GOP convention looked too liberal

Dear editor:

Ever walk into the wrong place? I thought a few times that I'd done that while attending the GOP Convention in Sandpoint this past 15th and 14th.

Going up there as an Elmore County delegate, I was not prepared for what I saw and heard. Like many old-time Republicans I've become concerned about the erosion our party has been undergoing, so I agreed to attend, to find out first hand what's going on.

The Republican Party has traditionally been a party of our Constitution, but after hearing several debates on various subjects, it became apparent that to many up there, Constitution means something you usually take in the morning.

From fighting an undeclared war to holding open primaries, and much in between, I heard responses at those microphones one would never expect to hear at a gathering supposedly made up of Republicans.

The party has welcomed with open arms, not only moderates, but liberals in our midst, including the one running for president.

A big issue was the debate on closing our primaries or keeping them open. I'm sure that throughout his career, Mubammed Ali would have liked to handpick his opponents, which is exactly what happens in an open primary. The other side gets to come over and vote for the candidates they feel they are most likely to beat in November.

Please notice though, that the Democrats hold caucuses and you have to be a declared Democrat to vote in theirs. I suppose that's "different" somehow. The motion to amend our party platform to close our primaries was narrowly defeated, clearly displaying the steady liberal infusion. Too bad we don't pick who our opponents are, eh?

There was a certain amount of stink made over the Ron Paul supporters, many of whom were delegates trying to push conservative values and shift the party to the right. Excuse me? Am I in the right place? You'd have thought we were a bunch of terrorists or something. Imagine, having the gall to demand adherence to our Constitution and preaching CONSERVATISM at a REPUBLICAN convention, of all places. Disgraceful.

If you were being swept down a raging river, would you condemn the people who were throwing you a rope? I couldn't believe some of the arguments I was hearing.

Though agonizingly long and drawn out, there were two bright spots in this gaggle. Despite the attempted manipulation by Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, who was the moderator, we beat him with his own rulebook, got a secret written ballot accomplished, and voted Kirk Sullivan OUT, replacing him with Norm Semanko as the new party Chairman. Semanko IS a conservative.

The other bright spot Was our party's stand to abolish the Federal Reserve Bank (which is no more "federal" than Federal Express). The FRB is a cartel of private bankers who are fed by the IRS (you only THINK your "income tax dollars" are used for our roads, schools and such). Astonishingly, even the convention moderates and liberals are aware of this on-going robbery and actually voted along with the rest of us for abolishing these thieves. I confess to being pleasantly surprised. Even in the face of obvious extortion of the American people, I was SURE at least two or three knuckleheads would line up at the microphones to debate that one, too. Sometimes it's nice to be wrong, and I'm glad I was on that one.

There were speeches made by the governor, along with various senators and congressmen. I spoke with most of them during the recesses, and the only one who really made sense to me was Bill Sali. Yes, THAT Bill Sali. You know the one, the Idaho Statesman's favorite target. He ain't fancy, but he's straight forward and direct.

I paid $3.84 for Shell gasoline up there, and as I started home, I drove away thinking what a perfect time for a solid third-party candidate to jump into the presidential race. We're still five months away, and there are a lot of Americans who wish there was someone else to vote for. There are a ton of Hillary Democrats who are NOT supporting Obama.

At our own little state convention, made up of about 400 delegates, no more than half of them applauded or stood up whenever John McCain's name was mentioned. On BOTH sides, people are hungry for a better choice.

The media has kept Ron Paul out of print, so he's gone now. But I believe a good third party candidate could really hammer the other two. People want change. I saw it in Sandpoint, and I think it's just as indicative across this country.

Mike Bradbury