Prop Day Is Here: What Would Ron Paul Do?
November 6th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I’ve been ruminating over these fiendish propositions for nearly a month, now — always, you know, with this notion in the back of my head of the futility of the project — since these things almost always pass. As you may know, the propositions up for a vote today will amend the Texas Constitution for things large and small, obscure and not so obscure, often incurring debt via bond issues.
Today’s voter turnout figures will be low, as usual, and even the best-informed voter out there does not know the full merits and demerits of each of the sixteen props — although we and others have done plenty of examination.
When I encounter political futility, I always think, what would the Libertarians do? After all, nobody can beat them at steadily managing a third-party presence on the ballot and just as steadily failing to place any candidates in office — every time. Still, they consistently carve out a couple percent of the vote.
The answer, in this case, is “When in doubt, vote no,” which I think is a fairly reasonable approach to such an expensive list.
That’s what Travis County Libertarian Party Chair Wes Benedict says was the general feeling among his comrades, although the TCLP did approve four of the props and had no position on four more (and deciding against the other eight, particularly the big bond props (4, 12, 15)).
I also asked Benedict what he says others have been asking, namely, what did he think Ron Paul’s run for president would mean to his party?
“It does both help and hurt in the short term,” he said.
He himself has donated $600 to Paul’s campaign. Yesterday, Paul, according to his website, broke all online fundraising records, raising more than $4 million*. This puts mainstream pundits in quite a bind since they have long equated electability with how much money a candidate can raise.
Benedict pointed out something I hadn’t considered. “The one rule is… you can’t vote in the Republican Party primary and be a Libertarian candidate,” Benedict noted.
Benedict wrote about this in a post that suggests Paul’s run will eventually help the national party. But, at one point he considers what would happen if all of the Libertarian conventioneers went and voted in the GOP primary for Ron Paul:
Unfortunately, by voting in the Republican primary, those Libertarian activists would cause the Libertarian Party of Texas to lose its ballot access. We would have no candidates anywhere else on the ballot. The Libertarian Party of Texas would effectively disappear.
Now, I know a lot of Republicans and Democrats that wouldn’t mind seeing that happen one bit, but, as Benedict notes, by the time Texas’ primary rolls around, the GOP nomination will probably be decided — so Libertarians can relax a little.
But, after losing a nasty GOP primary fight, would Paul consider running again as a Libertarian for president (as he did in 1988)?
Benedict did say he is “holding out a little bit of hope for that.”
* We apologize for a previous inaccuracy in the post.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Just wanted to let you know most sites and Ron Paul’s offical site are only claiming about 4.2 Mill in online donations for November 5th giving him a forth quarter total of over 7 Mill so far.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:53 am
FYI, Ron Paul raised $4 million yesterday. 7 million is the quarterly total.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:11 am
He raised about 4M, not 7M
November 6th, 2007 at 11:06 am
At this point Ron Paul can no longer be considered a “long shot” candidate. He clearly is a “top tier” candidate having passed by John McCain. Ron Paul dominates in the Straw Polls, Debate Polls, Fund Raising, Web Traffic and Grass Roots Networking.
I have created http://www.thecaseforronpaul.com so you can judge the evidence for yourself.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:17 am
You say only 4 million like thats a bad thing! What other candidate raised that much yesterday? And not to mention it was from individuals, aka voters, not corporations. I truly enjoy how people can see every glass as half empty.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Facts checked: 4.2 million raised. He started out from 2.8 million raised in the last month. So now he’s at 7 million. Go Ron Paul!
November 6th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I trust Ron Paul more than any other scum politician. All the politicians today are terrorist spy on the people war mongering gun grabbing scum. I completely trust Ron Paul, the next president of the united states. This is the US’s last hope. Without Ron, this country will be picked apart and the standard of living will drop.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
The very idea of “electability” is an interesting one, in that, WE THE PEOPLE determine someone’s “electability.”
It’s not the polls, or MSM or…whatever. It’s US!
The object of an election is to put into practice, at the governmental level, the ideals, that are consistent with the U.S. Constitution, I as a voter/taxpayer/American citizen deem beneficial to me personally and me corporately (being a legal citizen who cares deeply about my country).
It’s really quite simple: if enough of US decide that we want our government operating under such-and-such ideals, and we vote based on that desire (not the “lesser of two evils”), it can and does happen.
History, recent and not-so-recent, is replete with examples of “underdogs” triumphing: “Navy Beats Notre Dame, Ending 44-Year Losing Streak” (Nov. 3, 2007); “Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32” in “one of the greatest upsets in college football history….” (Sept. 1, 2007); in early-2003, Joe Lieberman was leading the field for the Democratic Presidential nomination yet failed to win any primary; in early-1991 Bill Clinton was at 2% and went on to win the Presidency; in early-1975 Jimmy Carter was polling at 1% and went on to win the Presidency.
Would to God that we as citizens would approach the election process with the fervor, intensity and no-holds-barred approach that we can see in life’s other activities. I can assure you that, although some members of the Navy and Appalachian State teams had their doubts, they were encouraged to believe in themselves and to make the best possible effort they could, being unwilling to settle for anything less than that best effort.
No, no, NO, folks! Our job as U.S. citizens and patriots is not to “pick a winner,” which seems to me to be a view which trivializes our opportunity and responsibility as citizens. We’re to carefully consider all our options and then vote based on what is best for our COUNTRY!
One by one, as each of us decides that our vote IS important and that we are modern stewards of this great country, for which so many have given so much, THEN we begin to realize what we must do.
For me, that means expending whatever resources I can to make right what so many have worked so hard to destroy: my country…the United States of America. This great land deserves nothing less than the best I have to give. Can I truly call myself a “patriot” having done less than I could for this great country? What kind of American am I to see an opportunity to install into the White House a man with demonstrable and impeccable credentials and then do little to nothing to forward that effort?
No! I will have no part whatsoever in sitting idly by as others who, in the name of God or Money or “Compassionate Conservatism” or “Honor” or whatever do their utmost to denigrate and dissolve this great country…MY country! RON PAUL for President! Viva la Revolución!
P.S. If someone doesn’t like the way the U.S. was designed to operate and opposes a return to that way of thinking and governance, I politely suggest they find another country that DOES provide all the services and care they desire from their government. (“Paging a Mr. Robert Altman and Mr. Alec Baldwin…Final boarding call for any and all flights departing America….”) But that is NOT the way the U.S. was designed and I, and millions of others, intend on returning the U.S. to it’s roots…it’s Constitutional roots.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
So, what is more important. Seeing your ideals come true? or Your Party?
I guess the answer is obvoius
November 6th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
“We would have no candidates anywhere else on the ballot.”
It’s time to set aside party-voting and focus instead on the one candidate with any possibility of turning the country around.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I’m a libertarian (small l) and I’d love to see the Libertarian Party disappear. They’re not mainstream libertarianism, but appear to be some kind of Randian offshoot. Aside from the philosophical problems, that form of libertarianism doesn’t sell well. Libertarians involved in that party should all migrate to and help take over the Republican Party. We need to go back to the libertarian principles of our Founding Fathers. And, I’m tired of people equating libertarians with Libertarians. It’s not the same thing.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I think that the Libertarians are smart enough to realize that when Ron Paul is elected President it will help them. It will pave the way for more right thinking politicians libertarian, democrat, republican..etc It Don’t let this liar shuck you into believing party is more important that effect. Govt is for the people by the people not the other way around.
We need a thorough house cleaning in govt. It is long overdue
November 6th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I’m a Libertarian.
For years we have been surrendering our vote to obscurity in unwitting cooperation with the media’s agenda.
We are now presented with only one viable option for making ourselves heard. We must restore constitutional, Libertarian roots to one of the two major parties who are in cahoots with network television and unwilling to relinquish control of the US Government.
Ron Paul has been thrust into the spotlight. The Neo-Conservative Republican base has dwindled greatly due to the over-extended war. The time to restore the Republican party’s conservative roots is at hand.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Interesting article and comments here.
Jed, I’ve taken some time tonight to consider your suggestion that “Libertarians involved in that party should all migrate to and help take over the Republican Party.”
Upon careful consideration, I’ve decided to continue my goal to once again break Libertarian records in Texas, as we did in 2006, by fielding a record number of Libertarian Party candidates in 2008, and by breaking our previous fund raising records as well. I will feed our candidates with venomous sound bites to attack individual Republicans for any of their votes supporting bigger government, thanks to this site: http://www.empowertexans.com/
I’ll work to kick out of office any weak Republican I can identify. I check past election results around the state to see which Republicans just barely won their last election to find targets.
Officially, I’m equally disdainful of the Republican Party and Democrat Party. But, between you and me, as a former Republican who thought Republicans supported more freedom and less government, I hate the Republican Party the way a man hates his ex-wife of ten years whom he caught sleeping with his best friend, apparently for 10 years, all the while charging the hotels and expensive meals to his credit card while claiming she was visiting her sick mother.
Democrats never lied to me. Like honest whores, they told me they were just after my money. In Travis County, I can see Republican Gerald Daugherty getting booted. At the national level, and I serve on the Libertarian National Committee, I can see, perhaps as a result of my efforts, recruiting a presidential candidate whom appeals to angry Republicans (check out Wayne Allyn Root), to help ensure the defeat of the ultimate Republican Presidential nominee. It will suck having Hillary or whatever Democrat for President, but at least they’re honest about wanting to grow government.
I think Ron Paul is the greatest American alive today. Unfortunately, the Republican Party hates Ron Paul.
Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian Party of Texas
512-442-4910
November 8th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Unfortunately Ron Paul won’t be elected, but the important thing about the money is that he has the staying power to hang around and make the debates a bit more substantive.
And don’t crown Hillary too early, with some of the unfortunate positions the Democrats are taking and Hillary’s support of them………the Republicans can still win. God, what a thought. But true, none the less.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
As a Republican who changed party to Libertarian, and then back to Republican when Ron Paul entered the race, let me say this. Ron Paul may or may not win the GOP nomination but his odds are increasing daily. If he does not win, virtually NONE of his supporters that I know will vote for any of the other GOP candidates and ditto goes for the Democrat candidates. We will either write his name in, or vote 3rd party because we are sick of being given a choice between wet dog food and dry dog food. It might be nice to have a good option to vote for from the Libertarian Party.