Irvine: Is Agran Country Also Ron Paul Country?

A friend forwarded me this e-mail that went out today from the Ron Paul for President campaign:

Phew!  With just over two days left in the Meetup fundraising competition, we've seen nothing but flip-flopping at the top of the leaderboard.

The New Hampshire Meetup led over the weekend, but Manhattan quickly shot by with a monstrous Monday.  And just when we thought they were running away with the grand prize, Irvine, CA surprised everyone, catapulting into a slim lead.  So don't get discouraged, because each Meetup group in the top ten is still within just three maximum donations of $2300...

Check here for the latest standings:  http://www.ronpaul2008.com/meetup/standings.

And remember, regardless of whether your group wins a visit from Ron, it's your financial support that's contributing to our nationwide efforts.  So send in those donations before the midnight Saturday deadline, and help us continue to spread Ron's message of freedom, peace, and prosperity throughout the country!

 

Jonathan Bydlak
Fundraising Director
Ron Paul 2008

Then I saw that Martin Wisckol over at Total Buzz had also gotten wind of the Ron Paul surge in Irvine:

You may have forgotten about presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, but there’s apparently plenty of people in Irvine who haven’t. His positions include no amnesty for illegal immigrants, no abortion rights, and the argument that Iraq war is a mistake.  

Allen Barlett at the Powder Blue blog has posted that the Irvine Ron Paul Meetup has raised more dough for Paul than any other group in the country. (Neither Allen’s nor Ron Paul’s site say just how much that is.) Apparently, this fundraising is a competition, and the winner gets a visit from the congressman.

There's a lot I like about Ron Paul, although I totally differ with him on the Iraq War. I think the Ron Paul phenomenon is, to a large extent, a reflection of the GOP grass roots' disgust with Beltway Republicanism and hunger for a candidate for a candidate who is confidently campaigns on  a platform of liberty and limited government.

Comments

[Allan Bartlett]

What can we say. It's nice to be #1. Our group is also composed of people outside of Irvine too, but generally in the OC area.

No one agrees with Dr. Paul 100% about his positions, but its nice to be part of a movement that is the total opposite of what has been and is happening in DC right now.

Powder Blue Report

[Black Helicopter Crowd]

Sorry, as badly as our Repubs in D.C. have jumped the tracks, we're still better served by trying to fix them than wasting any time or money supporting this guy.

Don't get me wrong: I love a hearty dose of Ayn Rand, Libertarian rants over a frosty cold beverage and all the rest. The problem with R Paul, however, besides the fact that he has never achieved anything as a legislator, is the crackpot crowd that makes up a huge slice of his supporters.

The ardent goldbugs who have been promising the collapse of American empire for decades love this guy. If you ever run into these folks at one of their "investment" conferences, which I've unfortunately done on a couple of occasions, you'll never have to attend a Star Trek convention, I assure you.

Nope... there are just a few too many folks who live in perpetual fear of the U.N.'s black helicopters backing Ron Paul for my taste, sorry.

[Allan Bartlett]

So the goal of a legislator is to pass onerous laws that tax more, spend more, and take away more of our freedoms little by little? We've been doing that and it isn't working. Republicans got killed in 2006 with business as usual corruption & war fatigue. No thanks.

I'm just wondering how bad it has to get before posters like Mr black helicopter crowd say uncle and take a chance on someone like a Ron Paul?

[Black Helicopter Crowd]

We do seem to be on a slow, depressing march toward European-style socialism.

But tell me: Ron Paul has slowed this process how, exactly?

The answer is: not at all, which is why I said, "he has never achieved anything as a legislator." He has ZERO power/influence in Washington.

You're tilting at windmills here, my man.

[Allan Bartlett]

So the answer is just to surrender to the slow march to socialism. Got it. The GOP politicians that do have any influence, use it against us i.e Jerry Lewis, Ken Calvert, etc. Name one DC GOP politician with "influence" who has used it further the cause of smaller government.

[d'Anconia]

Allan-

I wouldn't put Calvert in the same sentence as Jerry Lewis man. Say what you must about Calvert, but he doesn't hold a candle to Lewis on the liability department.

[Allan Bartlett]

As far as pure influence, obviously Jerry Lewis has the most clout in the GOP California delegation. It's just a shame he uses it the way he does. The man is the poster child for one of the reasons we lost in 2006. And I still can't think of anyone in DC with "influence" that exercises it like they should as a Republican.

Ken Calvert is a liablity also and needs to go to. He's a member of the "lookin for love in all the wrong places" caucus not to mention all of questionable business deals & propensity to hand out pork to campaign contributors. Do we want these kind of Republicans represneting our "Republican Franchise"? I certainly don't.

[Karl Rove]

Looks like Fred Thompson is announcing his offical candidacy today. It will be interesting to see how the apples rearrange in the cart now.

[Richard Rios]

We are excited what the future holds. We have been building a support framework in California, Arizona, Nevada and Oklahoma with increasing success.

Now it get's interesting.

Richard Rios
richard.rios@californiaforthompson.com

Director - California for Thompson, Nevada for Fred Thompson, Arizona for Fred Thompson, Oklahoma for Fred Thompson

State Coordinator-FredHeadsUSA
State Coordinator-DraftFredThompson

www.californiaforthompson.com

The South West's largest grassroots effort to support Fred Thompson for president.

[OC LIBERAL]

I can't believe people can still be Republicans. If another one gets elected, what will be left of America? You've had eight years to prove you can help America. Look around. What's left of our freedoms?

signed,
Proud to be an OC Democrat