United Liberty
Presidential Race
The Ron Paul Report: June 7, 2012
Thu, 06/07/2012 - 11:15am | posted by Marshall McCart
It’s been a busy and interesting couple of weeks for the forces of freedom and liberty since my last edition of the Ron Paul Report came out. Sorry about the layoff, but I needed some time to recover from the Georgia GOP convention that occurred a couple of Saturdays ago. As most of you probably already know, things didn’t really work out for us there. But…if you don’t have the numbers—you don’t have the numbers. We were pretty damned close, though. And while it seemed that we definitely had enough to prevent a super-majority, the convention chair, Randy Evans, didn’t see it that way. What they didn’t have to do, though, was rub our noses in it. But that’s cool. Actions have consequences…
With that said, several Ron Paul supporters did make it through as national delegates at the Congressional district conventions back in April. Some have estimated that as many as 10 of the delegates heading to Tampa are Ron Paul supporters, although they will be bound for another candidate for the first two ballots.
There was, however, some very good news from that same weekend. The Paul forces rocked it in Minnesota taking 12 of the 13 available delegate slots and pushed their total number of delegates to 32 out of the allocation of 40 that will be heading to Tampa. Without a doubt, this was the biggest victory for the Paul forces so far in the 2012 delegate process.
Utah also held its state convention a couple of weeks ago. Not surprisingly, the Romney forces swept it. Romney also swept the state of Arkansas.
A view of the Ron Paul Revolution, Pt. I
Thu, 04/19/2012 - 11:10am | posted by Marshall McCart
So right off the bat, let me just disclose the following: I am a proud Ron Paul supporter. I’ve been aware of Dr. Paul since the turn of the century. I’ve been reading “Texas Straight Talk,” his weekly correspondence, for going on a decade, and have been known, from time to time, to actually call the number that has his weekly, pre-recorded message in order to actually hear the man, in his own words, speak those wonderful words of truth and freedom.
I was involved with the grassroots effort of his 2008 run and donated to that campaign and his congressional campaign as well. Now, four years later, I am currently serving as my county’s coordinator for the Georgia for Ron Paul grassroots group and have made multiple donations to the RP2012 campaign.
Simply put—I’m a fan.
For many out there, the Ron Paul Revolution is all but dead. A minor historical footnote. How wrong these people are. For you see, this thing is still growing. It really is. Despite a virtual, media blackout and more dirty tricks by the GOP establishment than you can shake a stick at, this beautiful, organic phenomenon is still growing.
Let’s start with delegates. FOX News and many other outlets are grossly under-reporting Dr. Paul’s delegate count at around 50; however, CNN, as it has been during this entire cycle, has a more accurate count of 71. But they’re all wrong. We won’t know for sure until all of the district and state conventions wrap up, but Dr. Paul could very well be looking at a count in the several hundreds. It is most likely that the Paul campaign will have a strong majority of delegates in the following states: Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, and several others. Hell, if it goes to a contested convention with multiple ballots, there will be Ron Paul delegates waiting in the wings in the Georgia Delegation. And there are several contests left where Paul could pick up more delegates.
Oh Jeez, Not This Again
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 10:20am | posted by Jeremy Kolassa
Just when you thought he and his toupee were gone:
Donald Trump’s decision to drop out of the 2012 presidential race may be as ephemeral as NFL quarterback Brett Favre’s decision to throw in the towel in 2008.
Like Mr. Favre, who was back on the gridiron playing for a different team just months after his teary farewell from football three years ago, Mr. Trump also appears to be considering suiting up to get back in the game – only this time as an independent.
“It was not an easy decision for me [to drop out of the Republican primary race in May], but I think that it will be an easy decision [to return to the campaign] if the Republicans choose the wrong candidate and if the economy is bad. I think it will be a really easy decision for me to make,” Trump told the Monitor in an interview in Panama City, shortly after inaugurating the Trump Ocean Club, the first Trump hotel and tower outside the United States.
If “The Donald” feels the time is right to get back in the race, look for him to make the announcement on the next season of his reality TV show The Apprentice – his primetime soapbox.
Are You “Joe the Plumber”?
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 1:10pm | posted by Liberty Belle
Trying to capitalize on his constant references to “Joe the Plumber” in the final debate, Senator McCain’s campaign has launched a new strategy, with which they hope to win the hearts and support of hard-working middle-class Americans by supposedly giving them a voice during the last couple of weeks before the election. The campaign site claims-
there is no doubt that John McCain and Sarah Palin stand firmly on the side of hardworking “everyday Joes” who understand the value of honest work and the American Dream.
Of course, considering McCain’s wealthy heiress wife, multiple homes and having a cushy government job for the past 25 years, one wonders whether he can truly relate to the average “Joe Six-Pack”, as his running-mate so eloquently puts it.
McCain also needs to explain how anyone who voted for a tax-funded $800 billion Wall Street bailout can seriously claim to be on the side of tax-payers.
Ted Cruz May Run for President in 2016
Thu, 05/02/2013 - 11:19am | posted by Jason Pye
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been frequently mentioned at United Liberty since he came out of nowhere last year to defeat David Dewhurst in a heated primary campaign. Since taking office in January, Cruz has wasted no time in challenging the political establishment in Washington and further endearing himself to the conservative movement.
Alongside Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT), Cruz has made up a core of principled fiscal conservatives who have a genuine concern that the Constitution is being ignored, not just by the Obama Administration, but also his fellow Republicans. He, like Paul and Lee, has been a strong voice against gun control, taken a strong stand for civil liberties, driven the Republican establishment crazy, and perplexed the mainstream media. Perhaps his only real misstep along the way was his questioning of Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel, who would go on to win confirmation by the Senate.
Obama holds small leads in Ohio and Pennsylvania
Thu, 09/29/2011 - 9:02am | posted by Jason Pye
New polls out of Ohio and Pennsylvania, both could be crucial to Republicans in 2012, show President Barack Obama with small leads over prospective Republican opponents, including Rick Perry and Mitt Romney:
President Obama holds extremely narrow leads over Mitt Romney and Rick Perry in Pennsylvania and Ohio, two large swing states he won in 2008, according to new polls from Quinnipiac University.
In Ohio, Obama leads Romney by 44 percent to 42, and leads Perry by 44 percent to 41. In Pennsylvania, Obama leads Romney by 45 percent to 43 and has a 46 percent to 40 percent lead over Perry.
[…}
Obama won Pennsylvania by 10 points and Ohio by five points in 2008.
Ohio is particularly important since the eventual winner of the presidential race has carried the state since 1896. According to the poll, 51% of voters in Ohio don’t believe that Obama deserves re-election and 52% disapprove of his job performance.
Many believe Pennsylvania is ripe for the GOP due to the success they had during last year’s mid-terms and Obama’s 54% disapproval rating. Like Ohio, 51% of Keystone State voters don’t believe Obama deserves re-election.
If the economy gets worse or stays the same, it means that Republicans would likely pick up both states, depending on the nominee, as most undecided voters break against an incumbent.
Gary Johnson will announce next week
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 1:37pm | posted by Jason Pye
Fox News reports that Gary Johnson, who served two terms as Governor of New Mexico, will announce his bid for president next week in New Hampshire:
A source close to former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson confirmed to Fox News that the will announce his intention to seek the GOP presidential nomination on the steps of the New Hampshire state Capitol in Concord at 9 a.m. April 21st. Johnson will not create an exploratory committee but launch right into the campaign.
If Johnson meets the requirements, the same source has confirmed to Fox News the soon-to-be candidate’s desire to participate in the first GOP presidential debate in South Carolina on May 5. That debate will be hosted by the South Carolina GOP and Fox News Channel.
Gary Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico, is known as a libertarian with a small government philosophy. He vetoed more than 700 pieces of legislation during his two terms as governor.
According to Media Bistro, the criteria for the Fox News debate, which will take place on May 5th in Greenville, South Carolina are:
- Must register a presidential exploratory committee or have announced a formal campaign for president; and
- Must file all necessary paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC); and
- Must file all necessary paperwork with the South Carolina Republican Party; and
- Must have paid all federal and South Carolina filing fees; and
- Must meet all U.S. Constitutional requirements; and
- Must have garnered at least an average of one percent in five national polls based on most recent polling leading up to April 29th, 2011
I’m looking forward to casting my ballot for him in Georgia.
Gary Johnson will announce presidential campaign next month
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 10:30am | posted by Jason Pye
According to Fox News, former two-term New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson will announce his presidential campaign plans next month:
Fox News has learned the former Governor of New Mexico will announce his candidacy, for President of the United States in late April. Johnson insiders say he will bypass the exploratory stage, announce his candidacy and immediately travel to New Hampshire sometime after tax day, April 15. Johnson is a strong supporter of legalizing marijuana and gay marriage. Strategists say his libertarian approach to GOP politics may prove very popular in the Granite State, whose motto is “Live Free or Die.”
Johnson has not himself, and will not when asked, state his intention to seek the White House. He currently runs a non-profit organization and under FEC regulations cannot run for office at the same time. “I do have the fact that I’m a 501c (4), the Our America Initiative,” the former Governor explains. “It allows me to raise money and speak out on the issues of the day, and of course I don’t want to get sideways with that legal status.”
When asked in a wide ranging interview with Fox News what he thinks is the most important issue facing America today, the answer is immediate, “I think it’s the fact that we’re bankrupt, that we’re borrowing 43 cents out of every dollar that we’re spending.”
When asked what other issues he thinks are most important, the answer is pretty much the same. “I am in the camp that believes that we are on the verge of an imminent financial collapse. The only thing that government could do and should do in my opinion would be to balance the budget. That would really send an unbelievable message that we as Americans understand that you can’t continue to spend more money than what you take in.”
Tim Pawlenty forms presidential exploratory committee
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 9:07am | posted by Jason Pye
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced the formation of an exploratory commitee for the Republican nomination for president in 2012. Among the themes Pawlenty discusses in the video are creating jobs, limiting government and reforming entitlements:
“This is our country. Our founding fathers created it, Americans embraced it, Ronald Reagan personified it, and Lincoln stood courageously to protect it. And that’s why today, I’m announcing the formation of an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States,” Pawlenty declared in the two-minute video.
The Republican ex-governor invokes his hard-luck upbringing in the video. “At a young age, I saw up close the face of challenge, the face of hardship, and the face of job loss,” he says. “Over the last year, I’ve traveled to nearly every state in the country and I know many Americans are feeling that way today. I know that feeling—I lived it.”
Here is the video of his announcement, which was released on his Facebook page yesterday afternoon:
No leader in GOP race
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 12:15pm | posted by Tom Knighton
Blogs all over the conservative blogosphere are all chattering about the unprecedented fact that there is no GOP leader for the party’s presidential nomination. Apparently, there is usually a front runner at this point and that front runner ultimately wins out, at least according to Gallup.
Of course, Ed Morrissey offers this tidbit:
Interestingly, the sequence has two anomalies. John McCain trailed Rudy Giuliani by 17 points in Gallup polling at this point in 2007, but ended up outlasting everyone to get the nomination. In 1979, Reagan only had a five-point lead over Gerald Ford, which recalls the discomfort of the GOP establishment with Reagan even after Ford’s futile attempts to hold office in 1976.
Otherwise, the history of the GOP in open cycles is to give the nomination to the candidate perceived to be next it line. But in this year, that could describe all three of the candidates leading the polling so far. Huckabee and Romney finished second and third in 2008′s primaries in delegates, and Palin ran on the ticket. However, more and more people wonder whether Huckabee or Palin will actually run — and whether Romney will suffer as a result[.]
The truth of the matter is that the GOP of today has been shaped (some would say warped) by the Tea Party, possibly to such an extent that historical trends may well be meaningless.
Morrissey is dead on about the indecision of Palin and Huckabee impacting the polling numbers. Some will back them if they announce but won’t commit without that announcement. That will throw things in almost any direction though.
