Writes Craig Morris: "I haven't participated much in politics but Ron Paul brought me out of the closet.

"Before the Oregon Straw Poll each candidate had a chance to have a representative speak. The Ron Paul campaign chose a veteran of the Afghanistan nation building boondoggle. He spoke well and represented Dr. Paul's positions correctly. No other candidate had a representative except Mitt Romney. Mitt's representative was 10 minute video showing lots of purple mountain's majesty, fruited plains, perfect hair and perfect teeth. Mitt claimed he would cut government programs which is a fine thing thought he didn't mention any by name.

"The interesting thing was the assembled crowd's reaction to the two presentations. The front of the room had chairs and was full of middle-aged plus men in suits and women with blue hair. The back of the room was mostly younger citizens standing up, presentable but a little scruffy and all carrying Ron Paul signs. I think the front of the room was the official party folks. After many lines from the Ron Paul guy there was lots of clapping and cheering from the back of the room (loudest when getting rid of the Fed was mentioned) but the front of the room was dead silent (maybe asleep). The reaction reversed during the Romney film except there was no cheering, just polite applause from the front of the room a few times. As mentioned there were no other candidates represented though I did see a Duncan Hunter sign or two. Oregon just ain't a red state, I guess.

"I took my 14 year old daughter with me and asked her to pay attention to both presentations and that there would be a quiz at the end. 'What', I asked later, 'would Ron Paul do in office?' Her reply: 'Stop the war and get rid of the IRS'. 'And what', I asked, 'would Mitt Romney do?'. 'Um...I don't know' she correctly answered. But then, this is an exceptionally bright girl. Earlier that day she asked why we attacked Iraq. I told her that it was claimed that it would stop them from committing terrorist acts against us. 'Wouldn't that make them want to attack us more?' she replied. As I said, a bright girl. Well, at least brighter than all but one of our current Republican Presidential candidates."