I'm running for Congress

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by glatt

Good luck Radar. I wish you well. You seem to have a healthy dose of reality on how well you will do.

If your presence in this campaign shines the spotlight on important issues that are being ignored, then it's all worth it. I'd steer clear of issues that just muddy the waters, like allegations of racism and ties to special interest groups. Explain to the votors why your ideas on the issues are better. Anyone can smear an opponent. If you want to make Libertarians look good, then you need to explain why they are better.

I agree, but...often you have to smear. It just depends on how you go about it, based on your demographic. I'd worked in the campaign business for many years, and putting out only positive literature does not usually work very well.

However...I worked on a race (in CA) a couple of years ago where our guy smeared the "front runner," quite a bit (too much me thinks) and they did the same right back. Well, the voters got really sick and tired of it, and guess who won? The third guy that everbody "forgot" about. Hmmmmmm...

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Bruce, while that would be toothsome fun for everyone indeed, Radar and I do live in different Congressional districts.

Radar, good luck and good experience in your run, and watch out if the wife starts reading Ayn Rand! Being from a former communist society is what made Ayn Rand act the way she did... and wasn't that what cost her her first husband?

And should you ever get into public office, Radar, the experience should probably wise you up quite a bit.

[wolf]

I hope you don't intend to run your campaign in the no frills, no money way that you chose for the, what was it ... library board and water board races a couple years ago?

People have to know about you to vote for you. That "none of the above" shit don't actually play.

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

Radar, good luck and good experience in your run, and watch out if the wife starts reading Ayn Rand! Being from a former communist society is what made Ayn Rand act the way she did... and wasn't that what cost her her first husband?

Frankly, I'd watch out for ANYONE over the age of 17 who starts reading Ayn Rand. Ms. Rand is probably more responsible for the lack of adherents to the Libertarian cause than any person alive or dead on the face of the earth today.

Nathanial Brandon "cost" Rand her first husband. She wanted a younger man and one who was not an alcoholic like Frank Waters was.

[slang]

Please Radar, when or if you get any real media attention.....call someone an asswipe or a dickslap.

Whether you win or lose is not the point. It's getting the chance to be a candidate and to use this language that should be your only goal.

Keep us posted on this. If by some miracle you do pull this off, I'll have that playing on a loop at Ft. Slang.

[Sun_Sparkz]

Radar, good luck in your campaign.

What are you main points/ goals that you have "over and above" the opposition that you are using to win over the vote?

And i dont understand your race issue? What race are you? and why would that effect your vote?

[Radar]

I am a white guy living in a district that is probably 70% black, 20% Hispanic, 8% Asian, and 2% White. It's also an area where white police have abused black people and where white people are not well-liked or trusted. Maxine waters often takes advantage of this by showing up with Al Sharpton and screaming, acting angry, and accusing the police of racism every time a black person gets beaten during an arrest by a white person and she makes sure the tv cameras are on. She never shows up when a white person gets beaten by a black cop, or when a black person gets beaten by a black cop.

She is in tight with all the local city council leaders, unions, business owners (like Magic Johnson), etc. She's also an incumbant with several years experience.

There is no chance to beat someone like this. It seems as though the district was made specifically to include the most black people and least white people as possible.

I hope this answers your race questions.

As far as the issues go, to be honest, she's not too bad on social issues for the most part (pro-abortion rights, anti-prayer in school, anti-three strikes, pro-stem cell research, etc), but she's very much against fiscal freedom or fiscal responsibility. She's also against gun ownership and free trade. She's for socialist government programs that don't accomplish their goals. She's consistantly votes to raise taxes.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

At least be wiser than that Libertarian candidate for Governor (one of three) in the recall election. He lost me when I heard about him taking a swing at a radio show host who was interviewing him. That was a man with no more business running for office than Arianna Huffington -- or Angelyne.

[Radar]

I'm working on a campaign website right now. I'm using an old photo of me just to hold a place until I can get a professional one taken. I just wanted to see a photo in the layout.

It has an events calendar, volunteer page, donations page, etc.

It's one of those pre-fab sites, where you just plug in all your info and pay a couple of hundred bucks for a year.

I'm still trying to think of whether I should use electpaulireland.com, or vote4paul.com, or vote4ireland.com, or ireland4congress.com.

I think if I use any of the first three, I can re-use the site for later elections in different races so it might be more economical.

Anyway, HERE is the site if you want to check it out.

[wolf]

Is paulireland.com available? Easier to remember, and you can use for non-election purposes later, if necessary. In the event you win, it could be your official site, for example.

Text on the front page needs some brushing up ... fewer "I" statements. Yeah, there's three paragaphs there now, but it will grow and the temptation is major. Like instead of "I am a strong supporter of libertarian values, that is to say I support freedom in all cases whether discussing personal or economic freedoms."

"Supporting libertarian values supports freedom."

Make separate statements about personal liberty and economic freedom.

And you don't just want freedom to discuss freedom, right? You want to actually have it.

Keep your sentences short and your vocabulary simple. Make an impact and get out.

[wolf]

Just checked ... paulireland.com is a realtor in Canada.

paulireland.us might be available, though.

[Radar]

I own paulireland.org and paulireland.net, but this guy beat me to paulireland.com

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by wolf

paulireland.us might be available, though.

Don't do it. No one remembers a website that doesn't end in .com.

[wolf]

Since it was a political site, I thought that it might work.

Of course, I live in state.pa.us ...

[Sun_Sparkz]

congressman in california huh.. that means Arnie would be your gov right? isnt he in some hot water right now about the death penalty or some crazy thing?

Does your parliment have seats like we do.. i mean, even if you dont win, will you still be voted in to hold some seats and be able to have a say in at eg. 10 - 20% of what happens?