Local fun

I was just reading today about the WA state GOP convention. A couple of fun tidbits:

Ron Paul's supporters organized and turned out en masse, as they have in other states. The result is that about 40% of the GOP delegates are open or covert Paul supporters. They are not trying to derail the McCain nomination, but they are planning something for the national convention. Ostensibly they just want to influence the national party platform, but there may be more in the offing. Should be an entertaining sideshow.

Speaking of platforms, the state GOP platform includes a position which would require changes to the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, such that children of illegal immigrants born in the US would not be citizens. From a purely tactical position, I hope this one makes it into the national platform. McCain is hoping to gain hispanic support from his (and Bush's) pro-immigration positions and Obama's lackluster performance among hispanics. Not that latinos are real likely to vote in large numbers for the party of Tom "Deport 'em all" Tancredo, but a policy plank like that would help cement their position as the more racist and xenophobic party.