wonder why web blogs are inundated with Ron Paul comments (and why your NPR shows shut off the public's voice)? It all has to do with people awakening to the fact that our liberties are under attack (or have already been suppressed!). When a candidate sincerely talks about freedom, it arouses the public conscious and stirs the very change you see evidenced in blogs (and elsewhere). It's been said (by Goethe)that "none are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free"...the Ron Paul revolution is about people willing to rise and take accountability for securing their freedom. You can choose to silence us right now but there will come a time when you can no longer quash the will of the people.

Sent by Thomas Braun | 12:04 PM ET | 12-21-2007

What exactly is a good indicator of a candidates standing NPR? Polls mean nothing, because they are always biased and easily biased. Web hits are neutral, it just means that they are being noticed. Comments on youtube videos give a good consensus of opinion, but not everyone comments either positively or negatively. Money raised can be a good indicator, if you take into account the donation amount and who donates.

Maybe the media should stop speculating on a candidates standing, and actually analyze and evaluate their proposed platform. That would be much more useful to voters, and more importantly, would help you avoid focusing on only a few of the candidates, which seriously sways public opinion.

You have a responsibility here, and you need to start exercising it.

Sent by Jody Sol | 3:47 PM ET | 12-21-2007

Ron Paul received contributions from over 100,000 different people this quarter. He received $18,000,000 from those 100,000 people. His support is wide and deep. Look around your town and notice you see RP signs everywhere. Grab a cup of coffee and go to http://freeme.tv

Sent by Mayberry | 6:11 PM ET | 12-21-2007

When is Diane Rehm going to have Ron Paul on the show? I think she should interview him for the hour, no yes/no questions or 30 second responses.

RON PAUL on DIANE REHM

Sent by GS | 6:40 PM ET | 12-21-2007

Who is the real winner of the entire internet, again ??? Oh yeah.

Ron Paul - the candidate who has won the most straw polls- just won another one yesterday in Aiken, South Carolina.

Ron Paul- the Republican candidate who has raised the most money this quarter.

Ron Paul- the most fiscally conservative Republican in Congress.

Huckabee is a Huckster - fiscally liberal, a tv evangelist, and someone who has used their elected position for personal gain- like almost all politicians - except ??
Ron Paul ..

Sent by truthseeker | 6:55 PM ET | 12-21-2007

I think we'd agree, our nation has some serious ills.

Another Lawyer, won't help.

But I know a Doctor, who has made the diagnosis, and who has the cure!

Doctor Ron Paul, America's best friend.

The most honest man in Congress, for:
PEACE, PROSPERITY, LIBERTY!

We all agree, Thanks for catching up! And Thank you Dr. Ron Paul!

Sent by Anne Marie Guthrie | 8:14 PM ET | 12-21-2007

Thank you for writing about John Edwards! Hillary calling Obama a muslim is taking up all the airtime that Edwards rightly deserves.

Sent by EdwardsForPresident | 11:32 PM ET | 12-21-2007

Edwards looks like he will win Iowa, and maybe the nomination

Sent by Oscar | 11:45 PM ET | 12-21-2007

I agree with Jody. NPR seems much more interested in the horse race, than the horses. Lots of talk about how so and so's message is received by the public, nothing much more than the same old same old on who so and so is, his history, experience and take on issues. Sure you cover it a little bit, but not in much depth. Not enough to decide should this guy be the next President. That's what your goal should be, not who's ahead in Iowa and New Hampshire, but who are these people, how did they come to be who they are, and what will they likely do were they to get in office.

NPR listeners are not political junkies who give you there money to indulge your favorite pass time. They are voters who need verified, independent, unspun, information to base their decisions on.

If you want to speculate on why the voters are so all over the place on candidates, look in the mirror when you ask the question.

Sent by Michael Andrew Moran | 1:00 AM ET | 12-22-2007

While "face time" is important, engagement is a much better indicator of passion and commitment to vote. We've been tracking engagement on YouTube for the candidates all fall, and our findings which you can read here: http://www.themeasurementstandard.com/issues/12-1-07/youtubevideos12-1-07.asp, accurately predicted the Huckabee surge, and the Ron Paul dominance. We'll be correlating these datapoints with vote results on January 8, 2008.

Sent by Katie Delahaye Paine | 7:11 AM ET | 12-22-2007

The corporate media hacks like CNN, FOX, and MSNBC would love to make this a two person race in the Democratic Party. I am sure they are frustrated by this surge in Edwards web site hits. His message is just too strong to be silenced by them. His message is one of true change and real hope. The greedy corporations are shaking in their collective boots at the thought of a John Edwards Presidency.

Sent by Eric Pearce | 7:23 AM ET | 12-22-2007

I think a lot of Americans would really like to see NPR cover the Ron Paul campaign in greater depth and detail, especially since his support seems to be growing by leaps and bounds.

But, then again, with the maneuvering going on with mainline news coverage, some of us are starting to give up on (or have given up on) it (mainline media) altogether.

South Carolina voter for Ron Paul 2008!

Sent by FC | 1:29 PM ET | 12-22-2007

I would love to see NPR do an article on why NPR doesn't articles on Ron Paul. You know. Interview the the reporters and producers of the main news programs. I think that would be fascinating - a real Driveway Moment.

NPR has spent fifteen years helping to educate me on politics, economics and business, all while showing us listeners what is going wrong with America and why we should care. With such knowledge, I recognized Ron Paul as an authentic agent of positive change. He makes some of the most stunning news, and the public radio airwaves remain strangely silent.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Sent by Eric | 11:47 PM ET | 12-22-2007

If Ron Paul has made so much money on the internet that you are so totally impressed, then why doesn't Ron Paul hire himself an ad agency team to tell all you Luddites about how he will crumble corporate America to bring freedom to the cave dwelling, hunter-gatherer Americans?

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 10:56 AM ET | 12-23-2007

I supported NPR (financially) in its last fundraising campaign. Although I feel its reporting is slightly to the left, overall the content and fair analysis of whats going on in the world is far superior than many other outlets in the msm. That being said, I am extremely disappointed with the coverage of Ron Paul. Anytime I hear him mentioned on NPR it is in a negative light (or not at all). Have you guys sold out to the big corporate giants as well? I will definately think twice when Im called to donate to NPR during the next fundraising drive.

Sent by Disheartened American | 11:32 PM ET | 12-23-2007

Ron Paul libertarians are just as smug as the hard right and the hard left. "If only everyone else weren't so stupid, they would know we are right" Maybe a lot of us stupid people don't think that "Leave me and my money alone" is the best philosophy for our republic about now.

Sent by Mike Fleissner | 1:33 PM ET | 12-24-2007

npr does not a good job for our money they talk nice when they need the money and then they just go with main stream media;obama clinton huckabee that is all they think is important;they loosing their way;they are no more voice of the people; npr please we need paul kucinic edwards nothing else will mater dont waste yours and our time especially when we pay u money; please dont deceive us
good luck

Sent by darek | 11:30 AM ET | 12-25-2007

Ron Paul's grassroots campaign is nothing short of phenomenal, whether you agree with him or not.

Then again, how can you disagree with freedom, peace and prosperity?

An in-depth interview with Ron Paul and some of his supporters, like Lew Rockwell, would certainly put NPR far ahead of the MSM in having the pulse of the people in the year before the next election.

Sent by HaloIQ | 3:40 AM ET | 12-27-2007

Sent by HaloIQ: An in-depth interview with Ron Paul and some of his supporters,

The average voter who does not rely that much on the internet for their information.....yes, there are lots of them out there who are watching television and reading the newspapers and are darn near computer illiterate.......they haven't a clue who Ron Paul is, nor do they care.

Ron Paul is in low single digits in every poll (and you know how much it hurts to be polled)and Ron Paul does not elicit much attention outside a small internet circle.

Once again, Second Life virtual reality momentarily overtakes that other reality and Ron Paul's face will some day end up on a cheese sandwich being auctioned off on E-bay.

Say, why doesn't NRP...the Ron Paul Broadcasting Newtork....have auctions on election night? And then a big pie fight with three Ron Paul volunteer workers dressed as Moe, Larry and Curly.

Ya know, this election is probably going to go down in history as the most slapstick election in memory.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 10:05 AM ET | 12-27-2007

Fred, your comments are fairly typical of the anti-Ron Paulite... rude, unintelligent and ignorant... and worst of all, completely devoid of useful content.

Once you listen to a few Ron Paul interviews on YouTube, it's not hard to see why the most intelligent, most knowledgeable people are flocking to his campaign- even if it means registering as a Republican.

Go Ron Paul 2008!

Sent by HaloIQ | 7:19 PM ET | 12-28-2007