Crafty way to deal with Ron Paul

[WileEcoyote]

Ok so about the only thing positive about Ron Paul is that he brings some interesting discussion to republican debates.

However since he is pulling in the BIG MONEY off the internet he's very likely to stay in the GOP race through the end of the primaries. May even run as a third party libertarian.

So what is the best way for Democrats to capitalize on this? Well in some states it might be a good idea to register republican and actually vote for Paul. Not to elect him. He's just an idiot with a couple good ideas. No we want to sabotage the GOP by making Ron Paul a front runner in a few early primaries. He hee hee...

This notion occurred to me when i realized I was still registered as a Republican because of trying to help McCain beat Bush in the California primary of 2000. I didn't like McCain but realized he was the weaker candidate for the GOP. Didn't work but my vote could have counted more than a Dem primary vote for Gore who had the race sewed up by then.

Scenario breaks this way;

Paul wins New Hampshire Iowa, Michigan and maybe even Florida. Going into the Spring of '08 this makes him the man to beat for the GOP. Push comes to shove and the remaining GOP candidates like Guiliani realize they simply can't beat Ron Paul in the primary. This means the GOP power moguls have to backroom Paul and pick a weaker candidate that the core Conservatives like better. Some shit head like Thompson. A certifiably unelectable fool.

Ron Paul then claims ill treatment (which is what it would be) and runs a real libertarian Party candidacy.

Thus saving the Democratic Party a lot of money and effort. Hillary wins almost every state except Texas and Louisiana.

[Trajan]

1. Hmmmm .... What; Me worry ?

Who needs to deal with him ?

[WileEcoyote]

2. Ron Paul may become the fly in the GOP's ointment

without anyone's help from our team.

Now as much as I think Ron Paul's ideas are folly (besides the two good ones. Count 'em TWO (2)) I could end up feeling sorry for him and his supporters as the GOP regulars play hard knuckle politics with his campaign.

In the long run Ron Paul would probably be the strongest candidate in the whole GOP field.

Just supposin that is.

[left is right]

3. ...two good ones. Count 'em TWO (2)

Yes, RP is a nut case but I figure his two good ideas are exactly 2 more than all the other Repuke candidates have.

[WileEcoyote]

5. You get a couple hundred rank & file Democrats

to "jump ship" in New Hampshire and vote Ron Paul in the GOP primary. Ditto Florida, Michigan and Iowa where a similar percentage of Dems temporarily turncoat.

A power play to shut out Guiliani. After this the GOP REALLY goes into chaos. They split two ways and the Democratic party candidate is assured of winning in a cakewalk.

[Sherman A1]

4. I like Ron Paul

He seems sincere and he does beat up on the Republican candidates. I will not vote for him, but I do like his ability to get a following and speak his mind. He was pretty funny on the Daily Show when he appeared on that awhile back. I don't agree with him beyond his views on Iraq and actually governing by the Constitution but, he seems to be a relatively decent sort. I wish we had more people out there of this type in office, disagree on issues and policies but skip the nasty part of the campaigns.

[cali]

7. ron paul is a total creep.

He's a racist, and his policies include a contitutional amendment defining life as beginning at the moment of conception. He's not the candidate of the David Duke set for nothing.

[NoPasaran]

6. Paul is actually polling in the low single digits

With or without Democratic crossovers, he has about as much chance of winning those early primaries as Kucinich or Gravel on our side.

[WileEcoyote]

8. Hey I'm no fan of jis at all.

I just want for someone to USE him as a tool to help elect Democrats.

Ron Paul hasn't peaked yet. That's my prediction. With his internet savvy and motivated younger group of supporters he stands a good chance of taking a lot of votes AWAY from other GOP candidates who aren't polling well now.

Later when he does peak he may usurp even Guiliani. Mostly with formerly disenfranchised non republican independent voters

Now since the Democrats are much more satisfied with their field of candidates (than the GOP) this means a planned vote switch to Paul wouldn't hurt our crowd. Could pull the rug out from underneath the whole repuke primaries. If it was doesn't effectively in the most vulnerable states that is.

I'm game, anyone else?