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How Cruz Took Down Trump: An Interview With a Delegate
The Huffington Post ^ | April 26, 2016 | by John A. Tures

Posted on 04/26/2016 6:51:52 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

My local congressional district became one of those battlegrounds that we see playing out across the country, as Ted Cruz supporters outflank Donald Trump backers at the little-known, little-attended Republican Party meetings to select delegates to the national convention. Here's one delegate's story of how it all went down.

Q: Who won the district? If Trump won it, why didn't pro-Trump delegates win at the meeting?

A: The primary dictates how the delegates are to vote on the first ballot. It doesn't dictate who the people are that are elected to represent the convention body at the RNC.

Q: Did any Trump supporters show up? How did they take the results?

A: I would estimate that of all the delegates casting votes, approximately 20% to 25% were Trump supporters. They were understandably upset that their slate did not get approved by the convention body. I spent most of the morning explaining to the leader of their group exactly what was going on and how things were going to move forward. I wanted to make sure they were comfortable with understanding the process.

Q: Why do you think the results went down the way they did?

A: The delegates wanting to support Trump were just late getting involved in the process. I don't think the campaign fully understood how important the actual delegates could be if it came down to a brokered convention. Once it became obvious that the convention may go that route, it was too late to start the process. The delegate process started with mass precinct meetings in February. In February it looked like Trump would easily walk away with the nomination.

(Excerpt) Read more at huffingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia; US: New York; US: Ohio; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; demagogicparty; election2016; huffingtonpost; huffpo; inyourheadrentfree; johnkasich; memebuilding; newyork; ohio; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; presidentdonaldtrump; puffho; puffingtonhost; putdownthecrackpipe; tedcruz; texas; trump
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To: Fantasywriter

Should have been, ‘ethics is the first casualty.’


41 posted on 04/26/2016 8:13:34 AM PDT by Fantasywriter (Any attempt to do forensic work using Internet artifacts is fraught with pitfalls. JoeProbono)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Cruz is running the dumbest campaign I’ve ever seen. Working for second ballot while losing the big ballot. I mean he has skipped so many states throughout this campaign. Concentrating on Utah, Wisconsin and California but ignoring Arizona, all the northeast states, New Hampshire (to concentrate on South Carolina),and Florida and probably others was dumb!


42 posted on 04/26/2016 8:16:42 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Roughly 60% of republican voters DO NOT want Trump.”

Couldn’t it also be said that more Republicans want Trump than any other candidate? Can you please explain your point and why it’s not just pretzel logic?


43 posted on 04/26/2016 8:17:03 AM PDT by SoCalConservative
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To: Fantasywriter

You call securing loyal down-ballot delegates “backstabbing”. I call it running for president.


44 posted on 04/26/2016 8:17:09 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: dynoman
I said Trump has a plan.

Indeed you did. I want to know your plan. Or does someone else do all your thinking for you.

45 posted on 04/26/2016 8:18:42 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Slyfox
"Just late getting involved in the process" is code for "not in our little club." The people involved in the delegate process, for the most part, do it as a hobby. Many of us don't have time to "get involved" months or even years in advance. Doesn't mean we're dumb, it took me about an hour of research to get a good handle on how the process works, but it means the people who have been involved with the delegate process year after year, going to every convention, aren't going to give up *their* spot, their big toot, to some nobody.

I'm going to stand for delegate at my county caucus this weekend. Will I get chosen? Hell no. Not because I'm stupid, ignorant of the rules, or wobbly on conservatism, but because I haven't been coffee-klatching and butt-thumbing with the insiders for the past 10 years.

Another thing, it's a damned expensive hobby. I'm comfortable standing for delegate mainly because I know I probably won't be selected. In the unlikely event that I'm selected, I can afford the trip -- at the expense of things I'd rather spend money on.

46 posted on 04/26/2016 8:20:03 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Don't Tread On Me)
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To: SoCalConservative

See post #23 to un-pretzel the logic.


47 posted on 04/26/2016 8:21:00 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Oh for stupid, now you make it about me personally. It’s not about me. People like you always want to take it personal, and usually and eventually default to ad hominem. I know why people like you do that and I don’t play that game.

How about you stick with the issues and NOT the posters.


48 posted on 04/26/2016 8:22:18 AM PDT by dynoman (Objectivity is the essence of intelligence. - Marilyn vos Savant)
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To: SkyPilot
the same old song and dance about how us rubes don't understand “The Process” and how it is “ignorance” of us rubes that is the real problem.

Yep absolutely and I have been a listener for 27 years. He is even worse on his ditto cam as he throws his hands in the air and rolls his eyes when talking to the morons that support Trump. He ridicules the caller to his crew off mike but can be clearly seen on the ditto cam. Maybe he should turn the camera off when a Trumpest calls.

49 posted on 04/26/2016 8:22:32 AM PDT by itsahoot (Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

No, you’re actually comparing apples and oranges here. The Electoral College serves a very different purpose than the delegate process. Looks like you’re throwing anything out there now in hopes something will stick. Do a little research and study on the subject matter, otherwise your arguments cease to have any merit whatsoever. You are dripping with desperation at this point, much like Cruz.


50 posted on 04/26/2016 8:23:38 AM PDT by SoCalConservative
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To: napscoordinator
Cruz is running the dumbest campaign I've ever seen. Working for second ballot while losing the big ballot

Are you 100% sure Mr. Trump will win 1237 on the first ballot? What happens if he doesn't? Is he prepared? Are you?

Sen. Cruz is. So is his team.

51 posted on 04/26/2016 8:23:58 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

And roughly 80% of Republican voters do not want either of the establishment pukes Cruz or Kasich.


52 posted on 04/26/2016 8:24:42 AM PDT by meadsjn
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Wouldn't you expect a serious presidential candidate to have a Plan B?

When you can't possibly win and Cruz can't I would expect him to drop out and return the people's money, but that wouldn't smart, after all people gave it to him, him, him.

53 posted on 04/26/2016 8:25:04 AM PDT by itsahoot (Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

See, here come the ad hominem, strawman, red herring, and moving goalpost logical fallacies. So typical, transparent, and pathetic.


54 posted on 04/26/2016 8:25:13 AM PDT by dynoman (Objectivity is the essence of intelligence. - Marilyn vos Savant)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer; Regulator
It's been that way all your life. And your parents life. Grandparents too. Possibly even your great-great-grandparents life.

That is precisely the problem. The system is archaic. In the past when limitations on travel time and the dissemination of information were prohibitive, it made sense to send delegates to a convention. The assumption was that the delegate that I sent would represent me in the nominating process.

What happens at conventions today is a far cry from what it was originally intended to do. I'm certain that back room dealing has been around since there have been delegates at conventions, but the time has come to do away with them both.

Given that candidates can get their messages out to people all over the country at the same time and the same speed using modern media and the internet, a simple run-off election would be a much better process.

55 posted on 04/26/2016 8:25:34 AM PDT by CapitalistCrusader
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To: bigbob
This comment from a person who just used the personal pronoun "I" three times in explaining that Rush talks too much about himself.

Sounds like you may have the same affliction. Just sayin'.

56 posted on 04/26/2016 8:26:25 AM PDT by HotHunt
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
What is your plan to “un-rig” the system?

I guess re-electing the rigged system will solve the problem?

57 posted on 04/26/2016 8:26:59 AM PDT by itsahoot (Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Sorry, nothing at post 23 pertains to this matter? Can you try that again? Not trying to be a wise guy with you, but what you say just isn’t making a whole lot of sense to me.


58 posted on 04/26/2016 8:28:53 AM PDT by SoCalConservative
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Even fewer want Cruz.


59 posted on 04/26/2016 8:30:09 AM PDT by dforest (Ted took your money and is laughing all the way to Goldman Sachs)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I feel like I’m talking to a child. Supporting Cruz regresses a person, at least ethically.

Prior to the convention (mentioned above), a high-school wide vote was conducted. Delegates were selected proportionally, depending on what percentage of the vote each candidate won. I don’t recall the figures, but let’s stipulate that the frontrunner won forty percent of the vote.

The delegation our high school sent to the convention would have included a forty-percent contingent committed to the frontrunner. Delegates for this contingent were selected from the pool of students who actually voted for this candidate. They were supposed to be his supporters, who at least initially preferred him to all other candidates.

No suppose I was a lying, cheating, dishonest, backstabbing jerk. I could have *pretended* to support the frontrunner just so I would be selected as one of his delegates. But my plan from the outset was betrayal; once I’d been forced to vote for him on the first ballot, then NEVER again! Thereafter I’d have staunchly supported my REAL choice...the one I backstabbed the frontrunner in order to support.

Of course none of this will make sense to you. As I said, ethics is the first loss when you go all in for an Adult Child of Alcoholics.


60 posted on 04/26/2016 8:33:07 AM PDT by Fantasywriter (Any attempt to do forensic work using Internet artifacts is fraught with pitfalls. JoeProbono)
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