It will be VERY interesting to see exactly what the Minnesota GOP Platform looks like after the state convention. Will it be recognizable anymore? Will it look more like the LP or CP ones? Now sure, I think it has become watered down over the years, and also WAY too specific. It is largely useless as it is way to broad and frankly no one can possibly meet every aspect of it. But some of the resolutions are just plain silly.

1) I don’t know. I’ve always been a Republican, have always thought WE should be the conservative party.

2) Ron Paul Republicans want to bring the party back to its roots of a smaller government, more personal liberty and responsibility, federalism. We’ve won when we’ve stood on principle. We’ve lost when we’ve become more like the Democrats.

3) See # 1 above. I have no idea what the CP’s goals are or how they’re accomplishing them. I’m glad they’re there to at least act as a conscience for the GOP and to say, “Hey, look: We’ve got a Constitution!”

3 Questions; if the Constitution Party and the Libertarian Party have the conservative message average people identify with, how come they have not taken over as the conservative message standard bearer? Is it’s the Paulbotz goal to transform the Republican Party into a party similar to the Constitution Party? Finally, how much effect has the Constitution Party had on public policy? Answers appreciated!

Well, Marianne, from what I saw in the Sixth, it was the hard-working, old guard maistream Republicans who got kicked in the teeth, and it was the Paul people who have molar marks in their boots.

Just so you know, I think your people have a lot of fences to mend.

Very few Ron Paul Republicans from the libertarian party. We did bring some people back from the Constitution Party to which they’d fled when Republicans started to outspend and outgrow the Democrats. But we have brought them back. So let’s try to keep them!

Any many of us are old GOP warhorses who’ve been around forever. We have current BPOU Chairs, former BPOU Chairs, people who go back half a century in the party, the old Goldwaterites, the less old Reaganites, people who’ve put a lot of effort into the GOP.

Our party is healthiest when we allow for legitimate debate. When Sullivan ran against Pawlenty for the endorsement in 2002, we debated for 13 ballots and until 1 AM. That was healthy. We all came together behind Pawlenty because we’d had a place at the table.

So I was dismayed to hear at the conventions last weekend that Ron Carey doesn’t want us around, neither us oldtimers or the newcomers who have just started putting their energies into the GOP. The best way to get the Ron Paul people to come behind the nominee after the convention is not to kick them in the teeth, but to offer them a seat at the table, a stake in the debate. Let them feel vested in the process. THAT is how a healthy party operates.

Take a look at what Nevada is doing. They invited Ron Paul to speak at their state convention this weekend, and you know what? They’re winning the allegiance of all these Ron Paul Republicans who now feel grateful and vested in their state party. Nevada has some smart party leadership.

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On a separate note, we are vociferously for a strong national defense. Right there in the Constitution. It’s allowed. Wish we were doing a better job of protecting our borders. Wish we weren’t spread too thin. Defense is a very legitimate function of the federal government unlike, say, a Department of Education which is much better handled at the state level.

That means that they are going to have to demonstrate their committment to the Republican Party through the activities that ensure that what we want gets accomplished. They are going to have to demonstrate their grassroots committment through: making contributions to endorsed Republican candidates: working on campaigns at all levels this cycle (as Ron Paul will not be on the ticket); and, becoming involved in the activities of their Senate Districts.

Should this fail to happen, they will have to go back to leading those other “major” parties — the Constitution Party and Libertarian Party.

I think we should welcome the Paul people, as long as they check their dishonest tactics and their exclusionary attitudes at the tent door.

You need to expand your daily reading Drew…there have been lots of positive posts about the Paul folks.

LL