The GOP’s Primary Rules Might Doom Carson, Cruz And Trump

538 ^ | 11/4/15 | David Wasserman

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

There are plenty of reasons to be cautious of national polls that show Trump and Carson leading. They may fail to screen out casual voters, for instance, and leaders at this point in past years have eventually tanked. But perhaps the biggest reason to ditch stock in these polls is that they’re simulating a national vote that will never take place.

In reality, the GOP nominating contest will be decided by an intricate, state-by-state slog for the 2,472 delegates at stake between February and June. And thanks to the Republican National Committee’s allocation rules, the votes of “Blue Zone” Republicans — the more moderate GOP primary voters who live in Democratic-leaning states and congressional districts — could weigh more than those of more conservative voters who live in deeply red zones. Put another way: The Republican voters who will have little to no sway in the general election could have some of the most sway in the primary.

As The New York Times’ Nate Cohn astutely observed in January, Republicans in blue states hold surprising power in the GOP presidential primary process even though they are “all but extinct in Washington, since their candidates lose general elections to Democrats.” This explains why Republicans have selected relatively moderate presidential nominees while the party’s members in Congress have continued to veer right.

[lentulusgracchus]

They have already changed the rules in Florida for this cycle.

As much as we may dislike GOP-e manipulation (predetermination) of the primaries, it's nothing compared to what Democrat voters are going to get.

I remember a 'Rat acquaintance of mine in 2008 regaling me jubilantly with brave tales of how he and the other Obama orcs stole dozens of delegates from Hillary in the Texas caucuses. Such Luciferian joy ..... Alinsky in Hell no doubt had a moment of fierce, evil glee, before Azrael and Asmodeus turned his skewer again over the pit.

[walford]

If the GOP leadership ignores the will of its base and forces yet another “moderate” candidate upon us, it will have irretrievably shown that it is no longer the Party of Abraham Lincoln — and should therefore be abandoned as was the Whig Party it replaced.

The Democrat Party is essentially an European Social Democrat party, rooted in collectivism and a distrust of freedom. Those who control the Republican Party seem to be hell-bent upon emulating an European Conservative party — in which the main platform is to be more efficient about managing a social welfare state and (somewhat) slowing down our slide toward fascism.

The American voter needs a Party that stands for freedom, because that is still what the majority wants and needs. If the two major Parties cannot give us that, it is time for those who understand that freedom, not government, is the key toward peace, prosperity and justice to found a new one.

I have criticized other conservatives for abstaining or voting Third Party when they did not like the Republican candidate in previous elections, but if another RINO is forced upon us, I will not legitimize such a clear betrayal of popular will with my vote this time or ever again.