Leigh Dethman does a great job of giving the gist of my rapid fire comments in an interview that went 11 minutes shortly after the conclusion of the court hearing and shortly before her deadline. I would, however, like to make a small but significant correction to one of the more central quotes which she renders as: "If you can't even choose your own representative to the state Legislature, because that choice is already made for you by party leaders ... then why do we live in America?"
The quote is word perfect with the exception of the final clause, where I actually said, "then why do we CALL THIS America."
Again, much appreciation to the Deseret News and to Leigh Dethman for bringing this issue to the attention of the voters of Utah, and to the comments moderators for finally posting one of my responses to the last three articles about this case.

The wheels of justice turn slowly, but let's all hope they continue to turn in this case. Republican "superdelegates" are a slap in the face to all of us who attend our caucus meetings and submit to a vote of our neighbors to win one of the few delegate positions.

Keep it up Mike. There are many people behind you who would like to have a more fair process but don't dare to openly oppose our party leaders.

Mike Ridgway and others who are against automatic delegates love their neighbors enough that they are willing to work tirelessly, at all hours of the morning to 1)alert us of encroachments in the Party and 2)direct misguided citizens. Mike's sacrifices are numerous. Let's be thankful, learn from him and act like true principled Americans. I vote no for automatic "super-delegates." Thank you Leigh for your efforts.

Loren, your comment about "many people" who "don't dare to openly oppose our party leaders" is very sad but, in my experience, very true. I was very active in the party for several years, and whenever I would take a stand on an issue like this I'd get lots of private encouragement, but hardly anyone ever dared to speak up publicly because bad things seemed to happen to those who did.

In countless little ways the current party leadership has pushed and continues to push the party away from grass-roots participation. That is one of the primary reasons I chose to resign party leadership positions. I just don't care to be associated with them anymore.

Last night as I attended my precinct meeting and we took the time to read the party platform, I was amazed at how far from the platform we have strayed and comments were made by the attendees concerning that same idea.
We say we believe in certain things and then what is actually promoted by our party leaders is contrary.
What am I to think?
Are the ideals and values promoted in the party platform just a bunch of words and a front for some other agenda? If the by-laws say we should do something, then we should do it or change the by-laws. Serving the interests of the few will not build the unity of the party. It will destroy it.
Leaders demostrate their true colors by the amount of integrity they exhibit, whether they be stewards or despotic tyrants.

The "ambiguity" Weiler speaks of, was directly addressed by an amendment, put forth by party leaders a few years ago. It would have changed the party constitution to allow the counties decide how to allocate, instead of continuing to specify it in the constitution. That amendment was soundly voted down by the delegates. Yet the party leaders still maintain that the counties can choose? What is ambiguous about that, Mr. Weiler?

The truth is that party leaders have simply decided to ignore there own constitution, and the will of the delegates (which included many of the delegates in question).

One should ask, why are the party leaders so adamant about keeping these unauthorized delegates? Is it because they are more beholden to the leadership than a delegate who is properly elected by the people?

Mike,

Keep up the good work! Automatic delegates are the biggest issue for Utahns. It's all everyone talks about. When I go to the store or church or gym, I hear people complaining about automatic delegates all the time.

It's too bad that most Republican delegates worry about less important issues such as budget deficits, trade deficits, immigration, taxes, crime, terrorism, education and so on. We need to focus like a laser on this issue.

If we can take care of the automatic delegate issue, all of the other problems will take care of themselves.

I know you've spent at least ten years on this issue, but it will some day be worth it.

Good job, Mike for trying to get them to follow the rules. Don't give up!

Thanks to Leigh for such a fair article!

Appreciate the article by Leigh Dethman about the automatic delegate issue. When "elected" officials are given automatic delegate status, they in turn get to vote as delegates (without being elected by the people at their specific precinct caucus meetings) at State and/or County conventions again and again. What about the power of the people? Some will argue that the "automatic delegates" are only a small percentage, but that is not true in some counties. Some elections are won by a very small margin.

I personally think giving elected officials an "automatic delegate" is wrong. They are elected to certain positions to fill the responsibilities of their office. Why should they have the perk of an automatic delegate position? The people should be able to re-elect them if they have done a good job or have the power to elect a new person. Who could stop elected officials if they have been given the power to elect themselves? What about checks and balances?

Great article - this was very informative and presented the scenario very well. Way to go Mike Ridgway with your efforts! The only way for us to return the power to the people in the Utah Republican party is to get behind Mike on this issue and stop the automatic delegates.

If we don't do this the deck will eventually be so stacked in favor of automatic delegates that the will of the people ultimately will be left aside in favor of the will of a few selected elite.

It was obvious from reading the platform and comparing it to the actions of the party leaders that leadership is out of touch with the grass-roots. The push to have appointed delegates is a reflection of the arrogance of these so called leaders, who believe they know more than the great unwashed masses. This case is a good test to see if the judicial system represents justice or the power clique of the "elite".

Good luck with the lawsuit! Super delegates = incumbent protection. Lets take the party back from the elitists.

Mike thank you for fighting for what is just and honest. The United States was formed by people who would rather give their lives than give up. It is far easier to sit back and do nothing, than to actually fight for what you believe in.

I hope everyone who reads this article, will do whatever they can to help Mike in his efforts. One person can’t do this alone. Mike needs our help.

Leigh thank you for writing this article, and bringing this issue to our attention. I believe a news media that works to kept he public informed with accurate and timely information, is just as important as the election process itself. You can’t have honest elections without honest media.

Mike, it's sad that the State Republican party leadership would even argue with you over this automatic delegates issue, let alone having you feel you have to go to court over it to get it resolved. The question I want to ask is a bit different than yours, I ask: is the Republican Party in Utah American? Those of us who attended Caucus meetings are looking for a voice and a choice, not a railroading.

Thanks Mike, I will try to raise some money for the lawsuit. This is VERY important.

Delegates nominate their legislative candidates, but what of checks and balances and accountability to Republican voters? Shouldn't they who vote for the Republican candidate choose their candidate through their neighborhood elected delegate? Instead, the legislators themselves are appointed as automatic delegates and they say they choose themselves by essentially telling us by their choices and actions: "I should be your candidate and if you don't believe me, then ask me because I am the one to decide." Our whole process should be about accountability. The absurdity of automatic delegates applies similarly to the issues decided by senate district chairmen and the rest and more that they have long been attempting to install. They essentially act as establishment rubber stamp votes rather than representation of the Republican voters of Utah.

The great irony is that Joe Cannon (Of all PEOPLE) let's his reporters give Mike Ridgway (OF ALL PEOPLE) the time of day, let alone top-shelf coverage.

Thanks Mike, If party leaders and elected officials can't get elected in their own precinct, perhaps they shouldn't hold office at all. After all these are the people that know them best.

Salt Lake County may have elected officials as automatic delegates, but almost all of the other Utah counties do not. The few people who have automatic delegate status are the party officers who put in countless hours of service to the party without pay and who many times are not able to even attend their own caucuses becasue they are trouble-shooting and going to different locations making sure everything is running well.

Mike Ridgeway and associates are very good at complaining, but they are not the ones who stayed up until 4:30 AM Wednesday morning after the cauceses inputing the information into the computers so the newly elected delegates could be counted and information sent to them about the upcoming conventions. They are not the ones who take time off of work to fulfill party duties. They are not the ones who work -- they just keep complaining and causing problems at Republican meetings.

Why do the problems and fighting in Salt Lake County continue to spill over into all of the other counties and the state party? Most of us in the other counties are tired of it.

I, for one, am sick and tired of the cheating that is going on all over this country within the Republican party. These automatic delegates are nothing but away around the people's voice. Let's not let our voices be pushed aside and railroaded. We must fight for our rights, and I commend Mike Ridgeway for having the courage to stand boldly against these power-hungry criminals.

Thanks Mike Ridgeway for all your hard work. Please let us know what we can do to help in the effort.

First, doesn't this sound familiar? The National Democrats are doing the exact same thing and boy are they getting hassled, and SHOULD BE. Is there really any difference here between the two?!

Maybe we should just give up and elect a Politburo, like they do in Russia, or China. That would be much easier, still. No messy surprises, right?

Both parties sound a lot alike. This year's McCain could have been HHH in 1968. Why not check into alternatives, like the Constitution Party and get reality back into politics? If enough left the Republicans, they'd get a clue. Right now they are clueless.