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Nevada State Republican Convention recesses in dissarray
- Thread starter nevadan
- Start date
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.
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.
And the expected response
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880603082
Attempts by supporters of Texas congressman Ron Paul to muster an insurgent Republican state convention in the wake of the failure of the partyâs first event are not sanctioned by Republican Party and would result in an unrecognized gathering, a party official said Tuesday.
While Paulâs Nevada supporters are organizing a June 28 re-convention to finish electing national delegates, the state party is expected to announce this week a date in July for the official convention.
Even if the activists manage to recruit a quorum â a majority of credentialed state delegates â to the June 28 event, they wouldnât be recognized by the national party, Zac Moyle said....
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880603082
The plot thickens...
June 5, 2008
Dear Nevada Patriots,
As you may have heard, the State GOP has announced they will reconvene the State Convention on July 26th.
This date is not acceptable:
It is too late. This is the last possible weekend before the August 1st cut-off. The date is so late that it does not allow reasonable time for the delegates to the National Convention to schedule flights and accommodations. Airfare is going up in price daily.
If there are any problems with this convention (and we know this GOP is prone to having problems!) we will not have any time to redress grievances. This date is so late that there is no margin for error. The State GOP may still attempt a mail in ballot, which they have been pushing for all along.
This date is three months from the original convention. This is RIDICULOUS.
Plus-- we have no reason to believe the State GOP has any intention of running a fair convention on July 26th. We have seen draconian tactics slammed against Ron Paul supporters at conventions across the country, and we can expect nothing less from our State Party. They will be ready for us this time.
How has the Party treated us so far?
They have stalled us, lied to us, and slandered us. They have treated us badly at every turn. The State GOP has been tireless in their efforts to stifle our voices as State Delegates. We must not allow this to happen. We have no assurance of a fair convention on July 26th - in fact, we can expect the opposite. We will almost surely lose at any Convention run by this State GOP.
Therefore, we have decided to continue with our efforts to call the State Convention out of recess on June 28th. We believe we have an excellent chance of obtaining a quorum on this date. We have already been joined in our efforts by numerous Republicans who are not "Ron Paul people."
In order for this to be a success, we will need the help of each and every one of you.
What to do:
Right now, we need to crank up our media blitz. PLEASE call and e-mail every media outlet you can find (you can start with the list below) and tell them the July 26th date is unacceptable, and that the State Party should join us on June 28th at the Grand Sierra Resort.
Also, tell the state party the same thing. Tell them their convention is out of the question, and that you want to go to the GSR on June 28.
We must stand for our rights as state delegates to be heard. This is about much more than Ron Paul, or the State GOP. This is about standing up for our rights as Republican delegates. This is about protecting the freedoms our Country is built upon. This is about the "little people" exercising their rights against a corrupt party machine.
This is where revolutions start and history is made. The eyes of our country are upon us.
Please join us.
In Liberty,
The Terhune Family
P.S. We have many rooms reserved for our convention, and we will be forwarding that info (and posting it on http://NevadaGOPConvention.com) soon.
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.
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.
RENO - Three months after its state convention abruptly ended without a vote on them, the Nevada Republican Party has selected delegates to the national convention.
The state party's 12-member executive board on Friday night appointed 34 delegates and 31 alternates to the Sept. 1-4 national convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Zachary Moyle, executive director of the Nevada GOP, said delegates' names would be released after they are contacted over the next week.
Applicants were not asked which candidate they support, but were judged on their service to the party, prominent political recommendations and military service, the party said in a statement.
The party's April state convention ended prior to final votes on what was shaping up as a national convention delegation with more backers for Ron Paul than presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain.
The party scrapped plans to reconvene the state convention July 26 in Reno because it couldn't get enough delegates to attend.
Its decision to appoint the national convention delegates prompted a lawsuit by a group of disaffected Republicans, who contended state law requires the national delegates to be selected by state convention delegates.
Washoe County District Judge Jerry Polaha denied a motion Friday to halt the party from appointing the delegates, saying the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
In June, Paul supporters and others held an insurgent state convention, where Paul won most of the national convention delegates.
It was not immediately clear whether any Paul supporters were selected as national delegates by the party.
"We didn't ask these people which candidate they support," Moyle said. "He (Paul) is not in the race. He withdrew from the race. There's only one candidate left in the race and that's the bottom line."
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20080727/NEWS/620948065/1002&parentprofile=1058
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?
FWIW, this came today.
Hi everyone,
Here is a rundown of everything that's been going on with the Nevada Delegation to the Republican National Convention. Thanks to all who have helped with and supported this process, and please be assured that the fight is not over. I included our Press Release below.
OK...
Due to the fact that the Nevada State Republican Convention was shut down abruptly and illegally in April (when Party leaders weren't getting their way), and because the State Party leadership never intended to (and never did) complete the convention, we decided to finish it ourselves. We reconvened on June 28, and legally elected a full delegation to represent Nevada at the National Convention.
The Party leadership of course never acknowledged the June 28th gathering, and submitted their own list of delegates, appointed by the leadership. Their list was comprised of party regulars and contributers. A Party official was heard boasting at a meeting that "not one of those Ron Paul people" were on the list.
The party's list was submitted to the RNC, while we submitted an appeal to the RNC to try and stop them. The RNC's initial decision was to reject both delegations as illegal, and to seat only the three automatic delegates. The state party appealed that, and the matter was sent to the RNC's Contest Committee.
The Contest Committee heard the appeal on Sunday, August 24, 2008. The Party was represented by high-powered Washington DC attorney Ben Ginsberg, and we were represented by Mike Weber, a long-time Republican activist (and McCain supporter) from Washoe County, Nevada. The hearing was set up like a Senate hearing, with the committee seated at a table at the front of the room, with the two parties facing them, seated at their own tables. Each side was allowed opening and closing statements, and in between the committee peppered both sides with questions. The committee was obviously very knowledgeable about the situation, and seemed very interested in getting to the truth and conducting a fair process. As the day wore on, it was apparent that the committee started to realize how poorly the state party had been conducting itself. In one instance, a committee member was trying to find out how people became state delegates. Between Sue Lowden (NV GOP Chair) and Ginsberg, the State party was unable to answer the question, to the frustration on the member. In another instance, another member was trying to learn if the party knew who the state delegates were. After receiving no firm answer to several questions, she exasperatedly asked, "You accepted money to register for the State Convention, right? So there must have been some bookkeeping of some kind!" She never got a satisfactory answer.
Mike Weber closed with a stirring closing statement that basically told the committee that they could chose righteousness or corruption, and that the country was watching. No final decision was reached that day, and several smaller meetings between Weber and Party attorneys took place over the next few days. The outcome clearly was not going to be good.
So here is where the process stands now: The Contest Committee released its report on Wednesday. The report strongly chastised the state GOP, calling the Nevada GOPâs handling of the delegate selection process âflawed, inadequate, and unacceptable,â and added that they were âdeeply troubled by the ineptness of the State Party in conducting its process to elect delegates." The National Party has confirmed that, in their opinion, BOTH delegations were selected illegally, and that they would not accept either. The only exceptions were the CD1 and CD3 delegates that were elected during the original convention in April-- they will seat them. Ron Paul is represented by four of those six delegates.
However, there is a little-known rule that allows the National Party to appoint delegates to fill open slots within ten days of the National Convention. So, in order to fill all of the now-open seats from Nevada, they decided to invoke this rule and fill the vacancies. They did so using names from the State Party's appointed delegation.
So, in summary, the Nevada state party did not like what was happening at the State Convention, so they took the ball and went home, cheating the delegates out of their vote. They tried to appoint delegates to the National Convention instead. We tried to stop them and ensure the voting rights of ordinary Nevada Republicans. The National Party sided with the State Party and, after slapping them on the wrist, accepted their appointed delegates.
From now on, there is little to stop any state's GOP from ignoring the voices of it's people, and instead appointing their own cronies to attend the National Convention-- where our next potential President is selected.
Here is our press release from this afternoon:
-------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RNC Labels NV Party âInept,â but Seats Most of State-Appointed Delegation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 8/28/08 â The RNCâs Committtee on Contests handed down a recommendation yesterday regarding the ongoing Nevada delegate debacle. The Committee condemned the State Partyâs handling of the delegate selection process, and declined the State Partyâs ability to appoint delegates. However, the Committee then recommended seating the majority of the State Partyâs appointed slate, as well as six delegates elected in CD 1 and CD 3 at the April 26th State Convention.
âWe definitely do not consider this a just resolution,â said Wayne Terhune, a Nevada Republican activist who traveled to Minneapolis to support the appeal. âDespite some strong language from the Committee, their actions have backed up the illegal delegate appointment of the State Party.â
The Committee on Contests held a hearing on Sunday, August 24th when they heard statements from both sides. The Committeeâs statement released on Wednesday called the Nevada GOPâs handling of the delegate selection process âflawed, inadequate, and unacceptable,â adding that they were âdeeply troubled by the ineptness of the State Party in conducting its process to elect delegates [â¦].â
âThis game seems to have been fixed from the start,â Terhune said. âIt was obvious to everyone at the Committeeâs hearing that the State Party was inept, but the Committtee decided to back them up anyway and seat the majority of their slate. This is a miscarriage of justice, and smacks of tyranny. All the Republican voters of Nevada have been disenfranchised. â
####
Thanks again to everyone who helped.
In Liberty,
Robert
In the end the truth of the matter always seems to come out. I received this email last Tuesday.
Dear Nevada Patriots,
I have some exciting news: The ballots from the CD 2 delegate election have been found intact! We plan to count them THIS FRIDAY, and we need volunteers. Please RSVP if you would like to attend! (Click here) Read on for details...
Last week, Republican National Committeewoman Heidi Smith contacted my daughter, Jennifer. Heidi obtained a key that she believed might be the key to the locked box containing the Congressional District #2 (CD 2) Republican National Convention delegate ballots from the Nevada State Republican Convention held on April 26th, 2008 at the Peppermill Hotel/Casino.
As you may recall, the counting of the ballots from CD 2 was never completed due to the premature and illegal closure of the State Convention. When the Convention was shut down, the counting of the ballots was halted in midstream. Following the orders of Party leadership, the CD 2 ballots were placed into a locked box at the Peppermill cashier's cage. Previous attempts to retrieve those ballots (including prior to the State Convention continuation on June 28th, 2008) have been unsuccessful due to the complete uncooperation of party officials.
Since April 26th, the validity and even the existence of those ballots has been questioned. As many of you know, the delegates from CD 2 were, in the end, appointed to the Republican National Convention by the national Republican leadership.
On Wednesday, October 21st, I was part of a group of concerned Republicans who met with National Committeewoman Heidi Smith at the Peppermill to attempt to determine the fate of those legally cast ballots. One of the original participants, October Pawlik, who was present when the ballots were originally locked away on April 26th, attended this investigation.
In box #99 at the Peppermill's cashier's cage, we found the ballots from CD 2. The seals on the envelopes containing the ballots were unbroken. Ms. Pawlik stated that the envelopes containing the ballots, and all the contents of the locked box, appeared to be undisturbed since April 26th. Again, the seals on the envelopes (with signatures of the observers across the seals) were unbroken. We immediately placed the ballots into a different locked box at the Peppermill cashier's cage. National Committeewoman Heidi Smith retained the key to that box.
Although the National Republican Convention is long over, we are determined to have these ballots counted. We believe we have the obligation to determine the outcome of that vote, in the interests of justice, for the record, as well as for the health and unification of the Republican Party itself.
The ballot count is tentatively scheduled take place at the Washoe County Republican Party headquarters this Friday, October 30th, at 4:00 pm. A limited number of volunteers are needed to count votes and to observe the vote count.
If you would like to volunteer to count votes or to observe, please RSVP at this website:
http://www.meetup.com/NevadaSonsOfLiberty/calendar/11721444/
OR email me by responding to this email.
Space is limited, so PLEASE let us know if you plan to attend.
Note: This is NOT about "Ron Paul vs. McCain." This is an attempt to close an unpleasant chapter in Republican Party history and move on. Supporters of ANY 2008 candidate are welcome!
Thanks,
Wayne Terhune
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.
Dear Nevada Patriots,
As many of you may have already heard, the ballots from Congressional District 2, that were cast on April 26th, 2008, at the Nevada Republican State Convention, were finally counted last Friday. I traveled with National Committeewoman Heidi Smith to the Peppermill, where we retrieved the ballots out of the locked box in the cashier's cage. Nancy Ernaut, acting State Party Chair, was also in attendance.
When we got back to the Republican HQ, local media (including two camera trucks, numerous photographers, and the local political writer for the Reno Gazette-Journal) had arrived, along with over twenty vote-count volunteers and interested spectators. They were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the long lost ballots. With media cameras rolling, three of the original witnesses of the ballot lock-up examined the envelopes. They determined that the seals were unbroken and the envelopes did not appear to have been tampered with or damaged. Then all the volunteers were divided into groups of two, and the counting commenced. There were over 800 ballots to be counted, but even so, the winners were very apparent from the start.
Here's the results:
Delegates:
#1: Robert Terhune, 288 votes
#2: Marla Criss, 283 votes
#3: Pat Kerby, 283 votes
Alternates:
#4: Dean Heller, 231 votes
#5: Brian Krolicki, 118 votes
#6: Mike Weber, 95 votes
#1, 2, 3 were "Ron Paul" delegates
Although the National Republican Convention is long since over and done, the results of this ballot count confirm what so many of us believed: that Nevada was very possibly, even probably, on the verge of sending a Ron Paul supporting delegation to Minneapolis. There is little doubt that party "officials" shared the same opinion, and they shut down the convention to prevent a Ron Paul slate.
Even though we can't go back and change the results of the Republican National Convention, we have been vindicated, once again, by the results of this ballot count. Please read this report in the Reno Gazette-Journal to see some of the excellent media coverage we have received:
http://www.rgj.com/article/20091030/NEWS/91030046.
Thank you all for your support throughout this saga. Your emails of encouragement and thanks have meant a lot to me and my family.
Sincerely,
Wayne Terhune
P.S.- And congratulations to Robert Terhune, Marla Criss, and Pat Kerby, legally elected national delegates!!
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.