My Personal Blog - SeanandRuth.us

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What Happened at the RNC?

From Freedom Works Email

Last Friday, August 24th, longtime GOP lawyer and Romney advisor Ben Ginsberg surprised Rules Committee members by proposing three basic changes clearly intended to head off a conservative challenge to President Romney and/or tamp down the Tea Party and Ron Paul movements in 2016.

 The proposed changes would do two main things:

1. Amend existing Rule 12 to hand national party officials, for the first time, the power to change the party's rules between national conventions, which take place every fourth year. Three-fourths of RNC members must approve a proposed change for it to take effect. This is unprecedented. It would enable top GOP officials to circumvent rules adopted by state and grassroots leaders at the National Convention. One can imagine how it might be used to shape and control the delegate-selection process to the advantage of insiders and special interests.

2. Amend existing Rule 15 to allow the presumptive presidential nominee to "disavow" duly elected delegates and force state parties to hold new elections to replace any delegate or alternate deemed unacceptable by the presumptive presidential nominee. One can imagine the influence this change would give a presumptive nominee over any delegate that doesn't toe the line. He could, in effect, choose the people who are to choose him. It's not hard to imagine the temptation a campaign would feel to use this power to intimidate delegates and to reward friends, supporters, and campaign contributors. The proposal also contained a provision altering the method of allocating delegates, in order to front-load and shorten the primary calendar. 

Unfortunately, the proposed change to Rule 12 passed. Thankfully, the proposed changes to Rule 15 were stopped. But an "insiders' compromise" version of the "disavowal" provision did pass. 

Under the "compromise," a new Rule 16 was added to stop an alleged "faithless elector" problem -- delegates who run claiming to support one candidate but then vote for another at the Convention. The new Rule 16 requires that a delegate who attempts to violate his binding pledge to a candidate under state law or state party rules shall be deemed to have resigned and the Secretary of the Convention must record the improper vote as it should have been cast based on state law or party rule. This compromise was supported by conservative stalwart James Bopp, as well as Ron Kaufman and Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi. Blackwell opposed the compromise because it retained the Rule 12 change. 

As long as the RNC can change the rules between conventions, the proposed changes to Rule 15 that we managed to stop could easily be revived at any time, without a vote at a National Convention.

What does this really mean? It means that voting in genearl elections isn't enough to keep our country on track. It requires seasons of getting involved in the GOP to understand and influence how the GOP operates and picks its candidates.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Missouri's Delegates on Rules Committee Haven't Signed Onto Minority Report Opposing Power Grab

Missouri's delegates on the Rules Committee at the RNC are:

Harvey Tettlebaum
harvey.tettlebaum@huschblackwell.com

Patricia Thomas
pat@patthomas.us


Vote is on Tuesday.

Take Action. Now!
UPDATE: Protect your state's delegates!
UPDATE: Protect your state's delegates!

More Info

 

UPDATE Aug. 27th:

Just a quick update on the situation we shared with you last night from the Republican National Convention.  We need your help to stop a proposed rule change that would allow a presumptive nominee to "disavow" delegates. 
 
Thank you to all of you who have already called your delegates serving on the Rules Committee.  Below is a list of states whose Rules Committee delegates have both signed onto the Minority Report.  If your state is listed below, there is no need for further calls.  If your state is not listed below, please contact your representatives serving on the Rules Committee. 

Arkansas
Colorado
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Minnesota
Nevada
North Dakota
Ohio
Virginia
South Carolina
Texas
 
If your state is not listed above, Please click here, find your delegates serving on the Rules Committee and urge them to Please vote to adopt the Minority Reports on Rules and urge your delegation to call for a roll call vote on all Rules-related votes.
 
This battle is not about preferring one candidate over another, it is about protecting each state's right to choose how it selects and governs its own delegates.  We  need you to take action today!



August 26, 2012

Shenanigans are happening at the Republican National Convention, and we need your help to protect your state's delegates!

A proposed rule change would allow the Presidential nominee to "disavow" duly elected delegates and force the states to hold new elections to replace any delegate or alternate deemed unacceptable by the Nominee. 

This would not only undermine the will of the electorate and give the presumptive nominee enormous power to block delegates with whom he or she disagrees, it would impose a financial burden on the state to hold new elections to replace the disavowed delegates. States would have to write rules to govern this newly imposed burden.

This would take power away from the state parties and put the Nominee in charge of determining your state's delegates.  Some are calling this the largest power grab in Republican Party history.

There is a Minority Report being circulated that would stop this change.  We need you to contact your state's delegates serving on the Rules Committee.  These delegates and their contact information is listed below. 

Take Action

Here is a list of delegates serving on the Rules Committee listed alphabetically by state.  Please take a moment to find the delegates from your state to urge them sign onto and vote FOR the Minority Report from the Rules Committee to stop the proposed change. The vote is expected to take place Tuesday.  Please only contact delegates from your state.

 

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RNC URGENT RULES VOTE TUESDAY

 
Republican National Convention 
Urgent Rules Vote Tomorrow
 This could be the end of grassroots activism.

Tomorrow at the Republican National Convention there will be a Rules votes which will shapes the party for decades -- and not for the better. 

Please read the letter below from Morton Blackwell.

If you are a delegate to the national convention, please join Morton Blackwell to vote for Minority Report.

If you are not a delegate, please contact those you know who are and ask them to vote with Morton Blackwell for the Minority Report.

Thank you,

Jo Thoburn
Delegate from Virginia

 

MORTON C. BLACKWELL

Dear Fellow Delegate, 
 
On Tuesday of this week, as Republican National Convention delegates, you and I will be voting on rules changes that could fundamentally change our Republican Party -- and not for the better. 
Over the years, I've served on the Louisiana and Virginia GOP Rules Committees.  I currently serve on both the Republican National Committee's Standing Committee on Rules and on the National Convention's Committee on Rules and Order of Business. 
 
I was Barry Goldwater's youngest elected delegate in 1964, I was honored to serve on President Ronald Reagan's White House Staff from 1981-1984, and I have attended every Republican National Convention Rules Committee meeting since 1972.  My wife and I have contributed major donations to the Romney-Ryan campaign.
 
These rule changes are the most awful I've ever seen come before any National Convention.  
 
I'm writing you today to urge you to join the growing effort to stop the worst-ever changes in this Rules Committee's Report and to vote in favor of amendments to Rules 12 and 15.  The Minority Reports will restore important rights and protections which state parties and grassroots Republicans would lose under the Rules Committee Report as written.
 
These amendments to Rules 12 and 15 are contained in Minority Reports supported by at least 25% of the members of this convention's Committee on Rules and Order of Business.  
 
It's rare for Minority Reports to come before our national convention, but the issues involved here are vital to the future of our party. 
 
I must tell you there is tremendous arm-twisting now to peel signers off of the Minority Reports.  
 
Finally, whether on Minority Reports or on voting down the Rules, it will require at least six states' delegations to insist upon a roll call vote.
 
I will not pretend that the deck is not stacked against us.
 
But many state leaders, liberty-minded activists, and grass-roots conservatives are up-in-arms as word of this power grab spreads.
 
Our convention will make this important decision Tuesday as some of our first work.  Many folks skip these procedural sessions thinking nothing of importance occurs.
 
This year, that is far from the truth.
 
If the Rules Committee Report were to pass without adoption of the Minority Reports, it would amount to a power grab by Washington, D.C. party insiders and consultants designed to silence the voice of state party activists and Republican grassroots by:
 
***    Handing national party officials the power to change national party rules adopted by state and grassroots leaders at the Republican National Convention.  For generations, the prohibition of manipulated changes in the national Rules of the Republican Party between national conventions has served as one of the crown jewels of our party.  It's a power grab which opens the door to many future power grabs.
 
***  Stripping state parties in all states with binding primaries of the power of choosing who will represent their states as national delegates and alternate delegates. 
 
This outrageous change would empower presidential campaigns to disapprove and remove delegates and alternate delegates selected by rules adopted by state Republican parties.  Rather than grassroots activists who won delegate and alternate delegate slots by following state party rules, a large majority of positions would be handed to top donors of the winning campaign.  
 
***  Gutting the great and successful reform adopted in the current election cycle to stop the dangerous trend to front-load the selection of national convention delegates.  Our party would move again toward a national primary which would deny grassroots Republicans the opportunity to vet presidential candidates in a nomination contest of reasonable length.  This reform must not be abandoned.
 
Like most of us delegates to this convention, I've spent years gladly battling in the trenches for our Republican Party.
 
And as the President of the Leadership Institute -- which specializes in training thousands of conservative activists, students, and leaders to fight for our country's future -- I can't tell you how disheartened I am to see these rules changes even considered. 
 
These rule changes would give good folks like you less of a say over our Republican Party in favor of insiders and consultants in Washington, D.C.
 
At a time when Tea Party activists have re-invigorated our Republican Party -- leading to massive gains in the U.S. House, the Senate, and many state legislatures in the 2010 elections -- why would we want to discourage activism?
 
Thanks to their efforts, you and I have a new generation of exciting conservative leaders in Washington, D.C., who -- in many instances -- were elected despite the opposition of establishment-backed opponents.
 
Certainly this is not to say GOP leaders are always wrong.
 
But history shows that our Republican Party grows when we welcome newly active participants and treat them fairly.  
 
Our Republican Party is strongest when we listen to the wishes of grassroots conservatives.
 
Instead of strengthening our party, these insider power grabs will weaken it.
 
For these reasons, I urge you to join the growing effort to adopt the Minority Reports when the Rules Committee Report comes up for consideration by the convention. 


                     Cordially,
 
                     Morton Blackwell
                     National Committeeman, Virginia
 
 
P.S. Some of the most important work of the convention will take place on Tuesday where you and I will be voting on rules that could fundamentally change our Republican Party for the worse.
 
New rules will be voted on that have been designed to silence state Republican parties and Republican grassroots in favor of party insiders and Washington, D.C.-based consultants.
 
The vote will take place at Tuesday's convention session, and I'm counting on you join the growing effort to defeat these new rules.
 
Please vote to adopt the Minority Reports on Rules and urge your delegation to call for a roll call vote on all Rules-related votes.
 
This fight is too important for us not to make a stand.

 




Friday, August 24, 2012

Republicans Adopt Solid Platform on Military/Social Issues -includes adopted platform language


Military Culture Coalition


For Immediate Release                                                                         August 21, 2012


Contact: Elaine Donnelly, CMR President                                                  (734) 464-9430

 

 

Republicans Adopt Solid Platform on Military/Social Issues

 

The Center for Military Readiness, issuing a statement on behalf of the Military Culture Coalition, expressed satisfaction with positive platform planks addressing military/social issues that the Republican National Committee on Resolutions approved without controversy on Monday afternoon, August 20. The following comments may be attributed to CMR President Elaine Donnelly:

 

"For the past three-and-a-half years, President Barack Obama has recklessly used the armed forces for unprecedented social experimentation and political payoffs to his liberal base. Republicans meeting in Tampa have said loud and clear: 'The time for pushing back starts now.'

 

"In addition to adopting strong planks reaffirming support for military veterans and principles of "Peace Through Strength," Republicans are laying the groundwork for repairing the damage on a wide range of military/social issues. This will rightly begin with an "objective, open-minded review" of all controversial policies, followed by "appropriate administrative, legal or legislative action" to restore sound priorities.

 

"Issues to be addressed will include social experimentation in the military, pressures to force military women into direct ground combat (infantry) battalions, rights of conscience and religious liberty for chaplains and people faith, defense of traditional marriage, special interest demands and divisive gay pride activism, plus consequences of the controversial LGBT Law to impose lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender agenda on the military. (Controversial legislation to repeal the 1993 law, usually called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was rushed through the lame-duck session in December 2010.)

 

"It will be important for the next Commander-in-Chief to give permission to all personnel − especially close combat troops whose views were ignored by the Obama Administration − to candidly report on the true consequences of imposing LGBT law and related policies on our military. Appropriate administrative or legislative action to correct problems that are just beginning to become visible will help to restore sound priorities and strengthen morale and readiness in the all-volunteer force."

 

"The following platform planks in the Republican National Platform clearly signal a positive turn toward national security as the Romney/Ryan Administration's highest priority:

  • "We reject the use of the military as a platform for social experimentation and will not accept attempts to undermine military priorities and mission readiness."
     
     
  • "We oppose the reinstatement of the draft, whether directly or through compulsory national service."
     
  •  "We support the advancement of women in the military...[and] We support women's exemption from direct ground combat units and infantry battalions."
     
  • "We affirm the cultural values that encourage selfless service and superiority in battle, and oppose anything that might weaken team cohesion, including intra-military special interest demonstrations." (This includes the wearing of military uniforms at gay pride parades and activism for same-sex marriages and benefits.)
     
  • "We will support an objective and open-minded review of the current administration's management of military personnel policies and will correct problems with appropriate administrative, legal, or legislative action."
     
  • "The spiritual welfare of our troops and retired service members should be a priority of our national leadership....there is an urgent need forthe kind ofcounseling that faith-based institutions can best provide. We support rights of conscience and religious freedom for military chaplains and people of faith. A Republican Commander-in-Chief will protect religious independence of military chaplains and will not tolerate attempts to ban Bibles or religious symbols from military facilities."
     
  • "We will enforce and defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), in the armed forces as well as in the civilian world."

 The Center for Military Readiness is an independent, non-partisan public policy organization that specializes in military/social issues, and the Military Culture Coalition is a network of 15 pro-military organizations.

 

More information is available at www.cmrlink.org, and Elaine Donnelly can be reached in Tampa at 734/516-9387 (cell) or elaine@cmrlink.org.

 

* * * * * * *

The Center for Military Readiness is an independent public policy organization that specializes in military/social issues.  To unsubscribe, click here
 






Thursday, August 16, 2012

Phyllis Schlafly on "Huckabee" this Saturday @ 8:00 p.m.

Phyllis Schlafly will be a guest on "Huckabee" on the Fox News Channel this Saturday, August 18th at 8:00 p.m. (EST)! Phyllis will be talking about her latest book, co-authored with George Neumayr, called No Higher Power: Obama's War on Religious Freedom. Don't miss it!
 
Phyllis will share with Mike Huckabee how the Obama Administration has assaulted religious communities and traditional values that have been the bedrock of American life since the Founding, as detailed in the book, No Higher Power. Obama is on a crusade to marginalize any faith that challenges his hardcore progressive agenda.
 
In No Higher Power, you will learn about the Obama Administration's hostility toward religion when:

  • Obama aides requested that Georgetown University officials hide a religious emblem that was displayed behind Obama's podium, before he spoke to an audience there.
  • Secretary Janet Napolitano's Department of Homeland Security published a report pegging pro-life activism as a domestic terror threat.
  • Obama's Department of Veterans Affairs banned any mention of Jesus Christ during burials at Houston National Cemetery.
  • The administration created a new rule under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, so that student loans will not be forgiven for public service if that service is related to religion.
 
"Obama is a secularist ideologue first and a Christian second," the authors of No Higher Power write. If he has his way, religion – which Karl Marx sneered is "the opiate of the masses" – will be removed entirely from public life and replaced with the Cult of Obama. Order No Higher Power today to defend your church and your liberty from the Obama crusade.
 
Tune in to "Huckabee" this Saturday and order your copy of No Higher Power by going to EagleForum.org to get your copy of Phyllis' new book for $25, which includes shipping.