into Dr. Paul... but... I'm still waiting for him to clarify his stance on Gun Prohibition. With the recent mall and church shootings we can ill afford to place another gun nut in office.
The preceding bogus comment was funded by the good people at the CFR, working to brainwash the citizenry for a better tomorrow... for us.

Thanks for the article. I am a husband and father of two in my late 20's. Ron has finally said what I have been waiting for and we are out in force here in TN. We inform people daily about the revoulution. Count Ron for 2 more votes.

Some of these posts are not like the others, Some of these posts are not the same, If I have to make a distinction, Cheryl, Ellen, Dianne work for NSA.
Please sing to the old sesame street tune.

I am a 74 year old retired profesional who has little to gain from Dr. Ron Paul's election except increased liberty and respect for our government, respect which has been missing for decades.

And to be honest, in addition, more of my own money remaining in my pocket as a result of reduced taxes and lessened inflation. Retirement will be much less fearful if I know that my money will retain its purchasing power.

Nice to read facts instead of smears. Rare in this day and age.

Great Article--Great lead, Substantive, interesting, full of actual, factual reporting and nice twist at the end. After seeing so much poor journalism of late, this is a breath of fresh air.

Thank you for posting such a positive article about Ron Paul. I appreciate the fact that you centered the story around a "normal" Iowa family that is obviously representative of a large portion of Americans. Ron Paul's message is genuinely powerful and it spreads from person to person, from a couple like Mr & Mrs Bockenstedt telling their friends, to a journalist like Jason George telling his readers.

The Paul campaign still faces long odds. Most other campaigns organized statewide months ago and now have carpools and buses ready to ferry people to the caucuses. The Paul campaign has no such plan.

Luckily the Paul campaign does not NEED such a plan, thanks to the beauty of the self-organizing nature of free-willed individuals.

Only "traditional campaigns" that are centrally controlled have to rely on such top-down hierarchical structures.

Speaking of top-down hierarchical structures... who sent you the 'time to call Ron Paul a spoiler' memo? (Normally I'd use Google news search to follow the idea path, but with so many articles on the net about Dr. Paul, the originator may be safely hid in the past.)

Anyway, keep up the good work, the more you folks smear, the more people can see for themselves the evil that calls itself the MSM.

Ron Paul was being interviewed on CNN just now. Isn't that the mainstream?

Re:

"Perhaps the L.A. experience should not be surprising..."

Hey, the truth hurts!
I live in L.A. and this is a pretty fair assessment.
The Illegal Aliens got their share too! The armed Korean shopkeepers did O.K. fending off the looters. Coming to a city near you if McCain, Romney or Huckabee get elected.

GREAT article!

coherent, unbiased and very easy to read. really appreciate your effort to provide valuable analysis of the '08 campaign.

keep up the great work mr. george!

Perhaps some disabled RP supporters could catch a ride to the polls on one of those courtesy buses. How'd that be?

Ron Paul a "spoiler"?

Ah, well, a little ointment spoils the whole jar of flies . . . or something like that.

While I'm anything but 'mainstream', my mother and sister on the other side of the country certainly are. I was pleasantly surprised last month to find that even they support Ron Paul.

Ellen - "How safe will my children be under his 'non-interventionist poliices' in this world of terrorism?"

That's the wrong assumption and question. You're assuming that having our military maintain an empire around the world will make our country safer. Terrorism is a tactic - not the enemy. Is the enemy the Sunnis... the Shiias... the Kurds... 'Al-Qaeda' (whoever they are)? What is the definition of 'winning the war' or the 'surge working?' How do we know when we've 'won the war?'

This doesn't make sense: We were attacked in a guerilla-like fashion on 9/11, but we've sent over 100,000 conventional forces halfway around the world to 'fight terror.' I supported the war at first, but the more I think about it, the more it makes little to no sense. Think about this: Why are we 'fighting terrorism' in the Middle East but our southern border with Mexico is all but wide open?!

Don't just blindly support any policy because some politician has an "R" or a "D" behind their name. I've seen enough from this President - I can't continue to blindly support his 'Forever War on Terror.' Ron Paul is correct - this war is bankrupting our country if we're not already financially bankrupt. Look at the value of the US Dollar drop like a stone on foreign currency markets.

No smears? No "fringe candidate"? No "Dark horse"? No "bigot", "isolationist", or "extremist"???

I would subscribe to your paper, but because I'm overseas right now, I'll donate your yearly subscription rate to the Ron Paul Blimp.

Thank you!

This is to Cheryl and the regurgitated smear that already has been debunked months ago by several different sources.

First, I doubt if a racist bigot would say that Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks are two of his personal heros. I also doubt if a racist bigot would even consider an African American as a running mate...but Ron Paul has mentioned that he would like to have Walter Block consider the position of VP.

Additionally, read this, does this sound like the words of a racist?

"Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans only as members of groups and never as individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike; as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. Their intense focus on race is inherently racist, because it views individuals only as members of racial groups.

Conservatives and libertarians should fight back and challenge the myth that collectivist liberals care more about racism. Modern liberalism, however, well-intentioned, is a byproduct of the same collectivist thinking that characterizes racism. The continued insistence on group thinking only inflames racial tensions.

The true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence, not skin color, gender, or ethnicity. In a free market, businesses that discriminate lose customers, goodwill, and valuable employees- while rational businesses flourish by choosing the most qualified employees and selling to all willing buyers. More importantly, in a free society every citizen gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Rather than looking to government to correct what is essentially a sin of the heart, we should understand that reducing racism requires a shift from group thinking to an emphasis on individualism."

Good Story, thanks.

I am 45, married for 20 years, two kids in college, self employed and I am a patriotic American. I have never felt represented by my government, voted third party many times and the lesser of two evils on occasion. It has been clear to me that the dems and repubs for the most part were two side of the same coin.

I like some of the other posters have never participated in a campaign, donated money, joined a meetup, talked to people on the street, gone to rallies, send out e-mails to my friends and family etc. Until Ron Paul.

Finally somebody who is honest and is talking about the core issues that our county faces, somebody that doesn't try to dumb down to the lowest sound bite but instead leads average folk to a trail head and encourages then to search down the trail for the truth.

I ran into Ron Paul's name while researching how the federal reserve works, how the US banking system works, what constitutional income is, what is the Council on Foreign Relations and what are there goals for the US. I was also researching the truth about how the government hides the deficit, raids the trust funds and manipulates the CPI and other numbers in an attempt to say inflation isn't as bad as it really is. How can they spend money the don't have?

I do research for a living so this stuff was easy and I was diligent in my studies and Ron Paul's name kept coming up. So I started looking into him and saw a video or two and sort of poo pooed it as typical propaganda but I continued to research because I was impressed with what I heard. I read a bunch of stuff on the congressional archives and looked up his voting record and what do you know a "politician" that practices what he preaches!! Amazing. After I watched the full video of Ron Paul on Patriotism http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5792391565012624048 I knew I had to support this man with all I could muster as this is likely a once in a lifetime candidate I mean I am 45.

If the "mainstream" had any TRUE inkling of the undying dedication and innovation of Ron Paul's supporters, the term "spoiler" would not be bandied about so lightly or so frequently.

We've already proven this dedication with our [historical] donations and we will continue to prove it with our [historical] votes at the primaries.

We are like starving people in the desert that have finally come upon not just crumbs of bread and a puddle of dirty water, but a bountiful feast of plenty. And we're not about to let it go easily. We will fight for freedom and liberty and we will fight for Ron Paul to become President.

Never underestimate the power of truth and the messenger of truth to bring masses of people together like this election has like never before. And we fully intend to win.

Well said Republicae!!!!

The Albany, NY meetup group wrote lots of letters to Iowans. We hope personal and heartfelt efforts like this will make up for a lack of orderliness. Iowa-- please send the doubters a wake up call this Tuesday and vote for Ron Paul!

I just read another very fair story about the committment and creativity of Ron Paul volunteers in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Like this story, it presented the views of those who support Congressman Paul fairly and the writer and/or editors seem to have picked up on the fact that we might have "quite an interesting story here."

Good journalism. Thanks!

Bill Rice

Is Ron Paul WHAT?? electable you say? well, does a bear sh** in the woods?

It's nice to see a fair and balanced look at the Paul campaign. I think the MSM might actually be standing down now.

I'm a 38 year old lifetime Republican and mom to 3; my husband is a surgeon. How more mainstream is that?

Thanks for the nice article.

We're here. We exist. Yes, the polls are wrong. Yes, we will get off of the internet and we will vote and become delegates. Yes... how much louder do we have to be?

YES, we exist in large numbers and we're having so much fun!

And yes, we're going to deliver our states to Ron Paul.

To Cheryl: here's the source of the "Ron Paul is a bigot" campaign against Ron Paul:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=491696055385152495&q=jtf+ron+paul&total=8&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

It's all coming from the radical zionists.

I say radical because Ron Paul has support from:

www.zionistsforronpaul.blogspot.com and www.jews4ronpaul.org and there's also a "blacks for Paul" but I don't know the address.

Also, look at the people represented here as Ron Paul supporters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqGSfmQV11w&feature=related

When these articles say that "Ron Paul has a staff of only 30" do they take into consideration that for each paid staff member, hundreds of Meet-up volunteers are working behind the scenes FOR FREE! That is the kind on support Dr Paul has EARNED based on how he has conducted both his personal and professional life. Can any other candidate make that claim?

Go Ron Go!

www.ronpaul2008.com

Here is a link to a pole you may find interesting.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2007/12/21/straw-poll-dec-21-jan-4/297#comments

Here is a link to a pole you may find interesting.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2007/12/21/straw-poll-dec-21-jan-4/297#comments

Thankyou for a fair and balanced article. Reporting the news intead of trying to "mold" the news is a rare quality these days. You've made a lot of new fans and friends. Happy New Years and best wishes!

Ron Paul 2008!

Even if Rod Paul is not the "official" candidate, you can still vote for him. All you have to do is a write in vote. No matter your registration, once the general election is here, you can vote your choice at the polling place. I learned how to do this at the last local election I voted in this year.

to: Republicae | December 27, 2007 7:45 PM post...

thank you. that was the most enlightening, expressive explanation of racism and included our remedy for what ails so much of our society today. Liberty!

Our sleeping giant is awakening...check out AOL's nationwide straw poll. Almost 165,000 republican votes have been cast across the USA.

results so far:
Ron Paul is winning in all but 3-5 states: (NY,NJ)
Back' n 'forth in:
UT, AR,& MS.

Current % of votes;

Ron Paul....31%
Giuliani....17%
Huckabee....16%
McCain......14%
Romney......13%
Thompson.....8%
Hunter.......1%

link to this poll:
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/
2007/12/21/straw-poll-dec-21-jan-4/289

Restore the Republic!
Vote Intelligence!
Ron Paul 2008-
Iowa for Dr. Paul!

Ron Paul is a breath of common sense. I am amazed at the support he has but the media seems to not take the internet seriously... As if most voters use land line phones for their inaccurate polls. It is crazy... I think Ron Paul is going to surprise everyone.

Ron Paul is Hope for America!

Are you for real, C. Perry? Why are you wasting your valuable time reading and posting here?

Glad to see all you "mainstream" fellow supporters!! But just so you don't forget, I'm one of the young college supporters and we're all here too!

We are also the "model family", business owners in our mid- 40's I too voted for Bush both times. Ron Paul has my vote as well as my husband and children. I am tired of having "middle class america" farmed out to fight other country's wars. I am tired of being lied to by politicians. Ron Paul is like a breath of fresh air, a good decent man that stands for what we are, Americans.

Republicae, Dr. Walter Block is white. I think you mean Dr. Walter Williams. Easy mistake, of course, as each is an advocate of free-markets and an economics professor with a Ph.D.

If Ron Paul gets the GOP nomination (and he will!), he will win the general election. If he does not win the primary, a pro-war Democrat (e.g. Sen. Clinton) will win the Presidency. I don't base my vote on party affiliation, I base it on policy, and Dr. Paul has a track record inclined toward Liberty--a very rare sight in either Establishment party.

Sincerely,
Alex Peak
Baltimore, MD

"if you build it, they will wake up.."

Go RP campaign, supporters, and those who will wake soon!

I'm a democrat who is going to vote for Ron Paul.

Tom Dennen

No other candidate is promising to America out of even Germany.

I'm tired of paying a trillion a year so our petty tirant in chief can prance around on the world stage waving his guns. Give me a president who wants to lead America, not one who wants to control the world.

Soccer Moms for the change in direction because we vote for what is best for the kids.

Ellen said: "I am more than intrigued by Ron Paul, but wonder how he will respond to Bhutto's death. This moment may well determine if he is my candidate. How safe will my children be under his noninterventionist policies in this world of terrorism?"

The question is Ellen, has over 109 years of direct intervention by the United States in over 200 countries around the world made you and your children safe?

We should all consider this question, since this interventionist policy has been employeed and yet the results have not made us any safer. If it had worked I dare say we would not be in the situation we are today. It has not made the world safer, it has not "spread democracy", it has only spread hatred for this country and put our people in more and more danger.

Concerning the assassination of Mrs. Bhutto, it makes one wonder just how many times our government will make the same mistakes. Consider this, once again it appears that we have thrown all our support behind another Dictator, we apparently didn't learn our lessons with the Shah of Iran and now we have done the exact same thing in Pakistan.

Do you think that our so-called "leaders" have a short attention span or that with a combination of a flawed ability to reason logically?

After a lifetime of being a Republican I was going to change party affiliation and become a democrat. I had my voter registration form in hand when someone said "Google Ron Paul". Thanks to Ron Paul I am able to remain a Republican, and do so in good conscience. Ron has my vote.

I am a 37 year old male that also voted for GWB twice. I am a lifelong member of the Republican party & have come to the realization that my party has abandoned it's common sense views & are being controlled by something I don't see as far,balanced or good for this country.

Viva Ron Paul!

The question is can Ron Paul go Mainstream? My next question would be why does he need to? The people that are going to vote aren't getting their information on candidates or making their voting decisions from the information they get from TV or Newspapers (old mainstream media) and haven't in a long time. The majority of true voters are getting their information from the internet. I personally spend roughly 2 hours a day on my computer, and spend maybe 30 minutes a week watching my local news on TV. I haven't bought a printed paper since I decided that was how I would help save trees, and help our environment.

The Internet has been a great source for everything I need, and I get to choose what I want to read and watch. When I go to some of the major news internet sites they only blurt out their opinions, and we the American people are on to them. They no longer report the news, they give you what they want you to believe. True journalism no longer exists, and hasn't for a long time, look at the junk you get from CNN, Msnbc, CBS, and Foxnews. They are all bias, and do as their masters request. Look at the smear article about Ron Paul that recently had to be retracted from The New York Times, it was a total lie, and they are supposed to be professionals, LOL...

These mainstream media groups make money off of the war and keeping the truth from the American public. They have been doing this for the last 10 plus years and it is a joke amoung us internet users, we see right through their deceitfulness. The American public has caught on and we now have better ways to get the REAL news, it's via the internet, meetup groups, facebook, in person with other individuals, ect. Why do you think the government wants to control the internet, they want to control us, and feed us with untruths, and the mainstream media is going right along with them. Wake Up America, don't continue to be slaves. Smaller government means the truth has more of a chance to be heard and seen as it truly is, think about it. The only way Ron Paul has a chance to get on the so called mainstream media is if this media would be fair and balanced regarding all the candidates, and not just report on the ones that will continue their money making schemes. Find out for yourselves who owns the big media corporations, and you will find they are all tied to the big companies making money off of the war. Don't take my word for it, do some research on the internet. I was amazed to see media groups that are owned by or share holders of GE. GE makes a lot of weapon and military related items. Do the research folks, don't let this manipulation continue.

Ron Paul has my vote and support. Remember Ron Paul is the only candidate that will not regulate the internet, think about that the next time you are on here. Also, he is the only Republican running that will put an end to this war and bring our troops home now. This alone will save our country billions immediately, and remember we have more threat from so-called terrorist coming from our undefended and open borders than anywhere else, but the so called mainstream media won't tell you that. If you love this country take the time to do some research, please don't continue to help these neocons destroy this country. If any of you think I am Unpatriotic or UnAmerican, I want you to know, I am an American minority, and a former military soldier for this country. I love America, and want us to start using Our Constitution again. Ron Paul for Liberty and Freedom, and the rights of all American citizens.

The question is can Ron Paul go Mainstream? My next question would be why does he need to? The people that are going to vote aren't getting their information on candidates or making their voting decisions from the information they get from TV or Newspapers (old mainstream media) and haven't in a long time. The majority of true voters are getting their information from the internet. I personally spend roughly 2 hours a day on my computer, and spend maybe 30 minutes a week watching my local news on TV. I haven't bought a printed paper since I decided that was how I would help save trees, and help our environment.

The Internet has been a great source for everything I need, and I get to choose what I want to read and watch. When I go to some of the major news internet sites they only blurt out their opinions, and we the American people are on to them. They no longer report the news, they give you what they want you to believe. True journalism no longer exists, and hasn't for a long time, look at the junk you get from CNN, Msnbc, CBS, and Foxnews. They are all bias, and do as their masters request. Look at the smear article about Ron Paul that recently had to be retracted from The New York Times, it was a total lie, and they are supposed to be professionals, LOL...

These mainstream media groups make money off of the war and keeping the truth from the American public. They have been doing this for the last 10 plus years and it is a joke amoung us internet users, we see right through their deceitfulness. The American public has caught on and we now have better ways to get the REAL news, it's via the internet, meetup groups, facebook, in person with other individuals, ect. Why do you think the government wants to control the internet, they want to control us, and feed us with untruths, and the mainstream media is going right along with them. Wake Up America, don't continue to be slaves. Smaller government means the truth has more of a chance to be heard and seen as it truly is, think about it. The only way Ron Paul has a chance to get on the so called mainstream media is if this media would be fair and balanced regarding all the candidates, and not just report on the ones that will continue their money making schemes. Find out for yourselves who owns the big media corporations, and you will find they are all tied to the big companies making money off of the war. Don't take my word for it, do some research on the internet. I was amazed to see media groups that are owned by or share holders of GE. GE makes a lot of weapon and military related items. Do the research folks, don't let this manipulation continue.

Ron Paul has my vote and support. Remember Ron Paul is the only candidate that will not regulate the internet, think about that the next time you are on here. Also, he is the only Republican running that will put an end to this war and bring our troops home now. This alone will save our country billions immediately, and remember we have more threat from so-called terrorist coming from our undefended and open borders than anywhere else, but the so called mainstream media won't tell you that. If you love this country take the time to do some research, please don't continue to help these neocons destroy this country. If any of you think I am Unpatriotic or UnAmerican, I want you to know, I am an American minority, and a former military soldier for this country. I love America, and want us to start using Our Constitution again. Ron Paul for Liberty and Freedom, and the rights of all American citizens.

c perry writes
"I have carefully avoided becoming familiar with Ron Paul. Time is valuable and he is so unelectable that there is no reason to be aware of his thinking. I thought a lot about Ralph Nader and it was always a waste of time."

You don't get a prize for voting, but you do get to keep your integrity by voting with principle or lose it being a whore for who the press says will win.

The problem is America has too many vote whores and not enough people who vote with integrity. But that is changing.

Go Ron Paul.

38, married married for 10 years, 1 child. I work for Merrill Lynch as an IT Architect. I am mainstream and have caught the Dr. Paul message, no thanks to the 30 or 60 second sound byte commercials that have become american politics. I have not voted in 20 years and the first time I voted I voted Dem. Dr. Paul cured my apathy so of course I had to re-register Repub so I can vote for him in the primary.

I firmly believe that those who don't support Paul either have not gotten the message, or if they have, they do not understand it or how governmnet actually works and that Dr. Paul can't just wipe out the IRS, CIA etc. etc. without working with congress, and these people miss the point that it is the direction.

You're either for continued big gov growth, big gov spending, policing the world with 700 bases and troops in 130 countries, more tax and spend, or borrow and spend, and adding to the 9 trillion debt with 45 trillion more in commitments. IT IS THE DRIECTION.

The clear direction of smaller governmemt, less taxes, less government intrustiona and NO national ID, and his stance on protecting the borders and removing the crazy subsidization of illegals through free school, welfare, food stamps and drivers licenses for them.

On hos foreign policy I think he is right on. Why do we need to maintain 700 bases in 130 different countries? There are no foreign bases here in the US but we HOST foreign troops ALL THE TIME. When I was in the navy we worked with Aussies, Koreans, Germans, Swedes. We can be hosted in other nations, but maintain an empire and bases everywhere, well we just can;t afford it.

On immigration, how ridiculous that we will be forced to carry a national ID by 3/2008 when it seem so simple and obvious is that the thing to do is simply enforce immagration law AND DON"T GIVE ILLEGALS DRIVERS LICENSES, AND THEREFORE A NATIONAL ID FOR CITIZENS AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS NOT REQUIRED. We have drivers licenses and illegals do not. Why a nat id.

GO RON GO. Ron PAul '08.

Ellen, who do think killed Bhutto and why?

You do know that Bhutto stole around 6 Billion dollars from Pakistan (thats why she was in exile)?

You do realize that she would have lost the election her only supporters are the ones you see in the camera. Would you vote for a president that stole 6 Billion from the US Treasury? If you voted for Bush, you have voted fro a president that stole trillions from the economy?

Everything is theatre Ellen - so you will be scared and say your fear is the reason you vote.

Quit being afraid Ellen - life is short - instead - examine the facts you use to justify your fears.

Fear is a tool to manipulate the masses. It starts when we are young and usually revolves around an acquired fear of death:

If I die
Before I wake
I give the lord
My soul to take

Don't give your soul to your fears Ellen - that's what the puppeteers want you to do?

Ron Paul is such a breathe of fresh air that the mainstream media is choking on the polution of there bias postions.

"Mainstream" is equivalent to status quo. This type of mentality is what has brought us record debt and deficit, perpetual warfare, and corporatocracy.
It also represents "old media" and their refusal to admit that times and methods of information dispersal have changed dramatically. They constantly and smugly tell us who is a viable candidate(or not in Paul's case). Even these "official" polling methods are so seriously outdated, they have much less credibility than an internet poll without IP checks. I haven't owned a land-line in almost 10 years, but this is the polling methodology? Get ready for a big surprise in Iowa and and even bigger surprise in New Hampshire.

Ron Paul is often interviewed and financially supported by the so called "9-11 truther" crowd. According to them, Muslims never do anything wrong. They blame all terrorism first on the US, then Israel, the Jews, then blacks. They sound like either stealth Nazis or stealth Klansmen or both. The "9/11 truthers" spend a lot of time commiserating with racial separatists over the plight of Aryans and tax cheats. If Ron Paul lies down with dogs, he gets up with fleas.

Thanks for the fair reporting! As to the hope that Paul will win (either nomination or election) I must admit that about 3 months ago I thought he didn't stand a chance... but slowly, people I knew and had introduced to Paul's views, finally, after doing their own home work, became his supporters -- They didn't know anything about him before I brought him to their attention. My few "converts" are: my wife and sister-in-law (the latter a devout Catholic who likes his views on abortion) my son, a business executive, three of my best friends... and so it goes. Who knows, damn, he just might win! I'm working on my other son and my daughter and my son-in-law... what a coup that would be!

29.12.7
Your reader's comments at the top are accurate when they said: "Ron Paul's biggest obstacle is that he has far more common sense than the average, self-centered & short-term focused American. He actually thinks and talks in complete thoughts. Sadly, that makes him unelectable in our selfish, soundbite culture."
But I am British and an optomist, despite the weather here!
It is apparent to me that most Americans still seem to have no idea of what
the FEDRAL RESERVE and your IRS have been up to in the USA since 1913.
Watch Texas Senator Ron Paul speak about it! Watch the late Aaron Russo's
"America: From Freedom To Fascism" online or on DVD. This should enlighten
you what millions of us around the world think of America. You have a major
problem in your country, which millions of us around the world are aware of.
You ALL need to take on the Feds who by the way, are 'no more federal than
Federal Express'(quote: Aaron Russo) by organising and co-ordinating your
efforts and understanding of how you are being coerced to 'toe-the-line'.
You have an illegal government walking through the planet without regard
for anything except the corporate / governmental power base that has
usurped your Constitution.
You all better wake up to it now as we are heading towards a 3rd WORLD WAR
and your tax 'system' AND the Chinese are paying for it!
STOP paying this illegal INCOME TAX now, on mass!
According to 8 Supreme Court judgements in the 1920's, the 16th Ammendment
did not confer any new powers on the government. Therefore your Income Tax
was a fraud and has been ever since.
Check these facts and get this information out there before the elections!
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE now, on mass! Then they will eventually capitulate.
Ron Paul has stated that he would abolish the Fed, IRS, Education Dept. and Welfare after going through a transitional period, to help those on welfare get off it and to stabilise the American economy. He will do this by bringing all your troops home thereby saving billions, and at the same time allowing the world breathing space.
As I said, I am British and yet I realise that your vote over there is worth the whole world to us over here. We are hanging by a thread, all of us, so please get your readers to understand the enormity and scale of the problem. If Ron Paul fails, we will all go down the tube by 2012, and I am deadly serious!
Are your readers aware of the impeachment proceedings against Dick Cheney for LYING to you all, plus five other counts??!! Do something people, on a local level, as you are the only ones with the power to radically change the world!
Kind regards,
Kai M.Jansen

"Ron Paul is often interviewed and financially supported by the so called "9-11 truther" crowd. According to them, Muslims never do anything wrong. They blame all terrorism first on the US, then Israel, the Jews, then blacks. They sound like either stealth Nazis or stealth Klansmen or both. The "9/11 truthers" spend a lot of time commiserating with racial separatists over the plight of Aryans and tax cheats. If Ron Paul lies down with dogs, he gets up with fleas."
Blah, blah, blah. Smear, smear, smear. Debate the issues or shut the hell up!
I'm sick of you establishment cronies attacking with blatant lies and hate. You like your slavery then fine. "If ye love wealth more than liberty, and the tranquility of servitude more than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were ever our countrymen." -Sam Adams-
You sir are a coward and a slave. You are the reason we have a government that tramples all over our right and freedoms. You are the reason the traitors in our government slaughter thousands of people and make others hate us and attack us. You and people like you are the reason "terrorists" attack us. You imperialistic scum. Our foreign policy is why they hate us. It does not mean that the American people are responsble. What Ron Paul is trying to tell every ignorant neo-con fascist like yourself is that they bomb us because we bomb them. What is so hard to understand about that. "An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind." -Mohandas Gandhi-
Read a book and grow a brain.

If Ron Paul doesn't get the GOP nomination, I guess there will be no point in voting at all in November. The rest are just more of the same.

"If Ron Paul doesn't get the GOP nomination, I guess there will be no point in voting at all in November. The rest are just more of the same."

I will vote for Ron Paul even if I have to write his name on the ballot. It is my voice to be heard; it is my statement of what I believe. Even if it is only a whisper among the roar of lions, it is what I believe is the truth I speak. The truth, though thrown asunder and smothered and smeared still remains that which it is. My absolution will lie in my steadfast support in what I believe is right. And no man will ever take from me my voice. Even if it merely a whisper.

Add another 44 year old husband and his 45 year old wife to the list of mainstream Americans who will wake up on our primary day like we were 5 year olds again and it was Christmas Day to cast our votes for the only man running who stands with and for We, the People and against 30,000 plus corporate lobbysists and Banksters who prowl around in Washington DC. We have vowed to never again give away our power in the voting booth to "representatives" who will take our power and hand it over to these lobbyists. We are owners of our own nursery business now for 19 years and have three children, 19, 21 and 23...all who will vote for Ron Paul. None of us have been called by the pollers:)

For the love of our Country and our families..we have to get this man elected. Thank you for this story.