Scarborough: Conservative Leaders All Tell Me They Want Brokered Convention

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"I've been talking quietly to the most powerful, I think, conservative movers-and-shakers in Washington over the past couple weeks, trying to get their read. Are we really going down this path? Every single one I've spoken to is trying to figure out a way to get to a brokered convention."

That was Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe today. For good measure, Scarborough also stated as a simple fact that Sarah Palin wants a brokered convention.

View the video here.

[Psalm 144]

“Santorum has the bible thumpers behind him.”

Not this one.

:-)

[TexasFreeper2009]

As I understand it (might be off a little on the details)

I think after the first vote when no one gets a majority... all the different delegates are free to vote for whoever they wish in the 2nd vote..

but since all the delegates are strong supporters of their particular candidate ... a second vote will in most cases just result in the same outcome with no one getting a majority.

So... what happens then is the wheeling and dealing. So and so (maybe someone like Paul) goes into a back room and agrees to have his supporters vote for candidate X in return for _____ and this back room dealing goes on until they have assembled a majority, at which point each candidate goes and tells their delegates they have made and deal and they should now support candidate X in the next vote.

But candidate X could be ANYONE.

[campaignPete R-CT]

after the first ballot, the delegates are free to vote for whomever they wish. Even if their candidate doesn’t release them. If is more like a free-for-all. There really aren’t brokers anymore.

The theory is that if Mitt don’t make it, he’ll be told it is over and his delegates will support the selected candidate who will be more palatable to the anti-MITT delegates. it is the Mitch Daniels scenario.

But Mitch will have to win a few primaries in the spring to prove himself.

[Timber Rattler]

...and Santorum has the bible thumpers behind him.

You got something against "bible thumpers"?

[campaignPete R-CT]

of course, RonPaul’s delegates do not have to listen to him on who to support.

And ronPaul is the least likely to be involved in any dealmaking. If they wanna get the support of Newt’s delegates, they don’t even have to approach NEWT. They can approach the delegates directly.

No, it won’t go to 49 ballots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1852_Democratic_National_Convention

[campaignPete R-CT]

... on whom to support.

[TexasFreeper2009]

here's the deal... and this could vary from state to state.

but if the candidate picks the delegate.. it's going to be extremely loyal to that particular candidate and be very unlikely to vote for anyone else unless directed to by that particular candidate.

BUT it's possible that in some states the delegates are selected by someone other than the candidate.. and in those cases, their vote could very well change after the first ballot.

If most or all of the delegates were selected by the candidates themselves to represent them from among their most loyal followers... THEN you would have a situation where a deal would have to be made to get someone over the 50% mark

SO... let's look at the situation we are in

lets say Romney gets 35% of the delegates, Gingrich gets 40% and Paul gets 15% (this is not for demonstration purposes)

If Paul absolutely refuses to support either Romney or Gingrich and no deal can be reached (like appointing Paul federal reserve chairman or something like that)... then Gingrich and Romney would have to deal with each other ... if neither is willing to say.. be the vice president of the other... because Gingrich thinks Romney is a liberal and Romney thinks Gingrich is Crazy then ... the only way to resolve the stalemate might be to purpose someone else (possibly that didn't even run) that they can both agree on... so lets say... they purpose ... Jeb Bush... and both Romney and Gingrich are willing to throw their support to Jeb in return for Romney being made vice president, and Newt being appointed chief of staff or something of that nature.

[milwguy]

Nope, just shorthand for saying the evangelicals support him.

[mewzilla]

BTTT.

[Bigun]

How in the heck would Joe Scarborough know ANYTHING about what conservatives want since he is NOT a conservative and has never been a conservative!

[ngat]

Thanks for responding with that information. Sorry for my late reply, had to go work (after the first ballot, the delegates are free to vote for whomever they wish. Even if their candidate doesn’t release them. If is more like a free-for-all. There really aren’t brokers anymore.The theory is that if Mitt don’t make it, he’ll be told it is over and his delegates will support the selected candidate who will be more palatable to the anti-MITT delegates. it is the Mitch Daniels scenario)

That scenario sure sounds like something “brokers” would come up with to me!

[campaignPete R-CT]

well, I am sure some will see themselves as brokers. But only if the delegates cooperate.

It is plausible that the MITT delegates would not want to support NEWT and therefore would agree to support candidate X if MITT tells them he’s out. DOubtful many MITT delegates will flip over to NEWT.

Ya never know. Case by case basis. Many of the delegates are not really involved with their state parties, only involved with the candidate’s campaign .... so they aren’t necessarily controlled by anyone. Many or most or some are “free agents”.

[CPT Clay]

HE is the warrior we need to kick some commie a$$..

Amen

[CPT Clay]

The RATS under Obama have been spending millions on oppo research, mostly on Romney. If the convention is brokered, all that money is wasted, and the Rats have a very SHORT window to dig up dirt on the nominee.

This is exactly why I would like a brokered convention.

[SumProVita]

“...and Santorum has the bible thumpers behind him...”

Bible thumpers... Hmmmmm....sounds vaguely similar to the way Obama talks.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

You’re assuming a brokered convention won’t end up nominating Romney and simply throwing in Newt or Santorum as VP

[Behind Liberal Lines]

You’re assuming a brokered convention won’t end up nominating Romney and simply throwing in Newt or Santorum as VP

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks governsleastgovernsbest. Ah, the lovely aroma of pure B.S.:

"I've been talking quietly to the most powerful, I think, conservative movers-and-shakers in Washington over the past couple weeks, trying to get their read."