We the people rise up.

[Dmitri Veans]

Anti-establishment Republicans are up in arms over talk of a brokered Republican Party convention. 

Ben Carson warned a brokered convention would “destroy” the GOP, while supporters of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz expressed dismay that party leaders would take part in meetings considering the possibility. 

“This is clearly their contingency to stop Trump and Cruz at all costs,” Iowa radio host Steve Deace, who is supporting Cruz for president, told The Hill. “These people would rather lose elections than lose control of the party. And they'd rather have Hillary [Clinton] in the White House than someone the GOP base actually wants.”

The Washington Post reported Thursday that party leaders — including supporters of GOP presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio — met privately to discuss the possibility of a brokered convention, ostensibly to derail the hopes of any candidate deemed unelectable by party elites. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus attended the meeting at a Washington restaurant, though they did not speak at it, according to the Post. 

The meeting follows months in which Trump has dominated the race. Carson and Cruz, two other candidates that some Republicans believe would be weak in a general election, are also near the top of polls, though Carson has been fading.

Trump’s rise in particular has unnerved the GOP establishment, which worries his candidacy could sink Republican hopes of maintaining Senate control. Trump courted controversy this week by calling for a temporary ban on Muslims traveling to the United States, a position rejected by every other GOP candidate but that polls show has support from the Republican electorate.

Supporters for insurgent candidates view the private discussions as desperation from terrified establishment figures, and they believe it will only serve to harden their supporters. Carson’s campaign was already fundraising off the report by mid-afternoon on Friday.

“Dumb. Big mistake. They just poured gasoline all over the fire,” said Jeffrey Lord, a former Ronald Reagan administration official who supports Trump for president. 

“I get that you need to have contingency plans in place, but this looks like they’re trying to rig the game, and it just feeds the narrative that the establishment is completely out of touch with the base.”

Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski had a short message for the RNC:

“Play the game out in front of us,” he told The Hill, adding that he’s not worried about a brokered convention because “every piece of data shows that [Donald Trump] is the clear front-runner.”

The speculation that party leaders are privately discussing what to do if an outsider is on course to land the nomination provided fresh evidence of a disconnect between base conservatives and establishment Republicans.

“The Republican establishment is playing with fire if they take any action that is perceived to harm the winners of caucus and primary states,” said Adam Brandon, CEO of the conservative activist group FreedomWorks.

“If that’s what they are planning or doing, they may inadvertently set the stage for independent presidential campaigns and further damage an already fractured relationship with many conservatives and Republican voters, which is why insurgent candidates are thriving in the first place.”

Supporters for Bush and Rubio attended the meeting, according to the Post, and officials from those campaigns did not respond to requests for comment. 

The RNC pushed back strongly Friday against the characterization that some within the party are plotting a takeover at the convention.

RNC spokesman Sean Spicer said the discussion about the potential for a brokered convention was merely “cocktail conversation” over the nuts and bolts of the race.

“There was a dinner where the subject was how the delegate process works,” Spicer said Friday on CNN.

“We walked through the delegate selection process, what states were going on what date, how each state handled the delegate process, and at the end we took a series of questions,” he said. “It’s really nothing more than that.”

Spicer argued that it wasn’t suspicious that supporters of Bush and Rubio were on hand, noting that Priebus’s days are full of meetings with representatives from all the campaigns, as well as conservative pundits, consultants and advisers from all corners of the party.

Still, some say the appearance of the meeting is bad for the national party, which is once again seeking to stamp out a fire that has sprung up over its handling of the primary process. 

Fair or not, the alleged discussion about a brokered convention will confirm the suspicions many in the base have harbored for a long time and have helped to fuel the rise of Trump, Carson and Cruz.

“It’s completely counterproductive if it looks like Republican power-brokers are trying to orchestrate this,” said former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), who is supporting Bush for president.

Gregg, a columnist for The Hill, said the party may be headed to a contested convention not to ambush an outsider, but because it will be difficult for one candidate in the huge field of contenders to lock down a majority of delegates.

The party needs to have the infrastructure and processes in place to handle that scenario, but it’s unhelpful to plan for it in a way that could be perceived as putting a thumb on the scale, Gregg argued.

“It’s something Priebus has to plan for, but he needs to be careful who he’s discussing it with,” Gregg said. “The days of party-boss politics are over and have been over for a long time. People will have a negative reaction to anything that has a whiff of that kind of backroom dealing.”

Supporters for establishment Republicans running for president mostly rolled their eyes at the controversy, saying it was an example of outsider candidates looking to stoke outrage over the byzantine rules governing the GOP nominating process.

“This is getting totally blown out of proportion,” said Katie Packer Gage, a veteran of Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign whose consulting firm is assisting Rubio’s efforts in Michigan.

“The idea that the Illuminati within the party is coming down from on high to decide who will be the nominee is ludicrous,” she continued. “Ben Carson needs to call someone versed in parliamentary procedures to explain to him how this all works.”

While some Republicans say the huge field makes it more likely that the party could face its first contested convention since 1976, there is still broad skepticism from many quarters that that’s where things are headed. Many believe the eventual nominee will emerge once the primaries turn to winner-take-all contests on March 15.

“This is just a story that turns up at points in the cycle when there’s no definition to the race,” said former New Hampshire Attorney General Tom Rath, who is supporting John Kasich for president. “This idea that there will be a stampede on the floor is very romantic, but I don’t see it happening.”

A spokesperson for Chris Christie’s campaign declined to weigh in, other than to say that the New Jersey governor is only focused on winning the nomination outright. That was the general message coming from campaign operatives in private conversations with several other campaigns.

“Here’s the bottom line,” Spicer said. “Republican voters will choose the delegates that go to the convention in Cleveland next July. Those people will decide the nominee.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/262995-backlash-grows-against-...

[Rhodes]

See I define intellectual as a person to whom the cultivation of reason, logic, and awareness is paramount. Learning is of course required, thought is required, and of course intellect is required.

We are made in the Creators image and there is no greater intellect.

[Hankelvis]

"They" create stereotypes and categorize everyone into their stereotypes using the media. it has been going on for a long time. Hitler had to create an enemy-of-the-state where there was none. Now everyone that is conservative, Christian, drives a truck, etc, is a bigot that does not matter. Their hate is so deep and disgusting yet we pay a cable bill every month that supports their anti-American, anti-God rhetoric. We pay for movies from Hollywood that contain less than subtle anti-conservative messages. We allow our local politics to be dominated by organized crime. 

Someone once said..

"Im not getting behind anyone just sitting in the peanut gallery booing all the same old lies we have been fed from day 1."

[Virginia Foulk]

Now then, having never been a party member for either party (until the Reform Party-United We Stand, America)- I voted for the candidate I believed would do what was needed at the time. (Got dismayed several times, of course.) Anyway, there are some times when voting for a party candidate when it is very clear by not doing so, the opposition will succeed in putting in their candidate is necessary. I have gone against my beliefs a few times, and have also gone with my instincts - Ross Perot is one Example, and JFK was another. So where are we now - we all want to protect our Constitution from both parties so where do we go from here.  Third party for Tea. Not yet. Even the Tea Party isn't consolidated and even within this forum we have disputes.  To really make a difference, we need to start thinking about the issues and what can be done. Trying to fix everything at once only makes us frustrated and we start to lose any incentive to continue. 

Don't know how many of the members remember that the Republican party originated in Ripon, Wi. Started by farmers and others. (I know, there is some disagreement, but Ripon does have the building where they believe the GOP started.) Why I'm mentioning this, is the families, farm communities, individuals were so tired of the parties already in control that they got on their tractors, their trucks, bikes, and whatever mobility access they had and started building a new party. Is this getting close to the time for taking back our government and removing a party that no longer listens to their constituents? 

What I have heard over the years, is that sometimes, delegates do  not always follow the people's votes. And so they do make deals at the convention. Nice,

Anyway, I have a feeling others might be tempted to refer to me as a RINO, because I don't always agree with some posts or actions. However, since I'm not a GOP party member, that wouldn't be applicable and doesn;t really mean much, anyway.  

[Dmitri Veans]

When it comes to party affiliation you might be surprised to learn I was a registered democrat most of my life, I was brought up being told democrats where the good people. As I grew in my carrier my jobs seem to keep me pitted against government regulation. In my early years I tended to agree with most of it and so I keep voting for democrats but at some point I started viewing new regs as being written by someone who had no idea what they were doing to the industry.

 

I was working for a company called Apeco that made office machines and rode it all the way into bankruptcy. It was at this point I realized government and the constant growth of regulation was hitting the heart of American manufacturing. Xerox and IBM both moved manufacturing to Japan and or China to compete Apeco's stupidity was based on there desire to keep all products American made. In there last few years they did grab two units made in Japan but by then it was to late.

 

It was when they failed and I saw the entire industry leave the boarders of the USA that I realized Washington was going overboard with new regulation and it was killing America. Us manufacturing had to send water back into the environment cleaner then nature delivers it. That alone is not what killed manufacturing but it hurt very badly and with all the other micro management coming out of Washington it was clear we had very big problems and they where just getting worse.

 

Back then we still made TV's and electronics in the US today almost all the plants have closed and moved offshore or in some cases just over our southern boarder into Mexico. With manufacturing dyeing in all except the areas where it does not pay to move over seas, I looked at Washington and noticed democrats had been in control of the house for 25 years, they controlled the senate for the last 8 and President Carter was in the white house and said in a speech that Americas best days were behind it.

 

That to me was a wake up call that democrats just wanted people on welfare and seemed to be doing everything in their power to send our good jobs overseas. Then along came Reagan with a message of hope and a brighter future, he had my vote from day one. After he was elected it seemed like America was on the move again even as he gave democrats in control some of what they wanted in order to pass things he wanted life was better people stopped feeling bad about being an American and started feeling proud.

 

It was at this point I switched parties and since that time knew there was a divided party. The republican party was as it is today broken into two with the establishment wanting to manage what the democrats had created and conservatives trying to reduce the size and power of government.

 

What complicated the war in the republican party was the radical move left in the democrat party. Back in the day we used to have what where known as bluedogs in the democrat party, today they would be called moderates as they positioned them self's just left of center. However they where all removed from office so the moderate left was forced to run as republicans in order to get elected.

 

It is these democrats we call Rino's that have hurt the party so badly, Rino's are not center right they are center left but to moderate to be elected as democrats in this day and age. It is this change in both parties that has me registered as a republican and not an independent. Independents have grown because the media wants us all to be democrats but tries to paint republicans as evil so we should move to the middle and vote for the best candidate, then they tell those unhappy democrats that switched to the middle that this year the democrats are the best choice.

 

Its all just part of the big lie and as you have seen based on my posts here I'm sick and tired of it. I have moved to the right and only support republican candidates. In the primary I vote against the Rino's and in favor of the conservative. When it comes to the general I vote for all republican candidates even Rino's because a Rino will move us to socialism slower then a democrat will.

 

If you have made it this far I thank you but before I sign off let me bring one important fact to your attention. In a recent trip to Washington DC I was looking out he window for near the whole flight. What I noticed was striking, as we flew over conservative states the sky was clear and the clouds seemed whiter then white. As we moved into the blue states of the north it was so strange to see those clouds turn gray the air was no longer clear and it was easy to see.

 

Democrats will always point out how they are the green party and republicans are the party of pollution and poison water. That as I can tell you not just by my flight but by the US pollution map if viewed shows red states with clean air and blue states with red warnings on air quality. Also the rivers in red states for the most part are clean and full of life but there is not a bay or river I've seen in the blue states that I would eat anything out of.

 

The truth comes down to republicans enforcing environmental laws where democrats for the right donation will give business a pass. Democrats want strict environmental laws because its good for the Champaign coffers and other bribes taken other ways. Because the media hates the right and covers for the left they fry republicans and take a blind eye to democrats. If there is no other reason to vote republican it this. The media hates republicans and will watch them like a hawk for anything even close to stepping out of line. Democrats the media will just tell you they have do so much good we should ignore it. Which sounds best to you?

[kevin kiernan]

I heard Charles Krauthammer said it best.When your young and you are not democrate then you have not developed a heart But if your 40 and are still a democrate then you haven`t developed a brain....Smart man.

[DE]

I am buying what you are selling DV..I have been told how smart I am all my life...that said since I became a tea party activist..I have definitely learned one thing...All conservative men are smarter than I am n and even have better instincts... I loved what you wrote here..you have a way with words and  are plain spoken and down to earth..I had recognized that you were probably a dem ..back in the day...that said..many ..especially in the South were..I was raised in a republican family..I appreciated  reading of your journey..I lack a lot of that knowledge but I know truth when I read it.....I also concur  with the way we Conservatives vote in the primaries and in the general..I do the same...The modern day dem party sold their soul to the devil many years back and they are EVIL....folks who vote for them are not all evil ...many are just stupid....We have some tough days ahead and I hope you will continue the good fight here...We need good intelligent common sense Conservative men here to keep us all pointed in the right direction...You and Mac are my compass..

[kevin kiernan]

The Progressive movement has advanced to where some of the population notice it...Not enough know what we say when the hear progressive movement . They also figure since progress is considered a good thing that we are complaining over nothing .  Maybe we need to start calling the progressive party by it`s old name, the communist party.Any rate, this election is so important to get right, ,,We can not blow it.

[Hankelvis]

Progressivism is BS. They support socialism or communism because that is how you hide after you steal all the peoples money and cannot explain why you are the only one left with money and power. Mafia, same thing happened in Rome, Russia, now here. Criminals have taken your country in an organized way all while they redirect your thoughts and steal you blind.

[kevin kiernan]

The progressive`s are the communist`s. They change their brand name a few decades ago.It`s the same brand hiding behind a different name.

[BLADES]

to my knowledge the progs have never went under the communist label ...I think it went like this ...

early 1900's they were progs then that went bad in the 30's and then they went to liberals til about the 80's then they slowly went back to progs in the 90's with people like newt gingrich and hilary being some of the first to say it in the open....

although they do promote a socialist ideology they never called themselves communist..and if it wasn't for their world view of domination they are actually closer to the nazi's in their tactics

[kevin kiernan]

JUST WATCH THE FIRST 10 MINUTES...YOU WILL SEE WHAT I AM GETTING AT

[Dmitri Veans]

We continue to see good news for conservatives, in the Indiana senate race the establishment candidate has been running for the senate for 6 months but during that time a conservatives name kept everyone on edge. His name Todd Young and yesterday he announced he will run. While he was making up his mind he raised a million dollars against the Rino's total of 200K. We all know by the Trump movement this will be the year of the outsider and state by state district by district we continue to see Rino's scared for their life.  The revolution is upon us.