Former party chairman says there’s now a 50-50 chance of a brokered GOP convention

[sailingaway]

Not at all suggesting I'm pulling for this since anywhere the establishment of the party has power, as they would there, we will be against stacked odds. It is also Michael Steele saying this and I don't know if he really is better at guessing than we are...

but I thought you'd be interested.

http://www.sturgisjournal.com/community/blogs/applesauce/x739235585/Former-party-chairman-says-there-s-now-a-50-50-chance-of-a-brokered-GOP-convention

It would be Ron's second brokered convention, since he led the Texas delegation in support of Ronald Reagan at the last one....

[hueylong]

Yes, the establishment has power at the Convention. But we will have a LOT of power in the delegations of the states.

1976 is a good template for this, as is 1964.

Our Ace is that the establishment KNOWS that they CANNOT WIN without Ron Paul and his voters. So, the establishment candidates at least -- will be concerned that the party plays it straight.

[thoughtomator]

Yup. This could very well come down to whether the GOP establishment wants to vote for the benefit of the system, or the benefit of the party. If they choose the former, this could be the last election in which the Republican Party is a major party.

[smithtg]

this thing is fixed. Look at what the dems did in 2008. Hillary could have forced something, but was told to "get in line" Noot is an asshole, but he will get in line if he is second along with all the sheeple. RP will need a pile of delegates to make some noise and then the establishment neocons will pool what they have left to overrun the liberty movement

[bluesc]

Didn't we read something about delegates only being bound for the first round of voting? So if a bunch of Romney's delegates are RP supporters, in the 2nd round of voting Ron might just pick up a bunch of delegates.

[Bruno]

Didn't we read something about delegates only being bound for the first round of voting? So if a bunch of Romney's delegates are RP supporters, in the 2nd round of voting Ron might just pick up a bunch of delegates.

That is my understanding as well.

[RPit]

This is why its important that we fill in as delegates for whoever is 'favorite' to win that place. :)

[RonPaulFanInGA]

The media pushes one of these every election cycle. They crave it for the drama. It never happens.

If ever it was going to happen, it was 2008 when Clinton received more popular votes nationally than Obama and had more superdelegate support. For the sake of party unity, it's basically not allowed anymore. The conventions used to be about picking candidates, now they're just four day-long advertisements for the two major party candidates.

[sailingaway]

The media pushes one of these every election cycle. They crave it for the drama. It never happens.

If ever it was going to happen, it was 2008 when Clinton received more popular votes nationally than Obama and had more superdelegate support. For the sake of party unity, it's basically not allowed anymore. The conventions used to be about picking candidates, now they're just four day-long advertisements for the two major party candidates.

Newt's ego may drive a brokered convention. He's rather different in temprement than H Clinton. But I want a win, and the math works, but the media is really strong. When they start one of their moves it is like trying to stand up with a wave crashing over you. We have to find a way to articulate how possible it is to win, regardless of how the media is spinning it.

[Anti Federalist]

No One But Paul

Must be emphasized if this happens.

We all know the GOP leadership doesn't care one way or the other, but the GOP rank and file must be informed that, anything short of nominating RP with no question or reservations, leads to us leaving and the GOP losing in the fall.

[Peace&Freedom]

Yes, the establishment has power at the Convention. But we will have a LOT of power in the delegations of the states.

1976 is a good template for this, as is 1964.

Our Ace is that the establishment KNOWS that they CANNOT WIN without Ron Paul and his voters. So, the establishment candidates at least -- will be concerned that the party plays it straight.

+1. They also know the potential power of the 3rd party threat in this situation. Paul saying he has no plans or intentions to go third party can strategically mean, he will not use it as an offensive weapon, but if the leadership gives him a reason to consider it, he has it in reserve as a defense.

What reason might make him use it? Hmmm, how about Paul amassing 40% of the delegates and being the delegate frontrunner, only to see Gingrich throw all his delegates over to Mitt, in order to get him to over 50% of the delegates? In response, Paul could plausibly use this unprecedented rejection of a frontrunner as the pretext to run third party. In this context, if he is accused of destroying the party's chances, he could respond that party leaders destroyed them when they monkey wrenched the process to deny him the nomination. Rand would have similar cover to not endorse nominee Romney, under this scenario.

[puppetmaster]

Yes, the establishment has power at the Convention. But we will have a LOT of power in the delegations of the states.

1976 is a good template for this, as is 1964.

Our Ace is that the establishment KNOWS that they CANNOT WIN without Ron Paul and his voters. So, the establishment candidates at least -- will be concerned that the party plays it straight.

This is where the problem lies....the establishment does not care, as long as the nominee is not Ron Paul they win.....So many times people forget that there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats other than name. This is something made up for the masses to swallow like its candy .

[Anti Federalist]

This is where the problem lies....the establishment does not care, as long as the nominee is not Ron Paul they win.....So many times people forget that there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats other than name. This is something made up for the masses to swallow like its candy .

GOP rank and file need to know this.

Not that they have any great love of freedom, they don't.

But the do hate and fear Obama, and we can use that stupidity to our advantage if we stick to our guns and make and it clear that it is:

No One But Paul

You are 100 percent correct in pointing out that the leadership doesn't care.

[sratiug]

Agree wtbh the posts above. We must lead in delegates. They will pool their bitcbhes together lol.