Where will the Ron Paul supporters go in November?

[LetTimmySmoke]

They might end up becoming crucial swing voters in November. Where will they go? From what I see, a lot of his support comes from people who very strong on ending cannabis prohibition. Especially among his under-35 support. They'll probably break for the candidate they perceive to be the best on the issue. To be honest, it's not clear who that is. Romney is opportunistic, and may see an opening here.

Colorado, a major swing state, has a repeal to cannabis prohibition on its ballot in 2012. Both parties have supported it. All he has to do is say "I stand with my state Republican party on this bill, and I oppose the Obama administration's threats to intervene in Colorado's affairs." Disingenuous and opportunistic as this line might be, it could be very effective. Obama now has the reputation for being a staunch prohibitionist. Romney will use that to his advantage if he thinks it will win him the presidency.

[freshwest]

1. Paulies are GOP/Teabaggers and will vote as they in 2008.

There's nothing Obama could do to appeal to them.

[Jamaal510]

2. I did come across a handful of them on the Internet

who said they voted for PBO in '08, but preferred Ron Paul this year for whatever reason. Who knows...maybe they'll come back.

[freshwest]

4. They've got Rand Paul and Paul Ryan, their libertarian, slash the gummint for freedom heroes.

Last edited Tue Apr 17, 2012, 09:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Ron Paul has gone so far to the right, he makes the Koch brothers and Santorum look liberal. And all the Paulies still stuck with the guy, after the GOP debate crow were yelling that the uninsured should die.

They are no longer the naive, anti-Bush, anti-war types, rather they are the Alex Jones believers who alternate between calling Obama the anti-Christ who is going to take away their guns, poison them or send them to Camp FEMA.

They are in favor of ending abortion rights for women and disenfranchising immigrants and the poor, letting houses burn if the homeowners can't pay up, ending the social safety net for the elderly, children, poor and disabled. They have never spoken for the poor, instead they blame the government for them. They don't criticize any corporations.

They're against government health care, paying taxes, unions, public workers and schools and regulation of any type. They had their chance to get some of their libertarians in office and shown their true colors.

Their opposition to the Federal Reserve is really just their opposition to taxes. They agree with what the Koch brothers stand for and Democrats need to stop catering to them as they will never agree that any form of governance is legitimate. They hate liberals, progressives and Democrats.

So while it may be nice to think that they would vote for Obama in 2012, they are less inclined now than they were in 2008. They are the Reagan generation who is only angry at the mainstream GOP for not being radically conservative enough. n/t

[LetTimmySmoke]

27. His supporters don't necessarily believe all that stuff.

People support candidates for different reasons, and sometimes it can be just one or two very important issues (like pot). Ron Paul is also popular because he's against the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Mr.Turnip]

20. See those are just the generic contrarian types, they don't have an ideology really.

Back in 2008 Obama was the change candidate they perceived him as being the most anti-establishment they could get, in 2012 Obama of course as President is the center of the Federal Establishment by default and now they go to Ron Paul despite his form of "change" really being a rocket back to the 1800s.

Typically these types only really truly care about being anti-war and drug legalization, they will pay lip service to economic policy and the rest of foreign policy but it's not what they really focus on.

[musicblind]

30. I know, I've heard from two of his supporters who are planning to vote for Obama in the fall. n/t

[Cosmocat]

13. Agreed

no reason to even try to appeal to them.

Who they may support may be a question.

But, that the evil democrat is the end of the world is the one given.

[freshwest]

16. Why not support Mittens? He's against government, just that he's a Mormon won't put off the zealots.

If a Mormon missionary comes on their property they still have their guns to enforce their 'first amendment rights with their second amendment rights.' He wants the same thing they do, the government that helps the 'not like us' people to go away. I see their effect as progressive initiatives fail repeatedly. They vote against all levies to keep the commons intact, and they recite Nixon's mantras on privatization.

The Paulies were an interesting group in 2007 and 2008, when they were against Bush and the Iraq War. Now they're just the new face of young republicans in college circles, or if not in school, teabaggers. They don't speak for anything to help disadvantaged people, since the only people they believe have a hard time are themselves for paying taxes. Because of those evil Democrats, you got that right!

[Cosmocat]

23. That is what it will boil down to

end of the day, there will be a few of the absolute diehards who will write Paul in.

But, given two functional choices, they will absolutely NOT vote for Obama, just not going to happen, and while he is not flat out all in on their bizarre view of the world, as noted, functionally, Mittens will be close enough.

[HooptieWagon]

3. The Paul supporters I know are under 30.

No telling what theyll do in the GE, maybe sit it out?

[Demeter]

5. Green Party, I Expect

When change hits the road, it's the only option left.

[Prometheus Bound]

6. In this poll, 46% say they will vote for Obama. 12% for Romney.

http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1112755-Ron-Paul-supporters-Who-will-you-be-voting-for?p=16378666#post16378666

In this poll, 23% will vote for Obama. 10% for Romney.

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/ron-paul-supporters-if-ron-paul-doesnt-win-the-republican-nomination-for-whom-will-you-vote-in-th/question-2435237/

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Amsterdam?

Who gives a fuck? I agree with Thom Hartmann......A bunch of selfish 30 something Libertarian (Repuke) assholes, who don't give a shit about anything but getting laid, smoking dope, and abolishing the Fed. Fuck 'em.

[joshguitar]

9. how open minded of you

I could never vote for R.P but he is actually far to the left of Obama on foreign policy. I met alot of his supporters in the early days of OWS. If anything I'd say his young supporters are too idealistic.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. "I met alot of his supporters in the early days of OWS."

I know. This was one of the biggest issues I had with OWS. The RP signs were a major deterrent for me.

His "young supporters" are idiots, much like the fruit of his loins. The apple doesn't fall far from the crazy tree. Fuck Ron Paul, and any idiot who supports his racist ass.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

8. Some are talking about a write-in campaign...good luck with that one.n/t

[Kolesar]

10. Are there any white supremacist former colonies they could move to?

Rhodesia would have suited them.

[baldguy]

11. No where, they'll still vote for Ron Paul.

Ron Paul has a nice little scam going: (1) perennially pretend to run President, (2) collect "campaign contributions" and speaking fees from the suckers and marks, (3) Profit.

[Cosmocat]

12. Yep, he has a VERY nice niche in the

this particular market of people who love to be fleeced of their money.

[Blue_Tires]

25. That's also why I'm betting the first big-name PAC for 2016 will belong to Palin again, of course

[Codeine]

14. Like all Libertarians, they're just Pukes with a taste for weed.

Who gives a shit what they do?

[Orangepeel]

15. I don't think Mitt Romney is going to come out in favor of ending prohibition nt

[FSogol]

17. Bullshit: "Obama now has the reputation for being a staunch prohibitionist."

Pot is a non-issue for the mythical average American

And Ron Paul supporters can take a flying fuck at the moooooonnn.

[Snotlaw]

18. No Fears

Back into their bomb shelters

[Daniel537]

19. Gary Johnson. He's running as a libertarian.

Could help us out in states like Montana, Nevada, New Mexico etc...

[Mr.Turnip]

21. Be miserable and depressed, even if they by all means have a healthy life.

As tends to happen to many people who latch onto ideologies that are so deeply flawed that they cannot be repaired. And you'll be hard pressed to find an ideology more flawed than Libertarianism, where like most of these ideology's a large chunk of their ideas have never been practically applied due to saner minds prevailing. However what has been applied in the past (near complete unregulated markets) has led to fun fun things like the Gilded age, which of course some of them actually promote as a great time in America.

[Blue_Tires]

24. All 50 of them?

They'll just write-in Paul or vote for vote for whatever fringe 3rd party candidate...

[HopeHoops]

26. Obama. Paul and Romney have nothing in common other than being willing to be assholes in public.

[RZM]

28. They'll fragment

Unless of course Rand is the VP nominee. That's pretty unlikely, but not outside the realm of possibility. That, combined with a strong endorsement from Ron, could bring a lot of them to the Romney ticket.

Otherwise, they will go in several directions. Some will vote for Romney (especially if Ron gets a convention speech and strongly endorses Mittens). Others will vote for Obama. Others will go third party or not vote. Probably at least 5-10 percent will write in Ron.

I'd say neither Obama nor Mittens could get higher than 20 percent of dedicated Ron Paul supporters.

[Tax Man]

29. geidi prime

they will live happily under harkonnen rule there.

[Wolfgang2020]

31. Where do the supporters go...

I would imagine that most of the supporters will endorse Romney in the general election. After that it is pretty much a waiting game no matter who wins. Wait and watch as the inflation grows and as interest rates go up and the United State is unable to borrow or print enough money to service the debt. Anyone who has bought groceries, gone out to dinner or bought gas lately can see first hand the effects of inflation.
If these circumstances continue they seem to mimic the events that happened to the Weimar Republic in Europe in the 1920's. Hyperinflation caused the currency to go from a loaf of bread costing one mark, to one hundred million marks by 1923. From there it's anybody's game.
The good news is that the politicians and media are great at keeping us angry at each other and not at the system as a whole.