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FacebookRon Paul campaign dominates convention
Meeting reveals a party, in this state at least, far from united
Sun, Apr 27, 2008 (2 a.m.)
Sun Archives
Reno — Call 2008 the year of the great tumult, the year of the outsiders, the young, the tech-savvy who are changing American politics.
Although most of the attention, money and passion lie with the long saga of the Democratic presidential contest, Nevada’s state Republican convention here offered evidence of the ground shifting across the spectrum, with an actual earthquake Friday night serving as an apt symbol.
Rep. Ron Paul, a Republican with a libertarian’s heart, followed his second-place finish in Nevada’s January presidential caucus by out-organizing the state’s Republican establishment. In the process, the Paulites embarrassed the campaign of Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president.
They seemed to make up more than half of the 1,300 or so state delegates to the convention. They won a key procedural vote on the rules, and their boisterous presence created significant delays, causing the convention chairman, Bob Beers, a state senator from Las Vegas, to recess the convention without selecting delegates to the national convention. The state convention is to resume at a later date.
Paul supporters occasionally shouted down the chairman, then rocked the convention with noise when Paul, their diminutive doctor icon, appeared to rally them.
The passion of the libertarians showed the sense of unrest of some grass roots Republicans following the party’s 2006 defeat and worrisome signs of another this year.
A surge in Democratic registrations has dealt Nevada Republicans a 50,000 voter deficit, while nationally, the GOP faces the biggest party identification gap to Democrats ever recorded by the Gallup polling organization.
Although it is largely papered over by the GOP establishment’s unifying behind McCain, party regulars are debating the future of the party, and especially whether to return to the small-government principles of the late Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential candidate.
Republican conventions are usually well-organized, rather staid affairs for bashing Democrats and rallying around the presidential nominee, in this case, McCain.
Not so this time, as many of the more than 1,300 delegates were Paul supporters who viewed themselves as insurgents taking on the establishment.
As Kelly Edinger, a delegate from Washoe County, put it: “On one side you’ve got a candidate with principles, on the other, Tammany Hall,” referring to the corrupt New York City political machine of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was a wildly exaggerated accusation, but a reflection of insurgent attitudes.
The convention was filled with first-timers, including Shawn Moshos, a member of the carpenters union and a 34-year-old lifelong Republican energized for the first time this year. The southwest Las Vegas resident is head of marches, activism and special projects for a Ron Paul Meetup group, which is an online tool for organizing offline.
“It’s a little like going to church,” he said of Paul’s Las Vegas supporters. They meet socially and enjoy talking about shared libertarian principles.
Jon Martin is a young management consultant who lives in Las Vegas also at his first political convention. “Paul has ignited a fire,” he said.
Although McCain is the presumed nominee, Paul continues to rack up big vote totals in primaries, including 126,000 votes, or nearly 16 percent, in Pennsylvania.
In his speech, Paul called for an end to the IRS and the protection of constitutional liberties. He never mentioned McCain.
Martin is the type of libertarian voter who should concern Republicans. He said McCain is a “warmonger.”
Martin, who is hoarding precious metals for a predicted economic calamity, also showed the sometimes confusing ideological space these people occupy. He said he would vote for the radical leftist Ralph Nader if Paul isn’t a general election candidate.
Jeff Greenspan, Paul’s southwest director, said the Paul convention plan had been in the works for months. They dominated county conventions. And, in Reno on Saturday, they communicated strategy on the convention floor by mass cell phone text messaging, which no doubt kept them a step ahead of party leadership.
Robert Uithoven, a party strategist and adviser to McCain, acknowledged “there are divisions in the Republican Party. It’s April. I hope they’ll come over, and I believe they will.”
Uithoven said Paul supporters were able to gain a strong foothold at the convention because McCain’s lean campaign team had racked up victories by relying on free media rather than paid staff or volunteers. The campaign is adding staff and getting organized, Uithoven said.
As he noted, the division among Republicans is nothing compared to the battle going on between the Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.
Indeed, the minor skirmish among Republicans wasn’t the most telling incident of the day. That came from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Dean Heller, who both sketched out the attacks Republicans will launch on Democrats from now until November.
Romney said Clinton and Obama are “more concerned with what the ACLU lawyers think than protecting the American people.”
“I know Americans are going to chose a great patriot, a man who’s been tested and proven,” he concluded, which was a thinly veiled way of saying Obama is untested, unproven and has suspect associations.
Heller, a one-time moderate who has become a rock-ribbed conservative since joining Congress in 2007, threw the crowd some red meat. “If you cannot score above a 40 when you’re bowling, you probably are not physically fit to be president,” he quipped, referring to Obama’s failed attempt in rural Pennsylvania.
Playing off Clinton’s ad about being ready to answer the call at 3 a.m. in the White House and her fibbing about landing amidst sniper fire in Bosnia during the ’90s, Heller said, “If you cannot remember if you’ve been under sniper fire, you shouldn’t be answering the phone at 3 o’clock in the morning.”
Then he returned to Obama: “If you think our closets are full of guns, and if you think we go to church every Sunday because we’re bitter, well, I’ll let you answer that.”
Paul notwithstanding, that’s the campaign to come.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Discussion: 39 comments so far…
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The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
J. Patrick Coolican wrote a smear piece.
This is exceptionally poor writing by J. Patrick Coolican:
>>>As Kelly Edinger, a delegate from Washoe County, put it: “On one side
>>>you’ve got a candidate with principles, on the other, Tammany Hall,”
>>>referring to the corrupt New York City political machine of the 19th
>>>and 20th centuries. It was a wildly exaggerated accusation, but a
>>>reflection of insurgent attitudes.
"Wildly exaggerated"? The so-called Republican leadership walked out of their own convention like they are spoiled brats who were not getting their way.
Let's see what McCain's principles are:
+ cover up Vietnam POW investigations
+ Keating 5 influence peddling scandal
+ McCain/Feingold attack on 1st ammendment, and McCain now ignores his own law
+ McCain's many votes to grab guns, trampling on the 2nd ammendment
+ McCain leaves his wife after she is handicapped from an auto accident
John McCain is a maverick (like a gangster criminal) who does whatever he wants WITHOUT ANY PRINCIPLES.
J. Patrick Coolican, you aren't a journalist, you are a neo-con warmonger's tool.
A couple of sentences stand out: "Paul supporters were able to gain a strong foothold at the convention because McCain’s lean campaign team had racked up victories by relying on free media." Say again---McCain relied on a free media---where was the Ron Paul coverage in the free media? Ron Paul relied on grass roots support, a real message backed with a voting record of his positions, and the voices of the people. Where is the voter in this process, or is it only about the GOP and winning? "The convention was filled with first-timers": True. All over America, the people are waking up from apathy. The "first timers" and senior voters are seeing the primaries, caucuses, the conventions process exists to diminish the individual vote. There is Hope for America. Be part of it.
What a nasty crook Democrat Juan McWar is. He refuses to release the income tax records of his hundred millionaire wife and co-adulterer The Cindi. He uses her corporate jet for his campaign and doesn't pay for it, against the rules and regulations which he voted for. He used the promise of matching funds to get a multimillion dollar loan and skirts campaign finance laws. He votes against allowing women to sue for pay discrimination. I am a real conservative. And I can tell you that this is the most sinister candidate in the history of American politics. Time to vote for Ron Paul.
(Removed by the site staff)
I thought this was a good report, and touches on a few key points on which I'll provide a few brief thoughts.
With respect to the McCain campaign being out-maneuvered by Paul supporters, does it really matter? McCain will be the nominee whether the traditional republicans somehow outfox Senator Beers and elect Ron Paul supporters to the national convention or not. Honestly, you don't matter.
On the issue of a New York City political machine running things, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Ms. Edinger's comment. I am in NYC, and just this Monday Vice President Cheney was in town for a few fundraisers (one with Energy investors that i didn't attend) and a quick rally-the-troops speech to the Manhattan Institute I believe. It's not that Senator Beers or any of the party leaders are somehow deviously connected to us in New York, it is that they feel part of something, something that has power, and this makes them feel like they're in the right.
Unfortunately, I hate to say it, Ron Paul's supporters, who are republicans, are really the true republicans here. At the same time, I don't blame the Nevada Republican Party leadership for not realizing these people are actually the traditionals, as for the past 40-50 years the Republican Party has quietly had their base platform completely distorted. As a party member, I know that not following the line here in New York quickly leads to "social banishment", if you will, with the party big-whigs. These Nevada party leaders enjoy their quick lines of communication to party leadership on the east coast, and they're not going to give up that sense of acceptance and power to re-examine what they believe to be the traditional republican party values. They're just human like us, afterall. Taking a few phone-calls from some nobodies in Nevada, giving them a rallying message and telling them we're with them, is a small price to pay to keep the State Republican Party in line with our new idealogy.
I applaud you Ron Paul Republicans. I wish I could join you, but doing so would quickly eliminate all my political connections. You are fighting much more than the "establishment", you are fighting an idealogical battle that has tainted the party's message. Every step along the way you will meet more and more resistance.
Good luck,
Charlie
(Removed by the site staff)
It is difficult to understand the thinking that says that we should support someone for the sake of unity. According to this nonsense, unity is more important than winning the election, saving America, or promoting the ideology that built the party. In the case of this election, McCain and Paul are just candidates. The same is true with Obama and Clinton. Until someone is crowned at the convention, there are no nominees. If unity means supporting policies that will continue to drive America to bankruptcy, then it is not a legitimate concept.
Gene Louis
Hey, I'm a Ron Paul supporter and a Senator Bob
Beers supporter and contribute to both campaigns.
Bob is a Libertarian Republican.
While I'm no fan of McCain and have never been one, I will vote for him. Lesser of 2 evils.
I could NEVER vote for either one of the Democrats and I don't think you'll see any of the Ron Paul supporters do that either.
We are DEMANDING that the Republican party get back to staying out of our wallets and our bedrooms. We are for less government.
MCCAINS only saving grace is he has never voted for any pork and promises to keep the tax cuts in
place. He better not allow all the illegals to come into our borders or he will have a real mutiny on his hands. I'd just as soon pull out of Iraq and quit wasting our peoples lives and money over there but I'm not ready to let Iran have it either.
Meanwhile I'm converting the rv and our cars to run on water
and taking any and every action to get off dependence to foreign oil so we don't have to be there.
Helen Weils,
I would suggest that you look at Senators McCain's voting record instead of believing what he says in an election year.
I to was a strong Bob Beers supporter but will be no more. He has betrayed the will of the elected Republican delegates and his career in Nevada politics will soon be over.
McCain will not win in November with out massive voting fraud like what we saw yesterday in Carson City.
It has become painfully obvious that the Nevada Caucus process has been used by the political elite to deny the people of this state a fair vote. THIS IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
The caucus process must be done away with and replaced by a Primary Vote on paper ballots. Until this happens the electoral process here in Nevada will remain CORRUPT and FRAUDULENT.
It doesn't matter if Bob Beers is a libertarian or not. He broke the rules in order to try to get the outcome he wanted. No Ron Paul supporter is going to get behind that. And regardless of which candidate you support, you shouldn't either. Because maybe this time they cheated in order to get the candidate you like elected but it sets a precedent and maybe next time they'll cheat to make sure that the candidate you like doesn't get elected. If that happens you will have nobody to blame but yourself.
Shannon,
Excellent point! It would not have hurt McCain in any way for Ron Paul to have won the Nevada Caucus.
McCain won't win the state in November this year any way. All this did was expose McCain, Beers and other Republican leaders as corrupt, what a horrible mistake.
I appreciate the reader input, but please keep it civil. I'm happy to respond to individual criticisms in email.
J. Patrick Coolican wrote a smear piece.
This is exceptionally poor writing by J. Patrick Coolican:
>>>As Kelly Edinger, a delegate from Washoe County, put it: “On one side
>>>you’ve got a candidate with principles, on the other, Tammany Hall,”
>>>referring to the corrupt New York City political machine of the 19th
>>>and 20th centuries. It was a wildly exaggerated accusation, but a
>>>reflection of insurgent attitudes.
*****
Hey Coolican .... this sentence Was aimed at McWarmonger's camp, right?
The country is too far to the left to ever allow Ron Paul or somebody like Ron Paul to be president.
Ron Paul or somebody like him could not even win a governor slot or be a mayor in big city.
Also, Ron Paul or his followers are not consistent in applying their beliefs.
For instance, Ron Paul wants to fix Social Security. I do not think Social Security is in the Constitution.
The reason Ron Paul is not against Social Security is because it is not practical to be against Social Security and run for office.
Too bad, Ron Paul and his followers do not apply other common sense thinking to their other beliefs.
If they did then they would move out the fringe world into the real world and maybe win a governor slot or two.
Nice distortion of Ron Paul's position on Social Security...
"For instance, Ron Paul wants to fix Social Security. I do not think Social Security is in the Constitution."
He wants to ELIMINATE Social Security, but without stranding people who are currently dependent on it.
He wants to "fix" it by gradually letting young people opt out and invest for retirement themselves.
He refuses to just abandon those who have been promised benefits and already paid into the current system.
Thanks for agreeing with me.
Ron Paul and his follower’s sometimes apply a "Purist" thought to items.
What you described is a practical approach that falls outside the Purist thought.
Social Security is unconstitutional. If one is a purist on that topic then one would demand that social security be shut down immediately.
It would be nice if Ron Paul and his followers would take a similar practical approach to other Purist thoughts they have. It would be nice if they would have a practical approach to giving money and military equipment to Israel. Cutting off Israel would be very bad.
Who's Ron Paul?
>>Ron Paul or somebody like him could not even win a governor slot or be a mayor in big city.<<
Or... Maybe,... a Congressional seat in the US House? - what makes you think he couldn't be elected to anything?
Check this out - > Go to the US House of Representatives Web page and search for Ron Paul and see if he doesn't win elections...
Man - some people.....
Winning a governor or a senator slot indicates that one has broader base of support.
Winning a congressional seat that is heavily white and very conservative is not the same thing.
If Ron Paul or one his followers win a governor slot or a Senator slot then you might have something.
Now, all you guys are working on the edge of politics and not the middle/center.
Ron Paul, if he has the guts, should run for the governor or Texas. Then you can build your movement into something real. Otherwise, Ron Paul will be just another Ralph Nader type.
I found this on the internet. I think you need to see this:
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/47172
The person walking from the counting room took a straight line to State Chairwoman Sue Lowden, leaning over and whispering into her ear. After the person walked off Sue sat there for about 30 seconds tapping her foot and then stood up and walked over to Councilman Woodbury who was sitting in front of me, leaning over she said, "If we can break Quorum, can we invalidate this?" After saying this rather loudly and glancing at the expression on my face she quickly quieted down and I was unable to hear the rest of the conversation.
Ron Paul got 14% of the vote in Nevada, which some say is the most libertarian state in the country.
It seems that the Ron Paul followers are trying to get elected a percentage of delegates that is above the 14%.
It looks like that they are trying similar actions in other states. I am guessing that they are hoping to get enough delegates to nominate Ron Paul instead of McCain or to cause trouble at the national convention.
As member of 86% that did not vote for Ron Paul, these actions do not warm my heart toward their movement even though I have sympathies toward some of their beliefs.
It seems that Ron Paul is directing this activity.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/states
Here are other stories in other states:
Washington: http://columbian.com/opinion/news/2008/0...
Texas:
http://www.star-telegram.com/elections/s...
Kansas:
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/1051...
Here is an website on the strategy:
http://www.nolanchart.com/article3508.ht...
So you're telling me that Beers, an out-of-touch media hound, was outmaneuvered by a bunch of out-of-touch internet, uh, people? Schadenfreude.
I didn't think it was possible for a political party to be less organized than the Democrats. Thanks Bob Beers for proving me wrong!
Could it be that this is more evidence that McCain has the "diebold endorsement"? After all who better would serve the Military industrial complex and continue the obscene amounts of money that have been made by weapons contractors and oil companies in the last decade? Even if that isn't the case (investigating election fraud is made nearly impossible it seems in this country) it's pretty cool to see that despite an attempt to silence or distort Pauls inspiring message of freedom, liberty, fiscal responsibility, and non-intervention by the media. The message has gotten out. This is the most enthusiasm behind a candidate the GOP has seen in quite sometime. And the neoconservative war mongers who have infiltrated the party are sweating, their days are numbered. John McCain is no conservative and the republican party needs to return to its roots for the good of this country And the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacking_Dem...
jfnance32: You have no idea what you are talking about. Ron Paul is against Social Security and wants to phase it out. He wants to make that everyone who was promised benefits still gets them and does not want any senior citizens who were promised Social Security to be left out in the cold. He has a plan to eventually get rid of the program; do your research before talking nonsense.
Meeper34......so will Ron Paul phase out giving money and military equipment to Isreal or will he claim that is unconstitional to do so and immediately stop it?
Meep34.....Here is Ron Paul's official website page on Social Security....http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/social-security/
It says nothing about phasing out it but states his plan to protect it and to keep it solvent.
Clearly, there is nothing in the Constitution that empowers the government to have a Social Security program.
This demonstrates that sometimes Ron Paul has political practical approach to applying his view of Constitutional principles.
It is just too bad he does that do that with his other radical plans.
To quote Bernie Zadrowski,
Chairman, Clark County Republican Party
"The contract indicated that the room had been reserved until 5 p.m., and as there was still many hours of work that needed to be done, the decision was made by the State Party Leadership to recess the meeting to another time. As a result we failed to elect delegates to the national convention."
The 5:00 p.m. deadline for the room was never mentioned by the chairman, Senator Bob Beers, and without explanation he abruptly ended the convention a few minutes before 5:00 p.m. It was only after he left that the attendee's became aware of the deadline.
Why did Bob Beers keep the information to himself rather than announcing the fact at the beginning of the convention? Why did he show a film of Newt Gingrich and invite a speaker to address the convention in the afternoon when there was so much work to be done?
The answer is either gross incompetence on the part of Bob Beers or an underhanded, unethical dirty trick because it was clear that Ron Paul supporters outnumbered John McCain supporters, and Bob Beers didn't want to allow a vote for national delegates in Nevada.
Whether it was incompetence or a dirty trick, Senator Bob Beers undermined the people's right to vote, and I call for his impeachment from office.
A large number of people devoted their time and spent money travelling from Las Vegas and rural Nevada to Reno for the state convention, because they cared enough about this country to take part in the voting process.
I weep for this country, because I witnessed first-hand the fact that we are no longer a Constitutional Republic. Bob Beers and others like him have destroyed what this country once stood for.
Personally, I will vote for Ron Paul all the way, even if it means a write-in vote.
HAHA! This is a great victory for Ron Paul supporters. We need to continue our "insurgency" tomorrow, the next day, and forever! Yes, the idea that the government should respect the constitution is quite revolutionary these days. I am tired of politicians who come around every four years and publicly kiss the people's butts and act like they care about us. No more! They always turn around as soon as they are elected to look after the interests of the giant corporations that they truly serve. We are looking at 3 "likely" candidates that are owned by these corporations and all 3 represent no real change. The interest on the national deficit costs us over $1.5 billion dollars every single day! I demand a candidate that has a plan to address this huge problem. I will be voting for Ron Paul no matter what. The "lesser of two evils" thinking has been proven to lead nowhere. Its time for real change. Its time for Ron Paul!
If McCain, Obama or Hillary are elected this year, then by 2012 we will all wish Ron Paul was sitting in the Oval Office. It is estimated that in three years we can expect to pay around $10.00 per gallon in gas, now that price does not take into consideration the fact that our good ole Federal Reserve Notes will have probably entered into negative value causing incredible inflationary pressure in every sector of our economy.
Unfortunately, Ron Paul is the only candidate addressing such issues on a fundamental level and offering solutions to those issues. None of the other candidates seem to even be aware of the actual issues facing this country and its people and the fear is that what they do in office will only exacerbate the problems to the point that they are irreversible. When you listen to McCain, to Obama, to Hillary you will quickly learn that they offer little but empty promises that fly in the fact of a reality that few of us seem to want to confront. Ron Paul has been addressing these issues for years, no only wanted to listen and many are not listening now, but soon they will seek out those, like Ron Paul, who have stated that we face some dire consequences due to our reckless policies both at home and abroad.
The Monetary System is reaching its terminal point, every Fiat Monetary System eventually collapses due to the exponential expansion of insoluble debt as it consumes the economy. Ours will be no different because you cannot seek to subvert the laws of monetary mathematics for long without disastrous consequences, just wait and see, but definitely prepare yourselves.
Today, a person making an annual income of $35,000. 00 has the effective purchasing power, in 1970 "dollars" of merely $6,359.83 per year. So, a person making that $16.83 "dollars" per hour really has an effective purchase power of only $3.06 in 1970 "dollars" per hour. Now, can anyone see why the government must mandate minimum wages? The fact is that a person making the average minimum wage of $5.85 per hour has the effective hourly wage in 1970 "dollars" of only $1.06 per hour; in other words that person working forty hours a week has a wage of only $42.40 per week in 1970 purchasing power "dollars". Hardly a subsistence wage, wouldn't you agree?
Ron Paulers….the “it ain’t fair” crying does not go that far with me. You guys are trying to screw over the voters who only gave Ron Paul 14% of the vote
Ron Paul is probably the last chance for America. If we stay status quo we are doomed (more spending, increased national debt, more wars leading to ultimate international retaliation).
Firstly, I was present for the Nevada Republican Convention. Beers called for a ressess with out putting it to a vote, which is against the parliamentary proceedure. The Chairman only has power so long as the body allows him to. He stopped the convention in the middle of counting district 2s votes. Why? Well, I wont say for sure because the Peppermill gauranteed the party usage of the convention room for three hours longer and had the event scheduled for all day Sunday as well. I will say, however, that after voting for the three district's delegates with a total of nine delegates, the Ron Paul Campaign secured 7. No wonder they wanted to spot counting the votes.
What irritates me about this article is that it suggests that Ron Paul's Campaign was unhonorable in some way. Let's review the facts.
Ron Paul is ignored and hated by the media and was thus never given an oppurtunity to use the media to campaign. Ron Paul focussed on grass roots strategies. All donations to his campaign have come from average Americans, not big corporations.
Where has all the fair journalism gone? This article does shine some what favorably in ways on Ron Paul Supporters, but deffinately keeps to the industry standard of bashing the Campaign, Candidate, and Followers as kooks.
What is more outrageous? Government spending money they don't have or conservative monetary policy? Tyranical law or constitutional rights? The list is endless.
Freedomorsafety: I was there too and agree 100%. As soon as they realized Ron Paul delegates were winning they abruptly ended the convention rather than allow an honest vote.
More info: http://www.dailypaul.com/node/47172
jfnace: You are missing the whole point. At the causus Paul may have gotten 14%, McCain about 13%, and Romney about 50%. (Going by memory here.) I don't see Romney supporters whining like you are. I don't care who you vote for, but it's our right as Americans to vote. That right was taken away from us at the convention by a very unethical Bob Beers. Whether a delegate wants to vote for McCain, Paul, Romney, Huckabee, or Jeb Bush, that right was taken away from us, and many people went to large expense and investment of their time to get to Reno for the convention.
I hope you'll be intelligent and honest enough to retract your statement about Ron Paul people whining about the caucus numbers from last January. Everyone who attended the convention should be outraged by what happened. Including you.
Give Us Back Our Convention!
On April 26th in Reno, the Republican State Convention was abruptly and improperly recessed indefinitely on the orders of Sue Lowden, state party chairperson. After a day of parliamentary wrangling, the delegates defeated all the plans of the party leadership to dictate the selection of delegates to the national convention. The crucial vote was approximately 750 to 450 in favor of a plan where the delegates would be selected by the convention rather than the party leadership.
After that critical vote, an election process was put in place where 9 of the delegates would be elected by congressional district, with 3 from each district. Another 22 delegates would be elected by at large voting with that to take place after the election by congressional district. As the election proceeded, it became clear that result desired by the party leadership, which was the election of delegates favorable to John McCain, would fail. The party leadership and the John McCain campaign began searching for a way to stop what to them would be a disaster. The first attempt was to reduce the number of delegates in the hall and so force an end to the convention due to lack of a quorum. That effort failed, probably due to poor communications with the delegates. It was apparently an effort that they were not willing to announce publicly. At about 6:00 p.m., the convention chairman, contrary to the rules of the convention, announced an indefinite recess without any discussion or vote on the matter. This recess hit the convention like a bomb, with strong objections from those who wished the convention to continue.
The original word from Sue Lowden was that the convention would reconvene at a later time. However, the party leaders are apparently discussing plans to handle the remaining elections by mail, rather than to reconvene the convention. At this writing, almost two weeks after the convention, there is no word from the party chairman as to when, if ever, the convention will be reconvened.
As a delegate to the convention, I call on the party leadership to reconvene the convention at the earliest practical time and to adhere strictly to election procedures that were adopted by the convention.
By long tradition and parliamentary rules, a political convention belongs to the delegates and not to the presiding officer of the convention or to the party leadership. Any deviation from this practice will be a bad precedent and will serve to undermine the best traditions of American government.
R. Holloway
Nevada continues to make worldwide news.
Follow the historic coverage here:
http://bob-beers-and-sue-lowden.blogspot...
10 Reasons to Attend the June 28th Convention - Part 1
1. The Party Leaders Ruined the First Part of the Convention on April 26th.
There is an old political philosophy, rule it or ruin it. It looks like this holds true today. The party leaders anticipated an outcome. When they did not get their outcome they resorted to plan B; Rundown the clock, call recess and break quorum. Then attempt to stop delegates from reconvening and when the convention is not reconvened, appoint national delegates. The same delegates they had picked for us before hand. State conventions are not to be a "Leaders vs. Members" battle. They are a forum for party members to have their voice heard and to engage in decision making on how the party is to be run. Conventions are not simply an event for fund-raising or a means to rubber stamp the will of party leaders.
2. The State Party Leaders Do Not Want to Reconvene.
This was self evident when they refused to return calls from party members wanting an update on the convention. Party leaders should have worked with the delegates that were willing to volunteer their time and money to reconvene the convention. They refused the help, waited and would not return phone calls. Party leaders did not set an “uncommitted” date until after delegates were forced to schedule a date after more than 6 weeks of no word from party leaders.
3. The State Party Leaders Want to Split the Vote.
One can assume that state party leaders’ intentions are to split the vote and not to have a quorum. Party leaders refused to set a date for the convention. They only announced a date for the convention after the delegates were forced to set their own date. Many have speculated that the “uncommitted” date announced for reconvening of the convention in July will not take place and by that time it will be too late for delegates to reconvene. Party leaders will then appoint the national delegates and no other convention business will be completed.
4. The Authority to Conduct Business of the Convention Resides with the Delegates of the Convention.
When a convention is convened the authority of the convention lies with the body of the convention, i.e. the delegates. This is evident by the fact that the chairman, the agenda and the rule must be voted in by the delegates. The officers presiding over the convention are merely a means of administrating the tasks of organizing the convention and to facilitate the meeting. The delegates have the authority. It is the delegates that validate any action of the conventions and not party leaders nor convention officers.
10 Reasons to Attend the June 28th Convention - Part 2
5. The Rules Are on the Side of the Delegates.
The convention was not adjourned on April 26th, the convention was merely recessed. Robert’s Rules of Order is clear on recesses. They are temporary in nature. Because the June 28th meeting is a continuation of the convention, and is not a new convention, the rules relating to times and locations of state and special conventions, being set by the convention committee, do not apply. In fact the state party leaders have stated that Robert's Rules of Order are only used when the bylaws do not address the issue at hand. This is true, however, Robert Rules are binding and derive their power from the bylaws and have the same authority as long as they do not conflict with the bylaws or another applicable law.
6. A Majority of Delegates Plan on Attending on June 28th.
The June 28th date has an overwhelming amount of support from delegates. These delegates have agreed and are willing to attend the June 28th convention and have no plans to attend the “re-convention” which the party leaders have not committed to. This has been verified with polls and the party leaders are aware of this.
7. Party Members Own the Party Not Party Leaders.
Party members put party leaders in charge to facilitate the will of the members. Party members are not put in place to facilitate the will of party leaders. If this basic premise was adhered to, our party would be in much better shape.
8. Party Leaders Have the Ability to Right the Wrong.
Party leaders have the ability to resolve any conflicts between party leaders and party members by working with the delegates and recognizing the June 28th date. Party leaders only set an uncommitted date after the June 28th date was set and the location was reserved. The June 28th date is a committed date, unlike the July date.
9. Party Leaders Must Not Circumvent the Will of Party Members.
Attending the June 28th convention will have your voice heard and let party leaders know that party members must have a voice in the party and that conventions are important. It will also be the only real opportunity to finish the convention business completely.
10. Reno is a Great Place to Party!
You miss Reno and are looking to party. Stop taking life so seriously, if you have read though this whole thing you probably have been, and need a break. Go to Reno on June 28th, this will be your last chance for a while. Don’t be the guy that wishes he or she was part of the delegates that corrected this outrage and finished the April 26th convention business.