November 5th has become a holiday of sorts within the emerging freedom movement. Two years ago, a couple of guys started a grass roots effort to raise money for Ron Paul. It became one of his most successful fund raising days, and entered him into the record books with around $4.3 million raised in one day. No one could deny Ron Paul, but of course they did.
As well as a successful fundraiser, it also represented the highpoint of Ron Paul’s 2008 campaign. All the efforts, friendships, meetups, plans and projects converged in a mad frenzy. Ron Paul Radio went nuts, serving over a thousand listeners at its peak. It all felt so good, and past experience indicated this would mean that a hard crash would soon follow, which it did. December’s Tea Party raised the most money in one day for Ron Paul, but nothing felt like the Fifth. We will always remember the Fifth of November.
Last year,, I wrote a blog entry to announce a little broadcast we did. I also called it the beginning of the next phase. I wish I would have written more as to why I felt that, because I had the exact same thought this year, and a very tangible feeling. I suppose I saw last year as the first year after 2007′s campaign, a day after the stupid election, and time to get started on the next chapter.
This year’s vibe felt even stronger than last year’s, and I started thinking about the “good old days” of two years ago. I felt the impending 2010 midterm elections. I recognized that a lot that happens in this 2010 midterm election will affect the presidential election of 2012. I wondered what part I would play in things. Would Ron Paul run again? Does it matter? He has the name recognition, but if he didn’t we would find someone else, we would have to.
The political climate has changed since 2007, as hope and change replaced the rhetoric of endless war, and endless war replaced the rhetoric of hope and change. People now see that a group of banking elites will bail themselves out without question, completely detached from the masses they claim to serve. A lot of people know about the Federal Reserve, and some basics about how our currency system works. They feel a grasp at their throat and remember that weird friend of theirs telling them about Ron Paul, and perhaps seeing him on television. People will not have the luxury of just going along with the next establishment candidate of 2012, they will require better.
This puts our little movement in a very prime place. Just as I said last year, we have to see the big picture, and view 2010 as a stepping stone to something great, the grand prize, the Golden Apple, the 2012 presidential election. Find your own place, try to keep the in-fighting and friction to a minimum, and keep always moving forward. The next November Fifth occurs on the Friday three days after the midterm election. I hope we will have reason to celebrate.
