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Do Ron Paul supporters outnumber conservatives in Maine, Nevada and other caucus states?

By: ColdWarrior (Diary)  |  May 7th, 2012 at 12:44 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Sunday, May 6, 2012

In some states, the Republican Party allows virtually anyone (who might have to sign a pledge to support Republican candidates) to attend their presidential election year caucus meetings where delegates to the state convention are elected to attend the state convention. Those delegates, in turn, then elect the delegates to the national convention (not all of them, but most of them). What has been the outcome of some of these caucuses? Well, where one group of like-minded Republicans have taken the time to read the Republican Party rules and have then united and organized and recruited as many like-minded people as possible to attend these meetings (usually held on a Saturday), and where they have thereby created a majority voting bloc, they have succeeded in electing their candidates to the delegate positions.

So what happened yesterday in Maine and then early this morning in Nevada? Because this one group, in both states, had read the rules, organized, recruited enough like-minded Republicans, and united, they succeeded in electing the overwhelming majority of delegates to the national convention for their favored presidential candidate. In addition, in Nevada, they succeeded in electing a new national committeeman and national committeewoman.

Yes, it seems in these states that allow local caucuses of Republicans (as opposed to only the precinct committeemen, as in Arizona) to elect state convention delegates, Ron Paul supporters have succeeded in doing just what the rules allow: they showed up and, with their organized and united majorities, elected enough delegates to change the Republican Party from within.

Here are links to three articles that will provide more details:

Paul wins majority of delegates from Maine GOP

Ron Paul takes bulk of Nevada delegates

The Paul revolution comes to Nevada

I hope and pray more conservatives will get involved in their respective local Party committees, because I believe we greatly outnumber the Ron Paul supporters. As for now, though, it appears the Ron Paul supporters have succeeded in some states in outdoing conservatives in terms of uniting and organizing for participation in party politics inside the Republican Party — at least at the caucus meetings where the delegates to the state conventions are elected.

Thank you.

ColdWarrior

P.S. An excellent resource relating to the caucus and primary systems is http://www.thegreenpapers.com/.
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COMMENTS

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  • commonsenseobserver

    About those Paul delegates who have already been seated?

    • keepcoolwithcoolidge

      Romney has already won, these delegates are outnumbered by Romney delegates, they won fairly, what’s the problem? Given how lackluster Romney is, shouldn’t we be trying to unite Republicans against Obama instead of trying to break it apart? This is going to be a close election.

      • snowshooze

        So, just pointing out the obvious.
        He is absolutely ALMOST guaranteed… but you state it as a fact.
        Splitting hairs you may say.
        But is it true?
        Nope.

        • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

          Mitt Romney is the only Republican standing.

      • commonsenseobserver

        …

  • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

    “… can defeat a disorganized majority” VI Lenin

    This is the method that they have used to gain control.

    The Christian Coalition did it in 1988, and now “Campaign for Liberty” is doing it. No, they arent a majority, they are a majority of those willing to spend extra time at conventions. There has been a deliberate and concerted effort to advance Ron Paul folks in many areas and levels.

    The fact is that campaigns – like Romney’s – have bigger fish to fry (since these dont change real outcome of the nomination), and there is nobody else out there to care to organize for the sake of having a rump demonstration at the convention.

    It’s a dangerous trend, because this faction represents about 20% of the Republican coalition and if we have people who are at odds with 80% of the grassroots trying to run things, we get into nasty floor fights and intraparty squabbles. OTOH, they are playing by the rules and bringing energy to the party. I just hoe they learn to play well with others as they do it.

    • mikeymike143

      and paul is a straight up loon.

      • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

        What is it about nutty political POV that makes people do crazy things … like set up tents in parks, protest in marches, invaded conventions, and spend their time being politically active?

        If they can do it, why cant the non-looney conservatives get off their duffs?

        • texashistorian

          most of us non-looney conservatives are busy working, raising our families, being involved with our churches or other charities. This is why the left wing nuts get all the attention. Until the Tea Party, conservative silence was the norm, because we are out there living our productive, tax-paying, community-strengthening lives.

          There is more we can do, however, and should. I am involved at the country party level thanks for CW’s posts, but at the same time there is a commitment level I cannot reach because of other life things. WE can do more, but we do have to understand that right-thinking conservatives are always impeded by life precisely BECAUSE they are right-thinking conservatives and live that way.

  • expanding_man

    It’s impressive that Paul has been able to gather a following of folks who will actively get out there and do something instead of just talk and complain. In the big picture for the nomination it will make no difference. It will be Romney vs. Obama. Would be good to figure out a way to harness Paul’s supporters for the general.

    • http://www.tooncesthecat.wordpress.com tooncesthecat

      Conservatives begin to sound like establishment Republicans when they start to complain about changing the rules so that they can maintain control of the party apparatus and delegate selection. The rules give everyone the opportunity to participate who is willing to take the time and make the effort. Limiting delegate selection to a hand-picked few sounds like something that most of us would not want to be party to. If you don’t like Ron Paul’s supporters taking over, the way to prevent that is to get involved and to get others of a like-mind to also get involved.

      • Dave_A

        Since they essentially reject the entire GOP platform, and Ron actually had a tissy-fit & QUIT the party back in the early 90s, then ran AGAINST George Bush Sr.

        Eject them, before this Hydra grows more than 2 heads….

    • Dave_A

      And there’s no room to compromise with Paul…

      We can’t give an inch on monetary policy – there’s no such thing as healthy deflation.

      We can’t give an inch on foreign policy – Isolationism has never worked, and we need foreign bases to pre-po forces.

      We definately can’t give him anything on drugs – the loss of values-voters would be far greater than any gain from the Paulist fringe.

      Further, there are NOT that many of them (A recent poll has 91% of Republicans surveyed planning to vote for Romney in the General – that gives a 9%-of-GOP max for Paulites) – the reason Ron can do this, is because his organization is ‘flatter’ than everyone else’s.

      Most candidates have a small ‘core’ of dedicated supporters, who will turn out to caucuses, rallies, and so on.

      Ron’s base is a mile wide and an inch deep – Generally there are no ‘minor’ Paulists – you either don’t support the guy, or you’re ‘all in’.

      That’s how he can spam internet polls…

      It’s how the ‘Money Bombs’ worked (if 3 million people give the max of 2500, that’s alot of money – but still only 1% of the US population).

      That’s how he can hijack state-party conventions…

      It’s not that he has MORE supporters – it’s that his entire group is essentially ‘CORE’ activists, whereas the support-base of Mitt Romney (or the major rivals) was always pyramid-shaped …

      • snowshooze

        nt.

  • trimulchio

    effort tilt the race to . . . Romney? A lot of Rep. Paul’s base are Peace Democrats.

    A Romney acknowledgement of Paul’s constitutional and budget positions could be a big help here . . . .

    • brianr

      but you do bring up a good point. I’d guess net it hurts Romney slightly more, but he would take from both.

      I feel like he’s been deliberately not crossing a line that would put himself (read: his son) on the outs with the party. I think he’ll make the strongest case at the convention he can with however many delegates he can amass and pass the torch.

    • mikeymike143

      his looney followers are either young kids that lack real life common sense, anti semites or code pink hippie peacenik scum. all 3 of those are core democratic voting blocks

      just remember that paul has been rejected by republican voters in every single primary state so far. so i would say a third party run by that nut TREMENDOUSLY helps romney.

      but i dont think we will get that lucky.because nutjob paul knows he would get slaughtered in a third party run. and he wants to pass the lucrative family business of fleecing his gullible paulbot followers onto rand,

  • http://redmerrimack.blogspot.com/ charliebravoNH

    are the conservatives. In 2003 the Dems when they were in power created the current caucus system. They did this at a time when they taxed everything that moved and the Maine GOP was an empty shell that nominated squishy RINOs like Olympia Snow and Susan Collins. No surprise here that Ron Paul’s people could take over the ME GOP.

    • zfwoodward

      Charlie, as a guy who has been to the last two Maine GOP conventions, that’s simply not true. For starters, Snow and Collins have been major players here in Maine for decades, not since we switched from to a caucus. Snowe was the 2nd District Rep since 1976 until she took over George Mitchell’s Senate seat in 1994. She may not be the most conservative, but she has never faced any primary challenge here from conservatives. Even this year, the only two people who were running against her in the primary – before she announced she wasn’t running for reelection – were nuts. Scott D’Amboise’s claim to fame is that he lost his last election 70-30 and run a google search on Andrew Ian Dodge. Snowe was going to win the primary with something around 80% of the vote. The same is true of Collins, who came a close second to Angus King for governor in 1994 and then took Bill Cohen’s Senate seat in 1996, she has never faced a primary challenge.

      Snowe and Collins may not be popular with the national GOP, and I know they have an approval rating of like 2% on this website, but here in Maine we love them and as long as Collins wants to stay in the Senate, she will stay in the Senate. In 2008, Collins got more votes statewide than Obama. And honestly, now that Snowe is gone, Angus King will be our next senator. He is a left-wing nut who as governor bankrupted the state, and makes Barbra Boxer look conservative on environmental issues. I’ll take Snowe over him any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Snowe stepped down for some other reason. Personally, I think it is because her husband – a former governor – is under federal investigation for financial crimes.

      Finally, as to the convention, Maine has a history of silly conventions. For starters, anyone can attend, we have same day voter-registration in the Maine and as long as you pay 40 bucks, you can be a delegate. 2 years ago, the Maine convention was just as much of a zoo. The anti-One-World-Government, give everyone AK-47?s to fight the black helicopters crowd took over the convention and adopted a state platform that had nothing to do with state issues, rather abolishing the UN and making sure Obama wasn?t born in Kenya. Every one of the Republican candidates for governor and congress disavowed it. We then went on to win the House, Senate and Governor?s mansion for the first time since the 1970?s. This year it was the Ron Paul people, regardless of who it is, the Maine convention is always a zoo that has little to do with the actual state of the GOP. Ron Paul?s people here were just especially motivated because they think Charlie Webster and the state GOP screwed them in the caucus, which is debatable. What is not debatable is that Ron Paul still lost, and this convention is ultimately pretty meaningless.

      • http://redmerrimack.blogspot.com/ charliebravoNH

        Thanks for the updates on Maine. My apologies for getting it wrong. I wish all you Maine conservatives the best in moving Maine to the right.. NH shouldn’t be the only state in NE that rejects the ideology of Democratic Socialism.

        • zfwoodward

          Thanks, we’ll need all that luck, but LePage has done a fantastic job as governor and I think people are starting to come around. Even with the constant attacks from the state’s two papers, one of which is owned by the husband of Democrat1st District Rep Chellie Pingree’s husband, his poll numbers keep going up, who knew being the first governor in Maine history to use a line-item-veto to axe pork-spending would be popular? And I think there is a good shot – maybe 40% – of Romney picking up one electoral vote from Maine. The 2nd District got a lot more conservative due to redistricting, and Mike Michaud is finally facing a good Republican candidate in Kevin Raye. If Raye wins, I think he’ll carry Romney with him and steal an electoral vote away from Obama.

          Also in an update on the convention, the Maine delegates might be refused credentials for the national convention at Tampa. It’s come out that some of the Ron Paul votes were either made up or non-Paul votes were not counted against the rules. For example, in the vote for convention chairman, there were multiple recounts and the Paul supporter ended up winning, only there were more votes cast on the final recount than in any other and more votes were cast than delegates present.

  • conservativecurmudgeon

    If more constitutional conservatives were involved like this at the local level, and had been during the last primary season, think of how differently things would have turned out:

    Florida wouldn’t have moved up it’s primary date… Nor would have Michigan… Santorum would have been the clear winner in Iowa… the debates would have had different media partners… delegate counts would be completely different…

    Instead, we have a moderate we’re going to have to drag across the finish line.

    Man, do people have to pay attention to what you’ve been saying lo these many years…

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    how many of them exist in Arizona (at least in terms of those who’ve signed up on their web site) and they’ve got about 130 state-wide here in AZ and 92 here in Maricopa County, which I’m told is the 5th largest county in the country in terms of population. I know the Paul supporters have been figuring out “how it works” here and they tried to elect delegates to our state convention, which takes place May 12. They succeeded in electing some delegates, but they were late to the Party, so to speak, as here in AZ only precinct committeemen get to elect the delegates.

    You’re absolutely correct — constitutional conservatives who complain that our Party is not “conservative enough” don’t seem to want to remedy the situation. Our Party is not “conservative enough” because, simply, not enough conservatives are “in” the Party.

    Here’s a short explanation of The Neighborhood Precinct Committeeman Strategy for the benefit of those who are not familiar with it — it’s just common sense: http://www.redstate.com/coldwarrior/2011/04/10/what-we-need-to-do-as-soon-as-possible-why-we-need-to-do-it-why-it-will-work-if-we-unite-now/

    The truth is, all those good, decent, conservative Americans running around with signs at a “tea party” didn’t stop the passage of Obamacare and didn’t change the outcome of these caucus meetings. I sometimes use an analogy that at a football game the people in the bleachers don’t affect anything that happens in the football game. The only people who can affect what’s going on out on the field are the ball players and the “team” itself — the players and the coaching staff. If we conservatives want to change the Republican Party itself, the ONLY way to do it is to get inside it. And by inside it I mean participating in its inner workings. How that is accomplished is determined by its bylaws/rules/constitutions/whatever-its-called-in-a-particular-state. Every state has unique rules.

    The Ron Paul supporters have focused on their goal: getting delegates elected for their guy. They worked backwards from that goal. To get the delegates, what do we have to do? Gee, maybe we should read the rules of the Republican Party? Gee, maybe we ought to figure out how this all works and act accordingly.

    Others said: Gee, maybe I should write a blog. Gee, maybe I should organize a “tea party rally.” Or something.

    I’m busy trying to survive and raise my family, too. I’ve got 24 hours in every day. I’ve got X number of minutes per month I can spent on poliitics/civic involvement. The time may come where X goes to zero. Right now, I can afford X to be at least six or seven hours a month. So at the top of my priorities list for politics/civic involvement every month are three meetings: my Party legislative district committee meeting (where, as a PC, I can elect my LD officers and delegates to the state convention and state committeemen to the state annual meetings), my Party county committee meeting (where as an elected “at large” member on the executive committee I can vote on county committee resolutions, candidate endorsements, and policies), and my Pachyderm Coalition meeting (where we conservative PCs from my legislative district meet separately to kick around ideas for how to recruit more conservatives into the fold, for example). Add to that helping to GOTV for candidates in the local elections and the fall primary and general elections.

    The bottom line goal for all of this? Electing more constitutional conservatives to elected office. The key election is the primary.

    After the Marxist was elected to the presidency, I had no thought about the need to form or join a tea party. Nor did any of the other conservative PCs that I know. Because we already were inside a political party, where the real ball game is played. God bless the good, decent, conservative Americans who have joined tea parties and other grass roots conservative organizations. But as we can see from what’s happened in ME and NV and MN and the other states with the caucus system, if all those grass roots conservatives had united and organized inside a POLITICAL party (and the natural one for them is the Republican Party) they’d now be running that political party.

    And maybe, just maybe, if some of the conservative “blogging class” would have joined them, it might have helped greatly.

    We conservative, including those who blog and those who pin their hopes on some “public interest group” inside the DC Beltway somehow “influencing” the members of the House and Senate, have to own up to the inescapable fact: the only way to “change” Congress is to “change out” the people who are there with new, better, more principled people, which I explained here.

    It helps if one sits down and spends some time trying to figure out what one’s ultimate goal is and then working backwards from that goal, figuring out exactly what steps need to be taken to reach the goal. I learned that somewhere. The Ron Paul supporters seem to have learned it, too, and did that.

    Will more conservatives learn from what the Paul supporters have accomplished? I hope so.

    Thanks,
    CW

  • snowshooze

    For too many years, they had glossed over all our concerns… knowing well that it was they, the chosen.. who knew the higher path.
    We are now rewarded with Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski.

    I am not all in tears.

    • citizenkh

      received a first hand account of their antics. Pure anarchist 2 year old spoiled brats would be a fitting description.

      Oh why did their parents not spank them while they were still toddlers, I will never understand.

  • KevinM

    The Ron Paul supporters were very well organized however, even though they have a 22-6 advantage in supporters, they are bound by the rules to vote 8-20 in favor of Romney on the first ballot due to how the caucus went in March. I think that if the “establishment” had paid more attention to them in prior years things would be much more civil now. The major downside to how they behaved at the convention is that they definitely annoyed the non-Paul supporters by their delaying tactics. This may have consequences down the road. Overall I would say they got 90% of what they were seeking, sounds like a victory to me. I was gratified to see that they picked up the two RNC committee seats, That should help in steering the RNC in a better direction for the next four years.

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