Report from Portland Caucus
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Went to the Portland GOP caucus. First and foremost, the turnout was much higher than expected. It wasn't until after 10:30 that everyone was registered, and the election of caucus chair, secretary etc took place. Tom Elleman was elected caucus chair. I felt he did an outstanding job.
Then the speeches for the candidates took place. Milt Romney was there, and spoke on his own behave. Sounded like Ron Paul wrote his speech for him. Then the spokesman for Ron Paul was next. Thought he did a great job. The man was in his 70's, maybe 80's, military vet, and I thought made some excellent points.
Next was the spokesman for Rick Santourim. The man wasn't even from Maine. He was a elected county attorney, who frankly was pretty boring.
A motion was made after to have the straw poll taken, and after some discussion, was agreed. After the ballots was taken, it was then announced that anyone who wanted to be a delegate to approach, and give his or her name. Let me backtrack here. When you first registered, you were given a yellow card to vote in the preference poll, and a green card to vote for delegates. Keep this in mind.
After those who wanted to be a delegate was choosen, next came the actually voting. The Ron Paul people had passed out a list of those who were supporters who wanted to be delegates. After all of the ballots were collected, Mr. Elleman announced that there was a problem. There were 19 more ballots turned in then green cards received. So the vote was voided. I have no idea what happens next. Something was mentioned that ballots would be sent in the mail, and then turned in, and people would be notified who was a delegate. There is no plan on how the chair of the delegation would be choosen. So there you have it. A mess, and I have no idea what how it will be resolved.
hatchcar, sorry but I can't follow your description of what happened.
When you say there were 19 more ballots than green cards received, what ballots? The yellow cards? So what? Why would that matter?
And what's significance of the delegation chair? I've been to convention a few times.
I can't see how it matters in the slightest who is the delegation chair.
Yet now I've heard of this being an issue at three different caucus locations just in Cumb. County.
Sorry for the confusion. Forgive me. @Editor, no the preference poll wasn't called off. That went off well, and the results will be announced tonight. @Mainemom, when you registered at the registeration desk, you were given 2 cards. A yellow card to vote in the preference poll. When you received a ballot to vote in the preference poll, you then gave back the yellow card.
When you received the ballot to vote for delegates to go to the State Convention in May, you then gave back the green card that was given to you.
The problem was that there were 19 more ballots that were turned in, verses the number of green cards that were turned in. Hope I was able to clarrify!!
I also agree about the delegation chair as well. I don't see the hoopla about it, but then again, I'm sorta of new to this.
It was also asked why not just use the ballots that were turned in, and use them to determine who the delegates would be. However, the chair announced that it didn't matter if they were off by 1 or 1,000, the rules state if the number don't agree, then the vote is voided. Maybe the Editor can verify this.
So the green card was supposed to vouch for a delegate ballot properly obtained and submitted?
And if the number of ballots didn't match the number of green cards, something was fishy?
As Don Imus would say, "You can't make stuff like this up."
In the event that a delegation has a no show at the convention, the delegation chair picks which alternate will fill that slot. If the delegation chair is a Romney guy he will pick a Romney alternate.
What if there are not enough delegates from your town after the caucus? The delegation chair can ask around and simply name people to fill the slots before the caucus report is sent in.
Not in my town. Our town chair has the authority to appoint delegates to unfilled slots, at least before the actual convention.
At the state convention if there are any questions or credentials issues, the state committee will deal directly with the Delegation Chair, not the Town Chair. That's why it is important. And, by the rules, although the Town Chair can be the Delegation Chair, they can be two different people.
Pish posh.
Insignificant.
Insignificant if you think it makes no difference whether a Romney person or a Ron Paul supporter gets to go to the state convention. That's where the rubber hits the road, because that's where we vote on who goes to the national convention. Ron Paul supporters will vote for Ron Paul people to go to the national convention, while Romney supporters will send fellow Kool-Aid drinkers. Pretty non-insignificant I'd say.
Ron Paul supporters will vote for Ron Paul people to go to the national convention, while Romney supporters will send fellow Kool-Aid drinkers. Pretty non-insignificant I'd say.
The irony of this statement is amazing.
You're probably right, Reganite. Maybe we should go with Romney, because it's his turn just like it was John McCain's turn just like it was Bob Dole's turn. Let's stick with the same old same old establishment Big Government republicans. It's worked so well for us.
Ya, actually following that old Constitution is a pretty dumb idea after all.
Oh, there's no doubt that I'm right, Cantdog - but not for the reasons you might imagine. Kool-Aid is Kool-Aid. Only the flavor varies.
And for the record, I am not a Romney supporter. I'd be a Ron Paul supporter, if I thought there were a snowball's chance in hell that he could win on the national stage. So, I'm a man without a candidate, wishing very much that Bobby Jindal was ready to run this year instead of four years from now.
"And for the record, I am not a Romney supporter. I'd be a Ron Paul supporter, if I thought there were a snowball's chance in hell that he could win on the national stage. So, I'm a man without a candidate, wishing very much that Bobby Jindal was ready to run this year instead of four years from now."
"The irony of this statement is amazing."
Wish in one hand and _____ in the other.
Wish in one hand and _____ in the other.
Ballot for anyone other than Obama in the other. And that is the real goal of this election. Remember it when Paul finally concedes.
If there was a problems they should have revoted. To leave the causas without a list of delegates or some sort of plan is crazy. This just goes with the Washington Countygate, the bad GOP results and now fraud in Portland. That is what it would be right? People voting either twice or officials playing with the system? The whole thing is a mess.
We should have a primary.
It would be easier and more of what the people want.
I agree, Dan.
charlie
I would participate in a primary, but not a gaggle. It's so much better to just go to the town hall or someplace and drop a vote, then go on with life.
Reaganite, people are broke, unemployed and angry. Romney is rich and has swiss bank accounts. Do you actually think he can beat Obama?
Yes. Because so many people like me will never, ever vote for Obama. No way, no how.
Primary?
When?
June? Too late to matter.
Before then? Too costly.
I thought we were fiscal conservatives.
Bob S: Unfortunately, he's who we have...sad though that may be. Given my druthers, we'd have a candidate who is the right blend of conservative and libertarian who had a real grasp of foreign policy and who didn't come across as a whackadoodle. But we do not have that choice.
Let me see, 4 years of Obama and 8 of Rand Paul vs. 8 of Romney and 4 some other Dem. Gives me pause for thought.
Larry, you miss one scenario: four years of Romney and dissatisfied Republicans send him packing in 2016 if he proves to be nothing more than Obama Lite. I, for one, would have no problem dumping an incumbent Republican whose sole purpose was to get rid of Obama. After Inauguration Day, he is on his own and no party loyalty will keep me as his supporter if he governs like he did in Massachusetts.
So what you're saying is that if he fools me by doing what he did the last time he was elected I'll REALLY be mad.
Rand Paul 2016!
Now that's optimism, all we have to do is wait for another 4 years and everything will be smelling like roses for fiscal responsibility.
America's debt is over 100% of GDP right now, so after either Obama or Romney get's done with us in 4 years, what % will it be? 200 %, 250%, but they have plans to cut the deficit in the year 2020, after they build the moon base.
I wonder what the price of fuel and food will be in 4 years 30% of our income? Wonder what the unemployment rate will be 30%?
The time of waiting 4 years for a turn of events is over, how many QE's can we endure by the FED in 4 years, the only reason that interest on the debt is kept low is the FED is buying it, what happens when they stop, what happens when they don't stop, (the Bernanke conundrum), what will the dollar be worth, maybe WW3 will just be lovely
Okay Mike G, let's say we elect Ron Paul president in 2012.
What will he be able to do that he hasn't been able to do through legislation he has sponsored in Congress?
Can he eliminate departments without an act of Congress?
Can he audit the Fed or put us on the gold standard without an act of Congress?
I'm not being snarky, I truly want to know if you think these things will happen.
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Hi hatchcar -
Thank you for your report. It's good seeing you again. Point of clarification: Are you saying the Portland caucus preference poll was canceled?
Thank you.
skf