Ron Paul Delegates Hope for a Voice

Mon. Jul 28, 2008
by Gregg Sangillo
From National Journal Convention Daily
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080728_5538.php

National Journal looks ahead at what to expect at the conventions.

When an expected 88 delegates for libertarian Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, descend on Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Republican convention, they won't be crashing the party. From their perspective, they have a simple goal: defending the U.S. Constitution.

Officially, Paul's presidential campaign has shut down. But it's still operating a group, called Campaign for Liberty, that is planning a rally during the convention at the University of Minnesota on September 2. Paul's delegates initially pushed to secure him a convention speaking slot and are frustrated that he'll probably be denied the right to address the crowd. So, they say, they'll try to make their voices heard in other ways.

"The main issue is constitutional government," says Thomas Kiene, a Paul delegate from Oklahoma. "There's hardly any part of the Constitution that the federal government hasn't trampled on.... Paul understands that and stands up for it."

Steve Rogers, a Paul delegate from Minnesota, adds: "I'm just trying to spread the message--conservatism, liberty, honesty. We're just trying to have an influence as a voice against the crowd."

Another Minnesota delegate for Paul, Kris Broberg, even harbors a glimmer of hope for a convention revolt against John McCain. But Broberg concedes, "I realize that is a lonely hope."

Some Paul delegates have grumbled that pro-McCain forces have used heavy-handed tactics to prevent them from attending the national convention. Broberg recalls that at the Minnesota state GOP convention, a Paul delegate was replaced late in the game on a technicality. "The party always told us, if we adjourn this convention, whatever the results are, that's the way it stands," Broberg said. "And then they went and had their contest committee turn around and remove him as a delegate."

Patrick Eisenhart, a Paul delegate from Maine, is planning to put concrete amendments before the platform committee. "I would like to have the Republican platform demand that Iraq begin using its cash surpluses to pay for its own security forces," Eisenhart says.

Paul's staunch opposition to the Iraq war is a component of his delegate support, but it's certainly not the defining issue. "I was completely against [the United States] going in the way they did. I agree with the way Paul voted on that," says Paul Clayton, a Paul delegate from Oklahoma who fought as a marine in Iraq. "But given the situation currently, I don't think we can just up and leave right now."

Instead, the Paul supporters share the broad goal of a smaller federal government. They say that the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., championed that principle, and they believe that McCain, Goldwater's successor in the Senate, has betrayed it.

The Paul delegates are a diverse group: Rogers from Minnesota is a firearms instructor who learned about Paul through membership in gun-rights organizations such as Gun Owners of America. Jeff Waksman, a Paul delegate from Wisconsin, is working on his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Wisconsin (Madison).

Paul delegates argue that they're not black-helicopter-chasing lunatics but rather normal, conservative Americans. "I think the media has gone a long way to try to discredit us as a bunch of '9/11 truthers' and conspiracy theorists, when that's not what most of us are," Waksman says.

Eisenhart concurs: "I'm 31 years in the military. I'm not some peacenik or some wacko."

Minnesotan's for Limited Government Picnic at Kaposia Park

I invite you all to enjoy a picnic with Minnesotan's for Limited Government at Kaposia Park in South Saint Paul on Wednesday July 30th.

We will be hearing from great speakers such as,

Sue Jeffers, Former Candidate for Minnesota Governor

Phil Krinke, President, the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.

Dr. Karen Effrem, Board of Directors, EdWatch

Bill Jungbauer, Candidate for 39A State Representative

Gilbert Higuera, Candidate for 66A State Representative

This will be good times with good people. Hope to see you there!

Here is a Bold Business Owner

From the Downsizer Dispatch

I just received an email with this information in regards to the federal Real ID Act. You can check out the source of the following information at a site called DownsizeDC.org http://www.downsizedc.org/

Our Governor, Tim Pawlenty, is a big proponent of the Real ID. He tells us that it will help keep illegal immigrants from taking jobs from law abiding citizens. He also has said that we would not be able to board airplanes without one. Or partake in commerce.

Among the possibilities of a national ID: biometric information such as retinal scans, fingerprints, DNA data and RFID tracking technology.

I spend many days in the Fall sitting in a tree deer hunting. I am a fan of spending my time reading the bible while I wait for some succulent venison-on the-hoof to enter the circle of death. One of my favorites is Revelation. In these pages it speaks of the mark of the devil. Anyone who does not have the mark will not be able to take part in commerce. No buying or selling. No job. Don't they sound eerily similar?

As a candidate for state representative, I feel it is my goal to fight such legislation. The great state of Minnesota must join in with the 21 states that have opposed this federal act so far. This is one of my goals when elected.

Quote of the Day:
"This Bill fundamentally adjusts the relationship between the citizen and the state. How could it be otherwise when it will put the state in possession of an unprecedented, consolidated file of information about every individual which it did not have before?"
-- Lord Holme of Cheltenham

Subject: 21st state rejects the REAL ID Act. The number of states that have rejected the REAL ID Act now stands at 21. The latest to do so is Louisiana. On July 8th Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law HB 715.

It's strong legislation. It directs the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections to NOT implement the REAL ID Act.

It's been a while since we've asked Congress to repeal the REAL ID Act.

We've been focused on other things. Now is the time to hit them again. Let Congress know that you won't forget about this issue. Tell them you're aware that Louisiana just became the 21st state to rebel against the REAL ID Act. Tell Congress it's long past time to bow to the will of the people, who do not want a centralized national identification system. You can send your message here.

We have many new members. If you don't know what the REAL ID Act is all about, we have introductory information on our Real ID campaign page where you can also send your message to Congress.

Rally For The Republic

August 31st thru September 2nd Ron Paul's alternative national convention will take place. You can check it out here,

http://rally.campaignforliberty.com/

Guests will include many great people such as,
Ron Paul
Tucker Carlson
Gary Johnson
Barry Goldwater Jr.
Bruce Fein
Grover Norquist
Doug Wead
Adam Curry
Aimee Allen
Marc Scibilia
Rick Ellis

Wish I could be there to join in the festivities. I will be doing my civic duty as national delegate at the Republican National Convention. I hope you all have a blast!

A Must See Video

Just viewed this video and thought I should pass it along.