Ron Paul supporters continue to create hostility to the liberty movement and drive the blue hairs towards fascism by Dave Nalle
(libertarian)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Beneath the still surface of the apparently secure nomination of John McCain as the Republican candidate, supporters of Ron Paul are still fighting the system and doing what they can to influence the process. It appears to be an uphill battle, with many of their efforts devolving into little more than delaying tactics and spreading chaos, and in many cases generating a hostile backlash from the party establishment which is harming efforts to move the party in a more pro-liberty direction.
As GOP conventions are held in state after state, the tactics of the Paul supporters have become clear enough to be predictable and for entrenched party forces to counter them. The basic procedure is to try to take over the convention from the floor with the objective of forcing a vote to throw out any results from committees which did work in advance, kick out the sitting leadership and install new leaders and handle delegate nominations and platform resolutions from the floor. Using Roberts Rules of Order as their shield, the Ron Paul forces introduce motions from the floor and demand counted votes when voice votes don't immediately go their way. If they manage to win the first few procedural votes they attempt to use the momentum to force votes on convention rules and throwing out convention executives and starting things over from scratch. If their votes fail, they begin introducing more and more procedural motions in hopes of disrupting the convention and creating so much chaos that nothing gets done, a tactic which angers a lot of people who might otherwise support them.
Since the Paul delegates are usually numerous, but still a minority, they count on some mainstream delegates voting with them in sympathy. With many Republicans leaning towards libertarian principles this was a good strategy, but as their tactics have become more disruptive and hostility towards them spreads they are having a harder and harder time winning over those who might normally have been sympathetic. Republican moderates who are also dissatisfied with the stranglehold of the religious right on the party find themselves having to choose between the extremist devil they know and the extremist devil they're meeting for the first time, and the attraction of the pro-liberty reforms offered by the Paul movement is increasingly being outweighed by some of their more unpalatable ideas and their disruptive methods.
Every week since I last covered this issue in early May, there have been one or two state conventions, and as they have progressed, the party insiders have become more organized and Ron Paul forces have made less and less progress promoting their agenda. Their successes in district conventions in the Spring were followed by the hasty cancellation of the Nevada convention, and since then it has been harder and harder for them to get their voice heard or win delegates to the national convention.
The hostility of party insiders and convention managers to the Ron Paul supporters and their tactics has now spread to the point that any motion from the floor is looked at as a potential attack on the convention and even when the motions are reasonable they are shut down as quickly as possible for fear that if delegates are allowed to make motions and support builds for them it will lead to a takeover of the convention. Backlash against Paul supporters has started to follow a consistent pattern of further excluding the mass of delegates from the decision making process. In the effort to control the perceived rebellion, convention procedures which ordinarily would have permitted meaningful input from the delegates are replaced by more reliance on committees and closed-door negotiations, turning the convention into little more than a pep rally. This trend became disturbingly clear over recent weeks as similar reports came in from conventions all over the country.
In Hawaii a tightly managed convention basically shut down Paul disruptions and railroaded through the establishment agenda.
In Georgia Paul supporters had insufficient numbers to sway the convention, and found themselves essentially shut out. As their efforts from the floor were voted down they ended up leaving the convention and achieving little or nothing.
In Colorado the party insiders were ready in advance and distributed fliers identifying Ron Paul supporters by name as troublemakers planning to disrupt the convention. The convention was presented with a prepared slate of delegates for the national convention and with mainstream libertarians alienated by the fliers, Paul supporters couldn't pull enough votes to block passage of the hand picked slate of delegates.
In Minnesota -- where the GOP national convention will be held this fall -- Ron Paul himself was not given time to address the convention and made a speech to supporters outside the hall instead, and inside the hall there was a strong backlash against procedural motions and attempts to disrupt the convention. Once again those who might have supported the reformers were driven away by the antics of Paul supporters and as a result all of their efforts failed. As one delegate commented, they were "completely shut out of the process."
In Indiana Paul supporters ended up stymied and marginalized and once again reduced to raising procedural issues and resorting to causing what disruption they could. They found themselves ill-prepared for the level of organized opposition which they faced from the 'blue hairs'.
One of the few remaining conventions is in Texas, where Paul supporters had some of their largest successes in the various district conventions. Paul supporters in league with some mainstream Republicans have filed a lawsuit to try to prevent the state party from running the GOP convention in a way which will pretty much shut-out input which hasn't been pre-approved by party insiders. Their contention is that the plan to run most of the convention under the authority of the temporary Chairman and executive committee appointed prior to the convention is a violation of Texas election law and that the first order of business ought to be to elect new leadership. I don't know Texas election law well enough to say whether they have a case, but it certainly seems much more reasonable to run the convention that way. They also have concerns about irregularities in various district convention, a knife which cuts both ways because there seem to be as many instances where Ron Paul supporters abused the process as there are of abuse by party insiders.
That this lawsuit has attracted support from more than just the Paul faction is significant. The involvement of some county officials and mainstream Republicans in the suit is a reminder that the attempts at reform are most effective when they are undertaken in ways which benefit everyone who wants to put the party back on track, not just the more extreme elements drawn in by the Paul campaign. The Texas GOP has been dominated by a faction from the religious right which took over in the 90s, and the large body of traditional Republicans in the state are tired of absolutist politics and hanging the future of the party on what ought to be secondary issues to core Republican values of individual liberty and small government. We all know it's time for reform in the party, but being conservatives we're leery of reform which is too quick, too radical, and takes us too far towards another extreme.
The Texas state GOP convention is coming up on June 12 through 14 in Houston. I'll be there liveblogging and filing regular reports where I can. With any luck I'll get bumped up from alternate to delegate, though that may end up coming at the expense of some of the Ron Paul supporters if party insiders follow through on their plans to decertify Paul activists in advance and to require all delegates to sign some sort of McCain loyalty oath. Whatever happens, it's shaping up to be a much more exciting and contentious convention than the state has seen in many a year, and I'll be there doing what I can to help move things in a positive direction where liberty has a voice -- and, of course, I'll be there to tell the story.
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Why did you skip Nevada? Ron Paul Delegates clearly outnumbered the old school GOP and what did they (Old School) do. Call a Recess and shut down the convention. Reform is called for and it will happen. The GOP is Rotten to the core with the lesser of two evil thinking and look at what that lying standard has brought this Great Country. A endless undeclared war, 14 trillion in debt, Fuel and food cost soaring at 5 to 10% per month and a Dollar that is losing value at equal pace. Thanks a lot Status Quo!The Chairwoman of the Nevada GOP should be fired and will be fired. She loves her job more than she loves the Republic or the States delegates because they do not support her accent in the National GOP. I go to GOP Fund raising events and look at the old white haired champions of the Politics of Fear and I can not believe that they cannot see the death of the party. THERE ARE NO YOUNG PEOPLE IN 8 of 10 meetings. WAKE UP!!!
Killing people in foreign lands because we are afraid is EVIL and the young folks Feel the Evil. The GOP is dead man walking, but I will not give up.
I was a seated alternate at the Minnesota State convention. I cannot speak for other States, but having worked with our State coordinator, and together with other delegates/alternates from my Congressional District (CD 5), I can say we never had any intention of disrupting the convention. We only wanted to take part in the process we were elected to from our BPOUs. The convention went smoothly up until they excluded our delegates/alternates (who followed the nominating committee's requirements) from the ballots, leaving us their slate that DID NOT follow the requirements in all cases. The motions we made subsequent to that were appeals for fairness and transparency. We did not block lines to the microphones to keep the opposition from having a voice. We did not wield signs telling the delegation how to vote on motions and the party platform. The State GOP and their Chair, Ron Carey, are responsible for the air of hostility they created, and the subsequent "disturbances" and delays that resulted.
Dave, what is your source of information for the Colorado State Convention. The flyer of so-called disruptive delegates was distributed by the McCain campaign and GOP officials, which we have video footage. I was named on that slanderous flyer, even though none of us had any intentions to disrupt the convention. Introducing a motion on the floor to allow 5-minute speech for a Ron Paul campaign representative is not disruptive, infact it is the right of any and all delegates. The State Chairman, Dick Wadhams went as far as trying to have the Campaign Rep thrown out of the convention for wanting to introduce a motion. When the McCain campaign was distributing literature in violation of the Convention Rules, little was done by the Chairman, even after they were given notice. Another RP delegate tried to bring information forward to the Chairman regarding violations of election law in a congressional assembly the previous day but was thrown out of the convention, and taken to a "free speech" zone. Apparently free speech at Republican Delegate Conventions are no longer allowed. The legal notice was retrieved and formally presented to Dick Wadhams to respond to in 10 days. Regarding the handpiccked slate of delegates, each campaign had an opportunity to place information in the totes for the delegates the day before. The McCain campaign failed to do so and resorted to violating the convention rules by passing them out on the floor of the convention. The Unity slate offended many delegates because it excluded the Ron Paul delegates. The two gentlemen sitting on either side of me was so appalled at the conduct of the GOP Chairman and the convention they asked me for a RP slate. Lastly, McCain delegates were disgraceful for openly booing RP delegates when they spoke about the Constitution, Real Conservatism, and the rule of law. Worse yet they harrassed a disabled Iraqi War Vet for supporting Ron Paul instead of the war hawk McCain. The Republican Party will suffer the worst defeat in a century this coming November because they have lost lost their way as well as any respect they might have left.
As always,your article was boring & misinformed to say the least...On a side note,The comment section is always booming with real news about what really happened...
When the Christian nation wakes up to th fact, McCain Hagee, is committed to serving Antichrist governments Ron Paul may be better appreciated. Check The Epistles of John, the only Bible reference to that word is a spirit, not a man like some would have us believe. It exists presentlywags the dog, nation.
Posted By: Thomas from Texas
Date: 2008-06-05 11:56:28
So, what's your point? That the Ron Paul people should shut up and obey the orders of the Old Guard? Taking a stand for truth is the only way change can come.
You're right on some thing, though your perspective is a bit off... And by the way, the Old Guard has been smoked out of their stinkin' holes. We (the Ron Paul supporters) can see them for what they are. They are oppressors of anyone with a different opinion.
This article was informative only to the extent that it shows how little freedom is appreciated or acknowledged in this country. Ron Paul and the rEVOLution will bring change. Maybe not the change you want, but the change many Americans want.
I for one, do not want the neofascist (neocon) party platform. And, hats off to all the brave Ron Paul delegates that are making a stand. Not the cowardly McCain neocon camp that stifles any attempt to truly reform the party from within.
And McCain (friend of Hillary, Lieberman, Feingold, Kennedy, etc.) calls himself a reformer. Why doesn't he do some straight talk and tell us that he is really the democrat in republican clothing.
Enjoy the convention in Houston. I hope it is as you say...
BTW, I know about the ruling (Ron Paul won this one). And you don't think it is shameful that a judge has to rule so that the Republican Party will follow it's own rules at a convention. It's pathetic that McCain and the neocons brought the Republican Party to this point. And we're supposed to hold our nose, lay down and play dead for what? Party Unity...
The GOP is kicking and screaming in the beginning of its death throes. The point of the Paul supporters is to EDUCATE the people regarding the corruption in our government, which is something that the GOP, and others, is terrified might happen. Ignorant people are no threat to the status quo. But those who have done the research and are justifiably outraged, like the tenacious and vociferous Ron Paul Revolutionaries, will find a way to be heard no matter what kind of bullying tactics the Neocons resort to. The GOP is soon to be in ruins, and a new party of REAL Republicans, Ron Paul Republicans, will be leading the country into a future that the Founding Fathers would not be shamed by. We are vocal and tenacious because we are RIGHT! Do some research on the points that Paul's supporters submit. Then tell us what a kooky bunch we are.
The Colorado Ron Paul delegation specifically used a strategy of "allowing the state GOP to shoot itself in the foot." We behaved in a manner that was very reasonable and we were still shut down with an iron fist. Many Ron Paul supporters report that, following our being voted down, they were repeatedly approached by McCain supporters who apologized for the behavior of the party.
Most Colorado republicans can see exactly what's happening: The resources of our state party are being used to favor all the candidates that our state chair likes -- before the primaries.
Shortly after the state convention we received phone calls from McCain supporters who wish to work with us in opposing the corrupt actions of the state central committee. You'll never read about any of this in the news because they're under the delusion that "unity" is the same as "no diversity allowed".
I think this is a good article, and you argue your position well. I do not agree with your position, and have written an article taking the opposite view point. You can comment on my article if you want, or write a rebuttal. I wrote the article because I feel very strongly about my position, as I am sure you do about yours. It is in now way an attack on you
Over 100 state delegates from all over Minnesota, “were required” by party, rules to personally appear before the nominations committee Thursday, the day prior to our convention start yesterday. The purpose is determined qualifications based on party participation, rank in party and political experience.
In fact a 16 year currently sitting house Representative supporting Ron Paul is over looked for a young new mother with no political experience as an alternate choice of the nominations committee.
When I settled into the convention hall seat area of our BPOU Friday morning the first thing I noticed is 2 banners at front and either side of the convention platform. Listed on the right banner, a 8'X12' suspended from the convention hall roof supports, is a list of 14 "Conservative Republican for national delegates". The left side has a similar list of 14 alternates. A banner of this type would take several business days to design, print, deliver then hang 50' above the convention floor prior to 7:30 AM Friday morning convention registration, not overnight.
How amazingly prophetic is 12 of the national delegates and all 14 alternates listed on the 2 banners were promoted to National. Friday evening a delegate from the convention floor confronted the Party leadership on stage to their keen ability to predict with 92% accuracy the national delegates and alternates prior to the convention gave drop. A member of the nominations committee responded with a statement close to "We just thought real hard about who would be elected". Using the descriptive word "ARRAGANCE" fails to do justice to the attitude of the Party leadership's response to the delegate question of foresight.
In addition the Minnesota governor, Senator and another unidentified high ranking political leader never attended in person the nominations committee personionally in Rochester, but interviewed by phone.
When people (both McCain and Paul supporters) brought the rules violation to the convention leadership demanding and or requesting to follow our Republican constitution the folks were "ruled out of order" and told to stop pointing out the inconsistancies.
Like I said, I could go on for a long time on the abusive conduct of leadership. Friday evening and Saturday we received so many appoligies from McCain supporters stating as the convention rolled along it became more apparent the mission of party leadership had nothing to do with a convention. Crushing opinion is the rule of law in Minnesota.
Posted By: Jahfre Fire Eater
Date: 2008-06-05 17:58:34
I attended the Colorado State Assembly last weekend. The Paul supporters represented roughly 20%-30% of the crowd. Many party blind-faithful thought the CO GOP was unnecessarily disrespectful to the Paul supporters and that the State GOP Chairman, Dick Wadhams, violated his neutrality in a blatant endorsement of a candidate prior to the national convention where delegates are counted.
In Colorado, Paul supporters and McCain supporters have joined forces to fight the corruption that so obviously permeates the actions and beliefs of the party leadership. This is a war of attrition and erosion, not a single battle that ends in November.
The only thing that derail our eventual success is individuals deciding to return to apathy or waste their power in a 3rd party, leaving the most powerful political tools to the enemy.
As always,your article was boring & misinformed to say the least...On a side note,The comment section is always booming with real news about what really happened...
Which is one reason why I find these articles so valuable. I get additional information from commenters who are often first-hand participants so that my later writing can be more complete and more informed.
Dave, what is your source of information for the Colorado State Convention.
The Durango Tribune article I linked to in the story. I should have known that if they expressed some concerns then things were much worse at the convention than had been publicly acknowledged, and comments here seem to confirm that.
This article makes it look like because the Ron Paul supporters are participating in the process, because they haven't given up, and GOP regulars are not participating as strongly because they presume McCain the nominee that must make Ron Paul supporters a "devil" or "hostile". From my perspective it simply means Ron Paul supporters are just participating more than other GOP segments. It also demonstrates the strength of their resolve, none of which I believe to be hostile. I believe it has been peaceful and respectable. What is not respectable to me is demonizing people for their participation.
Good article. Ron Paul supporters should try a less confrontational approach.
We've been there, done that - that's how we got where we are....a "less confrontational approach" hasn't worked. Somebody had better "confront" these issues head on.
There's a good reason it's called a REVOLUTION.
We are abiding by the RULES, we're peaceful, and if somebody thinks we're being disruptive and confrontational, then I say "Good" for us. It's time to wake people up to what's happening to them.
In Minnesota, even though the Mccain slate was promoted, the party leadership secretly changed the rules, the ballot was never voted on or approved, Ron Paul delegates were excluded, and the party leadership broke their own made-up rules, Ron Paul picked up two delegates.
They lie, cheat, stall, intimidate, ignore points of order, and do not respect floor votes, and still they cannot take all of the delegates for their appointed nominee.
I really can't understand why some here are wringing their hands over being cast out of 50% of the two party monopoly/good old boy system that brought us to where we are today.
Ron Paul's strength is his political & financial philosophy, and unwavering record in Congress. Between now and election day everyone that believes in his message needs to spread it to the majority of Americans that don't usually vote, and remind them that THEY pick the winner. Even if you couldn't write in your candidate and simply voted Local/State ... wouldn't that itself send your message about the choices?
It's taken me 55 years to realize that throwing my vote away doesn't mean voting for the lesser of the evils. Throwing your vote away & giving up your power happens when you vote for something or someone you don't agree with, but your vote says that you do.
Buy several of Ron Paul's books and get them circulating to anyone that is willing to read them. Make sure that they finish it in a reasonable time & get it moving again. Tell them to vote their conscience & write him in if need be.
That's what I'm doing and if no one better runs in 2012 then I'm writing him in then as well.
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-06-10 09:00:20
The FIGHT for our LIBERTY is not a pretty venture. It cannot be accomplished with niceties, politeness and kindness.
If the will and spirit of LIBERTY scares you then leave us. Leave the bloody, ugly, dirty fight of LIBERTY to the true PATRIOTS.
"In the beginning of change the Patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds the timid join him, for it then cost nothing to be a PATRIOT"- Mark Twain
" If ye love wealth better than LIBERTY, the tranquility of servitude than the ANIMATED CONTEST OF FREEDOM, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor arms. Crouch down and lick the hands that feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posperity forget that you were ever our countrymen"- Sam Adams
Thanks for the article, Dave. In particular, I found the links to other state conventions helpful.
The sad, simple fact is, an overwhelming majority of Republicans can't stomach their white supremacist, John Bircher candidate. The freakshow his supporters put on during the campaign certainly didn't help. Republicans rejected Ron Paul in the caucuses. We rejected him in the primaries. Although the message of limited, constitutional government may resonate with many of us, there was too much other nonsense attached.
And just to clear up any confusion, we have no intention of letting their fringe candidate now reverse the will of the voters and hijack our party at the conventions. That's not "corruption." That's democracy in action.
What specifically do Republicans find offensive about Ron Paul supporters? The first reply is revealing.
"I go to GOP Fund raising events and look at the old white haired champions of the Politics of Fear and I can not believe that they cannot see the death of the party. THERE ARE NO YOUNG PEOPLE IN 8 of 10 meetings. WAKE UP!!!"
Surprise, surprise.
The hardcore Republican faithful, the people who turn out year after year to staff voter registration booths, stuff envelopes, man phone banks, and knock on doors, are for the most part, old people. That's the way it's been for as long as I can remember.
The RINOs in the Paul Campaign would have done well to be mindful of those demographics.
Rather than shout at us with a bullhorn how we're corrupt and rotten to the core, perhaps it might have been helpful to remember, by definition, we're simply resistant to change. Instead of trying to bulldoze over us, why not try to win us over instead? Are civility and compromise not in the Ron Paul playbook?
By treating us like obstacles in your path if we didn't fully subscribe to your lunatic conspiracy theories and radical solutions, the Ron Paul campaign brought this upon themselves.
A month from now when they wake from their collective stupor and ask, "Dude, where's my Revolution?" Here's the answer: You killed it with your own arrogance and stupidity.
Posted By: Steven A. Rosile
Date: 2008-08-13 00:49:53
The Republican Party is sliting their own throats by rebuffing all these new-comers to political action (some of their old hands as well, the ones that are truly freedom loving conservatives) instead of welcoming them and their champion, Ron Paul - the best possible person for President in these times. By showing their true colors and their total hypocrisy, the neocon facists that have long dominated the Republican Party are only going to drive these people to the Libertarian and Constitution Parties, and to a lesser extent the other minor parties. This may be the beginning of the end for the Republican Party. As the Democrats have plenty of their own problems, 2008 might just be beginning of the end for them as well. As both old parties are, and have been, corrupt for decades, busily selling out the Constitution, the people and the nation, I say the sooner the better!
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