A couple Saturdays ago on the Founding Truth radio program my co-host, Loki, brought up the GOP Establishment's dastardly deed of getting rid of elected electors, and replacing them with hand-picked Republican lap dogs. The media and Ron Paul followers were claiming it was a move to stop the attempt by Paulians to force a brokered convention. Loki, however, said that the move was much more. The move by the GOP leadership was an attempt to control, and perhaps even extinguish, the grassroots voice of conservatives in the party.
The political assault came in the form of a simple rule change by the rules committee. The move was basically to change the rules of the convention when it came to determining who the delegates to the convention were. The goal was to kill grassroots influence from groups like the TEA Party and Ron Paul followers, not only in this convention, but in future conventions as well, by allowing the presidential nominee to determine who the delegates to the convention are. Never mind who got voted in. The powerful arm of elites at the top of the ladder in the Republican Party were determined to make sure that only the "right" people became delegates.
The move threatened to create a divisive fight within the Republican Party, pitting the establishment leadership against the grassroots conservatives. The individual choice of the delegates by the various States would be compromised, so as to influence the end result and make sure it occurs as the GOP leadership desires.
On top of that, the person who proposed the new rules was Romney's campaign lawyer, Ben Ginsberg. This means that at a time when Mitt Romney really needed the conservative folks to move into his corner, Mitt's own people were turning against them. Not exactly a smart way to gain the vote of people who have not exactly been enthusiastic about you.
On top of that, the person who proposed the new rules was Romney's campaign lawyer, Ben Ginsberg. This means that at a time when Mitt Romney really needed the conservative folks to move into his corner, Mitt's own people were turning against them. Not exactly a smart way to gain the vote of people who have not exactly been enthusiastic about you.
The very fact that the attempt was made created a vicious divide between die-hard Republicans, and grassroots conservatives that are not willing to be all-things-republican.
Ultimately, the proposed rules change reveals that the establishment Republicans are willing to do whatever it takes to kick the conservatives out of the party. The ruling elite at the top of the GOP does not like the conservatives, falling for the liberal claim that the conservatives are "extreme."
As usual, much like their counterparts in the Democrat Party, the GOP brass overreached and underestimated conservatism. They were unable to quell the uncompromising passion of the TEA Party and conservatives.
During the convention the speakers sounded quite conservative. They bumped to the right for the sake of survival. The TEA Party has succeeded in bumping the otherwise left-of-center Republican Party to the right with passion, enthusiasm, and the unwillingness to back down. Sure, I get it, politicians will say anything to get elected, and usually lie through their teeth to gain a little power (i.e. Obama in 2008), but I am not so sure that is the case with the GOP candidates. I believe that despite the protests of the republican leadership, the candidates have decided that conservatism wins. They may very well be ready to begin harnessing the energy of the conservatives in the Republican Party, and use that energy to win elections, and turn this country around.
In 2010 the mid-term election was proof-positive that conservatism wins, and as the Congressional Republicans become more populated with conservatives, and the GOP establishment begins losing its grip, it has become apparent to folks like Mitt Romney that he needs to fit in with the rightward shift, or risk losing the election, and his place in the Republican Party.
A conservative Republican platform has resurfaced. Cutting taxes across the board has become chic again. The Constitution is once again becoming a document that should be taken seriously, and should be viewed as the Supreme Law of the Land. It is time to shrink the size of government, to acknowledge the fact that the federal government is limited in its authorities, and it is time for the conservatives of the GOP to confront the Democrats and proclaim them to be wrong. . . not try to just get along as the establishment has been trying to do since the dawn of time.
The establishment is at its wits end with conservatives, and they don't know how to stop the rightward shift, so they have decided to just start eliminating conservatives, beginning with the delegates. But the conservatives are fighting back, and the leadership is realizing they can't beat back the conservative element of the Republican Party. No more trying to match the democrats in pandering to groups, but instead the candidates are trying to appeal to all Americans. We are all in this together, and the platform has to be for America, not for this group, or that group. 2010 was a huge landslide for the Republicans because of conservatism, not because of an attempt to appeal to women, Hispanics, blacks, or whatever other group you can come up with. A successful America is good for all citizens. A conservative America provides opportunity for all Americans, not certain groups. Romney has realized this, but some members of his team are still stuck in "establishment mode."
In 2010 the mid-term election was proof-positive that conservatism wins, and as the Congressional Republicans become more populated with conservatives, and the GOP establishment begins losing its grip, it has become apparent to folks like Mitt Romney that he needs to fit in with the rightward shift, or risk losing the election, and his place in the Republican Party.
A conservative Republican platform has resurfaced. Cutting taxes across the board has become chic again. The Constitution is once again becoming a document that should be taken seriously, and should be viewed as the Supreme Law of the Land. It is time to shrink the size of government, to acknowledge the fact that the federal government is limited in its authorities, and it is time for the conservatives of the GOP to confront the Democrats and proclaim them to be wrong. . . not try to just get along as the establishment has been trying to do since the dawn of time.
The establishment is at its wits end with conservatives, and they don't know how to stop the rightward shift, so they have decided to just start eliminating conservatives, beginning with the delegates. But the conservatives are fighting back, and the leadership is realizing they can't beat back the conservative element of the Republican Party. No more trying to match the democrats in pandering to groups, but instead the candidates are trying to appeal to all Americans. We are all in this together, and the platform has to be for America, not for this group, or that group. 2010 was a huge landslide for the Republicans because of conservatism, not because of an attempt to appeal to women, Hispanics, blacks, or whatever other group you can come up with. A successful America is good for all citizens. A conservative America provides opportunity for all Americans, not certain groups. Romney has realized this, but some members of his team are still stuck in "establishment mode."
The candidates, and the speakers, at the convention, ignored the battle going on over the rules change, and articulated conservatism. They went after Obama. They went after the Democrat Party. They detailed the liberal policies, and revealed what's wrong with those policies. They refused to cower in the corner like the establishment is so good at doing. They took on the Left head on, and as a result, Romney received a significant bump in the polls after the convention.
The republican leadership is cringing, afraid the independents will go running to Obama, and that the media will say mean things about the GOP.
The independents are looking for conservatism. . . and who the hell cares what the media says?
They are a despicable enemy that is not worth worrying about. I think Romney is realizing this. I think he is refusing to let the liberal left get to him, which is apparent by his refusal to give in to their ridiculous demand for him to release his tax records. The Republican Party is becoming something the establishment fears. The GOP is becoming populated with fighters, and that scares the liberal democrats.
I am angry that the RNC has tried to push out conservatives from having influence as delegates, but I am proud of the conservatives because despite the attack, conservatism has fought forward, refusing to say "die." The party elite are losing, and the GOP platform is becoming about saving the Constitution, changing direction, and using conservatism to right this ship.
I am angry that the RNC has tried to push out conservatives from having influence as delegates, but I am proud of the conservatives because despite the attack, conservatism has fought forward, refusing to say "die." The party elite are losing, and the GOP platform is becoming about saving the Constitution, changing direction, and using conservatism to right this ship.
With the rule changes they tried to tear apart a unified convention, and because of the incredible resolve of the conservatives, the convention remained unified. It remained about getting rid of Obama.
Something else to chew on:
The GOP Establishment attempted the rules change in regards to delegate selection so that the establishment presidential nominee in future years could choose the delegates himself, so that he owns them, so that they will do as he commands. It is an attempt to eliminate the grassroots conservatives from the Republican Convention. But what happens if the candidate is a grassroots conservative? Would they still want the nominee to have that kind of power? What if he then kicked out every establishment-loving delegate?
They tried to start a war, but it failed. They tried to get rid of the conservative influence, and the conservatives fought back. They can't win without the conservatives. They need the ones they hate so much, and some of them know it.
The ruling elite want to maintain control. They see the grassroots movement as a hostile takeover. And, it is. We are taking the party back - because we must gain control of the Republican Party if we are to have any hope of taking back America from the edge of disaster.
No more vote buying. It is time for our republic to function as intended, and it is up to the conservatives of this nation to make sure that happens.
We did build this. We are a godly nation. We are fighting back.
The liberal democrats can't stop the conservatives from taking back America, and neither can the Republican Establishment.
We are fired up, and watching the convention, I think Romney and Ryan are fired up too.
The liberal Democrats are so afraid, they are even already talking about impeaching Romney.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Conservatives Charge Team Romney with ‘Political Malpractice;’ Nasty Fight Still Possible at RNC - Washington Examiner
Happy Now for Tea Party Help, GOP Faces Challenges - Associated Press/Seattle Times
Romney Camp Removing Rules Committee Members - Freedom Works
Conservatives Charge Team Romney with ‘Political Malpractice;’ Nasty Fight Still Possible at RNC - Washington Examiner
Happy Now for Tea Party Help, GOP Faces Challenges - Associated Press/Seattle Times
Romney Camp Removing Rules Committee Members - Freedom Works
Libs Already Looking To Impeach Romney - Cowboy Byte
Re: "But what happens if the candidate is a grassroots conservative? Would they still want the nominee to have that kind of power? What if he then kicked out every establishment-loving delegate?"
ReplyDeleteSo often the powers that be attempt to entrench themselves even more and in reality they give to the next man, who they stand against, powers that they don't want them to have.