Is this the new conservatism we can expect from the GOP establishment?

[Ray Kirkus]

For the first time in my life I attended a GOP state convention as a delegate representing the New Buffalo area and Berrien county. There I thought most folks would be like-minded conservatives who believed in freedom and the limitations of government, openness and transparency.

At the evening caucuses, 2/3 of the 6^th congressional district was not in favor of openness and fairness. I found the shrinking majority actually voting against those very claims. Maybe that's why it's 2/3 and shrinking.

At this caucus, an alternative slate of candidates for national delegates was presented in opposition to the apportionment slate selected by the executive committees from the six counties. Although the apportionment slate is not binding, it is generally rubber stamped by the state delegates on the night of the caucus and many delegates don't understand the process while others simply toe the line.

This season the establishment didn't care for this option to the degree that the caucus majority voted not to allow the candidates from either slate one short minute of time to address the caucus as to why they wanted to go to Tampa and perhaps reveal their choice candidate and let the caucus know where they stood before the vote took place.. Considering that Santorum won the 6^th district and delegates being sent to Tampa are unbound, why would 2/3 of the caucus not want to hear which of the two remaining candidates that will be on the Tampa ballot would get the 6^th district's vote? Are these the same folks who use words like “fairness” when referring to the way their apportionment slate is constructed, but then didn't have time to listen to 12 folks for 12 minutes to hear the reasons why and how they would vote for someone who could become the most powerful man in the world? Actions do speak much louder than words as the victors applauded their own censorship.

The next day many of these same folks rose from their seats when US flags were paraded around the convention hall to show each other how much they loved America (and it's values) and also the same folks who loudly applauded senatorial candidates like Gary Glenn, a so-called Tea Party endorsed favorite, who wants to add to the role of the federal government by adding additional amendments and mandates resulting in additional legislation and greater federal power. I guess today, that's considered conservative.

[Timothy J Banks]

Anyone who thinks the GOP establishment would simply roll over and let us run the show after all these years is a little naieve about human nature. We quit now and go 3rd party and the Soicialists win. We simply have to keep chipping away. We can't turn back 100 years of indoctrination in 3. We may have to hold our nose and vote for the lesser of 2 evils for quite some time. Priority one is getting rid of Obama and voting for  Romney is the best way to achieve that absolute number one priority. If we can get enough seats in the house and Senate we can rid ourselves of the miserable job Boehner and Cantor have done. I'm sure to get clobbered over my lukewarm but firm support of Romney, but we have to deal with the card we've been dealt, not blow our stack over the fact that Ben Franlin wasn't running this year.