Ron Paul breaks single day donation record

[bclemms]

I don't know if any of you all are very interested in politics but.......

Ron Paul had a donation day set today that was called the tea party since it is on the historic date.

Anyway, Paul has now eclipsed $6 million dollars in donations today bringing his 4th quarter totals close to $18 million which is almost surely going to beat all other Republican candidates.

The tea party is going through 12pm Eastern so it still isn't over but this is huge news, especially since the donations are coming from citizens not lobbyists.

You can view the running total at www.ronpaul2008.com

[SwampMan]

All that money and he's still a Very Lonnnng shot! 

[bclemms]

We shall see. He has won quite a few straw polls recently and his numbers have increased dramatically. There is still 10 months to go before the Republican National Convention and with the money he is raising he could shock some people. Vegas has him at 6:1 to become our next president, yes you can bet on politics.

[Fogy]

All that money and he's still a Very Lonnnng shot! 

If folks would give him a chance he is the only honest guy running.  No matter what party you like he is the one that had the stones to say it is our politics and foreign policy that makes most of the rest of the world hate us so much.

It isn't that we are free and live large it is how our government bullies the rest of the world around to do what we want.


Most of the news kept showing how both Dem and Rep candidates were trying to make him apologize for saying we deserved 911.  He wouldn't do it, because that is not what he said and to see him gaining ground shows that maybe, just maybe the folks here in our country are sick of the D.C norm.

[cmegee]

I like Ron Paul, but I don't know that he is the ONLY honest one running. I personally know Mike Huckabee and have always found him to be not only honest but very straight forward and open to opinions and ideas from others. I also think that he has come a long way and probably has a great shot at getting the Rep. nod.

[pretjah]

I like Ron Paul, but I don't know that he is the ONLY honest one running. I personally know Mike Huckabee and have always found him to be not only honest but very straight forward and open to opinions and ideas from others. I also think that he has come a long way and probably has a great shot at getting the Rep. nod.

i'd support huckabee in a second...

i could support paul...i'm not quite the isolationist that he is  but i'm not infaovr of being everywhere to everyone either. 

[mlakrid]

I like Ron Paul, but I don't know that he is the ONLY honest one running. I personally know Mike Huckabee and have always found him to be not only honest but very straight forward and open to opinions and ideas from others. I also think that he has come a long way and probably has a great shot at getting the Rep. nod.

I do too...

I like huckabee except he has changed his stance on several views, several times... pick one and stick with it... I think this will do him in...

As for Ron Paul hes bascially a seperatist/isolationist... too an extent there is nothing wrong with this; however, many people especially those from other countries who have thick political ties will be able to push him around by using their international business ties...

Lets be honest in todays day and age, it is all about MONEY when it comes to politics...

Mike A!

[BIG PAPA]

I am with FOGY on this!!!!!
If he  (Ron Paul) will stand his ground and not let anyone sway him from his ideals he will get my vote. Close the borders and tell em all to bite us.


       

[RajunCajun]

I wish I could raise that kind of money!

[tomcat]

You know, Ron Paul is not a bad guy.  I have to say that I disagree with him when it comes radical islam.  The bottom line is if I have to accept the idea that we don't go overseas to find and stop the people who want to kill us before they reach our shores ... then it's a no-go for Ron Paul.  Sorry, you don't get my vote.

[BIG PAPA]

Well just maybe if we leave them alone they might not want to kill us anymore, why would they?

[T1A]

hmmm..I thought this was the Guitar guy

[Swede]

Well just maybe if we leave them alone they might not want to kill us anymore, why would they?

Ahhhhh - maybe it's because islamic radicals are in fact radicals and we have a large Christian population.  If you are not of the Muslim faith - you are wrong. 

Isolationism is not the answer either - this is the 21st century.  The world is getting smaller every day due to technology advances and increased information flow.  There are many isolated states around the world and not many of them are doing very well.  Ron Paul is sticking by his views, but his views may be his doom.  I have nothing against him - I like the guy - I respect the guy, but don't agree with him on many fronts.

Huckabee - I've enjoyed watching him go from virtual unknown to a contender.  I like what I have seen so far.  Will see how the future weeks play out - if vote were tomorrow - I think this would be my guy.

The finish line is what is most important and more important than in recent past.  Scary Scary Scary if certain individuals end up in the big seat. 

[Fogy]

You know, Ron Paul is not a bad guy.  I have to say that I disagree with him when it comes radical islam.  The bottom line is if I have to accept the idea that we don't go overseas to find and stop the people who want to kill us before they reach our shores ... then it's a no-go for Ron Paul.  Sorry, you don't get my vote.

Ok political talk and bass fishing forums have a hard time mixing because folks sometimes just can't say something without pissing off someone else.

So with that said, this isn't a slam tomcat, but the American people can not sit on the sofa watching CNN or FOX and learn history.  Every news station has a slant and the slant is pushed based on who they want as an audience.

We the USA armed Osama while he was fighting the USSR in Afghanistan.  We the USA armed Saddam and Iraq while they were fighting Iran.  We the USA armed lots of our past friends only to face them on the battle field at a later date.

Osama proclaimed a Jihad on us because we wouldn't leave the middle east, we wouldn't stop dictating our wants to the region and because we support Israel.  Now should we give it all up and just the the world go to hell?  NO but there has to be a middle ground.  What American citizen would sit by while the Iraq Army rolled into down town apple pie?  None of us would.  The Iraqi people for the most part welcomed us with hugs, smiles, food and warnings of attacks and you know what, at the same time they were feeding me and my guys they wanted to know when were we going to leave!

If we the USA wanted out we could have left a long time ago.  We could have left after the fall of Baghdad, we could have left after the 1st vote, we could have left after we handed sovereignty back to the Iraqi people, or the 2nd vote, we could have left after we caught Saddam or after the 3rd election.  We could have left after we killed Zarqui "spelling" or after the execution of Saddam.  If we wanted to give the folks a chance at freedom and leave we could have done that.

Instead we are 5 years into the war, that is after 12 years of building bases in Saudi, 12 years of doing no fly zone patrols out of Turkey for operation Northern Watch.  We want that region and now that we are in Iraq the next thing DC is talking about is Iran.  Our government doesn't want to leave if they did a goal would have been stated clearly and we the service members would know what that is.  Instead we are feed kill them there before they can kill us here, lets take the fight to them before they can plan another attack here.  This is BS pushed down from above to justify close to 4,000 US service members KIA and 60,000 or more wounded in combat operations that were declared over back in 2004.

Why do you all think the USSR left Afghanistan?  You can not win a war without killing every one or changing the minds of those that you fight.  Here in Iraq for every bad guy we cook off, a brother, father, sister, son or daughter takes his place.  For every 10 we kill we create 100.  And for every 100 that is killed 10 get away and learn.  We are making combat harden soldiers that one day will try to come here.

This war can not be won by bullets and bombs unless the American people are willing to stand by and let us the US service member start at one corner of Iraq and kill everyone we think is or could be a bad guy.  The only way to win is through the hearts and minds of the people to get them to accept the responsibility of running a country.  The trouble is we waited to dam long to put enough boots on the ground to control anything.  Both the Iraqi and American people lost faith and now after 5 years of fighting we do not have the manpower left to continue the fight for much longer.  Instead it is going to be the same old same.  Rotate in, rotate out and they bad guys are going to keep stabbing the giant in the ankle until we finally give up.


Sadly we could have done so much but in the end all we managed to do is short change our service members in Afghanistan who for the most part are forgotten.  Forgoten by the public at large, forgotten by the brass to fight this war and forgoten because there is not enough manpower to catch and kill Osama, so we just keep doing the same old same.


I for one no longer want to keep doing the same old same.  I want to consolidate our troops, re-arm, retrain, rest our men/women and use the small tactical hunter killer units to do surgical strikes and gather intel.

Anyway I'm looking for change and IMO not one of the folks running today have the stones to tell you up front and eye to eye what there ready to do.  They all talk in circles and they all try to change the tune just enough  city to city to make everyone happy.

Name me one person that has a plan to win and leave the chit hole.

Ron at least knows we have to leave.  Leave today, next year 10 years from now we are going to leave it's just how many more have to die before we go and Ron isn't afraid to say that.


So bash me if you want but I was there 1st hand.  I've been at war now since I joined in 1988 thats going on 20 years this won't be the 1st war we could have done better at, but it will be one of the longest wars before we pull out.

[bclemms]

Ron Paul advocates open trade, travel, communication, and diplomacy with other nations. This is not isolationism, in fact, it is the exact opposite. Just because Paul, like our consititution, does not believe in bombing every country that has different political views than us doesn't mean he is an isolationist.

Fogy, I deeply respect the fact that you serve in our military and thank you for your service to all of us. As I am sure you know, Ron Paul gets more donations from the military than any other candidate Republican or Democrat. I have read many stories just like yours and they all feel the same way.

I don't agree with Ron Paul on everything but I know he is true to his word, a brilliant economist, has a 30 year voting record without the first flaw, does not take money from the lobbyists that have destroyed the political framework of our country and he is truely for the people. He is the one candidate that will not be a puppet for the interest of his political party.

One of the biggest issues for me is the monetary system and Paul has the answers. Since coming off the Gold Standard in 1970 inflation has increased drastically more than the average income in the US. This means the standard of living has dropped while the middle class has gotten smaller. 16% of the people in this country do not have healthcare, most of these are middle class. Inflation is  high because our dollar is only backed by confidence and that confidence is in great jeopardy because foreign nations do not trust the US Government to run the country correctly. We have become over-extended because of spending too much money at the consumer level, spending too much money policing the world and printing dollars at will to pay the countries bills.

All I can ask is that everyone please do appropriate research. Google Ron Paul, read up on his policies at www.ronpaul2008.com and check out some of the stuff on youtube. Please, PLEASE do not disregard him because some talk show host said so. The Republicans and Democrats both fear Ron Paul because he will put a stop to the government corruption, spending and controlling our lives.

I'm glad this discussion has remained orderly because I was hesitant to start this thread but the grassroots efforts and uprising for Paul have simply been amazing.

[BIG PAPA]

Ok political talk and bass fishing forums have a hard time mixing because folks sometimes just can't say something without pissing off someone else.

So with that said, this isn't a slam tomcat, but the American people can not sit on the sofa watching CNN or FOX and learn history.  Every news station has a slant and the slant is pushed based on who they want as an audience.

We the USA armed Osama while he was fighting the USSR in Afghanistan.  We the USA armed Saddam and Iraq while they were fighting Iran.  We the USA armed lots of our past friends only to face them on the battle field at a later date.

Osama proclaimed a Jihad on us because we wouldn't leave the middle east, we wouldn't stop dictating our wants to the region and because we support Israel.  Now should we give it all up and just the the world go to hell?  NO but there has to be a middle ground.  What American citizen would sit by while the Iraq Army rolled into down town apple pie?  None of us would.  The Iraqi people for the most part welcomed us with hugs, smiles, food and warnings of attacks and you know what, at the same time they were feeding me and my guys they wanted to know when were we going to leave!

If we the USA wanted out we could have left a long time ago.  We could have left after the fall of Baghdad, we could have left after the 1st vote, we could have left after we handed sovereignty back to the Iraqi people, or the 2nd vote, we could have left after we caught Saddam or after the 3rd election.  We could have left after we killed Zarqui "spelling" or after the execution of Saddam.  If we wanted to give the folks a chance at freedom and leave we could have done that.

Instead we are 5 years into the war, that is after 12 years of building bases in Saudi, 12 years of doing no fly zone patrols out of Turkey for operation Northern Watch.  We want that region and now that we are in Iraq the next thing DC is talking about is Iran.  Our government doesn't want to leave if they did a goal would have been stated clearly and we the service members would know what that is.  Instead we are feed kill them there before they can kill us here, lets take the fight to them before they can plan another attack here.  This is BS pushed down from above to justify close to 4,000 US service members KIA and 60,000 or more wounded in combat operations that were declared over back in 2004.

Why do you all think the USSR left Afghanistan?  You can not win a war without killing every one or changing the minds of those that you fight.  Here in Iraq for every bad guy we cook off, a brother, father, sister, son or daughter takes his place.  For every 10 we kill we create 100.  And for every 100 that is killed 10 get away and learn.  We are making combat harden soldiers that one day will try to come here.

This war can not be won by bullets and bombs unless the American people are willing to stand by and let us the US service member start at one corner of Iraq and kill everyone we think is or could be a bad guy.  The only way to win is through the hearts and minds of the people to get them to accept the responsibility of running a country.  The trouble is we waited to dam long to put enough boots on the ground to control anything.  Both the Iraqi and American people lost faith and now after 5 years of fighting we do not have the manpower left to continue the fight for much longer.  Instead it is going to be the same old same.  Rotate in, rotate out and they bad guys are going to keep stabbing the giant in the ankle until we finally give up.


Sadly we could have done so much but in the end all we managed to do is short change our service members in Afghanistan who for the most part are forgotten.  Forgoten by the public at large, forgotten by the brass to fight this war and forgoten because there is not enough manpower to catch and kill Osama, so we just keep doing the same old same.


I for one no longer want to keep doing the same old same.  I want to consolidate our troops, re-arm, retrain, rest our men/women and use the small tactical hunter killer units to do surgical strikes and gather intel.

Anyway I'm looking for change and IMO not one of the folks running today have the stones to tell you up front and eye to eye what there ready to do.  They all talk in circles and they all try to change the tune just enough  city to city to make everyone happy.

Name me one person that has a plan to win and leave the chit hole.

Ron at least knows we have to leave.  Leave today, next year 10 years from now we are going to leave it's just how many more have to die before we go and Ron isn't afraid to say that.


So bash me if you want but I was there 1st hand.  I've been at war now since I joined in 1988 thats going on 20 years this won't be the 1st war we could have done better at, but it will be one of the longest wars before we pull out.

That quite frankly may be the best and most informed post I have ever seen on this forum
Thanks for the insight from someone that has seen it first hand

[tomcat]

Ok political talk and bass fishing forums have a hard time mixing because folks sometimes just can't say something without pissing off someone else.

So with that said, this isn't a slam tomcat, but the American people can not sit on the sofa watching CNN or FOX and learn history.  Every news station has a slant and the slant is pushed based on who they want as an audience.

We the USA armed Osama while he was fighting the USSR in Afghanistan.  We the USA armed Saddam and Iraq while they were fighting Iran.  We the USA armed lots of our past friends only to face them on the battle field at a later date.

Osama proclaimed a Jihad on us because we wouldn't leave the middle east, we wouldn't stop dictating our wants to the region and because we support Israel.  Now should we give it all up and just the the world go to hell?  NO but there has to be a middle ground.  What American citizen would sit by while the Iraq Army rolled into down town apple pie?  None of us would.  The Iraqi people for the most part welcomed us with hugs, smiles, food and warnings of attacks and you know what, at the same time they were feeding me and my guys they wanted to know when were we going to leave!

If we the USA wanted out we could have left a long time ago.  We could have left after the fall of Baghdad, we could have left after the 1st vote, we could have left after we handed sovereignty back to the Iraqi people, or the 2nd vote, we could have left after we caught Saddam or after the 3rd election.  We could have left after we killed Zarqui "spelling" or after the execution of Saddam.  If we wanted to give the folks a chance at freedom and leave we could have done that.

Instead we are 5 years into the war, that is after 12 years of building bases in Saudi, 12 years of doing no fly zone patrols out of Turkey for operation Northern Watch.  We want that region and now that we are in Iraq the next thing DC is talking about is Iran.  Our government doesn't want to leave if they did a goal would have been stated clearly and we the service members would know what that is.  Instead we are feed kill them there before they can kill us here, lets take the fight to them before they can plan another attack here.  This is BS pushed down from above to justify close to 4,000 US service members KIA and 60,000 or more wounded in combat operations that were declared over back in 2004.

Why do you all think the USSR left Afghanistan?  You can not win a war without killing every one or changing the minds of those that you fight.  Here in Iraq for every bad guy we cook off, a brother, father, sister, son or daughter takes his place.  For every 10 we kill we create 100.  And for every 100 that is killed 10 get away and learn.  We are making combat harden soldiers that one day will try to come here.

This war can not be won by bullets and bombs unless the American people are willing to stand by and let us the US service member start at one corner of Iraq and kill everyone we think is or could be a bad guy.  The only way to win is through the hearts and minds of the people to get them to accept the responsibility of running a country.  The trouble is we waited to dam long to put enough boots on the ground to control anything.  Both the Iraqi and American people lost faith and now after 5 years of fighting we do not have the manpower left to continue the fight for much longer.  Instead it is going to be the same old same.  Rotate in, rotate out and they bad guys are going to keep stabbing the giant in the ankle until we finally give up.


Sadly we could have done so much but in the end all we managed to do is short change our service members in Afghanistan who for the most part are forgotten.  Forgoten by the public at large, forgotten by the brass to fight this war and forgoten because there is not enough manpower to catch and kill Osama, so we just keep doing the same old same.


I for one no longer want to keep doing the same old same.  I want to consolidate our troops, re-arm, retrain, rest our men/women and use the small tactical hunter killer units to do surgical strikes and gather intel.

Anyway I'm looking for change and IMO not one of the folks running today have the stones to tell you up front and eye to eye what there ready to do.  They all talk in circles and they all try to change the tune just enough  city to city to make everyone happy.

Name me one person that has a plan to win and leave the chit hole.

Ron at least knows we have to leave.  Leave today, next year 10 years from now we are going to leave it's just how many more have to die before we go and Ron isn't afraid to say that.


So bash me if you want but I was there 1st hand.  I've been at war now since I joined in 1988 thats going on 20 years this won't be the 1st war we could have done better at, but it will be one of the longest wars before we pull out.

First off, these political discussions happen from time to time and usually nobody gets upset because the people on this forum are civilized so it's not a big deal as long as it is civil.

Second, I am not going to bash you.  Why would I do that?  I have never bashed anybody.

I can't really make a good post without typing for a really long time since you had a lot to say.

All I am going to say is that I am already aware of most of your points.  Points that I never even argued with.  What has happened in the past has happened.  I am worried about the now and the future so it does not become what our past has become or worse.  I want the troops to come home as much as you do.  But I firmly believe that evil can be defeated.  And with perseverance, confidence, and a strong military it can be done.  I believe if we ignore it, then it will come to our borders and take away all our freedoms and kill our family and friends.  Evil exist it means to harm us.  I believe we need another General Patton who can stand up in front of the American people and say we are going to get these SOB's no matter what it takes.  But I say again, I'm convinced that the only way to deal with Islamic fascism is to defeat it on the battlefield thoroughly and convincingly.  And I also say again, for me the most absolute important  issue in this election, and possibly many elections to come, is the protection of the United States from Islamic radicalism.  I again, want to take the fight to the Islamic terrorists, not wait to fight them when they reach our borders.  Ron Paul will not do that, therefore I personally cannot support Ron Paul. It's Just that simple.  That's my stance and I am standing by it.  Also,  I know that you are part of the armed forces I think that you are a hero to the American people and I am thankful for you.  God Bless.

[mlakrid]

Why do you all think the USSR left Afghanistan?  You can not win a war without killing every one or changing the minds of those that you fight.  Here in Iraq for every bad guy we cook off, a brother, father, sister, son or daughter takes his place.  For every 10 we kill we create 100.  And for every 100 that is killed 10 get away and learn.  We are making combat harden soldiers that one day will try to come here.

I agreed with your entire post until I read this...

I am thinking: Charlie Wilson's war? Cold War?
We... THE US... armed the Taliban

just my $.02...

Mike A!

[Fogy]

I agreed with your entire post until I read this...

I am thinking: Charlie Wilson's war? Cold War?
We... THE US... armed the Taliban

just my $.02...

Mike A!

What part didn't you agree with? 

Yes we did arm the Taliban and we were pat of the support that help fight off the USSR but in doing so we created Osama and the like, they became heroes to the Islamic radicals.

I was saying Bullets and bombs alone can not win this war unless we kill everyone.  We have to change the hearts and minds of those that want to do us harm.

In WWI or WWII we bombed them to death and had enough boots on the ground to change the perspective of the enemy.  Today we no-longer are fighting an Army.  There are no uniforms no lines in the sand showing what side anyone is on.  The same folks that wave at you one day are the ones planting IED's at night.

[Warpath]

To me this is really a question of reactive versus proactive.  Police officer struggle with this all the time.  All they do is go out and get the bad guys, and they're back on the streets an hour later.  What is the answer?

Who knows?  One of the principles of American military policy is to fight on the lands of others.  We have rarely fought major battles, moreless conflicts, on our own soil.  Ultimately, that is to protect the citizens of this country.  So, whether we're fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, I'm all for our military giving them H E L L over there. 

Do I think we need more diplomacy?  Yes, but with who?  A regime in Tehran whose expressed goal is to destroy our allies, and us?  Do we negoiate with Osama, a man who leads a uniform-less army, and whose expressed interest is to cut off the heads of infidels (defined as any non-Muslim).  I ask you who?

My point is largely this.  The reason we have been at war in the Middle East for 20 years does not rest at our feet.  IMO, it rests solely on the failure of the UN to act.  We fund 75% of that organization, and it allows other countries to break the Geneva Convention, and publicly threaten our way of life(every little kid likes to throw rocks at the big kid on the street,especially if there aren't any parents around).  Maybe some people have lost what it means to be American, but I still believe that we are an accepting people, but don't mess with us.  The Japanese found that out in 1941.  How many Americans run around announcing we're going to kill all Muslims?  I don't.  That brand of Islam went out in the Christian world with the Crusades.  Wake up Osama, its the 21st Century. 

We can't rely on the UN to protect us, and that's the reason we have a military.  IMO, we're killing off those who might come here to harm us.  We can't be reactive to this question.  It appears necessary to be proactive, and take the fight to them.

Eric