MTV’s Closing Arguments Dialogue was fascinating to watch.

It was BETTER organized that any of the debates geared to an adult audience.

I loved how the audience was encouraged to interact on many different levels. The questions were both relevant and intelligent. Most importantly, they were asked by young voters - not journalists trying to posture the media’s favorites.

Throughout the Dialogue, the candidates were never rudely cut off, and had time to answer questions and for the audience. The format was relaxed and did not have a breathless, race-against-the-clock, sound-bite feel. This gave viewers the opportunity to get a feel for the candidates’ personalities.

The Dialogue is worth the time to view no matter how you plan to vote, and I hope thousands of people of all ages will watch it while it’s still available online.

Thank you, MTV, for giving equal air time to all of the candidates. Who needs Fox News!! This was a best representation of “fair and balanced” I’ve seen in a long time. Bravo, MTV!

Of course… I have to say that of all of the candidates, my favorite was Ron Paul. His political experience, intelligence, understanding of policies, and lack of BS makes him an excellent choice for President.

In addition to getting positive feedback online throughout the debate, there were a bazillion sign waiving Ron Paul supporters on the ground in front of the studio. It was inspiring to watch!

So what do we do in the next few days?

1. Get connected. Go to Ron Paul’s website and learn more.

2. Donate! Ron Paul needs donations! These donations pay for advertising, forums, travel for Ron Paul, etc. The cool thing is that it doesn’t matter if the donation is just $10! Because he is so fiscally responsible, even small donations are not wasted.

3. Become a precinct leader. You don’t have to have gray hair in order help out in this way! There is still time before Super Tuesday. As a precinct leader, you are given (online) the names and addresses of registered voters in the few blocks surrounding your house. There are even phone scripts with little check boxes for marking down voter responses, if you choose to go that route. The way the Ron Paul campaign has it set up makes it very easy for anyone to help.

4. Meet-up! Join a Ron Paul Meet-up group in your area. Meet people just like you who are having fun and making a difference by sharing the message of freedom with others. Meet-up groups help you be connected with the grassroots efforts already going on in your community.
Thanks again, MTV!
Go Ron Paul!!

Here are some clips — check out the periodic footage of the audience of Ron Paul sign waivers outside!!!

Hello Friends!

This morning, I took an hour of my time and placed calls for the Ron Paul Campaign as a precinct leader. It was very easy to do - they have a script, each page with the information about the person you are calling blended right into the script. All you have to do is click the information about the person’s voting preferences as you speak to them. From there, it generates a list for door-to-door or letter writing contact. Everything is nicely packaged and thoroughly thought through.

All of you know that if *I* can find an hour in my day to do this - me a mom of five kids ages six and under - you have no excuse! =)

People in your precinct are your neighbors, usually on the streets surrounding your house. If you already know your neighbors, it’s an opportunity to talk about something that matters with them. And, if you don’t know them to well, it’s a great way to meet them. I found out some of my neighbors who I knew were Republicans were considering voting Democrat in this election! Eek!! I’ll be working on changing their mind!!

So… I invite you to become a Ron Paul Precinct Leader!

If you support Dr. Paul, this is THE best way to get involved–this will allow us to methodically get our message across to voters all across America, person-to-person, and to identify every Ron Paul supporter and make sure they get to vote on Election Day!

Much love,
Sarah Joy Albrecht
mrsalbrecht@speakeasy.net

If you are able to help with this great effort, please visit:
Ron Paul Grassroots HQ

This is a comment from PJ in our Ron Paul meetup:

We were encouraged by the many, many RP supporters we saw there, along with the prominent RP signs and banners. Also encouraging was that we saw only one little, hand-made “Grassroots for Huckabee” sign and only one Thompson sign (I missed that one). RP was among the legislators who took a few minutes at the podium, and he was the only presidential candidate there.

Article from a Michigan paper:

Ron Paul gets Roe nod
by Press wire services
Wednesday January 23, 2008, 9:19 AM

AP PhotoThe doctor is in: Ron Paul used his medical background to argue against abortion Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — Ronald Reagan and other Republican presidents have addressed the thousands of abortion opponents who annually march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court in remembrance of the court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

The event has not always been a draw to GOP presidential hopefuls, but Tuesday’s pre-march rally on the 35th anniversary of the landmark ruling had one notable exception: Ron Paul.

Among people holding up more typical “Defend life” and “Stop abortion” signs, some held banners in support of the Texas congressman, a libertarian with an anti-war bent.

Paul was among about a half-dozen lawmakers who spoke at the two-hour rally, and he cited his credentials as an obstetrician who has delivered 4,000 babies.

“The debate over when life begins should not be a debate. Let me assure you: All life begins at conception,” he said.

Paul also scored a right-to-life coup of sorts by claiming the endorsement of the Roe in Roe v. Wade — Norma McCorvey, who won the case for abortion rights but has since changed her stand. She runs the Crossing Over Ministry, formerly called Roe No More.

“He has never wavered on the issue of being pro-life and has a voting record to prove it,” McCorvey said in a press release from the Paul campaign. “He understands the importance of civil liberties for all, including the unborn.

“After taking all of the presidential candidates into consideration, it is obvious that Ron Paul is the only one that doesn’t just talk the talk,” McCorvey said.
(more…)

From Reason Magazine:

“Jane Roe” Endorses Ron Paul
David Weigel | January 22, 2008, 11:52am

About an hour ago Norma McCorvey, a.k.a “Jane Roe” from the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, formally endorsed Ron Paul at the Phoenix Park hotel in Washington. Why didn’t she endorse a frontrunner like Mike Huckabee? Thank the grassroots: She saw a newspaper ad in Nevada, bought by Paul supporters, using the analogy of the frog and the pot of boiling water to demonstrate what was happening to America. “It touched my heart.” That was three weeks ago, and McCorvey keynoted a pro-life Paul rally in Nevada on January 12th, but the campaign made the official announcement today before Paul spoke at the March for Life. McCorvey:

I support Ron Paul for president because we share the same goal, that of overturning Roe v Wade. Ron Paul doesn’t just talk about being pro-life, he acts on it. His voting record truly is impeccable and he undoubtedly understands our constitutional republic and the inalienable right to life for all. Ron Paul is the prime author of H.R. 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v. Wade. As the signor of the affidavit that legalized abortion 35 years ago I appreciate Ron Paul’s action to restore protection for the unborn. Ron Paul has also authored H.R. 1094 in Congress, which seeks to define life as beginning at conception. He has never wavered on the issue of being pro-life and has a voting record to prove it. He understands the importance of civil liberties for all, including the unborn.

Paul took questions from a tiny audience of press and local supporters after elucidating his abortion views. Roe was wrongly decided; federal courts need to be taken out of the loop on abortion law to let states make their own laws. A constitutional amendment would be “a tedious solution; it takes a long time.” Pro-lifers need to make this possible, in public opinion, before lawmakers move. “The ultimate test of the right to life movement is how we change attitudes on this.”

McCorvey was frustrated at the lack of attention her original Reno endorsement got, but she was lighthearted today. “When you’re president,” she asked Paul, “can I stay over at the White House?”

“Anytime,” Paul said. The supporters in the back of the room cracked up.

“I’ll take the Lincoln Bedroom,” said McCorvey.

From the Daily Paul:

Are women the problem?
Posted January 12th, 2008 by FoolshGame

I know it is politically incorrect to say so… but, are men the only ones that care about liberty?

Who are the vast majority of women going to vote for in November 2008? They’re either going to vote for Hillary or Obama. And, in the Republican primaries, which will decide the nominee on the Republican side, those that do vote Republican (and, they’ll be a small minority compared to those that vote Democrat), they’ll either vote “evangelical” for the Huckster or “neo-con” for Rudy.

Ron Paul does not catch the imagination of women like he does with men; certainly, not in California… and, there are more than a few delegates to be had here in California, since they’ve gone to district-by-district delegate allocation.

We could send a lot of delegates to the Republican Convention, but we need women on board for the Revolution.

So far, they’re not. The next Ron Paul campaign TV ad should be directed at women. He should tell them why they should vote for him.

FoolshGame is right in the sense that many of the “undecided” women voting have said in exit polls that they, at the last minute, felt compelled to vote for other Republican candidates because they seemed to care more about women and family issues.

In reality, they don’t understand that “seeming to care” is not the same as “caring” . Neo-cons offer a platform that is actually harmful and undermining to families.

In Democratic races, some of the women who voted were quoted as saying that they voted for Hillary because they didn’t see much difference between the candidates so they chose Hillary based on gender (YouTube clip!).

A few thoughts -

1. Delegates. The straw poll results have been good - but participants are not the same people who are delegates. The RP campaign has been working on having delegates for each state - so far, does anyone know how many RP delegates were present at the caucuses? Is this “plan” working?

2. Motherhood. Many conservative women have children and taking time off from this 24/7 job to be a delegate or to go to a straw poll is difficult .

Maybe some of the husbands out there would volunteer to to take care of their children for a few days, or be willing to dip into the vacation fund and hire a babysitter. This way, their strong, conservative wives could help shape the image of the campaign and maybe even help convince the undecided women’s vote of the truth.

I know a number of moms who would be more active in the campaign except that they love their children and would not be likely to shirk their responsibilities at home in order to attend a campaign event. For moms with newborns who are nursing, it’s pretty much impossible to attend these events.

3. Need for practical application. While I’m reluctant to “soften the message” of the campaign, I would like to see Ron Paul’s wife and female family members speaking more often. It would definitely help!

I do think that conservative women understand Dr. Paul’s message perfectly - I think that there is still a need, and I have said this before, for the campaign to show in their ads the practical application of the liberty message.

This current generation only knows the Bush / Clinton empires and Dr. Paul’s message is like comparing apples to oranges.

Many voters, men and women, have no concept of the practical implications of freedom.

Their cages have become security blankets, and breaking free is scary. They’re used to having a welfare state who provides free shots, medical care, food, housing, education, etc. The idea of personal responsibility is scary because the current system does not reward personal responsibility.

I work hard, yet there are habitually unemployed people I know who get vouchers for their mortgage payments that cost more than what my husband pays for our mortgage payment.

Sharon Jasper is classic example of this, and forgive me for quoting Michelle Malkin - I can’t find another site with the original “slum” picture, complete with 60″ TV, in the story.

Even people who are not currently depending on welfare are comforted knowing they have a lifeline to welfare access if they fail financially.

Perhaps this is a rabbit trail, but look at the example of income taxes. How many people people do you know are comfortable with giving their money to the government each year as if it’s a bank? They otherwise would not have the discipline to put aside money. They see their tax return as an investment dividend! Think of all the feature articles during tax time with suggestions for whimsical ways to spend the tax return. You’d think they were talking about winning the lottery! The average person, groomed under current system, has no concept of being disciplined throughout the year to invest the same money to yield a greater return than they would if they let the government sit on it.

If the RP campaign wants the undecided vote, they need to show how this different (and to those who don’t study history or who have studied history with the current textbooks available, the Bush/Clinton way is the modern way vs. Ron Paul’s ideas which are the “old way”) way of doing things is beneficial to them.

Undecided voters are undecided because they don’t understand and can’t imagine the benefits of freedom. There is a fear of learning the hard way. The current system bails them out - like when they commit to stupid mortgage decisions that allow them to have their cake (house bigger than they need) and eat it too (government enforced deals from lenders to allow the idiots to refinance even if their credit is in shambles).

Freedom = responsibility.

4. Be encouraged!

Sarah Joy Albrecht
(Mom to five children, ages six and under.. and I’d be a delegate in a heartbeat if I had a babysitter! )

Now, tell me again why Ron Paul has been intentionally excluded from the upcoming Fox News debate?

Today’s Scarborough interview.

The BEST part is at the very end - Scarborough AGREES with Paul on spending issues - even saying “Amen, brother” to Paul (and goes on for a minute about his agreement with Paul!) and THEN knocked me off my chair by saying,

“Alright, Ron Paul, let me tell you something. You’ve got one voter in Florida who’s never voted before: my nineteen-year-old son. His name is Joey Scarborough, a member of the Ron Paul Revolution!

Thanks so much for being with us Ron. We really do appreciate it.”

Never would have guessed this in a million years.

The interview was thorough and Ron Paul was allowed a significant amount of time for each answer.

Paul was asked questions about foreign policy, war, taxes and government spending, raising money, grassroots support, and winning over undecided voters.

The Tucker “endorsement” was also mentioned in the interview.

I also noticed that, for once, the headline/ticker underneath the interview was positive. It referred to Paul’s fund raising records vs. the often seen half-truths painted in a bad light.

(This is also posted on the DailyPaul forums)

Someone in the Ron Paul Meet-Up Group suggested that people write to Oprah and let her know about Ron Paul and request that she invite him on the show for an interview. I did, and here’s my note:

Dear Oprah,

I am often refreshed by your perspective on womanhood and I enjoy reading your magazine and watching your show when I am able. I am married and am the mother of five children.

I know that you support Barack Obama, but I’m wondering if you would consider inviting Congressman Ron Paul on your show to interview him on behalf of women voters? I’m interested to know what he thinks about private citizens, like yourself, helping to make a difference in other countries and how he would compare the benefit of private donations vs. government donations and intervention and why his system is better.

As a whole, I love how he believes in and deeply cares about our nation - vs. being power hungry, upholds the constitution, wants to bring our troops home, foster friendly global relationships vs. wars and occupations, and has a solid plan to repair our financial crisis in America that is backed by a number of financial experts.

BTW, I think you can do a much better interview than they did on The View

So far, I received this automated response:

Dear Sarah Joy ,
Thank you for your e-mail! Your message is important to us. Unfortunately, due to the volume of e-mail messages we receive every day, we cannot guarantee that you’ll receive a personal response. Feel free to check out our Frequently Asked Questions for additional help.
http://www.oprah.com/tows/program/tows_prog_main.jhtml
Thanks again for writing to us!
Sincerely,
The Oprah.com Staff
www.oprah.com

If you want to send a note to Oprah requesting she interviews Ron Paul in your own words, here is the link:
http://www.oprah.com/email/reach/email_reach_fromu.jhtml