About Last Weekend’s Convention
Dear Nevada Delegate: I would like to thank you and everyone who attended last weekend’s Republican State Convention in Reno. We had a record turnout and we are pleased that so many Nevada Republicans chose to participate.
Unfortunately, we had to recess the convention without completing all of our work. This was done due to a rule change that took place early in the morning – which caused the convention process to take far longer than expected. Over 200 individuals’ names were submitted to the Nominations Committee for consideration to be selected as delegates to the National Convention. Once voting was opened to the floor, another 187 names were submitted. Although some names may have been duplicates, our Nevada Republican Party By-Laws allow delegates the opportunity to speak on their own behalf.
Therefore, the process would have lasted well into the evening and perhaps early into Sunday morning. In addition, individual ballots for those names would have to be printed. Therefore, it was evident a recess was in the best interest of the State Convention and its attendees. This was done primarily due to time restraints and the fact that our contract with the Peppermill for the convention hall had expired.
Aside from delegate selection, I am proud to say that we completed all other convention business. We passed rules, bylaws, credentials, and adopted a State Platform which we hope all Nevada Republicans can be proud of. However, delegates still need to be selected to the national convention and we look forward to doing so in the very near future.
Currently the Nevada Republican Party is working hard to find the best possible way to complete our convention business with the selection of delegates to the National Convention. We will work from within our existing By-Laws, which state that the remaining business must be conducted in Washoe County. It is our sincere hope that once we determine the best way to complete our business for the 2008 State Convention, we will have maximum participation and the process will have taken its course in a fair and respectable manner.
Rest assured that once we determine the process by which we can complete our business, all delegates will be notified directly. We would like to thank everyone for their patience during this time.
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So I have a question: if we were elected as a Delegate to the State Convention, but were unable to attend, can we attend the reconvened Convention? And technically, at least according to Robert’s Rules, you adjourned. Recess requires a specified reconvening, not an open-ended departure. You recess, for example, for lunch, on the understanding that you will reconvene in an hour, or two hours, or some specified time.
Scott Austin — May 3, 2008 @ 10:13 am
I would like to volunteer to help get the convention reconvened. I am a computer geek and great at proofreading, so let me help cross-reference the names that were mail in nominations to the ones who self-nominated from the floor. Chairman/Senator Bob Beers said it was a large task and I told him I would make the effort to help. Then, I’d like to know what has to be done next to help us conclude the preparation for the conclusion of our convention. Please email me anytime and I will make myself available day or night. Thank you.
LisaMarie Johnson — May 3, 2008 @ 10:30 am
This is one of the best videos about the convention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bknGz9TtEHE&feature=related
marktwain403 — May 4, 2008 @ 12:39 am
I was at the Nevada State Republican Convention. I was involved in the process leading up to it. Our strategy amounted to reading Robert’s Rules of Order, reading the proposed convention rules as espoused by the Party leadership, and showing up. There was no attempted “takeover”. We were motivated, excited to participate in the process, and everyone else stayed home.
Before the party leadership illegally recessed the convention without a discussion or a vote we managed to elect 7 out of the first 9 delegates to the national convention. We were on our way to capturing 80% to 90% of Nevada’s entire slate of delegates (31).
The main problem is that the Republican Party leadership is not well acquainted with people expressing contrary opinions. The leaders I’ve come in contact with are incredibly uncomfortable with any individual standing up and saying, “Mr. Chairman, Point of Order” or “Mr Chairman, Point of Inquiry”.
What the Republican Party leadership likes to see is a well managed convention with zero discussion or debate. The problem is that there is no way Ron Paul supporters will win any delegates, or change anyone’s mind on any issue if we do not open up the convention process to allow contrary opinions.
The Party Establishment in Nevada seemed shocked that a supermajority of delegates might actually want a fair and honest method of selecting delegates to the National Convention, rather than to rely on a handful of people in a nominations committee.
I ask you: What is the point of attending any precinct caucus in the entire country if the whole thing is rigged at the State Convention? Why even go to a State convention if the only thing you do is listen to a few boring speeches, pray to God, and salute the flag? That’s not the point of a convention. The point of a convention is to decide how the party will operate, and what the goals will be until the next convention. This requires debate, discussion, and sometimes results in conflict. And in the long term it is good for the Republican Party.
marktwain403 — May 8, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
The fact of the matter is that since Ron Paul is a Libertarian and NOT a Republican he and they don’t care about the party or winning the White House. All they care about is making a point and causing chaos.
Dr. Ron Paul doesn’t have a chance in hell of winning the nomination, he is to be commended for doing such a good job and for having such loyal supporters but we are now in a race with the Democrats over the White House, it’s time to unite, if you really want to be called Republicans and win the race, not a small battle, THE WAR.
Ron Paul should drop out of the race, he doesn’t and will not have the required number of delegates necessary to win the party’s nomination. It is clear that this is about self-interests and has nothing to do with being true Republicans and preserving the Republican principles. He should have had the decency to run as what he is: a Libertarian never a Republican.
EW — May 8, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
Ron Paul has served many terms in the House of Representatives as a Republican. Maybe you don’t know that?
Robert Holloway — May 9, 2008 @ 12:15 am
The point is that Ron Paul stands for the true Republican values that this party has abandoned. If Ron Paul doesn’t have a chance, why are all the McCain supports so set on getting the Ron Paul supporters to switch over? If you were at the convention, then you know what they tried to pull. Everyone was upset that they wanted to pick the National Delegates for us, not just Ron Paul supporters. This is a problem for the whole body not one faction. We talk about being united under a canidate but how can we do that if we are devided as a party?
Bridgett — May 9, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
This Connecticut Republican is watching very carefully… best wishes to everyone in Nevada… may you QUICKLY reconvene and conclude business!
P.S. I think the world is watching too.
Steve — May 12, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
We’re really starting to attract some attention:
http://bob-beers-and-sue-lowden.blogspot.com/
KC — May 19, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jUX4XM28xQ
3:00 min in! The country is watching. Get to it, lets get Nevada’s Delegates Elected!
http://www.carlbunce.com
Carl Bunce — May 23, 2008 @ 8:24 pm