Priebus Meets Privately with Mike Lee, Never Trump Leaders to Discuss Procedural Compromise

[Ghost Bear]

by Tim Alberta July 14, 2016 10:03 AM @TimAlberta

CLEVELAND — Barely two hours into the much-anticipated meeting of the Convention Rules Committee, a backroom deal may be in the works.

According to two sources, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and top RNC officials are huddling privately with Senator Mike Lee, Virginia Committeeman Morton Blackwell, and leaders of the Never Trump movement to discuss a procedural compromise that would allow for gimmick-free votes on anti-Trump measures in exchange for their cooperation in not gumming up the works and prolonging the Rules Committee meeting unnecessarily.

The discussion is taking place during a recess from the Rules Committee meeting, which was caused by a printer jam inside the hearing room. (There are murmurs in the room that the extended recess — see the UPDATE below — has nothing to do with a printer jam, but rather with this backroom meeting.)

Kendal Unruh, the Colorado delegate who has led the charge to allow convention delegates to vote their conscience — essentially unbinding them from supporting presumptive nominee Donald Trump — is part of the meeting. So is Ken Cucinnelli, a Cruz ally who is leading the charge to restructure certain guidelines of the GOP’s nominating process.

It’s unclear whether anti-Trump representatives will agree to the deal. The incentive is unclear, as they are assured of a vote on their amendments anyway — and, in the eyes of their allies, their best chance at success may be wearing down their fellow delegates with a long, drawn-out meeting.

UPDATES AT SOURCE

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/437848/priebus-meets-privately-mike-lee-never-trump-leaders-discuss-procedural-compromise

[catfish1957]

Really, what would be their incentive to cooperate?

Avoid Double Secret Probation?

[Suppressed]

Really, what would be their incentive to cooperate?

Avoid Double Secret Probation?

How pathetic it is that they are having to say "Ignore what you think is right...OR ELSE!"

[Timber Rattler]

Cuccinelli is a good man...I trust him to do the right thing more than any of the others there, except Mike Lee.

[Bigun]

My source tells me that there is no deal and that there currently appear to be enough votes on the rules committee to send several proposed rule changes to the body of the convention for an up or down vote.

[ConstitutionRose]

My source tells me that there is no deal and that there currently appear to be enough votes on the rules committee to send several proposed rule changes to the body of the convention for an up or down vote.

I'd like to see that happen. 

[r9etb]

My source tells me that there is no deal and that there currently appear to be enough votes on the rules committee to send several proposed rule changes to the body of the convention for an up or down vote.

The really important thing is that this meeting occurred at all.  It means that Priebus and the RNC see the movement as more than just an annoyance; it's an acknowledgement that "Free the Delegates" is a serious factor at the Convention. 

I can imagine the meeting was an attempt to secure some agreement that preserves a Trump nomination. 

And given that Trump has not scaled back his antics, I begin to wonder if Priebus and the RNC might be more receptive to "Freeing the Delegates" than they might otherwise have been.

[Bigun]

The really important thing is that this meeting occurred at all.  It means that Priebus and the RNC see the movement as more than just an annoyance; it's an acknowledgement that "Free the Delegates" is a serious factor at the Convention. 

I can imagine the meeting was an attempt to secure some agreement that preserves a Trump nomination. 

And given that Trump has not scaled back his antics, I begin to wonder if Priebus and the RNC might be more receptive to "Freeing the Delegates" than they might otherwise have been.

That is job one for sure but getting rid of open primaries going forward is hugly important as well IMHO.

[txradioguy]

Someone is worried.

And with good reason. 

[r9etb]

getting rid of open primaries going forward is hugley important as well IMHO.

Agreed in part.  However, the entire primary process, with its endless nonsense "debates," is pretty much useless in its current form.  And the trend toward earlier and earlier, multi-state primaries is actively harmful to selecting the best candidates.

It would be really helpful if there were an honest mechanism within the party for recruiting and vetting good candidates, and to create ways for candidates to demonstrate their seriousness, rather than spending entire televised events searching for the perfect sound-bite.

[Bigun]

Agreed in part.  However, the entire primary process, with its endless nonsense "debates," is pretty much useless in its current form.  And the trend toward earlier and earlier, multi-state primaries is actively harmful to selecting the best candidates.

It would be really helpful if there were an honest mechanism within the party for recruiting and vetting good candidates, and to create ways for candidates to demonstrate their seriousness, rather than spending entire televised events searching for the perfect sound-bite.

It is my belief that getting rid of open primaries would move us greatly in that direction.

[Mechanicos]

The really important thing is that this meeting occurred at all.  It means that Priebus and the RNC see the movement as more than just an annoyance; it's an acknowledgement that "Free the Delegates" is a serious factor at the Convention. 

I can imagine the meeting was an attempt to secure some agreement that preserves a Trump nomination. 

And given that Trump has not scaled back his antics, I begin to wonder if Priebus and the RNC might be more receptive to "Freeing the Delegates" than they might otherwise have been.

Hardly. The 3rd option was to use procedural tactics to drag out the voting for days. Polling the States etc. This was a reasonable attempt to prevent the procedural disruptions. Thanks to the Federal Court ruling RNC and State Parties hold all the cards. On the table was allowing the anti people to put their proposals to the floor vote for an up or down vote in exchange for not disrupting the convention with procedural tricks.

Since the anti's would not be reasonable it could mean they could now be treated harsh without their proposals being allowed to be voted on and eviction if they disrupt. Already at least one State is replacing anti Trump delegates. And the head of the anti Trump movement from CO has an open complaint to replace the entire delegation over voting irregularities in CO.

IMHO this meeting was more an attempt at unity.

[Bigun]

Hardly. The 3rd option was to use procedural tactics to drag out the voting for days. Polling the States etc. This was a reasonable attempt to prevent the procedural disruptions. Thanks to the Federal Court ruling RNC and State Parties hold all the cards. On the table was allowing the anti people to put their proposals to the floor vote for an up or down vote in exchange for not disrupting the convention with procedural tricks.

Since the anti's would not be reasonable it could mean they could now be treated harsh without their proposals being allowed to be voted on and eviction if they disrupt. Already at least one State is replacing anti Trump delegates. And the head of the anti Trump movement from CO has an open complaint to replace the entire delegation over voting irregularities in CO.

IMHO this meeting was more an attempt at unity.

BS! 100%. 

[r9etb]

Hardly.

Psh.

You don't call a secret meeting to deal with annoyances.

Your boy is pooping in the bathwater, and serious people are beginning to worry about it.

[ABX]

so far it hasn't come up in the rules committee, a bunch of procedural stuff that would bureaucrats proud

[EasyAce]

That is job one for sure but getting rid of open primaries going forward is hugly important as well IMHO.

Dumping open primaries ought to be the number one job for all parties (why on earth should
anyone but actual Republicans be picking the Republican nominee? or anyone but actual Democrats
picking the Democratic nominee? etc.) once this convention is done. Because we don't really know
for dead last certain---pending an actual release of any actual available numbers---how many
actual Republicans (were damn fool enough to have) voted for you-know-whom.

Meanwhile, back in the jungle . . .

Not a Single Republican Delegate is 'Bound' to Donald Trump

[geronl]

Do not compromise!! free those delegates!!

[Bigun]

Dumping open primaries ought to be the number one job for all parties (why on earth should
anyone but actual Republicans be picking the Republican nominee? or anyone but actual Democrats
picking the Democratic nominee? etc.) once this convention is done. Because we don't really know
for dead last certain---pending an actual release of any actual available numbers---how many
actual Republicans (were damn fool enough to have) voted for you-know-whom.

Meanwhile, back in the jungle . . .

Not a Single Republican Delegate is 'Bound' to .

I agree that there are no bound delegates under current party rules.

[geronl]

It might be a long-shot but they need to go for it.

[r9etb]

It might be a long-shot but they need to go for it.

The country needs them to go for it.

[Bigun]

Dumping open primaries ought to be the number one job for all parties (why on earth should
anyone but actual Republicans be picking the Republican nominee? or anyone but actual Democrats
picking the Democratic nominee? etc.) once this convention is done. Because we don't really know
for dead last certain---pending an actual release of any actual available numbers---how many
actual Republicans (were damn fool enough to have) voted for you-know-whom.

We constantly complaign about how hard it is to get rid of bad incumbents in congress.  I submit that open primaries are a HUGE reason why that is.

[geronl]

Cuccinelli is a good man..

He's apparently proffering rules about 2020 and not 2016 though

[EasyAce]

We constantly complaign about how hard it is to get rid of bad incumbents in congress.  I submit that open primaries are a HUGE reason why that is.

That's one reason.

Another reason is a syndrome George F. Will identified early enough in the Reagan years, if I remember
right: Today's conservative has reached into his heart of hearts, prayed hard, and decided that it was
high time the government cut his neighbour's benefits.

[r9etb]

We constantly complain about how hard it is to get rid of bad incumbents in congress.  I submit that open primaries are a HUGE reason why that is.

I disagree.  Incumbents usually don't have primary opponents.  I'd submit that being subjected to a regular diet of primary opponents would probably improve the general level of congressional responsibility, if only by making the Representatives and Senators more accountable to the voters.

On the other hand, it also makes the seat more vulnerable to being taken by the other party.  But I think increased accountability is probably worth the risk.

[EasyAce]

I disagree.  Incumbents usually don't have primary opponents.  I'd submit that being subjected to a regular diet of primary opponents would probably improve the general level of congressional responsibility, if only by making the Representatives and Senators more accountable to the voters.

I agree about the regular diet. But the open primaries are still an abomination whose eventual mischief could have
been predicted when they first began to fester. I give you the current state of affairs roiling the Republican Party
approaching their convention as evidence. I say again, nobody knows how many actual, genuinely committed
Republicans voted for Donaldus Minimus in the primaried, pending any release of any actual, tangible numbers.
It could very well be that Donaldus Minimus as the presidential candidate is, in a manner of speaking, a
nominated Republican in name only.

On the other hand, it also makes the seat more vulnerable to being taken by the other party.  But I think increased accountability is probably worth the risk.

Little enough remarked, at times, is the prospect for reverse coattails if Donaldus Minimus shakes out of the
convention as the nominee. The distaste for him could very well have a disastrous effect on the down-ticket
races.