Jason Pye passes on an email purporting to detail a plot by Ron Paul supporters to hijack Georgia’s GOP delegates for Ron Paul:
Many Ron Paul supporters across Georgia have been working hard to elect Ron Paul supporters as delegates to the Republican National Convention. We have had success in most of the large counties (over 80,000 population) that selected their precinct delegates on February 16. It appears that we have the majority of the precinct delegates in several of the large counties. With your help, we will be successful in electing Ron Paul supporters to the Republican National Convention. Please commit to attending the following:
Precinct Mass Meeting and County Convention
this Saturday, March 15 at 9 am sharp8th Congressional District Convention
April 19 at 10 am sharp in Warner Robins, GAFrom our February experience in Houston and Bibb counties, all we have to do is SHOW UP! If we are successful at the congressional district level, we will ask for your help in electing even more delegates at the state convention in May. But for now, please commit to attending the meetings listed above.
Ron Paul supporters across the country have been very successful in the delegate process. Ron Paul has the majority of delegates in many states, and in one state we have 70% of the delegates! If the majority of delegates at the Republican National Convention are Ron Paul supporters – we will control the convention!
How does the convention process work? Counties with less than 80,000 population will hold mass precinct meetings at 9 am this Saturday, March 15. Don’t be late because those arriving at 9:01 am are not allowed to participate. I recommend arriving by 8:30. Delegates will be selected to represent each precinct. Usually there are more available slots than there are delegates, so if you just show up you can become a precinct delegate. Following the mass precinct meeting at precisely 10 am (again – don’t be late), all counties large and small will conduct their county convention where county delegates are selected. County delegates will represent your county at the 8th Congressional District Convention and the State Convention. Also, bring friends and vote for each other! The more Ron Paul supporters who show up, the better our chances will be. Strategically, it works better if we don’t advertise our goals or advertise that we are Ron Paul supporters at the county conventions.
Let’s leave aside for the moment the question of whether or not what they’re suggesting is even possible, though I doubt that it is, and examine the logic behind it:
If you think the American people in general, and the Republican Party in particular, will take kindly to seeing their nomination process “stolen” by Ron Paul supporters, you’re nuts! Especially if it’s by self-proclaimed libertarians, those who favor the “rule of law”, behaving in an absolutely underhanded manner.
If Ron Paul supporters were to “steal” the nomination for their candidate, it would fly in the face of most American’s sense of fairness and decency. And if the Democrat’s response to the 2000 election is any indication, Republican voters would be so angry over the situation that they would allow Hillary or Obama to reach the Oval Office simply to spite Ron Paul, or McCain would then run as an independent and they’d follow him.
Seriously, guys. It’s over. He’s not going to win. He’s got a lot of supporters, and it’s time to take that support and turn it into a wider movement. Perhaps the Paul Congress movement might be a good place to focus? 30-40 or more people in the House of Representatives with views similar to Ron Paul could go a long way to making real change. It’s time to start working on doing good in other places, because Ron Paul will not be elected President in 2008.
You think they’d realize that already and focus on something that will actually accomplish what they claim to want.
Sounds like some kinda “conspiracy theory” to me.
you should get a life and not bother yourself with such far flung theories…
Even if they could find their way out of their mothers basements, being libertarians, how could they wish to force their will on the whole nation.
I am not sure that the high numbers of Ron Paul supporters who are becoming delegates will sway the direction of the nomination. Much of that depends on individual state rules of the GOP.
The bigger picture here is not the nomination of Ron Paul. More is decided at the Convention than the GOP nominee. The direction of the GOP is also decided. If the majority of the delegates at the National Convention are Ron Paul supporters then they will be able to pass resolutions that will impact the direction of the party. This is already happening at the local level. Many local level GOP chairmen are now Ron Paul supporters and resolutions are being passed (that will then go to the county level, state level, and finally national level) that stress the need for smaller government, less (or no) income tax, fiscal responsibility, ending the US empire of policing the world, war only to occur when an official declaration is made by Congress, etc.
Even though these Ron Paul supporters who will make up the majority of the GOP delegates will probably be unable to nominate Ron Paul, they will change the direction of the GOP.
Mc Cain has enough commited delegates that are bound by either state law or party rules to vote for him. The only chance Ron Paul would have is if Mc Cain would drop out for some strange reason. More than likely, the followers of Ron Paul will attemtp to pass resolutions like “Republicans can only vote for balanced budgets” or something like that.
Doug, what are you afraid of? … that Paul will spoil Republican chances to win the White House in 2008? McCain’s campaign is already dead … Republicans just don’t know it yet.
Norm,
I’m not afraid of anything. I am just astounded at the amatuerishness of all of this.
And as for McCain, and I say this as someone who doesn’t support him, I wouldn’t count him out. At least at this point, the polls have him being very competitive with Obama and Clinton, and even beating them in states like Pennsylvania. It won’t be easy, but he could win in November.
Count McCain out — he’s done. The only thing he’s going to accomplish before November is pissing away millions of Republican dollars. To win this election, all the Dems need to do is keep repeating “McCain: More wars, less jobs.”
Regarding your assertion of amateurishness, “people in glass houses …”
Good to see a classy guy like you kicking someone while he’s down. Oh, did I say “classy guy”? I meant douche bag.
townsend,
Welcome to the rough and tumble world of politics.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Folks Doug Mataconis is a liar he lied about the support of Ron Paul so why listen or read his blog?
Darel,
Then why do you keep coming back ?
And for the record, I didn’t lie, I just changed my mind when I realized that RP was not worthy of my support.
What the republican party is telling Ron Paul supporters is
” Were all Democrats NOW” no more republicans need in this party.