Hear Hear, B. Anyone who thinks that supporters of liberty should not be allowed to participate in the political process of any party much less one that claims to be “the party of the open door”(RNC, 2004) is in my opinion doing a great disservice to those who have fought and died to defend this republic. I know many of these “contested delegates” and for what it is worth, I can personally vouch for the fact that they showed up to help and not to hurt. Is there anyone that seriously beleives that these people showed up on a Saturday morning just to be a nuisance? That seems pretty unlikely to me.
Thank God cooler heads prevailed in the 3rd CD and self-destructive blocking of qualified delegates did not happen, and I want to personally extend my gratitude to the fair people that facilitated our convention(too many to name here), may those in the 2nd learn from the example they set forth.

Jo: I’ve have a coupleof items/thougts:

Jo: incomplete reporting job! In your article, you identified Don Griffon as a conservative republican. I’ve known Don for several years, and would still like to call/consider him as a friend.
But a few years ago, he left the GOP and joined his forces with the Constitution party, and ran for the US Senate on their ticket. Therefore not a loyal and faithful Republican by the rules of the MRP and not eligible to be a delegate to any GOP caucus or convention! My source as to Don running: Mo State elections records! Perhaps you could have tried Google to get your info.

Now if anyone else had been identified as Libertarians, Constitution Party, Democracts, etc, using the Blue Book, county election records, or other public records as non-GOP types, it’s right that they should have no voice in running this party. They should first try to clean their own homes before they try to invaid my house and give cleaning orders!

Now for a personal editorial opinion: The Ron People as a whole, in my book are good Republican people! They have shown to be conservative and overall Republican! Several of the people on the St Louis County GOP Central Committee have supported Ron Paul. Though I don’t agree with them, I do support their right to think their way! But now that the caucus meetings are over, it’s time to unit as one party and prevent the ultra-left wing and their appointment of more judges who will legislate from the bench from moving into the White House!

All of this would be a non-issue if Mr. Paul would just be honest about what he is - a Libertarian. Instead of trying to hijack the republican party - why not use all the talent, intelligence, time and effort to build that party? It is a shame that your efforts are used in a malicious way, instead of trying to make our democracy broader by offering up a viable 3rd party. There seems to be enough of you, and you seem to have the ambition and energy. Just Leave MY Republican party alone! What happened to you yesterday should give you somewhat of a feeling of what we St. Charles folks felt in March. Those of us who backed other candidates originally are not trying to take over and change the results of what the people of MO said they wanted in Feb. Unfortunately, by your efforts, you have caused ill feelings, and disgust on both sides of the fence. We were angry last month, and you were angry this month. But note this - we did not behave as loudmouthed children a month ago. We had one person walk out angry, but we didn’t scream and yell, and accuse you of not following your rules - oh yeah - you NEVER adopted rules. How silly of me? I am very pleased that you got a dose of your own medicine - even if it meant that I was ousted from my own party for a period.

response to those various and sundry who responded to my post:
I dont campaign normally after dark; need to read what’s going on; responding sometime my down time; and like to try to stay on good side of PD, when I can find it.
Also, I’m really not that confident or over-confident; I’m going to beat Akin, of course, but expect it to be close.

Honesty, in Post #16 is completely wrong. I have known the Akins for over 20 years. If you had come to our MHT Caucuses in 2000 and 2004 you would have seen Todd and Lulli on our slate as Delegates each time even when Todd was our State Rep, running for Congress in the 2nd District. I stay in contact with Todd’s Exec Dir (Black Ldr) at least once a week.
Your protest and appeal of the MHT Caucus was NOT a legitimate challenge and the head of your RPG (Ron Paul Goofball) Group was sent a letter from the 1USC Credentials Committee Chairman, CTOC, which read:

“The Credentials Committee of the Republican First Congressional District Convention has received and reviewed your appeal and protest of the Maryland Heights Township Republican Caucus on March 15, 2008.
The Rules Committee of the MHT Caucus was appointed Thursday, March 13, 2008 by Maryland Heights
Committeeman, The Acting Chairman of the Township Caucus per the MRP Call to Convention and MRP State Convention Rules. The Rules Committee, President MHTR and MHTR VP- Membership came up with the Township Caucus Rules which unanimously approved at the publicly-held Quarterly meeting of MHTR. The Agenda Template for Township Caucuses is only a guide, as the Agenda Template has already been changed for the upcoming Congressional District Conventions.
The rules clearly stated that only full slates for the 1USC and 2USC Districts be considered with names, addresses and zip codes. The same was required of the slates of Delegates and Alternates for the MRP State Convention May 31, 2008.
Only one Slate met the Rules Standards for the Delegates and Alternates to Congressional Conventions and one Slate to the State Convention. Both slates passed unanimously with 11 votes. Since there was only 1 slate, only 1 vote was needed to approve.
Townships and Wards are the lowest form of Political Organization which consist of Precincts. Per the Call to Convention and the exemption rule for St. Louis County which was approved at the State Committee Meeting in February 2008, you can not separate the Townships into separate voting for different USC Districts.
The only vote which the Chairman may not participate in is his own election which was unanimous.”
The 2 USC Credentials Committee also found your protest of the MHT Caucus to be without merit on all points and was also rejected and our 9 delegates were seated.
Roberts Rules of Order come in to play only when no other rules are established.
The Call to Convention, MRP Rules, MRP State Convention Rules, RNC Rules and even Township Caucus Rules take precedent over Roberts Rules of Order.
As Nick Kasoff mentioned in Post #2, the 1 USC went a little smoother. As Chair of the 1 USC,
I did not challenge any of the Ron Paul Delegates and even appointed Ruth Carlson to the Platform Committee to make sure all of their 14 amendments to the MRP Platform will be heard at the State Platform Committee. Besides a little dust-up on the rules which failed 46-38-1 to remove the duplicate names on slates rule and being elected Chairman 59-26, things ran rather smoothly. All candidates were allowed to speak and the McCain Grassroots Slate was approved with over 60 votes.
As CTOC, Bob, Nick and bspencervb have stated, the MO Primary was 2/5/08 and John McCain won all 58 Delegates and 55 Alternates. Ron Paul received only 4-5% with a Libertarian platform. Ron Paul has only 14 National Delegates to John McCain who is well over the1,191 Delegates needed.

Blue Leader - Unfortunately, there are some who get involved in politics who can never accept an outcome as legitimate unless it complies entirely with their own preferences. This is the difference between people like Mr. Billingsley - who pressed firmly in his effort, but was not disruptive or unsportsmanlike when his effort failed - and some from the Ron Paul group, who felt the need to protest everything but the pledge of allegiance. Their ignorance was apparent to me, a long-time veteran of caucuses and conventions, and to my wife, who was attending her first.

As President Lincoln said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Ref # 26: an accurate observation!

Now on to November and victory at the polls!

re (24) “Also, I’m really not that confident or over-confident; I’m going to beat Akin, of course, ”

No offense Bill, but you wanna bet?

There are MANY things over the years that I have agreed with you on. More in fact than you can imagine. I’m not saying Akin is going to win, but I am betting you WON”T make it past the primary. Take this as no reflection on your record or positions. I just have very little faith in those who would take a Democrat ballot in the August primary. The party has moved way to far to the left and you are a maverick. I’m afraid the odds are against you. but I DO want you to campaign hard because you have a more realistic platform. It will be a big job to take the Democratic party back to a more moderate position that respects freedom of ALL citizens instead of dreaming up new programs that we can’t afford while they make plans to retrict those freedoms.

Thanks Nick and CTOC for your accurate and positive comments. Kudos to Rich the 2 USC Chairman and his Team for holding the line and electing a Pro-McCain slate of Delegates and Alternates and Elector. Each USC District Convention had a Battleplan and each worked very well. Even the 5th USC which was over run with RPG’s, managed to elect 2 McCain Alternate Delegates to the RNC and most importantly, the Presidential Elector is McCain which will prevent games in December when the Electors cast their vote in the Electoral College for
President-elect John McCain!
For the first time since 1988 or earlier, the 1 USC will have a Republican Presidential Elector who is African-American. Willis joined CCTRO in 1946 and is the current President!
The word must be getting out Nick, don’t mess with Blue Leader, CTOC, Purple Leader, Coeur Leader and others!

I’m a registered Republican, and I’ll be voting for Ron Paul in tomorrow’s PA Republican Primary. I’m also a Korean War (you know that forgotten, but bloody, U.N. “Police Action”?). Come on you old Republicans from Missouri… get out from under the neocon war against our nation. Enough already! Its NOT patriotic to support our troops IF they are fighting for another nation — and our brave kids are.