A Crucial Message to the Grassroots [the Rove/Romney GOP power grab]

SteveDeace.com ^ | 8/27/2012 | Morton Blackwell

[JediJones]

The following [are excerpts from] an email sent out by Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute

I was Barry Goldwater’s youngest elected delegate in 1964, I was honored toserve on President Ronald Reagan’s White House Staff from 1981-1984, and I have attended every Republican National Convention Rules Committee meeting since 1972. My wife and I have contributed major donations to the Romney-Ryan campaign.

These rule changes are the most awful I’ve ever seen come before any National Convention.

I’m writing you today to urge you to join the growing effort to stop the worst-ever changes in this Rules Committee’s Report

But many state leaders, liberty-minded activists, and grass-roots conservatives are up-in-arms as word of this power grab spreads.

it would amount to a power grab by Washington, D.C. party insiders and consultants designed to silence the voice of state party activists and Republican grassroots

These rule changes would give good folks like you less of a say over our Republican Party in favor of insiders and consultants in Washington, D.C.

[JediJones]

They just said on the Steve Deace show that the rules take effect in 2016, so it will benefit Romney in the 2016 election if he runs again.

Please note that activists are asking you to call THREE PHONE NUMBERS to make your voice heard, as well as to contact any delegates you know personally.

The bottom of this article has the state GOP phone numbers they want you to contact in bullet point #1 below.

In bullet point #3 they want you to contact the CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members for your state (2 per state) as well. THE BELOW LINK has the phone numbers for them.

CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members phone numbers/e-mails

1) We need all conservative Republican grassroots supporters to contact their state GOP and let them know that they OPPOSE the rules change that will give future presidential campaigns control over who gets to be a delegate (current RULE 15, but is being renumbered to 16)…and OPPOSE the new RULE 12 which allows the RNC to change the rules at any time between conventions.

2) We need them to contact any DELEGATES to the convention they may know and tell them they OPPOSE the rules change and want them to support a move on the floor to amend this change via the MINORITY REPORTS – and support a demand for a ROLL CALL VOTE if necessary.

3) We need them to contact the CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members for their state (each state has two) and tell them they want them to SIGN THE MINORITY REPORTS before Tuesday’s session at 2:00PM. You can find a copy of the list here.

Here is the e-mail I sent to my state's rules committee members:

CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members phone numbers/e-mails

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

As a Pennsylvania Republican voter, I am asking you, in your role as Convention Rules Committee member, to oppose the rules change that will give future presidential campaigns control over who gets to be a delegate (current RULE 15, but is being renumbered to 16) and also to oppose the new RULE 12 which allows the RNC to change the rules at any time between conventions.

I am asking you to sign the Minority Reports that will try and stop these rules changes from being adopted before Tuesday’s session at 2:00 PM.

I want a Republican party where the grass-roots are allowed a voice in what happens at the convention and not one where their votes can be overruled by a central authority.

[tsowellfan]

Thank you for posting this. Mark Levin’s doing a show on this now.

This is extremely important.

If this goes the wrong way we might as well start gearing up a third party for future elections. Tea Party, Christian Conservatives, any Conservative will not be welcomed in the new GOP

[JediJones]

Yup, heard Levin discussing it live during the 6-9 block. Now Steve Deace is on the topic on his show in the 9-12 block.

[tsowellfan]

Here’s a link Mark Levin posted on his Facebook. You can decide if you want to post the text in the thread...

https://www.facebook.com/teapartypatriots/posts/10151048425475779

Also Mark Levin posted this:

Tell RNC chairman NO to undermining grassroots participation in the GOP delegate process and YES to amendments to Rules 12 and 15 in the Minority Reports.

Chairman Reince Priebus’s office can be contacted by phone: call 202-863-8500, then press 9, and then press 4 for the Chairman’s office. PLEASE BE POLITE AND CIVIL AT ALL TIMES.

[publius911]

Sorry Skippy. I am no more a puppet of some unknown anonymous doofus, than I am of Karl Rove and the insiders.
Is this a troll?

Wouldn't it be useful for us to know what the proposed changes in the rules ARE, even if in abbreviated form?

I ain't emailing or phoning nobody until I find out more.

I don't care, nor do I plan to care what you emailed to anyone.

Gheeez!

The Soros flying Monkeys and Obamabots are really out in force, suddenly!

[muawiyah]

yup, there's a power grab underway ~ and what it will do is drive away a great number of the party base.

The guys at the top don't care if they win this year provided they can control the choices in 2016.

There are a number of other threads on FR that more thoroughly explain the situation.

[muawiyah]

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/08/republicans-reach-rules-change-deal-to-avert-floor-fight/ ~ there’s the story. names names. gives text. etc.

[JediJones]

Gotta love how Matt “Mitt Romney buttboy for 5 years and counting” Drudge isn’t covering this story.

[Diogenesis]

We MUST adopt the rule changes because
Mr. Romney demands it.
He will rule us with RomneyCARE and gay marriage
and anything else he wants.
He will be our king. Bow to our RINO. [/s]

[tsowellfan]

Drudge isn’t covering this story.

Interesting! But not surprised.

[JediJones]

Doesn’t sound like they overturned the rules changes about being able to change the rules any time without having to wait until the convention, nor the one where Romney or the nominee can veto any part of the platform.

[Texas56]

Michelle Malkin has an update on this story posted on her web site. The GOP Elite backed down and took the new rule change out.

The backlash from the grassroots delegates on the floor was mounting and they have caved this time.

My state Senator is a delegate there, and he has also posted the grassroots’ victory in getting the rule yanked.

[JediJones]

Not so. Scroll to the bottom for the 10:53pm update, which states there is no resolution over Rule 12 yet.

Update: 10:53pm Eastern…So here’s the upshot. As you read above in Drew’s summary, grass-roots activists revolted over Rule 15 (the delegate selection provision to be renumbered Rule 16) and Rule 12 (the power grab that would allow the RNC to make executive convention rule changes and rewrite the rules between conventions without any input/consultation with grass-roots, delegates, or state leadership on hand).

As long as the proposed Rule 12 remains in place, this “deal” or “compromise” must be a no-go. Don’t back down, activists!

A source tells me the situation on the ground and in delegate meetings right now is “tense” and “dynamic.” It’s a very healthy alternative to stale, apathetic, passive, and static.

I am also hearing complaints of heavy-handed legal maneuvering involving the brave dissenters.

Watch it with those brass knuckles, GOP brass.

This is a showdown worth having — the flexing of Tea Party/grass-roots muscle is a reminder that the rank-and-file are a force never to be taken for granted.

[JediJones]

Also, some clarification on the idea of Romney overruling the platform. This was only said to be possible if the Rule 15 change happens, where Romney can substitute his own delegates for the states’ delegates. So that will go away if Rule 15 goes away.

[STARWISE]

Is RPaul’s group behind this fight, or true tea partiers ?

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29m Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

If we see a minority report go to the floor for a vote tomorrow rest assured that all hell will break loose #RNC2012 #Resist44 #tcot
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30m Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

“I must tell you there is tremendous arm-twisting now to peel signers off of the Minority Reports” - Morton Blackwell earlier today
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33m Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

Per my source, Delegations are meeting as we speak to determine an official position on the proposed compromise #RNC2012 #tcot
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1h Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

I am hearing mixed reviews about this compromise, Drama over amendment to #RNC rule 12, I’ll bring you updates as I get them #RNC2012 #tcot
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1h Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

Side note ... the fact that I have 1,999 followers is a slap to my dignity, someone hook me up with an additional patriot #RNC2012 #tcot
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1h Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

I have 2 sources within the #RNC Rules Committee, there are still concerns with the compromise, waiting to heat about rule 12 #RNC2012 #tcot

https://twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23teaparty&src=hash

26m Michelle Malkin Michelle Malkin @michellemalkin

.@Greg_Wiesemann Nonsense. This isn’t about “tearing down GOP.” It’s about preventing GOP brass from tearing down #teaparty gains.

37m kris kris @Kriskxx

The Elite #Republicans don’t want their machine broken, have changed the rules to mute the #Teaparty & States by pick & chose rule Vote Tues

https://twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23teaparty&src=hash

[LUV W]

They need to just all shut up and get with the program. We do manage to make ourselves a laughingstock by the petty in-fighting! Geez!

[STARWISE]

Ain’t gonna happen if the elites are trying to shut down the tea party grass roots/smaller govt patriots. We shall see ..

[LUV W]

The tea party is a group to be reckoned with and I guess they’ll find that out...with Paul Ryan on the ticket.

Ron Paul? blech...he should just disappear. I’m embarrassed that he’s a Texan!

[OldEarlGray]

Here comes da King.

FUMR.

[2ndDivisionVet]

BINGO!!

[STARWISE]

I would too ... can’t stand him. How he has brainwashed thousands of supporters is beyond me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Political Insider
Tea partyers push for a GOP floor fight over 2016 rules
11:35 am August 27, 2012, by jgalloway

TAMPA — Matt Kibbe, the president and CEO of FreedomWorks, one of the top organizations behind the tea party movement, was at the Monday morning meeting of the Georgia delegation – attempting to foment a revolt that could undo GOP efforts to keep tea partyers happy, and quiet.

That’s one reason why Georgia’s delegation meeting was closed to press. The other: State GOP Chairman Sue Everhart on Tuesday wants to pledge all of Georgia’s 76 delegates to Mitt Romney. Newt Gingrich has cut loose his delegates, and Rick Santorum has done the same.

But four Georgia delegates refused to sign a document that would allow their votes to be cast by proxy – despite the pressure of “Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!” chanting by other delegates.

Ron Paul won no delegates in Georgia’s primary. But three of the four holdouts have now declared themselves Ron Paul supporters, despite signing pledges to support the party’s nominee.

Which brings us back to the rule change up for approval by the convention on Tuesday, which — in 2016 — would give the Republican nominee the power to vet delegates to the national convention. In other words, the rule change would allow the nominee to pick those who will pick him/her.

http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/08/27/tea-partyers-push-for-a-gop-floor-fight-over-2016-rules/

[Altariel]

The conservatives need to shut up and work on the Liberal Republican plantation for Massa Romney?

No thank you.

[LUV W]

To tell the truth, I think most of his supporters are stealth demonrats. Disrupters who want us to fail and will do anything to that end.

JMHO.....

[devolve]

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Go buy some more cheeseburgers and give some to your dog Mark -

There is no new bestseller book in this for you - the “big-idea” candidate had several billion ideas/solutions too

Levin is always a complainer - he never has an actual winning strategy and never was an advisor in that area

I see no solutions in his resume

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[Chunga]

he never has an actual winning strategy

Read Liberty And Tyranny and try again

[arrogantsob]

Sounds like you are nuts. Drudge a Romneyite. Geez.

[JediJones]

Sounds like you are nuts. Drudge a Romneyite. Geez.

Was that sarcasm? Drudge is in the back pocket of the GOP establishment and was hooked up by the GOP with Matt Rhoades, Romney's top campaign operative years ago. Guess you weren't here in the primaries when FR chronicled day in and day out how Drudge coordinated negative headlines on Romney's opponents while never saying one bad thing about Romney. Also, it was documented that Drudge doesn't post all his own stories anymore and has a couple of Romney's campaign operatives assisting in publishing stories directly to his site.

[LUV W]

Well, true, that. I think I’m just tired of all of it. *sigh*

My candidate didn’t get the nomination, and I have no say now. I think I’m done.

[rikkir]

So let me get this straight. It turns out in part this is an attempt by the Paul people to hijack the convention?
I understand why we don’t want the rules changed, but how do we stop some jackwagon like this from doing what they’re doing with the GA delegates. Paul won no delegates in GA, but we have 4 of them supporting him anyway?
I don’t like Romney much, but he is the elected nominee, and of all years we need to be unified. Obozo can not have 4 more years, or we won’t have to worry about any of this in 2016. We’ll all be in re-education camps.
Has anyone heard from either Romney, or Ryan about this. Any statements, or comments from either?

[lentulusgracchus]

Notice the expedient lie by The Houston Chronicle about "rifts on the party right" .... this is typical of Chronicle writing, which makes Izvestia look like Walter Lippmann.

[lentulusgracchus]

I don’t like Romney much, but he is the elected nominee, ....

Not yet. He's a candidate for the nomination, not the nominee. Quit doing the RiNOs' work for them.

......and of all years we need to be unified.

After the convention. Will you say that if the convention bolts and nominates a conservative instead?

[rikkir]

I wanted Sarah, she didn’t run. I wanted Cain, he fell. I wanted Newt, he fell.Romney won the Primary elections. The other candidates have released their delegates to him. Now it looks like a candidate that didn’t win enough delegates is trying to corrupt the process.
There are no white knights riding in on stallions to save us from ourselves. We have who we have. We should have moved to keep the Dems out of our Primaries over the last 4 years, but we didn’t. I didn’t want W the first time, but after he received the nomination, I supported and worked for his campaign twice. So far, Romney, and Ryan look like they want to fight, and they want to win. Barring the earth being struck by an asteroid, they have my support.
By the way I love Rand, he’s my Senator, but his daddy is a couple of fries short of a Happy Meal, and I want him in the White House about as much as I want another 4 years of the Muslim.

[STARWISE]

I’m pretty in the dark about party machinations at a convention, but perhaps this helps as a continuation to the thread lead. Sure sounds like some heavy handedness is going on by the GOP-e and the grass roots.

~ ~ ~

MORTON C. BLACKWELL

Dear Fellow Delegate,

On Tuesday of this week, as Republican National Convention delegates, you and I will be voting on rules changes that could fundamentally change our Republican Party — and not for the better.

Over the years, I’ve served on the Louisiana and Virginia GOP Rules Committees. I currently serve on both the Republican National Committee’s Standing Committee on Rules and on the National Convention’s Committee on Rules and Order of Business.

I was Barry Goldwater’s youngest elected delegate in 1964, I was honored to serve on President Ronald Reagan’s White House Staff from 1981-1984, and I have attended every Republican National Convention Rules Committee meeting since 1972. My wife and I have contributed major donations to the Romney-Ryan campaign.

These rule changes are the most awful I’ve ever seen come before any National Convention.

I’m writing you today to urge you to join the growing effort to stop the worst-ever changes in this Rules Committee’s Report and to vote in favor of amendments to Rules 12 and 15. The Minority Reports will restore important rights and protections which state parties and grassroots Republicans would lose under the Rules Committee Report as written.

These amendments to Rules 12 and 15 are contained in Minority Reports supported by at least 25% of the members of this convention’s Committee on Rules and Order of Business.

It’s rare for Minority Reports to come before our national convention, but the issues involved here are vital to the future of our party.

I must tell you there is tremendous arm-twisting now to peel signers off of the Minority Reports.

Finally, whether on Minority Reports or on voting down the Rules, it will require at least six states’ delegations to insist upon a roll call vote.

I will not pretend that the deck is not stacked against us.

But many state leaders, liberty-minded activists, and grass-roots conservatives are up-in-arms as word of this power grab spreads.

Our convention will make this important decision Tuesday as some of our first work. Many folks skip these procedural sessions thinking nothing of importance occurs.

This year, that is far from the truth.

If the Rules Committee Report were to pass without adoption of the Minority Reports, it would amount to a power grab by Washington, D.C. party insiders and consultants designed to silence the voice of state party activists and Republican grassroots by:

*** Handing national party officials the power to change national party rules adopted by state and grassroots leaders at the Republican National Convention. For generations, the prohibition of manipulated changes in the national Rules of the Republican Party between national conventions has served as one of the crown jewels of our party. It’s a power grab which opens the door to many future power grabs.

*** Stripping state parties in all states with binding primaries of the power of choosing who will represent their states as national delegates and alternate delegates.

This outrageous change would empower presidential campaigns to disapprove and remove delegates and alternate delegates selected by rules adopted by state Republican parties. Rather than grassroots activists who won delegate and alternate delegate slots by following state party rules, a large majority of positions would be handed to top donors of the winning campaign.

Rest here:
http://beforeitsnews.com/tea-party/2012/08/rnc-urgent-rules-vote-tuesday-2451244.html

[rbmillerjr]

This all stinks of Ron Paul.

He is not a Republican and he was to get a speaking time if he would agree to endorse Romney.

Like every other candidate. He will not. So now his loony tunes are going to attempt to give the liberal media a dissension story by making asses of themselves on the floor.

RON PAUL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE IN ANY FUTURE DEBATES. PERIOD.

[jospehm20]

“The guys at the top don’t care if they win this year provided they can control the choices in 2016”

They do not need a rule change for that. The GOP-E got Romney for a nominee now with the old rules.

[xzins]

Tea Party, Christian Conservatives, any Conservative will not be welcomed in the new GOP

The non-supporters of Romney on this forum have been saying that all along.

The Republican Party is rejecting social conservatism.

Supporting Romney will end access for full conservatives and will open the door to leftist republicanism.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Tell them you’re not going to support Romney unless they drop their little power grab.

PING!

[Timber Rattler]

Bigtigermike has been all over this for several days now. Surprisingly (or not), many FReepers still have their heads buried in the sand.

Romney rule change fight on convention floor?

Mitt Romney asserts control over 2016 calendar

[Perdogg]

It has been resolved - did you not see the story in breaking?

[raybbr]

I’m with you. Ron Paul is nuts. The people supporting him are rabid tools and they don’t even understand what he stands for.

The proposed rule changes appear to be a way to stop RP and his zombies from disrupting the convention. But, a lot of people see this as a way for Romney to take over. Huh? He’s already the nominee.

Hatred for Romney is just as strong as hatred for Obama on FR.

A lot the posters here are pissed the Saint Sarah isn’t the nominee and are taking it out on Romney.

[elephant]

Hatred for Romney is just as strong as hatred for Obama on FR.....not quite as bad but getting closer.

[conservaterian]

This is just the beginning for the purge that’s coming from Romney and the GOPe. Sorry, all you Romneybots (or traitors to the cause as I call them), we will do better fighting everything Obama does for the next four years than bending over for Mitt. And for you tin foilers, NO Obama will not destroy the country in four years, because we won’t let him, we can tie him up so much that he will get NOTHING accomplished. If Romney gets elected we will be fighting both the rats and the GOPe for the next EIGHT years. I’d rather fight Obama for four and then finally have a CONSERVATIVE candidate in 2016. Don’t bother with your usual “you must be an Obama troll” posts - I am far from it, I’m certainly not voting for him, but I am going to be the frog that jumps out of the pot before Romney slowly boils me. If the GOP would have nominated just about anybody else I would be volunteering my time and money like I have done in the post 4 elections, but I will NOT support Mitt Romney.

[redgolum]

The biggest threat to the GOP is viewed as the TEA party. They are by in large not worried about the Democrats. Their worldview is very similar. The TEA party represents an internal threat.

If Romney wins, you will see the GOP try like mad to run further left (actually, that will happen if he looses). To do that, they have to make sure most of the people in fly over country no longer have a say.

[manc]

I too feel the same, why is he here anyway?
He’s a libertarian, do they not have their own convention or is it a case of that they get no attention so feel they have ot infiltrate our party and convention and nomination

[manc]

not far off IMHO.

Paul supporters yet again craving for attention, maybe they need ot be told to piss off and have their own convention, like a libertarian convention.

[devolve]

-

Mark Levin Rips Newt Gingrich As A “Phony” And “Has-Been”

Posted on June 8, 2009

- Mark Levin criticized former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich as a “pseudo-conservative.” This was part of a nearly half-an-hour rant on the nationally syndicated “Mark Levin Show.”

Colin Powell did not escape criticism from Levin, either. Levin castigated him for voting for Obama. “Powell not only voted for him,” Levin said, “he announced it on a liberal news outlet.” In doing so, “he held off until the last minute to do the maximum damage he could,” said Levin. “It was an utter lack of disloyalty and dishonor,” Levin added.

Levin went on to criticize Gingrich for supporting Colin Powell and told the former speaker he does not know the same Ronald Reagan that he does. Levin accused Gingrich of having too much personal “baggage” and being “undisciplined” when he makes public comments.

(”Undisciplined” Mark?)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/06/08/mark_levin_rips_newt_gingrich_as_a_phony_and_has-been.html

- Of course Mark Levin went on in 2012 to defend “phony has-been” Newt Gingrich - and support him as he himslf savaged other Republicans - one being Ann Coulter.....

Why? Mark Levin, Newt Gingrich, and Ann Coulter write profitable books for a living - and they do not give them away - They intend to have huge best-sellers - and they often do.

-

- Levin is often all over the map - completely contradicting himself even on the next day or the same day’s radio show.

- You heard Mark Levin do this on recent radio shows talking of Todd “Legitimate” Akin of Missouri -

Mark Levin is consistent - or inconsistent - like Chief Justice Roberts perhaps - Is that a flip-flap? Hoo nose.

Liberty and Tyranny:

Publication Date March 24, 2009

-

By then Barack Hussein Obama II - alias Barry Soetero - was already shredding the US Constitution and on the golf course planning many future Executive Orders while he was saying to La Raza and other radical groups it would legally require an Act of Congress to “get around Congress and the Constitution” -

-

A winning strategy requires consistency to be credible - You cannot change your wardrobe in the middle of a movie scene or in politics. The cameras might roll before you get your pants on or get that “blow” off your nose.

-

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[Jumper]

First, lets be realistic. As those who are first conservatives and not RNCer's lock, stock and barrel... we need to understand that this is a natural outcome of fragmantation within what was once the GOP. It is natural for an organization to try to hold onto power and maintain its own influence as it wanes.

We need to be patient with our primary challenges and keep the pressure on until we have enough replacements with TEA Party candidates or other conservatives not beholden to the greater GOP so we can take control.

If anyone does not understand that the GOP and RNC does not understand the threat to its RICH traditional interests then we are blinded for it has always been there and we choose not to see it (contrary to the Dem's who make the correct charges which we deny).

Chicago Pol's starting in 68-69 started their "long march" on the DNC with a cobbled together hard-leftist frag-grougs such as Weatherman, Black Panthers, radicals, commies, socialists, unions, etc., which included the likes of Hillary Rodham and Barrack Obama and continue today as potent force on the American Political scene. The Conservative movement within the Republican Party faces the same time period of perserverance in order to prevail and gain the same influence.

Should the Conservative movement mirror the Chicago sub-movement then we too will have the infulence in our childlren's lifetimes!

[aruanan]

Hey, it sounds like you’ve reposted a Debbie Schlussel post. There’s almost nothing funnier (and simultaneously more pathetic) than a Mark Levin basher and Debbie is the Queen of anti-Levinism. I think I will start data mining FR posts of Mark Levin bashers to see what other significant elements codistribute. I believe it will be quite revealing.

[muawiyah]

There's a human phenomenon at work here called GREED. I think it's built in. Eventually it induces hubris and that results in 'over-reach' ~ so yesterday the Forces of Romney attempted to disable Texas' delegate selection process with a complaint against Ron Paul.

The fact Texas was able to crush that line of development so readily suggests that it is entirely possible to just jack up the old Republican GOP-e and drive a new model party into the vacant spot.

Something similar is happening in Maine, and the guys behind it may well be Mittbots ~ I have no idea ~ but they forced the issue with former Governor KIng by running someone as a Democrat! This draws out the Republicans and gives new people there a chance to move ahead to exterminate the old "cain't we jus' git' along" crowd.

Obviously you can't do very much of this before you run into resistance on the other side, but so far it looks like it can be done from the state level ~ where we have over 200 different political parties!