Pulling the Knives Out.... Part 4

What you are about to read is the first installment in a series detailing, in real time, the improper and proper events that occurred in the Augusta County Mass Meeting on April 10, 2008. These "reconstructed minutes" were compiled from the original minutes, raw audio and video footage of the meeting, countless hours of interviews, and pages of filed reports on the incident. Each section will include an overview of the meeting followed by a report on how it stands up against many legal sources and documents. We apologize for not getting this all out sooner--but the original SWAC bloggers have been having to pull a few knives out of our backs as of late....kinda hard to multi-task.

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PART 4 - Kurt Michael: Into the Fire

The meeting erupted with points of order being heard from throughout the body (all of which were ignored) including one by Al Katz for voting irregularity, one by Buddy Deaton sighting the illegal nature of the meeting’s proceedings, and Lynn Mitchell for voting without rules being set. A point of order was then made by Michael who cited that no delegates had been elected and begged the chair to reconsider (1).

Bailey had repeated that he had already adjourned the meeting sine die and ignored his point of order (2).

Points of order erupted again (all ignored) including Bibeau citing possible voter fraud, Jim Taetzsch citing the illegal election of convention delegates and failure to vote on them as a Mass Meeting, and Lynn Mitchell citing the voting that had occurred without a Permanent Chair being elected (3).

Michael rose with a motion of no confidence in the Temporary Chair, which was seconded by Kim Wiseman and the motion passed. With no Temporary Chairman, Michael then opened the floor for nominations for Temporary Chairman of the Mass Meeting. Bibeau nominated Michael with a second by Wiseman. Mitchell moved to close nominations and was seconded.

The vote was called and Michael was elected Temporary Chairman. Michael entertained a motion for Permanent Chairman of the Mass Meeting and Bibeau ‘so moved’ and received a second. The vote was taken and Michael was elected Permanent Chairman.

Senator Hanger and Roller approached Michael at the podium. Hanger asked the Temporary Chairman to affirm the delegates to the convention at that point. Michael then called for a vote, asking if the meeting should be adjourned. His request was denied.

Senator Hanger continued to object to Michael’s call to adjourn, so Michael repeated it, with the same results. Michael then asked Senator Hanger to affirm, even though the Mass Meeting had just voted in the majority to keep itself open, that their vote was out of order. Hanger complied and affirmed his statement again. Roller moved behind the podium to try and take over the Mass Meeting again.

Michael then called for a vote of the Mass Meeting for permission to continue with the meeting as the Temporary Chair and it passed. Hanger again, who had backed away, approached the podium to question the authority of Michael’s Temporary Chairmanship. Michael cautioned the Senator if he continued to disrupt the meeting without being recognized, he would ask him to leave. Michael appointed Drake as his Parliamentarian.

Roller then took the microphone from Michael and proceeded to attack him personally and claimed to the Mass Meeting that he was the rightful Chairman. Keith Drake called Roller out of order six times in a row and Roller finally relinquished his position behind the podium.

PART 4(a) - Kurt Michael: Into the Fire

1. Again, points of order must be recognized and acted upon by the chair. These were not, and as such, Bailey violated Robert’s Rules of Order (See pgs. 117 – 119).

2. Regardless of adjourning the meeting sine die or not, it still, under Robert’s Rules of Order must be called to a vote, receive a second, and receive a majority in favor of the action (See pg. 385).

3. Again, points of order must be recognized and acted upon by the chair. These were not, and as such, Bailey violated Robert’s Rules of Order (See pgs. 117 – 119). Also, even if Bailey had taken the initiative to certify the delegates to their respective conventions, he would have no authority to do so. (See Augusta County Republican Committee Bylaws, Article X, Section E and the Republican Party of Virginia Plan of Organization, Article VIII, Section H (1)(a) )

Part 5 - The Wrongs are Righted...coming soon!...

See The Opening - Part 1 here.
See Bailey Stumbles Forward - Part 2 here.
See With a Vote of No Confidence - Part 3 here.