Life of the Party

Conservatives Ready To Battle McCain on Convention Platform

Conservative activists are preparing to do battle with allies of Sen. John McCain in advance of September's Republican National Convention, hoping to prevent his views on global warming, immigration, stem cell research and campaign finance from becoming enshrined in the party's official declaration of principles.  Full story.

If the Washington State Convention is a precursor, conservatives will have their work cut out of them.  The list of issues will most likely include abortion as well.

Full Report of Washington GOP Convention

Coming Soon!

Highlights include:

Allocated National Delegate Ballots with only one candidate (pre-screened by John McCain staffer), and no option for write-ins or nomiations from the floor.

Ron Paul takes 4 unallocated national delegates from the state of Washington. 

McCain & Party Leadership led a March Out in Exodus, in order to pull quorum, to avoid debate on the issues. 

When the March Out backfired due to the hefty quorum remaining, the McCain & Party Leadership Marched back in to fillibuster and obstruct the body from completing any other business.

Still, the body managed to pass three pro-life resolutions including: support for a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, opposition to the WA state Assisted Suicide Initiative I-1000, and support for the freedom of conscience for pharmacists to not despense abortion drugs.  In addition, the body passed a resolution opposing any military action on a nation without the U.S. Congress declaring war, which is in keeping with our Constitution.

The spontaneous Ron Paul March and Rally immediately following the convention, signalling this movement has just begun. 

Please stay tuned for the full report.  I need to get reacquainted with my family and then find an opportunity to write a blow by blow.  Meanwhile, TVW has full coverage of the convention business.  Note: there are three segments and they are long.  Most interesting are segments B and C.  More details can be found here, here and here. 

My apologies to Geri Modrell (Snohomish Co. Republican Chair), who appears to have stayed during the "march out".  It was reported to me otherwise, and I am sorry for repeating that misinformation.

Snohomish County Convention

Our convention was held over the weekend and it was quite exciting.  Almost the entire day was taken up by the delegate election process.  We were divided up by legislative districts to do that.  Yours truly was the top vote getter in her district, which can partly be attributed to my 6 yr. old daughter who created this irrisistable campaign sign.  (A grassroots campaigner in the making.)  Other factors were certainly involved too.  More on that later, but you can read what I've already said to the "Sounds Orange" boys over at Sound Politics at comment #22.  (Hint: a good portion of Ron Paul delegates were elected.  And it looks like the Ron Paul supporters in Minnesota had similar success.) 

Unfortunately, with the length of time it took to elect the delegates (with over 60 candidates running for 22 delegates and 22 alternate positions in my district for example), it was late in the day when we reconvened all the districts to adopt the platform.  Many folks had left after the delegate elections were over, and therefore there was not a quorum to do any business.  So the excellent platform that was proposed by our committee (on which I served) will have to be voted on at the next county central committee meeting.  That meeting will take place on May 10 and the PCOs (Precinct Committee Officers) will have a chance to vote on it.   But you can have a look at the proposed platform here soon.  So check back. 

Finally! Some Real Figures For WA State County Convention Delegates

Still preliminary, but a breakdown by county over at Sound Politics.  Thanks, Don.

My own county, Snohomish is still being counted. 

Update on Washington State Caucus Results

Washington State Party Chairman Luke Esser has posted his explanation of the now national controversy over the caucus results, attempting to do some damage control.

Saturday, February 09, 2008
2008 Precinct Caucus Results

Statewide Results 2008 Precinct Caucuses:

Precincts Reporting	96.0 %
Candidates	Percentage
Huckabee	23.3 %
McCain	25.6 %
Paul	21.4 %
Romney	15.3 %
Other	1.1 %
Uncommitted	13.3%

Last Updated: Monday, 2/11/2008, 11:25 PM

Notice 1: The margin between Paul and Huckabee is tighter than the margin between Huckabee and McCain.

Notice 2: There is no winner yet in Washington State, and there will not be until the end of May at the State Convention.  Some very interesting dynamics can take place with such a divided result of the first step of our process.  Who among those delegates will be sent to the next level?  Look at the percentage for Romney (who has dropped out or "suspended" his campaign), "other" and "uncommitted".  Which way will they go?  It depends on what issues motivate them most.

Notice 3: This is very sloppy reporting by the WSRP.  They have still not posted the breakdown by county, which makes it tougher for anyone to check the veracity of these reported "results".    

I'm a Ron Paul Delegate!

UPDATE: Results from my pooled caucus according to the pooled caucus chairman:

16 for Ron Paul
14 for Mike Huckabee
11 for John McCain
7 uncommitted, or PCOs who didn't show but may still be eligible to be automatic delegates
3 for Mitt Romney

___________________________________________________________________________

Washington State held its precinct caucuses today, the first step in our state's nominating process.  My precinct was in a "pooled caucus" with approximately 25 other precincts, averaging about 5 participants each. 

My precinct had 8 participants.  1 Romney supporter, 2 Huckabee supporters, 1 McCain supporter, 2 "uncommitteds" and 1 Paul supporter (me). 

Our precinct is allocated 2 delegates.  There were 5 nominees.  1 Huckabee, 1 Paul (me), 1 McCain, 2 "uncommitteds".  On the first and only ballot for delegates, I was tied with the Huckabee supporter for 1st place.  So both of us were elected.  The alternates are split between McCain, Huckabee and "Uncommitted". 

In the other precincts that met in my pooled caucus, it looked to be overwhelmingly for Paul, but I do not yet have the final numbers.  There are reports around the state that in some districts and counties, Paul won the most delegates. 

Washington State Republicans Have Two Votes Each

UPDATE:  Seattle Times has an excellent overview of the process. 

Our state Republican Party's delegate selection process for the Republican National Convention is a bit complex, but we have an opportunity to make our choice for president known twice.

Determining the delegates to the convention will be based 51% on the results of the primary (February 19) and 49% on the results of the caucus (February 9).  All counties but King vote now by mail only, not at the polls.  Ballots will be arriving in the mail in the next week or two.  All precinct caucuses will take place on Saturday, February 9 at 1 PM.  It is reccomended that you arrive their early so you can check in and be ready to begin on time.   

To locate where your precinct caucus is being held, visit your county's Republican website.  If you do not know your county's Republican website address, you can locate that at the Washington State Republican Party's website.  You should first get out your voter registration card and find your precinct name or number.  Some county parties have a precinct finder where you can type in your address and it will tell you. 

At the caucus, you will be electing delegates to the county convention, and there delegates will be elected to the state convention, where finally delegates to the national convention will be elected.  If there is a presidential preference poll at the caucus, this is merely a straw poll.  The delegate you elect will really determine the candidate you support.  So elect a delegate who supports the candidate of your preference.  If there isn't one running, nominate and vote for yourself.

Our caucus comes after Super Tuesday where the following states will be voting:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Deleware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia.

Do not let the results of these states sway you from participating in the caucus.  It is very likely that we may have a brokered convention. 

Ron Beats Rudy and Fred

"Who'd have predicted that a couple of months ago?"

Snohomish County Republican Opens CNN/You Tube Debate

Chris Nandor (aka: "Pudge"), 39th District Chair of Snohomish County Republicans, has been gaining local fame lately. His irreverent humor is oh so subtle, that often the most hillarious part of it is seeing the reaction from his listeners who think he's serious. 

For instance, when he won the "Schrammie" for his "Osama Bin Ladin, You Ruined My Birthday" because Ken Schram thought he was selfish for actually thinking his birthday was more important than the lives lost on 9/11.  Then there's "George Bush is Hitler" that inspired adoration from his political foes and rebuke from his friends.  And finally, there' s my favorite "You Forgot Ron Paul", which won the hearts of all the Ron Paul supporters who missed his previous video shown below--"GOP Debate Song"-- which was the subject of sharp criticism from the other Paul supporters who "caught it in the middle" and thought he failed to mention their beloved candidate.

The GOP Debate Song has been sweeping You Tube and was featured prominantly in the opening of the CNN/You Tube Debate last night.  Congratulations, Pudge! 

And Pudge is right, if we don't reach consensus soon, we'll decide at convention.  That's why it's so important we send delegates who will be committed to holding to our principles and nominating a candidate who will too.  Iowa caucuses are in January.  Ours are in February.

The Way Giuliani Takes the GOP Nomination

It certainly isn't with the endorsement of Pat Robertson. 

Chuck Todd, NBC's News Political Director, has it right in a news report about this week's big endorsements:

If social conservatives can't coalesce around one candidate, then they're split among 4 or 5, and that allows Giuliani to ride in on a split Republican ticket. 

BINGO.

Maybe this is part of the covert plans of Republicans for Choice.  Help the "pro-choice" and "mixed choice" candidates woo the big social conservative leaders, and keep our coalition divided.  Work with media to keep propping up the weak social conservative candidates, one at a time, as our standard bearer.  First Romney, then Brownback, then Thompson, then Huckabee, and then McCain. 

Anybody but the real conservatives, Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter, whose positions could unite the entire conservative coalition.  It's just that party leadership has been invaded at every level by turncoats. 

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