Freedom works, a most prominent organizing body of the Tea Party summarizes the dis-unifying hubbub concerning the election and handling of delegates to the Republican convention. This has extreme significance for the grass roots of the party to bring up candidates for election and to affect the party platform.
As of this convention, the Republican Party has, through rules changes, made itself more of a top down party like the Democrats, instead of one which has to listen to the grass roots.
In very brief, The RNC anointed presidential candidate will be able to choose delegates from the states (thus eliminating dissenters such as the Ron-Paulians or those who continued to support Santorum or Gingrich). It also changed a rule which now allows the RNC to change party rules between conventions when no one is looking. (Now Freedom Works will be looking, so pay attention to them.) This will suppress the grass roots influence on what is contained in the Republican platform. Expect the social issues to disappear unless the RNC becomes afraid of a third party split.

The best description of the events at the convention is below. Click it. Please email that link or this article.

Romney's "RNC Power Grab": What Really Happened | FreedomWorks.

The very upset Ron-Paulians put out their own video <--(click to view it) to express their displeasure. You'll hear audio of a voice vote which was ignored and suppressed by John Boehner at the convention. Below is “teleprompter” imagery of the PRE-ORDAINED nature of the conclusion., found at Freedom Works.

We have to first get Obama out, then we have to go to work on the Republican national committee. If the Tea Party successfully brings up their own candidates as independents in the state elections, room for the grass roots might be recreated within the Republican party, or perhaps a third party will form. Todd Akin is effectively an independent after the RNC cut all funding. Electing him is a good opportunity for the conservatives to show the RNC that it is no longer a vital part of the political process.