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Nevada GOP Caucus In Chaos Save Email Print
Posted: 4:20 AM Jan 18, 2008
Last Updated: 1:42 PM Jan 18, 2008
Reporter: Stewart Campbell
Email Address: stewart.campbell@kolotv.com

A | A | A

Today, the Ron Paul 2008 campaign is calling on the Nevada State Republican Party to re-examine multiple inconsistencies in the Nevada Caucus process, and to consider postponing the caucus, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 19.

"The inconsistencies, errors and multiple changes in the rules reek of playing politics with the what should be a neutral process," said Ron Paul 2008 campaign manager Lew Moore.

"The people of Nevada deserve to know exactly what the rules are and to know that those rules are being fairly enforced. This has not happened up to this point, and the caucus appears to be in chaos."

The problem of multiple rule changes is being compounded by other inconsistencies and errors in the process.

Many Nevada Republicans have received postcards with incorrect information about their caucus location, and the Nevada GOP website had incorrect caucus locations listed as late as Wednesday, January 16.

Additionally, one or more county chairs have expressed concerns over an insufficient number of ballots, and the Ron Paul campaign has heard reports that rural counties are short of ballots, while Clark County precincts were given what is regarded as far too many ballots.

The Ron Paul campaign has learned that the Nevada Republican Party has changed the rules for eligibility requirements for caucusing three times since January 9.

Last summer when the January 19 caucus was set, the Nevada GOP announced that caucus would be closed and only for Republicans who had registered by December 19.

On January 10, 2008, a caucus director for the Nevada Republican Party reversed the earlier policy and anounced a new standard by stating that any person who asserts that they are a registered Republican in the precinct but cannot be found in the voter rolls that the Republican party has, would be able to participate if they signed an affidavit attesting to the fact that they were a registered Republican.

Then, on January 15 the Ron Paul campaign received communication from the state party that the affidavits would not be used.

However, on January 17 the policy was changed for a third time, as the state party announced that affidavits would be in use throughout the state, subject to the discretion of county central committees and chairs.

The Nevada Republican Party is changing the rules from week to week, and currently the rules will not even be uniform across the state, as eligibility rules may differ from county to county.

Given the caucus location confusion, with potential caucus participants not knowing where to go, and the new rule effectively allowing anyone to get a ballot, the Ron Paul campaign is concerned that the confusion surrounding the caucus will both disenfranchise voters and make the election particularly susceptible to vote fraud.

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Posted by: johana Location: stockton, CA on Mar 19, 2008 at 09:50 AM
is there snow up there now?

Posted by: Stacy Location: MN on Jan 20, 2008 at 08:04 PM
The Nevada GOP has officially dismissed the complaints of the Paul campaign, stating: "We would hope that the Paul campaign would go act like adults and not try to set up straw men to make up for their lack of organizing." Uh, who's not organized? If this whole 'caucus' wasn't a blatant sham, I don't know what is. Nevadans almost have a reason to riot after this. Good God...

Posted by: t quigly Location: denver co on Jan 19, 2008 at 08:04 PM
All the states so far are deeply embarrassing the U.S. in front of the world with their screwed-up caucuses/primaries. In the past 200 years, how many elections have been held? You'd think it would be a snap by now - but NO !! TRASH THE MACHINES !! Ron Paul for the long haul !!

Posted by: tquigly Location: denver co on Jan 19, 2008 at 07:29 PM
All these screwups are making the U.S. the laughing stock around the world. How many elections have been conducted over the past 200 years - & there is total chaos? This should be easy (i.e., paper ballots & open counts) - it ain't rocket science. Ron Paul for the long haul

Posted by: t quigly Location: denver co on Jan 19, 2008 at 07:02 PM
The wide-spread vote fraud is making the US a laughing-stock around the world I participated in the 1/2-mile-long Ron Paul march in Las Vegas last weekend - great experience, walking & singing & whooping it up for Dr Ron Paul! Ron Paul for the long haul moneybombs: 1/21 - Free At Last (Dr M.L.King holiday) 4/17[?] - Ron Paul Tax Free Money Bomb! (supporters donate Duuuhbya's paul-try (sic) $600 tax rebate to the Ron Paul REVOLution. The times they are a changin'

Posted by: Phil Location: Sparks, NV on Jan 19, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Here I was, all set to go vote, and then find out that I can't because I am not registered in this state to vote, and I am registered as independent. What a JOKE!!! I saw on the news that I would be able to register at the caucus, but I guess that has changed or was completely false to begin with. This whole caucus is a JOKE... I think they all should be allowed to run until the general election in November, and then we will see who won. Also, they do need to come up with a NATIONAL electronic voting system that can not be tampered with at the local level, only federal officials have access to the information in the system. It shouldn't be that hard to do, it should have been done back in 2000...

Posted by: JimS Location: Texas on Jan 19, 2008 at 06:47 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8 Worth the time.

Posted by: LiberTexan on Jan 18, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Dear Live Free and Die State people, we need help. Fight this. Stand up for all of us. Hold these people accountable for voter disenfranchisement and vote suppression. The World is watching. Lets get the NeoCons out. It starts in NH. We must all join together. Do not quit. Hold them accountable. Do not listen to a WORD they say, THEY LIE. DEMAND to be heard. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Sqqqeeeeekkk! :)

Posted by: Butch Location: buffalo ny on Jan 18, 2008 at 10:13 PM
PEOPLE RON PAUL IS TRUTH AND HOPE VOTE WITH HEART

Posted by: Jack P Location: NY, NY on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Vote rigging, yet another infringement on our rights by the gov't. Add it to the ever-growing list of violations: They violate the 1st Amendment by opening mail, caging demonstrators and banning books like "America Deceived" from Amazon. They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns during Katrina. They violate the 4th Amendment by conducting warrant-less wiretaps. They violate the 5th and 6th Amendment by suspending habeas corpus. They violate the 8th Amendment by torturing. They violate the entire Constitution by starting 2 illegal wars based on lies and on behalf of a foriegn gov't. Support Dr. ROn Paul and save us all. Last link (unless Google Books caves to the gov't and drops the title): http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

Posted by: Abbybwood Location: East Haddam, Connecticut on Jan 18, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Well, if this isn't absolute evidence that the Republican Party is running scared from Ron Paul! What a rotten, un-American display of disloyalty to the voters. Shame on the Republican party! This makes my resolve even stronger to support Ron Paul. I just set up a "MeetUp" group today for Southern Connecticut. And if you don't think the media is out to trash Ron Paul, check out this slanderous comment on MSNBC by David Shuster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEcUTYbuDvY

Posted by: Fanakapan Location: Great Britain on Jan 18, 2008 at 03:47 PM
A long train of userptions ? The systems rotten, and stinks so bad, I can smell here in Limeyland

Posted by: sharpinchitown Location: Chicago, Illinois on Jan 18, 2008 at 03:20 PM
They leave us no choice. We will be taking back our government very soon. We are sick of the liars, cheats, thieves, poor character, starving of integrity and ethics a**holes ruining this country and it doesn't matter which party you're with - they are all losers who couldn't hope to ever be more than they are right now: bottom dwelling scum suckers.

Posted by: FRANNIEB Location: RENO,NV on Jan 18, 2008 at 02:55 PM
RON PAUL IS SO RIGHT ON...QUOTE..The problem of multiple rule changes is being compounded by other inconsistencies and errors in the process. ALSO, I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAD ADVISED ME THAT YOU HAVE A STRAIGHT PARTY TICKET. BEING INDEPENDENT I DID NOT KNOW I COULD NOT VOTE. I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PARTY TICKET FOR THIS. THANKS YOU

Posted by: LadyHawk Location: Las Vegas, Nevada on Jan 18, 2008 at 02:45 PM
A recent AP story reports the Ron Paul has a good chance of landing first-place in Nevada. With major discrepancies surfacing in the NH primary recount, with ballot boxes being delivered there displaying obvious evidence of vote tempering (broken seals and 8-inch slits in the sides of boxes) with no paper ballots for count or recount in SC, the hanky-panky in NV is just another example of the epidemic vote fraud in the USA. See those ATM machines at the bank? See those optical scanners at the supermarket check out? See any problems with them? Any mis-scans? Any lost money? See that paper trail the cash register spits out? You mean to tell me that the same government that put men on the moon can't come up with an honest, fair, accurate, and reliable voting system? The government is obligated to prove to the public that our elections are fair. Otherwise, the people are neither legally nor morally obligated to obey that government's dictates, pay its bills, or die in its wars.

Posted by: Bob Robertson Location: USA on Jan 18, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Considering how awful the ballot fraud as been in New Hampshire, it should be obvious that the processes have been played with everywhere. It's becoming more and more obvious that those in power are doing everything to stay in power. An honest vote count is just too dangerous to them. Remember Willy Brown in SF?

Posted by: Michael on Jan 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Is the Ron Paul campaign going to file any suit over these last minute rule changes which seem targeted at limiting participation and thus favor national frontrunners (according to the mass media)??? It seems like last minute manipulation-- I pray to God it angers the Nevada people and it backfires on these charlatans.

Posted by: Specs Location: US on Jan 18, 2008 at 11:05 AM
This is interesting, because I heard an interview with the guy in charge of the NV Republican caucus a few weeks ago. He pointed out that the Democrats could register AT the caucus location, but Republicans had to be registered 30 days before the caucus and the reason? "Because of the close proximity to California, allowing on-site registeration was error-prone because campaigns could ship in large amounts of out-of-state voters to NV and register on-site." That was straight out of the mouth of the guy heading the NV caucus. Now it seems he has changed the rules to ALLOW that to happen?!

Posted by: Jim Location: Clinton, CT on Jan 18, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Been out there many times, love your beautiful state, but this is really kind of embarrassing, isn't it? This is sereious business folks, the future of the country for cyin' out loud. The Nevada Republican party obviously needs some adult leadership, and pronto.

Posted by: Dan Location: Las Vegas, NV on Jan 18, 2008 at 09:30 AM
I agree. Voters should be outraged. I know I am. But let's mobilize this frustration and elect Ron Paul.

Posted by: DenisL Location: Cason City on Jan 18, 2008 at 09:24 AM
(continued)One can not talk about tax cuts without ALSO talking about cutting spending. We have a $9 trillion debt (nearly double since 2000) that must be paid so we can afford Social Security and Medicare. The interest payments will go sky high when we begin to fight inflation with higher Federal Reserve bank rates. And we must stop inflation or everyone's life savings will go down the tubes, along with the middle class, like what has happened to the middle class in most countries south of our border. And do not forget National Health Insurance, which is coming down the tracks right at us, unless Republicans begin to understand the seriousness of runaway deficits and inflation. And start educating the country. A Democratic President will surely not fight inflation like Volcker and Reagan did! Please vote Ron Paul and save the country from bankruptcy abroad and at home!

Posted by: Thad Schiele Location: Denver, CO on Jan 18, 2008 at 07:28 AM
This has been a really messed up process so far for Republicans and Democrats. No one can get their act together. Caucus locations were shut down in Iowa becaus of fire code, Michigan wasn't even counted by Democrats, That county in NH didn't count Ron Paul votes, and now Nevada is having all sorts of problems. Who is in charge in these places?!!! You would think that there would be some better planning and organization with something so important. It is no wonder that people have lost confidence in our government.

Posted by: Will Location: Miami, Fl on Jan 18, 2008 at 06:23 AM
Is it as obvious to others as it is me that the NV stage GOP (most likely taking direction from the national GOP) is trying to affect the outcome of the Republican caucus? Why are people not screaming "FOUL" from the rooftops?!?! This is America! We the people are supposed to be deciding who our nominee is yet it would seem that the party leaders are doing everything possible to select the candidates that they want! WHEN WILL WE BE FED UP WITH THIS TYPE OF MANIPULATION?!?

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