There is a continuing debate going on this week here on this site, over what can be learned from the Ron Paul movement. Ron Paul Rebuttal and Retort: Ron Paul supporters aren't foolish and Lessons from Ron Paul The posts are lengthy and heartfelt, and frankly some of the comments are even better.
Joel Ferguson is the organizer for the Lake County Republican Paulers meetup. I asked Mr. Ferguson to comment, and his comment was lengthy enough that I felt it merited a full post so you could all stay in the conversation. Please read through all four posts and comment on any one of them.
"First off,
I would like to say I was asked to comment by Mr. Dalton and as always, when I comment on anything local, I do identify myself for I have nothing to hide.
Introduction:
I am Joel Ferguson, current organizer for the Lake County Republican Paulers meetup at meetup.com and the Organizer for the Lake County Republican Party meetup at meetup.com.
I would like to dispel the myth that the word Libertarian and conservative do not go hand in hand, rather they very much do.
I've always been taught and applied the philosophy of when there is an elephant in the room, introduce it, pun intended.
Elephant = Ron Paul
Through not fault of anybodies, Ron Paul has become that "elephant" in the room. We can all sit around and speculate as to why he is now that elephant, but from my own personal perspective the real reason is he embraces almost to a Tee what Ron Reagen was originally all about. What Ron Reagen was elected for in 1980. The only difference between what is described as a "neo-conservative" and a Ron Paul conservative is that we embrace the ideological philosophy of what the Party used to stand for in foreign policy. Even when the Federal Reserve took hold in 1913, it never sat well with the base and realistically, it still shouldn't. Only through years of indoctrination has the "base" accepted the Federal Reserve as a status quo fact of matter.
Is the above article insulting as suggested by another commenter? Yes, for it still embraces the "Draconian" ideal that we are not Republicans, which in turn, turns off the enthusiasm, excitement and hard working individual sovereigns that our party does need and requires for future growth and prosperity.
Problem = Republicans or conservatives by nature are not loud individuals for we all like to be left alone and generally keep to ourselves. On the other hand, Democrats or socialists are loud for they carry the promise of a "better life" for the poor and hard working and by there nature they are loud, for they have to be... for their message is nothing but a lie.
We all know that it is a flat out lie, but we as conservative fail miserably at explaining why and thus fail with the electorate in large populated cities which for the most part can and do swing elections for the evil (and i mean in every sense of the word) socialists. Not every socialist is evil, but the ones in power truly are for they are educated and should know better.
Ron Reagan said it best:
If you analyze it, I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism.
The fact that I have been scorned by my own party is insulting. When I was younger, I walked in and pushed the Republican button and walked out never knowing why I did that other than I was raised that way. As I got older, I began an exploration as to why I am conservative and what is at the heart of being conservative. Obviously, my exploration led me to Libertarianism.
Libertarians are scorned by the Party since their break away in 1972. If you go to the Cato Institute, they have polling data that indicates Libertarians not only vote overwhelmingly Republican, but at the same time they will also vote Democrat and when they do, they swing elections. Their polling data shows that 15% of the nation can be identified as Libertarian and which ever way that base swings, decides elections.
Libertarianism is at the heart and soul of being a conservative. To deny that is to deny the foundation of what it means to be Republican. If the Cato Institutes polling data is correct, and I suspect that the actual number is relatively conservative, why would Republicans choose to ignore, isolate, condemn, ridicule and scorn this most important base? The base that wins them elections. The base at the heart and soul is conservative.
Solution = The "elephant" has arrived but will the Republicans build a door wide enough for him to fit through?
Ron Paul did something that no other Republican has been able to do so since Ron Reagan or Barry Goldwater. He made the quite, little meek voices of Libertarian thinking individuals, the ones that swing elections, get loud and the Party scorned, ridiculed or flat out ignored that base.
Lets face it, and I did vote for McCain against my better judgment, McCain lost that election for one reason, he ignored that base and voted, promoted and became a cheerleader for the bailout, the one issue that would have more than likely swung that base to him.
Every so often that base swings the wrong way, attempting to remind Republicans that they are important, yet will room for the elephant be made or am I and other like me just "crazy" and are that out of touch with reality.
Obviously, I would beg to differ and suggest that Neo-Republicans are the ones out of touch with Reality for if they continue to ignore that base, we are in real trouble as a party.
Republicans are going through a phase of self examination, but I fear that they will not understand or identify their root problem which has become the biggest oxymoron of our generation, social conservatism.
Another Quote by Ron Reagan when he was asked why he had left the Democrat Party:
"I did not leave the Democrat Party, the party left me"
Thus, your base is feeling in mass numbers and has been so for the last four years for Republicans are not embracing that which has made them successful:
Humble Foreign Policy
Small Government
Limited Taxation
& a True Understanding of the Blessings of Civil Liberties or the essence of Freedom which is what made this country the once envy of the modern world.
For years, we have been wrong in calling Democrats Liberals. They are not Liberals they are socialists and Republicans are the true Liberals in every sense of the word. If we fail to embrace that, then we fail to embrace the true essence of conservatism and are doomed to the moronic expression of social conservatism, that which has brought destruction to our Party.
Article facts that are wrong:
"They disguised themselves as Republicans..." ~ my friend, that is perhaps the most insulting statement in the blog, we are Republicans, and that is the greatest mistake the Party is making.
"... and used their procedural expertise to amend party rules in many states to allow open nominations from convention floors, so they could then, in turn, nominate Ron Paul insiders as state or national delegates." ~ Truth of the matter is that the State Party in violation of their own rules regarding rule changes, changed the rules 48 hours before the convention to prevent nomination from the floor. I was an "insider" so to speak. We navigated many options including seeking an injunction, but decided for the future of our involvement with the party, it was better to play "nice" and by the rules, perhaps that was a mistake since obviously the party at the top doesn't know how to play nice. No Gold Star for them. At any rate, this sets bad precedence and shame on them for we did not even have the numbers to make the noise needed to have any affect on the nomination process. WE played by the rules, why couldn't they? It is a terrible shame Nevada never got sat at the RNC.
"He invented the concept of the “moneybomb,"...” ~ no the grassroots movement invented that and to be specific, an individual supporter invented it.
10 comments:
First let me say that I was also part of watching this whole movement go down. I watched it from step one until now.
I will start with the fact that I think that the "paulers" organizational skills are those that are to be complimented. However the way on which they approach the "elephant' in the room is not.
You see instead of approaching the organizations with their ideas and their workforce it was already circulating on all the boards how they were going to walk in and take over organizations and no one was going to stop them.
I have found that you don't walk into an organization on your first day and tell them they are doing everything wrong and that your way is better when you have not even been a part of the organization.
Most of the people that had decided they were going to take over the organization had not even been to a meeting.
Every blog and meetup posting was about how the paulers were planning on taking over the organization.
I as a local republican that has been attending meetings, working fundraiser, donating monitarily and physically was offended that someone that had not done anything to help make our organization better was thinking they were going to walk in take over.
I would have had zero problem with someone that had been part of the organization even if they had only been involved for a short period of time coming in with better ways to organize. Instead, there were postings everywhere telling us we were the bad guys and you were going to overthrow the local chapters and even bragged when you did so.
What a horrible way to treat people that have worked really hard to get local candidates elected. You not only did this on the local level but on the state.
Funny part is like I said if you would have just joined and showed people that you were willing to get involved and work and that you were truly republicans that were interested in the greater good of the party you would have been welcomed with open arms.
We have had several new members join during this election cycle and I have to say they have come with ideas and rolled up their sleeves and dug in. They however, did not come in and tell us they were here to take over and everything we were doing was wrong.
I know that we have a lot of areas that need strengthened but I also know our core is good. We have a lot of great local candidates and as republicans we support our candidates as everyone has a right to run for office.
Here is my suggestion for the paulers get involved this is an off year. Go to the meetings and listen and suggest.
I believe it was you yourself Joel that posted on one of the meetup groups
"WE must vote Republican in the primaries.
A) Push for only one candidate, vote for the entire slate, heck don't push for any just go in take the ballot push final vote and walk out with out pushing for a single candidate essentially saying I'm Republican but I'm abstaining and since it is all secret they won't be able to say a thing other than know you took the Republican ballot. In the generals, vote your conscious as I would never presume to attempt to ever tell any of you whom to vote for for as I explained to the rank and file, once you tell the Paulers that they have to do anything, you could bet the Federal Reserve bank they'll do just the opposite. Like anybody, true conservatives by what ever definition you wish to put on it earn your vote.
We must consistently work on getting you all elected as precinct committee persons (PCP) down the road. For now, stay active, show active participation and repeatedly ask for an appointment every so often and politely.
A) PCP elect Party leadership which gets elected bottom up meaning we elect the chairmen, the chairmen elects the district committee, district committee elects the State Committee and the State Committee is what caused our movement the major problem June 2, 2008 at the State Convention.
B) We Watch the VOTE to ensure it is fair, what more reason do you need than that?
We need to attempt, and sometimes it may seem stomach wrenching, help out in phone drives and literature drops for your Local GOP, one afternoon or day around election won't kill and would go to show the intentions of party unity. In all fairness, their should always be at least one candidate somewhere within the ranks that won't turn your stomach, at least completely, to help out a little with. It well help your image in the long run."
Maybe this is why the "local" republicans have problems with the movement.
The man was speaking to the very soul of my political views. I joined the Libertarians when Ron Paul ran on that ticket in 88 I heard him speak in person and he inspired me and is still inspiring me!
Chris, thanks for commenting, we've asked the Libertarian Chair from our county to begin posting here as well to keep the discussions diverse and wide ranging.
I will say that from my perspective Libertarians and Ron Paul supporters may agree on a lot of things, but so far it seems the Ron Paul contingent is more likely to work within the Republican party for reform ... while Libertarians are prone to desire third party growth. I actually like both ideas.
I posited a theory that a law demanding a runoff vote if no one gets 50% plus one vote, would actually favor the third parties. Do you agree?
Yes I agree your theory could benefit third parties. I would also rather work within the party than in a third party, but my heart and soul will not let me and until the Republican's get back to what they should be I can not whole heartly support them. I will say this reading RepublicansRock I had no idea Ron Paul supporters put that forward they were going to take over and show em how it is done. I never have had that attitude and I was appaled to read that. I do not have the answers I only know this country is in trouble and I am sad for my grandchild growing up in this if things do not change.
RepublicansRock,
Whether you realize it or not, I appreciate your comments and have a good idea to whom I am addressing.
We have had our differences. I also know that I and other like me are "watched" very closely and most things I write does end up down state in someone's hands as I'm sure this has too.
Some "Ron Paul meetups" closed their membership in an attempt to remain secretive. While I understand that notion, I also disagree with it. Therefore, I have always kept my own personal meetup open to the public for I feel we should be as transparent as we want our government to be. I have only "kicked-out" one individual ever and regret doing so. I will very soon be stepping down from that position, so keeping tabs on me will be a little harder, but probably not ;)
You took a statement I wrote a very long time ago or at least feels that way even though it wasn't... I think I wrote that just last spring.
I wrote this inside the last post:
"...which in turn, turns off the enthusiasm, excitement and hard working individual sovereigns that our party does need and requires for future growth and prosperity."
Many good Republicans do feel disenfranchised even though they may not have ever been directly involved, thus our shrinking base. So, Question and Answer time:
Because someone who claims to be Republican who had not gotten involved before now chooses to do so, should their opinion be absolutely rejected and scorned? I would hope not, even if the current leadership so desires to do so.
I wrote that message you cited as encouragement for my meetup membership to get involved although I can see how that can be interpreted as being made in malice. Malice would indicate a devious attempt or anger. I believe there is no devious attempt or anger at anything for it was all cited out in the open and to be done by party rules. There was no malice, even in not voting but signing in the primary poll book. Getting people involved is the first step and a major challenge for any organization, whether that organization is Republican, Libertarian, Democrats or what-have-you.
Final comment:
The hands can extend in both directions. Perhaps it is our mistake in not extending it first, but is it not just as much of a mistake in not extending it yourself. I will always agree to disagree and all I have ever asked for is open and honest debate.
The way I see it, the blame is equal from both sides and we all should look to get past the feelings of malice and work to fix the wrongs of the past.
With Respect and God Bless,
Joel Ferguson
I look forward to a phone call of reconciliation. I know you know how to get a hold of me.
I think that in 88 when Paul realized that he couldn't win on the third party ticket that he decided that he would try to take over the Republican Party and what a better time to make that attempt but in a year when a Republican President is unpopular.
"Because someone who claims to be Republican who had not gotten involved before now chooses to do so, should their opinion be absolutely rejected and scorned? I would hope not, even if the current leadership so desires to do so."
As I previously said there were a lot of new people involved during this election cycle a lot of great people that got involved and worked very hard. We also have included them in the many events that went on during the election cycle. We listened and learned from many of them and look forward to their further interaction.
By the way your post was after the convention which was in June.
Our organization has reached out to many we are always putting our meeting times on public boards including the newspapers event calenders and doing mailings. Do I think we can do more yes. We have a facebook, a website and are hoping to become more and more tech friendly. We are meeting all the time trying to come up with better ideas on how to reach out more and I am sure we will be doing that a lot more over the next year since it is a down year it is a great year to gear up.
I think that our organization is very open to new ideas and to many opinions but that does not mean that we should allow ourselves to be taken over by rogue third party candidates and their followers.
If you truly want to be part of the Republican party make sure you stay involved the party can use the help. If your only goal is to infiltrate the republicans because you think that your only chance of being elected is as a Republican as opposed to a third party we will not allow that to happen because even though we struggled we will rebound and prevail.
Tisk Tisk,
Here is a simple riddle, What makes one person more Republican than the other...
Nothing.
Ron Paul ran as a Republican in 1974 for Senate and lost. He won his congressional seat in 76-77 and then again in 79-85. Became the Republican Liberty Caucus Chairmen in 1992 and re-won his congressional seat back in 1997 and holds it to this present day. He also led the Texas Congressional delegation in 1976 to the RNC convention for Ron Reagan. As history would show, he was right then too. If he is not Republican, then you might as well start calling out people like Mike Pence (RLC member) and say they are not Republican either, someone whom I would give my personal endorsement too (like it would matter :)
Only once did Ron Paul run as a Libertarian and as I've said before, they are long lost siblings of the Republican Party and do represent our base in many respects. I can point out through out modern history of many individuals that once were Democrats and became Republicans. Even Teddy Roosevelt was once a Prominent third party candidate. So please refrain from attempting to use that excuse anymore that he is a third party candidate and show the respect that he deserves for in many ways more than most, he does represent a base of the party that has been neglected and has been for most of his political career associated with and as a Republican.
This attitude still being held seems almost child like... Simplified, either completely agree with me or don't bother. Go back to your third party where you belong would seem to be the message. I would be appalled if that is the message that would be conveyed for it seems to me that is precisely what is being said.
I am sure that we can find common ground on most issues, but it would seem that there is an apprehension for honest debate.
Disagree with me, great !!! But at least allow me to be heard and feel welcome. From the sound of your last post, I am neither welcome or given room for any distention. For a party in need of people and "man-power" this is surely not the attitude that we want to convey?
Joel and RepubRock, you are both talking past each other a bit.
RR, we do need the kind of activity and energy that supporters of Ron Paul bring. They are conservatives, perhaps even more conservative than many of the Valpo-style Republicans that I am friends with. I for one think our party could use a little infiltration of grass roots activists ... isn't that the real definition of local politics?
Joel, the party is in the midst of reform and change, hang in there and make sure your opinion is heard as we choose our new chairman in a couple months. RepubRock was ticked at my wing of the party too (the highly opinionated but low level of volunteerism niche) ... we all need to work together using our gifts.
There was a terrific article on dontgomovement.com yesterday entitled "When will the right collaborate?" ... When the two of you collaborate, and that's an admirable goal, we will have made a positive step for change.
First, as I said EVERYONE is welcome. Next, as I said instead of coming in like a bull in a china shop with the "you are doing everything wrong" and we'll do it my way because we are taking over even though I have never been to one of your meetings and have no idea what you do is the wrong approach.
Get to know a group, get involved with a group and I guarantee you will be more than welcome as will your opinions.
As far as being upset with someone who is very vocal but does not volunteer who wouldn't be?
There are a lot of people out there that love to criticize but do not get involved. Again get out there and work it then give an opinion to stand on the side lines and guess how things are working is way different than being out there seeing how it really works.
You see it takes manpower to make an election work and people that complain about how an election went and did nothing to help change the way it went in my book have no right to complain about the way an election went. There isn't one person around that doesn't have time to make 20 or so phone calls in a week or stuff 50 or so envelops. So times it is not how much time you have but what you did with that time.
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