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

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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 St. Paul 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 a month ago 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.

Nevermind 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.

The last three months Paul's forces, who donated $34.5 million to his White House effort and upwards of one 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 longterm 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've left comments on The Ticket in recent weeks. And, no doubt, they'll flock back here today to spread the gospel below.

--Andrew Malcolm

[iceberg]

i guess we need the conservative version of the LOOK AT ME parade now.

[Maikeru-sama]

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.

Preach on Brotha Paul!!!

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by Maikeru-sama

Preach on Brotha Paul!!!

He is the guy I would vote for in a heartbeat. I hope he does go 3rd party.

[Maikeru-sama]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

He is the guy I would vote for in a heartbeat. I hope he does go 3rd party.

Yep, those are my sentiments as well.

He did very well in each of his Fox News debates.

[Dallas]

No offense but the guy is a crack pot. For anyone to think one man could accomplish all of that as a 3rd party representative, needs to step away from the pipe.

He would be eaten alive in Washington DC.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by Dallas

For anyone to think one man could accomplish all of that as a 3rd party representative, needs to step away from the pipe.

He would be eaten alive in Washington DC.

If he were elected, would he have any support from either of the main parties?

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by Dallas

No offense but the guy is a crack pot. For anyone to think one man could accomplish all of that as a 3rd party representative, needs to step away from the pipe.

He would be eaten alive in Washington DC.

I guess genius = crackpot.

Or maybe too many people are so conditioned by the government that they just flat out take whatever is given to them as something that's good for them from the government.

No, there would be no way he would be able to do all the things he wanted to do, he has said so himself. But it does not mean you can not talk of it and realize some problems that need changed.

The two party system would NEVER want someone like Paul in office because he would unmask half of the crap the government does to it's own people under the guise of "good" government.

For those that complain of big government, ladies and gents it did not get any smaller under this admin than it was under the last...it is just a political talking point for many. I think Paul means it even if he knows he can not change it all.

[burmafrd]

Frankly I think Paul is all talk. He would wilt like a daffodil hit by a sandstorm if he ever got in office.
And if he really thinks he has any chance to do anything at the convention then he is either a fool or deluded or both.

[Vintage]

Originally Posted by Dallas

No offense but the guy is a crack pot. For anyone to think one man could accomplish all of that as a 3rd party representative, needs to step away from the pipe.

He would be eaten alive in Washington DC.

Every politician starts out being idealistic.

Sad though, that Paul's idealism is that of the Constitution.

I will vote for him regardless.... I am not wasting my vote on McCan't.