We're Gonna Have a Tea Party Tonight! (Alright!)

The Tea Party '07 fundraiser for Ron Paul is going on right now: It took only a few hours after midnight eastern time for Paul to blast through his $12 million fourth quarter goal. Right now the campaign is closing in on $2 million for the day, already beating the third quarter totals of every GOP candidate. $1.4 million more and it'll beat Howard Dean's final fundraising quarter in 2003.
Headline explained here.

UPDATE: In the first 13 hours of the drive the campaign raised $2.75 million. Remember, the Nov. 5 moneybomb raised a total of $4.3 million.

UPDATE II: I stopped by a Tea Party event in DC, where Paul supporters wrote the names of government agencies or programs on boxes, threw them on the ground (dubbed the "Potomac"), and smashed them to bits. While I was there the campaign raised another $800,000.

Comments

Lost_In_Translation | December 16, 2007, 11:44am | #

Its amazing what five basement living losers can do with the internet...

...or several hundred thousand supporters.

crimethink | December 16, 2007, 11:45am | #

Dave, are you going to liveblog the Tea Party?

Joshua Holmes | December 16, 2007, 11:46am | #

And now, to turn dollars into votes...

GinSlinger | December 16, 2007, 11:49am | #

I didn't dress as a Mohawk, but I did throw some tea in the harbour.

Hayekian Dreamer | December 16, 2007, 11:50am | #

As corny as it is, somehow this seems more and more appropriate for today.

CNN | December 16, 2007, 11:52am | #

Remember, these totals for longshot isolationist candidate Ron Paul -- whom a former staffer called "kooky" and another observer likened to "an autistic version of Don Knotts" -- cannot be confirmed as real, rather than a mirage created by Mr. Paul's vocal Internet-based supporters, until the quarter ends Dec. 31.

In other news, Mildred Davis, known in Council Bluffs, IA, as "The Cat Lady", has endorsed surging candidate Mike Huckabee. We go live to our reporter on scene at Mrs. Davis' house to see how events like these are propelling Governor Huckabee to a comeback win in Iowa.

sine | December 16, 2007, 12:12pm | #

Those non-existent Nazi spambots are out of control.

Jeff S. | December 16, 2007, 12:23pm | #

Boston Tea Party 2007 is NOW!! Give NOW to Ron Paul 2008!!!

Google: "Ron Paul 2008 Donate"
http://www.RonPaul2008.com/donate

Watch the money pile up in real time at

http://paulcash.slact.net/?save_the_republic=true

jaybird | December 16, 2007, 12:32pm | #

T.V. Party era Flag = Best Black Flag line-up, followed closely by Henry/Greg/Kira/Bill line-up.

danb | December 16, 2007, 12:33pm | #

Check out over 150 real time graphs of Ron Paul's fundraising at

http://ronpaulgraphs.com

J sub D | December 16, 2007, 12:40pm | #

That would be 14 megabucks. And counting.

crimethink | December 16, 2007, 12:47pm | #

Good news - RP will be on Meet the Press next Sunday! I remember a few weeks ago when Russert said they'd already had all the "major" candidates on except Giuliani and Romney.

prolefeed | December 16, 2007, 12:55pm | #

If you would rather click a link:

Check out over 150 real time graphs of Ron Paul's fundraising at

ronpaulgraphs.com

thoreau | December 16, 2007, 12:56pm | #

I bought a "Hotties 4 Ron Paul" calendar as a Christmas gift for my brother. So I contributed $10 to the effort.

And it's for my brother. Not me. Definitely not me. For my brother. And that other one I bought is for my friend.

Ayn_Randian | December 16, 2007, 12:59pm | #

I'm donating today - he can chalk another one up to
people like us.

x,y | December 16, 2007, 1:04pm | #

thoreau,

If you buy one for me, I'll buy one for you. Then we can tell people they were gifts.

x,y | December 16, 2007, 1:05pm | #

Things are tight now, but I donated what I could today.

PoorUnclePennybags | December 16, 2007, 1:12pm | #

I asked for donations as Christmas presents. People just send me the screenshot. That way I cash in my excitement (which I have in abundance) in place of money (of which I have none.)

crimethink | December 16, 2007, 1:16pm | #

I would contribute today, but I can't afford to do that AND go to NH for Op Live Free or Die, so I'm choosing the latter.

x,y | December 16, 2007, 1:25pm | #

I've asked several friends and relatives to donate to the Ron Paul campaign for me (as a present). Every last one of them said it would be a waste of money because he has no chance. Some said that after asking "Who is Ron Paul?" Not a single one of them cared about what I actually wanted. FWIW, I intend to give them exactly what they asked for.

Deeptoad | December 16, 2007, 1:31pm | #

That's a lot of meatballs!

smartass sob | December 16, 2007, 1:38pm | #

FWIW, I intend to give them exactly what they asked for.

Yeah, that's my practice as well - especially when they tell me they don't really want anything!

Pig Mannix | December 16, 2007, 1:40pm | #

I've been holding off donating until the momentum slowed, just in case some donations might be needed to prime the pump.

Doesn't look like that will be necessary.

Maybe we could have some fun with this. How about coordinating a time to donate, and see if we can produce a Hit & Run bump on the graphs?

Bingo | December 16, 2007, 1:43pm | #

Their website is getting absolutely hammered right now. I'm probably going to hold off until a little later.

x,y | December 16, 2007, 1:45pm | #

Interesting idea Pig, but I don't think it's workable. It updates every minute or so, with bumps from $2,000 to $6,000 (that I've seen). There probably aren't enough of us on here willing to donate (even at $100 per) to make a noticeable difference. Plus, some of us have already donated what we could.

Here's to hoping the momentum builds. Anyone see any reports on CNN, Fox, MSNBC about the moneybomb yet?

Bill Woolsey | December 16, 2007, 1:47pm | #

How much money had been donated as of 12:00 AM this morning?

CharlesWT | December 16, 2007, 1:52pm | #

I had been wondering for some time when a story like this would finally break. :^

Pig Mannix | December 16, 2007, 1:55pm | #

There probably aren't enough of us on here willing to donate (even at $100 per) to make a noticeable difference. Plus, some of us have already donated what we could.

I wasn't really thinking about the counter, but I was wondering if we could produce a bump on some of the graphs.

But you're right, it's probably a little late to coordinate something like that.

But there's always a next time!

Obi-Wan | December 16, 2007, 1:59pm | #

CharlesWT,

If they strike him down, he will become more powerful than they can possibly imagine.

Pig Mannix | December 16, 2007, 2:02pm | #

@Bill Woolsey

How much money had been donated as of 12:00 AM this morning?

About $300k, IIRC.

If you're looking to find out how much was donated today, you can find that hier...

Bill Woolsey | December 16, 2007, 2:06pm | #

Thank you Pig Mannix, but I was wondering what was the quarterly total at 12:00 am when the teaparty began. 11 something, right? But how much?

Bingo | December 16, 2007, 2:06pm | #

CharlesWT: I'd take that with a boulder-sized grain of salt, the guy is a NWO conspiracy kook.

Bingo | December 16, 2007, 2:09pm | #

Was that just $100k in about 20 minutes?

Edward | December 16, 2007, 2:12pm | #

Keep dreaming, you fucking losers. He's not winning.

voxpo | December 16, 2007, 2:13pm | #

Bill, it was about $11.5 million at midnight. Screenshot here.

SxCx | December 16, 2007, 2:16pm | #

T.V. Party era Flag = Best Black Flag line-up

I challenge you to maintain that opinion after hearing the '82 demos with Chuck Biscuits on drums.

CharlesWT | December 16, 2007, 2:19pm | #

"I'd take that with a boulder-sized grain of salt, the guy is a NWO conspiracy kook."

You're almost without a doubt correct. But I had been wondering when some kook would manage to float this kind of story.

If the trend continues, donations will break Nov. 5th at about 8:45 this evening. :)

Bingo | December 16, 2007, 2:23pm | #

I had been wondering when some kook would manage to float this kind of story.

The hivemind of youtube comments have been saying that since at least June. That link is already spreading as proof that their fears have been vindicated. It's kinda funny to watch!

JLM | December 16, 2007, 2:31pm | #

Edwierd, is that your last post?

drew | December 16, 2007, 2:36pm | #

Has anyone dug deeper into the old RP quotes? Most of the criticism at this link is the usual Pro-Regressive dribble, but the racial quotes and refusal to release the copies of his past newsletters bothers me. Hopefully, it's just all taken out of context.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/15/124912/740

$ | December 16, 2007, 2:36pm | #

@Edtard

Bite me, loser!

Minion of URKOBOLD | December 16, 2007, 2:40pm | #

PICTURE OF EDWEIRDOOO AT HOME.

Bingo | December 16, 2007, 2:48pm | #

Anyone notice that the "field" candidate is trading at 20-30 in a few primaries on intrade?

mch | December 16, 2007, 2:54pm | #

Ron Paul = over $14 million dollars in real political money

Ron Paul minus Edward = over $14 million dollars in real political money.

Who cares if he's gonna win.

Jake Boone | December 16, 2007, 2:55pm | #

drew,

Those claims of racism were debunked long ago. Paul didn't write it, and the staffer who did was fired. Since Paul has written numerous articles thoroughly denouncing racism, I don't see any reason to believe that the racist stuff is genuine.

drew | December 16, 2007, 3:03pm | #

Jake, Thanks! Know where I can find that info that refutes the accusations? In case family or friends ask me. If candidates start feeling threatened by RP, I can see them trying to resurrect this stuff.

Jake Boone | December 16, 2007, 3:07pm | #

Just for those who haven't RTFA, Dean's final fundraising quarter for 2003 apparently totaled $15,386,183.25. As I write this, Paul is at $14,787,677.27. Neat!

Jake Boone | December 16, 2007, 3:14pm | #

Know where I can find that info that refutes the accusations?

Here's the first one that pops up with a simple Google search (I'm on my way out the door, or I'd try and find you some primary sources; a few minutes with the all-seeing Google should provide them).

Jacob | December 16, 2007, 3:22pm | #

Just an FYI, bandwidth issues are keeping people from donating. PLEASE stay off any site using the flash fund-tracking widget (such as this one or paulcash).

Thanks.

Jacob | December 16, 2007, 3:24pm | #

Pre-TeaParty total was $11.551 million, I believe.

rah62 | December 16, 2007, 3:36pm | #

Remember John Connally's campaign for President? He blew through all the fundraising records of the time, and ended up with a grand total of one delegate.

drew | December 16, 2007, 3:45pm | #

rah62: very good point about the delegate issue. I'm one of the Paulista's, and it would be a miracle if RP gets enough delegates for a GOP nomination. He'd be better off as an independent, but even at that he'll be lucky to do as well as Perot. Doesn't stop me from supporting him. I've voted Libertarian for the last three pres. votes, so I'm used to supporting losers.

Lost_In_Translation | December 16, 2007, 3:47pm | #

rah62,

Connally was also an ex governor/oil man who had lots of rich friends in a pre-CFR time. He tried to promote himself nationally, but never spent much time in the early states, then lost spectacularly in Iowa in New Hampshire and by the time he got to South Carolina he was on the downswing. Ron Paul has not made those mistakes, nor is he an ex-democrat turned republican (cough Giuliani) or have powerful corporate connections. The only thing Connally shares with Paul is the fundraising success, but the successes look nothing like each other and while Paul may not win, it won't be at all for any the reasons that Connally failed.

Brandybuck | December 16, 2007, 4:18pm | #

OMG! A friend of a friend of a friend who gets these newsletters that give you the truth no one else will tell you, who lives in a camper in freeway rest-stops because the CIA is tracking him, says that Romney is planning to give Ron Paul the hotfoot at the next debate! Everything you read on the intertubes is true!

Remember, you heard it hear first.

Sam McManus | December 16, 2007, 4:46pm | #

Dropped $50 to do my part to helpf find a lost cause

Chris S | December 16, 2007, 4:47pm | #

Delegates? Some people have obviously never been to the Ron Paul Forums, where the discussion of Ron Paul delegates has been going on for months. It is one of the main goals of the movement. The convention is going to be a cross between a barnburner and a food fight.

All your primary are belong to us. Ron Paul Republicans will be flooding your primary and stealing your delegates.

S.A. Miller | December 16, 2007, 4:48pm | #

So when is all this money going to translate in to support in the polls?

Guess Paul is going to have one hellva war-chest for his congressional re-election campaign.

bob | December 16, 2007, 4:50pm | #

This ronpaulgraphs.com entry compares the Nov 5 money bomb to the Tea Party. The initial ramp-ups differ because the prior bomb was on a weekday vs. a Sunday, offsetting the knee in the curve by several hours.

After that, the gap only widens.

The Tea Party will definitely break new records, but why not take a look at the skeptical "glass half-empty perspective." This is a list of recent "worst days" for online contributions to RonPaul2008.com

Date Total Donors
2007-12-09 $20,063.55 266
2007-11-17 $20,805.45 361
2007-12-10 $21,126.93 261
2007-11-18 $23,440.21 239
2007-12-13 $24,065.96 358
2007-10-27 $24,295.32 350
2007-11-03 $24,904.45 312
2007-11-19 $25,848.79 319
2007-12-08 $26,179.81 285
2007-12-12 $26,583.62 341

(Sorry 'bout the spacing...) in a nutshell, on it's worst days, the campaign still gets over $20K from about 300 different people.

Before today's money bomb, approximately 155,000 people had sent the dude a buck or two. November 5th logged 17K new contributers out of 37K total.

The number of greatest interest to me right now is the increase in first time contributers. I'd like to use it later, to gauge the impact of The Blimp.

Sam | December 16, 2007, 4:59pm | #

It doesn't bother me that many people say that Paul's support is limited to a few kooks on the internet Even if that is true, it is reassuring to me because the technologically savvy (i.e,. internet users) are most likely going to be leaders in our economy in the coming decades. It is reassuring that such people support libertarian philosophies. Check out this article about Paul's internet support. If the donations keep rolling in at this rate, Paul will approach 17.5 million on the quarter.

Pig Mannix | December 16, 2007, 5:30pm | #

It doesn't bother me that many people say that Paul's support is limited to a few kooks on the internet Even if that is true, it is reassuring to me because the technologically savvy (i.e,. internet users) are most likely going to be leaders in our economy in the coming decades.

Well, considering I've spent most of my day installing Linux in a virtual machine on a Macintosh while I've been posting, I guess he's got a point...

sine | December 16, 2007, 5:49pm | #

If you need something to convince yourself that he isn't a racist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8S8N2OG7sU

Though he could still be a crypto-racist! After all, isn't all libertarianism somehow either crypto-racist or crypto-fascist?

crimethink | December 16, 2007, 6:08pm | #

Sam,

Unfortunately, the tech-savvy are vastly outnumbered by the rest..

Bee | December 16, 2007, 6:21pm | #

Re: Racism.

Ron Paul has spoken strongly and forcefully against the War on Drugs. There's his anti-racism credentials right there, as far as I'm concerned.

Max | December 16, 2007, 6:30pm | #

Did anyone see the PBS Now interview of Congressman Paul?

Paul actually said he doesn't want racists to give him money because it just muddles the issues.

tarran | December 16, 2007, 6:34pm | #

Ton Paul has thousands of essays on the web.

They all have a consistent writing style.

The newsletters' style is completely different.

My suspicion, based on nothing but the weakest of evidence - my instinctive stylistic profiling - is that the actual author was Gary North.

N.B. Ron Paul and Gary North were, at one time, quite close, but seem to have cooled on each other in the past 10 years or so. However, they share a circle of friends/political allies.

Reinmoose | December 16, 2007, 6:34pm | #

I saw a clip of Ron Paul being interviewed by Jim Cramer on Mad Money. It was very nice, and at least 5 minutes long of Cramer giving Paul credit for being the only candidate who understands the issues with the Fed. With all the people who hang on Cramer's every word, we may have picked up some supporters right there.

crimethink | December 16, 2007, 6:39pm | #

tarran,

Actually, I like to think the author was Donderoooooooo!

23 | December 16, 2007, 7:00pm | #

Ron Paul has spoken strongly and forcefully against the War on Drugs.

How about a 4:20 (pst) mini-bomb?

B3733 | December 16, 2007, 7:06pm | #

word

kwais | December 16, 2007, 7:19pm | #

He's over 16 million, that has got to mean something.

The revolution is real.

Has he broken the previous record?

Ali | December 16, 2007, 7:20pm | #

kwais:

Yes he ("we") did!

kwais | December 16, 2007, 7:21pm | #

Hey, so I want to donate again, and this time I want a snapshot of the screen with my name on it, how do I do that?

sine | December 16, 2007, 7:25pm | #

Kwais, most keyboards have a PrtScn (printscreen) button on them, you can hit that to put a screenshot in your clipboard. Then you can paste it into Microsoft Paint or something.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 7:25pm | #

kwais- I am guessing that that would be very hard to do. You might get lucky, though. I would defer on how to technically do that ("Print Screen" button?).

the innominate one | December 16, 2007, 7:26pm | #

when your name appears, hit the "Print Screen/SysRq" button on your keyboard, then open PowerPoint or Word and press control-V, which is the paste command. The Print Screen button copies an image of what is currently shown on your monitor, and then you can paste the image into an application.

CharlesWT | December 16, 2007, 7:32pm | #

Depending on how far the donor name display is running behind donations, you may have to keep your eyes glued to the screen for quit awhile. When you see your name, hit the "print screen" key[PCs] and paste the image into any application program that handles images.

Guy Montag | December 16, 2007, 7:32pm | #

It appears that all of this money is not match for The Plank at The New Republic. They have been non-stop Huckabee all weekend.

Edward's Mother | December 16, 2007, 7:34pm | #

Eddie, hon, will you come up here for a second and take the kitchen trash out?

I know you're having fun playing with your friends on the internet, but this needs to go out right now!

sage | December 16, 2007, 7:35pm | #

Hey, so I want to donate again, and this time I want a snapshot of the screen with my name on it, how do I do that?

Just capture the screen as shown above, and paste in Word. But you don't need to wait for your name to show up. Just do it at any old time and photoshop your name on it.

I've given $100 Billion today alone.

me | December 16, 2007, 7:42pm | #

You don't capitalize billion, you idiot.

smartass sob | December 16, 2007, 7:46pm | #

I'm just wondering if Rudy Giuliani is laughing out the other side of his ass yet?
;-)

Derrick | December 16, 2007, 7:53pm | #

My tea party prediction.

bob | December 16, 2007, 7:55pm | #

kwais, I was able to snap a gif of my Recent Contributer acknowledgment during the Nov 5 money bomb, but I happened to be up at wee hours (ET)

RonPaulGraphs.com attempts to capture names.

kwais | December 16, 2007, 7:58pm | #

Well, I gotta go to bed now, my name still didn't show up.

Later when the donations slow down, I'll donate again and try my luck again.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 7:59pm | #

I was searching for any videos on the Tea Party on Youtube and come up with this!

Guy Montag | December 16, 2007, 8:03pm | #

Anybody accusing Dr. Paul of being some sort or racist is plain nuts. How about criticising something real about the guy instead of spreading false rumors?

Is he accepting 'fiat' money during the tea party?

Will he campaign in Ohio, even though those "IRS is illegal" nuts don't believe it is a State?

Stuff like that is on the right track. Making up racism crap about him is just a stupid as the people who still repete that nonsense that GWB did not ahow up for his drill weekends, and produce his drill record that shows he made the drills up in advance. You are just making yourself sound stupid to people who know what you are talking about.

BTW, Dr. Paul just made the ABC top-of-the-hour news about this fundraiser.

Guy Montag | December 16, 2007, 8:04pm | #

In other news: Dan Fogleberg has died.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 8:08pm | #

Who is Dan Fogleberg?

JLM | December 16, 2007, 8:13pm | #

"BTW, Dr. Paul just made the ABC top-of-the-hour news about this fundraiser."

The lead stories on cable news channels (all of them) today have been things such as the Spice Girls reunion tour. No shit. All.....fucking......day.....long.

Guy Montag | December 16, 2007, 8:28pm | #

JLM,

It must be what the viewers want, what they really really want.

Seer | December 16, 2007, 8:29pm | #

All this excitement about Ron Paul distracted me from noticing that Michigan has hired Rich Rodriguez as the next Head Coach.

bob | December 16, 2007, 8:32pm | #

And the talking heads on the Sunday pundit panorama kept spewing their same old stuff.

Queue the talk radio and Michelle Malkin Hot Farts "money and grass roots don't matter" sound bytes in 3, 2, 1...

Ron Paul needs more blimps.

Paul | December 16, 2007, 8:36pm | #

For those who are trying to do a screen capture of your donation, mine showed up in a matter of 10 seconds after I sent it. The print screen function (prtsc) is a shift function so don't forget to press shift when you do it. Also if you go to paint under accessories in XP you can select edit, paste and it will put a pic of it on the screen. Then just select file, save as, and name it. You can print any screen, you may try one first. Viva Liberty.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 8:40pm | #

"It must be what the viewers want, what they really really want."

You win the thread.

crimethink | December 16, 2007, 8:45pm | #

I stood by and allowed Guy Montag to call me a terrorist ally, but I cannot stand for him quoting Spice Girl lyrics. There are some things that no civilized human being can tolerate.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 8:51pm | #

I was wondering how that came to him so quickly. Is it possible that his MP3 player contains incriminating evidence?

Ali | December 16, 2007, 8:55pm | #

Will the day ever come when Guy would be my friend? Hmmm... Will my dream come true? If I could ever be a friend of Dondero, I see why not Guy?

Guy Montag | December 16, 2007, 9:10pm | #

JLM and crimethink,

Just say you'll be there.

And I don't own an MP3 player, but would love to own an MP-7.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 9:49pm | #

So Joe is looking to be McCain's running mate? Or is it that Joe is trying to erase a little of the neoconnary that got stuck to him since 2006?

Dave Weigel | December 16, 2007, 9:49pm | #

Fogelberg had been sick for a while, so I'm not surprised. I'll listen to The Innocent Age in tribute.

Tina Turner | December 16, 2007, 10:01pm | #

Are we sure Fogelberg didn't allegedly beat his wife?
After all that entirely wipes out any musical/cultural accomplishments he may have had.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 10:29pm | #

Rand Paul spoke very well today at the Boston Tea Party. Great man, too!

Dollars in Dallas | December 16, 2007, 10:38pm | #

Just hit $17 million. God bless.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 10:41pm | #

Ali- I agree. I hope he runs for office at some point.

Seer | December 16, 2007, 10:50pm | #

I'm thinking 18 million by midnight, which would mean Paul would exceed his 4th quarter goal by 50% tonight alone.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 10:52pm | #

JLM- Were you there?

Vermont Gun Owner | December 16, 2007, 10:53pm | #

Just hit $17 million. God bless.

Then there was a $400k jump. Offline donations?

sine | December 16, 2007, 10:54pm | #

They just added in the offline donations, so he's up to 17.5 million. There is a real chance of beating what was supposedly Hillary's record of 6.2 million in day.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 10:55pm | #

JLM- btw, I mean in Boston today, were you there?

smartass sob | December 16, 2007, 10:56pm | #

He has already raised $6 million since midnight yesterday. That alone has to be some kind of record. I fully expect the total to reach $17 million by midnight tonight, eastern time.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 10:57pm | #

Ali- I saw it on the internet. Much better to watch on the tube in warm North Cackalacky than to be freezing my ass off in Boston.....

smartass sob | December 16, 2007, 10:58pm | #

Shit! I meant $18 million.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:00pm | #

An excellent WaPo arfticle.

prolefeed | December 16, 2007, 11:00pm | #

smartass sob -- Donations have been running at about $300K per hour for the last few hours, so unless a huge spike in the last hour, or a bunch of offline donations, $18K by midnight ET seems unlikely. But beating Hillary's one day record -- quite possible.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:03pm | #

Ali- I saw it on the internet. Much better to watch on the tube in warm North Cackalacky than to be freezing my ass off in Boston.....

Haha... NO! The speeches at Faneuil Hall was amazing. No cold, snow, hail, or rain could have mitigated the excitement.

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:03pm | #

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQNWHmiGj-k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wekzQrQfacg

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:04pm | #

I should add, he will be running those videos in Iowa on December 22nd and 23rd.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 11:06pm | #

Dammit, Hooter McBoob has the best handle ever. I will live vicariously through you, sir....

JLM | December 16, 2007, 11:08pm | #

Ali- I know; 'tis not a very revolutionary attitude for me to have. I take it you were there?

NoStar | December 16, 2007, 11:11pm | #

The money bomb just broke through the 6 million dollar mark. And I predicted 5.8 million. I've never been so happy to be wrong.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:11pm | #

JLM- Yep! And I am showing it off ;-)

smartass sob | December 16, 2007, 11:13pm | #

@ prolefeed:

$18K by midnight ET seems unlikely.

He's just now coming up to $17,580,000. He's got about 46 minutes til midnight by my clock.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 11:17pm | #

Ali- There was a guy names Curtis that spoke for a minute from Wilmington, NC (here). He apparently quit his job and has been up there for weeks getting by on handouts and going door to door.

prolefeed | December 16, 2007, 11:17pm | #

smartass sob -- I would SO love to be wrong about Paul breaking $18M by midnight. But unless a huge pile of offline donations gets thrown in before then -- well, do the math.

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:19pm | #

He hit $6M??

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:19pm | #

JLM- Yeah... and there was a large NC contingent. They were lots of fun.

JLM | December 16, 2007, 11:22pm | #

Did they actually go over and throw the stuff in the bay?

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:24pm | #

JLM- I don't know. We had to leave immediately after The Ron Paul Anthem.

NoStar | December 16, 2007, 11:25pm | #

Call Dr. Paul the Six Million Dollar Man.
(That explains why it looks like he's running in slow motion, but he still manages to gain on everyone.)

smartass sob | December 16, 2007, 11:27pm | #

@ prolefeed

Yes, the math; I see your point. It will, however, be close. If he doesn't hit it by midnight, then he will shortly after - and certainly by midnight central time. We'll see. I just want to see a laugh wiped off a few faces.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:28pm | #

NoStar- The question now is how to get the message out. Things like the two vids mentioned by Mr. Hooter McBoob above is something the campaign will do. The question for the grassroots is how to get the movement out and beyond the Internet. It has to be done, probably without appealing to the MSM.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:31pm | #

Just received this by email:

December 16, 2007


We are close to making history. In November, we mentioned that the all-time, single-day primary fundraising record is John Kerry's $5.7 million in 2004. At this hour, Ron Paul stands at $5.4 million.

Won't you help Ron Paul make history?

If you are considering donating, please help us by making your donation before midnight EST tonight. And if you have donated already, won't you help us by contributing again? https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate

By the way, we are closing in on 25,000 first-time donors today. That's unbelievable! Help us hit this mark too by telling your friends about this historic day!

Jonathan Bydlak
Fundraising Director
Ron Paul 2008

D. Greene | December 16, 2007, 11:35pm | #

lol epic win for liberty

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:36pm | #

This Ron Paul guy might end up making a little bit of an impact in American political thought.

prolefeed | December 16, 2007, 11:38pm | #

Broke Hillary's one-day fundraising record!

$17,760,000 and change as of 11:36.

The money's pouring in!

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:39pm | #

prolefeed-- How come, I am confused. This says 5.75M only! Huh?

sine | December 16, 2007, 11:40pm | #

Ali,

If you are looking at the official counter, when they added in the 400k offline donations they screwed up the daily counter. So add about 400k to that for the real total.

Vermont Gun Owner | December 16, 2007, 11:40pm | #

Broke Hillary's one-day fundraising record!

If I recall correctly, the FEC didn't back up Hillary's claim. They said the most raised in a primary is $5.7 million by Kerry.

Hank | December 16, 2007, 11:41pm | #

The number you cite does not include offline donations.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:42pm | #

sine, Hank- Ah yes.

prolefeed | December 16, 2007, 11:43pm | #

Ali -- someone upthread said beating Hillary's one day record would take $6.2 million. I think the $5.75 refers to primary only, or some other lesser subset of "highest fundraising ever for one day -- no qualifications whatsoever".

smartass sob -- I believe you're right about $18M by midnight. Talk about a last minute surge of procrastinators!

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:44pm | #

smartass sob -- I believe you're right about $18M by midnight. Talk about a last minute surge of procrastinators!

If 18M can be done tonight, that would be last hammer in any MSM excuses' coffin.

Hank | December 16, 2007, 11:44pm | #

The campaign may be holding more offline donations to dump at the last second that will push them over 18 million anyway.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:47pm | #

The campaign website's clock is 11:30, huh?

sine | December 16, 2007, 11:48pm | #

Maybe they had the year on their servers set to 2038?

Vermont Gun Owner | December 16, 2007, 11:49pm | #

According to the campaign's graphic, we are under $10k from $6 million for the day. You get there by clicking on the arrows underneath the total. The total raised this week is the same as the total raised today, since it is the first day of the week.

Kelly Halldorson | December 16, 2007, 11:49pm | #

Here is the $5.7 reference from the campaign:

"We are close to making history. In November, we mentioned that the all-time, single-day primary fundraising record is John Kerry's $5.7 million in 2004. At this hour, Ron Paul stands at $5.4 million."

The $6.2 is an unverified funding day by Hillary.

Have we really surpassed $6 million? I show we still have $30,000 to go.

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:49pm | #

I tried to donate again and was hit with an error. Maybe they're having server issues.

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:50pm | #

Wasn't Paul at 11.55 at the start of the day?

Vermont Gun Owner | December 16, 2007, 11:50pm | #

Huh? 50-60k just disappeared!

James B. | December 16, 2007, 11:50pm | #

I just saw "Dave Weigel" of Farmington MI show up as a recent donor.

prolefeed | December 16, 2007, 11:50pm | #

Saw Dave Weigel's name pop up on the donor list -- this our DW?

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:51pm | #

Something on the campaign's website is screwed up since the numbers fell down to the upper 800s and the clock changed to 11:50! OK, I give up, this is too confusing.

Kelly Halldorson | December 16, 2007, 11:51pm | #

I think you can just donate via PayPal using the [e-mail] address. Just make sure you send all the pertinent info...like you swear you are a citizen, it's your money...etc.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:53pm | #

Have we Paulites gone really crazy now? We're now imagining stuff: DW, 900s going down to 800s, what's going on?

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:53pm | #

How can I be expected to support a man for president when he can't even keep a website up and running with accurate information?

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:53pm | #

Their website just crashed.

Hank | December 16, 2007, 11:54pm | #

I think we killed the website.

Dave Weigel | December 16, 2007, 11:54pm | #

Huh. I'm not from Farmington, MI, but Weigel is a more common name in the Midwest...

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:55pm | #

OK we're now back to $17,980,000!

Hooter McBoob | December 16, 2007, 11:56pm | #

http://paulcash.slact.net/
http://ronpaulgraphs.com/


they are also crashing lol

Michael | December 16, 2007, 11:56pm | #

$6 million was broken for the day, and they are $20,000 away from $18 million for the quarter. Unreal.

Ali | December 16, 2007, 11:59pm | #

I am sure if we stop at 17.980M, MSM will report it, not as 18M, but as "short of $18M", or any possible way to make it sound like a shortcoming.

smartass sob | December 17, 2007, 12:00am | #

I'll bet he hit $18 million. Even if the website crashed. Won't that be a story for the MSM.

Reinmoose | December 17, 2007, 12:01am | #

it'll be too bad if too many donations caused the website to crash and he doesn't get to count all the last minute donations that I'm sure were coming in
seeing as it is now OVER

sine | December 17, 2007, 12:03am | #

Pick your negative spin:

-If Ron Paul can't manage a website, how can we trust him to be president?
-Ron Paul falls millions short of $10 million goal.

prolefeed | December 17, 2007, 12:03am | #

I got $17,909,182.79 as of midnight. May be more offline or due to website crashing -- find out tomorrow.

Ali | December 17, 2007, 12:03am | #

Reinmoose, this ain't a basket ball game. I am sure the MSM will hopefully let him off the hook if the exact count was made with one or two hours beyond midnight.

Pig Mannix | December 17, 2007, 12:04am | #

OK we're now back to $17,980,000!

ROFLMAO! I think we broke the fucking counter! The numbers don't advance properly, and the same names keep recycling. Way to go team!

Hooter McBoob | December 17, 2007, 12:05am | #

"Ron Paul supporters raised $6M, well short of their ambitious $10M goal, but impressive nonetheless." I'm counting on something like that

Ali | December 17, 2007, 12:06am | #

Way to go team!

That WAS real fun! What a day!

toddb | December 17, 2007, 12:06am | #

I jumped in late (around 11:45) with a donation to try to push the 18 million. I got a confirmation just fine, but it was just after that that the figures started jumping around and the donor names just started recirculating...never saw my name come up.

hippychimp | December 17, 2007, 12:07am | #

the $18 mil number has nothing to do with the tea party, that's just the widget showing 4th quarter totals. $6.3 mil for the day is what's important.

Hooter McBoob | December 17, 2007, 12:07am | #

I hope Ron Paul makes it rain tomorrow.

Reinmoose | December 17, 2007, 12:08am | #

aha! now it's back up and running.
I'm sure the media will give him the $18 million figure easily, especially since they're lazy

prolefeed | December 17, 2007, 12:08am | #

Wow, that was a wild ride in the last hour. I guess, in addition to my Libertarian Secret Decoder Ring, I'm now entitled to a Complete And Utter Nerd Secret Decoder Ring for having that much fun watching buckets of money pour in for a guy still polling in the single digits nationwide.

Though maybe Ron Paul will get a bump in the polls from this from all the people who *were* whining "well, I like what he says, but he just has NOOOOO chance of winning."

Reinmoose | December 17, 2007, 12:09am | #

I hope Ron Paul makes it rain tomorrow.

No! I hope he makes my office close due to snow :)

voxpo | December 17, 2007, 12:09am | #

Since everything is down, you can come visit my blog. ;) I recommend the Moxy Fruvous video.

guy in the back row | December 17, 2007, 12:10am | #

...never saw my name come up.

me too

CharlesWT | December 17, 2007, 12:10am | #

I can, however, determine that (a) $6.something mil doesn’t reach the ‘tards $10 million dollar goal and (b) Paul’s 4% national polling average probably won’t win teh elekshinz. So the bomb was, in fact, a bomb, and thousands of people are broke as a result.
Paultard Moneybomb an Abject Failure

:-ppppppp

Ali | December 17, 2007, 12:11am | #

"well, I like what he says, but he just has NOOOOO chance of winning."

Isn't that the most despicable thing to say? People have given up on their ability to change government. What does that tell us about today's America?

Hooter McBoob | December 17, 2007, 12:11am | #

I think he'll get a large bump when the common folk are made aware of the fact that he's raised more money than any other candidate. hmmmmm, how long until the idea that George Soros was responsible for this is kicked around?

Ali | December 17, 2007, 12:12am | #

No! I hope he makes my office close due to snow :)

You don't need to worry about that if you're in NE.

curious | December 17, 2007, 12:12am | #

So what's he gonna do with the money? Blanket Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina with TV commercials?

Pig Mannix | December 17, 2007, 12:13am | #

I jumped in late (around 11:45) with a donation to try to push the 18 million. I got a confirmation just fine, but it was just after that that the figures started jumping around and the donor names just started recirculating...never saw my name come up.

I just did the same thing. I got the acknowledgement from PayPal, but not the one from Paul's site yet. I think the processing is backlogged. I didn't see my name come up, either. Nevermind! It was worth it!

Simon | December 17, 2007, 12:15am | #

Keep dreaming, you fucking losers. He's not winning.

Isn't this really missing the point? I think everyone knows that the probability of a 2008 Ron Paul presidency are small. The impact of the movement may be more seen in the longer run. For one thing libertarian issues have been raised to a whole lot of people who might otherwise never have thought about them. This has to be a good thing. More importantly though, is that the strength of support for libertarianism, especially its financial support has been amply demonstrated. Politicians tend to adapt policy to cultivate support and over time this should lead to more candidates representing these types of views.

Even if Ron Paul doesn't win, he's helping to pathe the way for someone who will.

Mr. Blather | December 17, 2007, 12:16am | #

The MSM reports will be something along the lines of: Ron Paul's supporters, which include anarchists, white-supremacists and computer geeks, failed to reach their goal of raising 10 million dollars in donations in a single day.

The Wine Commonsewer | December 17, 2007, 12:16am | #

Paultard Moneybomb an Abject Failure

Shame so many Reasonoids love Wonkette.

Or maybe I'm missing some subtlety. Never know, been at the wine and the Christmas songs and the cookies and counting RP's money.

Hooter McBoob | December 17, 2007, 12:18am | #

Simon's right. And we've now got Ron Paul Republican's running for office. How cool is that?

Ali | December 17, 2007, 12:19am | #

Fox has reported on the "$5M Money Bomb" preemptively at 9pm so that it does not have to report on the "$6M Money Bomb with $18M in Quarter Total". They've done their part, nothing to be held against them ;-)

The Wine Commonsewer | December 17, 2007, 12:19am | #

I really wanted to see my name on the Recent Donor list. Didn't happen. My brother-in-law, otoh, got a screenshot of his. Never saw that coming, had him figured for a neo-con. WRONG. He's started a group in Tucson, hassles everyone he knows, gives money, and so it goes.

Got damn it Warty!

voxpo | December 17, 2007, 12:20am | #

Or maybe I'm missing some subtlety.

Subtlety? "Paultard" is anything but. No, Wonkette is regularly nasty toward us and rather obsessed, too.

Pig Mannix | December 17, 2007, 12:20am | #

@CharlesWT

I can, however, determine that (a) $6.something mil doesn’t reach the ‘tards $10 million dollar goal and (b) Paul’s 4% national polling average probably won’t win teh elekshinz. So the bomb was, in fact, a bomb, and thousands of people are broke as a result.
Paultard Moneybomb an Abject Failure

Yeah, well, I liked the comment by one of the posters:

BY JOSEY2006 AT 12:05 AM

Here's a suggestion: Change your name to "The Wonktard Fudgepacking Factory".

The Wine Commonsewer | December 17, 2007, 12:22am | #

How quaint. A couple of hundred guys dressed as Indians smear coal dust on their faces, board three cargo ships, tomahawk every case of tea on board, and then pitch the whole mess into Boston Harbor, kindling, splinters, and Earl Gray. Kerplunk.

234 years later, it comes as no surprise that another Money Bomb fundraiser for Ron Paul is underway. Tea Party 2007 has raised almost six million dollars this Sabbath Day. By way of comparison, third quarter fund raising totals for Ron Paul were more than any other Republican candidate.

The groundswell of support for Dr Paul continues to amaze me. There is a commonality to this grassroots movement of truck drivers and cooks, intellectuals and school teachers, anti-war activists and gun nuts--talk about lions lying with lambs.

Pretty boy Stephanopoulos may be right, Ron Paul may not be electable in a country where half the population lives off the other half via social welfare, corporate welfare, and government contracts (my observation as to the reason, not his). But Ron Paul offers a hope for the future and a message to the Crown. Millions of us have grown weary of the swamp rats in Foggy Bottom who flushed all of the taxes that you paid last year faster than you could read this sentence. And For What?

As I've often said, Ron Paul had me at Abolish the Income Tax but it's a big plus that he doesn't make my skin crawl.

The Wine Commonsewer | December 17, 2007, 12:23am | #

voxpo, why do the Reasonoids love Wonkette so much?

smartass sob | December 17, 2007, 12:24am | #

So the bomb was, in fact, a bomb, and thousands of people are broke as a result.

Better the Ron Paul campaign should get the money than the bloodsuckers in the government!

flotcho | December 17, 2007, 12:26am | #

CharlesWT, from your posting, it seems that you are probably in no position to be calling anyone a "tard".

Ali | December 17, 2007, 12:26am | #

So the bomb was, in fact, a bomb, and thousands of people are broke as a result.

Many people were already broke, with or without the moneybomb. A little bit of extra brokenness won't hurt if there is some possibility of fixing the mess this economy is in.

The Wine Commonsewer | December 17, 2007, 12:27am | #

SASOB, I'm not so sure anybody's broke. But, good point.......Actually, standing in the shower, wearing a raincoat, tearing up fifties is more productive than giving the money to the government.

voxpo | December 17, 2007, 12:30am | #

TWC,

Do they? I wasn't aware, nor can I account. Maybe 'Tardette's infantile attitude toward RP will sour that.

sine | December 17, 2007, 12:32am | #

In a minor defense of Wonkette, it was cool like 3 and a half years ago. I'm not sure if I have read it since November 2004 though.

Hooter McBoob | December 17, 2007, 12:35am | #

Do a google news search for Ron Paul. Very nice!

voxpo | December 17, 2007, 12:35am | #

sine,

I didn't read it much before this year (and now mainly when Google:RP calls them up), so I'm willing to believe that.

toddb | December 17, 2007, 12:41am | #

Counter shows 18 Million + ...woohoo

NoStar | December 17, 2007, 12:42am | #

Without Anna Marie Cox, Wonkette should be called Wankers, after the two the guys that replaced her.

Sure do miss her, but not all those gratuitous references to anal sex.

smartass sob | December 17, 2007, 12:42am | #

According to the counter Paul hit $18 mil a few minutes ago. Don't know how accurate that counter is timewise.

prolefeed | December 17, 2007, 12:43am | #

Actually, standing in the shower, wearing a raincoat, tearing up fifties is more productive than giving the money to the government.

According to MNG, if we can just collect more unconstitutional data about showers in the census, that money could be torn up efficiently. ;)

Actually, throw a hooker into that above scenario, and the $50s thing could be considered payment for services received (tearing in the $50s in half so can be taped back together, natch) ... and quite possibly a good value from TWC's POV, assuming Mrs. TWC doesn't get wind of it.

prolefeed | December 17, 2007, 12:45am | #

Sure do miss her, but not all those gratuitous references to anal sex.

"Gratuitious references to anal sex" is an oxymoron, if my copy of VM's Dicktionary of Teh English language isn't misprinted.

Pig Mannix | December 17, 2007, 12:47am | #

Interesting post by Tyler Cowan, noting how much hate the Fed is getting lately. I'd have to guess that's partly owed to Ron Paul's pounding on it.

It fascinates me how quickly a rather arcane issue that's been considered settled for decades is suddenly back on the front-burner again.

Goes to show you nothing is permanent in politics...

smartass sob | December 17, 2007, 1:02am | #

...noting how much hate the Fed is getting lately.

I think people are tired of seeing the purchasing power of their money go down the toilette and that they are finally getting a clue as to who is causing it.

The Wine Commonsewer | December 17, 2007, 1:03am | #

Actually, throw a hooker into that above scenario, and the $50s thing could be considered payment for services received (tearing in the $50s in half so can be taped back together, natch) ... and quite possibly a good value from TWC's POV.....

Take the hooker out of the scenario and it's more like owning a boat. And, there's no tape. Plus, the bank doesn't take either half of the wet fifties.

Franklin | December 17, 2007, 1:26am | #

According to this press release put out by the campaign, the total was just over $6 million for the day.

Mr. Blather | December 17, 2007, 3:50am | #

Ahh, I get it. The response by the MSM will be to ignore the money bomb. AP keeps updating its original story (by merely changing the amount and nothing else) but the story is now buried deep in their ticker, way under Lieberman endorsing McCain.

Guy Montag | December 17, 2007, 6:02am | #

Mrs. Clinton is going to make her first appearance ever on FOX & Friends, FNN. I wonder where she got this idea of a Hillarycopter? Was blimp already being used?

Kelly Halldorson | December 17, 2007, 9:50am | #

"Ahh, I get it. The response by the MSM will be to ignore the money bomb. AP keeps updating its original story (by merely changing the amount and nothing else) but the story is now buried deep in their ticker, way under Lieberman endorsing McCain."

Well there is no story this time right? "Ron Paul brings in Cash" is old news. Not to mention this particular fundraiser wasn't tied to a terrorist but instead an all American Tax Revolt. Can't have that be news can we?

jimmydageek | December 17, 2007, 9:57am | #

Well, foxnews.com and cnn.com barely touch on the subject.