What's it like, trying to participate in small-d democracy over in Red America?

Instructive answers were on display at the 2004 Colorado GOP Assembly, where the Colorado Springs Gazette helpfully reminds us this morning that

...there were 400 more votes cast than there were delegates, leading to charges of ballot-box stuffing.

Yesterday they tried again; and though the number of votes at the 2006 Colorado GOP Assembly didn't exceed the number of voters, looks like there were plenty of shenanigans to go around. The Gazette continues:

...scores of delegates left without voting -- including 46 from El Paso County, said County Commissioner Wayne Williams, the assembly rules chairman.

Holtzman press secretary Jesse Mallory said during the process that he was happy with the changes because they guarded against voter fraud. Immediately after that interview, a campaign worker said to Mallory: "I don't think there's any question that the delay worked to our advantage. Our people stayed in place."

But after results were announced, Holtzman campaign consultant Boyd Marcus accused the party of working against his candidate. He complained about the lengthy process of credentialing and of 24 El Paso County delegates being allowed to vote after ballot boxes had been closed.

All this after weeks of haggling over how they were going to protect this election from the people in charge of it. In the end, my understanding is the World Arena was crawling with state police keeping an eye on the ballot boxes...

Disgruntled righties immediately attacked at Colorado Pols yesterday evening.

BM (Bob Martinez, or bowel movement) did a wonderful job of unifying the party…the Republicans left early in unison, so as to avoid the "Superdome" fiasco. The whole convention was ridiculous, and very disappointing. This was my first (and probably last) state convention...

It was a pathetic day for Colorado Republicans. There are way too many problems in this party. From Martinez interrupting Marc to the blatant lack of planning of the vote. These folks have got to go...

I've been a life-long Republican, but "flight" is what I'm doing this year. When you get the real party back, give me a call -- this is NOT the Republican party of my grandfather. I do wish you well, but I'm sick of what's happened and I have little doubt the inmates won't be occupying the asylum long after someone's turned off the lights and shut off the gas.

The World Arena was starting to remind me of the Super Dome in New Orleans. Older participants needing medical care (there were paremedics, thank God), lack of food vendors, and food running out. Everyone was well dressed though.

When El Paso and Teller Counties were announced many delegates had left the arena. that's when the BB camp began trolling for delegates and calling people at home to come and vote. They also were busy calling alternates to come to the arena to vopte [sic] some 4 hours later...

The entire process was a fiasco. The party would be better served by dismissing those in charge of their duties and having a vacancy.

Do you know what I see when I read this? I see Bill Owens and Donetta Davidson in 2004, issuing "emergency orders" targeting "Democrat vote fraud" that never materialized. I see Republican "GOTV" operatives throwing away thousands of Democratic voter registrations in 2004. I see hundreds of thugs in ties converging on the Miami-Dade Clerk and Recorder's office in December of 2000 screaming "Stop this count!"

In a way, this is worse: this is how they treat their own. This is what they mean by "culture of corruption," isn't it? From the bush leagues to the hallowed halls of Washington...