Revolution

Lately I've been trying to find some inspiration. Something to sink my teeth into. Tonight I think I've found it. Revolution!

I've just gotten back from a meeting with the Triangle Ron Paul 2008 Meetup group and it was the most excited I've been in a while. The people were all smart, informed, eloquent, energetic, and completely fed up with the status quo. It is a breath of fresh air to be around such people even apart from the shared political agenda.

I've known for months I'd be voting for Ron Paul. I've sent in money and plan to do so again on December 16 for Tea Party 2007 which will be the biggest single fund raising day in history (234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party). I even figured I'd putz around with some light campaigning. After tonight, though, it is going to a whole new level.

The two party system sucks, but it is what we have. There are serious (and I believe immoral) legal, procedural and structural obstacles for the Libertarian or other third parties from competing on a level playing field with the big two. The Republican and Democrats are completely co-opted by big business, big media, special interests and the political caste. Ron Paul has become the nucleus that many disillusioned people such as myself have coalesced around.

Sure, It's a lot of fun to rage against the machine - bemoaning how the media won't cover him as a viable candidate - dismissiveness and outright hostility from the party establishment - massive corporate backing of the 'mainstream' candidates - but what does it accomplish? But Paul won't stand a chance, right? You can't win without the media and party, right? Not so fast.

Seven years of absolutely dreadful governance and mismanagement from the Bush administration and the neo-conservatives have left the Republican party demoralized. Sure Bush, Cheney, some in Congress, Rush Limbaugh, etc. still talk tough and flex their muscles, but who among the citizenry really yearns for more of the same? Who wakes up in the morning and says, "I care deeply for Giuliani and his positions" or "I really think the world would be safer if we bombed one more Muslim country."? People seem to have a vague idea that the want to be protected and they want someone else to take care of them. The media outlets and politicians themselves portray Hillary or Giuliani as people who can provide this; so people shrug and go along with it. It is easier than thinking, right? But I digress...

I believe that the grassroots of the Republican party is dead. Apathy is always a huge issue in American politics and in the wake of endless war, economic mismanagement, scandals and incompetence, the Republican grassroots has been wiped out. In straw poll after straw poll, Ron Paul supporters show up in force to trounce the 'mainstream' Republican candidates. "I like Romney, I guess, but I'd rather watch the game than go out and vote." But who cares about some stupid straw polls? The real vote isn't for months.

Here's why it matters. The various constitutionalists, libertarians, (true) conservatives and other assorted kooks that make up the Ron Paul Revolution are going to take over the Republican Party. Literally. If a precinct or district has a handful of demoralized 'establishment' Republicans, it will be nothing for the various active Meetup groups to vote as a block and get Ron Paul people elected to party offices and send them as delegates to the national convention. A bloodless coup.

Precinct captain Ed?