"Ronstock" Rally Rocks Philly
Monday the money gods smiled favorably on Ron Paul's presidential campaign with a record breaking single day fundraiser that brought in $4.2 million. On Saturday the weather gods also smiled favorably as the cloudy and rainy sky cleared up just in time for the start of "Ronstock", a celebration of peace and freedom for thousands of Ron Paul supporters who gathered from all parts of the country at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Paul spoke extemporaneously and at considerable length, addressing his signature issues of peace abroad and freedom at home. The crowd responded enthusiastically to every serving of antiwar and antigovernment rhetoric.
Prior to the rally Ron Paul met privately with a group of supporters who, hopefully for the campaign, would donate a sufficient amount of funds that will at least partially pay the high cost of having the rally in Philadelphia.
In keeping with the Veteran's Day theme the campaign emphasized veteran's issues and support for the troops by ending the war and bringing them home. The campaign reserved space and set up chairs near the podium for hundreds of veterans who showed up to express their support for Paul's candidacy. Army veteran and country music artist Rockie Lynne got things started with a tribute to the veterans. John Holland, leader of an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of POW/MIA issues, spoke in support of a bill sponsored by Ron Paul that would open up government records pertaining to their status. New Jersey State Assemblyman Michael Doherty, a West Point graduate with three sons in military service, endorsed Ron Paul and said it was time for the US to stop being world policeman and do more to defend its own borders.
The campaign set up a tent with Internet service for media and bloggers reporting live from the rally. Comprehensive video coverage was available on justin.tv, and CNN had limited coverage on their web site. Among the bloggers was Kent Nowviskie, a veteran from West Virginia, who reported that one group of supporters, "Hoosiers For Paul", drove 12 hours from Indiana. Another blogger, Brad Porter, noted that he thought this was the biggest political rally he had ever been to and it was clear now that Ron Paul was attracting a lot more support than just 9/11 conspiracy theorists, libertarians, and web geeks. Ron Paul himself acknowledged at the end of his speech that he thought this was the biggest rally of his campaign so far, and it proved there was more support for his candidacy than a few dozen spammers on the internet.
Crowd estimates varied but prior to the rally the campaign reported approximately 2500 rsvp's on the rally's web site. Most observers who were there, including bloggers, reported at least two thousand and maybe as high as three or four thousand which would be about what the campaign and rally organizers expected. The Communications Director for the campaign reported about 5,000. The steady rain, coupled with cold and windy weather, until just prior to the rally likely impacted attendance. Regardless, it appears to be the largest Ron Paul campaign event so far.
Demographically, from observing various pictures and video of the rally, the crowd probably reflected the base of Ron Paul's support: predominantly white, middle-aged males. In many ways it is remeniscient of the kind of support for another antiwar paleoconservative populist who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996, Pat Buchanan. And most of us remember who won the New Hampshire primary that year.
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Bottom Line ... if you are PRO Constitution, you'll love Ron Paul. Look at his voting record.
If you are for war, greed, insanity, running this country into the ground then you'll support the others.
Other than Ron and Dennis, the rest offer us more of the same Death Road that America is walking right now. Again, look at the voting records of those the MSM is cramming down our throats.
Release the stranglehold of the Bush/Clinton Presidency cycle America. It's time to get well again.
Statesmen, not Politicans, are what we need. Damned few around but thankfully Ron is.
After eight years of disgusting Republican misrule, let's elect another Republican!
Don't support progressive Democrats, throw your money at a pro-life libertarian conservative because he had the horse-sense to oppose this asinine war! He deserves a medal! Such bravery and fortitude! What a hero!
"He believes oil is the answer"?!?
What was the question? I rather think RP would be the first candidate to cut government subsidies to both big oil and alternative energies. That would make the most sense given his stated policy positions. Let the market decide. If you want your wind energy, go get some. If you want your oil, well, you'll be paying for it, and perhaps significantly more than you're used to once we get out of the business of "securing" the supply in far-away lands.
Finally, after years of independents chipping away at the Dems, we have a guy out there who's going to rob the REPUBLICAN votes.
The Republocrates have a plan. Should Ron Paul's campaign become viable, they will embrace his policies long enough to destroy his candidacy. Then forget all their promises after the next election, returning to class warfare, wherein Corporate America controls Washington. What few recognize is that we live in an Oligarchy, not a Democracy.
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Ron Paul continues to gain steam--if the people were truly given the candidates that they support and who stand for them, it would be a contest between Kucinich and Paul--the debates on what government should and shouldn't be would be amazing--the discourse between these two gentleman would make Americans proud--the result would be a patriot in the White House
The pigs who control the centarl bank, the press, the parties and the miltary industrial complex will do everything in their power to prevent both of these real Americans from being heard--witness HuffPo's treatment of the actual frontrunner Kucinich--watch how hacks from both parties attack Paul
Ron Paul is the only candidate people think will stand up to AIPAC. For some that is more important than Medicare. That's about it. Not rocket science needed here.
VISUALIZE KUCINICH VS. PAUL
Ron Paul is insane. I agree that his stance on the war is correct, but this guy wants to completly dismantle the government. He wants to end the Dept. of Education, the FDA, the SEC, and other parts of our federal government who serve vital purposes. What would our skies and water look like without the EPA. How many "Enrons" would happen unpunished without the SEC's oversight.
Ron Paul's ideas are stuck in the 19th century. He shouldn't be put in charge of a 21st century economy, or military.
OBAMA 08
Ron Paul is the only candidate of either party who will stand up against the real financial terrorists of our age, i.e., the cabal of old world bankers and new world lickspittles draining our economy behind the mask of the grossly misnamed "Federal Reserve". These people are traitors to humanity and should be shot at sunrise.
There are a lot of things the Ron Paul supporters don't like to discuss about their candidate.
1. He calls himself a strict "Constitut
2. He calls himself a libertarian, yet he doesn't believe in the absolute right of a woman to choose.
3. He believes oil is the answer and refuses to support tax breaks and/or funding for the development of alternative energy solutions. He also simultaneously believes in drastically cutting military spending which is irresponsible foreign policy considering the fact that it would leave the nation almost completely dependent on Middle East oil without a strong military in place to guarantee its delivery.
The real whack-jobs are the ones supporting the "business as usual" candidates that reflect and support neocon agendas. This does not include Kucinich supporters who like Paul, is anti war and government corruption.
Expect the paid blog busters to be all over this one today to try to discredit Ron Paul and his supporters with distortions of his positions on issues.
If you love paying your income taxes, don't vote for Ron Paul.
If you love seeing life savings collapse with the sinking value of the dollar, don't vote for Ron Paul.
If you support the war and want to expand it to other countries, don't vote for Ron Paul.
It's your choice...
Ron Paul represents Repubs desperate grasp for relevance, I read he is a racist, anti-choice, doesn't support net neutrality, opposes national health care whats all the buzz about.
It just shows you how totally screwed the Republican Party is.
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Posted November 12, 2007 | 08:25 AM (EST)