Posted on 08/27/2012 7:57:40 PM PDT by maggiesnotebook
I don't have a lot of background on this depressing story, but will lead you to what I have. It seems the GOP is attempting to change the rules of how delegates work within the party, which includes allowing the presumptive presidential nominee to replace delegates elected by the states. Three points are laid out:
1) Delegates will be bound to vote in proportion to the popular vote regardless of any other considerations.
2) The presumed nominee or his agents will be able to remove or replace delegates from state conventions at will.
3) The members of the RNC may, at any time between conventions change any of the party rules by a 3/4 vote.
The three points come from an open letter written by David Nalle, a Libertarian. I have little background on him. I do not know if this has anything to do with Ron Paul delegates. Here's more from Nalle.
Now there are those in Tampa who seek to overturn this traditional structure of the party, set restrictions on the free choice of party members and introduce a new and alien process which would minimize the input of the party’s rank and file and put power in the hands of party leaders and wealthy special interests who can buy the loyalty of the mob.They have borrowed the organizing structure of the Democrats and authored rules which would cause our delegates to be bound by the votes of primary voters who may not be Republicans or share our values.
They have also proposed that the presumed presidential nominee could remove our elected delegates at whim.
Finally they want to remove control over the rule making process from the state parties to a small elite within the national committee of the party who can change the rules under which the party operates at any time. Without fixed rules arrived at by the consent of the rank and file of the party we become pawns rather than participants in the political process.
These proposals which have come out of the Rules Committee in Tampa are contrary to the basic character of the party and they are opposed by many delegates who were not part of the handpicked group of insiders which dominated the committee. Delegates from many states are speaking out in opposition and members of the committee who believe in a bottom-up party structure have issued a minority report to challenge what amounts to a powergrab by elite insiders and the Romney campaign.
Arlen Williams, GulagBound via PJ Tattler:
Social media is atwitter with protest from Republican delegates and grassroots activists as the Republican National Convention stands poised to vote on proposed rule changes which will fundamentally transform the process for nominating future presidential candidates. In an open letter to delegates in Tampa, Republican Liberty Caucus national chairman Dave Nalle summarizes what is at stake and urges opposition from the floor of the convention next week.
The text of the proposed rule changes is attached to Nalle’s letter. The RNC rules committee approved the changes last week. But the rules will not go into affect unless approved by the convention this week. If passed, these rules will make it significantly more difficult for minority delegations to effectively participate in the convention process.
I loathe having to criticize anything happening in Tampa right now. What Ron Paul does or does not do, and what his supporters at the RNC do or do not do is concerning, but this may be more than controlling Paul supporters. The Tattler makes this additional statement:
It is worth pondering why the architects of these rule changes feel it necessary to shut out new blood. This “coup” as Nalle calls it is no doubt in response to the limited success of the Ron Paul organization in a handful of caucus states. Yet, Paul was unable to secure the plurality of delegates in fives states necessary to secure a speaking appearance at the national convention. His campaign never posed a credible threat to presumptive nominee Mitt Romney. So why act to silence such a slim minority within the party? Why not embrace their contribution and grow the party? Making the process more esoteric and inaccessible will only insulate future campaigns from the grassroots activists they need to recruit and motivate in order to succeed.
Nalle says the Texas delegation is beginning oppose the changes. Sarah Palin says if the Party Platform isn't honored, a third party will be on the rise. As to a third party, I'm ready for it after Romney-Ryan exits in January 2021. We need to be working on it immediately. Have you heard about these rule change attempts, and what do you think about it? Is all hell getting ready to break loose in Tampa?
Saint Mitt is just trying to protect us from the dragon Ron Paul.
Go for it! If they enact those rules, the GOP IS FINISHED!!!
We will not be dictated to by a bunch of e-RINO elites sipping martinis and scotch in Georgetown.
This is the dumbest idea I have seen this political season (from Republicans) and is almost Soviet in its disdain for the people who make up the Conservative and Libertarian wings.
From 1964 GOP warned to beware of extremists (George Romney)
At upper left.
See Post #3. The fight has been averted for now—there appears to have been a compromise.
Wake up. Down page on forum is an open letter from a delegate with the nuts and bolts details that grassroots opinion, T Party opinion, gun rights advocates, and pro lifers are booted at the whim of a primary candidate with the most votes, whether it’s 20 votes or 200 votes.
Go for it! If they enact those rules, the GOP IS FINISHED!!!
GOP is already finished & the gop and romney are to thank for it. I know that no one has been polling prolife, profamily, social conservatives. They are misleading republicans because so many Pro-life, Conservative, Christians who say no gay privileges,...are not voting for him. When are they going to poll them?
I see these blog posts day after day, what’s up with that?
The rules change has been squashed!
I received a message on FB from one of our lead Texas delegates that the rule has been taken down.
There was a massive grassroots delegate firestorm brewing and the GOP elite backed down.
Also, Michelle Malkin has an update on the status of this on her website.
” - - - the GOP is attempting to change the rules - - -”
On another FR thread, they said a compromise had been reached.
Your quote states that the attempt is still being made.
Which is it?
Tough. You get to be a delegate you get power. There’s something wrong with that?
Welcome to the “Overton Window”.
The grassroots opposition has worked and the insiders back down to a more reasonable proposal - to simple require delegates to live up to their commitments to support a committed candidate. See:
Perdogg, thanks. We’ll see what happens with Nos. 1 and 3. If they are resolved, it wasn’t clear to me.
Now mind you the way delegates for the national convention are selected is absolutely foul. The process stinks and it make the whole convention illegitimate in my opinion.
Graewoulf, the nominee will not be able to change delegates at will. I don’t know about the other two issues. It’s changing by the minute.
Can you believe these idiots sacrificed a night on Television, which they so desperately needed, because it might rain? you cant make that up!! What a bunch of oscar myer weenies!!. Now, I am going to vote for Paul Ryan , I have made up my mind. But Romney wants to kill the baby if mommy is “raped”. What is rape? Is it love at night and “rape” in the morning?I say “rape is this— If mommy does testify at the trial— then it’s “rape” romney does’nt follow OUR PLATFORM!! UCMTU. Romney is very close to the edge of oblivion like “read my lips” and Mc Amnesty. I assure you, he better sing our tune in his speech or it’s “BYE BYE”
About my No 3 which is the RNC No. 12 - the power to change RNC rules between conventions with no input from grassroots delegates still stands and no compromise has been reached on it.
See the Malkin link somewhere here on this board, and scroll way down her article.
Thanks.
Perdogg’s thread tonight is “Republicans reach rule change deal to avert floor fight.”
Hotlink to article also.
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