"Ron Paul Supporters Walk Out of GOP Convention"

[Rastapopoulos]

From the LA Times:

TAMPA, Fla. — Ron Paul supporters at the Republican National Convention erupted in fury Tuesday over decisions that weakened their delegate count and other rule changes that will make it harder for non-establishment candidates in future elections.

Several members of the Maine delegation walked out of the Tampa Bay Times Forum after the convention affirmed the GOP’s decision to replace 10 of Maine’s 24 delegates.

“It’s a disgusting, disgusting display of a hostile takeover from the top down,” said Ashley Ryan, 21, a Maine delegate. “It’s an embarrassment.”

Paul did not win a single state, but his ardent followers worked arcane local and state party rules to take over several state delegations, including garnering 20 of Maine’s 24 spots. The RNC decided to replace 10 of them, effectively stopping the state from being able to submit Paul’s name for nomination. (In response, the state’s Republican governor, a Romney supporter, decided to boycott the convention.)

Although Mitt Romney easily has the delegate support to take the nomination in one ballot, avoiding a floor fight allows the GOP to present a unified front.

But the decision to not seat the original Maine delegation, and the approval of rules that will make it harder for grass-roots-fueled candidates in the future, caused an uproar in the handful of state delegations dominated by Paul supporters, as well as some others that are concerned about the GOP centralizing power in the hands of a few and taking it away from the states.

Wiselot Rouzard, a delegate from Nevada and a Paul supporter, compared the situation to Adolf Hitler taking power in Germany.

“There’s nothing American about what just happened,” he said. “This is the death of the Republican Party.”

As the roll call of states commenced, several states listed votes for both Romney and Paul. When repeating back the count, those at the podium cited only the Romney votes.

 

[PapaG]

...and nobody cares about the 6% Paul People, just like nobody cares about the 6% of anything.

 

[Ed O]

It's too bad that arcane rule manipulators can't get their way.

Ed O.

 

[barfo]

Time for Ron Paul to declare an independent run for the White House!

VP candidate Rand Paul!

Paul/Paul in 2012!

barfo

 

[MARIS61]

The Republ1%can Party.

 

[jlprk]

The Republican Party never honors its own propaganda about freedom, states' rights, less spending, individualism, getting government off our backs, etc.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Time for Ron Paul to declare an independent run for the White House!
VP candidate Rand Paul!
Paul/Paul in 2012!

Sadly, I believe Ayn Paul has already endorsed his corporate overlord Mitt Romney. Awk-ward. But I think Ron should get the faithful Wiselot Rouzard on his ticket, if only because that's the most awesome name ever.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's too bad that arcane rule manipulators can't get their way.
Ed O.

I'm honestly not sure which side of the argument you're targeting with this comment.

 

[Denny Crane]

The political parties are PRIVATE institutions and can make any rules they like for nominating their candidates.

It has nothing to do with states' rights or government rules.

 

[HailBlazers]

well there's our fucking problem right there^

 

[Denny Crane]

^ Unfortunately, there is no better solution. Or do you want the govt. appointed officials to decide who can run and who can't?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I suspect the Ron Paul supporters went there to walk out at some point in time to bring publicity to their candidate. I also have little doubt Paul will make an independent bid for President and that's one reason I think Obama will be reeelected.

 

[HailBlazers]

The entire nominating a candidate thing is utter bullshit. This is where the election is decided, and the entire process was asinine. The debates were fucking horrible. There has got to be a better way.

 

[Denny Crane]

I suspect the Ron Paul supporters went there to walk out at some point in time to bring publicity to their candidate. I also have little doubt Paul will make an independent bid for President and that's one reason I think Obama will be reeelected.

Paul is not going to run as an independent.

The 3rd parties already have their nominees and the two main parties make it ridiculously difficult to even get on the ballot in the states.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Paul is not going to run as an independent.

The 3rd parties already have their nominees and the two main parties make it ridiculously difficult to even get on the ballot in the states.

He's the Space Cadet party nominee.

 

[PapaG]

He's the Space Cadet party nominee.

Did Dennis Kucinich give up that title?

 

[MARIS61]

^ Unfortunately, there is no better solution. Or do you want the govt. appointed officials to decide who can run and who can't?

You could just give every American citizen one equal vote for whomever they want to vote for.

Most of the world is under the impression that's what America represents.

 

[Ed O]

You could just give every American citizen one equal vote for whomever they want to vote for.

"And, with 11% of the votes, ladies and gentlemen allow me to introduce ____."

That's a terrible idea, dude.

Ed O.