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Does the Military really support Ron Paul

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Salty, Jan 10, 2012.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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  2. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    I would imagine other polling data is just about as false.

    Paul is a non factor and will never get the nomination, but his supporters are so rabid, they will grasp at any straw, and even grow a few if necessary...straws, that is.
     
  3. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    I want to make sure I am on track for this op, and not get off on another subject, which I seem to do when the name Romney comes up. Anyway, I spent quite some time in the military in lots of different places, in close quarters with all kinds of personalities. My opinion is that members of our armed forces are like any other group of Americans, each has his or her own opinion, and the percentages basically reflect the American voters as a whole. So, among a crew on a small ship say, there will be those who are for Obama, Paul, Santorum, Gingrich, Perry, Huntsman, and Romney. There may be some skew in the numbers towards pro defense candidates. That is to be expected. If one was to take a poll of a group of people who are gathered in Utah to buy beachfront property, the numbers would be skewed towards Romney.
     
    #3 saturneptune, Jan 11, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 11, 2012
  4. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    He says some good things but he is hypocritical on earmarks which destroys his stance on the constitution. Add to that he has a character problem since he financially benefited from a racist paper in his name and refuses to explain in detail how that could happen. And those who are simply willing to overlook this but complain of the character issues of other candidates suffer from the same credibility issue he does.
     
  5. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    The article is horrible.

    First, I know a lot of active military. Every one of them support Ron Paul, and I have heard from more than one that Paul's support among the troops is large.

    Second, propaganda aside, the fact still remains that Paul has received far more donations from active duty military, than any other candidate. Not just by a little, but by a LOT> add to that fact that he has the lowest "dollars per donation" average of any candidate (I believe the average donation amount, last time I looked, was around 20 dollars per individual, where the average for Romney was right at the maximum of 2500), and you have even a MORE stark contrast.

    There is NO DOUBT that Paul receives more donations from Military than any other candidate. All of his other arguments about "wives making donations for them..." is ALSO true of Paul. If you just look at the sheer number of donors to the Paul campaign, as compared to the others, it would not be unlikely for him to have military support in excess of 10 times more than any other...

    ADD to that the public endorsement of CIA officials, Military commanders, etc....something that I do not believe any other candidate has received.
     
  6. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    That's odd, because I know a lot of active military, and none of them support Ron Paul. I haven't heard from any of them that Paul has any support among the troops. And I don't know of a single one that has donated to Paul's campaign.

    Not saying it ain't true, just saying you and I must be talking to different military people.

    Where's Woody? He knows a lot of active military, too; it'd be interesting to hear what he's hearing about military support of Paul.
     
  7. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    Hmm,

    Well, the majority of folks I know are in Army Intel; not sure if it is a branch by branch thing.
     
  8. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    The majority of folks I've worked with over the last five years have been from all branches.

    In fact, I like to joke about the fact that I'm Air Force, but I haven't actually worked for the Air Force since 2007. 2008, my direct line of command was Italian, with much coordination with Army; in 2009, I was working an Army position, and my direct supervisor was Navy. His direct supervisor was a Marine. My current supervisor is Army; his supervisor is Navy; his supervisor is Air Force. The command itself is Navy, but is a joint assignment, meaning we've got people from all services here.

    Don't know how many Army Intel guys you're talking to, but none of 'em around here--nor the Navy, Marines, or Air Force--are talking support of Ron Paul. So maybe it's more of a geographical thing.

    Or maybe it's just the group you hang out with....

    Woody's Army, but he's not Intel; we should get him to chime in on this and tell us what the Army guys he hangs out with are saying.
     
  9. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Will this now-retired military person* supports Ron Paul and as I said to Woody, if you and your family like deployments then vote for any candidate other than Ron Paul.

    *Is 31 years enough for some of you who think a person does not have the right to an opinion about war unless they were actually in the war?
     
    #9 J.D., Jan 11, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 11, 2012
  10. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    What makes you think Ron Paul wouldn't assume office and find out things aren't as black-and-white as he would like to think?

    I remind you: Obama entered office with everyone believing one of his first acts would be to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan; three years later, we're just now leaving Iraq, and that was because the US and Iraq couldn't agree on not holding Americans accountable in islamic courts under islamic law--not because of his promises to bring them home.
     
  11. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Paul has acknowlegded that things cannot instantly return to constitutional foundations, for example he has said that the Fed would have to be phased out gradually to avoid catastrophic disruption in markets. So I don't think he has rose colored glasses. And one might question whether Obama's opposition to the war was principled or convenient. It certainly isn't convenient for Paul.
     
  12. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    I suspect the military is like our police departments. The Brass is politically correct but the troops use their common sense.
     
  13. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Almost; more like "the upper Brass are politicians, but the troops use their common sense."
     
  14. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    Just got back from a mission, missed this place while I was gone :tongue3:
    So, to be curious, I did a poll around here where there is a significant amount of active duty troops (I would hope there would be on a base in Afghanistan). I asked 100 people two questiona: "Do you support Ron Paul for president?" and "Would you support Obama for re-election?"

    The results won't help anyone out, and will cause more controversy. But, here they are.
    "100 random people were asked this question, 'Do you support Ron Paul for president?'."
    "Survey says:"
    3% Yes
    29% No
    68% Undecided / Not sure who's running

    There's many ways to interperet this data. Strictly speaking, only 3% of the guys I polled support Ron Paul, although one could argue that the percentage is higher amongst those who have decided. (But, the 3% would be an accurate portrayal of the overall military more than the skewed results of using only those who had an opinion)

    The reason for the high undecided rate is that, when you are deployed, you are really disconnected from the rest of the world, and can't see/hear what they are seeing/hearing. We don't have cable out here, and most guys aren't going to go out of their way to look the candidates up online.

    Sidenote: It used to be a steriotype that the military was super conservative, far right Republican. Well, the military as a whole is still pretty conservative, but I have found that almost half of the guys I've worked with are liberal. About half are also democrat. The balance of political views stretches the gammut. I am seeing a trend rising towards guys voting independent as well.

    Now, the other question brought some predicted results.

    "Do you support Obama for re-election?"
    4% H**L NO!
    83% Definitely No
    7% Probably Not
    6% Maybe

    Interperet that how you will :laugh:
     
  15. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Woody - you know that Heavens Dad will find fault in your results - especially since he has had extensive experience in this area while he was in the military.
     
  16. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    What? Please do not presume to speak for me. I know my Dad, 82nd airborne, told me tonight he absolutely loves Paul.

    Some military vets and active duty folks, are planning a "March for Ron Paul" event coming up soon... I guess we will see how big his support is.

    But> We know it is bigger, money wise, than anyone else. For whatever reason.
     
  17. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Let's make sure we understand this phrasing about military donating money to Ron Paul's campaign: Out of military donations, Paul's campaign has received $34,480 from military donors; Obama has received $19,849; and $13,848 to other Republican candidates.

    So out of the over 1,000,000 U.S. military members, about $64,000 has been donated, with over half those donations going to Paul's campaign. Based on the numbers that Woody provided, one can make the conclusion that a small amount are responsible for the largest payments...just like taxes.
     
  18. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    President's Day, Washington DC.

    “It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” Samuel Adams

    Pretty much sums up Ron Paul's support base. You all support the candidates picked out for you for a few months. We've been supporting Ron Paul 24/7 year in and year out, and it shows. Even the massed corporatist media can't ignore him and his message anymore.
     
    #18 poncho, Jan 16, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 16, 2012
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