The September 2021 CAGOP Convention was indeed the worst attended I have ever heard of since my first CAGOP Convention in 1999.
There were about 500 bodies and 300 proxies. I believe that someday there will be more proxies than bodies at a convention. That day could be sooner than I’d have imagined. On that subject, Tom Hudson, everyone’s favorite windmill charger took an amendment to limit proxies to one per person (at that Associates only ones eligible to carry) to the floor and it was just a few votes short of a majority.
One of the major issues of the convention was Andy Garakhani, forever known as Andy Gimmecandy. Gimmecandy was said to be having anger outbursts the whole weekend. He was said to have stomped out of the proxies and credentials committee meeting when the Yuba County issue was brought up. (Remember Yuba was one of three county parties given delegates by the crooked CAGOP Leadership despite violating California Election Law)
Drew Mercy, a legislative staffer (and a friend of mine) is the chair of the committee. No legislative staffer or consultant should have any position of responsibility in anything state party, but I digress. Mercy and his crew ignored requests from the new and legitimate leadership of the Yuba GOP to undo the illegally selected delegates. Remember also, that Glenn and Tehama are in the same boat, but have both been given a pass because there was no effort to undo the cabals in those counties. Also note that illegitimate members of both Glenn and Tehama are on the proxies and credentials committee – while the same CAGOP Leadership talk about election integrity.
The crooked CAGOP Chair Jessica Patterson is alleged to be in line to become RNC Chair. This is the underpinning of the systemic and gross violations of CAGOP By-Laws and election law. Kevin McCarthy is alleged to be trying to line up all of his proxies in party leadership positions everywhere. While the same leaders talk about election integrity.
Perhaps the Yuba GOP issue can become a national issue – especially with the insiders reloading to re-sell what is left of the CAGOP to Faulconer once again. What did Patterson and crew do to Yuba? Told them to go to hell multiple times and is making them wait until April for a hearing and even should they prevail, the 6 illegitimate delegates will be able to fill out their full term due to the delays. Imagine what kind of game playing and corruption will come to the RNC should McCarthy succeed in anointing Patterson.
(P.S. More specific details about McCarthy-Patterson coming later)
So – for those of you scoring at home, the summary of CAGOP Corruption under Jessica Patterson:
22 illegally appointed delegates in LA County Districts in violation of CAGOP By-Laws
Tehama / Glenn continuing to have delegates appointed in violation of state law
Yuba County
Several County Parties that got bonus delegates with zero oversight from the committee
Proxies and Credentials populated with conflicted delegates and consultants (and allowing bad proxies to stand at that)
CAGOP Committees run by political consultants and staffers
3 separate attempts to rig CAGOP Endorsement for Kevin Faulconer
Perhaps this is why Jessica Patterson was getting roundly booed from the floor of the convention repeatedly.
Of further note – the CAGOP Rules Committee, controlled 100% by Patterson loyalist consultants, staffers, donors and insiders killed all meaningful proposed CAGOP By-Law amendment proposals.
They killed Rule 10 to restore the permanent charter of the CCR – California College Republicans. I believe this is because the rival organization is aligned with Kevin McCarthy.
They killed a rule change that would have made county party secretaries automatic delegates similar to Treasurers. It is clear that they want to keep the party small and moribund in order to control it.
(and they were talking about election integrity at the same time)
In my opinion the most egregious issue was the re-election of GOP insider and mega donor Howard Hakes. I have written about my low opinion of Hakes and his apparent superiority complex and dismissive treatment of any convention attendees he thinks are beneath him. IN the case of the election Hakes beat David Hernandez 48-35.
With a margin like that why did it take 6 RECOUNTS? Did they change votes? Did Andy G. bully people in to changing votes? Why was Andy Gimmecandy running around the empty convention in a panic while the LA Regional Meeting was in session?
WHY DID IT TAKE 6 RECOUNTS to get a result?
Oh, and how many of the 22 delegates appointed to LA County Districts in clear violation of State Party By-Laws voted in that race?\
(and they were talking about election integrity the entire weekend)
From the dais, Jessica Patterson (the erstwhile future RNC Chair) said we can’t mention the “F” word because it will decrease voter turnout. Perhaps the Party of Election Integrity making a mockery of its’ own rules is the fraud that Jessica Patterson does not want to mention?
6 recounts.
Garbage delegates from Yuba County.
Rules Committee outcome pre scripted and determined.
Consultant-run proxies and credentials committee.
A party at 23% and falling. Quite the resume for RNC Chairwoman.
