RE: Bert, Aldo, & Ron Paul
Messages
| From: | Chris Schmink |
| Sent on: | Sunday, March 30 at 9:31 PM |
Bert,
I don't believe you'll fine a much stronger supporter of Congressman Ron Paul than Aldo. To accuse him of trying to divide us (and in your follow up email that said "divide to conquer"), is to seriously misunderstand him. While I don't speak for Aldo, he and I have talked many times, and I know of his dedication to the Ron Paul Revolution. You could not find a much better person if you tried.
At least some of us recognize that it is impossible for Congressman Paul to win the Presidency, and the next time around his age will most likely keep him out of the race altogether. Even Congressman Paul personally wrote to his supporters stating that he intended to keep his House seat, and focused his efforts on that race rather than lose his voice altogether. He still intends to go to the Republican National Convention and hopefully make some waves (and make the Revolution's concerns heard). The Revolution will continue - it has just taken on a new strategy, now that Ron Paul cannot be elected. We just aren't going to get 100 million or so write-in votes for Ron Paul.
If people continue to vote either Republican or Democrat, they send the message that the 2-party system is acceptable, and that they're willing to work within their respective parties. Many (most?) of us realize that the Republican Party is too far gone to be able to be "rehabilitated" internally. There are three (legal) alternatives.
1. Vote for Ron Paul as a write-in.
2. Vote 3rd party.
3. Don't vote at all.
Choice number one: if it's even reported at all (and you can bet it won't be), it will be reported laughingly, as a bunch of way-out kooks who refuse to see the reality of their candidate having lost in the primaries.
Choice number two: a growing number of people DO vote, but the vote gets registered for something other than the Democrat or Republican Parties. The more who actively vote for a 3rd party, the more emboldened others will become to jump on the Revolution bandwagon - even if they don't directly associate it with the Ron Paul Revolution. It will represent a growing segment of voters who DO still care, and who are actively committed to changing what has become "standard" from our so-called leaders.
Choice number three: if a growing number of people just don't vote, it (incorrectly or not) signals a growing apathy, as well as a direct signal that the power brokers in Washington are becoming even stronger, and can continue with business as usual - just formally elected by a smaller number of people, the rest of whom don't seem to care anymore.
Ron Paul won his district 70% to 30% against the Republican "establishment" candidate who promised Congressman Paul he would not run, but clearly didn't have any more integrity than 90%+ of the rest of the Congresscritters. He'll be there, representing not only his Texas district, but all of those of us who love Constitutional government, and put it ahead of the power-trips of men (and women) bent on control of this country.
I happen to agree with Aldo. I will vote 3rd party, so I help grow the percentage of voters in November who ARE voting, but not for the Republicans or Democrats. I still proudly keep my "Ron Paul Revolution" sticker prominently on my vehicle. The Revolution is a concept - it's not about a person (as Congressman Paul himself said many times). Aldo and I, and many others still active in this email group, are very much members of the Ron Paul Revolution, and intend to continue to fight (legally) in the Revolution. I've followed Ron Paul for well over 20 years, and could not have been more thrilled when he finally announced his candidacy just over a year ago. My heart sank as the numbers kept coming in so low (thanks largely to the media and very likely illegal manipulation of voting).
But the (Ron Paul) Revolution lives on. And I will resent any suggestion that Aldo (or anyone with similar thinking to him) is attempting any divide-and-conquer maneuver. It could not be further from the truth. Please get to know the people about whom you make statements, before you put those statements out in public - they end up reflecting something about you, whether intended or not.
Chris
At 03:40 PM 3/30/2008, you wrote:
I don't believe you'll fine a much stronger supporter of Congressman Ron Paul than Aldo. To accuse him of trying to divide us (and in your follow up email that said "divide to conquer"), is to seriously misunderstand him. While I don't speak for Aldo, he and I have talked many times, and I know of his dedication to the Ron Paul Revolution. You could not find a much better person if you tried.
At least some of us recognize that it is impossible for Congressman Paul to win the Presidency, and the next time around his age will most likely keep him out of the race altogether. Even Congressman Paul personally wrote to his supporters stating that he intended to keep his House seat, and focused his efforts on that race rather than lose his voice altogether. He still intends to go to the Republican National Convention and hopefully make some waves (and make the Revolution's concerns heard). The Revolution will continue - it has just taken on a new strategy, now that Ron Paul cannot be elected. We just aren't going to get 100 million or so write-in votes for Ron Paul.
If people continue to vote either Republican or Democrat, they send the message that the 2-party system is acceptable, and that they're willing to work within their respective parties. Many (most?) of us realize that the Republican Party is too far gone to be able to be "rehabilitated" internally. There are three (legal) alternatives.
1. Vote for Ron Paul as a write-in.
2. Vote 3rd party.
3. Don't vote at all.
Choice number one: if it's even reported at all (and you can bet it won't be), it will be reported laughingly, as a bunch of way-out kooks who refuse to see the reality of their candidate having lost in the primaries.
Choice number two: a growing number of people DO vote, but the vote gets registered for something other than the Democrat or Republican Parties. The more who actively vote for a 3rd party, the more emboldened others will become to jump on the Revolution bandwagon - even if they don't directly associate it with the Ron Paul Revolution. It will represent a growing segment of voters who DO still care, and who are actively committed to changing what has become "standard" from our so-called leaders.
Choice number three: if a growing number of people just don't vote, it (incorrectly or not) signals a growing apathy, as well as a direct signal that the power brokers in Washington are becoming even stronger, and can continue with business as usual - just formally elected by a smaller number of people, the rest of whom don't seem to care anymore.
Ron Paul won his district 70% to 30% against the Republican "establishment" candidate who promised Congressman Paul he would not run, but clearly didn't have any more integrity than 90%+ of the rest of the Congresscritters. He'll be there, representing not only his Texas district, but all of those of us who love Constitutional government, and put it ahead of the power-trips of men (and women) bent on control of this country.
I happen to agree with Aldo. I will vote 3rd party, so I help grow the percentage of voters in November who ARE voting, but not for the Republicans or Democrats. I still proudly keep my "Ron Paul Revolution" sticker prominently on my vehicle. The Revolution is a concept - it's not about a person (as Congressman Paul himself said many times). Aldo and I, and many others still active in this email group, are very much members of the Ron Paul Revolution, and intend to continue to fight (legally) in the Revolution. I've followed Ron Paul for well over 20 years, and could not have been more thrilled when he finally announced his candidacy just over a year ago. My heart sank as the numbers kept coming in so low (thanks largely to the media and very likely illegal manipulation of voting).
But the (Ron Paul) Revolution lives on. And I will resent any suggestion that Aldo (or anyone with similar thinking to him) is attempting any divide-and-conquer maneuver. It could not be further from the truth. Please get to know the people about whom you make statements, before you put those statements out in public - they end up reflecting something about you, whether intended or not.
Chris
At 03:40 PM 3/30/2008, you wrote:
aldo, you vote as you wish ,i'll vote for ron paul. divideing tactics wont work here.