Thread: Update on Ron Paul's demographic conquest of the GOP

Those on this forum terminally afflicted with Paul Derangement Syndrome have two primary arguments against Ron Paul. The first is a long string of middle school insults. The second is that he has no shot because his followers are nothing more than a fringe cult of dirty hippies.

Given some of the numbers from the last two primaries, one wonders of these allegedly Republican Paul critics actually care about the future of their own party. The numbers are these:


Iowa GOP Caucus Entrance Poll--Vote by Age

--------------Paul..........Romney
17-24.........50%..........13%
25-29.........45%..........12%
30-39.........34%..........17%
40-49.........17%..........23%
50-64.........15%..........26%
65+...........11%..........33%


New Hampshire Primary Exit Poll--Vote by Age

--------------Paul..........Romney
18-29.........46%..........28%
30-39.........35%..........34%
40-49.........24%..........42%
50-64.........18%..........42%
65+...........12%..........42%


In other words, if the vote was only amongst GOP voters under 40, Paul would have one both primaries in a landslide. So, again, for all the Paul-phobes' bombastic bluster about how Ron Paul is "never gonna win," "not a real Republican," "a tinfoil-hatted kook," I can't help but sense a sort of desperation in the knowledge that they are clinging to a dying ideology and that the GOP must move towards the Paul position or die.

If I were the Paul-phobes, I'd be very worried about the long-term survival of my own position.

If the primaries were conducted like the BCS or Heisman, Paul would be ahead quite easily.

Originally Posted by AbsoluteVoluntarist

In other words, if the vote was only amongst GOP voters under 40, Paul would have one both primaries in a landslide. So, again, for all the Paul-phobes' bombastic bluster about how Ron Paul is "never gonna win," "not a real Republican," "a tinfoil-hatted kook," I can't help but sense a sort of desperation in the knowledge that they are clinging to a dying ideology and that the GOP must move towards the Paul position or die...

Quite frankly, I'm not surprised that many young Republicans tend to be Libertarian in many respects.

That having been said, it's obvious that younger voters won't be dictating the outcome of the GOP presidential contest and the general election...

Originally Posted by Talon

That having been said, it's obvious that younger voters won't be dictating the outcome of the GOP presidential contest and the general election...

Even assuming that's true, there will come a time when these younger voters are older voters. Then what? Does the GOP establishment not care about their long-term viability? What's this going to look like in 2032, when these 17-39 voters are 37-59?

lol so if ron Paul voters never grow up , he might have a chance in another 20 years...

of course he will be like 110 by then

Originally Posted by AbsoluteVoluntarist

Those on this forum terminally afflicted with Paul Derangement Syndrome have two primary arguments against Ron Paul. The first is a long string of middle school insults. The second is that he has no shot because his followers are nothing more than a fringe cult of dirty hippies.

Given some of the numbers from the last two primaries, one wonders of these allegedly Republican Paul critics actually care about the future of their own party. The numbers are these:


Iowa GOP Caucus Entrance Poll--Vote by Age

--------------Paul..........Romney
17-24.........50%..........13%
25-29.........45%..........12%
30-39.........34%..........17%
40-49.........17%..........23%
50-64.........15%..........26%
65+...........11%..........33%


New Hampshire Primary Exit Poll--Vote by Age

--------------Paul..........Romney
18-29.........46%..........28%
30-39.........35%..........34%
40-49.........24%..........42%
50-64.........18%..........42%
65+...........12%..........42%


In other words, if the vote was only amongst GOP voters under 40, Paul would have one both primaries in a landslide. So, again, for all the Paul-phobes' bombastic bluster about how Ron Paul is "never gonna win," "not a real Republican," "a tinfoil-hatted kook," I can't help but sense a sort of desperation in the knowledge that they are clinging to a dying ideology and that the GOP must move towards the Paul position or die.

If I were the Paul-phobes, I'd be very worried about the long-term survival of my own position.

So all we have to do is wait for the baby boomers and half of Gen X to die off

Originally Posted by AbsoluteVoluntarist

Even assuming that's true, there will come a time when these younger voters are older voters. Then what? Does the GOP establishment not care about their long-term viability? What's this going to look like in 2032, when these 17-39 voters are 37-59?

Well, the big question is if and how these young Libertarian-minded voters will think when they're middle-aged.

While I'm pleased with the long-overdue prospect that the GOP will eventually move towards the ideologies, attitudes and policies of Libertarians, TEA Partiers and all the other proponents of limited government, I think it's a bit premature to declare Ron Paul's demographic conquest of the GOP a success...

Originally Posted by Dr. Righteous

So all we have to do is wait for the baby boomers and half of Gen X to die off

Look on the bright side - ObamaCare will help expedite the process...

Originally Posted by Talon

Well, the big question is if and how these young Libertarian-minded voters will think when they're middle-aged.

While I'm pleased with the long-overdue prospect that the GOP will eventually move towards the ideologies, attitudes and policies of Libertarians, TEA Partiers and all the other proponents of limited government, I think it's a bit premature to declare Ron Paul's demographic conquest of the GOP a success...

It's not for certain. They could change their minds and "grow up" as The Mello Guy says (by which he means become more amenable to mass theft, dictatorship, and slaughter), but they could not. From what I've seen so far, an ex-Paul supporter is as rare as hen's teeth. If my lot were in with the fogy contingent, I'd by quite concerned.

Originally Posted by The Mello Guy

lol so if ron Paul voters never grow up , he might have a chance in another 20 years...

of course he will be like 110 by then

You may not of heard... but he has a son named Rand who holds a lot of his views.

I understand that my guy "Ron Paul" will likely not win. But, I also understand that we are having an impact making the Independent and non-establishment Republicans think about how things could be different.