Iowa Republicans Replace 'Liberty' Faction on State Central Committee

[tsai3904]

Republicans in Iowa replace 'liberty' faction with new party leaders

Just two years after Ron Paul's eclectic army of activists orchestrated a hostile takeover of the Republican Party of Iowa headquarters, the other factions of the GOP have shown them the door.

Iowa is the first state to fully strip power from liberty-movement followers who led a charge on state parties in 2012.

Today, mainstream and evangelical conservative Republicans named 16 new members to the board that oversees the party machinery. Voting took place at their four district conventions.

...

The liberty Republicans' ouster from leadership is expected to affect their ability to set the stage for a White House run for Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who is Ron Paul's son and a likely 2016 candidate. The liberty movement will no longer have full control over invitations to big party events in Iowa, what kind of grass-roots training is conducted, or who gets hired to work at headquarters.

But because the movement's leaders are no longer saddled with running the party, they're free to help the younger Paul. Another silver lining: If Rand Paul wins the 2016 Iowa caucuses, rivals can't credibly discount his victory because of suspicions that party leadership was biased, liberty activists told the Register.

...

More:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/sto...icans/8203021/

[CPUd]

Huck's Army?

[Brian4Liberty]

Huck's Army?

They called it both mainstream and evangelical, so that pretty much points to Huckabee.

[Mr.NoSmile]

But because the movement's leaders are no longer saddled with running the party, they're free to help the younger Paul.

At the expense of not, you know, being in positions of leadership. I don't remember the Romney campaign getting all up in arms when people called their victories shams at the caucus level even though there's evidence of unity and fake slates. Turnout should not have been a problem. But with Spiker stepping down, can't be too surprised.

[LibertyEagle]

Wasn't the fundraising really poor since the Liberty faction gained control?

[CBC4L]

Fundraising actually was a record levels, but went to the candidates directly instead of the state party.

[CPUd]

Who are they backing to run against Bruce Braley?

[FSP-Rebel]

Wasn't the fundraising really poor since the Liberty faction gained control?

Basically, the old guard pulled their rug and left the fundraising up to us. I remember last year some time Ron sent out a note asking us to help Spiker out and we did. Seems like they had a couple hundred grand on hand but Ron's guys decided to flirt w/ office runs then back down and eventually relinquish their state party roles. I'm sure they have something up their sleeve but I'm not seeing it right now. It took a lot of effort and money to lock those spots down and to do anything less then stick around and add to it seems relatively counter-productive.

[TaftFan]

Fundraising actually was a record levels, but went to the candidates directly instead of the state party.

That happened in Minnesota, I believe. Probably in Iowa too.

[HVACTech]

Basically, the old guard pulled their rug and left the fundraising up to us. I remember last year some time Ron sent out a note asking us to help Spiker out and we did. Seems like they had a couple hundred grand on hand but Ron's guys decided to flirt w/ office runs then back down and eventually relinquish their state party roles. I'm sure they have something up their sleeve but I'm not seeing it right now. It took a lot of effort and money to lock those spots down and to do anything less then stick around and add to it seems relatively counter-productive.

at the end of the day,
it is all about money and time.

[Brian4Liberty]

They called it both mainstream and evangelical, so that pretty much points to Huckabee.

Or Santorum.

[anaconda]

So was the 2012 Iowa Convention all for naught? Will there be any interim lasting effects? I'm not very knowledgeable about this situation.

[Uriah]

In the 2nd district the evangelicals did not win. It was moderates that showed up in force. Or it was the fact that our current governor endorsed candidates. An endorsement from a very popular governor goes a long way. The Iowa GOP is only one of 10 state parties that do not have any debt and have 300k on hand.

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Iowa picks losers (Robertson, Huckabee, Santorum). They're unworthy of the amount of attention they get, but it doesn't translate to sway, as McCain and Romney were buoyed by New Hampshire after Iowa was finished picking their quadrennial GOP clown.

[Peace&Freedom]

Iowa picks losers (Robertson, Huckabee, Santorum). They're unworthy of the amount of attention they get, but it doesn't translate to sway, as McCain and Romney were buoyed by New Hampshire after Iowa was finished picking their quadrennial GOP clown.

The perception remains that Iowa establishes who is credible, as the first "for real" contest. A quick win for Rand there, like Ron before him, would shake off any "he can't win" drumbeat designed to marginalize him. NH is another target for the early win, but if it doesn't happen there either, the freight train to crown the establishment guy is going to reach full steam, especially with the frontloading of the primaries back in effect.

It was a profound lack of foresight on the part of the Iowa liberty faction not to hold on to their positions going into the crucial 2015-2016 cycle. Now the hacks are back in position to rig a victory for Huck and company, and hope for an honest caucus vote count is probably gone. What's the point of taking over the GOP, if you give the power right back before you can accomplish something with it?

[Uriah]

The perception remains that Iowa establishes who is credible, as the first "for real" contest. A quick win for Rand there, like Ron before him, would shake off any "he can't win" drumbeat designed to marginalize him. NH is another target for the early win, but if it doesn't happen there either, the freight train to crown the establishment guy is going to reach full steam, especially with the frontloading of the primaries back in effect.

It was a profound lack of foresight on the part of the Iowa liberty faction not to hold on to their positions going into the crucial 2015-2016 cycle. Now the hacks are back in position to rig a victory for Huck and company, and hope for an honest caucus vote count is probably gone. What's the point of taking over the GOP, if you give the power right back before you can accomplish something with it?

The count is legitimate. In both 2008 and 2012 I watched the votes being tallied in my precinct. At least one liberty person was watching the count in each precinct in my county. We ran our own tabulation and it matched what the county chair reported and called into the state party. Supporters of other candidates watched the count as well as they have a stake in it being reported correctly too. Paul had a precinct leader in every or nearly every precinct that watched the vote. We called in our numbers and they matched what the state party reported. There were some minor mishaps but no foul play. However, the numbers reported by the media were off by 4 votes for my county in 2012.

As to what you call a lack of foresight, there was no changing the level of involvement and enthusiasm of Paul supporters. We simply did not have the numbers. Too many people only care once every 4 years. The establishment has been planning their return to power for the past two years. They created divisions by drumming up reason upon reason to ouster us and then turned out in force. Their candidates for State Central Committee were endorsed by Steve King & Terry Branstad. They've been working on this and all we had to do was turn our people out but liberty folks are fickle when it comes to politics. Funny huh?

The state party stood on principle for two years and was vocal on our issues. We called out incumbent Republicans including the governor. The establishment whined about it all the time but many grassroots activists praised us. We stood on principle and didn't back down. Was it worth it? I think yes. While the state party is out of our control there are many liberty folks active in county parties throughout the state that are building their resume inside Iowa and the GOP. We aren't gone.

[jllundqu]

Damn you establishment corn-monkeys!

[jjdoyle]

These new people are all as much for liberty as the rest of us. I can assure you. And probably more so than Mitch McConnell, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham for sure. Especially with how much progress we have been making.

[TheTyke]

The count is legitimate. In both 2008 and 2012 I watched the votes being tallied in my precinct. At least one liberty person was watching the count in each precinct in my county. We ran our own tabulation and it matched what the county chair reported and called into the state party. Supporters of other candidates watched the count as well as they have a stake in it being reported correctly too. Paul had a precinct leader in every or nearly every precinct that watched the vote. We called in our numbers and they matched what the state party reported. There were some minor mishaps but no foul play. However, the numbers reported by the media were off by 4 votes for my county in 2012.

As to what you call a lack of foresight, there was no changing the level of involvement and enthusiasm of Paul supporters. We simply did not have the numbers. Too many people only care once every 4 years. The establishment has been planning their return to power for the past two years. They created divisions by drumming up reason upon reason to ouster us and then turned out in force. Their candidates for State Central Committee were endorsed by Steve King & Terry Branstad. They've been working on this and all we had to do was turn our people out but liberty folks are fickle when it comes to politics. Funny huh?

The state party stood on principle for two years and was vocal on our issues. We called out incumbent Republicans including the governor. The establishment whined about it all the time but many grassroots activists praised us. We stood on principle and didn't back down. Was it worth it? I think yes. While the state party is out of our control there are many liberty folks active in county parties throughout the state that are building their resume inside Iowa and the GOP. We aren't gone.

Thanks for the report, but especially for all your efforts!! I have noticed the same trends.... Waves come and go, but the folks who understand the need for continued involvement are increasing. All who stick with it have my sincere appreciation.

[dillo]

Basically, the old guard pulled their rug and left the fundraising up to us. I remember last year some time Ron sent out a note asking us to help Spiker out and we did. Seems like they had a couple hundred grand on hand but Ron's guys decided to flirt w/ office runs then back down and eventually relinquish their state party roles. I'm sure they have something up their sleeve but I'm not seeing it right now. It took a lot of effort and money to lock those spots down and to do anything less then stick around and add to it seems relatively counter-productive.

isn't the old guard a term for people like Robert Taft and Goldwater?

[FSP-Rebel]

isn't the old guard a term for people like Robert Taft and Goldwater?

The old guard is Bush and his retreads from the Nixon admin.