Thread: Ron Paul on the Issues

The Real Delegate Score: Romney 93, Paul 82

Submitted by valleyforge on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 08:26


Every media outlet seems to have a different delegate count. But almost invariably we're told Ron Paul is in last place and far behind the leader Mitt Romney.

But none of these delegate counters properly estimate how the caucuses will allocate their delegates. According to the Paul campaign, Ron is well positioned to win 50% of the delegates in Iowa, 75% in Minnesota, 50% in Colorado, and 75% in Maine. So what is likely to be the true delegate count once the caucus states select their national delegates?

Add together the bound delegates from New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, and Nevada, and extrapolate the caucus states' delegates using the Paul campaign's estimates and you get:

Total Delegates (IA, NH, SC, FL, NV, MN, CO, ME)

Romney: 93 (6, 7, 2, 50, 14, 2, 7, 5)

Paul: 82 (13, 3, 0, 0, 5, 28, 17, 16)

Gingrich: 29 (0, 0, 23, 0, 6, 0, 0, 0)

Santorum: 25 (6, 0, 0, 0, 3, 7, 9, 0)

Unpledged: 14 (3, 2, 0, 0, 0, 3, 3, 3)

*Unpledged includes Huntsman's delegates in NH as well as unbound party leader delegates in certain states.

The caucus/convention process for selecting delegates has plenty of quirks along the way - the eventual delegates could be more evenly dispersed or could skew even more heavily to Paul as the majority candidate.

But this is a far more accurate portrayal of the true state of play than allocating delegates proportionately to the straw poll or entirely to the straw poll leader.

And it shows that, for now, this is a two-man race in delegates between Paul and Romney.

The Real Delegate Score: Romney 93, Paul 82 | Ron Paul 2012 | Peace . Gold . Liberty

been tell'n ya the same thing for a very long time...... Once Ron Paul hit that 10% of Hard Core Following; he is the man to beat. Romney is on the way down; early states are the only thing that kept him high on the polls; while Ron Pauls following is going to grow... Once Paul stated he is looking at Judge Napolitano as a V.P. "WOW" LOOK for it to go over the Top on Super Tuesday ... the Message is getting out

if you want to know why you keep hearing about a Brokered Convention... there it is

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John King (CNN) - He is right, he is second in the delegates count!

Ron Paul after the AZ Republican Debate - CNN - February 22, 2012 - YouTube



We are winning! They no longer can hide it.

Ron Paul Highlights in 2/22/2012 Presidential Debate - YouTube

Paul calls Santorum fake during CNN Arizona debate - YouTube

BREAKING: "Ron Paul Wins CNN Arizona Republican Debate"



In the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday, and perhaps the last of the race, Texas Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) made quick work of his opponents.
Though not known for his stellar oratory abilities or powerful stage presence, the libertarian gadfly stood out among the remaining candidates during Wednesday night's contest for the same reason he has been able to stay in the race thus far: his consistent and convincing defense of free markets and small government.

Paul opened his time by defending his criticism of Santorum as fake fiscal conservative. In response to CNN moderator John King's question, "Why did you call Senator Santorum a fake fiscal conservative?" Paul quipped, "Because he's a fake!" After the massive applause died down, Paul pointed out that most politicians are fiscal hawks during their campaigns, but they tend to be far less principled once elected. Santorum, who admitted he wouldn't cut defense spending, and supported dozens of federal spending increases while in Congress, perfectly fits this description.

During a slap fight that broke out over earmarks between the frontrunners, Paul was criticized for sending federal money back to his district. Paul rightly pointed out that he earmarks funds for his district because the money would otherwise be spent on wars and bank bailouts by the Executive Branch. Though he prefers the money not be taken from taxpayers in the first place, Paul argued that earmarks ensure that some of the money is sent back to the people who it actually belongs to.

Ron Paul Calls Santorum 'A Fake'



On the auto bailout, Paul argued that all bailouts are economically harmful because they represent legalized theft. "Do we praise bank robbers if they are successful?" As many economists have long argued, Paul pointed out that bailouts save failing businesses at the expense of the rest of the economy, and that letting companies like General Motors fail is necessary if the economy is going to recover.

Should the government be involved in issues like contraception? Paul says no, because that's where the problem arises. Congress legislates morality; people of differing religious persuasions then fight incessantly over whose morality will be the law of the land. Much like abortion or gay marriage, the answer, according to Paul, is to return the decision to use birth control, and the cost of using it, to states and individuals.

Top Story: 4 Highlights From the Arizona Republican Debate

The Texas congressman also laid into Santorum for voting for Planned Parenthood while claiming to be a pro-life Senator. Santorum didn't deny the charge, but justified his vote by claiming that he authored legislation that would fund abstinence only education. Paul responded, "There's always an excuse for the spending."

Paul used a question about immigration to criticize our foreign policy of "worrying about the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan." He also claimed that we need to eliminate the incentives, mainly welfare, that encourage people to immigrate to America illegally. Meanwhile, the rest of the candidates argued over how to successfully arrest Mexican immigrants and build big fences along the southern border.

Ron Paul Explains Why War With Iran Is Wrong



While Santorum, Romney, and Gingrich stuck to the neoconservative line that we have to keep building our military and policing the Middle East, Paul, following a long line of foreign policy experts, explained that we need to stop fighting aggressive wars and consider our role in fostering the rise of violent dictators around the world.

Because our influence in the region, and the fact that Iran doesn't have a nuclear bomb, Paul also claimed that the likelihood of Iran starting a nuclear war is minuscule. He also highlighted the enormous costs of an aggressive foreign policy, citing the Soviets as an example of what happens to countries that overextend themselves abroad.

All of the candidates took reasonable stances on education policy. Each correctly took shots at teacher unions and argued that the federal Department of Education needs to be reformed. But as Paul opined, the other three contenders didn't go far enough. Education should be a state and local issue, a position no other Republican on the stage consistently defended while in office.

At this point in the race, it's unlikely that Paul will win the Republican nomination, trailing far beyond Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum as he is. But after tonight's debate, the Texas congressman has illustrated why he's the best choice. If Republican voters, supposed conservatives, can't see that, then they deserve the champion of big government that their next president will be.

Photo Credit: CNN

http://www.policymic.com/articles/45.../category_list

Ron Paul Wins CNN Arizona Republican Debate @PolicyMic | Cameron English

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Ron Paul supporters bring about change at county convention

February 22, 2012
Regina Garvie
The Tuttle Times The Tuttle Times

Wed Feb 22, 2012, 11:25 AM CST CHICKASHA — It was standing room only at the traditionally quiet Grady County Republican Convention on Monday night in Chickasha.

With many of the new faces in the crowd sporting Ron Paul t-shirts and ball caps, it was obvious what caused the increase in attendance.

The Ron Paul supporters came to the meeting with the intent of being named as delegates to the Oklahoma fourth district convention and the state convention, where they hope to help send like-minded delegates to the national GOP convention later this year.

Matt Burke, Grady County coordinator for the Ron Paul campaign, alerted fellow Paul supporters to the date and time of the county convention and stressed the importance of signing up to be a delegate.

Burke and his wife, Michelle, who live in Blanchard, have been in contact with the Ron Paul campaign and county Paul supporters and undecideds. They also run a Facebook page for the candidate, "Grady County, OK for Ron Paul."

Part of the strategy of the national Paul campaign is to not only work towards winning the popular vote, but to also have high numbers of Ron Paul supporters as delegates to the national convention. Ultimately, it is the vote of the delegates, not individual voters, that decides who will be the Republican nominee for president.

In some states, delegates do not have to vote the way of the popular vote at all. Oklahoma is one of several states that requires its delegates to vote the way of the popular vote, but if in the first round of voting, no candidate receives the required amount of delegate votes - 1,144 - then a second vote is held in which all delegates can vote for whomever they personally choose.

With no clear front-runner so far in the GOP race, it is possible that no candidate will receive the 1,144 delegates and the second vote will decide who the nominee is. That's why Ron Paul supporters are working so hard to make sure those delegates are for Paul.

Precinct Meetings

Like many small counties in Oklahoma, Grady County does not hold separate GOP precinct meetings. Instead, those counties hold their precinct meetings during the county conventions.

After voting unanimously to send an open delegation to the district and state conventions, county chair Wade Steelman had moved into new business when, during a conversation on new precinct boundaries, he was asked who the precinct leaders were.

He explained that they didn't have precinct leaders because they had to have precinct meetings to elect people to those positions.

Al Gerhart, state coordinator for the Ron Paul campaign, spoke up, saying that if the meeting was publicized as county and precinct meetings combined, those present could break down into small groups based on precinct and elect their leaders.

Several present complained, saying they didn't even know their precinct number, but Richard Engle, a candidate for Republican National Committeeman, quietly discussed with Steelman what needed to be done, and after that, Steelman announced that the meeting would be breaking down into precinct meetings to select leaders and decide on anything else they wanted to discuss at the county meeting.

Steelman counted off, 1-41, so people in those precincts could raise their hands and find each other. A representative from each precinct announced where they voted, so those who did not know their precinct number could recognize their polling place.

GOP members were present from precincts 1, 2, 11, 25, 27, 28, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41.

Several precincts only had one representative, who held their own meeting and came out as precinct chair. Many others had two, and they took the chair and vice chair positions. Precincts 28, 32 and 37 are now headed by husband and wife teams, and others have relatives in both positions.

The largest precinct by far represented Monday night was 40, which votes at Tuttle United Methodist Church. Eleven people were there from precinct 40; when they raised their hands the crowd broke out into applause. That group elected James Gottman as their chair, his daughter Krislyn as vice chair and Kristi Hughes as secretary.

After electing their officers, the precincts gathered together in the main room and finished their county business. Michelle Burke volunteered to work on the county GOP website, to help local Republicans keep abreast of events.

After the county meeting was adjourned, county chair Wade Steelman said that he didn't know how long it had been since the Grady County GOP had held precinct meetings and elected leaders, but it had been a very long time.

Hopefuls speak

Several candidates for Republican offices also spoke near the end of the meeting. Brooks Mitchell, a licensed CPA and small business owner, is running for state corporation commissioner, and Ron Magar is running for state senate district 43.

The group also heard from Richard Engle, who was by that point a familiar face, having visited at the individual precinct meetings to help the process along and explain what they needed to do in their meetings. Engle is running for Republican national committeeman and is from Canadian County.

Engle said that the current committeeman isn't running for re-election, and is supporting Engle.

He said that it was an important position to him.

"I desperately want to do this job and it doesn't pay a penny," Engle said. "I have to pay to do it."

Another man, Wayne Watts, spoke up for two candidates who couldn't be at the meeting, Steve Fair, who is running for Republican national committeeman, and Peggy Davenport, who is running for senate district 43.

On to the conventions

After the meeting, the Ron Paul supporters shared out bumper stickers and other materials to help spread the word about their candidate, and members signed up as delegates for the upcoming conventions.

The fourth district convention will be held in Pauls Valley on April 20-21. Grady County is one of 15 counties in the district that will be sending delegates to Pauls Valley, and Grady County can send up to 24 delegates to the convention.

The state convention will be held on May 12 in Norman.

At the district convention, delegates will elect three national delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. All together, Oklahoma's five congressional districts will choose 15 delegates for the national convention.

At the state convention, an additional 25 delegates will be elected to go to the national convention.

Three members of the Republican National Committee are automatically national delegates, bringing the total amount of delegates from Oklahoma to 43.

Those 43 delegates will join delegates from the other U.S. states and territories to cast their votes for Republican nominee for the 2012 presidential election

http://tuttletimes.com/news/x1058961...nty-convention

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