The Messy and Ugly Divorce Between the RNC and the Libertarians

As this Republican convention began an event occurred that I was anticipating to pass. The messy and ugly divorce between the RNC and the Libertarian branch of the Republican party. To those that actually follow the boring, into the weeds dynamics of internecine party politics, this came as no surprise. The only thing none of us knew was how this inevitability would manifest itself: A somewhat amicable parting, or a train wreck. Train wreck won.

Without going into too much details how the RNC, or in this case Romney's campaign, went about it, if you are one of those that is a devout adherent to Paul and the Libertarian wing, the parting must have felt like a complete repudiation of your beliefs. Or in my vernacular, a bitchslap.

But was it undeserved? In my opinion, the bitchslap was meant to be more than a shot across a bow it was meant to repudiate and dismiss this branch from the party. Let's get one thing clear about party politics, they offer a comforting blanket for splinter factions to push and promote their agendas within the party. It is often rancorous and sometimes dirty, but at the end of the day the in-fighting is supposed to make the party stronger and as a  party member, it is implied that all animosities are put aside and the party rallies behind the nominee. In the case of Paul and the Libertarians, Romney was one pill they wanted no part of.

So Romney and the RNC told them, in no uncertain terms, "SCRAM!" And they purposely did it in a fashion that both disenfranchised them at the convention, as well as embarrass them.

Bear in mind, the adherent faithfuls of Paul were not going to vote for Romney. They can't, as far as they are concerned, Romney and Obama are two sides of the same coin. Also, while they don't necessarily brag about this, they know they are leeching unto the party to serve their agenda only. As opposed to the relationship between a shark and a remora whereby the relationship is beneficial to both, Paul has driven his agenda akin to that of a virus to suck all the benefits that the party afforded his cause with no desire of repaying back that relationship.

The Romney campaign realized that the Libertarian wing was never going to vote for him. Furthermore, they knew that the Libertarians were going to be disruptive at the convention. They were also aware that any prolonged disruption was going to work in Obama's favor. The decision was made to kick them out on day one as forcefully and quietly as possible.

So what happens now? The Romney campaign is anticipating that they will not need the Libertarian's to win. But here is where things get interesting, if Romney does win it will be at least eight years before another Libertarian gets a prominent platform to push their agenda, and frankly I don't see the Libertarian party waiting that long to make noise.

Here comes the surprise twist: If Romney wins it will be primarily due to the economy and the different economic principles between the Republicans and the Democrats. Tactically, I see the Democrats reassessing their strategy and may opt to take a more fiscally conservative approach towards the economy (especially is there is an economic turnaround under Romney). With that in mind I can see the Democrats making not too subtle overtures to the Libertarians to bring them under their platform, not only garner their votes but help give credibility that Democrats are fiscally sound as well.

Will it happen? Who knows, but politics do make strange bedfellows