Ron Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll

**Propaganda** · 20th February 2010 05:39 PM

(CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, on Saturday won a straw poll for president on the final day of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

He got 31 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who won the straw poll the past three years, was second with 22 percent and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin with 7 percent.

The straw poll provides an early window into who conservative activists believe should be the next GOP nominee.

Paul ignited the crowd with a scorching indictment of lawmakers in Washington, whom he accused of failing to address the nation's growing debt.

"Debt is the monster," Paul said, condemning federal borrowing to support government spending. "Debt is what will eat us up, and that's why our economy is on the brink."

Ron Paul wins presidential straw poll at CPAC - CNN.com

The GOP establishment won't like this, nor will Sean Hannity. I don't think these polls mean too much, however. Ron Paul isn't full of rhetoric like Sarah Palin, and like most candidates, he doesn't support the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.

It will be interesting to see how he does in 2012, should he decide to run. Paul won a number of polls last year, but failed to gain the support of the base despite a massive Internet following.

**AgentM** · 20th February 2010 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Propaganda

The GOP establishment won't like this, nor will Sean Hannity. I don't think these polls mean too much, however. Ron Paul isn't full of rhetoric like Sarah Palin, and like most candidates, he doesn't support the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.

It will be interesting to see how he does in 2012, should he decide to run. Paul won a number of polls last year, but failed to gain the support of the base despite a massive Internet following.

Yeah, I agree, doesn't really mean much. Ron Paul is too far outside the GOP establishment to ever be accepted by them, which is too bad.

**Churlant** · 20th February 2010 07:01 PM

I'd vote for him. Paul is a bit wacky on a few things for my taste, but then he certainly tastes better than Palin or Romney.

**Winn** · 20th February 2010 07:13 PM

This was interesting. From the article:

Reflecting the college atmosphere of the annual event, young people dominated the voting: 54 percent of participants were between the ages of 18 and 25.

There's the reason for the Ron Paul win imo. Once the base of the GOP takes over (old, white, rural, Christians) we'll see Ron Paul drop like a stone back to his usual 10%,

**AgentM** · 20th February 2010 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Winn

This was interesting. From the article:

There's the reason for the Ron Paul win imo. Once the base of the GOP takes over (old, white, rural, Christians) we'll see Ron Paul drop like a stone back to his usual 10%,

Yep, the old fogeys will have to pop their dentures in before they can complain about how different he is. Old people are deathly afraid of change (pun intended).

**Winn** · 20th February 2010 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by AgentM

Yep, the old fogeys will have to pop their dentures in before they can complain about how different he is. Old people are deathly afraid of change (pun intended).

And they're terrified of Paul cutting their entitlements. But even if he managed to win the GOP Primary (which he won't) and even if he won the Presidential election (which he won't) he'd still have to wrestle with Congress to change anything in DC.

And he won't.

You know what I think really hurt Paul in 08 more than anything? And this is just my opinion, but I think Paul being against the Iraq and Afghan wars REALLY hurt him with the GOP supporters. If they had supported Paul then that would mean they're no longer supporting George Bush's wars. And since so many Bush supporters had adamantly defended Bush for so long I think they just couldn't turn it off. Ya know?

I realize I'm not explaining that very well.

**AgentM** · 20th February 2010 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Winn

And they're terrified of Paul cutting their entitlements. But even if he managed to win the GOP Primary (which he won't) and even if he won the Presidential election (which he won't) he'd still have to wrestle with Congress to change anything in DC.

And he won't.

You know what I think really hurt Paul in 08 more than anything? And this is just my opinion, but I think Paul being against the Iraq and Afghan wars REALLY hurt him with the GOP supporters. If they had supported Paul then that would mean they're no longer supporting George Bush's wars. And since so many Bush supporters had adamantly defended Bush for so long I think they just couldn't turn it off. Ya know?

I realize I'm not explaining that very well.

That could very well have been part of it. I get what you're saying. I also suspect that the corporate lobbyists don't like him very much. Since he appears to have principles and be relatively honest about what he thinks, which can't be said for most politicians.

**AgentM** · 20th February 2010 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Winn

And they're terrified of Paul cutting their entitlements. But even if he managed to win the GOP Primary (which he won't) and even if he won the Presidential election (which he won't) he'd still have to wrestle with Congress to change anything in DC.

And he won't.

You know what I think really hurt Paul in 08 more than anything? And this is just my opinion, but I think Paul being against the Iraq and Afghan wars REALLY hurt him with the GOP supporters. If they had supported Paul then that would mean they're no longer supporting George Bush's wars. And since so many Bush supporters had adamantly defended Bush for so long I think they just couldn't turn it off. Ya know?

I realize I'm not explaining that very well.

Looks like you might be right after all.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7d_e9lrcZ8]YouTube - Ron Paul Courageously Speaks the Truth[/ame]

**Winn** · 20th February 2010 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by AgentM

Looks like you might be right after all.

YouTube - Ron Paul Courageously Speaks the Truth

Yep. That's one thing about Paul, he just says it doesn't he? This year he might have more support from former Bush supporters just because they can distance themselves from Bush now. I don't know... I really don't know about the GOP.

Who among that bunch of candidates has any hope of beating a sitting President by 2012? Who can carry Florida, Ohio, Penn, Michigan? The GOP has to have those states again to win the White House. Plus they dropped NC and VA last time. Geeez.

**AgentM** · 20th February 2010 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Winn

Who among that bunch of candidates has any hope of beating a sitting President by 2012? Who can carry Florida, Ohio, Penn, Michigan? The GOP has to have those states again to win the White House. Plus they dropped NC and VA last time. Geeez.

Unless some amazing new candidate enters the scene, or Obama makes a really massive screw up, I don't see much of a chance of the GOP winning the White House in 2012. Not with the current crop of leadership hopefuls.