About a year ago, a gathering of delegates to the Virginia Republican Party convention wanted change; I was among them. At the beginning, I wasn’t exactly sure what change was prevalent. There were many surprises, in that, the self-assured party moderates were taken aback. It became quite clear that a grassroots effort by ultra social conservatives had stacked the convention.

That’s the way of conventions. Those that are successful in turning out their supporters prevail. Without a Gilmore/Davis primary, Jim Gilmore appeared to have a lock on the Senatorial nomination. State Central Committee called for the convention.

Follow up:

The surprises were astounding. Gilmore barely eked out a win over Bob Marshall and Jeff Frederick clinched the Chairmanship from John Hager. That was the will of Convention delegates. Unfortunately, from the get-go, the Convention’s choice of Chairman did not sit well with many of the elected officials, the majority of which didn’t show up for the convention.

The contentiousness continued. Rather than unification, the party elite has refused to accept the result of the Convention. If there were a “Mulligan” in Conventions like in golf, it would have been called. As far as party fundraising, the moderates took their marbles home, and let Gilmore twist in the wind.

Now, on the cusp of November elections, the cry of “Mulligan” from members of State Central was instigated by the electeds. With a sufficient number running interference, letters and statements of “impeachment” flow.

The problem with Republicans is Republicans. Many are unwilling to partake in the process, and many of those that do, are unwilling to accept the will of the majority when things don’t go their way. The new Republican ideology is to tell them anything if it will appeal to swing voters or independents; hence, sacrificing the core of party and ostracizing the passionate grassroots.

The Republican Party is in complete disarray. If an example of true leadership would have stepped forward in a timely manner to overt the calamity and find equitably solutions rather squalling in a cat fight, things might have been different. Unfortunately, one can not unring a bell and one can’t undo the compounded damage that has occurred.