# Republican National Convention - A Meltdown in Progress? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 20, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084 "2012-08-20T19:33:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/41 "2012-08-21T12:21:01Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Why on earth would they turn away reliable voters? Who else are they gonna vote for/campaign under? If you remove the loonies from the Rebublican party you still have a formidable counterbalance for the Democrats except it won’t embarass itself as often, and if the loonies want anything like a political voice they’ll still vote Republican. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/42 "2012-08-21T13:03:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ron Paul is not going to be nominated. There will be no votes cast for Ron Paul at the convention. It’s time to do what Ron Paul supporters do, and that’s start spreading the news that your man is destined for the presidency next time. Yes, time to start the Paul 2016 campaign. He’ll be 81 in 2016. I think they’ll try to go with the one with the dead squirrel on his head, Rand Paul. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/43 "2012-08-21T13:08:37Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > If they make a hurricane hit my house, can I sue them? > > The last hurricane to actually make landfall was in 1921, if I have it correct. We do get a lot of hurricanes that flirt with us, so maybe just a big rain event with some decent winds would be okay. That’s correct. But tropical storms, especially slow moving ones can really drop the rain and seeing how we’re at or close to saturation level now, it could really be a big mess. Right now there’s a depression heading towards the Lesser Antilles which should be TS Isaac by later on today. The spaghetti models are all over the place with this one. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/44 "2012-08-21T13:43:14Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > [Louisiana](http://mobile.usnews.com/news/blogs/Ken-Walshs-Washington/2012/06/04/ron-paul-snatches-half-of-louisianas-delegates) (contested) > > [Maine](http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/news/paul-wins-majority-delegates-maine-gop-174422402.html?orig_host_hdr=news.yahoo.com&.intl=US&.lang=en-US) (contested) > > [Minnesota](http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?pageType=politics&catid=57437868&feed_id=3&videofeed=39) > > [Nevada](http://m.washingtonpost.com/politics/paul-bests-romney-at-nevada-convention/2012/05/06/gIQAEQDf7T_story.html) > > [Washington](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/333906/20120426/ron-paul-2012-delegates-news-romney-convention.htm) > > [Iowa](http://m.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0618/Ron-Paul-wins-Iowa!-Does-that-matter) > > [Massachusetts](http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/04/30/state-gop-caucus-picks-leave-romney-slate-slighted/AGemTuxxNkr0GEKJkSwZqN/story.html#skip-target) (legally bound to vote for Romney\*) > > I was mistaken about Alaska. > \*All delegates are unbound according to federal law, but whether law will trump tradition is doubtful. > > In any case, Minnesota, Washington, Iowa, Nevada, and either Louisiana or Maine would make 5. This would make Paul eligible for nomination. Fine, but if they try to do anything with that at the convention, that would not be a floor fight; that would be a meltdown. It would shatter what momentum Romney has going into November. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/45 "2012-08-21T14:03:06Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Yes; who said it wasn’t? And why is it all right whereas the opposite (Republicans doing similar) is not? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/46 "2012-08-21T14:09:41Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ron Paul is not going to be nominated. There will be no votes cast for Ron Paul at the convention. It’s time to do what Ron Paul supporters do, and that’s start spreading the news that your man is destined for the presidency next time. Yes, time to start the Paul 2016 campaign. I’m not making a prediction. If I was I’d probably agree with you. Im just saying it could be possible according to the rules. Ron Paul delegates have had an outsized influence at many state conventions. It’s not entirely impossible that they attempt some kind of stunt in Tampa. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Fine, but if they try to do anything with that at the convention, that would not be a floor fight; that would be a meltdown. It would shatter what momentum Romney has going into November. I don’t care about Romney’s momentum. I just want to be entertained. While the Paul delegates will not have the numbers for a floor fight, they may have the numbers to put his name into nomination. This would guarantee him a speaking role. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/47 "2012-08-21T14:21:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Do you have a cite for this? While the HLA has some really terrible implications like outlawing hormonal birth control and ALL abortions, Romey has studiously avoided any serious discussion of the details and implications inherent in it. He did explicitly say that he supports the right to abortion in case of rape, but for a guy like him, it won’t be a contradiction to also claim to support the HLA. > > Yes, I know the two are contradictory, but that hasn’t stopped Romney yet. > [@](#): > > The video features an exchange from Fox News’ “Huckabee” show when host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee asked Romney whether he’d support redefining personhood in an effort to end abortion. > **“Would you have supported the constitutional amendment that would have established the definition of life at conception?”** Huckabee asked. > **“Absolutely,”** Romney replied. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HZCovd42SRw/hqdefault.jpg "Mitt Romney: "Absolutely" Wrong for Women") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZCovd42SRw) ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/48 "2012-08-21T14:48:44Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > \*All delegates are unbound according to federal law, but whether law will trump tradition is doubtful. What federal law? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/49 "2012-08-21T14:59:49Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > What federal law? [Here:](http://www.examiner.com/article/federal-law-all-delegates-are-unbound) > [@](#): > > “No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the Senate, or Member of the House of Representatives, Delegates or Commissioners from the Territories or possessions, at any general, special, or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting or electing any such candidate." - 42 USC § 1971 - Voting Rights. > > The response from the rest of the Republican Party was that this does not account for conventions or nominations. However, this latest finding will trump that claim. 11 CFR 100.2 - Election (2 U.S.C. 431(1)) clearly states that: > > “ > “Caucus or Convention. A caucus or convention of a political party is an election if the caucus or convention has the authority to select a nominee for federal office on behalf of that party.” - 11 CFR 100.2 - Election (2 U.S.C. 431(1)). Of course even if the Massachusetts angle doesn’t pan out, Paul delegates still hold the majority in 5 states if the Maine or Louisiana delegation manage to be seated. ---
**Author:** ![babygoat666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@babygoat666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/babygoat666)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/50 "2012-08-21T15:01:54Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The Republican party leadership has challenged Paul’s delegates in Maine and Louisiana. It appears that Republicans like to stifle democracy not only when the opponents are Democrats, but when they’re registered Republicans. Ron Paul earned a majority of delegates from Iowa,Maine, Massachusetts, Alaska, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington. According to RNC rules any candidate who achieves a majority in 5 states can be nominated from the floor. This would be an embarrassment to Romney. > > They haven’t offered Ron Paul a speaking slot, but Rand Paul is going to speak. I doubt this will appease the Ron Paul folks. In any case I hope to be entertained. May I ask how Ron Paul, earning a majority of delegates in those states despite capturing a negligible share of the vote, is considered democracy? ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/51 "2012-08-21T15:11:42Z")
> [@babygoat666](#): > > May I ask how Ron Paul, earning a majority of delegates in those states despite capturing a negligible share of the vote, is considered democracy? You’re trying to bring logic into the discussion and Ron Paul supporters have never been real big on that. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/52 "2012-08-21T15:28:29Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > [Washington](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/333906/20120426/ron-paul-2012-delegates-news-romney-convention.htm) [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Republican_caucuses,_2012) has Paul with only five delegates to Romney’s 37 in Washington, and says those delegates are bound on the first ballot. The article that you link to dates from April, but the State convention, where the final delegates were chosen and their votes bound, only took place at the beginning of June, so I don’t see how that article can be correct. I do not think its mathematically possible for Paul to meet the five state threshold to be nominated from the floor, even giving him Maine and LA. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/53 "2012-08-21T15:37:43Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > [Nevada](http://m.washingtonpost.com/politics/paul-bests-romney-at-nevada-convention/2012/05/06/gIQAEQDf7T_story.html) According to that article, a majority of Nevada delegates are bound to vote for Romney on the first ballot. Again, I don’t think Paul has a majority in the requisite five states. He has Iowa, Maine and Minnesota and maybe LA. ---
**Author:** ![babygoat666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@babygoat666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/babygoat666)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/54 "2012-08-21T15:40:24Z")
> [@nogravity](#): > > You’re trying to bring logic into the discussion and Ron Paul supporters have never been real big on that. Kind of. I’m presenting facts that most people would apply logic to, in order to find out what happens with a RP supporter. I’m very curious about them, but apparently I’m not supposed to take them apart to find out how they work. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/55 "2012-08-21T15:49:13Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > [Here:](http://www.examiner.com/article/federal-law-all-delegates-are-unbound) > > Of course even if the Massachusetts angle doesn’t pan out, Paul delegates still hold the majority in 5 states if the Maine or Louisiana delegation manage to be seated. Very interesting. I wish your side the very best of luck in getting Paul’s name placed in nomination, having Paul speak, or what the heck even having Paul get the nomination. I mean this most sincerely. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/56 "2012-08-21T15:51:12Z")
> [@babygoat666](#): > > [May I ask how Ron Paul, earning a majority of delegates in those states despite capturing a negligible share of the vote, is considered democracy? The primaries in most of those states isn’t democratic, or supposed to be democratic. The primary is just a “preference poll”, the actual decision is made at caucus meetings and county and state party conventions. The process being set up that way long predates Ron Paul. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/57 "2012-08-21T15:58:21Z")
There’s also going to be another Tea Party event for the folks not invited to speak at the main convention featuring Michele ‘Crazy Eyes’ Bachmann, Herb Cain, Judson Phillips and others on Sunday, August 26, 7 pm. Tickies are free for this [event](http://www.unityrally2012.com/). I would almost think about going but I’m afraid it’s just going to be a real mess especially with the parking. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/58 "2012-08-21T15:58:42Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The process being set up that way long predates Ron Paul. Oh come on, the Civil War doesn’t long predate Ron Paul. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/59 "2012-08-21T16:07:04Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Very interesting. I wish your side the very best of luck in getting Paul’s name placed in nomination, having Paul speak, or what the heck even having Paul get the nomination. I mean this most sincerely. I concur, as I can think of nothing so beneficial to the Republic as the nomination of Ron Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Osiris\_the\_1st](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9de0a6/32.png) [@Osiris\_the\_1st](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osiris_the_1st)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084/60 "2012-08-21T16:11:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > This flap du jour isn’t going to affect the convention. Akin has offered a real apology (not just a “I’m sorry if people were offended” apology), and we’ll move on to the next flap-- which might come from either the GOP or the Dems. My reading of his “apology” is that he is apologizing for his use of the word “legitimate” not for his assertion that rape does not lead to pregnancy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-a-meltdown-in-progress/632084.md?page=4)