New at Reason
Dave Weigel reports from the Ron Paul campaign at the Iowa Straw Poll.
Comments to "New at Reason":
thoreau | August 13, 2007, 12:22pm | #
Weigel was somewhere around Dubuque, on the edge of the Great Plains, when the drugs began to take hold.......and the flying lizards, led by a shreiking Tommy Thompson, were in full pursuit.
I think Reason should send Edward on the Ron Paul beat. He's the only person capable of Telling It Like It Is!
Stephen the Goldberger | August 13, 2007, 12:29pm | #
That was a great article. I watched Paul's speech online and his WWEesque entrance and crowd support. It was thrilling but and powerful but i couldn't help thinking it was not going to get it done. This straw poll is a sham anyways hopefully Paul made some noise.Stephen the Goldberger | August 13, 2007, 12:30pm | #
i didn't proofread that last comment and i wrote it in the middle of a phone call. sorry for it's utter grammer suckitude.Warren | August 13, 2007, 12:35pm | #
Thank you Dave. That was the only account I've found regarding the strong, albeit largely out of state, support for RON PAUL in Ames.Thanks for including a passage regarding me and my peace flag. A couple of Tancredo supporters came up to me while I was marching with it and, I kid you not, actually asked me "where in the constitution it authorized what my flag stood for".
seer | August 13, 2007, 12:50pm | #
Unfortunately, you're right that Paul's supporters are generally contemptuous towards other Republicans. Some Paul supporters really campaign smart, but others are just plain kooks that are as happy saying "fuck you" to GOP insiders as they are with the idea of taking over the GOP.Any news on Ed Thompson running for President yet?
ChrisO | August 13, 2007, 12:57pm | #
FTA: The busses [sic] were actually there to pick up Romney’s legions, fresh from voting, tuckered out, and ready to plan their next rounds of Florida condo-hunting.Wow, politically AND financially stupid. What a great combination. I suppose they'll want the rest of them to bail them out when they lose all their money in the ongoing Fla. real estate crash.
BTW, this article brings it all home as to how ugly retail politics is. And we seem to be subjected to more and more of it. That would be a big benefit of limited government--getting these blow-dried assholes off of our TV screens for a few minutes.
thoreau | August 13, 2007, 1:02pm | #
JasonC-Yeah, they should definitely send Edward on the Ron Paul beat, but they should send DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! with him.
crimethink | August 13, 2007, 1:18pm | #
Wait a minute, I didn't realize that the "peace flag" was a defaced US flag. That's not cool, Warren. Ay, big blunder there.True, Thoreau. Also, HeWhoWillNotBeNamedNorUseAppropriatePunctuation should tag along.
Taktix® | August 13, 2007, 1:39pm | #
...proud frat boy in a Team Romney shirt. “What country is that from? I don’t think I know that country.” He smirked and looked around for someone to high-five...Dude, my dad owns a dealership.
Dave Weigel | August 13, 2007, 1:40pm | #
Dude, my dad owns a dealership.Points for the Aqua Teen reference. Was that Patton Oswalt doing one of the voices?
Good article. It demonstrates quite well the hard slog in front of the Paul campaign. Much more work will need to be done to harness the strength, but such efforts are hampered by campaign finance laws. The Paul campaign can't direct anything too closely.
I've been to the University of Iowa, but I've never been to Ames. When did it move?
Eric | August 13, 2007, 1:55pm | #
This was a fun story but it missed the most important mark.the revolution failed to herd angry cats into giving the GOP $35 per vote.
We had Iowan's there that refused to vote because they know this is a GOP fundraiser first and for-most. Fortunately you can vote in the caucus without donating to the chicken-hawks.
CLS | August 13, 2007, 1:58pm | #
yea, but wouldn't it be nice if a there were a Libertarian in the race?Dave Weigel | August 13, 2007, 2:01pm | #
I've been to the University of Iowa, but I've never been to Ames. When did it move?D'oh, I reminded myself like seven times not to screw that up and I did anyway. Fixed.
Episiarch | August 13, 2007, 2:15pm | #
Points for the Aqua Teen reference.Dave, what kind of points? Are they redeemable for any prizes? Because I can do ATHF references all day.
Carl | August 13, 2007, 2:19pm | #
9% is better than 2%. This was not a win for Ron Paul, but it wasn't a lose, either.The campaign is going to need more help from outside the Republican Party in order to have a ghost of a chance to win. Fortunately, I detect a lot of positive vibes for Paul from the hippie left. They just need to be recruited.
http://www.republicantakeover.org
A start.
Warren | August 13, 2007, 2:26pm | #
crimethink,It wasn't a "defaced" American flag. It was a Peace flag, based on the American flag. Thus symbolizing that peace and patriotism belong together. Glad I could clear that up for you.
Taktix® | August 13, 2007, 2:32pm | #
A couple of Tancredo supporters came up to me while I was marching with it and, I kid you not, actually asked me "where in the constitution it authorized what my flag stood for".A) The Constitution does not authorize me to do anything (a duh if you post on H&R a lot, but worth mentioning).
B) I would have responded, "I don't know, they just paid me a lot more for this than I was paid of the Romney shirt."
crimethink | August 13, 2007, 2:36pm | #
Warren,Then fly a peace flag (ie, a flag with just a peace symbol) alongside a US flag. Altering the US flag to promote your political viewpoint is pretty low, IMHO.
What would you think if pro-lifers flew a flag with a fetus in the blue part, or feminists flew one with a Venus symbol, or NRA members altered it to include a rifle?
Warren | August 13, 2007, 2:55pm | #
crimethink,Sorry you don't approve. I can't agree with your view though. Nothing was "altered". The design is actually quite prestigious with a long and glorious tradition.
AC | August 13, 2007, 2:58pm | #
What would you think if pro-lifers flew a flag with a fetus in the blue part, or feminists flew one with a Venus symbol, or NRA members altered it to include a rifle?I'd want to know who made them so I could get a flag with the FSM in the blue part.
Marcvs | August 13, 2007, 2:59pm | #
What would you think if pro-lifers flew a flag with a fetus in the blue part, or feminists flew one with a Venus symbol, or NRA members altered it to include a rifle?I'd think, "Wow, look at those morons that think a flag is going to change someone's mind." And then I'd go back to not giving a shit what kind of flags people make.
lunchstealer | August 13, 2007, 3:31pm | #
From crimethink's description, I thought they'd taken an American Flag and smeared a peace sign onto it with their own feces or something.Just making something that looks kinda like an American flag isn't defacing an American flag. I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but the American flag has lots of five-pointed stars on it. Their flag doesn't, so it's not an American flag. Therefore, they can't possibly have defaced an American flag.
Oh, and for some reason I'm dying to see somebody make one with that sillouette of a naked chick that you see on mud flaps of 18-wheelers.
Twainist | August 13, 2007, 3:58pm | #
During the war on the Phillipines, Mark Twain recommended a truth-telling US flag, with little skulls & crossbones replacing the stars.
lunchstealer | August 13, 2007, 4:06pm | #
Warren, huh. God I love a free market.KingHarvest | August 13, 2007, 4:09pm | #
Where does this flag fit into the is-it-proper-to-alter-or-not-alter-a-flag,-depending-on-your-opinion argument?
JBinMO | August 13, 2007, 4:20pm | #
What does the author have against the J. Geils BandTaktix® | August 13, 2007, 4:22pm | #
I'd want to know who made them so I could get a flag with the FSM in the blue part.Sign me up, I would want all to know I was touched by His noodly appendage.
lunchstealer | August 13, 2007, 4:37pm | #
King Harvest, since they've got an Adidas logo there, which is a french company, I don't know.James | August 13, 2007, 5:08pm | #
Shouting down opponents?Waving defaced American "peace" flags?
Are you sure this wasn't the YearlyKos event you guys attended?
Wierd. Voters run like scared children from scary campaigns, and candidates. And I was being kind not mentioning the 9/11 conspiracy theories and virulent anti-government and anti-Jewish rhetoric.
lunchstealer | August 13, 2007, 5:08pm | #
Dave, yeah, Patton Oswalt does the voices for both of the frat aliens.Deborah | August 13, 2007, 5:27pm | #
"They’re looking for a social network and a traveling carnival, and some chances to wave the middle finger at reporters or the rest of the Republican Party."Wrong. I am working for Paul to win the presidency. You watch.
Gabe Harris | August 13, 2007, 5:40pm | #
I'm a meetup volunteer in Boston...there are 218 of us...although I have only met 10 at the two events I've been too.That leads me to believe that about 25 of us have done anything besides internet related activies...the 5 most active appear to have done about 90% of the "work". I'm not one of those 5.
Anyway, out of all the people I've met it appears that less than 10% of us voted for Bush in the last election. Half of the people are too young or didn't vote. About 35% of us probably voted libertarian. Most of us have always been for smaller government so it is natural that we would feel inclinded to give the GOP a big FU. Your right, I don't care that much if we lose, I just want libertarian ideas to get spread.
If the number of people in this country that get a praxeology reference increases by 10% I'd be thrilled.
I grew up interested in politics well before I was of voting age. As I came to realize that nothing I did was going to change things and the most logical thing for me to do was not even participate, a part of me grew darker. I focus on my career and kids and don't try to change many peoples minds. Now that a liberty oriented campaign is on the fringes of mainstream....it is a bit cathartic to give the FU to big government hypocrite republicans.
"if you want smaller governemnt then here is your chance!!! otherwise just swear on this communist manifesto for me so we can get the creeping socialism over with you m****r f****r!"
lunchstealer | August 13, 2007, 5:42pm | #
"They’re looking for a social network and a traveling carnival, and some chances to wave the middle finger at reporters or the rest of the Republican Party."Wrong. I am working for Paul to win the presidency. You watch.
But you're not going to turn your nose up at a chance to wave a middle finger at reporters or the rest of the Republican party, are you? I mean, as long as you're there.
Gabe Harris | August 13, 2007, 5:46pm | #
This was a fun article for those of us who couldn't make it.I can admit David is right about several things. When I read aarticle this weekend that said romney's supporters walked in orderly and that ron pauls stumbled in like crazed geurillas I got excited and relayed the info to my wife (a unlikely to vote libertarian) with glee...she cyncically commented that "you really like being a part of a team"...this wasn't the enthusiastic answer I wanted but it was the truth...I'm pro choice and want open borders..two things ron paul is against....doesn't matter, he is far superior to the other choices.
I'm gonna keep campaigning.
Dave Weigel | August 13, 2007, 6:40pm | #
It must be nice to just make shit up and then attribute it to someone else's unrealized thought pattern.Are you really that stupid, Nebby? I have this on tape - it's around 3:26 in the video I blogged today. You can hear the Romney kid and see him make a lame gang sign. You can also see him standing alone. As I turned back to film the march he smiled smugly and then walked away.
Go ahead and criticize my analysis, but don't accuse me of making up a scene when I have video of it.
Warren | August 13, 2007, 8:33pm | #
Dave,Thanks again for the coverage. I sorry I didn't recognize you as the cameraman, but I think every lens on campus was pointed at me somewhere along that march.
If we ever get within spitting distance again, lets sit down over a hot dog and an icee
Doug | August 13, 2007, 8:37pm | #
But Paul’s campaign isn’t comparable to that because, unlike Dean’s, it’s not positioned to win a nomination.It's not? Then whose campaign is? The pro-choice, anti-Second Amendment Rudy Giuliani? The pro-surge, pro-amnesty John McCain? The Massachusetts flip-flopper Mitt Romney? The tax-hiking, pro-amnesty Mike Huckabee? The fish-or-cut-bait lobbyist Fred Thompson?
Ron Paul is more conservative across the board than any of the front runners. He's on the winning side of the Iraq war debate in the general election. The country is facing an unprecedented financial crisis and teetering on the brink of tyranny, and he's the only candidate offering anything close to real change on either front.
He has more volunteers nationwide than all of the other candidates combined on Meetup.com, and more grassroots enthusiasm than any candidate that anyone can remember, ever.
Iowa was a wake-up call for the campaign to start for real, and the clock is ticking to January, but I'm certainly not counting him out.
the innominate one | August 13, 2007, 8:39pm | #
crimethink | August 13, 2007, 2:36pm | #Warren,
Then fly a peace flag (ie, a flag with just a peace symbol) alongside a US flag. Altering the US flag to promote your political viewpoint is pretty low, IMHO.
What would you think if pro-lifers flew a flag with a fetus in the blue part, or feminists flew one with a Venus symbol, or NRA members altered it to include a rifle?
I can't speak for Warren, but I'd think, "Hey, those guys are exercising a constitutionally protected right. Totally awesome!"
crimethink | August 13, 2007, 9:05pm | #
Well, someone who walks up to Ron Paul and calls him a traitor because he opposes the war is also exercising a constitutional right. That doesn't mean you have to think it's awesome.In any case, the main problem is that you're not taking the audience into account. I was miffed by the idea, and I'm against the war myself; so I can imagine what deep red Iowa Republicans thought of it. Not a good way to win hearts and minds...
Warren | August 13, 2007, 9:22pm | #
Well you know, carrying a peace flag at the Republican Straw Poll, is pissing in the punch bowl as Weigel so elegantly put it. I wanted to irritate the establishment. I'm for peace, I'm for Paul and I'm in your house. There were no hearts and minds to be won, only other lovers of liberty to inspire.But I don't think I offended anybody because of the flags similarity to the national ensign. I really think you're out of touch crimethink.
What a great article. It's rare to read something over 200 words that isn't a complete propaganda for one candidate or interest. Well done!
Marc Scott Emery | August 14, 2007, 2:02am | #
At Ames, 31% voted for a Mormon, and 47% voted for a Creationist (Huckabeem, Tancredo, Brownback), meaning 78% voted for a religious extremist or irrationalist of some sort.You think thats typical of the USA? I think not. Iowa Republicans are the tipping point when measuring the extreme social conservative vote, anyone who believes in science & reason in Iowa long ago departed to the Iowa Democratic Party.
But no matter. Ron Paul did wonderful finding 1300 Iowans who wanted to support science, reason and the US Constitution and the wonderfully decent man who is this unusual Republican messenger of peace & liberty.
If Ron Paul can do 9% in a place where a near majority of Republican "faithful" are willing to support white men who believe the world was made 6,000 years ago, imagine what Ron Paul could do in New Hampshire or Nevada or California with all voters (Independents, Republicans, Ron Paul Democrats) able to vote for him, and for no money down.
The first four candidates are religious freaks, lets face it. Paul the rationalist did pretty damn well considering the state and the Republican Party.
Warren | August 14, 2007, 9:01am | #
Hey Marc,Nice to see you. Not many Canadians would take such an interest in US primary politics.
How's that extradition thing going?
Fluffy | August 14, 2007, 9:33am | #
I don't think Paul is necessarily a "science" candidate, and I say that as a supporter.I think the best that can be said is that he wants the state to be so emasculated that it isn't really relevant to questions of science or faith.
Excellent article! Do you think the Paul campaign realizes the problem? Do you think they have the will and the talent to get the grassroots effort under control?
James | August 14, 2007, 12:20pm | #
Interesting comment above: "I'm for Paul and I'm in your house."How telling. Ron Paul's minnions are largely disaffected liberal Democrats (socially and militarily, anyway) and Libertarian Party folks and they are flooding into the GOP like Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande.
Like them, they are aliens in the party, and are hell-bent on foisting their extremist, anarchist agenda onto it.
Message from the True GOP: It won't work.
The "Peace Democrats" sneaking into the GOP will be about as successful as they were in 1864 trying to undermine the Civil War.
And Ron Paul isn't even as good as McClellan.
crimethink | August 14, 2007, 1:14pm | #
James,The neocons co-opted the True GOP easily enough, didn't they?
If you had told a knowledgeable person in 1995 that in less than a decade a Republican-controlled executive and legislative branch would be responsible for the largest domestic spending increases since LBJ and the biggest nation-building catastrophe in the history of the world, they'd think you were batshit insane. Sadly, they'd be wrong.
This new welfare-warfare predilection of the GOP is just a speed bump in the history of a party whose core tradition is one of respect for individual liberty. Unfortunately, it looks like there's no hope for 2008, since the Bushite lemmings are going to take all of us over the edge of the cliff. This sort goeth not out but by prayer and fasting, but it will goeth out.
Bob | August 14, 2007, 1:44pm | #
I'm a life long Republican and I can't believe what Bush has done to my party. Hugh budget deficits,(Bush hasn't vetoed 1 spending bill) a nation building war that has no sign of ending and then there's the Patriot Act. This isn't Goldwater or Reagan's party.Ron Paul is far from perfect but at least he'd stop the craziness.
RC | August 14, 2007, 2:29pm | #
Speaking of desecrating American flags, I'm often quite moved when I pass motorists with tattered flags waving from their cars, or sun-bleached flag stickers on the rear window.What a truly poignant protest against our battered, faded American democracy.
That is what they're going for, right?
Regis Carnifex (fka RC) | August 14, 2007, 2:29pm | #
er, should have used the new handle.(note to joe: I'm not R C Dean)
James | August 15, 2007, 10:58am | #
Hey, Crimethink, you're right. The neocons have ruined the party. But anarchists and conspiracy theorists can't save it.There are several good "diamonds in the rough" in the race for president, and one batshit crazy nutball who has a band of followers as insane as he is.
Fred 'Purple Face' Smart | August 15, 2007, 3:24pm | #
Nice job Dave! I remember you asking me about Ron's 5th place finish and you reported my response accurately which says a lot. I also appreciate your attention to my 'purple face' during the chanting-moshing. Great fun for everyone - witnessing and chanting.The tenor and tone of the chanting-moshing was very positive and fun overall. I also know this is what turns the insides of the paid Paul staffers nuts - your writing about them as dressed in slacks and suits while sweating buckets was a real hoot.
You really did a nice job capturing the essence of the energy and spirit that was received, shared and celebrated in Ames. I really don't know how to describe this "Ron Paul Effect" - I have personally never been politically active so this is all really very new to me.
If you want to blame one person for coming up with that horrendous "Who you gonna call?....Ron Paul!" chant I plead guilty!
Hey, remember this...the "official" - ie. certified - 2007 Iowa Straw Poll Vote has yet to be counted. The Iowa GOP and the State Of Iowa election auditor have yet to examine or count the paper ballots. Now that's a story for you to write about!
Thanks again Dave!
Peace and God Bless,
Fred
Warren | August 15, 2007, 3:51pm | #
If you want to blame one person for coming up with that horrendous "Who you gonna call?....Ron Paul!" chant I plead guilty!Yeah, that was horrendous, but all is forgiven. By the time we got to the Coliseum you found the groove.
Liberty!
RON PAUL
Freedom!
RON PAUL
2nd Amendment!
RON PAUL
Constitution!
RON PAUL
Louder!
RON PAUL
Let em hear you!
RON PAUL
To the sky!
RON PAUL
good times, noodle salad.
James | August 16, 2007, 11:15am | #
Or how about this chant...Pork spender!
RON PAUL
Hypocrite!
RON PAUL
Overthrow the government!
RON PAUL
Libertarian interloper!
RON PAUL
Hippie Peace Actvist!
RON PAUL
Anti-Semite!
RON PAUL
Unhinged!
RON PAUL
Conspiracy theorist!
RON PAUL
Michael Moore impersonator!
RON PAUL
Loud and obnoxious followers!
RON PAUL
To the Moon with the Leftist Moonbats!
RON PAUL
Heh, heh. James dislikes Ron Paul. Heh, heh, heh. He makes witty remarks disparaging him. Ho, ho.