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Title: SOME RP CAMPAIGN INFO FOR Y'ALL
Source:
ROWDEE
URL Source: http://NONE
Published: Mar 12, 2008
Author: ROWDEE
Post Date: 2008-03-12 21:52:33 by rowdee
Keywords: RON PAUL, CAMPAIGN, FINANCES
Views: 767
Comments: 61
More than a couple of times different people have made comments regarding finances in the Ron Paul campaign. Even my friend, Peppa, one of RP's staunchest supporters, commented something to the effect that she wished he had spent more on advertising. Having been a candidate for a state house office, raised finances, and approved spending (though on nowhere near the grand scale of a presidential campaign), my interest was piqued. I am a bookkeeper by training and by major work experience, so my interest was tweaked at the same time.Thus with my interest being both piqued and tweaked, I took a look at one of his financial reports just to see what was going on. The report used in my research is for the month of January 2008, with the report being filed February 20, 2008.
TO DATE NET CONTRIBUTIONS................................32,562,115.77
Interest/Dividends as Other Receipts.................... 5,010.63
Contribution Refunds ................................... 10,335,50 The campaign did not allocate any expenses by state. This report is 2,158 pages long. Receipts start at Page 4, with 3 entries to a page, and are reported through pages 1498, which only contains 2 entries. That would disclose 4,479 donors. Starting at Page 1,499 is the listing of expenditures for the month. This is 659 pages of itemized expenditures, 3 to a pages--except the last page which was only 2 items. That would make 1,976 itemized expenditures. For my purposes, I only researched to page 1552, and only the first item on that page. It should be noted that there are some earlier dates recorded, which would seem to me to be someone late in turning in bills/receipts for payment/reimbursement. For this research project, I only looked at expenses posted during the first 10 days of the month (this period has several 'earlier' receipts which are being reimbursed apparently during this time frame). So, keep in mind that these expenditures are only for a third of the month.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS 10-DAY PERIOD....... $ 3,018,046 For the record, the small amounts that didn't have a "% of Disbursements" figure, amount to $7,396, or .3%. Adding up the obvious Bulk Mailing, Radio, TV, Buttons, Shirts, Signs, Print Advertising, etc., gives a total of $2,035,384, or 67% of the expenditures for this time period. I didn't set a criteria for myself to look at the name on each individual entry, though it seems like I did, or nearly always so. I do not recall seeing any items specifically for a radio station or tv station, i.e., KPAX TV or KFI 900. Does anyone have any idea on what the typical advertising % is? I don't. I did not include Telecommunications in this number, as I'm not sure what all was put in there. The Credit Card Processing Fees were astounding to me. I'm aware that Visa, et al, charge merchants a varying fee schedule, and know Pay Pal does as well, but I wouldn't have considered it as capable of taking a large chunk of change....the third largest expense! Because of my having campaigned, I'm aware that notary fees are involved because of all the filings that have to take place. Speaking of filings, the Filing Fee in the list was for Louisiana. If all states charged the same amount, every campaign would have to pay out over half a million dollars just to the 50 states! And how about those Voter Lists. There were only 2 entries, but yet that took $12,000. Ballot Access Coordination, Petition Coordination, Consultants, and Polling companies--while not huge amounts--at least not on this report--can add up quickly. An interesting tidbit--there is an expense paid to the Tancredo campaign for $1500. It is coded office supplies. This tells me the RP people were being cost conscious and picked up on a good deal. Hopefully, these figures will give some of you fine people something to chew over when you contemplate what Ron Paul woulda, coulda, shoulda done with the campaign. Furthermore, I would hope that it would be a bit instructive to some of you who believe he shoulda gone third party. Treated as the bastard child, such candidates have to pay full bore for everything--from lawyers fighting states election laws and election law determinations by some bureaucrat, to having to have ballot access coordinators, petition coordinators, and, of course, buying voter lists from the various states or counties. And a final comment.........it looks like people can ask for their beer money back.
Cash on Hand at Beginning of Reporting Period............$7,839,420.90
No loans were received.
Total Receipts This Period............................... 4,635,626,06
SUBTOTAL.................................................12,475,046.96
Total Disbursements This Period.........................< 6,472,858.78 >
CASH ON HAND AT CLOSE OF REPORTING PERIOD................ 6,002,188,18
TO DATE NET OPERATING EXPENDITURES.......................26,512,232.30
Expenditures were reduced by offsets (refunds,rebates).. 212,608.66
Credit Card Processing Fees.......................$ 310,878...10.3%
Air Travel........................................ 121,133... 4.0%
Bulk Mail Processing.............................. 286,710... 9.5%
Copy Product...................................... 117...
Office Supplies................................... 2,107... .1%
Postage........................................... 19...
Service Charge (appear to be bank charges)........ 75...
Telecommunications................................ 257,301... 8.5%
TV Spot Production................................ 912,716...30.2%
Print Advertising................................. 7,437... .2%
Radio Spot Advertising............................ 517,263...17.1%
Campaign Buttons.................................. 4,090... .1%
Shirts............................................ 19,371... .6
Consultants (Field Work).......................... 15,678... .5%
Freight........................................... 68,443... 2.3%
Signs/Supplies.................................... 192,681... 6.4%
Bulk Printing Brochures........................... 59,230... 2.0%
Contribution Refunds.............................. 3,300... .1%
Rent Expense...................................... 25,120... .8%
Audio/Visual...................................... 3,335... .1%
Entertainment..................................... 2,880... .1%
Accounting........................................ 1,180...
Petition Coordination............................. 18,000... .6%
Polling........................................... 85,657... 2.8%
Software Maintenance.............................. 500...
Ballot Access Coordinators........................ 8,365... .3%
Filing Fees....................................... 10,750... .4%
Gas/Mileage Reimbursement......................... 1,082...
Reimbursement Expense (?)......................... 3,982... .1%
Voter Lists....................................... 12,000... .4%
Web Page.......................................... 28,269... .9%
E-Mail Service.................................... 939...
Federal Express................................... 486...
Hotel Accom./Food/Catering........................ 22,052... .7%
Notary Services................................... 900...
Field Coordinator................................. 1,375...
PR Services....................................... 1,000...
Computer Supplies................................. 37...
Parking........................................... 39...
Utilities......................................... 147...
Video/DVD Processing.............................. 7,500... .2%
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#1. To: Peppa, Cynicom, angle, buckeye (#0)
Ping to let you know I was thinkin of ya. Thanks, Pep, for letting me use your name without knowing exactly where I was going with it.
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
Address please. Bert and Harry Piels have had enough of these Republican frauds.
Bert and Harry won awards for their ads, I enjoyed every one of them.
Bert was the best. I'm glad someone around here appreciates a sense of humor. All this nutty idol worship is wearing me down.
Adm. Fallon for president.
Yes. Anyone not good enough for Bush/Cheney is good for the nation.
I suspect Fallon told Bush/Cheney up close and personal...no more war... Very seldom is a four star forced out.
Only yes men need apply. No wonder the military is a mess.
Thanks, Pep, for letting me use your name without knowing exactly where I was going with it. Thanks Rowdee, This was one heck of a report! Looks to me at first glance, he ran a tight ship.. No debt, no scandals, dammit, can't you come up with something red meat? ;)
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
Ah, yes, now you begin to understand the push for the cashless society..... just love those adds about how smooth everything goes AS LONG AS EVERYONE USES NOTHING BUT A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD!!
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
I'm mainly worried about these guys since they've donated. Thanks for the ping, rowdee.
Wasn't it revealed that Mitt Romney's buddy owns PayPal and somehow stopped the payment to the Granny Warriors for the NH Recount? Heard on the toob today that Mitt said something like ..'it would be an honor to be asked to run as VP for any nominee'. :P Skipping over those finely honed principles I guess.
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
Thanks. snif snif long time since seen such.
ok, yes. it was instructive. ;) thanks for the time you put into this, dee.
LOL! Absolutely! Ain't control grand, when you got it?
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
You'll have to find the address yourself, JT. Otherwise, I would imagine you'd want me to write the letter, too..........and put the stamp on it! :)
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
I didn't find anything that raised hackles or raised red flags. I was even happy to see some accountant fees in there. The amount listed certainly wouldn't cover an audit, but at this point in the game, I doubt an audit would be needed. Perhaps this amount covers report preparations of some type, or a retainer type arrangement whereby staff is 'supervised' and someone is available to answer campaign finance type questions. I'm tempted to peruse the rest of the report and see what else is in there in the way of expenses, but I'm strapped for time presently. Another avenue I want to look at is the December report. I didn't come across a lot of staff salaries. I'm sure they are NOT volunteers, and thats fine...not everyone can give of their time freely to help legitimate causes. BUt out in the work world, salaries and wages, along with related perks, make up a major part of operating expenses.
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
I heard his wife put mittens on a budget. He is to stay out of the caviar and ritz cracker cash. ;)
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
When prayers aren't answered, does God have to return the money in the donation plate?
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
I know nothing about debit cards--don't have one so I can't respond to that. Obviously, they and credit cards eliminate the need for humans to process all sorts of papers. From what I have seen of debit cards being used at the grocery store by being run thru a card reader, I am thinking it directly hits your bank account, and appears on your bank statement. But that is my thinking, as I have no knowledge of how it works. I wasn't indicating that the processing fees were necessarily bad; rather I was surprised at the size of the fees--that means there was a lot of funds cranked thru the 3 names that I recall as charging fees. Back when I handled submitting and reconciling credit cards for processing, the fees charged varied in size, with the largest users getting the best deals. I want to say that the rate was locked in in increments of time, i.e., 6 months or a year---but don't quote me on that as it has been a long time.
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
It would be good to see monthly accountings, and the '07 closeout. To me, the snapshot was pretty darn tight, and I was surprised at the % to advtsg. I would guess finance staff had a number of things on their minds... one, money bombs don't go on forever without strong showings, two, if in for the long haul, one must plan to take on future frontrunners.. so thrift is necessary and three... one of the larger points you make, as the bastard child, he's not getting a cutrate. With that in mind, having funds avail mid-mo J, for SuperT, was a sign of tight planning, imho.
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
One thing about that, Peppa.........nowhere does it say prayers will be answered how and when we want them to be, though there be many out there that don't believe this. They're still in the 'me, me, me' stage of life. :)
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
Oh, I agree with you about having funds available. Even contractors have a contingency fund built into their bids (that is, of course, if they are wise businessmen)--back when my husbandy was a GC, it was 10%; I don't have any idea of what would be considered smart in todays' world. I'm really thinking of reviewing the rest of the month to see if it stayed essentially the same....but I'd really like to look into December 2007--that was when the big money bomb action took place. I'd like to see what transpired from mid to end of month. Who knows.......maybe even go back to say, the month of September....or a time when it was really lean.... But right now I just can't. My Mother is moving up here this weekend, and I will have people to entertain for several days, including a niece I've never met (one of my deceased brothers' daughters) and Mom's pastor. Can you believe it--he and his wife are going to follow behind my Mom's car all the way up here to make sure she gets here safely? He was even wanting to rent a van and just haul her car!
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
:) I was taught that prayers aren't always answered in the form desired no matter how much faith one has or not. (If at all) Maybe beer money has another level of expectation. Serious business./s ;)
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
I'm really thinking of reviewing the rest of the month to see if it stayed essentially the same....but I'd really like to look into December 2007--that was when the big money bomb action took place. I'd like to see what transpired from mid to end of month. I think the Boston Tea Party money bomb was mid D, however, I remember an email from the campaign that asked for donations early in Dec., to allow buy time for ads. So, D07 is going to be pretty skewed I would think. It'd be fun to check it out R, but only if you have time to kill, which obviously you don't!!! But right now I just can't. My Mother is moving up here this weekend, and I will have people to entertain for several days, including a niece I've never met (one of my deceased brothers' daughters) and Mom's pastor. Can you believe it--he and his wife are going to follow behind my Mom's car all the way up here to make sure she gets here safely? He was even wanting to rent a van and just haul her car! Wow that is more than kind of her pastor! Fantastic! You are gonna be verrrry busy. Check in when you can!! Good luck! :)
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
I'll certainly try to check in........I'm safe til about Sunday evening/early Monday morning. :) Re collecting the big bomb, I'm anxious to see the expense side. December was the big bomb, and January was the little one, as I recall.
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
LOL good! Re collecting the big bomb, I'm anxious to see the expense side. December was the big bomb, and January was the little one, as I recall. I took a quick look at ronPaul Graphs http://www.ronpaulgraphs.com/ MoneyBomb graph here: www.ronpaulgraphs.com/direct ory.html?
#2. To: rowdee (#0)
And a final comment.........it looks like people can ask for their beer money back.
#3. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
Address please. Bert and Harry Piels have had enough of these Republican frauds.
#4. To: Cynicom (#3)
#5. To: Jethro Tull (#4)
#6. To: Cynicom (#5)
#7. To: Jethro Tull (#6)
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
#9. To: rowdee (#1)
Ping to let you know I was thinkin of ya.
#10. To: rowdee (#0)
The Credit Card Processing Fees were astounding to me. I'm aware that Visa, et al, charge merchants a varying fee schedule, and know Pay Pal does as well, but I wouldn't have considered it as capable of taking a large chunk of change....the third largest expense!
#11. To: rowdee, Cynicom, Jethro Tull (#1)
...it looks like people can ask for their beer money back.
#12. To: richard9151 (#10)
(Edited)
The Credit Card Processing Fees were astounding to me. I'm aware that Visa, et al, charge merchants a varying fee schedule, and know Pay Pal does as well, but I wouldn't have considered it as capable of taking a large chunk of change....the third largest expense! Ah, yes, now you begin to understand the push for the cashless society..... just love those adds about how smooth everything goes AS LONG AS EVERYONE USES NOTHING BUT A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD!!
#13. To: Cynicom (#3)
#14. To: Jethro Tull (#13)
#15. To: rowdee (#0)
Furthermore, I would hope that it would be a bit instructive to some of you who believe he shoulda gone third party. Treated as the bastard child, such candidates have to pay full bore for everything--from lawyers fighting states election laws and election law determinations by some bureaucrat, to having to have ballot access coordinators, petition coordinators, and, of course, buying voter lists from the various states or counties.
#16. To: Peppa (#12)
Skipping over those finely honed principles I guess.
#17. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
#18. To: Peppa (#9)
#19. To: richard9151 (#16)
LOL! Absolutely! Ain't control grand, when you got it?
#20. To: rowdee (#17)
Otherwise, I would imagine you'd want me to write the letter, too..........and put the stamp on it! :)
#21. To: richard9151 (#10)
#22. To: rowdee (#18)
#23. To: Peppa (#20)
#24. To: Peppa (#22)
#25. To: rowdee (#23)
(Edited)
One thing about that, Peppa.........nowhere does it say prayers will be answered how and when we want them to be, though there be many out there that don't believe this. They're still in the 'me, me, me' stage of life. :)
#26. To: rowdee (#24)
Oh, I agree with you about having funds available. Even contractors have a contingency fund built into their bids (that is, of course, if they are wise businessmen)--back when my husbandy was a GC, it was 10%; I don't have any idea of what would be considered smart in todays' world.
#27. To: Peppa (#26)
#28. To: rowdee (#27)
(Edited)
I'm safe til about Sunday evening/early Monday morning. :)
First MB on 11/5; shot heard round the world. Then on to TPty, 12/16. Just thinking there might have been a ramp in expense side beyond original plan. 1107 EOM v 1207 EOM could look very different.
Edit: After posting, a brain cell called and said it remembered something about RP making significant adds to his staff. Probably in prep for the IW caucus & NH Primary. www.ronpaulgraphs.com
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
#29. To: Jethro Tull (#13)
I used to crack people up by saying that if I hit the Powerball I would share the wealth by buying my friends a case of Piels! HAH! Last of the big spenders!
#30. To: rowdee (#17)
Yes, I do. Please don't dangle beer money in my face w/o supplying the necessary means of obtaining a complete refund :)
Otherwise, I would imagine you'd want me to write the letter, too..........and put the stamp on it! :)
#31. To: Peppa (#20)
You seem to be confusing God with the church.
does God have to return the money in the donation plate?
A society grows rich by producing things…and saving money.
#32. To: angle (#31)
Nope, clear on that concept. Some people confused RonPaul with Jesus.
You seem to be confusing God with the church.
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
#33. To: rowdee (#0)
The credit card cost seems to be at least double the going rate, and it's interesting how much money folks 'over-contributed' to the campaign which was dutifully refunded them. Cheers up there.
Thanks much for all the research and tabulation here.
#34. To: rowdee (#21)
That is correct, but that is not the point. The point is that the credit card/debit card company gets a percentage of EVERYTHING that is bought/paid for with the card. A cashless society would mean that they would receive, depending on percentages, up to 5% of EVERY dollar spent in the entire economy. It would make the oil business look like .... well, nothing. And would go a lot further towards making the rich much, much rich and concentrating the wealth in a few strong hands.
From what I have seen of debit cards being used at the grocery store by being run thru a card reader, I am thinking it directly hits your bank account, and appears on your bank statement. But that is my thinking, as I have no knowledge of how it works.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
#35. To: Peppa (#32)
Some people confused him for someone who was in this election as a presidential contender.
Some people confused RonPaul with Jesus.
A society grows rich by producing things…and saving money.
#36. To: rowdee (#0)
"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men." -- Samuel Adams (1722-1803)‡
#37. To: angle (#35)
LOL!! Okay, lets do this for a while. Did not.
Some people confused him for someone who was in this election as a presidential contender.
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
#38. To: Peppa (#37) (Edited)
Do you see what I mean by not speaking plainly? I mean he's in it or he's not.
"Victory in the conventional political sense is not available in the Presidential Race."
A society grows rich by producing things…and saving money.
#39. To: angle (#38)
I mean he's in it or he's not. Do you see that the other Presidential Candidates (though I'm not sure how you define them) are no different that what we already have had? We are going into unconventional times. We need unconventional leadership from US. If the definition of a quality candidate is continuing to lie and defraud the public, and carry on the lie that there is a functioning two party system AT WORK, then, I guess, the other 3 qualify as quality, qualified and exactly what you want. If Obama is reform from inside the Dem party, then why isn't RP reform from within the Rep party. Because of peoples utter hipocracy about it. If the message and record matters, but the strategy does not, I don't know who is left to fill the void. It is what it is... I don't really think you like any of them... but this is a fraud of an argument to hold RP to one bar, and not the others.. it's hipocricy, and everyone see's through it.. except those that want RP to fall on his sword over certain factions pet issues. They miss the big and deadly picture of what has to happen first. They are in effect saying, I want you RP to run and act like the other liars. Though we have known from the start that RP won't be allowed the nomination does not excuse people for pretending they donated to any thing other than a lost cause. So, to me, it's put up or shut up time. Bring another candidate that is all things to all people and let's unite. Until then, finding excuses to do nothing and hiding behind unrealistic expectations and hipocracy, is GOING to return the same. Let's talk about achievements. Some have said that RP has achieved nothing in Congress. If that's the criteria for a vote FOR, then the ONLY candidate that has that stripe on his sleeve is McCain and Bush. They definitely got things done. So, by extention, that would be the 'achievement' candidate. See how rediculous the arguments are. If people DON'T like any of them, fine. But the triple standard is transparent, and those smearing RP are being disingenuous. JM2centavos.
Do you see what I mean by not speaking plainly?
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." -- Herbert Sebastien Agar (1897-1980) Source: The Time for Greatness, 1942
#40. To: Peppa (#39)
I'm not smearing Ron Paul in any way. I'm asking questions.
A society grows rich by producing things…and saving money.
#41. To: richard9151 (#34)
Everything has a cost attached......or so it seems.....whether paying for checks, serive charges, and the like.
Turn your back on the sun and you only see the shadows.
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