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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Where Did Ron Paul’s Money Go?
If I was a Ron Paul donor, I’d be feeling pretty ripped off these days. Plenty of guys (and they were mostly guys) were wandering around forums bragging about how they were scrimping and saving in order to ship money off to help fund the “Revolution.” While, as I’ve said before, I despise Paul and most of what he stands for, one can’t help but feel a degree of admiration for such ardent enthusiasm. Of course, when you scrimp and save to win, it’s empowering. When you do it to lose every single primary and caucus that you compete in, it’s got to be disheartening.
Some of the people who donated to the Paul campaign are surely wondering what happened to all of that money. Frankly, I’ve been wondering the same thing - $30 Million is a lot of money to blow through without visible effect. Sure, Mitt Romney blew through far more than that – but I saw plenty of evidence of where that money went. I don’t recall a single flashy ad campaign from Paul – certainly none that could have cost even a fraction of that amount.
After a discussion on this the other night, I decided to go and do some digging in Ron Paul’s finance reports. I didn’t expect to find anything too shocking. I figured that, well, the same thing probably happened to Paul as happened to Howard Dean in 2004 – he wasn’t prepared to run a national campaign and, when he did, expenses spiralled out of control, with plenty of unscrupulous consultants cashing in at the expense of a candidate in way over his head and, beyond that, with plenty of money being wasted on essentially improvising a Presidential campaign.
Certainly, there appears to be some of that. A lot of Ron Paul’s advertising dollars went to what seem to be second-tier companies with shoddy websites (something I’ve learned, over the years, is the be suspicious of any company which claims to be a modern firm but which has a website which appears to be at least ten years old).
For example, one wonders what exactly Paul’s donors got for the $120,000 paid to MPrinting Graphics, a firm controlled by Paul’s Congressional campaign manager which doesn’t even appear to have a website, for television advertising production in the week after Super Tuesday. I’m not suggesting that anything illegal or immoral occurred here, of course. One just wonders what ads those paid for and what experience that firm had in the field.
Indeed, paying $162,051 in the space of six days to a business controlled by your Congressional campaign manager in the week after Super Tuesday creates, at the very least, an appearance of impropriety. Especially when one recalls that, between Super Tuesday and the March Texas Primary, there was speculation that Paul was in trouble in his home district.
Nothing illegal about hiring your friends, of course, but one has to wonder how the people who donated money that they needed themselves to Ron Paul because they believed so strongly in the cause feel about their money being spent in such a fashion.
Even more interesting is the $994,339 that the Paul campaign spent – roughly 3.5% of all the money that the Paul campaign spent – at a firm known as “Campaign Marketing Strategies Inc.” based in Alexandria, Virginia. The firm has no website. It appears to have no phone number. I can find no description of what it does. The address provided by the campaign – and in what records of the company I could find – it for what appears to be a private home.
A Campaign Marketing Strategies Inc. was registered in Virginia on July 17th of last year. According to Virginia records, the firm’s registered agent is one “Chris Cupit.” I have no idea if this is the same Chris Cupit who was tied to the 2002 New Hampshire phone jamming scandal – and who was seemingly connected with the Constitution Party's 2004 candidate - but it seems possible.
The money is generically listed as being for “telecommunications” with no further elaboration. The other large expenses made under this heading appear to have been for robo-calling. Though, in the other examples I examined, the companies all had the basics of business – you know, things like offices, phone numbers, web sites, and so forth.
So, what was that $1 Million for? I don’t know. I couldn’t call up Campaign Marketing Strategies Inc. to ask what they do, since they don’t have an office, a web site, an e-mail address, or a phone number.
Now, let’s be very clear – I’m no t suggesting, hinting, or even implying that Ron Paul ran off with the money or that he blew it as a patron of the Emperor’s Club VIP or whatever else. I’m quite convinced that’s not the case. What I’m suggesting is, from a libertarian viewpoint, probably worse: I’m suggesting that he squandered it.
Caveat emptor, as the Romans used to say.
Paul’s personal history – marketing ghost-written ultra-right newsletters whose contents he disavowed as soon as they became inconvenient – ought to have been taken as a sign by his supporters. First, that he’s not a man above attempting to enrich himself through populist opportunism. Second, that someone whose entire life up until this point was strictly small-time might not be up to the challenge of effectively managing tens of millions of dollars.
Where did the money go? It evaporated. Some of it went to his friends. The rest of it – most of it probably – went to smooth-talking consultants who bamboozled him as effectively as Lyle Lanley did when he sold the people of Springfield a used Monorail.
Posted by Adam T. Yoshida on March 27, 2008 in International Politics | Permalink
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Comments
How about you are a piece of s@*T wannabe reporter. You still don't get it. Don't worry we will not click on you again to get you up on the list. That is why you wrote this hit piece. Now we just need someone to hit you.
Posted by: Jim Whitehead | 27-Mar-08 3:41:20 PM
Sir,
You have to do a lot more research before insinuating that the money was squandered. You don't know much about politics and you are making suggestions that are unfounded. The real questions are, why are you dirtying Ron Paul and where is the American taxpayers' money going. Come on. Grow up!!
Posted by: Randy Kettle | 27-Mar-08 3:42:42 PM
Weak article! How about looking into the campaign funds of the heavy players as well as where these funds originated from rather than this petty garbage. It appears that you are just trying to smear the image of the only candidate that says it like it is. Where did Ron Paul's money go? Who cares? The man has managed to get out a message while at the same time being suppressed by the MSM. That alone is priceless!
Posted by: Hans | 27-Mar-08 3:47:01 PM
Last I heard he still had $5mill on hand, and was planning on continuing to travel and spread his message until that runs out. Better that then turn it over to the GOP. I donated the max, and while would have liked to see a victory, and maybe a few staff changes, I feel it was money well spent, and I'm glad he plans on using it all up to spread the message.
Posted by: osmad | 27-Mar-08 3:48:00 PM
Ron Paul is stockpiling the money to fund the Real Freedom Train, a time machine that will send Dr. Paul into the future where he and a dedicated group of Ronulans will fight the Bildebergs' and their ruthless army of cybernetic Wal-Mart greeters.
http://fusionistlibertarian.blogspot.com/2008/02/and-now-for-something-little-different.html
We sacrificed the Constitution. We spit on the gold standard. Now only Ron Paul can save us from ourselves! Vote Ron Paul 2048!
Posted by: Terrence Watson | 27-Mar-08 3:48:47 PM
"If I was a Ron Paul donor..."
Well, looks like you weren't, and as such don't try to tell others how Dr Paul's supporters feel!
Add AT Yoshida to the list of RP smearers.
Posted by: Bob Smith | 27-Mar-08 3:50:02 PM
for months, rp was literally begged to run.
seeing belly-achers like you, i can well see why he hesitated for months. no one forced you to give.
i gave plenty too, but i knew what we were up against, and a presidential run was literally shooting the moon. but a better chance had not come up in the 35+ years i've been voting.
the money i spent was worth the look on their faces at the debates when confronted by the truth administered not unlike that first slap a baby gets from his obstetrician, ushering him into the real world.
Posted by: rick | 27-Mar-08 3:56:13 PM
I just donated another $25 yesterday after reading that Fox News article about Paul.
Posted by: Willem de Wit | 27-Mar-08 3:58:58 PM
Is the author Canadian?? If so, that explains a lot! LOL Most of them are socialists and no one cares what they think anyway.
Posted by: Desiree' | 27-Mar-08 4:10:07 PM
"If I was a Ron Paul donor, I’d be feeling pretty ripped off these days"
But since you're not, and you say you despise the man, nobody cares what you think. Ron Paul supporters didn't donate money on the condition that he win. They didn't donate the money to him, they donated to the cause - the spreading of the message - which Dr. Paul did, and is still doing.
If you made a donation for cancer research, would you feel ripped off because they still haven't found a cure? Well, apparently YOU would, but most people would understand the principle involved.
Posted by: Charger | 27-Mar-08 4:19:34 PM
God, you're dumb. I was searching for the right words to say, but I can't be those three.
Posted by: AKK | 27-Mar-08 4:20:12 PM
"If I was a Ron Paul donor, I’d be feeling pretty ripped off these days"
But since you're not, and you say you despise the man, nobody cares what you think. Ron Paul supporters didn't donate money on the condition that he win. They didn't donate the money to him, they donated to the cause - the spreading of the message - which Dr. Paul did, and is still doing.
If you made a donation for cancer research, would you feel ripped off because they still haven't found a cure? Well, apparently YOU would, but most people would understand the principle involved.
Posted by: Charger | 27-Mar-08 4:24:00 PM
Randy Kettle asks, "The real questions are, why are you dirtying Ron Paul"
The second sentence of the article says, "I despise Paul and most of what he stands for"
I think that answers Randy's question.
Posted by: logicprobe | 27-Mar-08 4:34:11 PM
I donated $2300, and I don't feel ripped off at all. In fact, I wish we would enter general election stages and he's still in it, so I can send him another $2300.
I am more happy with how and what the $2300 I gave to Ron Paul was spent on, than I am with the much larger amount I am forced to give the government each year.
Posted by: badmedia | 27-Mar-08 4:34:54 PM
Hurrah! Glad to find a WS blogger who is as disgusted by Ron Paul's Arabist anti-self defense outlook as I am. I too have been wondering if he has to return all that money?
Lookee at all the whack job "911 was an inside job" idiots that came out of the woodwork to lambaste your blog. Man these guys are always there to find anything anywhere said about Ron Paul.
Here's an idea of the quality of his donators. My brother in law voted for Paul and wants to work on his campaign because he doesn't believe in paying and hasn't paid income taxes for some time. LOL. See you in jail bro. Maybe we can scare away the rest of the faux conservatives that post here defending Ron the goosestepping Paul.
Posted by: Faramir | 27-Mar-08 4:37:10 PM
He pretty much spent his money doing the things the media did for McCain for free. Liberals stick together like that.
Posted by: bill Moore | 27-Mar-08 4:41:07 PM
If I was a world citizen, I would be feeling ripped off.
Oh wait, I am, and I do.
Posted by: Adam T. Yoshida = dumb ass | 27-Mar-08 4:41:12 PM
It's really hard to take you seriously. Paul's integrity stands alone.
Posted by: Flo | 27-Mar-08 4:48:50 PM
a better question would be
Where is the Money we spend half our gross national product on, the Military Industreal Complex, going?
Posted by: roboto | 27-Mar-08 4:58:50 PM
You say 'if you were a Ron Paul donor', but you aren't so what is it to you?
I am one, and am only sorry I've maxed out for the primary and can help his campaign and message only indirectly through grass roots efforts.
Even in 'classic run to win' parlance he made a lot better expenditure of money than did Rudy Guilliani who achieved only a single delegate for a much higher cost. Moreover, while RP is politically stronger for this run, with 40 candidates now running in various local races under his platform and a pac to help fund campaigns of like minded candidates, most of the other candidates have diminished in political importance.
Further, as of the end of February, he still had over $5 million in the bank and (of course) zero debt.
If he runs third party, I will chip in my $2,300 in the first money bomb, and glad to do it. However, I have no problem with how he has spent his cash, and if you want to poor over his campaign spending records while those who gave him the money trust him entirely, all I can say is you must have time on your hands.
Posted by: spinnikerca | 27-Mar-08 5:00:48 PM
As a Ron Paul donor, I have no complaints and would do it all over again, if he decides to run as an independent in November.
That being said, I'm sure some of the money could have been better spent, although the same would be true of any major political campaign.
An honest look at the financial reports wouldn't just focus on a few poor decisions, it would summarize all of the useful expenditures as well. Millions were spent on radio ads in about a dozen states, TV ads were aired in several early states, and direct mail was used extensively, some of it very high quality.
Posted by: Craig | 27-Mar-08 5:02:56 PM
Ron Paul also built an extensive field organization in about 40 states, from the ground up, in just a few months. This was a major expense, and one all of the serious candidates faced. Giuliani and McCain and Romney built their organizations a year in advance, and it almost bankrupted McCain when he couldn't raise as much money as the other two.
Was it money well spent? Ron Paul did very well in the caucus states where a good ground was required, compared to primary states where media attention determines the outcome. In primary states, he earned between 3 and 8 percent of the vote. In caucus states, it was between 8 and 25 percent, with a few second place finishes.
Posted by: Craig | 27-Mar-08 5:08:29 PM
"Mock on, Mock on Voltaire Rousseau"
Posted by: Marcil | 27-Mar-08 5:11:48 PM
Yoshida is right.
You better send you’re money to this guy.
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZZrlFBpCo
Posted by: Marc | 27-Mar-08 5:23:00 PM
Best $2300 I ever spent.
Posted by: Colin | 27-Mar-08 5:34:31 PM
Why America didn't fall in love with the Ron Paul crowd, we'll never know.
Posted by: Garnet | 27-Mar-08 5:39:49 PM
even if he squadered the money the money i donated represented a person who is tired of collectivst socialists democrat and republican party. if that allows like minded people to come out the shadows and scream they are sick and tire of the same ol same ol also then it all was worth it.
Posted by: bob | 27-Mar-08 5:52:06 PM
"I despise Paul and most of what he stands for" Why? He stands for freedom. Are you against freedom?
Posted by: Tom Paine | 27-Mar-08 6:05:43 PM
YOU ARE AN IDIOT!
Posted by: wayne fazio | 27-Mar-08 6:14:48 PM
The revolution will not be televised...remember that when you are looking for a new job after the country is placed back into the hands of it's rightful owners...the people. You and those like you will no longer have a place in this country.
Posted by: sickntired | 27-Mar-08 6:34:46 PM
So let me do some math..... you have what say approx: 1.3 million that possibly could have been used better (although you have no proof).... peanuts dumbass
Posted by: Nalynd | 27-Mar-08 6:45:22 PM
Wow, you're a professional reporter? No wonder Dr Paul wants to abolish the Dept of Education. You're obviously a product of it's low standards. Can you spell "jackass"? Good, sign your checks with it from here on out...
Posted by: dave | 27-Mar-08 7:08:06 PM
adam yoshida ??? what a f%cking idiot. Dr Paul is an honest man with intregity!! this is somthing you sir have obviously no idea about and are totally obvlious too. Crawl back under your rock fool. If you live in the United States of America and are as you so put it opposed to what Dr. Paul stands for and the idea's he represents then you must be against freedom the Constitution and liberty. If this is the case the GET F%UCK OUT !!!
Posted by: jon baxter | 27-Mar-08 7:20:09 PM
I DON'T CARE AND I DON'T CARE THAT YOU PRETEND TO CARE...I have never had as much fun giving money away before. Long live Dr. Paul, long live RP R3volution.
Posted by: Baba Padmanabhan | 27-Mar-08 7:21:07 PM
Who could not doubt the internationalist leanings of the writer of this electronic fishwrap! Low grade agit-prop, that it is, however. I say, "who cares what the national Ron Paul outfit does with the funds? I do my bit in the county I live in." I am a nationalist...I could give a hang about other places on the globe, other than those parts within due metes and bounds, And called The united States of America. Lets pay off the foreigners first and then keep the product and wealth of America for Americans. Do remember, it aint over, even after September 4th. See you in St Paul !
Posted by: ew keane | 27-Mar-08 7:26:04 PM
Is Ron Paul an avatar? Does he live on circuit boards and travel the internet highway? Is the money just a collection of ones and zeroes, of digits and nulls on a billion computer drives? Where Ron is is where the money is. God bless him and all his supporters. Democracy wins -- even if it stinks.
Posted by: Agha Ali Arkahn | 27-Mar-08 7:39:31 PM
I donated as much as I could put aside; I was more than happy to do it, and if I could get that money back, I would not take it! For those of you who ARE Ron Paul supporters and are disappointed that you don't have more opportunity to spread the message of liberty -- please consider supporting some of the organizations who are fighting for the same cause, such as The Mises Institute ( http://www.mises.org ), the Foundation for Economics Education ( http://www.fee.org ), and/or The Cato Institute ( http://www.cato.org ).
Posted by: Eric H | 27-Mar-08 7:53:33 PM
By the way, it's called a news aggregator!! I see almost every Ron Paul article that hits the web and I'm not some 9/11-truther who's sitting in front of his computer for hours on end. To imply that just shows that you are in attack mode with your article.
Posted by: Eric H | 27-Mar-08 7:59:22 PM
Alright alright, so you don't like the guy, you did a little research found where the money went. Seems pretty reasonably spent, I mean maybe he had to buy the second rate internet sites. but then again for every one he bought, supporters put up more of there own money to make websites for him.
I understand that you may not agree with what he says but give credit where credit is due, The Paulistas have put there money where there mouth is and I have as of yet seen a more pronounced group support a candidate. I mean who gets a blimp, a video made for the campaign by actual graphic designers that looks better than anything, the rest have put up. I digress though, the heart of the matter is if you are this good at outing a guy you dont like why dont you spend some time telling us what WE want to here, how but Mccains expenses where have all of them gone, now he had some money too, and what about the rest Obama and hilary, why dont you create an article about all of them that way we can compare who spends what on what and how effective it really is. oh and dont forget to dig up those corporate companies, or private investment firms.
So do some real journalism report about all the candidates and you wont have the 911 conspiracy theorists here saying how bad of a journalist you are as your website gets spammed by RonBots bent on hurting your servers. (its happened before only reason i brought it up.)
otherwise stop writing, journalism is about the whole truth not just parts you want to show us. Soon it wont matter, the new media is sprouting up nationwide and soon even the MSM will have to listen.
Posted by: Libertas | 27-Mar-08 8:15:52 PM
WOW. Another idiot with a blog. Get a clue, the country is not doing so well and you are worried about what Ron Paul is doing with money. Ask Bush and congress what they are doing with our tax dollars.
Posted by: dfw | 27-Mar-08 8:52:21 PM
I didn't donate much, but considering I've never donated anything but time to a candidate, party, or campaign before, it felt good.
It still feels like the best $50 bucks I ever spent, supporting a true defender of the Constitution and the principles the USA was founded on.
I don't agree with the obvious conditioning of the people to accept a world government, and Ron Paul is still the only viable presidential candidate that is fighting the globalists.
Posted by: James Moore | 27-Mar-08 8:59:33 PM
you say you despise what most of what Ron Paul stands for. you are an idiot! why don't you try living in china...or zimbabwe...or the soviet union you freedom-despising fool! and when you say you don't know because you never talked with them...exactly - you don't know - and this isn't any sort of journalism...pure bullshit. why am i wasting time here.
i for one am proud to be a part of the ron paul revolution. come read my blog and wake up! truthseeds.org
Posted by: truthseeds | 27-Mar-08 9:21:24 PM
Thanks for research and posting this! I'm a Paul supporter who suspect all along that those managing the money were very naive and didn't know a good television commercial producer from a bad one. I also always suspected that "friends" were getting rich, being paid to churn out shoddy product. And yes, Paul himself seems to not pay attention to what goes on under him, in the same way that happened with the newsletters. He seems like he's in his own world all the time. I have to admit that though he very smart and knows what's wrong with the country and the economic system, he's not fit to be president due to low leadership and supervisory skills. I think his staff took advantage of his lack of supervision and made themselves and their friends a lot of money.
Posted by: Don | 27-Mar-08 9:21:59 PM
Geeze. I've been hearing and reading that you guys in Canada thought Ron was the only honest candidate.
Just because the MSM special interest groups don't have Ron plastered all over your TV set, don't assume that the money has been wasted. If you take the time to check what's been going on in many of the state conventions, you'll find that the investment is flying high under the radar.
Ron has run the most honest campaign by any candidate and not supported by special interest groups, major corporations, or investment bankers. His only support come from the American people who are supposed to be the ultimate authority.
Posted by: Web Smith | 27-Mar-08 9:31:29 PM
Wow, must be a McCain supporter being so ignorant, funny how theses kinds of people still get jobs...
Posted by: Brian Sato | 27-Mar-08 9:37:49 PM
I author a less specific piece concerning the same thing on Nolan Charts. All I can say is that Ron Paul is too good to be a politician...and we all know what happens when something is too good to be true...it isn't.
P.S. Let the mindless defend him...if Paul weren't in the race they'd be first in line at a McCain rally doing the same thing about his FEC violations...they are sheepel who couldn't dare criticize their leader...they are a necessary part of the process.
Posted by: Jessie Jones | 27-Mar-08 10:12:45 PM
I went to Adam's website and looked at his various screeds....good grief, this guy is just another porcine pasty white guy screaming about the end of privilege for whitey in this world. And he lives in Vancouver, this city must drive him nuts!
Why does the Western Standard have these third tier writers who recycle their own 'end-of-white-privilege' myopia at this website? Can't you let them atrophy in obscurity at their own website, do you have to give a voice here? Can't you find some brainy, witty, enlightened conservatives or libertarians?
Karen Selick, may I suggest. Pierre Lemieux is fine but he needs to broaden his oeuvre. Instead of Bush apologists like David Frum, get a hold of some P.J. O'Rourke clone, or some of the leading libertarians, or writers from Cato, Reason, Freeman, The Individualist. Ron Paul would be incredible and he's prolific. How about Mike Gravel, who is now seeking the libertarian Party nomination? How about Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman? These guys all write and they have some credibility and they will serve to enlighten.
What the heck, I'm disgusted enough at the calibre of bloggers here, I offer myself. If you stop carrying this Yoshida trash, I'll write for you once a week, guaranteed, at a penalty of $200 to Western Standard for any missed deadline, and I'll write about myself only 10% of the time, and marijuana and prohibition 10%, and I'll stretch my 'ouevre' and write about other subjects 80% of the rest of the time.
I would be glad to submit my bona-fides at your request, but I've been a newspaper editor, magazine publisher, editor, writer for decades, and I am actually a journalist so most importantly, I will try to studiously avoid assertions and actually get corroboration for my claims. You know, opinion tempered by the facts.
As you know, Mr. Jaworsky, I am read and philosophically grounded by major conservative thinkers (Friedman, Sowell, Williams, Simon, ) and the canon of Austrian-economics (Mises, Hayek, et al), but I will admit I can't stand Mark Steyn, Ezra Levant (except his latest crusade, which is so worthwhile it redeems his islamophobia and fanatical Zionism), all the "conservative" writers at the National Post and Globe who heralded this appalling war in Iraq and who have never been fired since for their gaping lack of credibility.
I do have my biases, but then, I've read their writing.
Posted by: Marc Scott Emery | 27-Mar-08 10:16:38 PM
I suppose you motherfuckers prefer a man like Paul who stands by the acts committed in the film by Gert Wilder? Paul wants us to reason with these animals? I say we bomb the shit of these motherfuckers who dare to touch our sons and daughters.
Posted by: Faramir | 27-Mar-08 10:29:52 PM
"Where Did Ron Paul’s Money Go?"
Who cares?
As PT Barnum once said, there is a sucker born everyday.
I hope these idiots that are posting on here, as well as all the others that sent this goofy little dwarf their money, asked for a kiss to go along with the a** screwing they got.
There are plenty of strict constitutionalists who are actually sane, and are worth supporting. Talk about betting on the wrong horse.
Long live the revolution!!! Good grief.
Posted by: deepblue | 27-Mar-08 11:01:55 PM
Some people are not afraid to get on an empty banwagon, while the cowardly only step aboard when its full.
-Silus
Posted by: Abe | 27-Mar-08 11:04:00 PM
"You know, opinion tempered by the facts.
Posted by: Marc Scott Emery"
You mean your opinion and facts tempered by a cloud of "weed" smoke, and like all outdated hippies fueled by your rabid anti Americanism?
One can read you're hate filled screed at any gathering of what is considered the leftist mindset.
Why don't you do us all a favor and leave any serious blogging or "opinions", to those who are at least coherent.
Posted by: deepblue | 27-Mar-08 11:17:48 PM
I will not even touch you even remotely thinking that the money was squandered as you obviously don't know about Dr. Paul, or how he manages his finances.
However, what I can say is that I did donate as much as I possibly could and it was worth EVERY PENNY.
The true revolution has just begun. The presidential race was a great springboard to wake the American people up (which was looong overdue), and get them asking questions again.
Yes indeed. Worth. Every. Single. Economically- Depressed. Red. Cent.
Posted by: Travis | 27-Mar-08 11:26:39 PM
What you should be wondering is where Rudy Guiliani spent his $60.9 million, without getting even one single delegate.
Posted by: Dan S. | 27-Mar-08 11:28:03 PM
You're hired, Marc. Welcome to the Western Standard. I'm your #1 fan.
As for Adam, we're lucky to have him. The Western Standard is trying to cover news that is relevant to both libertarians and conservatives, the two groups who I believe make up the freedom movement. (That’s as fusionist as I can get, Kalim.) Adam very ably and without apology represents neo-conservatives on this site – and neo-conservatives are the vast majority of our 60,000 known online readers. We've got other bloggers who come at things from a socially conservative perspective. I value them all.
As I see it, libertarians will give us political freedom, and conservatives (conservative values and conservative institutions) will create a culture that allows us to maintain and enjoy that freedom responsibly.
We need each other. We need you to remind us that marijuana users should be free to live as they please. We need Ezra to fight for free speech. We need Pierre to defend gun rights. And we need Adam to remind us that there are people in the world who do not share our love of freedom and reason.
Welcome aboard, my friend.
Sincerely,
Matthew Johnston
Publisher
Western Standard
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 27-Mar-08 11:39:16 PM
Who could not doubt the internationalist leanings of the writer of this electronic fishwrap! Low grade agit-prop, that it is, however. I say, "who cares what the national Ron Paul outfit does with the funds? I do my bit in the county I live in." I am a nationalist...I could give a hang about other places on the globe, other than those parts within due metes and bounds, And called The united States of America. Lets pay back the foreigners first, and then keep the product and wealth of America for Americans. Do remember, it aint over, even after September 4th. See you in St Paul !
Posted by: ew keane | 28-Mar-08 12:08:49 AM
Ron Paul's ideas and intelligence are more accurate than anyone else running for president right now.
Posted by: Brandon | 28-Mar-08 12:11:32 AM
No, I'm pissed at the Main Stream, Corporate Controlled Media that actively suppressed and marginalized the most qualified candidate that this country has seen in decades. I'm pissed that the vast majority of Americans cannot add 2+2. I'm pissed that we are witnessing the End of America. I'm pissed that we spend money we don't even have to fund a bogus war on terror. We know who the real terrorists are. They are sitting in the White House and Langley right now. I hate you CIA, for not doing the will of the American People.
Posted by: COINTELPRO | 28-Mar-08 1:36:34 AM
You Ronulans are a bitter arrogant lot.
You go on about the stellar integrity of Ron Paul yet you display neither integrity nor grace yourselves.
You wouldn't recognize integrity if it bit you on the lip.
If Ron Paul was so great and the rest of us missed his excellence, it was only because of how offputting it has been to have frenetic mindless swarms of you descending on every blogsite that mentions his name like locusts, freeping the polls, and generally making a nuisance of yourselves with your canned phraseology and paranoid conspiracy theories, while contributing nothing to the communities of each blog that you've abused the hospitality at.
Don't blame the CIA, the MSM, the Bilderbergers, the critical reviews, look at what you have done and are doing.
Blame yourselves.
Posted by: Speller | 28-Mar-08 2:21:58 AM
I feel ripped off by the press who report on their candidates and not all candidates. I feel ripped off by a government who breaks all the rules and laws while expecting the people to follow them. I feel ripped off by the Supreme Court who appointed our president. I feel ripped off by the Democratic and Republican parties who do not represent the people but special interests. I feel ripped off knowing that the US has become a terrorist state is financing another terrorist state (Israel) with tax payer money when americans are starving, homeless and soon to be out of work.
Clinton, Obama and McCain have more campaign finance. Waste more campaign finance and have no solutions other than hot air, lets spend some more and lets have some more war.
I don't blame the "CIA, the MSM, the Bilderbergers, the critical reviews" I blame us, the american people for being ignorant, lazy and forgetful.
US$ was 1-1 with the Euro now it is 1-1.58. Milk is costing $ 4.50 a gallon. There is less than 50% equity in american's homes. Europe took over as the worlds biggest economy. Worldwide hatred at american and US citizens is at an all time high. Women are being made to take off nipple rings for TSA, tazered because they .....
When you take a lobster and put it in cold water and slowly turn up the temp they are not going to notice that the water is ready to boil them. Americans are the lobsters. Slowly boiled and we don't notice. Little by little they take away peoples rites and no one cares.
"Back..Back..Back in the USSR........."
Posted by: Jamie David | 28-Mar-08 3:16:39 AM
After your first sentence, you should have stopped writing your article and gone back to drinking your kool aid.
You obviously are not a Ron Paul supporter, therefore you should let the people who donated to him feel ripped off, that is if those people choose to feel that way. The premise for the article is a stupid segway into the typically uninformed writers who bash Congressman Paul because they really dont have a clue.
Those that support him have a pretty good grasp on his positions,how those positions would be beneficial to our country,and the realities of our sorry state of politics along with the MSM complicity.
Posted by: Stuart | 28-Mar-08 3:25:34 AM
The more I see and read of Ron Paul's followers (Paulians as I refer to them) the more I think its a cult. The inane responses in this thread do really show them up for the drones they are. They believe that political discourse is well served by abuse and nasty attacks...how pathetic.
Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge | 28-Mar-08 3:52:45 AM
You are a coward and a liar.
Posted by: Brad | 28-Mar-08 6:07:50 AM
Wow, what a way to nit pick and ignore the fact that Ron Paul's campaign is in the black, even without major media coverage. Giuliani, who was favored by the media, had a campaign heavy in debt and didn't even pay his campaign managers during the last month that he ran.
You obviously missed the LA Times' more unbiased review of his finances:
"Not only does Paul talk the conservative talk, it seems he walks the conservative walk. He reported having raised $34.65 million since he launched his (get ready, Paulunteers) long-shot White House bid last year. Paul reported spending about $29 million as of Feb. 29. And he reported having an impressive $5.57 million cash left in the bank.
Now, get this: The Ron Paul presidential campaign reported no debts. Not a dollar. Not even a penny. What has this country come to when half the members of Congress run for president and fully one of them campaigns within his means? This conservative revolution will not be run on funny money like the Federal Reserve system they want to abolish."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/ron-paul.html
Posted by: George Dewey | 28-Mar-08 6:51:46 AM
LOTS of 'concern' over Dr Ron & his $.
Most by people & orgs that did not donate the $.
Reason to fear = the smear prop.
Good old neocon John McCain & RNC/DNC.
gravel kucinich paul nader
cynthia mckinney too
dare speak truth
demand peace
Posted by: GravelKucinichPaulNader | 28-Mar-08 7:11:10 AM
Fool. You need to go back to flippin' burgers, 'cause being a journalist ain't your thing. Other than that, it's already been said here eloquently. Last time I checked, Ron was still running.
Posted by: Earthmother | 28-Mar-08 8:45:09 AM
Terrible article, poorly written, spelled spiraled with two L's. Look at all this negative feedback. If I were your manager I would have a sit down with you and question your ability to write and not screw up not only the facts but what people think as well. F+ Plus for effort.
Posted by: Aaron | 28-Mar-08 8:49:17 AM
My wife and I are about poor as dirt, relatively speaking. Yeah, we sacrificed pizza night and a few other niceties and donated to the R3volution. Of course, you'd be upset. That's because you never sat down and considered what's at stake or the value of what's been and continues to be achieved by our actions. Next time you go to the store, consider that every Federal Reserve Note you spend buys about four cents' worth of goods. Consider that the Fed's induced inflation has robbed the individuals in this country of the fruits of their labor. Consider what's spent on the military industrial complex to support hundreds of unnecessary bases overseas. Consider the Socialism and Fascism offered by the rest in the political class. I have a six year old son who will have to live in the world we create today. Regardless of whether that world is better or worse, I want to be able to look him in the eye and tell him I did my part. Next time you sit at your keyboard, remember the old adage, "It is better to remain silent and appear the fool, than it is to speak and remove all doubt."
Posted by: Bryan Morton | 28-Mar-08 9:24:31 AM
I agree horrible article. Obviously written with an ax to grind. But hey at least you give another forum so that countless people can tell you that Ron Paul isn't finished, he hasn't squandered the money and that maybe you should not write about what you do not understand. Mostly guys? I guess you haven't been to the rallys...
Hey...thanks for motivating me more as well. If you are representative of the type of minds we are up against than I feel increased confidence.
Well I am off to find more "issue" rather than "canidate" articles to leave comments on. I hope to see more Ron Paul comments on those as well. Of course we won't be saying ROn Paul as much but will instead argue the platform. Hope to see you there.
Posted by: MJ | 28-Mar-08 9:34:07 AM
What is the purpose of this article? Do you want to report on something really good? why don't you report on how Romney endorsed McCain after spending millions of dollars trying to convince people that McCain is a liberal? This would be a good article to write about. Romney is part of McCain's campaign now! LOL!!! Romney is an idiot and a freakin' hypocryte! Romney proved to people that after spending millions of dollars on trying to convince people McCain is a liberal that Romney's a liberal also.
The Revolution is moving on! I support libery so therefore I support Ron Paul!
Posted by: Puerto | 28-Mar-08 9:38:58 AM
No shit. Well, why do you care anyway, if you don't support him?
Posted by: Riz | 28-Mar-08 9:42:19 AM
Ron Paul used the money to raise awareness about the mounting loss of freedom in our country, the looming economic collapse in America, and the disastrous foreign policies of our nation. In the last three elections, libertarian candidates earned about 0.33% of the vote. Ron Paul multiplied those results by about 16. Many supporters are staying for the long haul: working for freedom within the political system. Several Ron Paul candidates are running for Congress. God bless America, and God bless Ron Paul.
Posted by: 1440 minutes | 28-Mar-08 9:43:12 AM
As soon as you wrote that you "dispise Paul and everything he stands for", I knew what an ignorant, unamerican ( not just because of your last name ) individual you had to be.
Ron Paul, the only patriotic conservative on either side, was the only real candidate and our revolution is just beginning.
Globalist beware!
money changers beware!
warmongers beware!
solcialists beware!
i USED TO GET MAD, NOW I JUST LAUGH AT THESE ARTICLES AS DO THE REAL RON PAUL SUPPORTERS
Posted by: david a. dudenhoefer | 28-Mar-08 9:57:15 AM
Given the number and sheer size of the states which comprise the US, $35-million dollars for a US-wide campaign is an expensive undertaking. One may compare this to an allowance of $1-million per year for a US Senator, for example, to simply send out post to his/her constituents. In addition to the funds raised, it also requires a massive commitment by a candidate's supporters to actually get out and raise electorate support at homes and anywhere else where such action is needed.
Of that personal commitment, only 10% of the requested numbers came forward to sign up as precinct captains. And contributions were reported at an average of $100.0 Hardly an amount of money to get too worked up about, given that America prides itself on being the world's wealthiest nation.
Ron Paul failed to make the impact expected, simply because enough pounding the pavement was not done in comparison to his competitors' efforts. Clinton was literally having some of her supporters drive voters to the polls to vote. Which is an interesting comment in itself with regard to how much Americans care about who gets to be President.
Posted by: Charles Smyth | 28-Mar-08 9:57:18 AM
FAIL
Posted by: Scott | 28-Mar-08 10:11:47 AM
ah, ha ha ha! Looks like no one sympathizes with your hatred of Ron Paul and your blatant SMEAR attempt.
As for your despising everything he stands for, which one of his beliefs and principles would that be? Liberty, civil rights, freedom, equality, small transparent accountable government, speaking the truth instead of pandering and lying, peace and trading instead of continuous war, a prosperous economy, no Federal Reserve, no Patriot Act, no criminal IRS?
Gee, you must really hate life. Stay inside your cave in Canada. We don't need your kind here, you creep.
Ron Paul or Bust! 2008
Posted by: blakmira | 28-Mar-08 11:05:31 AM
Listen Mr. 'If I was a Ron Paul doner...' which you obviously were not because you 'oppose everything for which he stands for' Let me say this. WOW your article must have been the most unintelligent articles I have ever had the displeasure of wasting my time resding. You obviously don't agree with Dr. Paul's ideals of less government control, less interfierance in foriegn countries, you must want money to just be paper with past President's faces on it, you must LOVE the idea of having your every move tracked by a national id card, and you must enjoy knowing that if Ron Paul is not elected that any of the three other candidates are going to do absolutly nothing abut the financial mess George Bush has put us in, they seem to have a dead set intention to mak ethings ten times worse for America.
Let me get back to your entire misrepresentation of where Ron Paul's donations have gone. I have to insist that before you put your lack of knowlage of anything political you know what you are talking about first. If you writing this pathetic excuse for an editorial piece is not evidence enough of how many intelligent patriots agree with Dr. Paul's ideas for America, you are seriously blind to the cold hard facts that the donations that Dr. Paul has recieved have indeed been going directly into gaining the votes of the people who do not believe that the media wants you to belive. (You seem to be doing exactly wha they want you to do... oppose anything outside the mainstream. The media wants you to be braindead and repeat everything that MSNBC, CNN, or your local evening news tells you. Good job. You are officially a sheep) Dr. Paul's moeny goes into a grassroots effort to win over people county by county state by state. You will see. At the National Convention, there will be no more excuses to discredit Ron Paul, to ignore his followers, or to even pretend like his followers are all just furverish minded supporters only concerned with going against the grain.
Whatever the actual outcome of this election, I (as a Ron Paul supporter) truly belive the moeny and time he has spent bringing this Revolution to light, will not have been in vain. This revolution is not just about who becomes President. It is about reminding people that there are still a great deal of people who believe in that America used to stand for and what America should continue to stand for.
Posted by: D | 28-Mar-08 11:08:44 AM
Since you didn't donate,why the hell do you care?We who DO care for Freedom & it's messasge,know & SEE where it's going..Hell,we're seeing UNPAID people spreading the message,now THATS what I'M talking about...Hope this isn't your day job...
Posted by: Crystal | 28-Mar-08 11:35:42 AM
I contributed $100 to Mitt many months ago because I thought he was the only person running who could change/fix Washington. Then I found out about Dr. Paul. Mitt continued to tell un-truths (I am a life-long hunter; I marched with Dr. King, etc., etc.). I did not have any disposable income but I contributed to Dr. Paul's campaign anyway because I discovered that his principals, integrity, and wisdom are of such high caliber that he is the best person for the job. My 9-year old son is going to get stuck with the mess my father's and my generation are handing him. We will enter into a depression when the financial markets implode but the groundwork for a revolution is in place because of Dr. Paul’s courage. It is going to get ugly but a younger prettier face will pick up the torch lit by Mises and carried by Paul, and lead us to freedom once again.
Can you imagine what Washington, Madison, Jefferson and other founding father’s would say if they saw what happened to country that they established?
Posted by: Stephen D. | 28-Mar-08 11:39:03 AM
Although I too am a Ron Paul Supporter who has donated, I don't see anyone on the responses here actually addressing what Adam Yoshida has posted.
I am concerned that the money was squandered or conned or nepotized. For any of the organizations that were given multi-thousand dollar payments NOT to have a website or phone number is very strange.
I don't believe Ron himself is a part of any such nafariousness, but I can easily see his handlers and consultants seeing megabucks just sitting there needing to be spent (but not being spent properly), viewing it as ripe for the picking.
This was a remote investigation by a person who just picked up most of the info via online research. Anything deeper I am sure will show some other irregularities.
Posted by: Gary Treistman | 28-Mar-08 11:54:42 AM
Ron Paul is a guy that reuses his teabags. I have my doubts that he has stolen money from his supporters. If he were inclined that way, wouldn't he have started doing it years ago?
Posted by: Tom | 28-Mar-08 12:52:38 PM
Dumb. Just dumb.
Posted by: Tim | 28-Mar-08 2:20:53 PM
So what you're saying is that we should only give money to the candidates pushed by the MSM? That's beyond stupid. It's irresponsible and immoral. But socialism doesn't require responsibility beyond subordination, does it? And morality among socialists is obtuse and dictated by the changing wind of bureaucrats.
Stay in Canada chump. The fight for freedom never ends and requires a more stalwart effort than a socialist could ever understand.
Posted by: Carl | 28-Mar-08 2:45:24 PM
What a crock! I'm a Canuck and I donated over $500.00 to Ron Paul by getting the American's whom normally come up and rent my cabin to donate to the campaign. I don't feel ripped off at all. In fact, I've befriended dozens and dozens of people whom I would never have met otherwise. Money well spent as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: Lance | 28-Mar-08 2:57:24 PM
Ron Paul knows what he's doing! May God Bless Him & Keep Him Safe.
Posted by: Sharon | 28-Mar-08 5:05:46 PM
Check out the following link!
Proof that there is only one candidate that can heal and manage America's ills. However, Ron Paul himself will be in grave danger. It is a known fact that all those who were elected before who stood on sound policies and for peace, integrity have been taken care of in negative ways.
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/pt/mccainfec/
Posted by: Sharon | 28-Mar-08 5:16:49 PM
Typical Yoshida / Neo Con crap.
Suck it up! The word is out....Awareness and Freedom are on the rise whether the socialists like it or not. Bless You Ron Paul for helping get the word out "worldwide".
Posted by: JC | 28-Mar-08 5:57:58 PM
To mr Adam T. Yoshida
YOU SUCK!
Posted by: OZZY | 28-Mar-08 6:05:34 PM
I donated about $600, which was money that I could have used for other things, sure. I can earn that money back soon enough, but I won't soon get another chance to support a message like the one Ron Paul tried to put before the American people. I'm proud of every dime of it. The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Many of those who signed gave exactly that. Six-hundred bucks is nothing in comparison.
Posted by: Dave | 28-Mar-08 6:21:48 PM
You said it your not a Ron Paul supporter so you must be dumb so of course you don't know what happens to money in this situation and I will not explain it because you will not understand. Read a book and pray for America because it will be gone shortly.
Posted by: Sean Tirkot | 28-Mar-08 7:07:44 PM
Listen Up Americans for Ron Paul. They must be scared, very scared or they would not bother with therse aricles. This article screams FEAR and it should becuase we are not going away.
Donate today for the March on Washington in June 2008.
We ARE AWAKE and never will close our eyes again even if he does not win , we have the knowledge, the truth and that scares them. We have already WON ........Keep it up fellow Americans for a renewed USA VOTE FOR RON PAUL.
peace
Posted by: Dennis | 28-Mar-08 10:22:33 PM
Hey, YoSHITda:
Grab a brain, a--hole. I would compare you with pond scum, except that would not be fair to pond scum.
Posted by: Rocky | 29-Mar-08 1:17:06 AM
You DESPISE Ron Paul and most of what he stands for?? You must be a politician then, because you certainly can't be a regular American citizen. Basically what you're saying is that you despise personal liberty and the Constitution, and that you support illegal wars and government control. You're an ass of the worst kind. It's ignorant, lying, pieces of dirt like you that need to move to some other country and stop dragging this one down.
You need to seriously do some research (not with your little Holly Hobbie notebook) and figure out what Ron Paul does stand for. I can't imagine that you despise lower taxes and an unregulated internet. But then again, there are incredibly stupid people like you in our country, unfortunately, and this is proof.
Posted by: Rachel | 29-Mar-08 2:49:45 AM
My, you must be embarrassed at the 100% negative feedback you've received. Save yourself a little bit of dignity and delete this piece of crap untrue article before ignorant fools such as yourself believe it's true. It's disgraceful to America to purposely put doubts into unwitting people's heads with your lies. DELETE IT.
Posted by: Laura | 29-Mar-08 2:55:54 AM
This article is a passive-aggressive load of horse manure. If you believe these things are true (which you obviously don't), write like you do. Don't constantly say "well I'm not saying this.." and then say it anyway!! Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but sometimes I wonder how great it is when it lets people like this moron influence the minds of others with no proof, no intelligent arguments, and no correct spelling. Go graduate high school, do some grown-up research, and then tell me you "despise Ron Paul." a.k.a. "despise freedom, liberty, and America as it should be."
Posted by: Jeffrey | 29-Mar-08 3:00:37 AM
How about the billions we keep giving to middle eastern countries? Why aren't you worried about that money?
Or the trillions we spend on Iraq? Where is the outrage in that money? Or the billions that the government just magically manages to lose without a trace? What about that money?
That money which I do not even have a choice but to give to. Where is the outrage in what it's being spent on?
And you think I'm worried about if Ron Paul spent my $2300 well?
Don't know why people keep reposting this same exact blog post. It's funny, they say the election is over for Ron Paul, yet the ridiculously ignorant attacks keep coming.
Posted by: badmedia | 29-Mar-08 3:13:27 AM
I donated every dollar I was legally allowed...and I would do it again.
Trolling for McCain has turned you into a brain washed, goose stepping, neo con, nutcase, Adam. You nazi neo con globalist types should be put in the same category as the terrorists...you have the same goal....The death of freedom.
To hell with you.
Posted by: JC | 29-Mar-08 11:12:09 AM
probably saving the money for when its needed most right near to the end of this fight for leadership.
He would not be to smart to just waste it now when they will need it later.. what ever he will do I am sure they have a plan and are the right people to do the right thing with it!
Posted by: steve | 29-Mar-08 12:23:17 PM
Adam T. Yoshida exposed himself when he wrote, "I despise Paul and most of what he stands for..."
Poor little, weak-minded Adam hates freedom and self-ownership.
Poor little, weak-minded Adam wants to indenture himself to the Power Wealthy.
Poor little, weak-minded, effeminate Adam can measure himself only by how many more State-granted privileges he has against other lessers like himself.
Adam must be told what to do and where to do it at all times. Adam does not care who owns him as long as he can trade a few scraps of paper for a few trinkets.
Adam suffers from a disease. His brain has become fried through conditioning and attitude influence, all designed to bring him to his current being -- unquestioned beliefs of submission.
Adam feels safe as he walks in step with the millions about him following the same script burned into their heads through Public Education of schooling and laugh-track TV sitcoms.
Posted by: FTT Teller | 29-Mar-08 1:29:35 PM
...Following up from my previous comments...
I will have to unfornately say...f'ck you. You live in a socialist country that's mostly covered in ice. I know you wish you stayed in American but you don't....so...STFU
Let people like me and others who ACTUALLY gave money criticize Ron Paul...only we have purchased that right...you unfornately have not.
Posted by: Jessie Jones | 29-Mar-08 1:30:30 PM
Ron Paul supporters are such silly little cultists. And they're delusional -- they actually think Ron Paul stands for individual liberty, and not for the racist, neo-confederate policies that made him such a big hit with David Duke and Stormfront.
Maybe Ron Paul will use the money you sent him to publish another newsletter full of tirades against "teh evil brown people" who are stealing American jobs.
Too bad the weird little man with the racist friends is never going to be president, no?
Posted by: Alkar the Bard | 29-Mar-08 3:18:28 PM
Great article and right on the money. Too bad the Paul-ites are too embarrassed to admit they squandered their moeny.
Posted by: vinnie | 29-Mar-08 4:43:05 PM
Ron Paul is the only honest candidate running for President! The only reasons he didn't win any primaries is because of voter fraud. The MSM ignores him still...they know if they actually did their job, and the voting machines weren't rigged, Ron Paul would win by a land slide! He wins his Congressional seat by 70% of the vote, but gets 5% for the Texas primary? Even a moron can see it was fixed,lol. Nobody wants Clinton, Obama, or McCain. You are grasping at straws with this article.
Posted by: Judy | 29-Mar-08 5:32:38 PM
Pitiful: you use his name to boost your own rating. However, every voice has a right to be heard.
My voice will continue to support his message of love of our country and the Constitution .
He believes in a strong national defense, but also thinks that war should be declared in accordance with the powers of the Constitution. He believes in fiscal responsibility. His campaign is funded by individuals. He has incurred no campaign debt. For this, he is labeled as a non-viable candidate, and a “nut”.
I don’t have to agree with everything that Dr. Paul stands for- I agree with the Constitution, medical rights, veterans’ rights, a strong currency, a free press, enforceable immigration, and limited government.
I am not alone. Dr. Paul has received more support from individuals in the American military than any other candidate in the 2008 Presidential election. His campaign may be silenced by the mainstream media, but not his message. Dr. Paul is not willing to “win at all costs.” He will not sell his “Hope for America“. He is still in the race. Make your own choice: every voice counts.
Posted by: DianneinVA | 30-Mar-08 2:28:50 PM
Well we all know what opinions are like. But you sir truly are what is the worst in men. You despise a man who stands for civil liberties & limited government? So I find myself thinking "what does a person who fells like this dream of"? But as sure as your servitude, you no longer dream.
I think your next peice should be on caricatures of Islam. Just so you can learn the true meaning of despise. Who knows you just might learn the power of freedom of speech, and why we as Americans should never lose it.
To all my free American Brothers and Sisters out there keep informing the people! To the few sheeple on this blog who dont see Ron Paul as the greatest patriot in generations, just keep doing what you do best, nothing.
Posted by: KillKilKill | 31-Mar-08 9:53:01 AM
Knox County, Maine spent more on the Iraq war than Ron Paul spent on his entire campaign. $41,894,289. If I lived in Knox County Maine, I'd be feeling pretty ripped off these days.
Source: nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
But for everyone here who's frustrated by The Naugajournalist, just remember:
"Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Where Did Ron Paul’s Money Go?:
"
Posted by: Pattern Recognition | 31-Mar-08 10:08:44 AM
Travis, Dan, ew, Brandon, Cointelpro, , Jamie, Stuart, Brad, George, Gavel, Earthmother, Aaron, Byran, MJ, Puerto, Riz, 1440, David A, Charles, blakmira, , D, Crystal, Tom, Tim, Carl, Lance, Sharon, JC, Ozzy, Dave, Sean, Dennis, Rocky, Rachel, Laura, Jeffrey, and everyone else who came here, screamed at Adam, and left.
Adam is doing what he's supposed to do as a manufacturer of products. This is a blog. It's a warehouse full of products. The products are postings that draw traffic. Traffic that's supposed to drive ad-clicks, and thus revenue.
You all found this post, and came here. In that sense, Adam's doing his job.
On the other hand, because he's not drawing in positive traffic, he's driving down the click-through statistics on the site, which in turn dilute the per-impression value of the page, which cuts into revenue.
You all found this post, and came here, posted feedback, and left without visiting a sponsor. In that sense, Adam's undermining his career.
Google indexes this site weekly. The current cached page is dated the 22nd. Why does that matter? Because everything Adam has written along with every subsequent riot of negative responses have been indexed. Now Adam has a 5,200 page public supplement to his resume. It's full of accusations of shoddy research, evidence of clumsy style, examples of public tantrums, and above it all the enormous red flag of snide immaturity that hasn't gone away as he ages. He's pissing all of you off, but he's only hurting himself.
Given the enormous field of would-be journalists, would-be pundits, and even would-be politicians (there are some 50 million regularly updated blogs on free hosting sites alone), it's not going to be enough to be the loudest and most ferocious voice in the crowd to earn recognition and build a career. It's going to take a measured approach (think of Mossberg), a network of sources on all sides (think of Jennings), respect from your opponents (think of Woodward), and a willingness to lay aside your temper that isn't demonstrated in the Google-powered 5,200 page public supplement to his resume. Think of the work ahead of him if he wants to displace that gigantic public blot. The truth is, I feel sorry for him.
Adam, I apologize if that came across harshly, but the fact is, you've got to decide where you want to take your career. It's your career Adam and your responsibility, not the WS's responsibility. You're on the shoulders of a very small crowd, and a very fickle and transient crowd too. Fans come and go with their fancies. Pandering to a few fans isn't practical or sustainable. If you're serious about this journalism thing, take a hiatus, put some energy into meeting some of the big names. Talk to them in person. Get their feedback. Grow. Give the world something more than just an angry young punk. Be a man with a voice, not one of the millions of kids with a keyboard.
Posted by: GoogleKarma | 31-Mar-08 11:07:55 AM
Sweet jeebus, comment threads like this are why I LOOOOVE Paultards. Comedy gold!
Posted by: Ron Jeremy | 26-Apr-08 2:16:03 AM
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