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Spike89

(1,569 posts)
6. Will not happen
Thu May 24, 2012, 04:27 PM
May 2012

First, Paul doesn't have the numbers to seriously challenge, he's shooting for enough to force being heard. Even if he had enough delegates to keep Romney out, there is no way that he'd get the nod. Rather, it would be a "new" face. Even Gingrich, Santorum, et al. would be very unlikely in the nearly impossible scenario of a brokered convention.
Paul and Libertarians in general simply don't have real broad support. They are extremely vocal and true believers, but they lack the ability to get the broader support needed to win a national election in large part because they are so ideological and unable to lie/hedge to fool people.
Remember "compassionate conservatism" that was the rethugs lie/hedge to fool people in 2000. Although the Democratic party platform requires considerably less lie/hedge work to appeal to a majority, there are ample examples of candidates "shading" their stands to make it easier for independants to vote for them.
One of the reasons the libertarian fanatics seem to be so powerful a force is that they are "pure". Ron Paul can afford to be because he isn't running to win. The second he actually adopts a platform that specifies all the compromises a legitimate campaign must adopt to win a majority, he'd become even more irrelevent.
In short, his staunch craziness is exactly what makes him popular among a vocal minority and at the same time makes him toxic to most of the electorate.

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Like Johnson/Goldwater ? n/t PoliticAverse May 2012 #1
I'm thinking it would be a Politicalboi May 2012 #2
Why? kentuck May 2012 #3
Go Paul Go! Politicalboi May 2012 #4
He won't nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #24
Independent Overlap Possibility ingotnews May 2012 #5
Will not happen Spike89 May 2012 #6
Probably not, but... ingotnews May 2012 #10
It is quite possible Romney will not be the "final" candidate against Obama. n/t Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #7
Ron Paul supporters are like the village children who followed the pied piper. FarPoint May 2012 #8
I wouldn't worry about it much kctim May 2012 #9
I consider myself a Liberal and I don't think most liberals act that way. lookingfortruth May 2012 #11
Of course you don't kctim May 2012 #36
yes, much like centrists are the know-it-all assholes of the democratic party frylock May 2012 #32
Aw shucks kctim May 2012 #37
mix in a few more right wing slogans.. frylock May 2012 #42
not one bit. they will hurt romney, not the President. spanone May 2012 #12
He's no Ralph Nader. GoneOffShore May 2012 #13
I think they'll make some noise at the convention NoPasaran May 2012 #14
I don't think this is about getting Ron Paul the presidential nod. Bolo Boffin May 2012 #15
Yes abelenkpe May 2012 #16
Thank you all for letting me voice this concern. I am sure I am reading too much into this lookingfortruth May 2012 #17
I don't think Obama would have trouble at all running against Ron Paul. cyberswede May 2012 #20
I agree it's a problem for Obama, since a huge circus will distract voters from progressive issues. freshwest May 2012 #23
Libertarian vs. Authoritarian ingotnews May 2012 #25
Paul would be used to mop up the droppings of his followers. bluerum May 2012 #27
No, you're confused. Your third post for Ron Paul. Fuck Ron Paul. freshwest May 2012 #29
Fuck Ron Paul. nt TBF May 2012 #18
Our strategy does change .... we DANCE in the streets!!!!! JoePhilly May 2012 #19
+1 JNelson6563 May 2012 #41
I'm scared to park next to them NightWatcher May 2012 #21
Back in '08 I definitely was. Now, however...... AverageJoe90 May 2012 #22
I am worried bluerum May 2012 #26
Ron's delegates will be lucky to get into a free speech zone at least mile from the convention. CK_John May 2012 #28
This is the very rare Concern Two-fer cthulu2016 May 2012 #30
There really aren't that many RP supporters in this country sadbear May 2012 #31
This is bad.....how? ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #33
Strangely enough, I saw someone with a Ron Paul bumpersticker on the freeway a few days ago Jamaal510 May 2012 #34
The problem I see in the Pacific northwest is that they are just as vocal in real life. freshwest May 2012 #35
Fuck Ron Paul. Iggo May 2012 #38
No. WilliamPitt May 2012 #39
I think that there are going to be some major fireworks at the 'Pug convention this year. MadHound May 2012 #40
On the list of worries, it ranks up there with the danger of blizzards in the Sahara. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2012 #43
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