Cleveland/ 7/19/2016/ By Larry Meyers, National Delegate from Utah

Ed’s Note: This article contains 4 parts; The Convention Report, Convention Notes, Larry’s pics from the floor, and other related articles posted by Ed

The GOP Convention Report

For Utah’s delegates, the day had started earlier with a breakfast, sponsored by our US Senator Orrin Hatch, at our delegation hotel. We heard short welcoming messages from Hatch, Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Rob Bishop, Governor Gary Herbert, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, and Speaker Greg Hughes.

Thumbs up from my favorite Senator, Michael S. Lee. Things are about to get interesting on adopting convention rules. The Rules Committee rejected some good reforms, so Utah and some other states are demanding a roll call vote on the rules.

Senator Lee, who was one of Utah’s representatives on the convention Rules Committee, reported at breakfast that he would be voting against the proposed convention rules. Lee and Virginia’s Ken Cuccinelli had been negotiating with Trump and RNC representatives over rule changes, such as giving more power to the delegates and rewarding States that only allow Republicans to vote in their primaries with more delegates. But the negotiations broke down and conservatives decided to oppose the proposed convention rules in a final effort to effect change.

The rules conflict came to a head at the end of the opening session of the convention, when the proposed rules were presented for approval by the delegates. Knowing that the vote on the rules would be close and that the chair would likely call the vote in favor of approval, the majority of the delegates from ten States (eight were needed) signed a petition asking for a roll call (State by State) vote on the rules.

I, along with most of Utah’s delegation, signed the petition. There were reports that the convention secretary used armed guards in an attempt to avoid being served with the petitions, but I did not see this personally.

The petition was delivered and the RNC/Trump workers immediately began to contact the delegates who had signed the petition, asking them to remove their signatures. I was contacted by two different operatives and told them I was sticking with my position. The “persuasion” effort apparently worked on other delegates, as at least three States withdrew their petitions. Things went as expected when the chair called for a vote on the rules. The chair said that the rules were approved, though many thought that the “nay” votes were louder. Many delegates were upset with the chair’s ruling and vocally protested when the chair tried to move on with the next item of business. The yelling continued for several minutes until the chair took a break to allow things to settle down. When business resumed, Utah’s delegation chair moved for a roll call vote, but the motion was denied based on the chair’s claim that three States had rescinded their petitions and that, with only seven States wanting a roll call, the rules did not allow it. Without further explanation, the chair moved on to the next item of business—approval of the Platform.

To end this report on a high note, the 2016 Republican Platform is an excellent presentation of the modern conservative philosophy. It begins with references to the principles of the Declaration of Independence—God-given rights and equality before the law—and includes a long section on returning to Constitutional government, including religious liberty and ending government by bureaucracy.

Utah GOP Chair and Delegation Chair getting a lot of media attention, due to us challenging the rules.

CONVENTION NOTES

The Republican National Convention in Cleveland kicked off Monday afternoon with the Pledge of Allegiance, a youth choir performing the National Anthem, and a beautiful prayer by a rabbi. Trump-Pence signs and the “Make America Great Again” slogan were everywhere. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and a variety of other Party and local government officials (including the Democratic Mayor of Cleveland) welcomed the delegates to the high-tech and colorfully- decorated arena where the Cavaliers recently won the NBA title.

The day’s theme was “Making America Safe Again” and the evening session was filled with speeches related to military and law enforcement issues:

— Hispanic actor Antonio Sabato, Jr., perhaps putting his Hollywood career in jeopardy, called for secure borders and ending illegal immigration.

— U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul, chair of the House Homeland Security committee, declared that the US will fire the last shot in the war on terror.

— Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clark, Jr., proclaimed that “blue lives matter” and that the group Black Lives Matter is promoting anarchy.

— U.S. Sen. Tom Cottom said that “help is on the way” in the War on Terror if Donald Trump is elected.

— U.S. Sen. Jeff Session reaffirmed his support for Trump because of Trump’s strong stands against illegal immigration and globalist trade deals.

— Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani got the crowd fired up with his call for support for law enforcement, combined with his testimony that he has known Donald Trump for thirty years as a man with a “big heart,” who anonymously donated to those in need, who “loves people,” and is “a good and decent man.”

Other highlights included:

 — Celebrity endorsements from Willie Robertson, who led the convention in prayer, and Scott Baio, who actually got a bigger applause than Willie.

— Powerful and sad messages from Benghazi heroes Mark Geist (Oz) and John Tiegen (Tig), “lone survivor” Marcus Luttrell, and family members who had lost family members, including Pat Smith, whose son was killed in Benghazi, saying that Hillary Clinton lied to her face.

— Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, who said he would have been arrested had he done what Hillary did with her email server.

— Donald Trump appeared and introduced his wife, Melania, who talked about her experience as an immigrant who became an American citizen and how Donald Trump is a “kind, fair, and caring man” who loves our country and wants prosperity for all Americans.

My favorite speaker was Darryl Glenn, El Paso County Commissioner, a black Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate in Colorado. Glenn declared himself a “Christian, Constitutionalist, pro-life, Second Amendment lover” and said that the solution to society’s ills is a return to traditional conservative principles, such as fathers taking responsibility for their children.

Scroll down for other stories

Big fella attracting a crowd on the floor.

Sad moment. Her son was the civilian technician who was killed in Benghazi, thanks to Hillary’s incompetence.

Past 11 pm. I am about the last Utah delegate sitting here listening. Doing my job, like a boss.

Editor’s Note: The following links to articles from other sources were added to Larry’s report 

ABC News – Cleveland Police Call for Ban on Open Carry, Governor Kasich Reminds Them of the Constitution

Twitter – Bystanders And Attendees Applaud Police Officers Outside RNC In Cleveland

CNN – Marlana VanHoose ROCKS The National Anthem At The GOP Convention

USN – Could the #RNCinCLE Chosen a More Pathetic Song?

Accuracy in Media – The Trump Show Takes Center Stage at Republican National Convention

The Blaze – GOP Convention Floor Devolves Into Chaos as ‘Never Trump’ Demand Gets Shut Down

RT News – WATCH: Mike Lee RESPONDS to roll call vote being denied by RNC

COR – Mother Of Benghazi Victim At GOP Convention: ‘I Blame Hillary Clinton’

WisconsinWatchdog.org – Wisconsin GOP delegate standing by his candidate – and it’s not Trump

Watchdog.org – Farming freely: An RNC interview with Liberty Farms’ Martha Boneta

Daily Caller News Foundation – Meet Some Of The Literal Fascists Attending The RNC

CNS – Melania Trump ignites GOP convention after gloom, turmoil

CSN – Some Melania Trump speech lines mirror Michelle Obama speech

Accuracy in Media – Liberal Media Networks Run with Story of Melania Trump’s RNC Speech Possibly Being Plagiarized

AIM – Mother of Benghazi Victim Blasts Hillary Clinton at RNC Convention

AIM – Chris Matthews Slams GOP for Having Benghazi Victim’s Mother “Lie” About Hillary Clinton at Convention [Video]

Rich Swyer –Dutch Free Speech Advocate attending GOP Convention — Islamic Supremacists outraged

The Daily Signal – Despite Efforts From LGBT Group, GOP Platform Retains Social Conservative Tenets

COR – Rudy Giuliani Goes OFF In Passionate GOP Convention Speech

COR – Sheriff David Clarke: ‘Blue Lives Matter In America!’

Chicks on the Right – ‘Lone Survivor’ Marcus Luttrell Speaks At GOP Convention, Crowd Goes Wild