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05.23.2008 3:33 pm

State GOP final count: 287 delegates challenged, including Akin

When Missouri’s Republican Party gathers for its state convention next weekend, the first order of business will be deciding who gets to participate and who doesn’t.

The latest tally shows that the convention has 1,689 delegates, plus 287 who are being challenged. An additional 89 alternates are being challenged, while 1,137 alternates are unchallenged.

Although many of the challenged delegates are Ron Paul supporters, others  in that category include U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country, said state party spokeswoman Tina Hervey.

Akin’s challenge presumably stems from the questionable status of the caucus in which he participated, because of procedural violations. That matter had come up on the congressional district level in April.

Others caught in the same bind included former state Sen. Franc Flotron of Chesterfield.

In any case, Hervey said the 1,689 unchallenged delegates will vote on the state party credential committee’s report,  which will recommend which of the 287 challenged souls should be OKed and which ones should be tossed off. Ditto for the alternates.

Our prediction: Akin and Flotron will be seated.

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5 comments

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Just another proud moment in Republican Party history. Wasn’t McCarthy a Republican too.

— John Campbell
5:37 pm May 23rd, 2008

I wonder on what basis your prediction is made? Is it based on ‘likelihood’, or on the basis that the challenges are without merit?
In truth, the ‘caucus’ for MHT was held not on the published date, but at a called meeting on the Thursday before. All business was conducted there, and the Saturday meeting was, as we were told “Just a formality”. The only aspect of business that strayed from the preordained, was the election of the Secretary. The ‘official’ Secretary was out ill. Before the meeting, the wife of the Parliamentarian was asked by the Chair, if she would be the Secretary. She balked at the task, until she was told that all she would have to do was sign the Agenda. The minutes of the meeting were already submittable! But what happened was that this woman did not get the majority of votes, and so a ‘questionable Republican’ was elected Secretary. On this information alone, it is clear that a varied voice was active at the MHT caucus. It is sad, that the Chair submitted their own minutes, and not the three pages compiled by the elected Secretary.
This was not due process. This was “don’t get in the way’ process. It is not what we want our Party to be seen as…again.
And yes, I was at the MHT caucus.

— CHUCKtheFED
6:21 pm May 23rd, 2008

The reasons the slate containing Todd Akin and Franc Flotron was challenged are:
1. The caucus was never allowed to esablish the rules as required (Republican Party per Robert’s Rules of Order), but were forced to accept rules given by the chairman. Some of these rules were written, but others were just given orally until it was clear only the slate submitted by the chairman would be accepted for voting.
2. The slate did not receive majority support. A motion to reject this slate was not allowed by the chair.
3. The slate contained delegates from both District 1 and District 2, but District 1 voters confirmed the slate.
NOTE 1: I have a signed statement from Tom Wilsdon that the “rules (for the caucus) had already been approved and could not be changed at the caucus.”
NOTE 2: I’d advise you to check the minutes. Make sure you get the minutes written by the elected secretary, Elizabeth Bushong. The chairman, Tom Wilsdon told Elizabeth he sent in his own minutes. We believe his minutes may have been written on the caucus agenda sheet she signed on the adjournment line.
NOTE 3: The challenge for the first congressional district had to be sent to Tom Wilsdon. The challenge for the second congressional district, which included Todd Akin and Franc Flotron were sent to Richard Magee. We have not heard back from the second congressional district.

— Steve Hausladen
7:04 pm May 23rd, 2008

Typical Republicans, they couldn’t get their unconstitutional voter ID bill on the ballot so now they need other ways to suppress the vote, this is just ba warm-up for November. Voters, beware of Republicans bearing grudges!

— Tim Hogan
2:26 pm May 26th, 2008

And typical Timbo … still an idiot!

— Jim (the republican)
5:38 pm May 26th, 2008