With the 2010 elections steaming down the tracks, one would think the Republican Party would be accepting all the help it could get. This does not seem to be the case in Florida, however. 
A rift has been developing for some time between the state's Republican leadership and the more moderate/Libertarian members. On Friday, this rift finally tore with the dismissal of five party members who had requested an audit of the party's financial records and were members of the Republican Liberty Caucus, a group which seeks a return to Constitutional adherence.
One of the chief complaints of the state's Republican Party officials was the attendance and promotion of Ron Paul conventions and meetings. Does this mean that Florida's Republican Party does not recognize Dr. Paul as a member of the party? Lindsey Graham, South Carolina's flamboyant Republican Senator, who has gained recognition from the Obama administration recently over his support of Sotomayor and the government's health care proposal, has also targeted Ron Paul in several speeches.
The nervousness expressed by these neocon Republicans is very understandable. They know that thousands of Americans are upset, and they also know from some of the town hall meetings and tea parties that Republicans are no safer than Democrats these days. What they do not know is how many disgruntled voters are out there and what exactly they are thinking. In fact, this is a number that is a mystery to everyone right now. Next year's elections will be the first single event that will provide a gauge for the paradigm shift which has just occurred in American politics.
One thing is certain, however; the Republican Party cannot afford to alienate the ever increasing element of Ron Paul, Libertarian voters. However much those in current political offices would like to convince themselves that this is an "AstroTurf" movement, the day of reckoning will come when the people rise up and express themselves over the egregious conduct of some of our elected officials. Make no mistake, the paradigm has shifted, the question is whether or not the Republican Party can make the jump or will it be left behind?
Comments
GOP = DOA. Convervatism is on the rise, not the Republican Party.
Ron Paul!
Rick, you seem to be the first person to pick up on this story today. You may have scooped the major news outlets by hours if not days, good job.
Dave
The national Republican Party leadership has shrunk the size of the tent to pup-tent size. Brilliant... not.
LOL Dave...
I've got an inside source...
I have found it very interesting that the republican party has problems with the libertarian Ron Paul. However they have embraced such GOP members as Lincoln Chaffee, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris Shays and even Big Government George W Bush to name a few. These are the GOP members that should be on the outside looking in.
So many Republicans talk about widening the tent, and then proceed to exclude Ron Paul and his supporters. What's worse is that those who want to widen the tent want to invite big-spending Republicans who drove the party into shambles in the first place. How blind can people be?
Well the leadership will soon realize that new members to the Party are not brought in by Neo-Con ideaology but by the Liberty minded and passionate RP supporters.
Republicans like Lindsey Graham are a lot more comfortable with Obama as president than Ron Paul because with Obama it's business as usual.
There are REAL Republicans and then there are communists either republican or democrat pick your poison, each playing both sides against the middle. Is everyone aware of this. WAKE UP !!!!
Ron Paul was marginalized and ridiculed in the primary debates, both by the neo-con candidates and the nominal moderators. He said unacceptable things, like "The dollar will crash," "There will be a bad economic downturn," and "We are going to lose this election unless we change our ways." Those are paraphrased from memory.
Some people just cannot handle the truth. Most people, in fact.
Rand Paul 2010!
randpaul2010.com
A Clear Vision for Kentucky
the internet is educating the masses,not the silly crap you gused to get spoon fed to you by the corporate owned news affiliates.
revolution is coming,mark my words!!!
I am out of town at a seminar but ran across this article on the web and felt compelled to express my deepest concerns over the leadership in the Florida Republican Party. Insofar, I from a large family with an established network of friends in the professional community and I think it's time to dissolve my bonds with the GOP and join the Libertarian party. I also call for the resignation of the Florida Republican Party's Chairman and all others who have helped organize this nonsense that will effectively destroy the base of our party and thus, have ushered in the resignation of myself from the party. I urge you to spread the word and call the Florida Republican Party let them know you've had enough: www . rpof . org / contact . php
These are the last desperate death throws of George W Bush's dead republican party. RIP and good riddance. The ideas of freedom are still alive and well and we'll have our day soon.
We need to vote all incumbants out! The primaries are the place. Only 10% of voters vote in primarys. Swich parties to incumbants and vote for challenger. I'm making a site for just such a purpose.
Ron Paul has ignited a revolution which is much larger than the Republican Party. Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.
Its already too late for the establishment to stop us. Ron Paul planted the seeds of revolution in his 2008 Presidential run. The GOP will be taken over sooner rather than later by liberty loving Americans and we will restore our country to it's glory. We are already making significant process. Join us, or get out of the way.
After eight years of a dumb puppet we at last have an intelligent, articulate puppet. With the same people pulling the strings, this is hardly progress. You may not agree with everything about Ron Paul, but he has a mind of his own.
The neocons are in full denial mode. They refuse to understand that their policies of war and debt have been repudiated. The dems are no better, they are just picking up the crumbs so to speak since they move in when the neocons are summarily kicked out. Both parties are the same. We need a third party of independents. I am disgusted at what is being passed off as "leadership". State and federal politicians are pathetic and need to be FIRED.
Did anybody else actually read the article? They ousted members who wanted to look at the books, and merely used Ron Paul as an excuse. This should be illegal.
Were these five men ejected from the Party or were they reps ejected from their seats? We ought to all join our local GOP's and take them over. That's what I'm trying to do, at any rate.
These people were not removed for asking for an audit. These people were removed because they were working to elect third party candidates. These people are not real Republicans. One of the people removed, Will Pitts, even sent out an email just before the election stating "For Liberty to Survive, Obama Must Win." Getting rid of these people was necessary!
Though he once described himself as a “loner,” Sen. Lindsey Graham is one social senator. He can be seen everywhere from The Week forums — in support of his pal Margaret Carlson — to the Friends of Scotland Caucus cocktail reception. He’s the perfect guest: personable, knowledgeable, powerful and handy with a one-liner. The real plus? He can get along with Democrats.
His warm personality may link back to his humble beginnings. Graham was raised in Pickens County, S.C., where his parents, Florence and Millie, owned a liquor store. While he was studying to become an Air Force officer at the University of South Carolina, both his parents died and he adopted his younger sister, Darlene.
After leaving active duty in the military and dabbling in local politics, Graham was swept into the House of Representatives by the 1994 Republican Revolution. Graham memorably proclaimed throughout the campaign that he was “one less vote for an agenda that makes you wanna throw up.”
Once Graham
At the same time GOP extremist stooges have taken over the Florida Libertarian Party and are draiuning its coffers, setting up phony affiliates, supporting non-Libertarian fringe candidates, and purging actual Libertarians or hitting them with smear campaigns.
Worse, they're boasting this is happening with the co-operation of the National Party, which has also been called the victim of a GOP takeover by the LP founder.
Also, people were ejected from the Florida Libertarian leadership for asking for an audit of the connections of diverted funds between the GOP and the LPF to attack the Greens.They have suspiciously not reported any member contributions...where are they?
Thank God that not all Americans are duped by Main Stream Media and are now aware of the connection between the MSM, the two party system and the Banking Industry. As a former Florida Republican I think that the cowardice, stupidity and greed of the main stream Republican leadership is a slap in the face (especially to the most vulnerable) to those who have given their life to protect the US CONSTITUTION. Ron Paul and those of us who work to reestablishing the most Basic Tenants of the Constitution were mostly ignored by Republican leadership during the 2008 election. Shame on them.
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