Comments on: Hager Tries To Rig A Convention http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/ Blog-Fu for Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park politics. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:11:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: BullElephant http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66536 BullElephant Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:01:54 +0000 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66536 It was clear that on many, many little things the RPV staff made life difficult on Frederick (and, I think, Marshall). They refused to give out information, or gave out information at the last minute, or stonewalled in providing logistical cooperation, or, rigged the proceedings, etc. With respect to the literature that was supposed to go into the delegate goody bags, Shaun Kenney seems to think he answered the question in "30 seconds" when someone at RPV told him that Frederick and Marshall could have had their stuff placed in the bags if they paid like everyone else; Shaun made this out to seem like Frederick was whining about having to support the party financially. In fact, Shaun Kenney's blog post was the first that the Marshall and Frederick people had ever heard of that a payment was required! Likewise with the Frederick camp's nervousness about getting locked out of the counting room...the rules governing voting and selection of tellers weren't shared with the Frederick camp until the morning of the convention, and then only when they got it in their delegate check-in packages!! The placement of the 7th District delegation, the short-shrifting of the Prince William County delegation, and virtually every other petty little tyranny Hager's people could muster was on embarrassing display. I'm sure some of it was that the people working for Hager were young and inexperienced, and running a huge convention like this is bound to invite large numbers of mistakes. But the preponderance of these things aimed at non-establishment candidates made it clear that the fix was in. I can't say for sure there was anything fishy with the Gilmore election (and I'm prepared to back him enthusiastically), but it just seemed to me that with the tally that close, and the huge propensity for math errors in this type of vote tabulation, that some provision should have been made to make sure it was accurate. Bolling, as convention chairman, shot himself in the foot with this one, as he was clearly eager to see to it that Gilmore got pronounced the nominee before giving anyone on the other side the slightest time to object. Bolling is not going to find at least half of that room very eager to help him out when he needs it. It was clear that on many, many little things the RPV staff made life difficult on Frederick (and, I think, Marshall). They refused to give out information, or gave out information at the last minute, or stonewalled in providing logistical cooperation, or, rigged the proceedings, etc. With respect to the literature that was supposed to go into the delegate goody bags, Shaun Kenney seems to think he answered the question in “30 seconds” when someone at RPV told him that Frederick and Marshall could have had their stuff placed in the bags if they paid like everyone else; Shaun made this out to seem like Frederick was whining about having to support the party financially. In fact, Shaun Kenney’s blog post was the first that the Marshall and Frederick people had ever heard of that a payment was required! Likewise with the Frederick camp’s nervousness about getting locked out of the counting room…the rules governing voting and selection of tellers weren’t shared with the Frederick camp until the morning of the convention, and then only when they got it in their delegate check-in packages!! The placement of the 7th District delegation, the short-shrifting of the Prince William County delegation, and virtually every other petty little tyranny Hager’s people could muster was on embarrassing display. I’m sure some of it was that the people working for Hager were young and inexperienced, and running a huge convention like this is bound to invite large numbers of mistakes. But the preponderance of these things aimed at non-establishment candidates made it clear that the fix was in.

I can’t say for sure there was anything fishy with the Gilmore election (and I’m prepared to back him enthusiastically), but it just seemed to me that with the tally that close, and the huge propensity for math errors in this type of vote tabulation, that some provision should have been made to make sure it was accurate. Bolling, as convention chairman, shot himself in the foot with this one, as he was clearly eager to see to it that Gilmore got pronounced the nominee before giving anyone on the other side the slightest time to object. Bolling is not going to find at least half of that room very eager to help him out when he needs it.

]]> By: G Man http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66412 G Man Fri, 30 May 2008 19:37:55 +0000 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66412 Anonymous, that link doesn't answer questions, it only adds more. So there is no rest yet. Anonymous, that link doesn’t answer questions, it only adds more. So there is no rest yet.

]]> By: Bryanna http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66398 Bryanna Fri, 30 May 2008 18:17:24 +0000 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66398 An RPV chairman should allow his opponent equal exposure before and during the convention, no different than what they would grant themselves. If the bylaws don't offer clear guidelines, then delegates hope the Chairman would have the decency and integrity to demonstrate their personal principles in conducting a fair and balanced convention process. In defense of the RPV Chairman, and as a delegate and supporter for Jeff, I will add that we all talk about getting back to the Big Tent day's of Ronald Reagan, yet we continue to violate the 11th Commandment, again, and again, and again. What has happened to just showing some good old fashioned class? An RPV chairman should allow his opponent equal exposure before and during the convention, no different than what they would grant themselves. If the bylaws don’t offer clear guidelines, then delegates hope the Chairman would have the decency and integrity to demonstrate their personal principles in conducting a fair and balanced convention process.

In defense of the RPV Chairman, and as a delegate and supporter for Jeff, I will add that we all talk about getting back to the Big Tent day’s of Ronald Reagan, yet we continue to violate the 11th Commandment, again, and again, and again. What has happened to just showing some good old fashioned class?

]]> By: Anchor Baby http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66395 Anchor Baby Fri, 30 May 2008 18:05:09 +0000 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66395 It might be a good idea to have the U.N. come in and monitor the election. It might be a good idea to have the U.N. come in and monitor the election.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66383 Anonymous Fri, 30 May 2008 15:06:05 +0000 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66383 Already put to rest: http://www.shaunkenney.com/2008/05/virginia-virtucon-team-frederick.html Already put to rest:

http://www.shaunkenney.com/2008/05/virginia-virtucon-team-frederick.html

]]> By: legal2 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66362 legal2 Fri, 30 May 2008 12:44:20 +0000 http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/30/hager-tries-to-rig-a-convention/#comment-66362 Sounds like extortion to me. This will be my last convention. Time to leave the RPV in the dust. Sounds like extortion to me. This will be my last convention. Time to leave the RPV in the dust.

]]>