What is to be done? A message from Phil Blumel

From: Phil Blumel, Palm Beach Ron Paul meetup coordinator

Friends,

We are running in a GOP primary and have to reach GOP voters. It is helpful, and easy, to have sign-waving events on busy street corners -- and they are worth doing! -- but they are not enough, as a minority of the people who pass in cars are NOT going to be voting in the primary.

The most influential primary voters attend local GOP meetings and/or belong to their county Republican Executive Committee and, of course, 100% of the people at such meetings are both interested in the election and will be voting in the primary. We need to be a recognized and respectable part of the Republican Party if we are to win a Republican primary. If we act like a marginal third party, we will get the vote total of a marginal third party.

Here are my specific recommendations in this regard:

1) Register Republican right now if you are not already.

2) Bring change of registration forms to every planning Meetup. We always get new GOP voters in the South Florida Meetups when we do this.

3) Encourage the more presentable Meetup folks (you know what I mean) to join their local GOP clubs and attend meetings and socials wearing a Ron Paul lapel pin and armed with some Ron literature. Go to the meeting, participate, get to know people.

You don't need to be pushy or dogmatic, as this will be resented. Have you ever been active in a charity and some realtor or other salesperson joins trying to network to generate business and it is clear they don't really care about the charity? They do not succeed in generating business that way; this kind of networking only works when the realtor is *genuinely* interested in the goals of the charity. Watch how the Rudy and Mitt folks are working the crowd and learn from them. Because of the pin, discussions about Ron will spring up. But even when they don't, these important primary voters will recognize intraparty support and we will earn respect. The key to networking is to make genuine connections with people, not to harangue or give speeches. It requires attending meetings regularly and establishing real relationships.

4) Join the Republican Liberty Caucus network (www.rlc.org). Ron was chair of the RLC in the 1990s and this is the existing libertarian network in the GOP. This will help you locate fellow travelers in the GOP. You are not alone!

May 25: Ron Paul on Bill Maher's Real Time on HBO

After his big splash in the GOP debates, Bill Maher has declared Ron Paul "my new hero." Ron Paul will be on Maher's show once again on Friday, May 25, this time with libertarian humorist P.J. O'Rourke and actor Ben Affleck.

On Ron's first appearance on Maher's show, Maher was somewhat dismissive of him and even disrespectful. Apparently he has changed his opinion, and is offering him as an example for other politicians to follow (click here to see Maher haranguing establishment sop Chris Dodd while throwing Ron's name out there).

2nd GOP Presidential Debate: Tuesday, May 15 - 9:00 PM EST

From the SC GOP website:

The 2007 First-In-The-South Republican Party Presidential Candidates Debate will be televised live by FOX News Channel at 9:00 PM from the University of South Carolina’s Koger Center for the Arts on Tuesday, May 15, 2007. FOX News Channel Washington Managing Editor Brit Hume will moderate the debate and FOX News Sunday Anchor Chris Wallace and White House Correspondent Wendell Goler will ask questions of the candidates.

You can submit questions here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271356,00.html

Ron Paul wins MSNBC post-debate poll

Last night, MSNBC held the first GOP presidential debates at the Reagan Library in California. Ron Paul was the most surprising and refreshing of the candidates. We're not just saying that because we're big supporters here at electronpaul.blogpsot.com ... it is because he clearly seperated himself from the others by staking out firm, principled positions. When he came out squarely against any kind of national ID card, the others who endorsed it (Giuliani, Romney, et cetera) then backtracked and said they only wanted it for aliens. His staking out of the libertarian quadrant is already having an effect on the others. Chris Matthews used the word libertarian twice and linked Ron Paul to the "Barry Goldwater wing" of the GOP. It's nice to see him finally get some respect from these guys.

As of now, Ron Paul leads in the MSNBC interactive poll - 32% positive, ahead of all the others. And Ron has the lowest negatives - 29% as opposed to Huckabee's 37%. If you toggle the before/after ratings, you'll see Ron had the biggest increase.

This is very encouraging - and nothing short of amazing. Put Ron in front of larger audiences, and he wins them over.

A message from Ron Paul's District Political Director

First and foremost, the goals that we hope to accomplish are:

Bringing the message that liberty can be reestablished in American only by respecting the rule of law, the U. S. Constitution.

Saving America from bankruptcy, world war and a continued fascist regime by getting Ron Paul elected President.

What you can do:

Republicans need to get involved in the party. Become voting delegates at your precinct, county and state conventions. Support Ron Paul at all these events. Ask them to invite Ron Paul to speak at their state conventions! (1-800-RON-PAUL)

Republicans need to call the county chairs, executive committee and state chairmen of your individual state. Ask that they support and endorse Ron Paul. Tell them that it is imperative at this time in history that we have someone who in incorruptible and a true conservative because this country is going bankrupt - financially and morally.

Those of you who are not Republicans, hold your nose and take the plunge as Ron Paul is running in the Republican primary and believe it or not, most grassroots Republicans believe in limited government and want someone to believe in Ron Paul is that Republican.

Write letters to the editors of newspapers about supporting Ron Paul for President.

Continue to hammer talk show blogs and email commentary promoting Ron Paul for President. (you have done a great job at this) Ask them to invite Ron Paul onto their station. Tell them to call 1-800-RON-PAUL. Promote him and the issues of liberty and the U.S. Constitution.

Ron Paul has to win Republican primaries before he can get to the next step - the general election, so we need you to work in Republican circles to get that done.

Thanks so much. You don't know how much we love you as supporters. If it weren't for you holding back the tide of big government by supporting Ron Paul in all of his endeavors, we would have little hope for freedom.

So, because of you, there is....Hope for America!

Penny Langford-Freeman
District Political Director/Scheduler
Congressman Ron Paul
"The Taxpayers' Best Friend"
District 14, Tex.
1-800-RON-PAUL
837 W. Plantation Dr.
Clute, Tex. 77531

Ron Paul on HBO TONIGHT with Bill Maher

Tonight, Ron Paul will be on HBO's REAL TIME with Bill Maher at 11 PM EST. Also appearing on the show will be D.L. Hughley, Michael Smerconish, Catherine Crier and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. This ought to be a humdinger.

http://www.hbo.com/billmaher

MSNBC Under the Radar appearance 3-29-07

Ron Paul made a great appearance on MSNBC's Under the Radar program at noon yesterday (March 29, 2007). Have a look here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oWXbxgKbh0