Posted on 07/13/2016 3:29:39 PM PDT by Pinkbell
Anti-Donald Trump forces are within striking distance of getting a vote on a measure aimed at challenging his nomination at the GOP convention next week.
An NBC News whip count of convention Rules Committee delegates finds that the Free the Delegates movement -- a grassroots group of delegates pushing a rules change to allow bound delegates to vote their "conscience" -- can count on at least 16 delegates open to the change based on delegates' public statements, backgrounds and social media profiles.
That's more than halfway to the 28 votes Trump detractors would need to produce a minority report on their proposal, which would give it a vote on the convention floor. At least four more delegates are undecided, while the positions of another 24 remain unknown and 68 have either gone on-record as opposed or their history of support for Trump suggests they would be.
The effort could get a boost from Utah Sen. Mike Lee and his wife, two delegates on the Rules Committee that both the Trump campaign and Free the Delegates operatives expect to vote in favor of the conscience clause. Lee was an early endorser and remains a good friend of Sen. Ted Cruz, and remains fiercely critical of the presumptive GOP nominee.
Lee's support could give cover to undecided delegates wary of backlash from GOP leaders and sway some undecideds.
But a top strategist involved in the Trump campaign's delegate operations expressed confidence the proposal would die in the committee, saying the Free the Delegates movement has a "continually lessening chance" of success.
"We're peeling people off" with their whip efforts, strategist said.
If anti-Trump forces do get a minority report in hand, the movement would need majority support from the full convention on the floor — and they insist they have the votes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Oh really? That's not for them to decide on the first ballot. They knew the rules when they signed up. They aren't representing themselves. They are representing the voters.
"I mean, these delegates want the world to know, and this country to know, that not every Republican's in lockstep with Donald Trump."
So what? He won the primary. You don't represent every republican. You represent the will of the voters in your state. You don't represent yourself on the first ballot. Would you say this if Ted Cruz had gotten the nomination and situations were reversed? I highly doubt it, so sit down and do your job.
The article goes on to say that no matter what happens at the rules committee, Waters is going to push a floor fight regardless of whether they get a minority report for the conscience clause"...based on an esoteric reading of the RNC's rules that states that delegates aren't bound to begin with."
The article says Trump has a team in place that is going to fight this stuff. These people are unbelievable. What are they going to do if they succeed? Who will they put in there? How can they claim whoever they put in represents Republicans and the party when the person either got millions less votes or got no votes at all. The only two people from this field I could possibly see doing it are Jeb! but most likely Kasich. Kasich is a big enough jerk where he wouldn't care.
“What are they going to do if they succeed? Who will they put in there?”
They are Ted Cruz loons that still haven’t figured out they are actually working for Romney.
This is all being bankrolled by the Chamber and open borders lobby. Also the corporate donor class status quoers.
Trump will be the only “R” I vote for this year. The rest will be third party or write in. Anyone that still votes for a friggin “Republicant” is just as traitorous as the GOP.
Death of the party. I would vote for any Democrat over these turdsa.
This has been a season of a lot of anger and hate, and nobody seems to have been quite immune to it.
Still, if I had to make my way out of a flood, I’d rather it be up to my chest than over my head. We shouldn’t be making political choices based on hate.
There are Ted Cruz supporters who like Romney, especially after what he has done coming out against Trump. In fact, many #NeverTrump folks were okay with voting for Mitt Romney but not Trump.
If these jerks are successful, the vote in November will set records for low Republican turnout.
I fully expect my delegate to represent the way I voted in the primary. If they do not, hellfire will rain down on the convention.
OT: IMHO, it’s time for the whole primary/convention scheme to be analyzed. There has got to be a better way.
IF they destroy the party, will I bother to listen to Limbaugh explain how his previous idiotic comments on this were misinterpreted?
Because he went on like an absolute jackass that selecting anti-Trump delegates to fill spots won by Trump in the primaries, was all Kosher and hunky dory.
IF Cruz is not endorsing Trump he should not be allowed to speak.
Trying to find out who this Dane Waters is. Any FReepers know? Is this him?
http://www.citizensinchargefoundation.org/about-us/cic-board-of-directors/dane-waters
https://www.c-span.org/person/?mdanewaters
I’m quite confident it is.
These are like high school kids playing student government. In the end the adults who are actually in charge will make the right outcomes happen.
Translated into reality speech it means they don’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell.
Vichy Republicans need to be purged.
To my earlier dismay, this describes Cruz perfectly. They better be careful for what they wish for.
“This is all being bankrolled by the Chamber and open borders lobby.”
______________________________________________________
That scumbag Tom Donohue, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, should be swinging from a tree.
More wishful thinking from the MSM
Mike Lee in on Team Romney.
is on
So MIKE LEE...is like ORRIN HATCH?
No thankee...Utah needs to primary him out next Senate Election....run Mia Love or anybody over this lawless SOB
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.