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Priebus Meets Privately with Mike Lee, Never Trump Leaders to Discuss Procedural Compromise
National Review ^ | 7/14/2016 | Tim Alberta

Posted on 07/14/2016 9:07:53 AM PDT by ObozoMustGo2012

CLEVELAND — Barely two hours into the much-anticipated meeting of the Convention Rules Committee, a backroom deal may be in the works. According to two sources, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and top RNC officials are huddling privately with Senator Mike Lee, Virginia Committeeman Morton Blackwell, and leaders of the Never Trump movement to discuss a procedural compromise that would allow for gimmick-free votes on anti-Trump measures in exchange for their cooperation in not gumming up the works and prolonging the Rules Committee meeting unnecessarily. The discussion is taking place during a recess from the Rules Committee meeting, which was caused by a printer jam inside the hearing room. (There are murmurs in the room that the extended recess — see the UPDATE below — has nothing to do with a printer jam, but rather with this backroom meeting.)

Kendal Unruh, the Colorado delegate who has led the charge to allow convention delegates to vote their conscience — essentially unbinding them from supporting presumptive nominee Donald Trump — is part of the meeting. So is Ken Cucinnelli, a Cruz ally who is leading the charge to restructure certain guidelines of the GOP’s nominating process. It’s unclear whether anti-Trump representatives will agree to the deal. The incentive is unclear, as they are assured of a vote on their amendments anyway — and, in the eyes of their allies, their best chance at success may be wearing down their fellow delegates with a long, drawn-out meeting.

UPDATE I (10:15 a.m.): Rules Committee chair Enid Mickelsen announced at roughly 10:15 a.m. that the committee would recess until 1 p.m. due to technical issues. This adds even greater urgency to Priebus’s goal of expediting the meeting. It got off to a slow start: Amendments were offered to 9 of the first 12 rules of the Republican party. There are 42 rules total. (None of the amendments have yet been debated; they are simply registered by delegates to be debated later.) Mickelsen made clear that the proceedings will last at least until Friday. But they can go no later than 5 a.m. Saturday, when the Secret Service needs to sweep the room to prepare it for other convention-related events.

UPDATE II (11 a.m.): According to multiple Rules Committee sources, the word is that Unruh, who has organized the anti-Trump rebellion, can’t get anywhere near 28 votes without the aid of Cuccinelli, who is separately rallying support for changes to the Republican Party’s nominating process. Sources say Cuccinelli has realized Unruh won’t have the numbers even with him whipping on her behalf, and is open to brokering an agreement with Priebus under which he wins some modifications in exchange for backing down from the anti-Trump measures and allowing the rest of the Rules Committee meeting to proceed quickly and without the incessant offering of new amendments.

UPDATE III (11:30 a.m.): Two smart points from a longtime RNC member, veteran of the Rules Committee and observer of the current negotiations: First, with the meeting recessed until 1 p.m., every minute that goes by is leverage lost for Priebus. If an agreement isn’t reached by the time the committee re-convenes, Unruh and her allies will be emboldened to push forward with their anti-Trump measures. This means, essentially, that Priebus has a 1 p.m. deadline to get a deal done. Second, the RNC official says if Priebus is successful, everyone will get something they want — except Unruh. The RNC chairman will get a smooth Rules Committee meeting; Cuccinelli will get some Cruz-friendly reforms to the primary process. Unruh, however, will get nothing in exchange for watching her anti-Trump efforts wither and die. “Do they have a bone they can throw Kendal?” the RNC official said. “Probably not. I think she goes under the bus.” (Another RNC official says despite Cuccinelli’s realization, Unruh still believes she’ll have 28 votes. “She’s high,” the official said of the Colorado delegate.

UPDATE IV (11:55 a.m.): The meeting has broken up, and sub-groups are now convening to discuss whether the terms of the negotiations are acceptable, according to a source involved. There does not appear to be a specific agreement in place, but rather some broad parameters for an eventual deal. It’s almost noon, however, and the 1 o’clock deadline (see UPDATE III) is fast approaching.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: 2016rncconvention; antitrump; convention; cuccinelli; mortonblackwell; rnc; trump
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To: TheNext

Kendall Unruh's effort has failed. Monty Python?
41 posted on 07/14/2016 10:44:02 AM PDT by BigEdLB (Take it Easy, Chuck. I'm Not Taking it Back -- Donald Trump)
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To: HarleyLady27

I too escaped Utah in 1967. Lived in San Francisco Bay Area for 35 years where we rarely met a conservative. The trouble with Utah’s so called liberals is that they are just Mormon haters first and confused second. They would be right wingers in San Francisco.

My heritage is fifth generation Mormon but figured it all out very early. Proud of the heritage but not the religion.
Stop in next time you’re out on the trail...
http://www.thunderbirdfoundation.org


42 posted on 07/14/2016 10:52:17 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Ancestral Puebloan Xeroid)
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To: TheNext

Nicely played


43 posted on 07/14/2016 11:42:43 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: HarleyLady27

Yes this is just childish tantrums by the Luzers. They are not going to be allowed to change rule 16 which is their ultimate goal. Its not gonna happen. Priebus is going to broker a little mea culpa compromise on some small stuff just to avoid the hassle.

I now loathe Ted Cruz to the point that I would never ever vote for him for any reason. He has no integrity, no moral compass for his own personal behavior and he’s no conservative when he votes for stuff like the TPA, Corker Ammendment and likely TPP. Mike Lee has gone down in my estimation lately also. I think he lets Teddy drag him into these misadventures.


44 posted on 07/14/2016 11:46:50 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

Is Mike Lee part of the Never Trump campaign?


45 posted on 07/14/2016 11:55:25 AM PDT by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: Will88
He's damaged his own future prospects and he's damaged the Republican presidential ticket to some extent.

Yeah, but he's still got his cult followers.

46 posted on 07/14/2016 11:55:35 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Donald Trump, warts and all, is not a public enemy. The Golems in the GOP are stasis and apathy)
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To: wintertime

[Is Mike Lee part of the Never Trump campaign?]

Not officially, but yes. He whined that Trump was mean to his BF/BFF Cruz.


47 posted on 07/14/2016 12:12:26 PM PDT by ObozoMustGo2012
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

The NeverTrumpers and the NationalReview are like a bunch of 12-year-old girls, and I mean that in the worst possible way.


48 posted on 07/14/2016 12:25:01 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (We will no longer surrender this country to the false song of globalism. --Donald Trump)
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To: Utah Binger
Well thank you, if I decide to travel again, I will... ;0)

Utah has a broad base right now, some like Romney and Lee, and there are those that don't mind telling you they don't, heard it on the radio more than once... and these are good Mormons... One lady called in and even said what Romney needs to do is go away and shut up...very polite about it, but right on the head of the nail...

I have overheard a lot in the super markets, and gas stations, restaurants and such, they are liking Trump more and more and nothing about Lee or Romney, those of us in Love's district either hate her or love her, I'm one that will not vote for her...she was a good Mayor of Saratoga Springs, did a lot for them, but she sure has drank the Kool-Aid since she's been in the House...

So let's go Trump all the way and whoever he picks as his V.P. is fine with me...!!!

49 posted on 07/14/2016 12:31:54 PM PDT by HarleyLady27 ('THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!' Trump; Trump; Trump; Trump; 100%)
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

“Zeke Miller ;@ZekeJMiller · 7m7 minutes ago

There will be no deal. RNC will vote on all amendments brought up. They will fail with united RNC/Trump front. Minority report possible.”

Hard to believe a smart cookie like Cooch couldn’t get a deal.


50 posted on 07/14/2016 12:41:07 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: mrsmith

“Zeke Miller ;@ZekeJMiller · 5m5 minutes ago

Mike Lee takes the stage to back up Blackwell on eliminating Rule 12.”

I believe this is not an anti-Trump but an anti-establishment issue. (May have some anti-Trump component to it.)


51 posted on 07/14/2016 12:48:24 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: HarleyLady27

Came up to Ogden over the weekend for a birthday party for brother in law. All he could do is repeat several times, “Romney really let us down”. So it sounds like the word is out in many of the areas. I was really surprised.


52 posted on 07/14/2016 12:52:40 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Ancestral Puebloan Xeroid)
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To: mrsmith

Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etJ9M1ST7hE&feature=youtu.be


53 posted on 07/14/2016 12:55:55 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: wintertime
Is Mike Lee part of the Never Trump campaign?

Yes. He is Cruz's proxy.

54 posted on 07/14/2016 12:57:36 PM PDT by M. Thatcher
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

I cannot begin to describe my disgust with Mike Lee and Ken Cuccinelli....two guys who’ve I worked hard to get elected, in the past.

#NeverLee

#NeverCuccinelli


55 posted on 07/14/2016 2:15:03 PM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: tennmountainman
Cruz is the root cause of this nonsense.... Cruz could have put a stop to this nonsense months ago.

I could had class...

56 posted on 07/15/2016 1:59:17 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (We will no longer surrender this country to the false song of globalism. --Donald Trump)
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To: ObozoMustGo2012
I wonder what “reforms” they are thinking of that are “Cruz-friendly”?? More caususes?? This PROVES this whole “Never Trump” bulls**t was started by/centered around Lyin’ Ted!!!

Many of us feel stupid because we really didn't know he was a snake until we took him in.

57 posted on 07/15/2016 2:06:32 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (We will no longer surrender this country to the false song of globalism. --Donald Trump)
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