RON PAUL '08!!!!!!!! Yeah Baby!!! That's the only hope this sick, infested virus of a cancerous system we call a republic has any chance of healing thyself.
Today I attended the call from recess and reconvening of the Nevada Republican state convention at the Grand Sierra Resort. It ran from shortly after 9:00 AM until a little after 4:00. Lacking the presence of any party leadership (chairman Sen. Bob Beers was called for but did not attend today) the delegates were forced to go through the process allowed in Robert's Rules of Order to install a new chair for the resumption of business in the event of the original chairman's absence. After this somewhat lengthy process the convention resumed where it had left off in April. A scripted series of motions and votes that highlighted the procedural errors made during the original chairman's recess were a part of the call to reconvene. This was done on camera and by the book, citing page and verse in Robert's Rules because it is unquestionable that the proceedings today will be contested at the national level. The body held that since the call to recess was done without a motion or second, and with no discussion or vote it was in fact an illegal move by the chair and the resumption today simply a continuation of the convention that started last April 26. Whether all of this makes any difference in the end remains to be seen. Since the "recess" in April the State party has made many conflicting claims and statements regarding the "official" reconvening that is tentatively scheduled for July 26. Even in the notice I received a few days ago there is some suggestion that there may be a mail in ballot for selection of national delegates if a quorum cannot be reached. To help them decide this they are asking for an additional $35 to help defray the costs and determine if sufficient interest exists to call for a reconvene. They expressed great concern that delegates might come from the far reaches of the state only to find a quorum is lacking. This from the same group that promised a speedy process while they pulled the plug on the original deliberations. There is no guarantee that any of this will happen and seems all the more suspect since the state party has delayed until the last possible minute, a matter of mere days before the national convention. Where is the concern for the costs that will be incurred by national delegates who will be forced to make travel arrangements to St. Paul and pay full price due to the lateness of the hour? The whole process has become convoluted, even more so since Dr. Paul ended his candidacy with the end of the primary season. Today's reconvene by the delegates is legitimate by Robert's Rules of Order and the idea that the delegates have the power to determine the outcome of the convention, not party leadership. Ensuing events will indicate whether the people have input to the system or it is simply a charade that looks genuine until someone rocks the boat. The Paul campaign played by the rules, foremost of which is you must show up to effect change in the system. If we are squashed it should serve as a warning to all.
Things seem to be about wrapped up now. It appears that being a delegate in the GOP convention here in Nevada is all about rubber stamping a party agenda. Isn't that how they did it in the Kremlin?
And then today....... So it appears that Nevada may well have sent a delegation favorable to Ron Paul to the national convention. It of course would have in no way changed the outcome of the Republican National Convention but this does highlight the lengths to which the party elite will go to protect their grip on party politics. It is a pathetic example of the fear of dissent our "leaders" have.