Liberty in America
columnist: rtbohan

Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
A Bad Week in Reno

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Last weekend in Reno there was an earthquake, the Governor moved out , and the Republican State Convention ended in disorder. Two of the incidents are resolved, one is getting worse.

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by rtbohan
(Libertarian)
Sunday, May 4, 2008

After shocks continued in Northern Nevada during the week, but they are diminishing in intensity and should end soon. The Governor filed for a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, and presumably will get the mansion back. The problem of the hastily and improperly adjourned Republican conventions gets murkier as time goes on and may be a real scandal by the time it is finished.

Last Saturday the Republican State Convention met in Reno.  There was a dinner scheduled for the night before, and a breakfast tor Sunday morning.  The business session of the convention weas scheduled for Saturday in the Peppermill Casino.  The one day convention was unususal, because the convention was generally conducted over two days.

When the Convention began,State Senator Bob Beers, the Presiding Officer, attempted to present a list of delegate candidates for the National Convention whice had been compiled by the nominating committee.  At that time Ron Paul supporters, who were a majority at the convention, made and passed a motion to allow nominations from the floor.

The Convention continued with a great deal of the usual fluff and entertainment associated at conventions, and in the afternoon voting began for the delegates.  The delegates to the National convention from District 1 were voted on and the results announced.  Two  supporters of John McCain were elected, and one Ron Paul supporter. Voting then began on delegates from the next congressional district.  With about half of that vote completed, the McCain supporters requested a short recess to get their delegates organized.  The request was denied,. Suddenly , Senator Beers announced that there was not time to complete the balloting and, without a motion from the floor, declared the meeting adjourned.

The results of the election of District 1 delegates and the undounted ballots from the seoond vote were sealed in envopes and the sealing was witnessed and signed by representatives of both Senator McCain and representative Paul.

And then the explanations and solutions began to be announced.  Senator Beers on his blog(www.beers4nevada.org) explained that the balloting would have taken the convention into the late night or even early morning.  He said that this was impossible because the Peppermill site had only been rented until 6 p.m.  He did not explain:A. Why the convention was scheduled as a one day affair rather than the normal two day meeting; B.  Why a definite time for ending the convention was not on the published agenda; C.  Why the time limit was not mentioned at the time the rules of the  convention were changed to allow nominations from the floor; D.  Why the non-germane events were allowed to delay the vote if time was a factor; E.  Why time considerations were never mentioned by the chair as voting began; F. Why no explanation was given before the meeting was abruptly adjourned; G.  How the Chairman could adjourn the convention without a motion from the floor.

But Mr. Beers was  concerned not with making apologies but with  making plans.  he said that the convention would reconvene in about a week in Las Vegas.  Only credentialed delegates who had been present at the Reno convention would be present at the reconvened session and that supporters of both Senator McCain and Representative Paul would verify the votes that had already been cast and any further voting.  He explained the change from Reno to Las Vegas as an attempt to save delegates who had traveled fo Reno for the convention money.  He did not explain how the convention could be moved to Las Vegas under party rules, which state that the convention can be in Clarke County only every meeting. Some of the commenters on Senator Beers's blog pointed this out to him, as well as the fact that the rules stated that when the convention was not in  Clarke County it had to be held in ONE other County in Nevada.  It was not to be a travelling show.

State Party Chairman Sue Lowden also posted a message regarding the convention.  She reiterated that the terms of the party's contract with the Peppermill casino made the adjournment necessary. She then said "It is my intention to find a new location as soon as possible in order to complete our election process.  We will reconvene with the same state delegates and elect our national delegate ""

The next day the Paul campaign issued a statement saying: "Ron Paul is confident the Neveada State Re[ib;ican Party will ensure that the votes cast by all of the delegates at the April 26 convention will be upheld."

The situation changed on Friday when State Chairman Lowden's original statement disappeared from the Party's website and a new statement appeared.

"Currently the Nevada Republican Party is working hard to find the best possible way to complete our convention business.  We will work withing the curren;t by-law of the party which state that the remaining busineiness must be conducted in Washoe County.  It is out hope that once we determinine the bst ways to complete our bu;sinees....will will have maximum participation.  Rest assured that once we determine the process by which we can complete our process all delegates will be notified...."

The suggestion of meeting in Las Vegas has disappeared, as it must under the party by-laws.  But so has any mention of reconvening the convention anywhere.  That has been replaceced by a "process" for completing the "remaining business.  The statement does say that delegates will be notified, but not necessarily participate.  It says that "maximum participation" is desired, but it does not say that participation is either limited to or inclusive of all delegates present at the short circuited convention of April 26.

I have not yet heard of any response from the Paul camp, which had a clear majority of credentialed delegates at the convention.

My own reaction is that the Nevada Party leadership made themselves look like fools last week.

Now they are beginning to look like Tammany Hall.

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2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved.
Published: Sunday, May 4, 2008
Last modified: Sunday, May 4, 2008

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