Political Insider

By jane

May 19, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Ron Paul got very few votes in Georgia. Ron Paul’s people have not endorsed the presumptive nominee McCain and so could not be trusted to support the will of the Georgia Voters. Few of them are regular party activists and so they did not get very many people on the slate. I was there and I guess the Ron Paul people were between 20 and 30 percent of the vote. However, in a Democracy, majority rules. I guess they are just SOL. Voting against the Support the Troops Resolution did not help their popularity either.

By vsmeyers

May 19, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

If I’m not mistaken, Oxendine’s an alternate. And since they all think the convention is just a giant social gathering it’s all the same whether you’re an alternate or not.

Oh, sure, he won’t get to vote on platform stuff. But all that is decided behind the scenes anyway. The convention delegates don’t REALLY debate anything, they just get to put their giant rubber stamp on what’s approved.

I learned that the hard way this weekend at our State Convention in Columbus.

By Eric

May 19, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Paul finished above other candidates who received delegates. Voting procedures are well-prescribed and no Ron Paul supporter I know had intention to -break the law- by becoming a faithless delegate. The point was to bring the minority’s opinion to bear, not to overcome the majority’s vote. This was a clear case of the minority being refused the opportunity to debate their concerns. Such an incident is precisely why this is a republic, not a democracy, and the performance of the republican leadership at the convention was appalling.

By Ike Hall

May 19, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

@jane: I was also there. You might remember me as the delegate who moved for suspension of the rules when it was clear that the rules were approved not by the convention, but on the previous day by a pathetic rump assembly. This move by the State GOP was made entirely in an effort to stifle debate, which is not only allowed in a functioning democracy, but encouraged.

By Ike Hall

May 19, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

@jane: I was also there. You might remember me as the delegate who moved for suspension of the rules when it was clear that the rules were approved not by the convention, but on the previous day by a pathetic rump assembly. This move by the State GOP was made entirely in an effort to stifle debate, which is not only allowed in a functioning democracy, but encouraged.

By Churchill

May 19, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

Ru Paul is an idiot. His supporters are nuts. He was rejected by the Republican party because he is a libertarian pretending to be a conservative. The man is in this now just to cause troule. He and his ilk will continue to be ignored. Peace.

By vsmeyers

May 19, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

In response to Jane’s comments: Ron Paul got 3% of the vote in GA and, by your own admission, 20-30% of the attendance at the State Convention, but ZERO of the delegates and alternates at state.

The will of Georgia voters was to elect HUCKABEE not McCain.

And no RP supporter is against supporting the troops. Ron Paul got the most donations of any presidential candidate this year from those who listed any branch of service as their occupation.

Your attitude about RP supporters being “SOL” was not the attitude of the good Republicans of Houston and other counties. Many, including Butts County Chairman Ralph Watson and National Delegate Judy Goddard expressed how glad they were to see me, a Ron Paul supporter, proudly stand up in support of a “suspension of the rules” vote.

But if yours is the majority opinion then, you and your ilk can take the blame when the party loses in November. Me and the other 3% in Georgia won’t be voting for McCain.

By Jeff

May 19, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

When a man who stands for FREEDOM is a pariah in his own party, it is time for me to leave said party.

Republicans will never again get my vote for any office, and Democrats never have.

At least with the Libertarian Party they stay true to their conservative roots, even if you do eventually get bossism involved. (I believe bossism is a problem with ANY party, including so-called ‘third’ - they’re really ‘second’ - parties, unfortunately.)

By Darrell

May 19, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

The complaint about the convention rules is one made every year by those who did not attend the Friday part of the Convention. There is an interim Credentials report and Convention rules and agenda are set on Friday for Saturday. Right or wrong, that’s the way it has been done for at least the last 12 years that I have been attending. Don’t suddenly show up and think you can turn things over your way. Most of the Ron Paul people tried to get in by paupers avadavat so they would not be giving money to the party. Not a good way to start trying to convince people you really want to be a part of things. You came across more like an invasion, which didn’t work out for you. If you are sincere, then stay around and work to get Republicans elected other than one with the name of Ron Paul. Then come back through the process and see if you don’t find more acceptance.

By cnote

May 19, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

I thought Ox endorsed Thompson.

By JK

May 19, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Did y’all vote on what this year’s version of band-aids with little purple hearts on them would be? That was such a CLASS ACT in ‘04! You know, mocking the injuries of a soldier who was wounded in battle in order to support the AWOL, “can’t take my physical today, Sir” no-show. How in the world will you top that one? Can’t wait!

By Ike Hall

May 19, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

@Darrell: Thank you for your comments. It’s odd, though, that there was rather a conspiracy of silence about the Friday session. Believe me, if we had know that, we would have been there in droves. As for the affidavits, the form itself says that it is to be used by anyone “unable or unwilling” to pay. Their rule. Nevertheless, applicants for the waiver were subjected to a grilling worthy of the IRS. And believe you me, we aren’t going anywhere, but we will not be working for RINOs and neocons. We are the true conservatives in the Party.

By Jeff

May 19, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Darrell:

Quite honestly, I had been hoping that the Republican Party of Georgia could be convinced to return to conservative ideology even if the national party could not.

I will never vote for a liberal, and never have. Fortunately, until recently there has typically been a conservative Republican running.

As it exists now, however, the Republican party is no longer conservative, and therefore will no longer get my vote.

There really is ZERO difference between Democrats and Republicans anymore, which is why ‘third’ parties such as the Libertarians and Greens are really SECOND parties.

By wgadget

May 19, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

Giving money to John McCain via “the Party” should not be a condition for entrance into the convention, which is exactly where the money is going.

And BTW, the GOP has a provision for anyone “unable or unwilling” to pay the fee. The stumper was the financial disclosure statements at the door that came with the deal. The severe inquisition tactics don’t exactly exemplify GOP’s hospitality to newcomers, either, Darrell.

By Eric

May 19, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

“If you are sincere, then stay around and work to get Republicans elected other than one with the name of Ron Paul.”

Show me another Republican in principle rather than just in name, and I assure you he will have as fervent support as that I offered Paul. Perhaps when the Republican party realizes it can inspire tremendous passion simply by adhering to its own stated beliefs, the deterioration of the base will be reversed.

By Aaron Krowne

May 19, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

The rules were on the agenda for Saturday. Regardless of how it “has been done”, this was fraudulent and misleading.

By young GOP

May 19, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

How did that guy Clint Murphy get to be a national delegate? I had never even heard of the guy but he acted like a raving lunatic at the Georgia Young Republican convention held after the state GOP convention. He started screaming all this stuff about not liking where the group was headed and how he refused to be involved anymore. I really wish that someone would report on what happened during that convention.
After sitting through that; I now have more respect for the Ron Paul supporters. The old guard expected those supporters to act like the “kids” at the Georgia Young Republican convention and they may have been disappointed that everything went as smooth as it did.

By Doug Craig

May 19, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Let it be known Ron paul people are welcome with open arms in thr Libertarian party, in fact republican who are tired of being the party of government almost as big as the dems would like are welcome also. www.lpgeorgia.com

By Good Girl Republican

May 19, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

We are the classiest act in all of conventiondom!

By jane

May 19, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

The Ron Paul people did get shafted a little, but they were unwilling to work within the party. 3%, 20%, 30% is still not a majority. While Huck did win Georgia, he is supporting McCain not Paul.

If Ron Paul was more sophisticated, he would endorse McCain, organize his people for the party in exchange for a good speaking time. As it is now, he will probably not be given a time to speak at the convention.

If you are a victim of a rout, there is a mandate, a mandate against you ideas.

By vsmeyers

May 19, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

@Darrell:

Many tried to waive the registration fee because they had already traveled a great distance to just to participate and couldn’t afford the fee. I personally paid for the cost of a hotel room for a family of four to offset some of their expenses because they wouldn’t have been able to participate otherwise.

Regardless, the GA GOP’s own rules state that you can apply for the waiver if you’re “unwilling” to pay the fee. However they don’t explain you’ll have to go through the equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition first.

Also how is it an “invasion” to want to attend the state convention of my political party for the last 18 years in order to express my displeasure that our party is no longer representing in deed what it professes in word?

Let me tell you something, Darrell, the Republican Party is in no position to be turning away potential new members based on years of service our loyalty to other Republicans. It’s time for the party at the highest level to recognize that painting us as closet libertarians so as to avoid addressing the tough issues we face is the political equivalent of shooting oneself in the head. Don’t go around blaming RP supporters for that. We’re the ones fighting like crazy to take the gun out of your hand!

By vsmeyers

May 19, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

If Huck supports McCain then why isn’t he releasing his delegates to vote for him, Jane?

Because the McCain campaign doesn’t want him to, Jane. They are scared to death that if he or Mitt release their delegates to vote for whomever they choose in the first round, they will vote for someone else.

They might not vote for Ron Paul, but they sure as hell aren’t all going to back McCain. So don’t talk to me about Ron Paul supporters not being trusted to vote for McCain. It’s not just Ron Paul’s supporters who might vote some other way if given the opportunity at the convention. That was no excuse for state leaders to shut us out of the delegate process.

By drjay

May 19, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

young gop,

i don’t know who you are but i was also at the YR convention (won the award as YR of the year so you will know who i am even if you remain anonymous)clint murphy got to be a delegate b/c he has been on mccain’s steering team from the get go and has been a party activist his entire adult life (he is one of the electoral college for mccain this year)things got heated and personl at the YR convention and that was unfortunate—but even though all the players are quite passionate—none are “raving lunatics” you caught some people at a bad moment at the end of a long day…

By YRLeader

May 19, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

Let’s work together to get back to real conservative values! I’m sorry your guy will not win. I’m sorry Romeny won’t win, but I believe the only way to work for change is to work! And to work in the Party.

Good luck and God bless!

By drjay

May 19, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

while it was not made easy—and really it never is at this kind of event, whether for a political party or union or any other organization that has conventions and elects officers, if your group was organized enough and had the numbers and followed what was going on you could have defeated the slate and nominated from the floor—however you were neither organized enough nor there in large enough numbers to do either of those things—and you did not have the element of surprise b/c its been all over the internet and even some msm outlets about how ron paul activists hoped to raise some h. e. double hockey sticks from county conventions all the way to minnesota this summer…

By Operation Yellow Elephant

May 19, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Dear Young Republicans, some folks say you are a bunch of scared sissy pansy RINO hypocrites for supporting the war in Iraq from the comfort of your suburban homes and corporate jobs instead of enlisting to fight and end this war sooner, so the soldiers you claim to support can come home. But I say thems fightin words, and they better prove it or shut up. You all aren’t sissy scaredy cats, are you? Hey, why aren’t YOU in Iraq?

By YRLeader

May 19, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Several of our YR members have fought in Iraq and other places. Those who question our dedication and support to our trooops should learn the truth about our members first!

By vsmeyers

May 19, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

@drjay

You don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about when you say RP supporters don’t want to work. I have given the entire last year of my life in the cause of supporting Ron Paul and what I did was not unique.

And to say that had we been better organized (or more stealthy, more numbers, etc.) we could’ve “won” something is incredibly naive.

The mistake we made, Dr. Jay, was that we thought the convention would be a forum for political discussion and, yes, dissent. What it was was an elaborately orchestrated fundraiser and cheerleading session for a candidate whose own party members grimaced a gritted their teeth as they “praised” him and compared him to Christ himself.

I will continue to participate, but only to see that those I respect within the party never have to shame themselves that way ever again.

By McAint

May 19, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

What the defenders of the party bosses who ran this convention fail to understand is how untrue to the supposed principles of the party they are. Democracy is supposed to be majority rule and the minority have no rights at all. Republicanism is supposed to be respecting the rights of all, even a minority that the majority disagree with. That’s why in a republic you have the rule of law and legal instruments like the bill of rights, whereas with democracy you have only majority rule. So, based on this simple definitional analysis, the “Republican” leaders at the convention acted like adherents of democracy - the majority rules, the right of the minority to representation - however vestigal - was never intended to be respected. The purpose of the Parliamentary process is to ensure fairness - the way the convention was conducted was anything but fair. OTOH, the Bush administration has done away with the bill of rights and the rule of law in America - with McCain’s willing aid - so why I expected any different at the convention, I can no longer say. I will say this: McCain’s continuation of Bush’s fascism no longer fools the electorate, with the exception of the Republican “faithful”. The old ideas of statism and corporatism have been seen through, and the reign of the neo-cons is coming to an end. Good luck in November, McCainiacs - it’s not going to help you, but good luck anyway.

By Churchill

May 19, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this

The Ru Paul supporters, here, sound like a bunch of whiney libs. No wonder Ru Paul lost. He had no chance with a bunch of rabble-rousing cry babies. I am so sick of the Ru Paul types. His votes, in the primary, dd not garner “delegate-weight.” Geesh. Peace.

By George Dance

May 19, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

“Ron Paul’s people have not endorsed the presumptive nominee McCain and so could not be trusted to support the will of the Georgia Voters.”

Hello? John McCain got less than 1/3 of Republican votes in the primary, so he gets all the delegates? That’s the “will of the Georgia voters”?

I think we’ll see the actual “will of the Georgia voters” in November, when McCain comes in third, after Obama and Barr.

By vsmeyers

May 19, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

@Churchill:

The Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA), one of the first organizations to systematically study propaganda in the early 20th century, included name-calling in its list of common rhetorical techniques.

So, Churchill, who in the propaganda machine pays you for the number times you can say “Ru Paul”?

By Churchill

May 19, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

I enjoy it. I do it for free. Plus, it really bothers the whiney Ru Paul types. Peace.

By GodHatesTrash

May 19, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this

vsmeyers, Churchswill is well known on this board for his name-calling. He is also a well-known Larry Craig Republican kind of guy. (he’ll do that for free, too)

He’s trash, through and through.

By Jane

May 19, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26466

Huckabee did endorse McCain and Ron Paul has not. The vast majority of Huckabee, Thompson, Romney people are more comfortable with McCain than any other candidate still in the race. It is called being a team player.

Ron Paul’s unwillingness to get on board will create be to his detriment.

By Churchill

May 19, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this

Hey, Trash, I will still rent you a hybrid for the last 40 miles to Canada. Hell, I would buy you one if you promised not to come back. Peace.

By Jesus Sanchez Delicio

May 19, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this

Will the neocons riot at Lake Minnetonka? Will a young republican ever stop sucking the teet of division? Will the southern born again illiterate bible-thumpers quit hanging onto the only thing they have left, their insatiable desire to judge others. Republicans you have ruined the country, time to run to your Bible of hate and shift the blame. Peace and Gawd pray for us.

By drjay

May 20, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

the 1st state convention i attended was in 96 at the tender age of 23 and i saw a group of well organized pro-life activists replace a nat’l delegate from the floor w/ one they were more comfortable w/—just last year i saw the nominations committees choice for 1st vice chair defeated from the floor as well—it can be done—and while some of the ron paul supporters i’ve come across seem like they might stick around, most appear to be planning to take their ball and go home—if they prove me wrong, good for them

By tom ga hunter

May 20, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Churchill

What is your position on the Farm Bill?.. McCain is opposed but our 2 senators are for it..

By Darrell

May 20, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

FYI - The Credentials Committee did let those it found to be in need to attend the convention without paying the fee. It was not a case of saying no to all who requested the waiver.

By vsmeyers

May 20, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Again, Darrell, the GA GOP rules state that if you are “unwilling” to pay you can have the fee waived. That is so that people who disagree with party decisions don’t have to financially support it while they try to remove bad actors.

Unless you were on the Credentials Committee then I doubt you know whose waiver they approved. I know people who applied for the waiver and were denied and I know how they were treated in the process.

By vsmeyers

May 20, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

@Jane:

That was a great article, but an odd one to choose if you’re trying to prove how strongly Huckabee supports McCain. It basically says Huckabee secretly expects Obama to win.

Absent from the article is any mention of Huckabee releasing his delegates to vote for a different candidate. That’s because he hasn’t and he won’t. He has been instructed by the McCain campaign not to release his delegates for the very reasons I mentioned earlier.

By Jeff

May 20, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

drjay:

Actually, many of those former Republicans are joining the Libertarian Party. I know I did, and I was once one of the STAUNCHEST Republicans. But the Republican Party has shifted left, and I have remained a conservative. Therefore, the only place left for me was with a SECOND party - the Libertarian Party in my case, though some may choose the Greens or some other.

Republicans now are nothing more than old-line Southern Democrats, they are NOT conservative my any means, hence the reason many older white Democrats have become Republicans. THEY haven’t shifted their positions. (I speak specifically of people such as Zell Miller here.) The Republican Party has shifted.

Conservatives only have one route left: The truly conservative SECOND party, the Libertarian Party.

By Chaz

May 20, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

I was there Friday when we adopted the rules and I can tell you I received an e-mail detailing one of the Ron Paul’s supporters (a leader of the bunch) laying out their plan at the national convention. They fully intended to cause a scene when possible in front of the national media, then they wanted to force the Presidential Nominating vote at the convention into a second, third, foruth, etc. ballot until they could get enough delegates released to nominate ron paul, and if that didn’t work, they wanted to force him in as VP. Now I know this is a stupid idea, but they don’t and they actually thought they could do it, so if that doesn’t show that they aren’t team players, and that they have no more respect for the will of the average Republican voter than the party leadership, then I don’t know what does.

By Chaz

May 20, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

In addition, if you don’t beleive me about the e-mail, I can forward it to you for proof. My address is uwereyoung12@yahoo.com

By Churchill

May 20, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

Tom

Farm Bill, Schmarm Bill. Yes the farm bill is bloated. But If we elect a bunch of libs, things will be far worse. I know that you want to try to convince me to vote for Ru or Barr. Fine. Try. I will not waste my vote on a third party that would ultimately help elect a lib, Democrat President. And I will damn sure not vote for some corrupt lib democrat Senate candidate.

With regard to riots in MN. The Ru Paul types will try to cause trouble, but their efforts will fail. Rank and file Republicans will be turned off by a bunch of rabble-rousers. One of the many reasons the Ru Paul movement never got off the ground was that kind of “democrat hippie” behavior. Republicans do not shout down other Republicans (A la the Ru Paul supporters shouting Rudy down in Marietta last year). I still believe that the Democrat party has the best chance for riots. Hillary Rotten Clinton is not going to get out. She is going to try some sort of credentials committee scheme to get the nomination away from Barry Obama. Recreate68.org is still preparing their efforts. I heard that there is another group of malcontents called “Tent State” that also plan to raise hell. Plus the Democrat party has a history of rioting when they are disgruntled or disorganized. I see the state of the democrat party as both disgruntled and disorganized, and Dr. Deanmento is unable to fix the internal problems the democrats are having. Peace.

By tom ga hunter

May 20, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Churchill ..Actually I would like you to work to fire our big spending LIBERAL SAXBY CHAMBLISS.. that would go a long way to getting our party back.

Why do you call Dr. Paul Ru Paul?? Didn’t your mother teach you to respect your betters.

By vsmeyers

May 20, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

@Chaz:

Maybe you were being used, Chaz, to spread disinformation. Looks like you did your work well.

I’m a coordinator working for the campaign in the 8th Congressional District. You don’t have to look too hard to find out anything you want to know about me and my role in the Ron Paul campaign.

I’ve stated plainly why I went to the state convention: that is, to tell those in leadership in Georgia who are calling themselves Republicans that I’ve decided I want my Party back because, clearly, they don’t remember what the party stands for anymore. I mean, the first resolution they tried to cram down our throats at the convention was Newt’s “American Solutions” platform, and Newt’s lawyer, Randy Evans, who was presiding over the convention, refused the call for division because he knew the resolution wouldn’t pass!!!

Go look on Google Video and search under Georgia Republican Convention and you’ll see exactly what happened.

I’ve had just about enough of people like you, Chaz, telling me what my REAL motivation is. Why is it so hard to believe that the Republicans in office have disappointed other Republicans like myself, and that I’m taking action. You can follow the rest of the lemmings over the cliff if you want.

By vsmeyers

May 20, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

I just now realized that if you do a google search for the video it doesn’t appear.

So, if you’re interested in seeing it, you can visit thecharminitiative(dot)wordpress(dot)com. A link to the video is in the first post.

What the video doesn’t show: Sue Everhart’s proclaiming “McCain is like Jesus,” or Ron Paul supporters standing in support of suspension of the rules.

What it does show: Randy Evans’ refusal to allow a division of the house on the question of supporting Newt’s “American Solutions” platform.

By Churchill

May 20, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Tom

Ru Paul, the crossdresser, is a odd character. So is Ron Paul. Ru Paul, the crossdresser, is way outside the mainstream. So is Ron Paul. Ru Paul the, the crossdresser, has zero chance of ever being elected President. So does Ron Paul. Ru Paul, the crossdresser’s, first name start with a “R.” So does Ron Paul’s. Ru Paul, the crossdresser’s, last name is Paul. So is Ron Paul’s.

Er go Ru Paul for Ron Paul. Dig it?

By Darrell

May 20, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

I was there. Randy said in the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. I heard a lot of booing and yelling, but no call for division of the house. As Randy had told everyone, if you want to speak to the convention you must be present at one of the two microphones. No one was there to ask for a division of the house vote, per Robert’s Rules, once the next item of business starts you can not challenge a previous vote. I wish he had heard a call, and made us stand because it would have shown the Ron Paul group as the loud but small noise sooner, and it would have proved him right.

By Churchill

May 20, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this

Ru Paul is a boob.

By vsmeyers

May 20, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this

Nice try, Darrell.

The Convention floor was as big as a football field and the mikes were on the opposition’s 20 yard line.

Watch the video and you’ll see that people all throughout the hall were yelling ‘Division!’ running up to the mike. It is our fault because we should have known that we were going to be totally ignored unless we were at the mike.

Yes, we were handily defeated. The goal to shut us down was totally achieved. We were less than 200 people strong and we only wanted to make sure our voices were heard. But we learned our lesson.

I don’t know about you personally, but my other Republican friends across the state who aren’t Ron Paul supporters said the way events were handled left a bad taste in their mouths.

I feel sorry for our party. We are acting like the Israelites in the wilderness. Let’s hope it doesn’t take 40 years to make our way out of the desert.