Ron Paul's forces quietly plot GOP convention revolt against McCain

Virtually all the nation's political attention in recent weeks has focused on the compelling state-by-state presidential nomination struggle between two Democrats and the potential for party-splitting strife over there.

But in the meantime, quietly, largely under the radar of most people, the forces of Rep. Ron Paul have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in Minnesota at the beginning of September.

Paul's presidential candidacy has been correctly dismissed all along in terms of winning the nomination. He was even excluded as irrelevant by Fox News from a nationally-televised GOP debate in New Hampshire.

But what's been largely overlooked is Paul's candidacy as a reflection of a powerful lingering dissatisfaction with the Arizona senator among the party's most conservative conservatives. As anticipated in late March in The Ticket, that situation could be exacerbated by today's expected announcement from former Republican Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia for the Libertarian Party's presidential nod, a slot held by Paul in 1988.

Never mind Ralph Nader, Republican and Democratic parties both face ...

... potentially damaging internal splits that could cripple their chances for victory in a narrow vote on Nov. 4.

Just take a look at recent Republican primary results, largely overlooked because McCain locked up the necessary 1,191 delegates long ago. In Indiana, McCain got 77% of the recent Republican primary vote, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, who've each long ago quit and endorsed McCain, still got 10% and 5% respectively, while Paul took 8%.

On the same May 6 in North Carolina, McCain received less than three-quarters of Republican votes (74%), while Huckabee got 12%, Paul 7% and Alan Keyes and No Preference took a total of 7%.

Pennsylvania was even slightly worse for the GOP's presumptive nominee, who got only 73% to a combined 27% for Paul (16%) and Huckabee (11%).

As Politico.com's Jonathan Martin noted recently, at least some of these results are temporary protest votes in meaningless primaries built on lingering affection for Huckabee and suspicion of McCain.

Given the long-since settled GOP race, thousands of other Republicans in these states, who might have put up with a McCain vote, crossed over to vote in the more exciting Democratic primaries, on their own for Sen. Barack Obama or at the urging of talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, who sought to support Hillary Clinton and prolong Democratic bloodletting.

According to a recent Boston Globe tally, Paul has a grand total of 19 Republican delegates to Romney's 260, Huckabee's 286 and McCain's 1,413.

In the last three months, Paul's forces, who donated $34.5 million to his White House effort and upward of a million total votes, have, as The Ticket has noted, been fighting a series of guerrilla battles with party establishment officials at county and state conventions from Washington and Missouri to Maine and Mississippi. Their goal: to take control of local committees, boost their delegate totals and influence platform debates.

Paul, for instance, favors a drastically reduced federal government, abolishing the Federal Reserve, ending the Iraq war immediately and withdrawing U.S. troops from abroad.

They hope to demonstrate their disagreements with McCain vocally at the convention through platform fights and an attempt to get Paul a prominent speaking slot. Paul, who's running unopposed in his home Texas district for an 11th House term, still has some $5 million in war funds and has instructed his followers that their struggle is not about a single election, but a long-term revolution for control of the Republican Party.

So eager are they to follow their leader's words, that Paul's supporters have driven his new book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto," to the top of several bestseller lists.

While Paul has consistently refused a third-party bid, he has vowed not to endorse McCain, a refusal mirrored by hundreds of his supporters who have left comments on The Ticket in recent weeks. And, no doubt, they'll flock back here today to spread the gospel below.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photos: Associated Press and RonPaul.com

Comments

[jules]

when you talk about biggots...lets remember history and the democrat slave owners. Lets remember that blacks used to be republicans until the desperate dems use $$ as a carrot on a stick. many blacks voted for Eisenhower but then the hillbilly kennedys came into office and gave welfare new meaning and taxes skyrocked

[Andy]

Go get the book and read it, and think about what Dr. Paul is saying. Think about what has happened to us. Think about what will happen to our children if we don't change it. The Constitution was written to restrict government, not to enable it to do anything the bureaucrats and their lobbying pals might want it to do at a given moment. Seriously, read the book.

[wholly cow]

"now he wants to make our general government services privatized! I can't wait to call the local fire department and then find out that Local Fire Stoping Inc. won't put out my burning house because I can't afford their bill!"

I'm guessing your inability to spell "stopping" correctly is in no way due to a failed public education system...

[Angela]

It is funny how anyone that voted for Ron Paul is a "Follower". I guess you can call those who vote for the Clilnton, McCain, or Obama, "Red Kool-Aid Drinkers". They only do what the media tells them.

We people who voted for Ron Paul use our brains and look at the history of our Nation to make sure that it stays a free nation. We are a great nation because of the rules and laws that the forefathers put in place. Why do people want to distance themselves from the Constitution? Is it too old-fashioned? Want the new change of which Obama speaks? Well go live in another country if you don't like our Country. There are many other countries that have what you want.....socialism and tyranny. We are a blessed country and have been far different from the others.

[James Cooke]

I'm glad to see some papers like the LATimes are getting that there's a struggle going on in the GOP.

But I'm tired of the potshots taken at Ron Paul and his supporters.

A Republican that wants to impose greenhouse gas emissions that would cripple U.S. industry?

A Republican that would open the doors to illegal immigrants?

A Republican that would impose limits on free speech by imposing spending limits on campaigns?

A Republican that would keep American troops in Iraq for 100 years?

Any Republican who espouses those types of ideas is whacky in my view and out of step with the GOP... hence the nominee of this party John McCain -- thurst on the GOP by independents and media - does not represent real Republicans.

There is a revolt brewing among the GOP rank and file and Ron Paul just happens to be the figurehead.

[steve]

Oklahoma's GOP convention was pretty rowdy, read about it here:

http://www.coupbymemo.com/convention

[Apeweek]

Unfortunately, any expression of enthusiasm and excitement for a political candidate (Ron Paul and Barack Obama both come to mind) is treated as cult-like or insanity simply because few people can imagine being thrilled by a political candidate.

That's a sad commentary. Apparently we are supposed to support only candidates we can barely tolerate. Take your tranquilizer, return to your apathy. There's nothing to see here.

[Bad Journalism]

Correctly dismissed?

Among other inferences indicating a political agenda, Andrew demonstrates why mainstream journalism is losing readers and viewers. Andrew, just write the article straight down the middle and leave out innuendo's and personal opinions. Leave it to the reader to form their own opinions.

[Stan Sikorski]

Paul = REAL change

The others just offer more of the same at least, total destruction at the most. They all work for the same master. Paul doesn't. The choice is simple if you want to remain a free America.

But I get this feeling that most of the lemmings don't have the attention span to even understand a 100th of what the above means. As long as you have your sports, SUVs and full bellies, you'll buy anything. Even the insanity of the other candidates.

Well, your SUVs will be rusting in the driveway soon, your bellies empty, and even your bums living in a tent because you can't afford your house anymore. Maybe then you'll see who was better for you and the nation. Too little, too late though.

Have fun with that you 'fanatics'.

[Swamp Dog in FL]

Delusional wacko nutjobs. On so many levels. It's scary that so many believe this crap.

[Incarnate]

Elections are not about choosing a winner. They are about choosing who most closely represents what you want from your government. The only vote that is thrown away is voting from an anointed few in the hopes that you picked a winner.
The election process is NOT a lottery. Picking a winner, who does not share your points of view is only picking the one who sets the screws to your thumbs. Should you be happy that you get to pick the one who continues to send the bus down the wrong alley?
I plan on voting for Paul whether he has the nomination or not. He represents what I want from this country. Those who are closed minded enough to not actually hear his points but say "OOH he's crazy, I like the pandering of HRC or Obama, or the non-coherence and misdirected ramblings of McCain" are the real vote wasters.

[Jim DeGraffenreid]

Just a point of fact - as of today, McCain has 874 pledged delegates. These are delegates who are pledged to vote for McCain on the first ballot at the convention, and as balloting goes on they will be released from that pledge. Not sure by what math you calculated that 874 was more than 1,191, but here in Nevada it's pretty easy to see that McCain does not have the nomination locked up, and that it definitely didn't happen long ago. The debate for whether or not McCain is the appropriate choice for the Republican nomination is alive and well, and will be as long as there are two candidates in the race. The primary results numbers that you show are evidence of this. Look at the showing that Huckabee and Romney are getting as candidates that have officially withdrawn, and imagine what kind of support they wil have if they re-enter the race by adding their names to the convention ballot, which both are eligible to do. It's going to be an interesting summer...

[acroso]

the new GOP is run like communist Russia. Even if Paul does well at a state convention, the chairman almost ALWAYS cheat.

Just looks at Sue Lowden and Bob Beers in Nevada.

[Leonardo]

I know a selfless true patriot when I see one...
He is incapable of corruption; it is in his nature…
He’s found peace within which he will promotes and righteousness will guided him and his fellow countryman…

[sssysioux]

What is most sad is the blatant lack of concern for what the people want at even the grass roots level by the entrenched leadership of the GOP. These leaders use parliamentarian procedure games to thwart the message and desire of the people, they are no more a friend or 'THE' party than the dems. A Revolution is the only answer and some very clever and patient men have started that ball rolling. They can dumb down the school and grow the kids on TV propaganda, somehow they still get the bigger picture, not even Hannity can stop it.

[Bob]

The essence of successful politics is compromise. No one gets everything they want all the time. Ron Paul's supporters are doing the right thing to voice their views strongly within the nominating and convention process. But, when it's over, they have an obligation to support the nominee.

[Roggie]

"A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example." Niccolo Machiavelli

It's time to return to the first principles of our republic, to prevent the otherwise inevitable collapse into complete despotism and tyranny. At one time Liberty and Self Determination meant something in this country. We have watched it slip away into domesticated slavery and dependence upon the government. It's time to return to the first principles of our republic.

[Van]

"correctly dismissed"?!

What is correct about the media prematurely dismissing a candidate - especially a sitting 10-term congressman! - from America's biggest election? And then Paul doesnt do well in the primaries, and the media says "See, we were right!" No, you weren't right. You're GUILTY of keeping a GOOD candidate in obscurity.

[Celumnaz]

Republicans would vote for Hillary if she were on the (R) ballot. Party platforms are not reflected in the leadership and they don't care.

"There's just the "Republicrat" party with 2 factions, "Democrats" and "Republicans"." The effect is once again Party Men show themselves to be Lemmings and/or Useful Idiots.

Yes I'll be writing him in if the old guard can't find the sense to put the good doctor as the nominee.

But I actually think the Republicans WANT to lose this time around. Losers.

[JJ]

As someone who voted for Huckabee in Pennsylvania (I was delighted to see his name still on the ballot), McCain need not worry about Paul or others taking votes away from him.

I will not vote for McCain no matter what.

-JJ

[liz sipfle]

I'm glad to see Ron Paul supporters are still active. I think McCain is a horrible choice for the GOP nominee. The only hope we have of keeping the white house is for McCain to pick Huckabee as his VP nominee. Or for the Ron Paul group to prevent McCain from getting the nomination at the convention -- go Ron Paul Supporters!

[sssysioux]

Can someone please answer for me why it is that in every other part of the Federal government one must retire by age 65, but the GOP runs with great force and against the solid base of the party, John McCain, makes me wonder who they plan for as the VEEP, that is probably the guy to be more concerned about...time for equality in age limits!!!

[McCain is your candidate]

The Ron Paul folks better get in line behind John McCain, if they know what's good for them. Paul lost. That's it.

[Aaron]

The people who vote for Ron Paul won't be to blame if McCain doesn't win, that fault rest solely on the Republican party for pushing a weak nominee who is out of touch with the party's platform.

And Ron Paul's fans aren't going away. The conservative part of the Republican party has been quite long enough and its time to take back our party and repair the damage Bush and his gang has brought on this once great party.

He might not win the White House this year but his presence in the race is going to be felt for years to come.

[Oh the irony!]

Wouldn't it be funny if the Democrats -- after Limbaugh's attempt to screw them up by promoting Hillary -- turn out to be the ones all peaceful and settled come summer? And the Republicans are the ones with the in-fighting problem? Tee hee!

It would make for some grand TV to see the Repub convention all in chaos. You go Ron Paul! Grab your popcorn.