Convention Preparation Tips

Here are some tips to try to help y'all prepare for our coming county/state conventions...

* You can view an official roster of candidates here.

* When interviewing candidates, word your questions with care. You can potentially learn much about candidates by asking them open-ended questions that give them no hints about what answers you're looking for--and, without their knowing what you want to hear, they won't be able to try to spin their answers to your liking. If they give vague answers, then firmly but gently ask for more clarity. "How do you propose to deal with this issue?" "What sort of 'change' do you want to produce?" "Can you give a specific example or two?" "When you say that 'we're not truly represented,' what does this phrase mean to you?" Questions like these can uncover some valuable candid answers. Questions like "Will you get us out of that darn evil elitist corrupt socialistic wannabe world government called the United Nations?" probably won't.

* Actions speak louder than words. If candidates have a record, then research it as best as you can. Various special-interest groups rank elected officials on how well they support laws that these groups desire. How well does your candidate measure up on securing our borders or protecting gun rights or protecting speech rights or opposing porkbarrel spending or supporting liberty in general? Especially if candidates in question have served at the national level, then special-interest groups have probably rated them. You can also rate them yourself by identifying certain bills that were especially important to you and then examining public records to see how candidates voted.

* You're invited to share what you've been learning about candidates with other Ron Paul Republican delegates on this message board.

* Develop some basic familiarity with Robert's Rules of Order, the "Bible" of parliamentary procedure. You can learn some about it from its official website, as well as many unofficial websites like this one. Some of these sites provide "quick reference guides" that you can print and keep handy.

* Consider joining the Ron Paul Delegates National Alliance, which is devoted specifically to helping Ron Paul Republican delegates to prepare for their respective conventions. They host some excellent weekly teleconferences.

* Especially if you're not a delegate, then some Ron Paul Republican candidates such as Brian Jenkins and Joe Ferguson and Jacqueline de Gaston would love your help in winning over delegates at these county and/or state conventions.