Blogcritics Comments on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Comment by Brandon Magoon on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Wed, 14 May 2008 03:54:23 EDT

"Caucuses are a lot more responsive to candidates with enthusiastic supporters and a lot less good for candidates with broad bases of less fanatical support. This has helped Obama enormously among the Democrats where he's done much better in caucuses than he has in primaries. This is a good thing in some ways, but it also leaves a lot of voters who don't have time to be party activists left out in the cold. Plus it tends to push the parties towards more extreme and ideological candidates." Dave, parties SHOULD be run by ideological candidates. Party activists are exactly the people who have the knowledge to make rational choices. If you were sick who would you listen to, a doctor or a short order cook? Primaries were set up to break the power of the corrupt political machines but in the process they created a system where people choose candidates based on how "cute" they are. The whole point of a party is to get ideological candidates. You write a platform and then you choose candidates to implement that platform. It only works if the people who vote on the platform are also the ones who chose the candidates. The less activist people don't have time to read the platform so they have no idea what the candidates stand for. That's how we got into this mess to begin with.

Comment by Pablo on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:15:08 EDT

Dave, I thought you might be interested in this article in the La Times about Dr. Paul, as it is very much related to your article. La Times article on Dr. Paul I found this quote to be very interesting from one of the commentators very interesting. " Not sure if the author really understands pledged delegates, but thats all they are is pledged. By simply winning delegate slots to the National Convention Ron Paul supporters and Huckabee supporters only need to abstain in order for McCain not to get the required amount of votes. These are the people showing up at the local caucuses and state conventions and are taking the national delegate spots. However it can go deeper - its estimated that Ron Paul has over 600 delegates to date that will either switch thier votes from McCain to Paul or just abstain. These are delegate votes that McCain will not get and put him back under the magic number. While Ron Paul may not have enough votes to win the Republican Nomination, he probably will have enough to broker the convention. It really does not matter who wins the primaries, it matter's who shows up at the State Caucuses - because those are the people that end up going to the Republican National Convention and voting for the Republican nominee. So in your article when you say McCain locked it up long ago, you mean in theory, but the problem with McCain is that he has no ground support, he was a media made nominee that was basically voted in by people who have no idea how the system works and do whatever the media says like robots. They DO NOT show up at caucus because they think its all over, little do they know. Abraham Lincoln went into his nominating convention with 32 delegates and came out the nominee. Look out - its not over folks"

Comment by Dave Nalle on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Sat, 10 May 2008 19:31:32 EDT

I wonder how Ron Paul supporters are enjoying the Utah and Arizona GOP conventions today. Haven't seen much news out of them yet. I bet they weren't too excited by Orrin Hatch's opening speech in Utah, where he described Bush as 'unappreciated' and 'a great president'. Dave

Comment by Dave Nalle on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Sat, 10 May 2008 11:12:41 EDT

Caucuses are a lot more responsive to candidates with enthusiastic supporters and a lot less good for candidates with broad bases of less fanatical support. This has helped Obama enormously among the Democrats where he's done much better in caucuses than he has in primaries. This is a good thing in some ways, but it also leaves a lot of voters who don't have time to be party activists left out in the cold. Plus it tends to push the parties towards more extreme and ideological candidates. The GOP is lucky that it's Ron Paul supporters trying to use the process to skew things their way this time and not some far-right religiously fanatical faction or something even worse. Dave

Comment by SillySally on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Sat, 10 May 2008 10:42:35 EDT

The press has been very kind to the Nevada Republican Party. This was the first non-binding caucus in over 20 years, and the best thing that has happened to the NRP. Being non-Ron Paul, the facts are fairly simple: *Only about 10% of Nevada's registered Republicans attended the Caucus. *In the most populous county, Clark (or Las Vegas), most of the attendees were not interested in being a delegate. *Out of more than 6,000 delegates who were nominated to be a delegate at County Convention, less than half chose to actually attend. Mitt Romney received 51% of our vote and promptly dropped out. All Alternates were moved up. *Out of the 3,000 who attended the County Convention, less than 1/3 signed on to go the State Convention. *Out of the 1,000 who signed up, maybe 600 actually attended from Clark County. If Nevada goes to Ron Paul, it's because his supporters worked hard and deserve it. If Nevadan's are offended by this fact, they should have got off their butts and participated in the process through the end like I did. For the party leadership to step in at the very end and blatently change the rules like they did, well, they deserve the 1st place award for poor sportsmanship. The fact that they are being praised by our press for putting an end to this "nonsense" (demanding a fair vote) is disgusting. I believe congratulations are in order to the Ron Paul supporters for waking Nevada up. Maybe next election the campaigns may not take us former sheeple for granted. That is, of course, if we have a non-binding caucus again. The leadership is moving to become an early caucus state, but it will probably be binding. I never want to go back to a primary. I like the non-binding caucus.

Comment by Haze on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:06:45 EDT

Tell me again. Who's out of order? Is it the Republicans who support a man of the highest integrity this Country has seen in decades - or is it those who castigate these people; demeaning them for the courage and fortitude to stand up for what they believe in? What kind of individuals are willing to back a candidate for the highest office of the United States who has a documented military history of negligence and recklessness? What kind of fools are quick to blame others for the disruption and demise of a political party while they themselves mortally compromise it, and their Country, by supporting a man who collaborated with the enemy, who's known as "Songbird McCain" by those who were imprisoned with him; who as senator came to be considered the worst enemy of MIA/POWs for constantly belittling and stifling their concerns and inquiries; a man who dumped his sick wife for an heiress when he got back from Vietnam. What kind of substance must one have, to pretend to stand for what's right and good for this Country yet spurn the support of a principled man who has for decades proven his honesty and unwavering commitment to serving the American people? Dave, now is not the time to waste haggling over pretenses and calling names. This nation can't afford to do anything less than what is morally sound: Stand behind the best man.

Comment by Jeremy on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Fri, 9 May 2008 20:06:54 EDT

Could this author "Dave" be any more full of crap? First of all, the whole point of the conventions is to nominate and elect delegates from the attending levels to attend the next convention. Ron Paul delegates are showing up because they were ELECTED at their precinct caucuses, they're not "infiltrating". Secondly, it was the GOP who tried to change the rules at the Nevada GOP convention, NOT THE RON PAUL people! The GOP tried to limit the nominees for RNC delegates to THEIR people, instead of leaving it open to the floor as according to the rules in almost every state. That's why we have conventions. Dave Navalle: YOU ARE A SHILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, GROW SOME BALLS!

Comment by Simon9 on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Fri, 9 May 2008 10:29:04 EDT

The reality, as I see it, is that Ron Paul supporters (and by that it's really supporters of Ron Paul's overall agenda) are cut from a broad range of people: small business owners frustrated by taxes/regulations, John Birchers, White supremicists, middle class consumers who note their purchasing power shrinking, 9/11 truthers who still haven't gotten an explanation as to how two planes can take down three towers, Classical liberals who love small government, fans of Austrian economics who understand the value of sound money, old farts who can remember when there wasn't a federal rule for everything, prostitutes, civil libertarians who resent the unarguable erosion of our rights, potheads, etc, etc. Point is, they vary, but all have an interest in freedom, economic and/or personal because they want to make their own choices and they recognize our federal govt is largely incompetent and many of its activities are Constitutionally improper. And they want change. And they know it's NOT going to happen with any of the anointed candidates the media has spoonfed the American public. Some Ron Paul supporters might be rude, or even nuts. But I am tired of all being tarred with the same brush because any honest person can see it's simply not the case. My perception is this country is getting ripe for a revolution. I prefer it being civil and lawful rather than the alternative, an option that may become more likely with time as our current system gets closer to imploding.

Comment by Kez on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:53:58 EDT

By the way, the solution to all this "chaos" is the big tent philosophy of the Republican Party. The Party leadership should embrace all this new-found energy, not try to clamp down and alient. Let some good ole rivalry heat up at this stage of that process - after all, that's what competition and campaigns are for. But, come November, we all know where folks will be voting - unless they feel disenfranchised by the Party itself.

Comment by Kez on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:48:23 EDT

"And Dennis. I'd love to see that video, especially the opening speech. Is it online anywhere?" Dave, follow the URL link next to Dennis Grover's name. You'll discover that you can buy the full video from the convention. It's a bit too long to publish on YouTube, so I guess that's why he's going the CD route.

Comment by Orat on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 23:39:24 EDT

"That's a bit disingenuous. Is it not true that you forced a vote to throw out all the recommendations of the nominating committee and take entirely new delegate nominations from the floor? That's what multiple media sources have reported happened. That's a takeover." No, it's called an ELECTION! Maybe you've heard of them? Oh, and when you hold an election, and 50%+1 of the people support one group of people, it's not surprising to see 100% of those elected at that convention to relfect the views of that 50%+1. That's how the process works. If we didn't want an actual election, then why hold a convention where delegates can vote? Why not just make everything automatic? We have conventions FOR A REASON. Figure it out.

Comment by Dave Nalle on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 17:14:54 EDT

Reality check time, Jim. What you're 'getting done' is creating a backlash which will make libertarianism a dirty word in the GOP for years to come. And Dennis. I'd love to see that video, especially the opening speech. Is it online anywhere? Dave

Comment by Jim Palmisano on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 16:56:58 EDT

"Some of us have been working for decades to return the GOP to its traditional libertarian values, and to take control away from the statists and the religious right." Too bad Dave. We've accomplished in 8 months what you people have been working decades to attempt and you still haven't accomplished it. It's time people like you join in or step aside. We're getting it done.

Comment by Dennis Grover on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:28:15 EDT

As a member of the "free" press, I personally videotaped the convention from start to abrupt end and then for the following hours with interviews of the frustrated delegates. The convention and stalling tactics of those running the show leads the viewer to obvious conclusions, the desires of all delegates were ignored, the will of the people was ignored and the only result of the convention at this time is to feed the frustrations of Nevada's citizens and label the Nevada GOP as unresponsive to their desires. After viewing the convention for a second time, first of all it is worse than the first time, and evident that time was ample to accomplish the business that should have been done but wasted with trivialities. The room was not just full of those pesky Ron Paul people, it was full of Americans volunteering their time and money to participate in a process for change, and the Nevada GOP denied them their opportunity. There is no "making a deal" because GOP leadership doesn't agree with their own rules. Sue Lowden (and everyone else in attendance) needs to watch her "Welcoming" speech at the convention and listen carefully to her own words.

Comment by Prophit on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:17:49 EDT

Dave, your comments about "personal attacks".... does that apply to you as well? Does it apply only to us and not you???? Let us know so we can judge what we are dealing with here. If its like the neocons and GOP who violated their own bylaws, rules and roberts rules of order, then I don't belong here anyway. Neither does anyone of integrity.

Comment by Prophit on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:11:55 EDT

Dave, here is your hero, McCain in full swing action........ now tell me again about RP supporters being paranoid????? hahahaha You really must face reality of this man and his agenda for globalizing through population relocation activities. He is another puppet. He has a CFR advisor on his campaign staff. Wake up and smell the treason and I am not even a Ron Paul supporter...... I supported Romney. LOL But, as a registered republican I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE TRAITOR MCCAIN WHO BLOCKED ALL EFFORTS TO RETREIVE OUR POW'S AND RELEGATED THEM TO A LIFE OF HELL FOR THESE PAST 30 YEARS. I WILL NEVER FORGIVE HIM FOR THAT, NOT EVER.

Comment by Prophit on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:00:39 EDT

Dave, your comment above about "paranoid fantasies" are coming home to roost. We are seeing it live as we watch. Currency is devaluing, debt is out of site, land confiscation under eminent domain is at record levels, food prices and scarsity is growing, oil is at record levels, Fed reserve now admits manipulating the gold and stock markets...... COME ON, YOUR IN DENIAL. ITS CALLED "COGNITIVE DISSONANCE" that is when your internal "perceptions" do match your external reality, so you either deny, rationalize, justify, excuse or otherwise go crazy. It appears you are chosing all of the above and using Ron paul and his supporters as scape goats for your inability to reconcile what is currently going down with what you WANT to be the reality of today. Too bad, your simply going to have to grow up and face it and find some damn courage will ya???? Or at least find some integrity.

Comment by Watchman2008 on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 14:53:28 EDT

Ron Paul is still in the Presidential Race for 2008. We as registered voters, have the 'Right' to vote for Ron Paul if we wish to. The GOP must understand that they are NOT God! If we do not want to vote for McCain, we won't! Ron Paul is our man!

Comment by Prophit on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 14:51:45 EDT

Amazing article filled with unbelievable rhetoric and lies, but then I read he is a capital hill staffer. What did I expect from the administration and congress that lie continually along with all the so called candidates, the worst batch in history. Of course their staffers would be screened for their lack of integrity and truthfulness. Ron Paul supporters faced a GOP that broke all their own rules regarding the conventions and thus were forced to fight back, well good for them. Its better than the whimps who sit around like the Congressional staffers do and don't have any principles to stand up for. I am glad Ron Paul supporters have the spunk and the gall and the courage to face down the power structure. Does it need it??? JUST CHECK OUT THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THIS COUNTRY AND YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER. ITS GOING DOWN HILL RAPIDLY, if you don't believe me just go to the currency trading desk, go to the gas station and to the food store and see if you can buy anything you want and at a price even resembling what it was 6 months ago. GET AWAKE WILL YA???? Your ignorance is killing our country.

Comment by Richard, CA on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 11:54:00 EDT

I was going to write a retort to your little jab but then I remembered .... You're just a blogger! Have a nice day Dave.

Comment by zingzing on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 11:21:29 EDT

ahh, fair enough.

Comment by Dave Nalle on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 11:18:03 EDT

I wrote a flippant comment under that name a week or so ago suggesting that 'free crack and hos' was always a winning political platform, and it was on a computer I rarely use which remembered the name and kept putting it on comments the next time I used it, until I caught it and stopped it. Dave

Comment by zingzing on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 11:07:39 EDT

ahh, you switched it. i'm no big fan of marion barry, although i do respect his ability to smoke crack AND get reelected. shit, i can barely stand up when i smoke crack. he must have inspired some love. but why... why the marion barry nickname?

Comment by Dave Nalle on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 10:47:56 EDT

One of my political heroes. Surely you revere him too? Dave

Comment by zingzing on Chaos and Conflict Continue at the GOP State Conventions

Thu, 8 May 2008 09:30:27 EDT

marion barry?