I've attended CO GOP conventions for years. It requires organization & attn to grassroots to win. Cruz had it. Trump didn't. End of story.

— Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) (@CoryGardner) April 12, 2016

Well, he would know since Gardner and every elected Republican in Colorado has been nominated and elected by the Colorado GOP via its caucus system which has been in place since 2004.

When Trump attacks the CO caucus system, he is attacking the legitimacy of every elected Republican in the state. And every delegate from the state.

The only thing that actually changed last year was they cancelled the non-binding caucus straw poll for president. Colorado has preferred unbound delegates and the RNC made a new rule last year that if you held any sort of vote for prez, you had to bind your delegates to them. So Colorado GOP just cancelled their "beauty pageant" straw poll since they wanted their delegates to remain unbound.

Cruz did "win" Colorado by a certain measure but, technically, those are still unbound delegates on the first ballot. Good luck to Trump trying to pick up a single one of them.

I've wondered if Trump might decide to challenge the outcome. I actually hope he does because it would open a huge can of worms that would backfire on his victories in other caucus states.

"Cruz did "win" Colorado by a certain measure but, technically, those are still unbound delegates on the first ballot."

Then why not have a primary where the voters know that the delegates are unbound?

We know why. Because the Colorado GOP is corrupt.

“How on earth are you going to defeat ISIS if you can’t figure out the @cologop convention?”

He does have a point. There are similarities between ISIS and the Colorado GOP.

Then why not have a primary where the voters know that the delegates are unbound?

The rules are published and well-known to all. This has been in place since 2004. I'm not sure whether they bound their delegates in 2000 and in previous elections or not. I know that the CO GOP and Dims decided it cost too much to hold statewide primary votes for the public since it never resulted in them getting any attention from the candidates.

CO has been frustrated for decades in its efforts to become a battleground state. So they just gave up on it and went to the caucus system. It is much cheaper.

There are similarities between ISIS and the Colorado GOP.

Sure, the CO GOP beheads people in massacres, forces women into marriages, defile ancient cultural artifacts.

You really can't tell the difference between the CO GOP and ISIS.

"The rules are published and well-known to all."

Too bad they can't change them whereby Colorado has a primary where the voters know that the delegates are unbound.

"Sure, the CO GOP beheads people in massacres, forces women into marriages, defile ancient cultural artifacts."

OK. You convinced me they have nothing in common.

I wonder, then, why this asshole Senator thinks that Trump losing Colorado means he can't handle ISIS?

I know that the CO GOP and Dims decided it cost too much to hold statewide primary votes for the public since it never resulted in them getting any attention from the candidates.

CO has been frustrated for decades in its efforts to become a battleground state. So they just gave up on it and went to the caucus system. It is much cheaper.

to add an exclamation point to their point. Only Cruz bothered to show up in the state . Trump apparently was unaware that there were delegates to pick up . Kaisich sent John Sununnu as his representative .

Then Trump belly aches that he did not even make a speech there . Well what stopped him ?

When Trump goes to Cleveland with less than a majority of delegates ,he can look back at Colorado ,Wyoming ,and probably other states ,like Iowa (where he skipped a debate in a snit) where he could've gathered enough delegates to put him over the top .I have no sympathy for him. He is just another Dem who thinks he's entitled .

"Then Trump belly aches that he did not even make a speech there."

Trump criticized the process where delegates are chosen with zero input from the voters. Now, if you didn't have this blind hatred of Trump, you'd agree that this process disenfranchises the citizens and looks more like the Soviet Union than the United States.

Then Trump belly aches that he did not even make a speech there . Well what stopped him ?

The Colorado GOP chair said they made efforts to accommodate him, offering different dates, etc.

Trump refused to come. So he lost. Now he's trying to delegitimize the CO GOP and the entire Republican party.

It is a bit odd for a candidate to attack the entire party as a thoroughly corrupt system (except those states where he won of course).

Because the Colorado GOP is corrupt.

Please tell me how "they" conspired to influence the delegates chosen by myself and my neighbors to represent us at our state convention?

"Please tell me how "they" conspired to influence the delegates"

Why is the "how" important? They did. Every delegate went Cruz. Coincidence, I'm sure.

Then they put out the tweet "We did it#neverTrump". Yeah, yeah. "We wuz hacked".

Damn. You are gullible, aren't you?

"Now he's trying to delegitimize the CO GOP"

They deserve to be delegitimized. They disenfranchised the voters.

Just bec because things went your way doesn't excuse this action. Then again, maybe it doe does. because things went your way doesn't excuse this action. Then again, maybe it does.

It is a bit odd for a candidate to attack the entire party as a thoroughly corrupt system (except those states where he won of course).

he certainly did not complain about getting 100% of the Fla delegates after getting less than 50% of the primary vote.

Because the Colorado GOP is corrupt.

Please tell me how "they" conspired to influence the delegates chosen by myself and my neighbors to represent us at our state convention?

Stop it, please. You can't be that naïve not to understand that the CO REP Party chose a process that assures that only a very small percentage of REP voters in which will participate. Only the very politically active will participate in this cumbersome, time consuming process. And it is exactly the very politically active that can, and often do, gain control of the process and more significantly the outcome.

he certainly did not complain about getting 100% of the Fla delegates after getting less than 50% of the primary vote.

There has been some talk circulating about forcing all those winner-take-all delegates into proportional.

As with SC and Trump breaking his pledge, they may only be waiting for him to keep making those kinds of remarks to hang himself.

There has been some talk circulating about forcing all those winner-take-all delegates into proportional.

Kiss the Electorial College winner take all system goodbye as well. CA, NY and a handful of other states will decide on who becomes POTUS.

"he certainly did not complain about getting 100% of the Fla delegates after getting less than 50% of the primary vote."

Blame the Florida GOP for that one. They changed the rules to give 100% of the delegates to the winner because they knew either JEB! or Rubio would win the vote.

Oops! To make matters worse for the GOPe, those delegates are bound for the first three nominating ballots.

"Kiss the Electorial College winner take all system goodbye as well"

Getting a head start on the next election scam?

Oops! To make matters worse for the GOPe, those delegates are bound for the first three nominating ballots.

Unless those winner-take-all rules are challenged. There has been some talk. Just loose talk so far.

Kiss the Electorial College winner take all system goodbye as well.

Nothing about state party delegate controversies can possibly affect the status of the Electoral College as a mandated constitutional institution.

"Unless those winner-take-all rules are challenged."

But ... but ... those are the rules! Rules can't be changed.

"Nothing about state party delegate controversies can possibly affect the status of the Electoral College"

Other than hanging chads, no.

"Kiss the Electorial College winner take all system goodbye as well"

Getting a head start on the next election scam?

Explain, please. Are you not aware of the effort to undo the winner take all aspect of the Electorial College? Presently 48 States plus DC have a winner take all rule. This can change.

"Explain, please."

Well, everyone else is arguing about delegates for the nomination and you're already speculating about the Electoral College.

Can't wait?

Kiss the Electorial College winner take all system goodbye as well.

Nothing about state party delegate controversies can possibly affect the status of the Electoral College as a mandated constitutional institution.

The Constitution does not mandate a winner take all system for the states. And that is all I said, kiss the winner take all system goodbye. The small t seems to be affecting your eyesight.

States are perfectly free to lawfully allocate their EC votes in any way they choose to.

So Maine and Nebraska can assign an EC vote for each CD with the majority of CDs determining who gets their extra 2 EC votes. This is how 0bama won 1 EC vote in Omaha in 2008.

You could also have a state that simply allows the governor to appoint EC electors and tell them who to vote for, no matter what the voters voted for. Nothing illegal about it. Unwise but not illegal.

What a state does with its own EC votes is up to that state.

The small t seems to be affecting your eyesight.

Just don't call it a low T.

Anyway, I don't like winner-take-all schemes. Never have. I prefer proportionals.

The winner-take-all does tend to magnify presidential majorities so as to create a mandate but it is usually illusory IMO.

Well, everyone else is arguing about delegates for the nomination and you're already speculating about the Electoral College.

Can't wait?

Did you read the post? The discussion about having states change their winner take all system for Electoral College delegates began a while back, e.g. Bush v. Gore. If anything it is that discussion that may be precipitating new discussion on winner take all primaries. Be careful of what you wish.

Anyway, I don't like winner-take-all schemes. Never have. I prefer proportionals.

So you want to see the current Electoral College system of predominantly winner take all states junked?

So you want to see the current Electoral College system of predominantly winner take all states junked?

I don't want to debate it at any length.

The thread has gone completely off-topic. It was about Gardner and his comments about the CO GOP caucus and Trump's whining.

Post a thread on the EC if you want to debate it.

I don't want to debate it at any length.

You opened the door.

he certainly did not complain about getting 100% of the Fla delegates after getting less than 50% of the primary vote.

The people voted in that you dumb ass. They didn't take Cruz's name off the ballot like they did in Colorado.

I think you would suck Cruz off if it Kept Trump out.

Enjoy Hillary.

Kiss the Electorial College winner take all system goodbye as well. CA, NY and a handful of other states will decide on who becomes POTUS.

Yes that is already happening as states sign on to the 'National Popular Vote Interstate Compact' (NPVIC)

Please tell me how "they" conspired to influence the delegates chosen by myself and my neighbors to represent us at our state convention?

There were 65,000 of you , right?

There were 65,000 of you , right?

That is the number I read . Of course for Trump and his minions ,if the outcome doesn't come out in his favor ,he was "robbed " or treated unfairly .

What is indicates to me is that Trump is ill suited for the job . Not knowing the rules of the game is one thing. But Trump claims the ability to hire the 'best people ' to work for him . Evidently that is not the case because clearly he is not being advised properly .This is in itself curious because Roger Stone is allegedly one of the best in the game (the level of participation behind the scene is curious .)

It indicates what a Trump Presidency would be like ...... the Chief Executive ,the Commander in Chief constanty being suprised by events and unprepared to deal with them.

It is going to be very interesting.

We chose delegates from our neighborhood who then went to the state convention last Saturday, just like all the other caucus precincts.

Why is the "how" important?

Yeah, 'cause - who needs EVIDENCE anyhow.

only a very small percentage of REP voters in which will participate.

What'd you do instead of attending your caucus?

only a very small percentage of REP voters in which will participate.

What'd you do instead of attending your caucus?

None of your f*cking business, Nazi.

"Yeah, 'cause - who needs EVIDENCE anyhow."

Yeah. There's nothing to see here. The delegate process was above-board. Mere coincidence that Cruz got all 34 delegates while Trump and Kasich got ... zero. That someone "lost" the paperwork on Larry Singer. That a tweet went out "We did it. #NeverTrump."

The state party "says" they didn't send it, but admits they deleted it within minutes.

I have no sympathy for him. He is just another Dem who thinks he's entitled.

It's not ultimately about him, or the Republican Party. It's about us, we the people, and more directly, you.

Trump started this whole thing on a shoestring just a few months ago. He has not spent years inside politics.

You may like a deeply professionalized political class with arcane rules, but that favors that political class. But this nation has become more democratic over time.

Now, with Hispanic immigration and natality, Republicans cannot win long term unless they can bring people into their party: you need more men.

Cruz has not brought anybody new into the party. He has merely mobilized purists of a certain stripe, while alienating everybody else.

Trump has come on like a hurricane, with a ton of new voters, voters who bring a different ideological angle to the party - nationalist, and populist. You can win with this larger party.

Trouble is, you hate them ideologically, and you are very pleased to see Trump defeated.

The problem with THAT is that if you just get the purists who think like Cruz and you, you cannot win. As you will dscover.

There were 65,000 of you , right?

Versus the millions who would have voted in a primary, and the millions who will vote in the general election.

So, Cruz will get his 65,000, and the Democrats will get Colorado's Electoral Votes. I guess Republicans still believe they are going to be able to "pivot" and get Trump's voters.

Not happening. Crush democracy to control the process by denying people the vote, and the Trump people will vote for the other side. Whatever you fear from Trump, you will get worse from Hillary.

You've cut off your nose to spite your face.

Now, with Hispanic immigration and natality, Republicans cannot win long term unless they can bring people into their party: you need more men.

so let me get this straight ;you think Trump is going to bring more Hispanics into the Republican party ?

Trump has come on like a hurricane, with a ton of new voters, voters who bring a different ideological angle to the party - nationalist, and populist.

I don't think he has an ideology beyond opportunism . Yeah he talks like a 'know nothing' of the mid-1800s .Populist is a style of persuasion not an ideology (although it is more often a tool of the left ).

"The rules say we can change the rules, so the rules are whatever we say they are whenever we want."

Gosh. That sounds a lot like no rules.