About That RNC Powergrab…

(Based on my Hump Day Lunch Break Rant – Twitter hashtag #HDLBR)

As a precursor to today’s Hump Day Lunch Break Rant, you should read these items: On Power, A Three-Part Series,
& On “Infighting.”

Yesterday, there was much skullduggery afoot at RNC 2012. There’s even a Twitter hashtag for it: #RNCPowergrab. So, what’s the backstory?

As some of you know, there were rule changes proposed by the RNC rules committee. There was much indignation over one, specifically. This particular rule change would have allowed a GOP nominee to trump state & local party apparatus by essentially selecting his or her own delegates.

Thanks to wide coverage from conservative radio and the blogosphere, before the vote, that rule change was defeated. But the RNC sure tried to thwart dissent. For more on the moronic actions the RNC took, read this.

I’ve verified several of those accounts, personally.

Could the “transportation snafus” detailed in that story (and to me) have been mere coincidences? Perhaps…

But, consider this: …A bus. Full of delegates. In Tampa. For a convention specifically held on behalf of these delegates – with no GPS? Make sense?

Of course not! Folks, I have FOUR map and/or GPS apps built into and/or installed on my freaking phone! And I’m not even a national delegate.

Now, I can hear the peanut gallery saying, “But, if the rule change didn’t go through, what’s the big deal?” Well, that one change didn’t.

But others did. A long-standing tradition, in both parties, is that convention rules can only be changed at national conventions. …Until yesterday. Now, a super-majority vote of the RNC rules committee can change rules whenever it damned well wants to.

The impact to you? Well, quite simply, they can now propose and adopt the rule change that was pulled under protest yesterday anytime they want.

And you can bet they’ll do just that, as soon as feasibly possible. You know, when there are no tv cameras present, and behind closed doors, and all at the behest of Mitt Romney. Especially if he wins in November.

Oh? What was that from the peanut gallery? “But, Bradley! You giving it all this attention, and pinning it on Romney, will hurt us in November! And we have to beat Obama!”

Folks, wake the f*ck up! I’ve been harping on GOP powergrabs for YEARS. The intent is to silence you, grassroots, First Principles first, movement conservatives.

So, I’ll use the Todd Akin bashers’ argument against the naysayers: Me talking about it isn’t the problem. The fact that it happened is.

See how that works? “The GOP piling on Akin isn’t to blame for his poll numbers diving, it was just his comment”?

Fine. Turnabout, bitchez!

The point is this: local GOP leadership in at least 5 states (that I’m privy to, for a fact) are VERY upset over this rule change. They have proposed, and are carrying out, retaliatory actions. They are tired of being snubbed by the GOP establishment.

Yes, defeating Obama is our priority. The Republic has *barely* survived one term, and simply can’t endure another. True dat & preach it, sister!

BUT!

If the GOP thinks grassroots conservatives, who handed them 2010 on a silver platter, will come crawling back like a kicked puppy? They have another thunk coming. We are damned tired of knocking on doors, phone banking, and taking hours away from our families, only to be rewarded with scraps from the table of power, insults, and daggers in our backs.

Treat us like you don’t need us, GOP. Do it! And keep doing it. I want you to.

And then we’ll all see just how many fucking elections you can win when we don’t show up with our dollars, hours, and boots on the ground.

Last night, RNC keynote speaker, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, talked a lot about “compromise.” With Democrats.

I have a novel idea for you, GOP. How about trying compromise with those who put you there, first?

About Bradley S. Rees

Spent 15+ years in the fields of regulatory, tax, and education reform. Ran in GOP primary for VA-5 Congressional seat from Nov. '08 to October '09. Host of "The Brushfire Hour" (now only in podcast form at BlogTalkRadio) and "The Sons Of Liberty Show" sponsored by Conservative Broadcast Media on spreaker.com Primary author at http://sonofliberty2k10.wordpress.com

, , , , , , ,