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 GOPs nominating process. Its 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 Priebuss 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, cant get anywhere near 28 votes without the aid of Cuccinelli, who is separately rallying support for changes to the Republican Partys nominating process. Sources say Cuccinelli has realized Unruh wont 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 isnt 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 Cuccinellis realization, Unruh still believes shell have 28 votes. Shes 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. Its almost noon, however, and the 1 oclock deadline (see UPDATE III) is fast approaching.
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
Nicely played
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.
Is Mike Lee part of the Never Trump campaign?
Yeah, but he's still got his cult followers.
[Is Mike Lee part of the Never Trump campaign?]
Not officially, but yes. He whined that Trump was mean to his BF/BFF Cruz.
The NeverTrumpers and the NationalReview are like a bunch of 12-year-old girls, and I mean that in the worst possible way.
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...!!!
“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.
“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.)
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.
Yes. He is Cruz's proxy.
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
Many of us feel stupid because we really didn't know he was a snake until we took him in.
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