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

[Lightnin']

Bob in TX refers to the need of 'A self-sustaining Iraqi Republic' as requirement before withdrawal-- Has it occurred to you how difficult if not impossible it will be to get three completely different and frequently hostile groups of people (Sunni, Shia, and Kurd) to coexist under one Iraqi government under borders drawn up by the British empire a hundred years ago? In order to achieve that you'd need rule by someone who is very ruthless and violent (like Sadaam Hussein). Insisting that we stay in Iraq until we achieve the impossible is either idiocy or evil.

[jes2]

Oh the irony! babbled,

"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!"

Limbaugh didn't attempt - HE DID. But, hey, he only decided to give to the Democraps what they've been doing for the past 80 years... And, sorry Bozette, won't be any "in-fighting" at the convention.

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

Well, you can dream about it, if you're mentally capable of that process...

[Joe Grossinger]

Thanks to the disaster called George Bush I will no longer vote for the lesser of the two evils.
Ever.

I believe Ron Paul makes sense and support him 100%
I will not vote for McCain under any cirumstances.
He's a Bob Dole clone, just as liberal as George Bush and will go out of his way to annoy and displease conservatives.
He talks conservative but walks liberal.
I simply won't vote for the guy.

[LK]

Some of the posters here do not understand the caucus, convention, process. I am a delegate for Ron Paul These Caucuses are old hat, old school gopers that have been doing this for 20 years. They do not like outsiders. If you all would show up to these things, you would get it. The National Delegates that were elected were old hat, too. It's a popularity contest. No real representation for what 'the voters en mass' really want. At our caucus, Romney- 17 votes, Paul-14 votes, McCain-1 vote. Most people think they just show up at the general election, and thats that. This whole voting process starts a year earlier. our national delgate was a hunter supporter, now it's just about voting McCain, even though everyone hates him, and tow the GOP line. McCain, the next cheney puppet, great, that's just what we need.

[Jay]

I don't see a single anti-paul comment here that has any substance beyond chidlish name-calling. From calling him crazy to calling him racist - why can't a single one of these degenerates back up their claims?

The press smeared Ron Paul for a poorly phrased letter an underling of his wrote and called him a racist. Ron Paul took responsibility and said he should have been supervising the newsletter better but that's not good enough for those who were prejudiced against a constitutionalist from the start. It is clear that anyone who wants to avoid thinking just uses the word "racist" whenever convenient.

[Bronte]

I've been watching these sneaky creepy libertarians for about six months.
They brag about being ANARCHISTS.
They brag about "RECLAIMING" the Republican Party. (As if they "owned" it to begin with.)
They are a sick combination of White Supremists, anti-war activists, anti-government anarchists who also want drugs to be legalized.

They are NOT Republicans!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are bullies who have banded together and who are demanding “their way” or else!
They work “undercover” and by ambush!

They are TERRORISTS who do not believe in democracy.

[jes2]

Steven Stipulkoski whined:

"Since we have survived Bush for two terms, we can survive Obama for one. Obama probably does not have a clue as to what will fix the American economy so he will probably be a weak candidate by 2012".

NO, we cannot survive this empty-shirted Marxist and his comrade wife. He wouldn't be running anything - Pelosi and her bunch of DemoComs would be pulling the strings, and in today's world.... well, you really have to be an imbecile if you think you can survive Mr. "Boy he's a great speaker but please tell me what did he say?" Obama. Practice up on your Russian and Chinese.....

"Let's write in Ron Paul's name this November so he can't be ignored by the MSM in 2012".

"Yeah, right. No, George Soros won't bankroll him for another election".

[tag]

We need someone in there who will not pander to the Israeli's who've hijacked our foreign policy, not to mention their subversion and hijacking of our government by their dual citizen Israelis spies(with full allegiances to Israel) and their constitutionally subversive groups like AIPAC, JINSA, ADL, etc.
Traitors like Pearle, Feith, Kristol, Chertoff, Wolfowitz, Zackheim... and the list goes on and on, who've manipulated, robbed, and led our country into fighting a war for their own domination of the middle east. Now we have a broken military and a bankrupted economy all for the benefit of Israel... who McCon promises to aid and protect further.
Obama is nothing but a slave puppet to a rich white socialist name Rockefeller who will give what's left of our sovereignty away to the corrupt UN with his bill S2433 that he's working hard to pass, which commits American taxpayers to GIVE .7% of our annual GNP to the corrupted UN with the ability of the UN to raise that fee in the future like a tax. Not to mention getting rid of all small arms and giving control of our military away to the UN. Give me a break. He's another Harvard educated socialist, marxist fool.
McCain? McCain is just another brainless, ultimately corrupted, life-long political, gravy-train-feeding puppet who will go to the highest bidder - he has absolutely no principles or integrity - he's Bush the 3rd. He admires and holds criminals in high esteem. He'll give even more control of our country away to the greedy capitalists (who've outsourced the American soul), the Military Industrial Complex and the Israelis.
ALL "leading" candidates make a mockery of American principles and integrity that allowed this country to become the leaders that we once were.
We desperately need Ron Paul.

[andrew]

southern,

just so you know we don't really want mcain over obama or obama over mcain.

both of them will squrew us over so it dosen't matter if we take away vote from mcain

(to us)

[Gene]

I read all these comments talking about the "Party", it is not about the "Party" it is about the country and about freedom! McCain gave us the Patriot Act, sided with Kennedy on Amnesty, and has gotten an "F" from "Gun Owners of America" in 2002 & 2004. McCain does not support what I believe in nor what the "Grand Old Party" once stood for. If it means switching to a thrid party to vote my conscience then so be it. To vote McCain just to save a party or keep a (possibly) more liberal candidate out is a wasted vote. "To vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil." If I can't vote for Paul in the general election, my vote will go to Chuck Baldwin.

[tag]

We need someone in there who will not pander to the Israeli's who've hijacked our foreign policy, not to mention their subversion and hijacking of our government by their dual citizen Israelis spies(with full allegiances to Israel) and their constitutionally subversive groups like AIPAC, JINSA, ADL, etc.
Traitors like Pearle, Feith, Kristol, Chertoff, Wolfowitz, Zackheim... and the list goes on and on, who've manipulated, robbed, and led our country into fighting a war for their own domination of the middle east. Now we have a broken military and a bankrupted economy all for the benefit of Israel... who McCon promises to aid and protect further.
Obama is nothing but a slave puppet to a rich white socialist name Rockefeller who will give what's left of our sovereignty away to the corrupt UN with his bill S2433 that he's working hard to pass, which commits American taxpayers to GIVE .7% of our annual GNP to the corrupted UN with the ability of the UN to raise that fee in the future like a tax. Not to mention getting rid of all small arms and giving control of our military away to the UN. Give me a break. He's another Harvard educated socialist, marxist fool.
McCain? McCain is just another brainless, ultimately corrupted, life-long political, gravy-train-feeding puppet who will go to the highest bidder - he has absolutely no principles or integrity - he's Bush the 3rd. He admires and holds criminals in high esteem. He'll give even more control of our country away to the greedy capitalists (who've outsourced the American soul), the Military Industrial Complex and the Israelis.
ALL "leading" candidates make a mockery of American principles and integrity that allowed this country to become the leaders that we once were.
We desperately need Ron Paul.

[Thunder Pig]

As long as we can keep the Ron Paul Supporters in the Republican Party, it will be okay, because we can handle them. They have no clue at how to play party politics.

I just hope they don't leave the party and join the Libertarian Party to help Bob Barr...that would be a disaster for us.

[Larry Breazeale,Msgt.(ret.)USAF]

Ron Paul is the only candidate standing up for the U.S.Constitution, except Chuck Baldwin the Constitution Party 2008 Presidential candidate. I think a lot of "Ron Paulers" are going to support Baldwin not the Libertarian Bob Barr because of the LP's "open borders" platform.
Too many veterans such as I, are not fooled by "McAmesty McCain" . He does NOT have all the veterans in his pocket. He favors more perpitual no-win un-declared wars, more illegal unconstitutional foreign aid,
and amnesty for illegal aliens. McAmnesty McCain is the captain at the helm for the sinking "GOP" Titanic.If THAT wasn't enough, BOTH monopoly corrupt major parties are controlled, at the top, by the CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) power elite 'who designed the North American Union scheme'. Ron Paul & Chuck Baldwin are true patriots standing up for AMERICA FIRST.-Larry Breazeale, Msgt.(ret.) USAF,National Veterans Coalition

[tag]

We need someone in there who will not pander to the Israeli's who've hijacked our foreign policy, not to mention their subversion and hijacking of our government by their dual citizen Israelis spies(with full allegiances to Israel) and their constitutionally subversive groups like AIPAC, JINSA, ADL, etc.
Traitors like Pearle, Feith, Kristol, Chertoff, Wolfowitz, Zackheim... and the list goes on and on, who've manipulated, robbed, and led our country into fighting a war for their own domination of the middle east. Now we have a broken military and a bankrupted economy all for the benefit of Israel... who McCon promises to aid and protect further.
Obama is nothing but a slave puppet to a rich white socialist name Rockefeller who will give what's left of our sovereignty away to the corrupt UN with his bill S2433 that he's working hard to pass, which commits American taxpayers to GIVE .7% of our annual GNP to the corrupted UN with the ability of the UN to raise that fee in the future like a tax. Not to mention getting rid of all small arms and giving control of our military away to the UN. Give me a break. He's another Harvard educated socialist, marxist fool.
McCain? McCain is just another brainless, ultimately corrupted, life-long political, gravy-train-feeding puppet who will go to the highest bidder - he has absolutely no principles or integrity - he's Bush the 3rd. He admires and holds criminals in high esteem. He'll give even more control of our country away to the greedy capitalists (who've outsourced the American soul), the Military Industrial Complex and the Israelis.
ALL "leading" candidates make a mockery of American principles and integrity that allowed this country to become the leaders that we once were.
We desperately need Ron Paul.

[kelli]

Kudos to Ron Paul for trying to oust McCain at the Convention. I am a Romney supporter and believe that he was the only true Republican that could win, and am still hopeful that Rhino John McCain will not represent the Republican Party as the nominee -- if so, this will be the first time I will not go to the polls. Enough is enough. Shame on the Republican Establishment and Huckabee's trickery in giving us McCain as the potential Republican leader. Embarrassing.

[reason]

can someone plese tell me why ron paul is 'crazy'? or a 'kook'?

just list them for me....

1.
2.
3.
.........

[Hal]

Ron Paul has some good ideas, but he has some serious flaws that he has not resolved: (1) Corruption in Congress. The "earmark" procedure that congress has developed, mainly by the democrats, has evolved into a corrosive canker in congress. This allows a patronage system that has steadly become a serious corruption system, controlled by the democratic leadership. Ron Paul uses this corruptive system and wants to keep it. (2) World War II ended our ability to be an isolationist country. We are now in a world economy, regardless of what Ron Paul wants. To become isolationist would cause a sever depression, and a collapse of our economy. (3) Change our form of government, this is really a pig in a poke. Our country is the only form of government with a constitution where the power rests in the people. However with the corruption of congress, with long term congressmen influenced and/or controlled by local corrupt politicians (Chicago, New York, Boston, Kansas City, California, etc), the Constitution is under threat and Ron Paul wants to change or eliminate the keystone of our freedom. (4) Energy Crisis, I have not heard one word from Ron Paul about even acknowledging such a crisis. The Liberal and environmentalists has rejected any attempt to resolve this crisis, caused by our own rigid laws. We have a five to ten year window to remedy this crisis. Where are the Ron Pauls in solving this very serious crisis. Their silance is deafening. (5) The war with Islamic Terrorism, (World War IV), Ron Paul wants to withdraw from the world, which would turn the world over to the "Bin Laudens" throughout the world. As a free and open republic we are very vulnerable to their type of warfare. We have been very effective, despite the negative actions of the so-called-Liberals.
A carefull investagation of Ron Paul, reveals not a political conservitive, but a failed George McGovern type Liberal.

Hal

[jes2]

Celumnaz babbled the following lie:

"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".

No, clown, Republicans DON'T do that - that is a DEMOCRAT stunt. Think not? Look at the '06 election - despite what the Moron.org ilk will tell you, Republicans vote on what they believe and their values (Democrats and leftists don't have these, BTW), and if you cross them, they DON'T vote. Democrats? No matter how low the scum politician, if they have that lil' "D" next to their name, they get the single digit IQ vote.

"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, you, aren't you?

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

Now, do you think anyone really buys George Soro's secret candidate? We aren't Democrats, for God's sake.
Whups, sorry, lefty.

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

That's funny - YOU going around calling OTHER people "losers". Now, THAT's funny!

[Douglas in Oakland]

I am bemused by some of the comments above. Ron Paul supporters are adamant about the adherence to the U.S. Constitution. Which means, if you don't like it, amend it. Do not, however, legislate laws that are unconstitutional. Do not start wars that are unconstitutional. Do not issue executive orders and signing statements that are unconstitutional. The idea that Paul supporters are "sore losers" or not "grown-ups" (did one person say above???) because they will not follow the other sheep in supporting a candidate that will not abide by the Constitution is laughable. Were the 13 Colonies sore losers because they would not tolerate taxation from the King of England and standing armies in their houses?

Ron Paul is the best thing that has happened to the U.S. in my time. And it looks like the momentum to take back our country from a corrupt Federal Government is only growing.

[LEGION]

Paulie is a puke. Psycho nutcase- anti-winning the war loser. McLame stinks but Paul SUCKS! Go fly away on one of your UFO's.

[andrew]

I just wanted to say in friendy manner to everyone who thinks ron paul is a crazy looney-toon that needs to start taking his meds again...

that you should take off the blind-fold and do some research...
(not talking wimpy half an hour reserch on fox news website)

maybe go to house.gov and look up some of his speaches...

or read one of his books (i'm on a foreing policy of freedom right now it's really good)

if you don't have the time to do research on unbaised places maybe go to his website and read and watch his videos on all the issues

www.ronpaul2008.com

[Sodalis]

Ron Paul may be a racist, though I doubt it, he seems to have entertained the support of racists early in his career, but has stated, publically, that he does not share their views. Even if he were racist, he wouldn't be the first to hold public office. His policies may certainly benefit minorities more than any other president since Lincoln, as the dissolution of the Federal Reserve might lead to a stronger dollar, and an increase of the middle class. I don't like the spectre of racism over a candidate, but I dislike the class war that is occurring in this country even more.

[B Gray]

Come on people... Did anyone see how he performed in the debates he was in? RON PAUL IS A TOTAL JOKE! If it was up to him America would not have a military at all.
All I see is a spineless weasel. What would he do if he had to deal with the leader of Iran after he attacked Israel? Yes I do believe in smaller government, but we do need a government. This guy is no Republican..............

[wakeup]

Ron Paul.......The Republican Party's Hillary Clinton. Keep up the good work , you idiots. You'll have Obama right back in it in no time.

[ToTheMax]

GO RON PAUL! Let's get this revolution started!