Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston
The Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston tweeted this rather remarkable photo this week, showing a new billboard in Las Vegas, which offers "a stark reminder of the Ron Paul takeover of the Republican Party in the state's largest county."
The message is unmistakable: Ron Paul is like Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney is like George W. Bush. The latter is not meant kindly, I assure you.
Also advertised on the billboard is Oathkeepers, a group calling its members patriots but who critics refer to as paranoiacs of the first order.... I swear, folks: The Republicans here are better than any act on the Strip.
Three-quarters of Nevada's residents live in Clark County. For its Republican Party to have been taken over by Ron Paul acolytes who have little use for Romney's candidacy is no small development in an election year in which Nevada is expected to be a key battleground.
Indeed, the larger significance goes well beyond the billboard. Paul supporters have seized control of much of the state party's apparatus, which in turn has caused panic among GOP officials in Nevada and D.C.
Ralston reported a few weeks ago that major Republican donors have begun setting up a "shadow state party," organized in part with the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity, to function outside the Paul-run state party. A GOP consultant told Ralston, "There will still be a significant amount of money spent here," said Robert Uithoven, a GOP consultant. (But) the money will be spent around the state party and not through it. And that's never a good thing."
Another Republican official added that if the party does well in 2012, "it will be in spite of the state party, not because of it."
Remember, Nevada is a state where party organizations and machines are considered critically important, and the state isn't just home to a presidential battleground -- there's a very competitive U.S. Senate race in Nevada this year, and the fate of the Senate majority may rest on the outcome.
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Money definitely does make a difference when it comes to elections, especially when people are not paying attention to what is really going on and what all the facts are. People see these false statements and fall for it in which consists of no real facts. Republicans have shown themselves to be outright liars on about everything they have said, but people are just not seeing the true facts, as they should and not paying attention. And that is the real unfortunate thing about all of this, because people are being too trusting and not realizing on how much they are about to loose and at what cost. Too many people are too busy listening to liars, until they are so put down to nothing and than they finally see how they really have been given the old one two and how much it has really affected themselves.
It's very funny to me to see the GOP so scared to death of Ron Paul. The GOP establishment has actually resorted to Gestapo tactics to try to stop the Ron Paul Revolution. I mean, sicking the security guards on an elderly man with a hip replacement is even low by their standards. And trying to bar a Ron Paul festival in Tampa because of the possibility that 100,000 Ron Paul supporters may show up is just childish and petty on the part of the GOP establishment. "Shadow" Parties??? Really? I can't wait for the convention...
Ron Paul 2012: Join the Revolution!
As many of US witnessed Wisconsin's loss last night - money does make a big difference. That being said, it's time for all of US, people of good will conscious and morals to come together and coalesce around issues and people that will further the goals of US over political whores & party ideologues.
For all of us who don't work for the government this is a big win. The privileges of the public sector workers comes directly from the private sector.
I'm certain the public sector workers do not pay for any of my benefits.
Public sector workers are the reason that you have benefits period! It was the blood sweat and sacrifice of those that came before US that enabled the UNIONS to exist. As for their benefits - unlike those Congress critters, most of the UNION people I know still have to "pay" for some portion of their health-care, retirement, dental (if they're lucky), etc.
It really is too bad that this whole divide & conquer thing is working! With you sheeple that haven't a clue as to how you all got the "benefits" that you do, with your selfish me-first individualism, with your FAUX NOISE talking points about how you "did it yourself" blah, blah, blah - you sheeple haven't a clue because of the dumbing down! What's really sad is that by the time they start coming after you people and your eyes open up - it will be the United States of the Corporation.....
Public-sector workers pay into Social Security, Medicare, etc. same as everyone else. Your benefits are their benefits. If you don't understand that, then I am certain you are a prat.
Federal Employee's owe over $1.2 billion in back taxes! If, a private sector person fails to pay their taxes they end up in jail! Why aren't the Fed employee's behind Bars?
you know, I still haven't gotten past that, in 2010, the Chicken Lady was the sane one in the GOP Primary
Never thought I'd say this, but "Go, Ron Paul."
Amen, brother. Sister. Brosis. I give up. Anyway, I have a dream of paulbots disrupting the Republican national convention as thoroughly as they have some state conventions. Although I doubt that would have any impact on who is the nominee (if the paulbots cause too much trouble, Romney will simply be the nominee by decree), it will be fun to watch chaos (or KAOS) unfolding on live TV.
Mitt Romney supports the Project for the New American Century and the Foreign Policy Initiative, the think-tank which promotes: diplomatic, economic, and military engagement IN THE WORLD. Iraq was ALL lies, so is Iran. The media has a war to sell you, are you buying it? Romney even named his foreign policy plan An American Century.
Here is a video of Romney and PNAC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYEsfXqHeck
Vote for Ron Paul! End the wars
Do vote Paul. To help save your country, all Ron-ulans should vote Paul.
Pay attention Republican Party and Voters.
I am a Ron Paul supporter. This election season, no candidate will.
get my vote for the Office of President of the United States of America.
except for Ron Paul.There will be no exceptions. If he does not win the.
nomination, I will write his name on the ballot.
No amount of slick talking, flip-flopping, wooing, cajoling,
threatening, or condescending will persuade me to vote for any other.
contender for that office.
You don't want to admit it, but you know that the Republican Party.
cannot beat Obama without me, a Ron Paul supporter. It's long past time.
you admit it.
You and I have conflicting goals. I will only cast a vote for.
liberty, for peace, for small government, for fiscal sanity and respect.
for the Constitution of the United States and adherence to the oath of.
office of the Presidency. You however are content merely to vote for.
whatever Republican the GOP leadership and the media approve of.
I will not move. I cannot be persuaded. You cannot win without me.
I am not here to convince you that Ron Paul's positions are superior.
I am not here to convince you that his foreign policy is in line with.
traditional conservatism. I am not here to convince you that his.
understanding of economics put everyone else in Washington to shame. I
am not even here to convince you that the positions of the other.
candidates are not materially different than Obama.
No, I don't need to do any of that. I only need to tell you that.
without me, you have lost. If you do not vote for Ron Paul in your.
Primary or Caucus, you are already defeated. If you fail to nominate Ron.
Paul to be the Republican candidate for President, Barack Hussein Obama.
will serve a second term.
This is not blackmail.This is not a threat. This is a simple statement of fact.
I stand firm and I will not accept anything less.Ron Paul 2012
Uh, oh. An attack of the Ron-ulans. Looks like the cut-and-paste'ing has begun here.
Dude, if you're really as awesome as you think you are for supporting Ron Paul, where did you get the idea that Rachel Maddow's blog is swarming with Republicans?
A testament to the intelligence of the Ron-ulan aliens. They do lack insight and intelligence, but not passion. You gotta give them that.
LOL! This is hysterical!
I know that this is a VERY Liberal blog, just like the entire MSNBC website. Just like in any group of people there will be some that are smarter than others... Being able to accept others is the right thing to do, right?
Seriously though, I'm also voting Ron Paul no matter what. I can't stand Flip Flopney or Barry "Choom Gang Warlord" Obama.
I no longer voter for "party". I vote for freedom. Ron Paul 2012! It's not over until the delegates vote. See you in Tampa.
Ron Paul for crazy king!
Trollop, I hope you get put on Obama's secret drone list. Then we'll see have fast you embrace the Constitution of the United States of America.
you don't have to like us. you can call us crazy "Paul-bots" , whatever. But do you really belive that you CAN beat Obama without us?
So keep laughing, keep name calling, keep taking us for a joke. But I'll tell you this the joke will be on Romney and the rest of the Establishment when in the general election we (Paul-bots) tell you to kiss our ass.
Here's another genius who hasn't noticed what blog he's commenting on.
I mean, who programs the Paul-bots? Shouldn't they at least have an algorithm that tells them whether they're actually talking to Republicans?
We progressives appreciate your efforts, and your contribution to ensuring that President Obama serves his second term.
Thank you, and Geoffrey above, and everyone like you who splinter the right-wing vote.
Oh, shut up roger. You're going to vote for the Rmoney-bot and you know it. We know it, too. And so do the Republicans.
Godwin can go to hell. The Oathkeepers are fascists.
Don't mind them, Disgusted, Trollop, Stralka, Michigan. They're either employed in some useless government department or by one of the myriad contractors receiving billions. They're mind has been thoroughly washed by the corporate mantra of control, deceit and drug testing. They don't know what liberty is because their unfortunate family tree has lived generations without it. This is the only place they can scribe what they perceive to be original thought without checking with someone first. In their safe and serene world with their TV and wage slave mentality no one can lose their own mind. It's a fact that one can't lose what one never had.
Where do you see the "W" on that sign? I think it's likening Romney to G.H.W. Bush, George Senior, likening 2012 to 1980.
What's missing is "Phil Crane --> Gary Johnson".
So Liberals are MSNBC. ok but your the middle of the minority of the accumulated masses of America.
Democrats = 38%
Republicans = 32%
Independents = 45%
Do you really think the independents are voting for Nope and Chains again? I highly doubt it.
No Kings, No Wars.
No one but Dr. Ron Paul
Ron Paul 2012
Restore Principled America Now!!!
Yes, I know what site I'm on but I will take a swing for Paul's ideas.
There are 3 main parts of the GOP-- the Establishment (rich old white guys) who own it, religious right who follow happily if properly fed red meat, Paul/libertarianism. The Tea Party is a fusion of Paul and the religious right. How fused depends on the region. The problem is that many religious right like their big government, they just want it stamped in their image peeking in our windows. My dad and I have this argument on a monthly basis as he is Tea Party right and I am Tea Party libertarian.
The establishment we have now took years to grow. The GOP used to be the frugal party that dismantled all military forces after wars. That was until Roosevelt started the glory days of the Dems with about 5 decades of congressional control. After WWII the GOP slowly started falling in love with their own portions of Big Government culminating with Gingrich and Bush II. Hard to fight a populist tide for Big Government when even within the GOP you had 60%+ of them believing in welfare programs in the late 80s. Politicians on both sides have found it more politically convenient to continue adding to the pile and putting the bill on future generations. Now the Fed has themselves boxed in quite nicely with nothing but rabbit tricks and best wishes, which they have quite plainly stated to be that wages don't inflate as fast as anything else. It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. Unfortunately this is what happens when your savings are controlled by a broke government monetizing its debt with the help of the industries that reap the rewards.
I believe the main confusion in the media with the Tea Party and Pauls Posse is that we aren't moving the party further right, with the possible exception of people like my dad who are Tea Party right and want a small government that tells people what to do (I know I get confused about it too). This fight is in a new direction. It is between the individual and the state. The Dems and the GOP are just 2 loving arms of the same Big Government/Business/Bureaucracy. They disagree only on who gets the goodies and who pays. Mention slicing a dime from the Pentagon and the GOP goes ballistic about how it will gut the system. The same goes for the Dems on their pet projects. The best that they usually manage to accomplish is to shave a few % off of the automatic annual increase, shove the rest onto the next generation, and then run around looking for cameras and microphones.
Then along comes 9/11, and soon thereafter the Patriot Act, and Big Brother had turned from a fringe fear into a mainstream one. The "middle", which is heavily populated by libertarians, both big and little L, welcomed a horde of newcomers running away from the state. Now by horde I do mean by our standards. Then the Tea Party happened, which helped and hurt at the same time-- more people more ideas. But thankfully Congress has continued to help by arguing bills about homosexuality and birth control or some other nonsense for weeks on end with red meat rhetoric on both sides, while passing bills that strip us of our civil liberties with unusual shows of bipartisan support with as little fanfare as can be avoided. I am often reminded of the blind men feeling up the pachyderm when looking at our politics. Both parties see pieces that they can love, and both parties see pieces that scare them. Could it be that they are both petting the same stupid animal? I really hope we figure out the joke soon before the angry beast starts eating people in the streets. Which became legal last year by the way. Do you really want another Bush II with that kind of power? I know I just wet myself a little.
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"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground." Thomas Jefferson
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald Ford. I know, I know, wrong crowd. It is something to thing about the next time your grabbing for your dignity in the airport.