What if Ron Paul had run as an Independant?

[Thunder]

what would have happened if Ron Paul had run as an Independant?

I think he could have galvanized a sizeable portion of the youth/independant/isolationist/nationalist vote. he could have picked up 20% or more of the popular vote.

i know all of his supporters are very very very disapointed he decided not to run. he could have had a MAJOR impact on the race and the debates.

oh well.

 

[Oliver]

What if Ron Paul had run as an Independant?

Well, then Sarah Palin could be his running mate ... seriously:
http://www.236.com/feed/2008/09/29/sarah_palin_calls_ron_paul_coo_9201.php

 

[leftysergeant]

None of them would have much more than 50% of the popular vote, if that. Obama would have a huge chunk, maybe even Texas, of the electoral vote. Republicans who do not like McCain would rather vote for a Libertarian than a liberal Democrat, especially than a black one.

 

[moon1969]

Looks like Ron Paul would support Russia no matter what. It really was great how FDR supported Stalin. Didn"t FDR give Stalin the nickname Uncle Joe?

 

[dirtywick]

20% or more? Can't say you're a pessimist.

Got to be honest though, I'd vote for Ron Paul, if he had a lot of different ideas on most things.

 

[dudalb]

He would have gotten even less support then he got. It was only the fact he was running for the GOP nomination that got him any publicity.
He would have gotten the same amount of support that he got in 1988,when he ran for President on the Libertarian party ticket.

 

[Cleon]

what would have happened if Ron Paul had run as an Independant?

Nothing.

I think he could have galvanized a sizeable portion of the youth/independant/isolationist/nationalist vote.

True.

he could have picked up 20% or more of the popular vote.

More like 2%. If that.

The Libertarians, the closest political party to Paul's ideas, have never had a statistic impact on the national level. Even within the Republican Party primaries, Paul never broke the single-digits.

My knowledge of statistic is pretty shaky, but even if Paul's votes are all cast for him at the national level, PLUS the Libertarian vote, I'm pretty sure that amounts to "bupkiss."

 

[mortimer]

20%?

Maybe 5%.

 

[geni]

Looks like Ron Paul would support Russia no matter what.

There is a difference between support and not activly oppose. Paul is highly isolationist would make it hard to support Russia.

 

[WildCat]

he could have picked up 2% or more of the popular vote.

Fixed your typo for you.

 

[Gnu World Order]

what would have happened if Ron Paul had run as an Independant?

I think the today's polls would look like this:

Gallup Daily
Final Presidential Estimate: Obama 55%, McCain 44%

 

[joobie]

hilarity would have ensued.

 

[Tricky]

In Texas, Ron Paul is registered as a Republican. His support comes mostly from disaffected Republicans. If Ron Paul were running, McCain would certainly lose Texas (where RP is very popular) and he might have problems winning a single state.

As a result, Ron Paul would be (rightly) blamed for undermining the Republicans and he'd have problems being elected dogcatcher in his home state. No, he did the wise thing by sitting out.

 

[drkitten]

In Texas, Ron Paul is registered as a Republican. His support comes mostly from disaffected Republicans. If Ron Paul were running, McCain would certainly lose Texas (where RP is very popular) and he might have problems winning a single state.

Not a chance. If there were enough disaffected Republicans to make a difference, RP would have been able to pull a substantial number of votes in during the primaries.

He was barely relevant in the relatively-open primaries. In the election, where the party hacks are doing their best to push for party unity, he would have been completely irrelevant. I doubt he would have swept his immediate family.

 

[Alex Libman]

Trying to reform a "democracy" by running for president is like trying to reform a Mayan human sacrifice cult by running for head priest.

 

[drkitten]

Trying to reform a "democracy" by running for president is like trying to reform a Mayan human sacrifice cult by running for head priest.

Which explains why the Libertarian party have had so much influence on American politics; because they explicitly eschew any chance of victory among reality-based voters.....

 

[Alex Libman]

"Victory"?

Getting the mob on your side doesn't REALLY give you a "mandate of heaven" to rule, that's an irrational belief planted through government-influenced education system. And by bribing 51% of the populace (and not the brightest 51%), you pretty much guarantee perpetual power.

Democracy is theocracy v2.0, an irrational religion that spreads itself by the sword!

 

[geni]

"Victory"?

Getting the mob on your side doesn't really give you a "mandate of heaven" to rule, that's an irrational belief planted through government-influenced education system. And by bribing 51% of the populace (and not the brightest 51%), you pretty much guarantee perpetual power.

Nah. Outside Japan no political party has managed to stay dominant for more than a couple of decades since about 1900.

Democracy is theocracy v2.0, an irrational religion that spreads itself by the sword.

Um no most european imperialism was done with firearms rather than swords

 

[Donal]

Trying to reform a "democracy" by running for president is like trying to reform a Mayan human sacrifice cult by running for head priest.

Well, since in a cult, the head priest usually runs things, ya, that would be pretty effective.

Got any more stupid analogies?

 

[Donal]

"Victory"?

Getting the mob on your side doesn't REALLY give you a "mandate of heaven" to rule, that's an irrational belief planted through government-influenced education system. And by bribing 51% of the populace (and not the brightest 51%), you pretty much guarantee perpetual power.

Democracy is theocracy v2.0, an irrational religion that spreads itself by the sword!

I know fo few if any political parties that would be satisfied with winning 51%.

And besides, its just like the free market. The politician is giving people what they want, and they are giving him votes.