"Ron Paul woke us up; we won't go back to sleep!"

A couple of days ago, Walt predicted that the Republican convention will be the "Holiday Inn Convention" -- no surprises! Mitten Romney's attack lawyers ensured that by getting the Republican National Committee to strip Ron Paul of his Maine delegates. Here's a 5-minute Reality Check from Fox.



What's going on here? Why would you have rules if you're not going to follow them? As Ben Swann explains, the real problem for the Romneyites is that they're shit-scared that a lot of delegates pledged to the Inevitable Mitt don't really like him, and might just switch their votes to Ron Paul, when the big moment comes.

Until this week, Ron Paul was the only wild card left in the Republican deck. Only Paul had enough delegates in enough states to be nominated from the convention floor. But that "threat" has now been eliminated, ensuring that Romney holds not just the strongest hand but the only hand, once the storm lets up and the convention starts.

Until this weekend, Congressman Paul’s young and strongly committed supporters still hoped to at least make things interesting by getting their (and Walt's) man on the ballot, and seeing how many of the Romney delegates might break ranks. At the very least, a Paul nomination might have injected some life into what promises to be a huge snore-fest. But now, fuggedaboudit.

Now Mr. Paul won't even get to make a speech. His third and (probably) final run for the presidency will end with a lame "video tribute". The puppeteers with their hands in the Mitt say they would have let Paul speak, but with strings attached, just as securely as they are to their own candidates. Mr. Paul’s words would have to be vetted by "Team Romney" and include a ringing and unqualified endorsement. Unsurprisingly, Ron Paul said no.

Mr. Paul told the New York Times, "It wouldn’t be my speech. That would undo everything I’ve done for the last 30 years. I don’t fully endorse [Romney] for president."

Here are the reactions of a couple of "Paulistas", as quoted in the Toronto Star.
"Where is our democracy? This is shaping up as the Old Crony Convention, changing the voting rules for seating delegates midway to shove Mitt Romney down our throats. I don’t know what to do with my vote now." (Melissa Swetich, Orlando)
"He threw a wrench in the system, talking about auditing the Federal Reserve and closing down foreign military bases. [Ron Paul] achieved something real. He woke up a lot of us. And we’re not going to go back to sleep." (Cory Peterson, Minneapolis)

So what happens next? There's been talk of asking Paul's supporters to switch their allegiance to the official Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, though Johnson lacks Paul’s unscripted, blunt-talking appeal.

Others are waiting to see what happens at this afternoon's "We Are the Future" rally, to be held at the University of South Florida Sun Dome from noon until 5:00 p.m EDT. Congressman Paul will speak at or around 4:00 p.m. and will be introduced by his son, US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

According to Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton, "Ron Paul’s rally will enable supporters, the public, and media to further witness the ideas and people that are the future of the Republican Party."

But if the Republicans don't want Mr. Paul -- or aren't allowed by their "leaders" to choose the candidate they really want -- don't discount the possibility that he might yet run as an independent.

Will you support Ron Paul if he runs as an independent? Click here to sign the Grassroots Pledge! It's NOT too late!