Why are delegates so important if we don't win nomination?
Submitted by abwrp2012 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 01:46I realize if no one gets the magic number we may have a brokered convention at the national level. I don't really know if that would be in our favor or not. In any case, what I don't get is why we are so keen on getting tons of delegates? What power does that really give us? Do people really put a ton of weight on the values of the keynote speaker like they say "Ron Paul" would have to be given? Or do we get to shape the future ways of the GOP with the delegates?" Or is it something else?
Ron Paul is winning
Right and left I am getting converts.
Its the message, not necessarily the messenger (although some of use like the messenger too), that resonates like a tuning fork.
We just have to stay the course.
~Chris
Norfolk, VA
Value of delegates without a brokered convention?
I guess the part I'm missing is "What if our whole strategy doesn't work" meaning we don't get the minimum needed for guaranteed nomination and during a brokered convention we don't get enough then either. What value do the delegates have then? More long term strategy is what I mean instead of getting the nomination? Do they give us leverage on policies or something? Do we think that if Romney or someone else promises to do XYZ that Ron Paul would trust him and ask us to vote for that candidate instead?
Here is the answer to the topic question...
http://www.dailypaul.com/211693/explanation-of-how-ron-paul-...
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ;
Dave
"where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. 3:17
http://www.lionandlambministry.com
MSM smoke screen?
You guys all gave great info. I appreciate it. It appears then that MSM is creating a smokescreen once again. All the newsanchors keep saying is he wants the delegates to get a prime time speaking position as if that gives us so much power. Do delegates have any other power besides voting on the nominee? The reports seem to indicate Paul would put his support behind Newt or Romney (meaning his delegates) if they gave him something in return (VP role, prime speaking spot, etc). Are the anchors trying to do something sneaky or are they just blind to our real goal? Or are they speaking on past situations where candidates like romney would be given something to throw his support towards McCain for example.
Past situations...
When there are candidates that are similar, one can throw his support behind another to give them a lead over the rest. And this is usually done in exchange for a political favor, as has been mentioned : prime time speech, vp role, etc.
Which if we end up brokered, I expect that to happen... But it will NOT work out well for us. Because Newt and Santorum will throw support behind Romney, Newt as VP, and Santorum for who knows what...
All it takes is 2 of the four to combine and win, but in our case we will have all three against us.
The only hope in a brokered convention is to have stealth RP delegates, which as I said, is unlikely at best...
What does this mean? It means that if we can't start taking first place, which we are unlikely to, we will lose the nomination.
I honestly see no way to win at this point... (Not trying to be a downer, just honest assessment).
The Philosophy Of Liberty -
http://www.jonathangullible.com/mmedia/PoL.English.The.Philo...
By the time of the convention, ANYTHING can happen.
Ron Paul is ALREADY winning "hearts and minds" on his foreign policy. Another TARP bailout will likely sink the last vestiges of support for the Fed. The GOP establishment has effectively tarnished itself with its treatment of both Ron Paul and Gingrich and a full-scale grassroots revolt could be underway. The ONLY thing keeping Romney afloat is his veneer of electability. Deny Romney victory on the first ballot and Ron Paul could very well be the party nominee.
well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s88r_q7oufE
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
Delegates are elected....
...if Romney gets 10 delegates from some State, that doesn't mean he just appoints whoever he wants. He gets the delegates that are elected. Now, those delegates are generally required to vote for Romney for at least the first ballot at the convention, regardless of their personal beliefs. But after the first ballot, many States' delegates are free to vote for whomever they please. There's no doubt that a very solid proportion of delegates are going to be Ron Paul supporters. They will be forced to vote for whoever they're pledged to for the first ballot. The idea is that, if no one wins the first ballot, those Paulites will switch and vote for Paul.
It's a perfectly good strategy, but it depends on no one winning the first ballot. We'll see if that happens. We have to make sure no one gets 1144 delegates before the convention.
So, when people say "only delegates matter!" that's only half true. If we won none of the popular vote but somehow elected 100% pro-Paul delegates, and if another candidate got 1144 delegates, we'd still lose. We need enough delegates pledged to ourselves to force a brokered convention, AND enough pro-Paul delegates pledged to other candidates to turn the tables when they're freed to vote for whomever they like.
To make a long story short: the whole delegate process is severely F-in deranged...LOL. If you want to go insane, try to figure out all the details and rules about the delegate process.
The problem is that...
The other camps have a vetting process for their delegates as well.
It's the reason I get annoyed at new people who don't want to participate in the campaign, but ask "how do I become a delegate for Ron Paul"... The real reason for those out of the blue requests is that they want to free up to vote someone else in a brokered convention.
I believe that the other camps have a similar vetting process that requires some level of consistent historical support. I almost volunteered for Romney for this very reason (I had assumed that Romney would take Florida).
However, I would not hold out any hope that we have hidden delegates in the other camps. Oh sure, there might be some... But Ron Paul people have a really hard time faking interest in other candidates and volunteering for them.
Watch this if you are curious about some of the stuff that gives us away... lol:
http://www.dailypaul.com/209286/sht-ron-paul-supporters-say
The Philosophy Of Liberty -
http://www.jonathangullible.com/mmedia/PoL.English.The.Philo...
BINGO!!!
It is the primary reason I am trying to get into my local county GOP so I can become a delegate for whomever the candidate will be.
Then we get past that first vote and loose my chains so I can vote for RP in the second round.
This is the only way to beat the chicken hawks out in my state of North Carolina. Hopefully by our primary, there will be no more Newt. Romney will most likely win due to those supporting military aid to Israel. And yes, they will be the church going crowd because at last check North Carolina had more churches than any other state.
"Criticizing Ron Paul for not passing bills in Congress is like criticizing a nun in a whore house for not turning tricks. He was there to stop the "whoring," not become one!" ~ Blake Buffington
Exactly, that is why, as much
Exactly, that is why, as much as I love to see how Ron Paul go 1 on 1 with Romney (although super Tuesday in Virginia will be interesting), I would like Santorum and Gingrich to stay in the race to take away as much votes from Romney as possible so that there will be no clear frontrunner. The goal is for Gingrich and Paul (I doubt Santorum will win another state again unless it is full of Evangelical Christians)to win enough states so that they have enough delegates to force a brokered convention.
"The true Patriot will repeal the Patriot Act..." - Ron Paul.
Because every delegate we get is one Romney doesn't get.
And if a brokered convention happens then anyone could come out of there with the nomination.
It really is all about delegates.
No one is going to be nominated without 1144 delegates.
"We have allowed our nation to be over-taxed, over-regulated, and overrun by bureaucrats. The founders would be ashamed of us for what we are putting up with."
-Ron Paul