Was it a mistake for Ron Paul to not run in the general election?

Polls indicated that he would have gotten ~17-18% of the vote in a 3 way election between him, Obama, and Romney.

This would have been enough to get him into the debates, which is something Johnson obviously couldn't do.

No. Paul probably didn't want to take votes away from Romney and end up helping Obama win.

He might've snagged about 5%, not nearly enough to be competitive or anything, but enough to steal any hope of winning the election from Romney.

He's really only popular with the college kids and 20 year olds. He is still known as the crazy guy amongst older people. He has no chance.lo_Pine

Nobody cares what selfish teenagers/hipsters have to say, and most can't vote anyway.

Would be funny to see in the debates, otherwise meh.

Would be funny to see in the debates, otherwise meh.

Aljosa23

i have read articles and watched many videos of Ron Paul and i will say he doesnt get the credit that he deserves

i have read articles and watched many videos of Ron Paul and i will say he doesnt get the credit that he deserves

djdarkforces

[QUOTE="djdarkforces"]

i have read articles and watched many videos of Ron Paul and i will say he doesnt get the credit that he deserves

Toxic-Seahorse

im neither teenager nor 20 something and i would've voted for ron paul.

He wouldn't have won. I would like a third party, and I agree that him getting about 20% of votes would be a big deal, and would definitely get the other candidates' attention, but wouldn't that also be a massive amount of money and effort for something that he knew wouldn't land him the presidency?

He wouldn't have won. I would like a third party, and I agree that him getting about 20% of votes would be a big deal, and would definitely get the other candidates' attention, but wouldn't that also be a massive amount of money and effort for something that he knew wouldn't land him the presidency?

-TheSecondSign-

[QUOTE="-TheSecondSign-"]

He wouldn't have won. I would like a third party, and I agree that him getting about 20% of votes would be a big deal, and would definitely get the other candidates' attention, but wouldn't that also be a massive amount of money and effort for something that he knew wouldn't land him the presidency?

Laihendi

Ron Paul couldn't own anyone in the GOP primary debates. It's not guaranteed that he could do anything against anyone else.

No. Paul probably didn't want to take votes away from Romney and end up helping Obama win.

whipassmt

This. As much as the two party system sucks, it's what we have right now. Third parties never get anywhere near a majority of the votes, and they only take away potential votes from the candidates that actually have a chance. That's not how it should be. That's not how it's always been. But it is the reality, at this time. And as much as Ron Paul might disagree with Romney on certain issues, he'd rather see Romney win than Obama. And he knows that his presence on the ballot would do nothing but takes votes away from Romney (and maybe a few from Obama, but far more from Romney).

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="-TheSecondSign-"]

He wouldn't have won. I would like a third party, and I agree that him getting about 20% of votes would be a big deal, and would definitely get the other candidates' attention, but wouldn't that also be a massive amount of money and effort for something that he knew wouldn't land him the presidency?

jimkabrhel

Ron Paul couldn't own anyone in the GOP primary debates. It's not guaranteed that he could do anything against anyone else.

[QUOTE="djdarkforces"]

i have read articles and watched many videos of Ron Paul and i will say he doesnt get the credit that he deserves

Toxic-Seahorse

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]

[QUOTE="Laihendi"] I think it would be worth it to see him debate Obama and weaken the 2 party system.sexyweapons

Ron Paul couldn't own anyone in the GOP primary debates. It's not guaranteed that he could do anything against anyone else.

This. I really don't understand how anyone could possible be so dense, as to watch the GOP primaries, and not think Paul was the only one making a lick of sense.

[QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"][QUOTE="djdarkforces"]

i have read articles and watched many videos of Ron Paul and i will say he doesnt get the credit that he deserves

sexyweapons

What has he actually done? In all his years in politics what meaningful things has he accomplished?

[QUOTE="sexyweapons"][QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"] Credit for what? What has he done?worlock77

What has he actually done? In all his years in politics what meaningful things has he accomplished?

He's been one of the only congressmen not constantly voting himself a raise, supporting meaningless, convoluted laws, or robbing the people of their rights. I'd say the fact that he's "done" so little is why he's so great.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="sexyweapons"] what hasn't he done is more the question at hand.the_bi99man

What has he actually done? In all his years in politics what meaningful things has he accomplished?

He's been one of the only congressmen not constantly voting himself a raise, supporting meaningless, convoluted laws, or robbing the people of their rights. I'd say the fact that he's "done" so little is why he's so great.

It's easy enough to just sit back and constantly say "no" to everything, but has he worked to actually get anything done?

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

What has he actually done? In all his years in politics what meaningful things has he accomplished?

worlock77

He's been one of the only congressmen not constantly voting himself a raise, supporting meaningless, convoluted laws, or robbing the people of their rights. I'd say the fact that he's "done" so little is why he's so great.

It's easy enough to just sit back and constantly say "no" to everything, but has he worked to actually get anything done?

[QUOTE="sexyweapons"][QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"] Credit for what? What has he done?worlock77

What has he actually done? In all his years in politics what meaningful things has he accomplished?

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

He's been one of the only congressmen not constantly voting himself a raise, supporting meaningless, convoluted laws, or robbing the people of their rights. I'd say the fact that he's "done" so little is why he's so great.

sexyweapons

It's easy enough to just sit back and constantly say "no" to everything, but has he worked to actually get anything done?

This. He's actually been very prolific during his decades in office. But, it's hard to make things happen in congress, when literally everyone else, Republican and Democrat thinks you're crazy because you use logic, and realize that the government isn't supposed to be spending trillions of dollars it doesn't have.

It would have been nice to see a presidential debate between three people, but I don't think it was a mistake for Ron Paul to drop out of the race.

Wouldn't have done anything except torpedo the election for Romney.

No, it hides how small his fanbase is.

He couldn't because his son is a republican senator. KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]He couldn't because his son is a republican senator. Laihendi

Ron's political career is in its twilight, his son's is just starting and he doesn't want to do things that could potentially damage his son's standing in the party.

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

What has he actually done? In all his years in politics what meaningful things has he accomplished?

worlock77

He's been one of the only congressmen not constantly voting himself a raise, supporting meaningless, convoluted laws, or robbing the people of their rights. I'd say the fact that he's "done" so little is why he's so great.

It's easy enough to just sit back and constantly say "no" to everything, but has he worked to actually get anything done?

He's really only popular with the college kids and 20 year olds. He is still known as the crazy guy amongst older people. He has no chance.lo_Pine

[QUOTE="lo_Pine"]He's really only popular with the college kids and 20 year olds. He is still known as the crazy guy amongst older people. He has no chance.edgewalker16

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

He's been one of the only congressmen not constantly voting himself a raise, supporting meaningless, convoluted laws, or robbing the people of their rights. I'd say the fact that he's "done" so little is why he's so great.

Rhazakna

It's easy enough to just sit back and constantly say "no" to everything, but has he worked to actually get anything done?

I didn't say I would. I'm just asking what he's accomplished. I know what he's rejected, I'd like to know what he's accomplished though.

I think it would be worth it to see him debate Obama /and weaken the 2 party system/.Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]I think it would be worth it to see him debate Obama /and weaken the 2 party system/.Rapporteur

[QUOTE="Rhazakna"][QUOTE="worlock77"]

It's easy enough to just sit back and constantly say "no" to everything, but has he worked to actually get anything done?

worlock77

I didn't say I would. I'm just asking what he's accomplished. I know what he's rejected, I'd like to know what he's accomplished though.

And we're going to do that by continuing to elect people who support the 2 party system?Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]And we're going to do that by continuing to elect people who support the 2 party system?Rapporteur