GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
It’s back to the basics for TX Representative and ‘08 candidate Ron Paul.? Forget the sleek, polished, colorful, online media-savvy exploratory sites of candidates like Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney, Paul’s website at RonPaulExplore.com?gives prospective voters a poorly Photoshopped picture, a plea to send “personal checks” via snail mail, and a mailto hyperlink to contact someone named Kent Snyder (presumably Paul’s campaign coordinator) for any further questions.
As a web designer myself, a rule of thumb in the business is to not launch a website until you actually have one.? “Under Construction” sites are tacky and inspire an aura of unprofessionalism.? Up-to-dateness in the era of alternative media (where people like you and I are TIME’s Person of the Year) is a key to winning in politics.? Someone send a memo to Team Ron.
January 14th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Speaking of websites, anyone know if Gilmore has a campaign site up yet?
January 14th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
[...] Ron Paul Launches Website for ‘08 Republican Congressman Ron Paul (R-Surfside, Tex.) launched the most pitiful presidential campaign website — ever. Check ‘it’ out yourself at http://www.RonPaulExplore.com … you won’t will be disappointed. (Hat tip: Woodrow Eisenhower, race42008.com) [...]
January 14th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
What Ron Paul’s website lacks in “polish,” Ron Paul makes up with principles and knowledge. We have enough “polished” politicians, it is now time for an honest one. Someone who is truly looking out for the interests of individuals; that someone is Ron Paul!
January 14th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Mike,
The last President that we had who supposedly made “up with principles and knowledge” what he lacks in “polish” was named Jimmy Carter.
You really want to go there?
January 14th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
c’mon, marK. That was a cheap shot, and you know it. Ron Paul and Jimmy Carter are basically polar opposites. Small, limited government vs. big government.
January 15th, 2007 at 12:01 am
I’m fine with a person or a site not being polished. But one would at least hope for some innovation in the absence of polish. Perhaps an eye catching slogan of some sort. Or a gimmick advertised on the site. Something. Anything.
January 15th, 2007 at 12:04 am
To say that the website “lacks polish” is like saying Bill Clinton “lacks chastity.” No, the best looking website does not determine who the best candidate is. But if you are going to be running for President of the United States, you should have some minimal regard for professionalism. Publishing a campaign website that could be outdone by a 10 year old does not even come close to meeting that standard.
January 15th, 2007 at 12:05 am
In Paul’s defense, shitty though the site is, it does show some regard for fiscal conservatism!
January 15th, 2007 at 1:11 am
That’s awfully embarrassing. 13 year-old girls with blogs could design a better website than that.
January 15th, 2007 at 1:37 am
There aren’t even any links detailing his policy positions. Iraq? Immigration? Health Care? Earmarks? UFOs? Nothing!
January 15th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I wrote to the email address listed on the website about the poor design and received this response:
“Michael, Good morning. The page that is up is only a temporary one. I mention that on the bottom of the page. Kent”
January 15th, 2007 at 10:12 am
You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.
January 15th, 2007 at 11:53 am
LOL. Fredo gets the award for first R4′08 Star Wars reference.
January 15th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Was that really the first SW reference? Someone must have written “I have a bad feeling about this” at some point. I guess our pop culture allusions usually lean towards The Simpsons, which is perfectly cromulent of course.
January 15th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Heh.
January 15th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Nusrat,
No that was not meant to be a cheapshot. It was meant to drive home a point.
Jimmy Carter came into office determined to eliminate the “Emperial Presidency” as he called it. He canned many of the trappings of office. Unfortunately for him and the country he forgot one thing — symbols matter.
He projected weakness which emboldened our enemies. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan. The Iranian students stormed our embasssy in Iran and held our people hostage for months.
Like it or not, Jon Paul’s website represents him. It symbolizes him. Liberal or Conservative, big government or small — symbols matter. If he is too naive to realize that, then he is likely too naive to run the country.
That describes Carter to a tee, does it not?
January 16th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
I am mailing a contribution to Ron Paul today. I am sure his website will improve soon. Stay tuned.
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:23 pm
On January 17, Ron Paul gave his first radio interview since the announcement of his bid for the 2008 presidency. He appeared on the Alex Jones show, interviewed by Jack Blood. Listen here.