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Dear Ron Paul Supporters,
Including my first mention of Ron Paul in a post on this blog March 3, I’ve written about or mentioned the dark horse Republican presidential candidate from Texas in no fewer than 37 posts.
Early on, I was lukewarm to the 72-year-old with the libertarian message as evidenced in my post, Ron Paul Announces GOP Presidential Bid, that has been viewed by nearly 3,000 visitors since it was published March 12.
Six Ron Paul-related posts followed before I decided to throw my support behind the former Air Force officer in Blogger Converts, Endorses Ron Paul, a post that has been viewed by more than 800 folks since it was published June 8.
I published another six mentions of Ron Paul during the weeks that followed before posting Ron Paul ‘Sleeper Cells’ Changing Face of Politics July 10. In that post, I mentioned that a political pundit quoted in a Washington Times article used the term to describe supporters of Ron Paul. Only 219 people have viewed that post, despite my use of what I thought was a clever headline and my introduction of my RON PAUL SLEEPER CELL ORGANIZER merchandise line.
Two days later, I published a post, Threatened by Ron Paul Supporter? Not Really, which described how a blogger accused me of comparing Ron Paul supporters to Al-Qaeda “sleeper cells.” Near the end of that post, I wrote, “I plan to remain a Ron Paul supporter until someone shows me a better alternative.”
More than three weeks and five posts later, I had grown extremely weary of Ron Paul supporters making demands related to my early inclusion of Ron Paul on the roster of politician targeted by the WARNING LABELS ON POLITICIANS campaign, a bipartisan effort which included all announced Republican and Democrat presidential candidates. As a result, I published Weary Blogger Upset, Challenges Ron Paul Supporters. To date, that post — which, frankly, I wish I had never published — has been viewed more than 4,300 times.
Six more posts with mentions of Ron Paul followed, then I published a post about Mike Huckabee. In Governors Always Win, So Huckabee’s ‘The Man’, I brought readers of this blog face to face with the reality — backed by statistics — that governors have a history of winning presidential elections and that Ron Paul didn’t have a chance. To drive home the latter point, I ended the post with a somewhat-friendly editor’s note:
Note to Ron Paul supporters: Please save your comments for another post. This post is as much a reality check for you as it is a “Plan B” of sorts for me. Who knows, maybe the Huckabee-Paul ticket I mentioned in a July 7 comment is still a player?
I also introduced a new HUCKABEELIEVER bumper sticker for those who shared my opinion of the former Arkansas governor.
Since publishing the above-mentioned pro-Huckabee post Aug. 27, I’ve continued to include mentions of Ron Paul in my posts. In fact, his name has appeared in no fewer than eight Bob McCarty Writes posts since then.
The purpose of this post isn’t to upset Paulites. Rather, it’s to let you know that I’m an equal-opportunity capitalist. Despite the fact that I’ll never vote for Ron Paul, I will continue to make available cool merchandise bearing his name for people who both support him and oppose him.
For instance, WRONG PAUL and STRONG PAUL items, including the new yard signs shown at the top of this post are still available along with RON PAUL SLEEPER CELL ORGANIZER.
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UDPATE 3/19/09: The post above was mentioned in a post, Yikes, I Might Be Part of the Militia Movement! (Updated), published yesterday that caught the attention of the people at Fox News today.
You’re weary of getting attention by posting about how weary you are of getting attention when you complain about getting attention every time you post about how weary you are of Ron Paul supporters? My own guess is that you are a little nobody who just wants to get attention by whining using RON PAUL’S name, a sure-fire method of getting attention on the internet. Keep it up. I’m sure you’ll get more attention.
Ahh, some more attention from a Ron Paul supporter. Reminds me of the laundry detergent commercials of old: “I try scrubbing, soaking and polishing them out, but I still get “‘RON around the PAULER.’” Thanks, John, for the memories.
none of us will buy your crap…i will only buy from fellow believers because i know where the $$ is going.
Do you think collectively labeling all Paul supporters as strident will get you more negative attention, or less?
I can’t comment on your interactions with supporters specifically, but most bloggers who go out of their way with the “Don’t flame me, bro!” only seem invite more ire, and they know it.
Chris — Your choice.
Agent Smith — I’m the “Don’t Taze Me, Bro!™” guy (see the blue t-shirt at the top of this blog), not the “Don’t Flame Me, Bro!” guy. But I kind of like the sound of it. I’ll put it in the under-consideration file. Thanks for the idea.