A well-organized group of supporters for Sen. John McCain got just about everything they wanted Saturday at the Washington State Republican Convention, except maybe a meeting that ended on time.The 1,500-plus delegates elected the slates of national convention representatives and electors to the Electoral College…
A roll call vote to determine whether convention chairman Kirby Wilbur needed a roll call vote to determine there was a quorum is over.By a vote of 650 to 296, the convention says he was right in ruling he did not need that.But now there's…
A resolution requiring the House of Representatives to vote for a Declaration of War for any military action passes to the cheers of the Ron Paul delegates.A motion to extend the convention until "all business is concluded" will be voted on, and supporters of John…
The quorum count continues at the Spokane Convention Center, and the delegates are restless.They do "the wave" through the convention floor, but quickly tire of it.They sing "God Bless America," then "The Star Spangled Banner," which prompts the delegates to stand and put their hands…
So many delegates are leaving the hall that convention chairman Kirby Wilbur says the group may not have a quorum.When alternates in the back of the room suggested he seat alternates with a "One man, one vote," chant, Wilbur exploded with "Shut Up! How thick…
The Washington STate Republican Convention passed a packet of resolutions on points which include:* an opposition to Initiative 1000, which would allow terminally ill persons to opt for suicide.* making English the official of the United States.* increasing the use of nuclear power.* close the…
Convention delegates overwhelmingly passed an amendment to the platform calling for "a re-examination of the federal income tax, and opposition to the imposition of a state income tax."No one speaks against it.
Some scurrilous things are circulating at the convention, chairman Kirby Wilbur says, and delegates should be aware that they don't come from the party.Spelling John McCain's name with a hammer and sickle for the C is uncalled for, Wilbur says.Suggesting Ron Paul is a racist…
The Washington State Republican Convention should resume in a few minutes.It was scheduled to reconvene at 1 p.m. (which everyone knew wouldn't quite happen). But delegates are filing in to the Spokane Convention Center and Convention Chair Kirby Wilbur has asked them to please take…
GOP delegates agree to debate the platform section on Family issues. Among the points that may come up is the possibility of adding a "Human Life" amendment to the U.S. Constitution.It's also a point on which John McCain and Ron Paul are generally in agreement.
Motion to change the rules to outlaw signs on the convention floor fails, as the McCain people hold up NO signs.
Convention Chairman Kirby Wilbur is reading the preamble to the platform as copies are being handed out.He gets a big hand when reading the lines from the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed…
Here are the at-large delegates the state Republicans have chosen:
Ron Paul forces are asking to suspend the rules to elect a different slate of delegates to the national convention.It's being described as a "Unity Slate" and has well-known names such as former Sen. Slade Gorton and Rep. Cathy McMorris.It will take a two-thirds vote…
The early part of the morning at the Washington State Republican Convention will involve some things that have little or no mystery to them.Republicans have to elect 10 at-large delegates to the national convention. Seven are being awarded to John McCain and three to Mike…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
