Get Your Pies
MinnPost is reporting on something very interesting that is happening within in the Minnesota chapter of the Republican Party. When the party convenes this fall in St. Paul, six of the delegates will be pledged to Ron Paul.
While this may not seem like anything newsworthy, it actually kind of is. (In fact, MinnPost did two stories on it. Two!) Fully half of the delegates from three of the four Twin Cities districts (the fourth, fifth, and sixth) will be going to St. Paul wearing Ron Paul tshirts. The state party isn’t happy about this. In fact, in an email sent to some supporters, the state GOP said:
“You should also be aware that, unlike your service as a State or local delegate, your influence on the process is considerably limited. The other primary states will, by convention time, have determined the Presidential nominee. The platform process is divided and the opportunity to participate in even a piece of it is limited. After the convention, the platform is generally ignored. For this reason, the role of National Delegate is generally seen as a ‘reward’ for long and faithful service to the Party, rather than as a ‘representative’ to a deliberative body or a ‘learning opportunity’ for newcomers.”
In other words, a pat on the head for being able to do so darn well. Now sit down and shut up while the grownups discuss business.
This really makes me want to poke my head into the X come September when the convention rolls into town. Because I think it may look something like this.
But, I don’t know. Are you a member of the Ron Paul Revolution here in the Twin Cities? Or are you a lock-step GOP member? Give us some insight on what the hell is going on here.
I don’t see it as a big deal. The party determined that McCain is the republican nominee because he received enough pledged delegates to completely lock it. Any opposition to that is futile at this point and a waste of time and money. It’s likely the view of most Republicans that if Ron Paul supporters can’t figure this out and shut up, they only serve to hurt the chances of a Republican winning.
It’s like wanting to play the second half of the ninth inning when you’re behind on score and your opponent would be up to bat… and then complaining that you’re being shut out of the game.
Well, yes, if they were trying to elect Ron Paul to the nomination. However, it is my impression that they are trying to influence internal party politics as opposed to the nomination process itself. I am intrigued by the politics of both of these men, and I think a healthy discussion between their supporters could result in some outstanding policies (again: not nominees)… if only they would have the discussion.
To change a party like the Republicans (or the Democrats for that matter), you need to change from within the inside. The best way to do that is to become the inside. Being an Ron Paul-esque activist at the convention is not the way to accomplish anything positive. The Republican party likely knows the kind of tactics and attitudes a lot of the Ron Paul supporters have and are trying to squelch it fast and early. Really, the goal for the Republicans at the Xcel Energy Center isn’t to pull representation from around the country to hear the diverse values of our 50 states and to discuss how the party should be run… it’s basically a political rally to drum up support for their nominee.
The realclearpolitics link above puts 38 delegates from MN in Romney’s column. How accurate is that?
We just want a place at the table, a legitimate debate, not to be kicked out for daring to express an opinion without prior consent from the Chair. Sheesh, some of us have been around this party for decades. I’ve never seen it so heavy-handed, so sterile, so wanting to become even smaller and less inviting.
I have to respect those conservatives within the republican party who are willing to stand up for conservatism and conservative policy — something that used to define the republican party but in recent years has been lost.
I have nothing against people wanting to change their own party for the better. I think this is more of a matter as to what is appropriate and not appropriate in the setting of a national convention, in the party’s eyes.
Hey everyone, let’s all vote for Bob Barr instead!
Greg- It reminds me: I bet running as a Libertarian crossed Ron Paul’s mind too… and I’d bet the Republicans more or less threatened to ruin his political career if he even hinted at it… it’d be an instant way for Republicans to lose… Ron Paul would be to McCain as Nader was to Gore… but worse!