5 states could lose half GOP delegates

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Republican Party leaders on Monday recommended punishing five states for shifting their nomination contests earlier, moving to strip New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Wyoming of half their delegates.

At least one state, South Carolina, is considering legal action in an effort to keep its delegates to next year's Republican National Convention.

Iowa, which plans to hold Republican caucuses on Jan. 3, would not be penalized because, technically, the caucuses are not binding on convention delegates. Nevada, which plans to hold its caucuses on Jan. 19, would not be penalized for the same reason.

"It's very important that our party uphold and enforce the rules that we unanimously voted into place at the Republican National Convention in 2004," said Mike Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071022/ap_on_el_pr/gop_primaries

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Again, settled law. The states have nothing to stand on

The parties are private organizations. The Supreme Court, in upholding Washington State's loss of the blanket primary, declared that parties have all of the rights and priviledges of private organizations. And since the nominees for President and Vice President are picked at the National Convention -- a private meeting of by-invitation-only members of a private organization -- the states have no legal grounds whatsoever for squawking.

[Speciesamused]

2. All states should vote on the same day.

It should be an American Day New Holiday everyone is off from work too.
So all peoples have an opportunity to vote, for all states and
all voters. The whole crap about Iowa Caucus and
its subliminal pitch is so wrong. Also The Presidency should be
decided by popular vote. One man one vote. The whole system of
Electoral is a Relic. This is why voting has been such a debacle.

[bhikkhu]

5. That would make sense...in a democracy. n/t

[bemildred]

3. So the Republican state parties are in revolt against the DC elites too.

Good.

[MnFats]

4. my sentiment exactly...gnashing of teeth and all that..

..let them eat their young.

[Judi Lynn]

6. NH Republicans shrug off punishment

NH Republicans shrug off punishment
By JOHN DISTASO
Senior Political Reporter
1 hour, 9 minutes ago

State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen yesterday shrugged off a national GOP panel's decision to withhold half the state party's delegates to the Republican national convention next summer.

The unanimous recommendation by the 27-member Republican National Committee's executive committee was issued as punishment for the New Hampshire's GOP's intention to follow state law, as it always has, and hold its presidential primary on a date selected by Secretary of State William Gardner.

An RNC rule forbids any state from holding a presidential delegate selection contest prior to Feb. 5, 2008. The same rule was in effect in 2004 but was not enforced because there was not a contested GOP primary and no one in the RNC complained, RNC Chair Robert "Mike" Duncan said during a conference call.

Coincidentally, the New Hampshire Union Leader has learned, Duncan, after announcing the sanctions yesterday, is scheduled to appear tomorrow night at a $250-a-couple fund-raiser for Sen. John E. Sununu at the home of Sununu's parents in Hampton Falls. The host committee includes Cullen, former Gov. John H. Sununu and his wife, Nancy, Sen. Judd Gregg, party vice chairman Wayne MacDonald and state RNC member Sean Mahoney.

More:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=NH+Republicans+shrug+off+punishment&articleId=d116e0bc-e1c5-4ddd-bfa0-cbdfc760244c