If no republican nomination for Ron Paul: should he run independently?

Ron Paul should not consider running as an Independent unless he comes out of GOP primary process in the number two slot. Assuming he does not win or come in second, the cause of the RPR would be best served by Dr. Paul bringing national attention to the RPR candidates running in the 2008 election. This moves the RPR focus to the local level where organizational strength can be built for 2012. By 2012 the Democrats will have made as big a mess of domestic policy as Bush has made of foreign policy, setting up 2012 for $40 million campaign quarters.

Ron Paul should definitely run as an independent if he fails to get the nomination. He has great ideas and if he has more chances to get his message out I’m sure that more people will support him. He seems to be a very good man, and different from everyone else and therefore has a lot to offer! Go Ron Paul!

When you compete in an event, whether it be a sports event or a primary election campaign, you have an obligation to accept the results even if they’re not in your favor – provided that the organizers and other participants play ‘fair’. What is ‘fair’ however is relative. The refusal by Fox to let Paul participate in the debate, some uncounted votes in the NH primary, etc., might already have provided enough of an excuse for Paul. Moreover, the way the economy is going right now, running as a Republican this year might not have any advantage over an independent campaign. Indeed the ‘mainstream’ Republicans might do well to nominate Paul so they can blame him when they lose. And Paul might do well to reject the nomination even if they give to him.

Ron Paul is this trying to win, but the goal is to spread the message of liberty. As long as we, his followers, keep fueling his ability to spread the message he should do so.

He will also teach the GOP a valuable lesson about principles in the process.

Dr. Paul shoud absolutely run as an independent or Libertarian. The GOP lost its way years ago.
I am campaigning for Ron Paul, and a lot of people don’t even want to hear his platform.
“No more Republicans, thanks,” they tell me.

“If no republican nomination for Ron Paul: should he run independently?”
ABSOLUTELY! We’ve been just using the republican party as a vehicle and we always planned to ride it until the wheel fell off (republican convention). Anyone who had the notion that the establishment would allow us to win the republican nomination has a problem recognizing reality.

I can’t wait to wash this republican filth off of me and get to the “real” campaign. Anybody who is saying Ron Paul should not run as an independent is not on the side on freedom, rather an opponent of it.

Just a side note. I’ve been working 8 hours a day, for a year, to get Ron Paul the republican nomination, and I’ve never thought for a moment that he would win it. When his independent run becomes official, I’m quitting my day job and working for RP my every waking hour – for free. And I’m not alone. So sit back, watch the republican party die slow, and watch the independent campaign of Ron Paul grow exponentially of what the current campaign is.

Ron Paul would garner much more support in 2012 where his fundraising would be huge from the start (ie 15/20 million quarters).
However by that time Paul would be 76, anyone know of an older presidential candidate?

If you look at elections back to JFK, in many respects, it’s as if the parties have tried unsuccessfully to swap platforms. The Democrats say they are against the war but, they continue to fund it. They also have taken the opportunity to personally profit from the war. The Republicans say they are for limited government spending and limited government but they have spent more and grown the government more than the Democrats. Both parties continue to limit American freedom through legislation. Both parties ignore the wishes of the American people. Both parties support the military industrial complex. Both parties ignore the Constitution. Neither choice makes a difference.

It’s not what you say. It’s what you do. If Ron Paul is unsuccessful in restoring the GOP to its traditional conservative values, we need another party in order to give the people a choice.

Given a choice of doubling the number of congressman who share Ron Paul’s outlook or watching the main stream media sabatoge an independent run, there is no question that the congressional choice will serve the interests of freedom the best. The resources of the RPR are finite.

You can argue that both would be better, but that choice is up to Dr. Paul.

Absolutely. The republican party is in shambles and has lost its way. They have lost credibility. Dr. Paul is being censored , especially by FAUX news, who is right wing biased. The republicans hate Ron Paul. He is basically “in their face” pointing out how they are faiing and how they are not even republicans. He cannot get a fair shake as a republican because he is against this war.

A run as an independent is a Don Quixote pursuit of a windmill, which not only ends in a failed and mocked candidate, but also relegates his ideas to the ash-heap of political history. For goodness sake, look at the recent past, John Anderson, Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan none of them made a dent on their parties and set back their cause, in contrast, William Bryon Jennings, William Taft, and Barry Goldwater stood on principle, abet while losing elections, their ideas lived on and changed their parties for the better. Burke reminds us that it is reform within the system, not revolution that is the solution. The question for his supporters, is it about Ron Paul, i.e a “cult of personality” or is it about his ideas, you must pick one, as one of Paul’s favorite philosophers always use to say “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”. Moreover, Ron Paul is a sitting member of the House of Representative, stage 2 of the Ron Paul Revolution should take place in the Congress, since constitutionally all the power to makes all of the changes that Ron Paul wants to make reside in Article I of the constitution, not with the President under Article II.

Minnesota gave Jessie Ventura the governor’s seat when the democrats, republican, and media said he had no chance. The people spoke. Let the people speak in 2008.

No, only billionaires can afford to run as independents.

Well stated Ed. And from the ranks of the RPR members of congress may come Dr. Paul’s successor. This is important to freedom’s future because Ron Paul running in 2012 is even less likely than his running as an Independent in 2008.

It is too early to tell now. Ron Paul supporters, campaign staff and of course Dr. Paul himself will address this issue when the time comes.

Why are we not discussing issues and policy rather than hypotheticals.

Focus on what is Now, not what might be.

I vote for virtue; I vote for Ron Paul !!!

Congressman Ron Paul is a sitting member of the House of Representative’s, stage “2″ of the Ron Paul Revolution should take place in Congress, Constitutionally, The power to makes all of the changes that Ron Paul wants to make reside in Article I of the Constitution, not with the President under Article II.

Congressman Ron Paul is a sitting member of the House of Representative’s. Stage “2″ of the Ron Paul Revolution should take place in Congress. Constitutionally. Changes that Ron Paul wants to make reside in Article I of the Constitution, not with the President under Article II.

Ty.

As a proud and true American (not a camp follower of GWB & Co.), I absolutely RP should run as an Independent, hell, I gave from my hard earned salary (tiny as it is). All he needs is a well known running mate to gather real attention. Someone with real name power. Kurt Russel is a known Libertarian, so is Clint Eastwood. I know, I know, Hollywood is anathema to libertarians, but they do have name recognition and most people love these guys. So, I say why not? Can we convince these two great actors to come on board? Help me out here people, start the push for those in hollywood who are on our side to speak up! We need every red blooded American who believes and can stand to speak out!

“Only billionaires can run?” We can give billions ourselves. Us, the little people, or do you forget the Boston Tea Party where we gave over 6 million in one day with small donations?

I have to agree with ED.
No matter what happens with Ron Paul’s nomination, we need to unite and fight!
We need to organize a “Change of Values” in the congress, in this country. Yes this will take more time and seem a daunting task. However, we can not give up the fight that “The Message” has awakened in all of us.
We are the people…the majority. As such, what we say is beyond contestation!

Is it legal, under current campaign laws, for Ron Paul to first run for president as a Republican and later to switch to another party or become an independent in the same race? I read several weeks ago that this may not be legal. Also, could he take campaign contributions received as a Republican to this other race? He may have to start over. If he can earn enough delegates to make some noise (trouble) at the Republican convention, he should probably just remain in the Republican race. This will get him more media coverage than leaving the Republican Party would. It would take a lot of money to get on the ballot in many states as an independent. Bloomberg has billions to spend and can do it. Ron Paul would be a write-in candidate in most states unless he could switch to an existing third party. And I believe the Libertarian Party is not on the ballot in a number of states. Don’t know about the Constitution Party.

Turn Cicero’s famous aphorism upside down and apply it to Paul and the Republicans: “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly.”

The last thing Paul needs to do is step outside the tent, he will have a bullseye on him and the Republican will easily marginalize him, while they can’t govern, they will have no problem destroying an external political threat posed by a heretic. Pat Buchanan facilitated the greatest harm in recent memory to the Grand Old Party when he drifted to the Reform Party, inadvertently facilitating the transformation into the soulless RHINO party it is now.

If Paul goes the way of metaphysical speculations in the Libertarian, Reform, Independent, or Constitution party or any of those other smaller parties, his ideas will also be relegated to obscurity. Now, Ron Paul gets publicity he gets now because he is within the ranks. He goes outside the fold; he is Lyndon Larouche, nut candidate.

Moreover, why change, neither the republican or democratic party has any true principles (how could James Webb, Zell Miller” be elected as a democrat?). The platforms of both parties are up for grabs, but only to insiders, a hostile takeover from within, but not some kook interloper from a third party. Only the two major parties have the political mechanism and machinery behind them to get elected. Nothing is going to change the Electoral College with its “winner take all” award of electors in presidential elections. Moreover, there is no need to change the two-party system; the answer is simple, work within it.

Ed has some excellent points!

I believe we will see the Democrats destroy each other in the coming months. With the Clinton “pull no punches” campaign and the lack of experience from Obama, this can be the only outcome.
People will really start to see that the mainstream GOP candidates offer only platitudes and bandaids for this injured and hemorrhaging country.

Ron Paul will become seen as the only candidate to offer real promise to what ails us. His record is proof of truth.

People may not agree with every thing he says, but is there a candidate out there that the people do completely agree with? Is there a candidate that doesn’t run around saying what they think you want to hear?
Today, Romney is telling Michigan what he thinks they want to hear. If you listen to his words, you will discover that he really has no plan. He just says that he plans on working to find a solution.

Ron Paul already has solutions and he is talking to the country as a whole, not just each potential group of voters.

Seriously look at Ron Paul and the issues. Let your common sense take over and realize the truth.

Deralaand I like what you say except, “I believe we will see the Democrats destroy each other in the coming months.” Thinking the Democrats will destroy themselves is wishful thinking, don’t confuse their incompetence at running a government with their unrivaled ability to get elected. Running a campaign is an entirely different skill set.

As I said, Ron Paul’s best chance is within the party, in regards to Cicero quote, what works for a traitor also works for a patriot, same principles. Actually, what is most realistic than the Clinton’s or Democrats imploding is the economy imploding. If Ron Paul continues to position himself by shouting about the upcoming economic collapse from the mountain tops, it may rocket him to the front of the pack when it hits. Unfortunately, what is good for Ron Paul is not good for country as a deep recession or depression is on the horizon.