Stone: Even If Trump Wins 1,237 Delegates, Cruz Could Use "Procedural" Means To take...

RealClear Politics ^ | April 20, 2016 | Tim Haines

[Beautiful_Gracious_Skies]

Trump strategist Roger Stone tells NJ 101.5 radio that even if Donald Trump wins a majority of pledged delegates to the Republican convention, Cruz will utilize "Trojan horse" delegates (who are bound to vote for Trump only on the first RNC nomination ballot) to vote on "procedural" matters in the Rules Committee or Credentials committee to block or disallow certain votes.

ROGER STONE: Unfortunately just because Donald Trump gets the 1,237 [delegates needed to win], doesn't mean we aren't going to have a brokered convention. My sources, who are pretty good in the Republican Party, indicate to me that Ted Cruz intends to work a "rules strategy" to try to euchre this nomination away from Donald Trump.

In kind of a shady, using political trickery and so on, utilizing these Trojan Delegates we have been talking about -- Where Trump delegates, from the results of the primary -- those seats are filled with non-Trump voters, non-Trump supporters who will vote against Trump on procedural issues in either rules or credentials that could be used to take away his majority.

[Beautiful_Gracious_Skies]

We have to wonder if Cruz' scheming will be accepted by the Rules Committee. This likely depends on the size of Cruz's calvary of 'Trojan horse' delegates. It also may depend upon what reward is being offered for each horse's Judas-performance. Remember that St. Ted's surname 'Cruz' literally means Cross. We must consider that Ted feels ordained by Jesus Christ himself to convince delegates to act as traitors to their candidate and the voters they represent back home.

When Trumps enters the convention having won three dozen states, ~1300 delegates, and ~five million more votes than Cruz, would this Trojan horse delegation have the gall to attempt to overturn the results of the Primary Election?

Any attempt to decide an election based upon "rigging" the rules---post-procedural game changes---and general delegate scheming are not going to be met with acceptance. This man has truly made a mockery of ethical conservative behavior and his own personal form of Christian faith. There are likely quite a few Christians that wished they never sent Cruz a nickel or gave him their vote.

[castlegreyskull]

If he does this, he will probably lose about 50 states.

[ScottinVA]

Relax.. it’s Roger Stone. He talks up this kind of crap whenever he goes off his meds.

[plewis1250]

This is nonsense.

First, Cruz would not do that.
Second, the party would not stand for that.

If Trump hits 1237, he wins. Period.
If he doesn’t, the first person who does on subsequent ballots wins. Period.

[Cobra64]

Yup, and if your assessment becomes reality, I believe Cruz is finished in politics. He’ll have to get a job from Gore selling global warming BS to the unwashed.

[jimbo807]

Ted has shown a propensity to grandstand and shut things down. Wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to burn down the convention and make his “conservative” point.

[grania]

This isn't a threat, it's a concern. If that nomination is stolen from Trump, will we see over a million Trump supporters in Cleveland who finally lose their temper? We can only hope that there are enough sane in-touch delegates to reject this madness.

FWIW, it will be theft if Trump is denied. The CO and WY no-vote mess and the LA and Iowa manipulations, for just a few examples, meet that definition.

[4rcane]

Of course Cruz would. Why isn’t he out of the race now? He’s already mathematically eliminated. He’s trying to steal it via 2nd ballot. That’s the ONLY way and ONLY reason he still in the race

[Uncle Miltie]

As a Cruz supporter, I say, “Don’t do it Ted.”

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ted Cruz has rapidly degenerated, over the course of the primaries, into the Tracy Flick of modern presidential politics.

[SamAdams76]

Yeah, good luck with that!

Even in a worse case scenario for Trump (around 1100 delegates), he's got this wrapped up.

The problem for Cruz? Even if Trump falls short, he will be short by hundreds more. It will be far easier for Trump to come up with 100-150 delegates than for Cruz to come up with 500 or more.

Some people harbor the fantasy that Trump will be stopped just short of the 1,237 needed and he will be "frozen in place" as Cruz magically acquires hundreds of delegates and zooms by Trump on a second ballot.

It's absurd and later on this year, we will all laugh that people actually took that scenario seriously.

[RoosterRedux]

The purpose of this pronouncement by Stone is to make Cruz look even shiftier (if that’s possible).

[Fresh Wind]

First, Cruz would not do that.
Second, the party would not stand for that.

And exactly how do you know this?

[VRWC For Truth]

Aka SCruz is Shillary’s my Little stalking horsey. Quelle suprise!

[IamConservative]

First, Cruz would not do that.

I've been a Cruz supporter from day 1, but as of this week, I'm not sure he wouldn't do anything to try to win. Being competitive and tenacious is mostly a good thing, but you have to know when you've crossed the line and began scorching the earth and poisoning the well for any Republican to have a chance to beat Hillary. That is the ultimate goal of this process.

[Beautiful_Gracious_Skies]

The Florida delegation = 99 and that represents 1,079,870 Trump republican Floridians. Each Florida delegate = over 10,000 Trump republican votes.

Those voters chose Donald Trump. It is reprehensible to consider that Cruz or other GOPe surrogates are scheming or bribing this men and women to falsify their allegiance.

And due FL being a W-T-A state, those 99 Floridians actually now represent all Floridian republicans that voted = 2,361,805. 1 delegate = 24,000 votes.

Cruz is a relentless schemer.

[norwaypinesavage]

If Trump’s team put as much effort into WINNING delegates, instead of WHINING about Cruz, he might actually have a first ballot chance.

[AU72]

I’m voting only for Trump now in November even if I have to write it in.

[BobL]

(re-post from a similar thread)

Do Republican ELECTED SENATORS and ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES understand that if Trump reaches 1237 and then is dumped that they will be DESTROYED in November, as there is NO WAY that we Trump people are about to pull the lever for ANY REPUBLICAN at any level, if the party denies him the nomination.

Do THESE REPUBLICANS understand at all that this is not just about Trump anymore - it is THEIR CAREERS and the careers of their staffs and everyone else associated with the Republican party that is on the line here. About the only Republicans safe this year are the 30 or so Senators that are NOT up for re-election...the rest will be sent packing, if Trump is sent packing.

This is a LOT MORE than just Trump at this point, on the line. It is up to these elected people to put a stop to this crap, if they want to have a job in January.

[Liz]

Cruz has made a mockery of ethical conservative behavior---rigging election outcomes, scheming to poach delegates....and now conniving to rig the convention rules in his favor. Cruz's blind ambition has made him oblivious to the fact that America is watching. His scheming is not going to be met with acceptance.....there are likely quite a few Christians who wished they never sent Cruz a nickel or gave him their vote.

Extremely good points---even if they don't like Trump, the Republican Party would be stupid to throw in with whackjob Cruz and his shady shenanigans. They're not in good standing now w/ the electorate, but the GOP would be forever tarnished by associating w/ lowlife Cruz in full view of American voters.