March on DC is a mistake

This march is a mistake.

It will divert time and resources away from strategic action designed to overcome the points of failure exposed by RP's 2008 run. These points of failure MUST be addressed in less than one year IF we are going to run people for congress in 2010 and in less than three years IF we are going to run a candidate for president in 2012.

The March is a road trip and party that will not be covered by the MSM. It will have no impact on the consciousness of the mass of the American people. Marching for effective change requires people in the streets all over the nation for a long period of time. Remember the Civil Rights marches - the fire hoses, the police dogs and night sticks. Remember the Vietnam war marches that included deaths and broken bodies all across this nation - Chicago, Kent State and so on. 'A March' will accomplish nothing when we have much to accomplish.

I'll lay it out without any sugar coating. While Ron Paul's 'Freedom is Popular' message is very popular, his strategies to achieve the vision have been less than stellar. His refusal to stand up during debate and call out those who systematically deprived the American people of hearing about this campaign, this candidate and these policies was a critical error. Were it not for the efforts of the R3v grassroots, RP would not have had the resources to go beyond Iowa and New Hampshire.

Now when I hear him say he's going to spend every dime of the grassroots treasury then fold, I wonder how he could view the grassroots treasury differently than the public treasury. One to be wasted and the other revered?

The Ron Paul HQ and even RP himself have made very poor strategic decisions this last month or so.
- Refusal to confront the MSM and GOP blackouts during debates
- His failure to make FOX pay for his exclusion from the debate in NH
- Refusal to confront obvious election fraud in New Hampshire
- A weak protest over the election fraud in Louisiana
- An MIA approach to calling out the GOP's exclusion of him in a variety of ways
- His HQ decision to go for a 'brokered' convention (really? Considering the GOP and MSM blackout and the silence of the other GOP candidates regarding this undemocratic treatment...)
- His 'Run until the money and support are gone' attitude
- And now this March on Washington DC

Meanwhile, an organization dies in the womb that could be dedicated to solving the points of failure that have defeated RP2008. This organization could identify, recruit, train and support candidates to win positions as Secretaries of State, County Clerks, GOP and Dem party county and district chairs and congressional candidates - specifically and strategically addressing both vote fraud and a winning coalition in congress to move our shared ideals forward.

Foregoing a real battle plan, a road trip and DC Mall party has been chosen instead. This is hardly a serious attempt to lay the foundations of the next stage of the R3v. This 'show' vs 'substance' approach will fail - period. But RP and a large following are now committed and neither logic nor better opportunities will deter the Mall Party.

Have fun in DC, but once it's over and the MSM press is nearly zero and the long term impact is less then zero, what will be the next mistake planned to continue burying the 'movement of a generation?'

I apologize for being so negative, but watching mistake after mistake take this movement down is disheartening and disturbing. The grassroots that made this movement go are now lost for a lack of any organizing goal. The RP Presidential race was a light that attracted millions really. Now that light is gone, and the grassroots are aimless.

Now the positive ...

The Basic Media initiative has potential to begin to help address the point of failure orchestrated by the MSM with full support by the GOP and its field of Presidential candidates. Instead of throwing money away by heading to the DC march, I will be putting a portion of my scarce resources behind that initiative.

There are two other fields of opportunity I will be sowing seeds in to establish a good foundation for the continuation of the movement. As with the Basic Media initiative, these two are strategic in my opinion.

As much as I like having fun, this is no time to party. We are under attack, our shared socio-political and economic viability has a boot on its throat.

My word of advice on the subject of this DC march is, be sure that once it's over you have the emotional and financial strength to engage in strategic efforts to move this cause forward.

David Sadler
www.david-sadler.org

Ron Paul opened our eyes....he helped us to read, listen, investigate, and take action.....

The most important thing any of us can do is go back home and look in our backyards and do something about our local politics. Get Paulites in Congress, in public office.....turn things around from the inside out. It can be done and it will be done.

The March.....though it will not effect Ron Paul's candidacy (and I wholeheartedly agree with you Mr. Drake :) it will bring inner strength and power to the people who will look inside themselves and realize that they are not alone and that they can make a difference.

Ron Paul has awakened the apathetic and those whom never even paid attention before.

He has done a great thing.
and for that....this great man will go down in history.....


but he won't if everyone goes home after this is all over, put's their tail between their legs and starts baaa baaaaing once again.....

"There are two other fields of opportunity I will be sowing seeds in to establish a good foundation for the continuation of the movement."

I would like to know what these are.

There is a potential major flaw going forward if there are numerous different ideas and inititives that break the movement apart. I am reading alot of RP message boards and so far there are about a dozen things in the works for one thing or the other.

It would be great if somehow all these ideas could be placed under one banner to achieve the greatest impact.

David, I hate to agree with you on this. I really do. The March on Washington idea is something that gives me hope at a time when I desperately need some. But you've laid out a solid case.

The money spent on a march might likely better be spent defending his own congressional seat. I wish he'd get the 400K he needs for that already because right now that is a donation distraction. (He's at almost 311K as I write this so maybe the goal will be reached soon).

I agree with you about the need to take over local GOP. But I first heart this from Rand Paul at a rally here in Nashville. I'm glad to see that Ron Paul supporters in Alaska have already taken that advice. We're putting together a structure to do that here in TN.

Here's how I'd like to see the rest of the campaign money spent. I wish Dr. Paul would to a "scorched earth" policy on John McCain. Hit on corruption and the Keating 5. But more importantly talk about the lunacy of advocating for 100 years of war in Iraq and expecting 100K more troops to join for a war that has nothing to do with terrorism. Point out that Pakistan is YET AGAIN negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban and that we can NEVER win a war on terror by giving foreign aid to a country that is giving aid and comfort to our enemies. In fact, the more I think about it, scratch talking about the Keating five. Focus solely on what a failure this war on terror has been. That's important for building the base for the future.

That's my advice if he stays in until the convention. If he drops out then split the money among congressional candidates that support his vision as you have suggested. If four or five new "Ron Paul like" candidates got sent to congress that would send a bigger message long term than even winning a primary.

Also if the march happens in June (or later) that will be too late to have an effect on any of the last big primaries.

I think one of the strengths of the campaign is also one of the weaknesses. There has been a lot of creativity from the grassroots that Ron Paul has risen on. The money bombs were pure grassroots driven. So was the blimp. So was the "Ron Paul air corps". But grassroots pressure can't get Ron Paul to change his personal campaign style. I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks it's time to go negative on John McCain just like I'm sure you're not the only one to think he should have showed more anger at the lack of time given during the debates. He and Huckabee did have a few good "zingers" in there, but I was hoping for an "I paid for this microphone" moment. The march on DC has come up from the grassroots. It's nice and bold if not strategic.

Goodness David, I wish I hadn't read your post. :( I can only hope that more comes out of the march than what you predict. But that doesn't stop us from acting on the local level. I also think it's time to start using technology better. Why not start having monthly virtual town hall meetings streamed over the internet? That could go a long way to keeping the various groups coherent.

Regards,

John M. Drake

Now when I hear him say he's going to spend every dime of the grassroots treasury then fold, I wonder how he could view the grassroots treasury differently than the public treasury. One to be wasted and the other revered?


- His 'Run until the money and support are gone' attitude


-

What happens to that grassroots treasury when he calls it quits?

I'm not 100% sure, but doesn't that money go directly to the GOP presidential fund? If Ron Paul can't use that money for his congressional, where else would it go? Usually campaigns accumulate debt so that money goes back into their pocket or back to the banks. We know RP has kept us in the black, only spending what we have.

If I'm correct, why would there be any reason not to spend every single last penny of what the grassroots has given him. Why would anyone want to see that money towards getting McCain eleceted?

If he calls it quits he does NOT have to give ANYTHING to the GOP! John Kerry kept 14 million of his campaign funds. If he quits he can use the funds for his congressional race. But since he needs to win Texas anyway he's taking a dual track approach. There is some spending that is specific to the congressional race which is why he must raise 400K. But on the other hand general advertisement that makes the case for his presidential bid will help him congressionally too. I can't imagine someone saying "Gee...I like that Ron Paul guy. He might make a decent president. But I must vote against him for congress."

Regards,

John M. Drake

Did I miss something? WHERE did Ron Paul say he was going to spend every dime of the grassroots treasury then fold ???

Just wondering...

Die thread Die!

If he calls it quits he does NOT have to give ANYTHING to the GOP! John Kerry kept 14 million of his campaign funds. If he quits he can use the funds for his congressional race. But since he needs to win Texas anyway he's taking a dual track approach. There is some spending that is specific to the congressional race which is why he must raise 400K. But on the other hand general advertisement that makes the case for his presidential bid will help him congressionally too. I can't imagine someone saying "Gee...I like that Ron Paul guy. He might make a decent president. But I must vote against him for congress."

Regards,

John M. Drake

Like I said, they are allowed to payback any debt. Like Romney, Kerry (or more accuratly his wife) loaned a ton of money to the campaign. Any funds left over at the end can be used to pay the loans he and his wife gave to the campaign.

I don't think Ron Paul could have dropped out of the race on December 17th and then be allowed to just pocket the 6 million from the Teaparty.

I dunno. In 2006 John Kerry still had 14 million left over from his 2004 presidential bid. I would think two years would be enough time to pay off any outstanding loans. Regardless what happens I don't think Dr. Paul would ever "just pocket" such funds because he has too much integrity. But I would not want to see a DIME of the money go to the grubby hands of the GOP to spend on McTrainwreck. Ron Paul spending it on issue ads like "Let's not make another mistake and go to war with Iran" or distributing it to like minded congressional candidates would be cool with me.

Regards,

John M. Drake