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Romney's Agents Stage Coup at GOP Convention
Conservative HQ ^ | 8/27/12 | Richard A. Viguerie

Posted on 08/28/2012 5:17:51 AM PDT by xzins

Fresh from the 2010 Tea Party wave that brought millions of new conservative voters into the Republican ranks and restored the GOP to control of the House of Representatives, Washington’s Republican political class is wasting no time in ensuring that the same grassroots conservative voters who have brought them to the threshold of capturing all three branches of government are permanently frozen out of influence in the Republican Party apparatus.

In response, grassroots conservatives have launched an unprecedented Rules fight that threatens to up-end the carefully choreographed coronation of Mitt Romney.

The Rules Committee report, which is set to be adopted Tuesday, includes Rules changes that shift the balance of power away from state and local Republican committees, who elect delegates to the National Convention every four years, in favor of DC’s permanent political class.

The Rules changes would:

Principled conservative Republican Party leaders Morton Blackwell of Virginia and Jim Bopp of Indiana are spearheading the drive to gather the votes necessary to adopt a Minority Rules Report and defeat the proposed rules changes on the floor during Tuesday’s procedural sessions.

To read Morton Blackwell’s letter to Republican National Convention delegates go here http://mranalogblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Morton-RNC-Letter.pdf

To read Jim Bopp’s email to Republican National Convention delegates go here:

http://www.conservativehq.com/article/9513-james-bopp-jr-letter

Indiana’s National Committeeman, James Bopp, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in an email to delegates, “This is the biggest power grab in the history of the Republican Party because it shifts the power to select delegates from the state party to the candidate. And it would make the Republican Party a top down, not bottom up party.”

Virginia’s Morton Blackwell, a member of the Republican National Committee’s Standing Committee on Rules and on the National Convention's Committee on Rules and Order of Business said these are “rules changes that could fundamentally change our Republican Party -- and not for the better.”

Blackwell noted that DC election lawyer Ben Ginsberg brought these proposals to the Rules Committee where “he represented himself as the leader on the Committee for the Romney Campaign.”

Ginsberg, Blackwell observed, had earlier this year worked for conservative Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign, “is unencumbered by principle.”  “After working for Bachmann’s grassroots campaign he is advocating Rules that would centralize power, restrain and eliminate grassroots influence and create a top-down, rather than bottom-up Party – the very antithesis of what allowed a candidate like Michele Bachmann to run,” said Blackwell.

RNC Vice Chairman Bopp dismissed any notion that the Rules changes had an ideological motivation, noting that they represent “a threat to both moderates and conservatives who could be purged, depending on who is the Republican Presidential nominee” and that to preserve the bottom-up nature of the Party the issues raised should be taken care of by changes to state laws and state GOP rules governing the selection of their state’s delegates to the national convention.

To oppose this power grab by Washington’s permanent political class grassroots GOP activists must shine the light of day on this behind the scenes power grab; call your Republican National Convention delegates, blog about, email it to your friends and contacts, post it on your Facebook page and social media sites and call your local and national conservative talk radio programs.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: benginsberg; bow4rinos; bow4romney; bowalready; ginsberg; karlrove; romney
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To: sphinx
I think it has its roots in changes being made at the state level. Saul Anuzis was recently removed from his national committee chair after he voted to change the rules AFTER the primary in Michigan to save Romney the indignity of the tie that it was.

We won!!! (May 2012)

Conservatives working in unison at the State Republican Convention sent a message to the establishment loud and clear: "It's our turn!"...No more `business as usual' politics orchestrated to appease the political masses with hollow claims of conservatism and principles each election cycle, only to disappear into the maze of lobbyists and special interests in the interim...This time, the false claims of an election year cycle fell on deaf ears, conservatism ruled the day...Libertarians, Tea Partiers, and true Republican conservatives unified in one of the most sweeping upsets of the incumbent power brokers I have seen in my lifetime...they have sent both the State and National GOP a clear ultimatum...This time we will not be silent, nor ignored, nor brushed aside...

The sort of behavior that led to the removal of Anuzis.

The Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Credentials Committee voted 4-2 last night to give Mitt Romney both of the state's at-large delegates, State Policy Committee Chair Mike Cox told MIRS today.

Cox was one of two "no" votes on the committee which met via telephone, along with attorney Eric Doster The "yes" votes included GOP National Committeeman Saul Anuzis, a Romney supporter, and MRP Chair Bobby Schostak.

That would put the delegate split at 16 for Romney and 14 for Rick Santorum, after each candidate won 14 delegates apiece in those divided by Michigan's 14 congressional districts.

As MIRS first reported on Wednesday, the MRP was delaying a final decision on the delegate split until after consulting with attorneys.

Cox said that according to the MRP rules, Santorum and Romney should each get one of Michigan's two at-large delegates based on their take of the popular vote.

"I supported Mitt, but the vote was clearly wrong," Cox said of the Credentials Committee. "It's kind of like Third World voting. We published rules and then we voted to change the rules."


Because The Narrative Cannot Survive A Rewrite
41 posted on 08/28/2012 6:23:23 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: joesbucks
Yea that tired old saying that if you vote for someone other than what the rest of the stupid people are voting for the one you don't want in will get in......

Like that really means something to someone who stands for something.

The GOPe have put forth this POS Romney.

I frankly am tired of having to eat that crap sandwich that the GOP feeds everyone. Never again, there is no difference between the two parties, and if you believe there is, then be happy and vote for whom ever.

I just choose to use MY vote for the candidate of MY choice. instead of pissing it away on what who will lead the country down farther the path we are on now, perhaps slower than what we are on now.

But inevitability the same path same tyranny.

42 posted on 08/28/2012 6:26:37 AM PDT by SERE_DOC ( “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” TJ.)
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To: xzins

You should knock this veal off or join the obama campaign.


43 posted on 08/28/2012 6:28:35 AM PDT by pgkdan (A vote for anyone but Romney is a vote for obama...got that? u)
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To: bray

if there is something wrong with the Oregon rules, the Oregon GOP should fix them. National should not dictate this.


44 posted on 08/28/2012 6:32:36 AM PDT by campaignPete R-CT (and we are still campaigning for local conservatives in central CT.)
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To: xzins
But were they secret agents?
45 posted on 08/28/2012 6:40:49 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Congrats to Ted Kennedy! He's been sober for two years now!!)
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To: Perdogg

Mr. RomneyCARE has the soul of Ted Kennedy
and broaches absolutely NO discussion of conservative
issues. Mr. RomneyCARE is not in this to WIN,
but to only make money, again.


46 posted on 08/28/2012 6:42:04 AM PDT by Diogenesis ("No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session."- Mark Twain)
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To: justice14

The rules they wanted to be in place are listed above in 3 bullets in the main article.

Yes, there was independence for delegates. The reason for the rules change is that Paul’s tactic apparently was correct. He COULD have delegates vote for their choice. It is the national election in which they were pledged.

The compromise is just that: a requirement to vote for whom pledged. I think in a primary campaign to nominate the best candidate that such a rule is very short-sighted. The whole point of a primary is to discover who the candidates are. If something comes out on one of them right at the end of the process, then delegates need not to be pledged but free to vote the best decision.


47 posted on 08/28/2012 6:42:33 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: bray
Do you think RP should be the nominee by manipulating the Convention, I don’t.

I think the independence of delegates is very important at the nominating level.

48 posted on 08/28/2012 6:45:32 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins

That’s a dangerous precedent as well. Say it was Palin or some real conservative that won the primary. Then comes to convention and then Romney pulls a coup and delegates go for him. You happy with that?


49 posted on 08/28/2012 6:52:19 AM PDT by justice14 ("stand up defend or lay down and die")
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To: VeniVidiVici

secret agent man
they’ve given you a number
and taken ‘way your name.


50 posted on 08/28/2012 6:53:29 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: bray

Did Ron Paul give up half of his delegates to Romney so that he would have a place at the convention....a speech I guess.


51 posted on 08/28/2012 6:56:01 AM PDT by hummingbird (Breitbart and Spartacus.)
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To: justice14

Yes, I’m comfortable with broadly spread, independent delegates rather than tightly controlled, Washington Gop-E selected delegates.

Up until now they have been independent, so having a Romney try to buy them all is harder than simply allowing Romney to appoint them all.

The notion of independent delegates is actually a reflection of the “elector” idea of the Founders.


52 posted on 08/28/2012 6:56:59 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins

Yep


53 posted on 08/28/2012 6:57:50 AM PDT by svcw (If one living cell on another planet is life, why isn't it life in the womb?)
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To: SERE_DOC
Gary Johnson, because he ain't Romney or Obama.

So why bother? If you want to 'grow' this Party Right; then we have four more years of working from 'within'; as opposed to be cut off; altogether; 'en toto'; finis; per Election 2016.

A vote for any 'other' alternative; rather than Party nominee; is a 'give away' vote for Obama. And for some of you; that is just fine. Given the stakes, however; believe the 'too late smart' will be a damning watershed for America. Left to Obama dictates; we will be unrecognizable; by 2016.

54 posted on 08/28/2012 7:00:47 AM PDT by cricket
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To: xzins

Great. Thanks. Now I’ll have that song in my head all day :)


55 posted on 08/28/2012 7:01:27 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Congrats to Ted Kennedy! He's been sober for two years now!!)
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To: bray

Do you think it’s funny that Mitt treats democrats better than he treats delegates to his own party convention?


56 posted on 08/28/2012 7:02:16 AM PDT by DManA
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To: freekitty

I posted the item last night (second item in ‘Breaking News’). It is in the article.


57 posted on 08/28/2012 7:02:49 AM PDT by Perdogg (Mutts for Mitt all agree - Better in the crate than on the plate)
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To: SERE_DOC

I don’t think it matters in pure red states or blue states. But in swing states, it does and can. There’s not only this person out there. My understanding is there are many people doing the organize support for Gary Johnson knowing it’s a back door vote for Obama.


58 posted on 08/28/2012 7:02:51 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: VeniVidiVici

There is an antidote:

Jesus loves me
this I know,
For the Bible....


59 posted on 08/28/2012 7:05:06 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: justice14

Meantime; Paul slipping notes underneath doors of delegates; asking them to change their votes, to him; of course. Oh well; up close and personal; and ugly.


60 posted on 08/28/2012 7:05:47 AM PDT by cricket
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