Ronald Ernest Paul, August 20, 1935 (Pittsburgh, Penn.) -
VP candidate for Independent (Cordell) (2008)
VP candidate for Independent (Zilaitis) (2008)
VP candidate for Independent (Manis) (2012)
Running mate with nominee (2008): Donald Leslie Cordell (1927-2021)
Running mate with nominee (2008): Frank D. Zilaitis (b. 1960)
Running mate with nominee (2012): Robert Manis (b. 1967)
Popular vote (2008, 2012): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2008, 2012): 0/538
The campaign (2008) (Cordell):
Although there is a brief secondary source reference about Don Cordell of Lancaster, Calif. running for President in 2004, it seems 2008 was the true political breakout year for this 81-year old.
Cordell's campaign webpage, done up in red, black, and blue font against a white background for that patriotic flavor, was a long, crowded document with dozens of spur roads into his allied links. Here is his introduction--
I’m a very Conservative Candidate, brought on by being older. Why? Well as you get older you realize that some of your youthful enthusiasm for change left a lot to be desired, some ideas that on the surface seemed good, but as time went on, maybe not so good, sure you meant well. As you get older you know what works best for a nation to survive.
We must do something to survive.
We are at that point now; the youth (all of you under 65) must let experience lead the way, or you will lose this nation. This is no time to experiment, our nation is failing fast, I only hope we can recover before most of the citizens are unemployed, as happened in the 1930’s. Once we have lost our sovereignty, we will never recover our Freedoms.
Remember in the 60’s, when hippies thought they had found the way with communal living, free love, and drugs; but experiences led those young people to finally realize, that commitment, one partner, family, home, and jobs; was the real American life style that led to satisfaction.
Here we are now, it is time to go back to those standards that give us a secure home, family, job, and commitment; are you ready to commit for a secure future, to restore those values that have led this nation to be the greatest place to live? I’m sorry our youth of that era felt they had no future. Now again, we are faced with “Do we have a future?”
Do you want a Chance, or “Change you can believe in”? We’ve had enough Change; let’s return to what we know works, Jobs, Homes, and Family.
His webpage was also filled with beliefs of conspiracy theories such as the JFK assassination, Reagan attempted assassination, New World Order, Homeland Security, North American Union, One Worldism, 9/11, etc. "We know that the, New World Order; the Globalization; the United Nations; the Global Warming threat; NAFTA; CAFTA; WTO; Security and Prosperity Partnership Act; The Patriot Act; the Homeland Security Act; The Terrorist Act; the War Commissions Act of 2006, Act, Act, Act, that all these treaties will dilute the chance for this nation to survive, as they are pushing to destroy the sovereignty of our nation."
This was sort of topped with a section entitled "What If?"
A possible scenario has been suggested, that before Nov 08 elections A small atomic bomb goes off in America, terrorists (actually someone in our government) claim that if Washington doesn’t surrender; that more bombs that are already placed in American cities will be detonated, with bombs already smuggled in to our nation, then President Bush can enact his “Terrorist Act”, and stop the election, since we are at war. Interesting HUH?
Now I don’t know that this would happen, but “What If”? What would you do?
2008 Election cancelled? Read all the possible scenarios that could happen.
In some cases he cited Alex Jones' Infowars as a factual source. As an interesting aside, several close Cordell relatives died in the Jonestown mass suicide/murder.
Cordell's webpage offered a thumbnail version of his platform--
“Critical issues for America”
I will: Stop getting involved in wars we don’t intend to win
I will: Return Jobs to America
I will: Stop a lot of importing, “Made in America” a must (except some OIL)
I will: Remove all illegal aliens.
I will: Control our borders
I will: Stop Drugs coming in to America, Stop the CIA importing drugs.
I will: Stop the NAFTA Super Highway, to deliver more Chinese imports to Kansas City, MO
I will: Stop all foreign Aid: to enemies of America
I will: Protect Social Security, 25% raise for Social Security recipients immediately. Even if I have to cut the pay of Congress, and the Senate to afford this
I will: Reduce Taxes for stupid Pork projects. See my plan for income taxes as follows.
I will: Stop all Terrorists
I will: Stop the “Dumbing Down” of America: Children to get a real education.
I will: Support our schools nationwide. No more than 20 children in any classroom
I’m Sorry, but we/you “can’t” afford free Health Care. I’m being honest. Menu #42. You do want an Honest President, don’t you??????? “But” read my plan to help you afford some medical insurance.
I will: Bring home 38,000 of our troops in S. Korea, 55 years to protect Korea is enough.
Last, but not least: I will: Really take care of our Veterans, and their Medical needs. I have a plan.
If you elect Obama or McCain, and you are unhappy next year, I will still be here to be elected after you recall either of them, because you will be disappointed with their non-performance.
His main method of campaigning appeared to be leaving comments in online venues or writing letters to newspaper editors. Here are some examples--
American rights
January 22, 2008, 07:19pm
I'm probably the only candidate for President in 2008, that wants to control the police. 4th Amendment rights "to be secure" will be enforced. If you are stopped for any driving offense, that's all that stop is legal for, and any follow up, will be illegal. Period.
Your right to not be forced to incriminate yourself, the right to remain silent when cops ask you "What are you doing here?" Where have you been?, where are you going? all illegal under the Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Want to retain your rights? I love video's of police action, that's our defense. But do not hit the police, that will defeat your case, just submit, and then win in court. I'll help you.
Don Cordell will protect those rights. While we need to be protected from crime in our nation, we also need police to follow the law.
I do not believe anyone should be arrested for using any drug, only crimes committed to get drugs or crimes committed because you are impared that affected the safety of society. Or, lets arrest, and send to prison anyone using the drug ALCOHOL, including any elected offical found under any influence of ALCOHOL. I think too many of our politicians are impared to begin with.
Lets have some common sense in this nation.
If it's OK for Drug Smugglers to bring drugs in to our nation, and for our own government to import these so called illegal drugs, then why should any citizen be in prison for this offense.
We are being screwed by Congress and the Senate, while they party, and you suffer. Do you think your government is being honest?
I know our elected politicians believe they are above reproach, I want them to answer to us, to start running this nation for American Citizens, not China, not Mexico, no one, but for American Citizens.
There is hope if you stop electing Republicans and Democrats. Otherwise our nation will be turned into the North American Union, and then handed over to the New World Order, United Nations. It's up to you America, are you ready to save this nation?
Here he is in Politico:
Treason in the House.gov on both sides. Most of the Congress and the Senate have very little idea what is going on. The American public is fed up, and revoting. Yes I meant re voting, we are beginning to see the treason happening in America from the "action" of the Democrates, and the "inaction" of the Republicans. Why are voters reregistering as Independents? Wake up Washington DC Neither party has the interests of this nation at heart anymore. Both parties live only for the glory of their own name in print. They pass bills to get money to their constituants, thinking that is their fulfillment of their duties that they were elected in office to do. It goes much farther than that. Congress and the Senate's major job is the protection of our nation, our borders, our imports, the total infrastructure of our nations highways, our trucking industry to ship our products to market. Congress and the Senate are total failures. If DON CORDELL is elected as president in 2008, a major change will take place in this nation. DON CORDELL will talk to the public "every week" to discuss what every Congressperson and Senator are doing to/and for our citizens. I'm going to be the best watchdog this nation has ever had. I'm running as President to help our citizens get an honest government, and to stop these billions spent every year on Pork, while really necessary things that need to be done are ignored. On my website I disclose 163 Pork items that have nothing to do with the security and safety of our nation. So when you check out DonCordellforPresident.com you will see the TREASON planned to destroy America by your elected officials living it up in Washington DC. If this isn't important to you, then, "Welcome to the North American Union". Your new government coming in 2009. Posted By: Don Cordell | August 04, 2007 at 07:47 PM
This one was found in the Washington Post:
Bailouts by our elected officials, and you will continue to elect Republicans or Democrats expecting change each time?
How can you ignore that many who lost homes, did so, because they were laid off when their company decided to outsource or move production out of the United States.
There is only one Independant Candidate running for President that will stop this.
You all have until Nov. 4th to make sure what your candidate is going to do, to return jobs to America. Stop giving your money to those who don't care if you are solvent or not as long as they live the good life.
It is sickening to see at least 1.6 million Americans homeless, living on the street because they lost everything when their company left America. Do you want more of this for our nation?
Do you want "Change you can believe in?" or do you have the Courage to elect someone who will Restore America to the Pride we use to have, to offer everyone a chance to succeed?
On Nov 4th don't make a mistake, unless you want to see more of this treason happening.
You keep electing one party or the other, and you are expecting "Change"? I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale, Cash only. That makes just as much sense.
Study what candidates are really offering to you. Don't buy a Pig in a Poke, examine those campaign promises, and elect someone who is telling you the truth that you don't want to believe in. You can't afford Free Medical Care, some one pays for Free.
Posted by: Don Cordell | October 9, 2008 12:45 AM
As for his running-mate, Cordell selected the libertarian Republican icon, Ron Paul--
If you write in “Don Cordell” for President on your ballot, that will show our government, that citizens can still run this nation. (I want Ron Paul for my Vice President, David E. Kendall for Attorney General, real Americans I am proud of)
In 2008 Ron Paul was still a sitting member of the US House of Representatives for his district in Texas. Although he had indeed been a member of the Libertarian Party and was even their Presidential nominee in 1988, he always operated as a card-carrying Republican when holding public office, albeit somewhat as an outlier. Like Cordell himself, Paul subscribes to a number of anti-government conspiracy theories. If Rep. Paul was aware he was the VP choice for Cordell, I found no record of it.
Rep. Paul had been running for President in the Republican primaries in 2008, usually standing out in the debates as being the most vocal candidate to oppose the foreign military adventures that had been initiated by the George W. Bush administration. By June 2008 it was obvious lightning wasn't going to strike and Paul dropped out of the race with not enough delegates to really make an impact.
Some call him conservative, or a libertarian Republican, but I have always thought of Ron Paul as a political party unto himself beyond conventional classification not unlike Ralph Nader. Paul enjoys a base of support that some commentators describe as a personality cult. Many of his followers refused to allow his campaign to die in 2008 and by November he was either a certified write-in or actually on the ballot in a few states. Paul's role in all of this seemed to be mostly passive. 1996 Third party VP Edwin Vieira Jr. (Independent, with Lawrence Topham) was among those in the Draft Paul effort.
In the end, Rep. Paul endorsed Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party for President.
It is difficult to ascertain how many votes were earned by the Cordell/Paul ticket since the Presidential candidate was not on any ballots or even a registered write-in in any state. Cordell expressed more than one sour grape on his website shortly after the election--
You have tried Republicans
You have tried Democrats
It was time to try the best!
“YOU HAD ANOTHER CHOICE”
“INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE” Don Cordell As the President, of the United States of America
For a “new and improved” Presidency
The common sense Candidate
But you elected Mr.Obama
I see Americans celebrating that Obama has won the election, I hope your cheers are not in vain; when our nation still continues to self-destruct.
I believe the election of Mr. Obama is the worst mistake American citizens could have ever made. I hope I’m wrong, but his plans may for our future may be more of a disaster than you could ever hope for. But YOU wanted CHANGE, well change is not always good.
I will see if you are still celebrating 6 months from now. I know many think that Obama is going to save our future, so did the Cubans when Castro took command. So did Venezuelans when they elected Chavez, I just hope your cheers don’t turn in to tears.
You think your problems are now over, that America will be saved, that your life will become trouble free.
I only wish that were true; I’m afraid you are in for continued problems and shock.
Americans have made their choice, and you have to live with the choice decided by the voters. The election is over, watch the gas prices next April, and be ready for shock.
When next July comes, and you are still facing foreclosures, job layoffs, rapidly rising prices, rationing of $6/gallon gasoline, and many other failures of our elected representatives in Washington DC. What are you going to do?
I will be here for you when you decide the only solution is to RECALL this President that you just elected. Because: If citizens do not see immediate solutions to unemployment, and the collapse of our finances. When the Changes Obama promised do not happen, that Jobs, and stopping foreclosures do not happen as his first action, Then what? If this does not happen immediately, then Americans must look for another solution, NOW.
America cannot survive another 4 Years of the way our nation is going. I know things are not going to get better, and you know it down deep inside. All you have is hope.
You just believe there is nothing YOU can do to change things, so you elected Mr. Obama.
Well you VOTED, and you’re hoping for the best, you voted for Change, but “no matter whom you voted for”, our elected officials are not going to Change one iota of the plans to continue Globalization as our future. President Elect Obama is still limited of what he can do, by Congress, and the New World Order plans to take over our nation. Your jobs are gone, to globalize the world.
When Cordell ran for President in 2012, his VP choice was Jesse Ventura. In 2016 and 2020 (at age 93!) Cordell apparently did not designate a running-mate. Ron Paul would go on to lose the Republican primaries four years later and subsequently be drafted for an independent Presidential run by some supporters in 2012 just as he was in 2008.
The campaign (2008) (Zilaitis):
Attorney Frank D. Zilaitis of Melbourne, Fla. filed as an Independent for President with the FEC in June, 2007 under the committee name of Frank for the Folks '08.
Zilaitis had a five-point platform entitled Frank's Five for the Folks--
1. Clean House
We must "clean house" in Washington, D.C. We must take back our government from the "Two-Party Pirates" who have collectively failed us miserably. Every member of the United States House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate should be voted home on November 4, 2008. The President and Vice-President are already on their way. I expect to be the 44th President of the United States after running the most intense grass roots campaign in the history of our nation. I expect to serve with a Vice-President who is as motivated as I am to implement the remainder of Frank's Five for the Folks. I expect to serve with 435 new members of the United States House and 33 new members of the Senate who will have promised during their campaigns to support and implement Frank's Five for the Folks. After these independent thinkers take their oaths of office in January 2009, I expect to see serious changes to their rules of procedure. For example, I expect every bill forwarded to me to contain only a single subject, as is required by the Constitution in my home state of Florida. I further expect any bill that comes to my desk to be accompanied by a "Fiscal Impact Statement" so it is absolutely clear what the cost of the bill will be to the Folks. With these new rules in place in the Capitol, we can move on to the substantive issues.
2. Fair Tax
I realize it is pure fantasy to expect Hillary, Barack, Tom, Duncan and any other candidates for president to take time from their campaigns to do their present jobs in Congress and pass H.R. 25 (and its companion S. 1025) described herein. Therefore, I expect the first substantive order of business of a fresh-faced 111th Congress to be the elimination of all income-based taxes. This action will remove the fiscal drag on our economy. Income taxes, including payroll, estate and gift taxes, must be replaced by the Fair Tax, which is a national sales tax. Our present and previous congresses have been holding this consumption-based tax hostage. (H.R. 25 - "The Fair Tax Act" - in the House and S. 1025 in the Senate). I expect the 111th Congress to deliver this bill to me for my signature within ten days after I take office. I will also properly recognize and honor Congressman John Linder and the genuine supporters of H.R. 25 for their attempts to free the Fair Tax bill from captivity during their service in the 110th and previous congresses. I expect the 111th Congress to pass the appropriate constitutional amendment needed to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment and the associated constitutional conventions among the states to take place within nine months of the passage of the Fair Tax Act. Upon ratification of the Fair Tax by the States, every penny of our hard-earned income, from whatever source we receive it, will be ours to consume, save or invest - our way. The federal government will shrink because the IRS will be abolished. We will have more control over government spending by having the choice of what taxable goods and services we ultimately consume. The national sales tax (approximately 23%, inclusive) will be a barometer to gauge our performance in Washington. I recognize what I perceive to be the only valid criticism of the Fair Tax - one-time double taxation of savings; however, since the savings rate in general has turned negative for the first time in U.S. history, I believe that the cost of implementing the Fair Tax is at an all-time low in this regard.
3. No Deficit / No Debt
Deficit spending and the associated national debt must be eliminated. Fiscal discipline must set the tone for attacking all other issues. I will ask Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment so we can start paying down the debt that, if left unchecked at today's pace, will fiscally bury our children and grandchildren. I expect passage of such an amendment and subsequent ratification by the States to run in parallel with the events related to implementing the Fair Tax.
4. Peace at Home / Peace in the World
A national security plan must be articulated in detail and then properly executed. We must establish peace at home so we are a beacon for peace throughout the world. This means we must first affirmatively identify everyone who is residing here in the United States and motivate them to be legal and productive members of our great nation. The Fair Tax, with its "prebate" component, can bring us a long way to achieving this objective. Our United States military will be deployed at home to bring us the rest of the way. We must then establish an energy plan that eliminates our dependence upon oil. The next logical step would be to minimize dependence upon fossil-based fuels. In this area, I expect to work closely with the 111th Congress and our scientific and engineering communities. Together, we shall establish a National Energy Competition that will result in significant monetary bonuses to those who compete and win "EnerPrizes." These awards will be based upon the achievement of precisely defined goals and objectives that can be measured with certainty. These goals and objectives will include components requiring a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions so our scientists may continue their studies of the global warming issue.
5. Honor Our Fathers and Mothers
The Medicare and Social Security programs must be properly funded to avoid bankruptcy in 2019 and 2041, respectively. We must neither breach these social contracts between generations nor steal from younger generations to deal with the problem. Yes, I mean "steal." If you are my age, you are hopefully aware that, several years ago (during our W-2 wage-earning years), our government raised our retirement age from 65 to 70. This situation has resulted from, among other things, the fact that the ratio of W-2 wage earners to Social Security recipients has dropped from approximately 160 to 1, when the program was first established, to 3 to 1 today! Once again, the Fair Tax is the answer to properly fund Social Security and Medicare. The burden of funding these important programs will be shifted from the relatively smaller number of wage-earning citizens to the relatively larger number of consuming citizens.
After he had been campaigning for about six months, Zilaitis told a TV reporter, "I actually believe -- and I have no choice but to believe -- that I can be the next 44th president of the United States of America." But on Feb. 11, 2008 he dropped out of the Presidential race and switched to running as an Independent for the US House of Representatives.
In his statement to supporters Zilaitis included, "I am pleased to announce that, effective today, February 11, 2008, I have taken the steps necessary to close my campaign for President of the United States. Why am I happy to close my presidential campaign? Two reasons: 1) The week before last, my U.S. Representative announced that he would not seek re-election; and 2) After Super Tuesday, the viability of conducting an independent petition drive for president became impossible; especially since my choice for running mate, Dr. Ron Paul, effectively announced last week that he was not interested in working outside of the Republican Party."
Whether or not Rep. Paul had actually been in communication with Zilaitis prior to this decision is unknown.
The campaign (2012) (Manis):
Montana security specialist and Elvis impersonator Robert Manis told his political story on his campaign webpage--
My name is Robert Manis and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself.
My Father Robert Manis was born in Ohio and my mother Betty Riley was born in Oklahoma. My father went to school grew up, worked very hard, and moved to Kansas city and met my mother. My mother grew up in McCrory Arkansas, as a little girl it was hard for her to complete school, at an early age my mother worked in the cotton fields to help her family, while her mother, my grandmother was passing away with severe stomach cancer. Later in life my mother moved to Kansas City where she met my Father. In 1967 in the year of our lord Jesus Christ I was brought forth by baptism by my earthly mother, in one of the States of the Union known as the Republic Kansas, in one of the hospitals known as the University Medical Center of Kansas. I attended school in the greater Kansas City area, and then I joined the Navy in 1986, and got out in - 1994. Then I moved to Las Vegas, working as an entertainer, I was a Elvis Presley Tribute Artist, during my stay in Las Vegas I also worked in security, at one of the major hotels that employed approx. 2500 people where I was a Security Supervisor, watching over 15 -20 security officers at a time. March 7, 2007 my wife and I moved to a little town called Joliet in Montana, where we purchased a little restaurant called The Homestead Café & Pizza, our Business did well, however, there where several issues in the town including Hate Crimes so we closed our door (February 2010) for personal safety reason, and reopened our other Restaurant in Red Lodge Montana December 1, 2010 inside the Bull & Bear Saloon where I had a chance to meet some of you first hand where we have had great conversations about the future of our country and the path that we are all headed down. In 2008- 2009 I private contracted with a D.O.D contracting company as a force protection officer in the Middle East. When I came home in 2009 I was so tired of everything that has and is taking place in our country. And that’s when I decided to STAND up and fight back and make a difference. I woke up at 5:30 am, and as I was brushing my teeth I was asking myself all of these Questions and then I said to myself, shut up, and stop complaining and step up to the plate and make a difference. It was at that moment that I decided to run for the President of the United States of America. I decided that it was time for me to Stand Up and make a Difference. You see, if you don’t complain that means that you are happy and content with your life and the path you are on. If you complain and your not happy with your life, and the path that you are on, then when given the opportunity to step up the plate and make a difference, you should take advantage of that opportunity when it presents itself and do something about it.
I am running as an independent citizen and do not belong to any special interest groups.
Thank you for visiting my web site and please feel free to look around and don’t forget to check out our Get Involved page, and our Latest News and Events page. Don’t forget to pass this web site to all of your friends and family. Check back with us to see what’s new.
And remember Elect Robert Manis for President of the United States of America in 2012.
Click here to sign Robert's petition
Manis produced a couple campaign Youtube videos and on one them, dated Nov. 2, 2012, he indicated Ron Paul was his running-mate.
The Manis/Paul ticket did not appear on any ballots nor were they registered as write-ins in any state.
Election history:
1974 - US House of Representatives (Tex.) (Republican) - defeated
1976-1977 - US House of Representatives (Tex.) (Republican) (special election)
1976 - US House of Representatives (Tex.) (Republican) - defeated
1979-1985 - US House of Representatives (Tex.) (Republican)
1984 - US Senate (Tex.) (Republican) - primary - defeated
1988 - US President (Libertarian Party) - defeated
1997-2013 - US House of Representatives (Tex.) (Republican)
2008 - Republican nomination for US President - defeated
2008 - US President (Independent Republican/Libertarian Party/Louisiana Taxpayers Party/Constitution Party) - defeated
2012 - Republican nomination for US President - defeated
2012 - US President (Independent Republican/Write-in) - defeated
Other occupations: US Air Force, doctor (obstetrics and gynecology), newsletter publisher, coin dealer
Notes:
Paul's paternal grandfather emigrated from Germany.
Winner of the 1984 race was Phil Gramm.
