UTAH GOP STATE CONVENTION - May 10, 2008. Located: Orem, Utah
Video commentary by Mike Ridgway at the convention.
Topics: ILLEGAL automatic delegates failed to give Jason Chaffetz the 60% he needed to oust Chris Cannon and eliminate a primary run. Jason Chaffetz is the challenger to Chris Cannon -- who is the current incumbant for 3rd Congressional District House of Representitives. While Mike was commenting on illegal delegates being the big winners of the day for keeping -- once again -- incumbants in power, David O. Leavitt and his wife, Chalom, walk by.
Mike interviews David, asking him about the REAL purpose of his reason for being in the race, suggesting in fact he was only in the race to help Cannon's run and FORCE Chaffetz OUT of the race. (Leavitt came in 3rd place and was ousted in an earlier round of voting.)
Mike's wife, Chalom Leavitt says "Thank Heavens" [with regard to Chaffetz NOT getting 60% of the vote and FORCING yet another primary run for Chris Cannon], who in all likelihood will win the primary election for the reasons Mike describes in this video. (The whole system in Utah is set up to FAVOR incumbants and challengers VIRTUALLY NEVER WIN in Utah, Mike argues due to the high percentage of ILLEGAL DELEGATES casting votes for incumbants in narrow races.)
It is estimated no less than 400 illegal delegates were present at this State GOP convention. Chaffetz lost ousting Cannon from his Congressional re-election bid by 9 (NINE) votes. Even if Chaffetz had kept his 59.04% ratio, if those 400 voters had been LEGAL delegates, in all likelihood Chaffetz would have easily gained 9 additional votes.
Additionally, another topic NOT discussed in this video is the idea of "preference voting" or "instant runnoff voting" instead of multiple round voting as used for GOP races. Commentary here was made after a 3rd round of voting. We have recently found records showing the number of voters casting 1st round votes, versus 3rd round votes to be about 120 votes less by the 3rd round. This is another topic for later discussion, as "delegate drop-off" throughout the day plays a huge role in the results of close races.
Leavitt insists Chaffetz is a MUCH WORSE choice for Congress than Cannon - as one reason he seemingly supports Cannon, despite being Cannon's challenger.
Mike asks Leavitt WHY he pulled that illegal stunt of parading signs for Cannon on the delegate floor, but didn't really get an answer for that.
Mike follows up by discussing how illegal delegates saved the day once again for incumbant candidates.
Dave Duncan wants to know WHY having a primary is NOT a good thing. Mike points out there should not have BEEN a primary at all, because if ILLEGAL DELEGATES who vote for incumbants were NOT PRESENT, Chaffetz would have EASILY passed the 60% mark.
In other words, having a primary would be a GOOD thing in order to give challengers a better chance to compete. Primaries are a bad thing when illegal delegates artificially raise the outcome percentages to favor incumbants who should NOT be seeing a primary race.
My video comments: YES, I was on the telephone the whole time. FURB wanted to know what the results of the races. It seems and never fails that I ALWAYS get a phone call when I'm trying to capture important video. Not bad that I sort of paid attention and kept the camera sort of steady while not paying attention? I TRY HARD not to talk too loud while videotaping, but the audio is geared to capture voice in certain directions... like right behind the camera.
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My Take on the Jason Chaffetz/Chris Cannon KSL Debateby airgyro1777 views
Why does anyone waste their time talking to Ridgway?
Famous last words: "You can expect Chaffetz to be defeated in the primary"
AnacondaTwelve 3 years ago
ichabod crane here loves to hear himself talk
omaenokachan 3 years ago
This just shows what a class act Leavitt is. (Note Saccharin Sarcasm)
mottoncouthUSA 3 years ago