EVERYONE LISTEN UP! ESP. YOU "3RD PARTY" KOOKS!

Everyone needs to TRULY understand how this whole process works. Here's a quick run-down:

1. Average Joe and Average Jane, having any type of history supporting the GOP (past convention presence, volunteered for a Republican campaign, member of College Republicans organization, voted Republican in past elections, etc.), calls up the local GOP office to apply to be a delegate.
2. Primaries/caucuses decide who the states' delegates will vote for in the first round of voting at the nat'l convention, and in some primaries the actual delegates themselves are also voted for (as is the case in Illinois and many others).
3. As candidates drop out of the race, states that have already had their primaries/caucuses are SUGGESTED a candidate to support, typically by giving that candidate their endorsement. Not 100% on this one, but I'm pretty sure each state has different rules on who to vote for in round 1 when your candidate drops out.
4. If there are multiple candidates left after all 50 states, territories, protectorates, etc (Don't forget about Guam! Bet you didn't know they send 6 delegates!), they go on to the convention.

Here's the rule for non-states in case you were curious:
"Six (6) delegates at large from American Samoa, sixteen (16) delegates at large from the District of Columbia, six (6) delegates at large from Guam, six (6) delegates at large from the Northern Mariana Islands, twenty (20) delegates at large from Puerto Rico, and six (6) delegates at large from the Virgin Islands; provided, however, that if Puerto Rico shall become a state prior to the next national convention, the number of delegates from Puerto Rico shall be calculated in accordance with the same formula used for the other states."

Now that I think about it...anyone want to start actively looking into these territories for support???

5. Round 1 of voting begins. They take a PUBLIC vote of the delegates to find out if they have a majority.
6. If no one has at least 50% of the room, they move on to debating each candidate. I'm not sure what goes on in this phase, but I think the candidates are each asked to make a speech on why they should be the candidate of choice, and I'm pretty sure they have all the time they need to speak as well! Again, not sure. Correct me if I'm wrong.
7. They then have a round of debates until at least 6 states motion to take a vote. Then round 2 of voting begins in order to try for majority support for one candidate BUT now almost all the delegates are free to choose who they want to vote for from now on!
8. Repeat in this fashion for rounds 3 to infinity.

Actual GOP nat'l convention rules can be found here:

http://www.gop.com/About/AboutRead.aspx?Guid=a4cc4fcb-6043-4...

In Ron's case, the most important step by far is #1. Average Joe. Average Jane. These are real people, real Republicans, with families and jobs and homes, not phony baloney politicians or lobbyists or what-have-you. They are one of us! They may fully intend to vote for McCain or Huckleberry...that is until they hear Ron Paul present his platform! Just imagine how utterly awe-inspiring his speech will be when he addresses that convention! He is undoubtedly preparing the most powerful speech since the days of MLK. It's going to have to be a doozy to sway over half the room, but given the projected economic situation 9 months from now and the fact that RP has been discussing inflation since day 0, something tells me this task won't be so difficult!

This is why you should not be discouraged, but instead exactly the opposite! EVERYONE SHOULD BE EXCITED! WE ARE GOING TO THE CONVENTION, AND WHEN WE GET THERE, THE GOOD DOCTOR IS GOING TO LAY DOWN THE BIGGEST VERBAL ASS-POUNDING OF HIS CAREER! (in the nicest way possible i'm sure.)

So...what's next? What do we as his supporters do from here? The only thing we can do. SPREAD THE WORD! EDUCATE THE PUBLIC! GET MORE DONORS! GET CREATIVE! RON PAUL IS HERE TO STAY AND THIS MOVEMENT IS JUST GETTING OFF THE GROUND! MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT!!!

P.S. - BUMP IT UP! EVERYONE MUST KNOW THIS INFO!