Posted on 08/28/2012 4:34:50 PM PDT by Clint N. Suhks
At a crucial time for GOP unity, there has been some dissent at the Republican National convention over new rules for delegate selection.
The controversial rules were challenged by grass roots factions of the Republican Party, ultimately resulting in a last minute compromise.
A new RNC rule would have allowed presidential candidates to vet and choose their own delegates, leaving state parties out of the selection process. This angered many grass root party activists, like Ron Paul supporters, because it would limit their ability to gain delegates at future conventions.
Columbus State University political scientist Greg Domin says it cuts out dissenting voices from the mainstream, presumptive candidate’s message:
“You know you’re talking about folks who have a different point of view than say this year’s candidate who will be Mitt Romney, and their voices would ultimately be silenced by this. If you eliminate the state parties from picking their candidate they’re basically becoming homogeneous.”
Julianne Thompson, one of Georgia’s national delegates for Mitt Romney, says taking the power to choose delegates away from states is a dangerous move that threatens grass roots efforts:
“I mean it only stands to reason that delegations would eventually be made up of high donors and personal friends of the nominee instead of representing the actual grass roots which is the heart and soul of the Republican party.”
A compromise was reached late Monday night that candidates would have to consult with state parties in selecting delegates.
I’m done, had it, final straw, I am changing my registration to independent and will not cast a presidential vote. No money for any RNC or any national candidate. I live in Texas and my non-vote will make no difference.
They have pushed me one step too far. Good bye GOP from a member for 42 years.
When they lose, Paul Ryan will join Ron Paul, Todd Akin, Sarah Palin, etc, on the people to blame list.
How to Create a Conservative 3rd Party without helping the Democrats:
Step #1: This election cycle every conservative in a Blue state votes for the Green Party Presidential candidate.
Step #2: Green Party gets at least 5% of the national vote and becomes "official". They may get some government funding, and can argue for a seat at future debates.
Step #3: True believer liberals and socialists now flock to the Green Party because they believe that the Democrats are owned by Wall Street.
Step #4: Republicans regain their majority status as the Democrat Party loses members to the Greens.
Step #5: Create conservative party. Siphon the true believer conservatives away from the Republican Party, without guaranteeing a resurgent Democrat majority.
Admittedly this will take a couple of election cycles even if everything goes as planned. And it requires solidly conservative folks to hold their noses and vote for socialistic Green Party presidential candidates.
But what's the alternative?
The Day The Republican Party Died
I believe future historians will teach that August 24th, 2012 was the day the Republican Party died. This is the day that the Grand Old Party showed it was no longer grand, but merely a party of “Good Old Boys.” The actions of the Credentials and Rules Committees on this date clearly show this to be the case.
I was raised to believe that being a Republican meant having three core beliefs that shape all your political thinking: smallest government possible, governing at the lowest level possible, and thereby keeping taxes as low as possible. Historically, the rules of the RNC have fairly well followed these beliefs; they let the state parties determine what type of process to use (primary/caucus) and how to elect/apportion delegates to the national convention to represent them. The rules of the RNC had gone before the delegates to the national convention before those rules could be changed. The GOP also, historically, espoused that Republicans were persons who held high ethical standards, embodied personal integrity, and were personally responsible for their actions.
In 1975, Ronald Reagan defined Libertarianism as the heart and soul of Conservatism (July 1, 1975, Reason Magazine). Conservatism is what the GOP has claimed it has always stood for. Accepting Ronald Reagan’s definition then means that Libertarianism is the heart and soul of the GOP.
For many years I’ve seen the GOP losing its way. Endorsing bigger and bigger government (at both the state and federal levels), raising taxes, and compromising their principles; explaining it all as the only way to govern effectively. This is not the GOP I believe in. The actions of the RNC on Friday are final, proof positive that the GOP no longer exists. It no longer has any ethics or integrity. I would bet that nobody will accept responsibility for initiating those changes.
During the 2012 election cycle, the GOP had within it a strong resurgence of Libertarianism. The RNC had within its rules a fair way for candidates that were not mainstream (the favorite of the political insiders) to get their names placed on the national convention ballot for consideration to be nominated to run for president of the United States on the Republican ticket. The Libertarian movement within the GOP followed those rules and garnered a plurality of delegates in eight states; only five were required. By ignoring, bending, and outright breaking those rules the Credentialing Committee had previously unseated 3 of those states delegates and allowed the mainstream candidate to replace them with delegates favorable to him.
That left a problem, the Liberty candidate still had the requisite 5 states to be nominated and nobody from those states was challenging those delegations. Then, at the last minute, the chairperson of the Maine Credentialing Committee challenged its own decision that all the state delegates were properly credentialed. This allowed the RNC Credentials Committee to unseat all but five of the delegates from Maine. This is where the “Good Old Boys” party fully begins, on Friday the 24th of August 2012, and the GOP dies…..
By the RNC rules, the remaining delegates from a state are to choose the replacement delegates for that state if delegates are not seated and there are no remaining alternates. The RNC still had a problem at this point. The majority, if not all, of the remaining delegates were part of the Liberty movement and would likely choose like minded replacements; thereby still allowing the Liberty candidate to be nominated from the floor of the convention. The RNC decided, instead of following its own rules, to choose the replacement delegates itself. Those delegates, of course, support the mainstream candidate.
There were several other proposed changes to the rules governing the actions of the RNC that day also:
Change the number of states required to be nominated from the floor from 5 to 8.
Change the delegates required from those states from a plurality to a majority.
Instead of allowing states to determine whether delegates to the national convention are bound or unbound; REQUIRE that all delegates be bound to vote a for a certain candidate.
All of these proposed changes are relatively insignificant in comparison to one. That rule is not a change, but a proposed additional rule. In short, it allows the RNC to change or add any rule it wants, at any time it wants, without that change or addition having to be approved by the full delegation of the national convention. This rule effectively ends any power to affect the direction of the Republican Party the voters may have remaining.
As I understand, the convention delegates will have two chances to approve/disapprove the proposed rules. However, since the RNC has stacked the delegation in favor of their chosen candidate, it is highly likely that the rules will be approved as presented. That will be final nail in the coffin of the GOP.
I find it appalling that the RNC would so blatantly lock out a known 20% of its electorate, the heart and soul of its electorate, after so many years of pandering to 8% of it. I say 20% because that is the percentage being quoted as Liberty minded or Constitutional conservatives. That 20% is perceived to be “newcomers” to the party; primarily young people that have recently found a political voice in the Liberty movement and became active in the party in an attempt to be heard. Personally, I think there are many more than 20%. They are people like me who have been active for years, but have not previously found much support in the party, at least not vocal support. From my own personal experience, when I started to speak out against the party supporting platform planks that were clearly unconstitutional; I found many more like me that felt the same way. Based on those whom I’ve spoken with, I would guess that the Liberty or Constitutional conservatives represent at least 50% of the party, if not more.
Is the GOP truly dead? After the actions of August 24th, 2012, in my mind; yes. Will the party disappear? I doubt it.
The Liberty movement has made itself known and is, at least partially, now represented in RNC; where it was not before. It now has the ability to begin shaping the future of the GOP. I fully encourage all Liberty minded people to become active at whatever level they are comfortable participating at. Whether this means talking to others and showing them the light of what a truly constitutionally conservative party can be or becoming active on a precinct, county, state, and/or national level; be active.
We ARE the future of the new Republican party, but it will not be given to us. The current insiders have shown they will not play by the rules, even their own rules, so we must reclaim the party; redefine, reshape, and redirect it so it once again becomes a truly Grand Old Party.
Whether the party is fractured beyond repair or will be reborn remains to be seen. In either case, I think that future historians will mark August 24th, 2012 as the day the Republican Party died. Iowa State delegate, Bryan Sutton.
“Morton Blackwell, like Cooch, is a very good conservative man.”
Absolutely, the best.
“Its an Alinsky tactic of denigrating your opposition by attaching them to someone perceived as bad. I’m no fan of Ron Paul but I stand with those people who are there today and I say that this has seriously damaged Romney’s chances in November and it won’t matter one bit who they blame. Interestingly enough it looks like Mitt is just finishing what his daddy started before stomping offstage like a little girl in 64. (1964) GOP Warned to beware extremists. May destroy republicans; Romney He called conservatives, “Birchers, racists, etc” before throwing his tantrum. Then he and the other “moderates” actively worked to defeat Goldwater. Once they succeed, they’ve spent the next 50 years pointing to Goldwater’s defeat as proof that we have to be more moderate. These clowns have a truckload of bad ju ju headed their way”
Perceptive analysis and excellent post, cripplecreek.
The GOP came about due to the transitional Freesoil party. They were anti slavery but favored a containment strategy which attracted abolitionist democrats and Whigs who just wanted to stop slavery one way or another.
They failed in their attempt to elect a president but they did elect a surprising number of congressmen. The republican party popped up with just the right combination of issues to attract Whigs, Freesoilers and Democrats.
“Looks like Boehner has a spine, all right. He only uses it against conservatives. I believe these RINOs are really Dems in Pub clothing. The party has been infiltrated by the other side so that there will be only one party in reality.”
I could say Boehner is a slimy weasel, but that would be too kind.
If Romney wins, and Republicans win the Senate and keep the House, there will be no meaningful change if McConnell and Boehner remain in leadership roles. They are a big part of the problem and will see to it that Mordor on the Potomac is not cut down to size.
I think Romney, aided by a GOP Congress, probably does more long term damage to America than a second term Obama, opposed by a GOP Congress.
For a present day small example of Romney already actively working to undermine our Constitution simply read this thread; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2913133/posts
Then think of Richard Nixon and the EPA, GHWB and the Americans with Disabilities Act, both tools being used to destroy our country. Imagine the damage Romney can do in four years with a Congress that will be forced to rubberstamp his ObamaCare, EPA and ADA type plans.
Obama will be forced to fight that very same Congress.
I could say Boehner is a slimy weasel, but that would be too kind.
If Romney wins, and Republicans win the Senate and keep the House, there will be no meaningful change if McConnell and Boehner remain in leadership roles. They are a big part of the problem and will see to it that Mordor on the Potomac is not cut down to size
I couldn’t have said it better. Boehner and McConnell are the epitome of gop-e.
“I believe these RINOs are really Dems in Pub clothing.”
The GOP-e is merely the democrats’ “away jersey”; flip side of the same coin.
LLS
My “republican” governor and friend O Mitty sure doesn’t behave as if he expects Obamacare to be overturned. He’s pushing ahead by executive order.
Gov. Snyder’s Obamacare ‘Partnership’ Misguided
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/17420
http://congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=http://johnboehner.house.gov
Beohner lives in West Chester, Ohio.
His zip code is 45069-2382.
His area code is 513.Exchange-779.
E-mail him from the comfort of your chair and tell him how pissed off you are—I did. WE put him where he IS.
I’ve got a grade A conservative congressman to vote for and Pete Hoekstra is an acceptable compromise candidate I can stomach. Plus tea partier Rob Steele is running for a board of regents seat at UofM.
I'm afraid she's absolutely correct. I think we should make it through this election, vote out Bowbama, and immediately start a grassroots third party. Two years to establish a third party before the next Congressional elections and four to the next Presidential election. Can be done!
Cooch - an italian slang term for crotch - just sayin - I lke the guy - this just made me laugh though
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