The Republicans have a Ron Paul problem. . .

[hokies4ever]

and they're not doing anything about it. Ron Paul got ~130,000 votes in PA (16%) and his support is growing, not decreasing. At least the Democrats are actively working to try to include all of their supporters by giving them a voice that they will listen to. The Republican Party just decided to ignore their Ron Paul problem and it is festering indeed. If you listen to Ron Paul's platforms and his supporters, there's no way that they will be voting for McCain and might just end up voting for Obama.

Just a thought to keep in mind if you feel that the Democratic Party is becoming more divided. The Republican Party is just choosing to ignore the division within their ranks.

[galaxy21]

1. There is a BIG difference between Obama and Paul

The only similarty is their anti war stance.

[gateley]

8. And a respect for the Constitution. nt

[MH1]

14. Yes, but their anti-war position is a huge similarity

and will be enough for many Ron Paul supporters to vote for Obama. Or at least not vote for McCain.

[hokies4ever]

19. There is a big difference between Paul and McCain

the point I was trying to make is that while there is a big difference between Paul and Obama, there's arguably a bigger difference between Paul and McCain, and here's why:

1. Iraq War. Ron Paul supporters that place the Iraq War at the very top of their list are NOT going to vote for McCain and might vote for Obama instead just on this one issue if it is most important to them.
2. McCain's 'earmark' reform. Ron Paul rightfully points out that it is Congress' job to spend the money. Getting rid of earmarks does not get rid of spending, it just transfers the spending power from the legislative branch to the executive branch. Ron Paul actively preaches against expanding the power of government, especially the executive branch. Ron Paul supporters will look at McCain's focus on earmarks along with his insistence on keeping the tax cuts for the rich even if there is a budget deficit and they will see McCain for the fake conservative that he is and won't vote for him.

The Republican Party gave Ron Paul the shaft and he's giving it right back to them. The Dems might be looking at a landslide victory if the Ron Paul support keeps growing.

[livetohike]

2. Ron Paul should push McCain for a debate

I don't think they have had one, one-on-one debate. Have they?

[anonymous171]

34. I would love to see that.

Paul would probably run circles around McCain, or at least confound him.

[Johnny__Motown]

3. Nobody is bothering to vote for McCain now that he has won.. so sure, Paul can pull in 16%

[msallied]

12. I think this is a big part of it...

but I also know a LOT of hardcore conservatives who can't stand McCain. I had a feeling this would be a problem for him should he win the candidacy. I was certain that the Republicans would have picked a more conservative candidate, but I guess McCain just had the name recognition.

[hokies4ever]

20. I knew someone would say this :-)

"Nobody is bothering to vote for McCain now that he has won.. so sure, Paul can pull in 16%"

Basically that Paul's % win is inflated. Let's analyze the PA results. The Dems outvoted the Repubs 3 to 1 in PA. I think when the primaries were competitive, it was about a 2 to 1 ratio. So you can argue that Paul has a %win that is 50% inflated, so he really got about 11% of the vote if you account for the McCain voters staying at home more in PA than in previous primaries. On the other hand, the 11% might be underestimated. The PA primary had a lot more interest than previous primaries for the Dems, so perhaps it wouldn't have been a 2 to 1 ratio if McCain supporters were still coming out to vote for him. Anyway, no matter how you analyze it, it looks like Ron Paul is pulling in the equivalent of about 10% of the total Republican vote in PA.

[Upton]

4. Big deal Huckabee got 11% in Pa.

maybe if Paul ran as a third party he could cause the Repubs problems in the GE, but he says he's not going to do that.

[msallied]

15. Mike Gravel already has the Libertarian spot...

and I don't see any other third parties he could run under. Maybe Reform... But I forget what their platform consists of, only that they are mostly Republicans. They strike me as racists for some reason... maybe because Pat Buchanan ran under them. lol

[hokies4ever]

21. Ron Paul is more of a problem running as a Republican

because one of his core principles is that John McCain is not a true conservative, and he has his supporters believing (not that hard since it's true).

[hokies4ever]

25. Ron Paul problem but no Huckabee problem

"Big deal Huckabee got 11% in Pa."

BIIIIGGGGGGG difference. Huckabee has fully endorsed McCain and will campaign for him and tell his voters to vote for McCain. There's no chance that Ron Paul would even CONSIDER endorsing McCain or campaigning for him. Many of those Huckabee voters will be happy to vote for McCain, but almost none of those Ron Paul supporters will be happy to vote for McCain.

[juno jones]

5. Only signs I see out here are

Obama and Ron Paul.

The republicans have a problem.

[galaxy21]

6. I think ron paul made more money from donors than most of the candidates

[HockeyMom]

7. Same where I am in Florida

I haven't seen ONE Hillary or McCain sign or sticker. It's all Obama and Paul.

[movonne]

9. I agree ... where I live it is pretty much red-neck and Ron Paul signs

everywhere..

[msallied]

10. Paul is appealing to people of left and right

depending on what issues are most important to those individuals, considering he's actually a Libertarian, which is socially left and fiscally right. He will make something of an interesting spoiler for the Republicans and pull over a lot of Independents, which may not bode well for Obama in the GE.

While I agree with a good deal of Paul's stances on social issues (although I think he's pro-life, which is a problem for me), he's a bit of a kook. I remember reading something he wrote about vaccinations being part of a plan for pharmaceutical companies to spread the AIDS virus or some shit. It was off the wall. I'll dig it up sometime if the RP factor starts to gather major momentum.

Edited to also add that here in the more rural areas of Olympia, WA, there are a LOT of Ron Paul signs. I haven't seen a ton of Obama out here, but I know that he won the caucuses in most of the precincts here.

[Upton]

18. You're right about Paul signs in rural SW Wa

I live in Lewis Co. and in Centralia and Chehalis and surrounding areas that's all you see.

[SoCalDem]

11. Ron Paul BEAT McCain in Alaska

i think we could WIN Alaska..they are very down on theMurkowski-Steven dynasties.. and they don;t seem to like John.. Romney, Huckabee & Paul ALL beat him...

[msallied]

13. It's interesting how many righties I know who loathe McCain

In a lot of ways, he's kind of like Hillary Clinton for the Republicans. He's not terribly well-liked by half the party. It's amazing that he got the nomination, but I speculated above that it was probably due to name recognition and the fact that he could pull in independent voters given his history as a "maverick."

[galaxy21]

17. Mccain walked into the nomination because he wasn't a religious kook

or Mitt romney.

[Gore1FL]

22. That used to be the selling point of GOP electibility

[galaxy21]

26. Interestingly, rumour was a lot of republican insiders feared Huckabee winning the nomination

Because unlike Bush, who just uses religion as a poltical tool, Huckabee was actually the real deal. Whatever else you think of Huckabee, he has integrity, and wouldn't let himself be corrupted by 'special interests' if it coflicted with his morals.

[hokies4ever]

27. Huckabee not exactly ethical

he appears that way, but he isn't.
http://www.drudge.com/archive/101060/gop-rivals-focus-huckabees-ethics
The most damning accusations seem to center around Huckabee's unusually high number and monetary values of gifts given to him while he was a Governor. Is there proof he made decisions based on these? I don't know of any. But he doesn't look like he has clean hands.

[galaxy21]

28. But he is different from Bush in that he would keep his promises to the christian right

Bush hasn't banned abortion, outlawed homosexuality or sent woman back to the kitchen.

That's why a lot of the Christian Right have turned on Bush, they think he's all talk.

[Gore1FL]

29. I would have never votred for him

But I couldn't help but to like the guy for that reason.

I don't share many opinions with him, or for that matter many conclusions from the scarce opinions I do share. But despite picking the wrong targets and the wrong gun to shoot them with, his aim is true.

Plus he is clearly intelligent, and has a good sense of humor. These aren;t qualities I want to see in a commander-in-chief, but I wouldn't mind having him as a friend and/or neighbor.

[galaxy21]

30. I remember he defended Wright

and said he understood why he was so angry, and people had to cut him some slack.

[sniffa]

16. He's said he's going to the convention with his delegates

to oppose the Iraq war (and our foreign policy in general) and government spending. Can they actually bar him if he has delegates?

[hokies4ever]

24. God knows the Republicans want to bar him

Here's a great clip from a Republican debate.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=S17alBWtWfU
The Fixed Noise Network not even trying to hide their disdain for Ron Paul. He's going to make them pay in the end though when he shows up at the convention with his delegates. They'll probably try to ignore him which will only add fuel to the fire for his supporters.

[anonymous171]

32. I can't wait to see that.

[groovytang]

23. lol true

[anonymous171]

31. A lot of former RP supporters have told me they will (grudgingly) vote for Obama

They hate (absolutely despise) Hillary. This is why the repugs so desperately need her to be the nominee.

[hokies4ever]

33. Paul supporters won't support Hillary

because she's sounding more and more like a warmonger each and every day. Obliterate Iran? How can you wage war against Iran when you are bringing the troops home? She's reached an intellectual disconnect. We all assumed that she didn't apologize for her vote on the Iraq War because she didn't want to admit any kind of weakness while seeking the nomination. Now I'm starting to think that she's just saying that she opposes the war to get the Dem nomination. I was also troubled by her umbrella of protection she wants to extend over all Middle Eastern countries except Iran. This warmonger must go!