VOLuntarilyConservative

(Part One of Day 5 was written previously and provided an account of Wednesday morning's breakfast through a late afternoon reception with Senator Corker and Senator Alexander. This post picks up from that point to the conclusion of Day 5.)

I spent much of the early parts of the Wednesday session roaming the Xcel Center. I was able to speak with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, actor Jon Voight (whom we saw every day of the RNC), former Senator Bob Dole, Tennessee Republican Party Communications Director Bill Hobbs, The Daily Show's Jason Jones, and several members of the Pajamas Media crew. When I finally took my seat in Tennessee's alternate section (which provided a better, more comfortable view of the events than Tennessee's seating on the convention floor), what drew my attention were the superstars of the Republican Party working the floor, shaking hands, posing for photos, and giving interviews. Mitt Romney (somewhere in the crush of people above), Mike Huckabee, and Michael Steele were all seen repeatedly during the convention, sometimes spending hours at a time accommodating requests of the delegations and media.

Conventional wisdom stated that both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee were unofficially launching their 2012 presidential bids with their speeches without showing any pessimism towards John McCain's chances in 2008. If that was the idea, then neither really delivered, as their speeches were pretty flat and unassuming. I've seen both men much better on the stump (especially Mitt), but Huckabee was probably a bit better than Mitt on this night. Neither man was up to the standard later set by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (pictured above). Rudy brought the heavy artillery out against Barrack Obama. Much like Fred Thompson the night before, you had to wonder where these great, inspiring, vigorous speeches were when these men ran for President beginning last year.

Even with Giuliani's outstanding performance, he was merely setting the stage for the moment of the convention, when Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin took the stage to speak to the nation for the first time. Even those of us familiar with her ideology and background had to have been a little nervous as Palin came though the door. Electricity was certainly needed in the arena, as the Governor of Hawaii had run long, erasing all energy from the Xcel Center with her neverending monotone introduction of Sarah Palin. That bumped the video introduction of Palin (which was played the following day and was quite good), which was unfortunate. But even the boring Governor of Hawaii and immediate teleprompter problems didn't phase Palin or prevent her from making an address that has to qualify as historic.

After Sarah Palin's incredible address, country superstars (and our fellow roomies at the Ramada Mall of America) John Rich, Cowboy Troy, and Gretchen Wilson took the stage and sung a touching version of the Star Spangled Banner intermixed with the Pledge of Allegiance. John Rich then fired up the crowd by performing his acclaimed anthem for the McCain campaign, "Raising McCain."

The roll call vote followed, with a round of most states passing so that Senator McCain's home state of Arizona could have the honor of putting him over the top. The vote wasn't nearly as interesting as I thought it would be. It was probably wrong of the RNC not to allow for the Ron Paul delegates to have their votes for Dr. Paul recorded in the record. Several states, including Sarah Palin's home state of Alaska, cast some of their votes for Dr. Paul, although the numbers were quite paltry and were more of a symbolic gesture. Also of interest to me was Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey's auction-style announcement of Tennessee's votes. We had talked Ron into doing so, although it might have been our hubris that caused Ron to cast our votes for "George S. McCain." That being the case, most people didn't even notice because Ron said it so fast.

There was another major party that night put on by ONE, a bipartisan group. Angela and I were simply too tired to attend and instead went back to the hotel to hang out with the members of the MuzikMafia.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention

Wednesday morning began with speeches to the Tennessee and Alaska delegations by Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Bob Corker touched a little on his recent trip to Georgia to view the unrest in that nation. Lamar Alexander showed a strong states' rights streak with his hammering of the need to stop unfunded federal mandates.

Governor Huckabee (pictured above with Chip Saltsman and Susan Williams) spoke mostly about Governor Sarah Palin. He pointed out that Palin received more votes while running for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden received in two presidential bids. Huckabee predicted that value voters will not turn from Palin due the recent pregnancy discussions, citing that she will become "like family" to the American people, and families stick together and offer forgiveness when needed. He pointed to Obama's meager record, and Huckabee hammered Obama when he said that the closest Obama has ever come to dealing with a terrorist is when he met with William Ayres. Huckabee closed a strong speech with a proposal that the nation's energy problem could be solved if the hot air could somehow be harnessed from Nancy Pelosi's speeches.
In the afternoon, an event was held with Senators Corker and Alexander at the Minnesota Science and Energy Museum.

From the veranda of the museum, several of us from Knox County were struck by how similar St. Paul and Knoxville were. The picture above greatly resembles the view off of the South End Zone seats at Neyland Stadium. We were also able to speak with Lamar Alexander about new historical exhibits in Tennessee, the importance of knowing one's genealogy, and how Tennessee's history is shaping its future. It was an intriguing informal discussion that I enjoyed greatly. Lamar is a great student of history, that is for sure.

During his program remarks, Bob Corker told details of his trip to Georgia. He also told of an interesting aspect of John McCain's foreign relations experience, of how world leaders to whom Corker has spoken don't speak of "Senator McCain," but of "John."

Lamar also addressed the crowd. He told of specific goals and predictions regarding energy, which is without a doubt the biggest issue being discussed here in the Twin Cities. Lamar believes that within 15-20 years that 50% of our cars will be electrically powered. He believes that this help our national dependency on foreign oil, but he realizes that 50% of our cars at that time would still be dependent on gasoline. In order to help all Americans and not create economic hardships based on what people could afford, Lamar believes that we need to increase American drilling. He pointed out that Republicans are the only party with a two-pronged approach - conservation, but also finding more and better energy sources.

From there, we went to the convention for the best night of speakers thus far. I will have to provide my notes, pictures, and thoughts on those at a later time, as my schedule here in Minnesota demands that I be at one function or another for the remainder of the day. I will attempt to add Part 2 (at the least) before I board my plane for Atlanta in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, Bob Corker, Energy, Lamar

As the convention speeches went though out the night, there, admittedly, was little electricity in the air. Various video tributes were played, including ones for President Gerald Ford, President Abraham Lincoln, President George H.W. Bush, President Ronald Reagan, and President Theodore Roosevelt. It has been quite interesting to see all of the references to Roosevelt. In the past decade or so, Ronald Reagan has been the theme and archetype for all Republicans to evoke. It's been fairly clear from this convention that McCain/Palen is aiming more at the roughriding, tough-as-nails Teddy Roosevelt and less at Reagan.

The early speakers were not very entertaining. House Minority Leader John Boehner gave a shout out to Rep. Thad Cochrane, who was holding down the fort in the House of Representatives as House Republicans continue to protest Nancy Pelosi's recurring need to recess instead of dealing with American problems. Jo Anne Davidson mortified the crowd by forgetting the name of our Vice Presidential nominee. Senator Norm Coleman gave a decent speech, but there wasn't much gravitas in it. (More than if Al Franken had given it, but not what I was expecting from the Minnesota Senator.) Coleman's speech must have struck a chord with someone, though, as it led to outbursts of idiocy amongst the Texas delegation, who, for some unknown reason (Tourette Syndrome?) feel the need to treat the Republican National Convention like a high school pep rally.

The first real touching moments of the convention came when Cindy McCain's foster child was introduced, and the story of how that came to be was told for the delegates. It is a moving story, and it provides a great narrative for this campaign about how they were rescued by Cindy McCain from near-certain death in Bangladesh.

Electricity entered the Xcel Center when President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush took their seats. This led to a short speech by First Lady Laura Bush, who focused on the role of women in the Republican Party and in American culture. It was one of her better speeches, to tell the truth.

President Bush then addressed the convention by satellite. Perhaps it was those who came before him, but Bush's speech was actually delivered in a better voice and with more enthusiasm than previous speakers had shown. Bush told us that it was McCain's life experiences - the trials and tribulations that he has endured and overcome - that provide the most important criteria for ascending to the presidency. He closed with something to the effect that if the Vietnamese couldn't break John McCain, that the angry Left never will. That was a good line, and the convention started to get fired up for the first time this week.

This set the stage for Tennessee's own Fred Thompson. Surely most of you were able to catch his speech on television or on the Net, so I won't go into it much. However, I will offer this - it was the best speech of the week thus far. I couldn't help but think, though, that Fred should have been speaking on Thursday night, accepting the nomination of the GOP for the White House. I haven't given much thought to Fred's campaign over the past few months, but tonight brought back some of that passion, even if it was only an ember that hadn't quite died out. Fred Thompson would have made one hell of a President, folks. Fred did get me fired up for John McCain, but he also got me wishing for more of Fred Thompson, too.

Instead of listening to non-Republican Joe Lieberman speak, a few of us decided to leave on a high note, basking in the glory of Tennessee's native son's keynote address. We were bussed to the Tennessee Tuesday event, which was sponsored by several Tennessee entities, including CMT, Pilot Oil, Eastman Chemical, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Corrections Corporation of America, amongst others. Angela, as well as some of the other female members of the Tennessee delegation, had been looking forward to this event for some time now. I'm not sure, but it could have been something about country stud Trace Adkins performing. Senator Lamar Alexander took the stage to say a few kind words (I had requested that he play piano and perform with Trace, but he declined), and then the show started.

Trace was fantastic, and he put on a great show to an audience that was a small fraction of the size of the arenas that he normally sells out. We all had a great time.

Afterwards, several of us made our way over to another party, where we were able to take in Robert Earl Keen, whom I had never heard of but apparently has one heck of a following. Arriving back at the hotel, we sat around until nearly sunrise talking with members of the delegation, telling stories about what we had seen or heard that day. It was a heck of a day, and it certainly made the trip to Minnesota worth it.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention

(My apologies for not posting this sooner, but waking at 5:00 A.M. to write these lengthy posts on only a couple hours of sleep has started to catch up with me.)

Tuesday was slated to be the busiest day of the Republican National Convention for Angela and I due to our participation in several non-convention forums throughout the Twin-Cities. The Tennessee Republican Party started our day on the right foot by bringing California Congressman David Dreier, Colonel Tom Moe (former POW with John McCain), and Joe McCain, the feisty brother of Senator John McCain. I personally found Moe's testimony enlightening, as it supplemented what I knew about the Vietnamese prisons (particularly "the Hanoi Hilton") from my former co-worker, Jim Warner, who was also with McCain and Moe as a POW, enduring torture at the hands of their captors. It was great to speak with Moe and with Joe McCain, who both graciously provided time after their speeches to talk with me. Mr. McCain eagerly shared John McCain's flight jacket, pictured above, which was hanging in his locker when he was shot down in the skies of Vietnam.

From the breakfast, Angela and I traveled by light rail from the Mall of America to downtown Minneapolis for an event focusing on education. One of Angela's pet issues is education, her mother being a school teacher in the Kentucky school system. This event, called "Time to Choose: Children or the Bureaucracy?," was hosted by several education groups, chief amongst them American Solutions, Ed in '08, Education Reform Now, and the Education Equality Project. Several speakers were on the agenda, but most noteworthy were Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (whose state has the best schools in the nation by most indexes) and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Pawlenty spoke of the need to eliminate seniority in the school systems, saying that teachers were the only profession with such a protected slotting of salaries and tenure, and that compensation should be connected to results in the classroom. He believes that this, as well as his desire to have pay connected to demand (where physics teachers get paid more than physical education teachers due to there being fewer high school physics teachers) can be accomplished by working with the labor unions. Pawlenty warned that not acting on this soon and in a cooperative fashion would see the deaths of us all before reform occurs.

Then there was Al Sharpton. I didn't expect actual content or sense to come from Reverend Sharpton. I was amazed at what I heard. I heard what could have been conservative talking points coming from Sharpton - the need for parents to be challenged and engaged with their children, the realization that government cannot be charged with the children if parents are not taking time or making the sincere effort at home to have their children educated, individual accountability on all people but especially teachers and their labor unions. Sharpton called for comprehensive reform, saying that there are no sacred cows in the room and that reform could only be achieved if all parties are willingly at the table. He closed with the following: "Who will care what party we were a member of when we are all dead and gone if we do not stop the downward spiral of educational achievement?"

Folks, Al Sharpton got no less than 3 standing ovations from a packed room of nearly 600 Republicans. His ended up being the second best speech I heard all day. It really caused me to remark that if we all agreed on the problems and that solutions were apparent, what exactly are we - as Republicans and Democrats - arguing about?

Angela and I next zipped over to St. Paul for a panel discussion entitled, "Politics & the Media: Bridging the Political Divide in the 2008 Election." Hosted by POLITICO and the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication, the panelists included Roger Simon (chief political columnist for POLITICO), Nina Easton (Washington editor of FORTUNE and Fox News on-air contributor), Catalina Camia (political editor of USA TODAY), Mark McKinnon (former chief media advisor for the Bush and McCain campaigns), and Jim VandeHei (executive editor of POLITICO). Admittedly, this event was for my interests, and it delivered. Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit would have loved it. There was much talk about the change in media due to technological advances, but McKinnon also hit heavily on how technology has changed campaigns and how information is distributed. Blogs were not demonized (as has been the latest trend by many outlets), although the need for some standard of proof in reporting was emphasized. Genuine disbelief was exhibited by Roger Simon in regards to the reported vetting of Alaska Governor Sarah Palen, and that sentiment was backed up by sources of Nina Easton. According to Easton, the McCain campaign had gone by an old rule - to let the media successfully vet the candidate on political terms - that has passed us by. I could go on about other topics discussed, but I think I should probably save them for another day.

Angela and I then made our way over to a Salute to Veterans event just down the street. The event was sponsored by the Circle of Friends for American Veterans, a bipartisan group that tries to pass various measures in support of our military veterans. We didn't stay long, but we did manage to speak with Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, who has been everywhere during this convention. I never knew he was so outspoken about his belief in his country and interest in politics. One thing is certain - Voight is not shy in expressing his belief that Barrack Obama would lay waste to America's economic strength with his flawed economic plan that includes tax hikes and pie-in-the-sky industrial expansion. I gained a new respect for Voight, that is to be sure.

By the evening, we had finally arrived at the convention site for business. Several recognized conservatives were on the floor, including Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (pictured above), former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

This day's events will be concluded in a second post.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, Education, Media

Monday started with a breakfast with the Tennessee delegation, which was the first time in Minnesota that we have all been together as a group. Congressman Zach Wamp, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, and Tennessee GOP Chairman Robin Smith all addressed the delegation, with most of the talk aimed at Tennessee General Assembly races and changes in the RNC schedule. We also hosted the other delegation here, the Alaskan delegation, for the breakfast, which was sponsored by AT&T. Alaska is reciprocating, as they make attempts to secure their Governor for an address later on this week.

Having some free time, Angela and I walked over to the Mall of America for a little shopping for little Leo back home and a bite to eat for lunch. Above is pictured some of the amusement park inside of the mall. We also ate at The Magic Pan Crepe Stand upon the recommendation of Sevier County attorney Jeff Stern, which turned out to be a good piece of advice.


It was then off to the Xcel Energy Center for an abbreviated first day of the Convention. Security was striking, as all cross streets and exits were blocked by a massive police effort that protected the delegate buses. Security also moved everyone who was supposed to be inside of the convention into the arena quickly and safely.

Angela and I hooked up with John Duncan, III, his lovely wife, Lindsey, and Susan Williams as we made our way around the convention. I remember how Tennessee Democrats complained about their floor placement last week at the Democratic National Convention. Tennessee Republicans have an equal right to complain, having probably the worst placement imaginable at the back of the arena. I suppose that it has everything to do with the McCain campaign not feeling that Tennessee needs to be placated due to McCain's 24-point lead in Tennessee, but I still feel that this is ridiculous. While not official, the RNC is a reward for many people. To shaft one of the only states that has proven that it can send Republicans to victory (in 2006, the ONLY state that elected a new Republican to the U.S. Senate) is asinine. And this isn't someone whining because my seats are bad (and, yes, they are), because I don't sit with the Tennessee delegation. Perhaps Lamar stole Mitch McConnell's pudding in the Senate cafeteria, because Kentucky is up front (as Convention Chair Mike Duncan assigned, I am sure) and Tennessee needs binoculars.

The abbreviated convention activities were boring but necessary. As someone who was observing only, it was five hours of my life I will never get back. I had heard from many former convention attendees that the first day was one with a high rate of absenteeism. I can see why.

Convention dress ranged from professional to comical. Some delegates thought themselves as human pincushions, covered head to toe with buttons from current and past conventions. One gentleman, above, dressed as Uncle Sam. Some states, like Florida and Texas, coordinated their dress as a group (Texas in denim and cowboy hats, Florida in tropical shirts). I will say this - no where did I see some of the evolutionary wonders that seemed to fill all of the television cameras last week in Denver.

We were kept fairly safe from the protesters that made national news by attacking police officers in the name of peace. In fact, some of the protesters that we saw were actually Ron Paul supporters, who also clashed with police (above). Some Ron Paul folks were soliciting delegates inside the RNC to attend the Ron Paul rally at the Target Center that occurs on Tuesday. The whole thing is a shame for Ron Paul. He's an intelligent man who has contributed much to the national discussion and given much to this country. His "fans" now who won't let the election results sink in are from the lowest common denominator of American politics. They knew that the Democrats wouldn't let them have a voice in their party and couldn't organize a third party that was viable, so they turned their attention to grabbing a foothold in the Republican Party. It is apparent that they are not Republican in their thoughts or beliefs.

The Tennessee delegation was set to attend an event at Medtronic, a company that started out of a man's garage and now employs over 40,000 people in Minnesota, Tennessee, Arizona, California, and Indiana. However, with the plea from Senator McCain to curtail activities due to Hurricane Gustav, the party's time was moved back - conflicting directly with the University of Tennessee's football game against UCLA. With Medtronic refusing to put a television within watching distance despite both California and Tennessee delegates being scheduled to attend, most of the Tennessee delegation instead chose the game. We took over the restaurant here at the Ramada Mall of America and painted it orange. Congressman Zach Wamp, Senator Frist, Ted Welch, Steve West, former Congressman Van Hilleary, and many others were in attendance to watch UT's new offensive coordinator, quarterback, starting running back, and old defensive coordinator show that they are going to make Vol fans suffer through a long and horrible football season that should spell the end of the Philip Fulmer era. (How can any UT fan expect anything better than a 6-6 season now? Oh, the disappointment...)

There was only limited discussion throughout the day on the Palin pregnancy issue. My feeling is that it is a limited issue that, if pressed hard by either the Democrats or the liberal media, will backfire with American women and potentially become a plus for the McCain/Palin ticket. (I will explain later.) The topic that is getting plenty of discussion is the Tennessee gubernatorial race in 2010. I will have more on that later, too, as many of the players (Wamp, Ramsey, Frist) are here in Minnesota.

Tuesday's docket is packed with meetings and events, so I should have an even longer, more interesting report for tomorrow.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, 2010 Tennessee Governor's Race

Sunday was mostly a day of uncertainty for convention participants as we all deal with the arrival of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana. It's apparent that most of CNN's reporters (like Anderson Cooper) are rooting for a disaster, causing more stress amongst all Americans who are rightfully worried about the prospects of another Katrina or Rita. Angela is worried about Grand Isle, Louisiana, which is catching the brunt of the storm. While she was a rising Junior at Vanderbilt, Angela served on a mission trip to Grand Isle and formed a connection to that small island off of the Louisiana mainland. She knows that it is a poor area that is constantly vulnerable to hurricanes.

From what we are hearing, the events of the day have been greatly truncated. Outside of the business of the day that has to occur, we won't do much on Monday. Nearly every speech has been cancelled, and the parties that were planned have either been postponed, cancelled, or abbreviated.

Back to the Sunday's report...

Angela and I arrived at the Ramada Mall of America via shuttle from the Staybridge Suites on Sunday morning. We shared the shuttle ride with members of Al-Jazeera, which was interesting to say the least. The Tennessee delegation has a large block of rooms at the Ramada, but we're not the only ones here. The Alaska delegation also has set up camp at the Ramada, which has made for some excitement with the media due to a certain Alaskan Governor who has seen her profile raised recently. There are also hundreds of whacko protesters who have been providing much entertainment for all of the other guests. As Angela and I awaited our room to become available, we collected our credentials, paperwork, and other goodies from the Tennessee Republican Party officials. The room was apparently sponsored by Pfizer, although I have no idea why because there didn't seem to be anything related to Pfizer or food or drink there. (Perhaps there was later, but not while I was in the room.)
Angela and I hooked up with delegate Donna McDermott and her friend Lanita, who had a car with them after driving up from Crossville, Tennessee. We all traveled into St. Paul for the premier of the David Zucker film, "An American Carol." The reception prior to the film was headlined by Lee Greenwood and elegantly catered. We had the chance to speak with other members of our delegation, including Van Hilleary and Oscar Brock, as well as former Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson.
The movie itself was quite funny, producing many laugh-at-loud moments. Several of the actors, including Jon Voight and Kevin Farley, were on-hand for the premier, and Kelsey Grammer, who has recently been ill, had a taped message played for the thousands in attendance. We sat with members of the Memphis brigade, including Senator Mark Norris and John Ryder.
After the movie, we attended the Convention Delegation party, where we observed several exhibits about the presidency and munched on finger foods and beverages. We spoke with several friends and delegation members, including House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower and Scott Farmer, a member of Senator Lindsey Graham's staff who had attended Vanderbilt with Angela.
Like the old geezers that we are, we headed back to the Ramada at the end of the Convention Delegation party instead of going to the post-party. Back at the Ramada, we hit the indoor pool, although we probably could have swam outside given the unseasonably warm weather that Minnesota is experiencing.

All in all, a relaxing day with an eye back towards the South and the impending storm. Our prayers are with our Southern brothers and sisters and may God help them to make it through what is sure to be a trying Labor Day.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention

We have arrived in Minnesota! We are staying tonight in the Staybridge Suites at Bloomington, which is the suburb that is south-southwest of Minneapolis. As for distance (for those familiar with Knox County, Tennessee), think Turkey Creek to downtown Knoxville.

Travel to our destination couldn't have been easier. Traffic to Atlanta was light, and we breezed through Hartfield Airport check-in and security in under 20 minutes. On a holiday weekend at one of the world's busiest airports, I was a bit surprised by our speedy trip to the gate. The flight on Delta was also uneventful, with one exception. Several members of the Georgia delegation were also on the flight, and we all had our fill of the Ron Paul supporters who accompanied us to Minnesota. It seems that Ron Paul supporters can be grouped into two different categories - aging academics that were greatly impacted by the Vietnam War, and smelly twenty-somethings that believe their lives to be overly interesting and unfair. At least, that was what we encountered on our flight. In any case, it appears that they neglected to read the memo where their man - rightly or wrongly - will not be President of the United States next year.

After arriving at the Staybridge Suites (which is a fantastic hotel thus far), Angela and I walked a few miles to explore our surroundings. It's my first time in Minnesota, and it is not at all what I expected. Everything is very green, the air remarkably clean and fresh, and lakes and rivers seem to be ubiquitous. I'm not sure if it's just the RNC being here this week or if this is commonplace, but the level of hospitality that we have experienced thus far rivals Southern hospitality. I'm not sure if I can give a higher compliment than that.

Dinner was at Fuddrucker's (where we caught some SEC domination of the Clemson Tigers), and Angela retired for the night shortly after we arrived back at the hotel. That's probably a good thing, because our schedule over the next 6 days borders on the ridiculous. It will be a physical challenge just to make it through our extensive itinerary.

Tomorrow brings a change to the Tennessee delegation hotel at the Mall of America, picking up our credentials, attending a movie premier, hobnobbing at the Convention Delegation Party, and an after-party in one of Minneapolis' finer clubs.

One area of concern involves members of the lunatic Left and their "protests." As others can attest, protesters at various conservative events (the Southern Republican Leadership Conference and the Stand in the Gap rally come to mind) are often more punchline than punch out. That does not appear to be the case here. The local news tonight consisted of 15 minutes (at least) of raids, arrests, warrants, and interviews related to leftist fringe groups facing criminal penalties for planning physical violence and mayhem meant at disrupting the RNC. One environmental group was detained, although the pigs, chickens and dogs that accompanied the humans in the bus were released. The buses used to transport the delegates are under armed guard due to threats, and I can only guess that the stage for the Beach Boys concert (which is parked in trucks near our hotel) has been targeted, too, since Secret Service has been over here multiple times throughout the day. The lunatic Left - they're not just for laughing at anymore...

Like the rest of the country, delegates here in Minneapolis are greatly concerned about Gustav bearing down on Louisiana. While we all would have loved to have heard from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, I haven't heard one delegate here exclaim that they should leave their states in this time of crisis to attend the RNC here in Minneapolis. Our prayers are with our American brothers and sisters in the path of this horrific storm.

The honor of being a part of all of this is starting to sink in. Much like the Republican nominee for Vice President, neither Angela nor myself comes from the advantaged class that tends to comprise those chosen as delegates, VIPs, or elected officials in our system of government. Angela hails from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher and a school teacher. I am from Bluff City, Tennessee, the son of an electrical engineer and a paralegal. We have both been blessed to participate in so many wonderful political events, from inaugurations to campaigns to the creation of laws. That we will be at the Republican National Convention this week, assisting the Party in bidding good bye to one President and selecting the potential President a few nights later, has not been lost on us.

The above being said, I want to set some context for future posts. I am not a credentialed blogger for the Republican National Convention, and that is probably a good thing. I've been credentialed on many other occasions, and, rightly or wrongly, being designated as such can have an effect on one's blogging of events. This way, I can retain my objectivity, and, as regular readers know of my past (some would say constant) criticisms of the Republican Party, I will not be afraid to dish out some smack if it is called for. (I read a few of the blogs that covered the Democratic National Convention, and I'm convinced that some of them would have happily reported the bright side of even the most despicable actions if the offenders at the DNC would have been Democrats. Objectivity was out the window to the point where their "reports" were nothing more than Astroturf press releases from the Democratic Party.) My aim is to stay clear of that obstacle. The downside of not being credentialed is that my posts will be either very late at night or very early in the morning. Only credentialed bloggers and media can carry their laptops past security, so my blogging will be tethered to my hotel.

Of course, I am a conservative, and I have worked, campaigned for, and given all that I can for the Republican Party on multiple occasions. I will not - and perhaps could not - leave that part of me behind when blogging the Republican National Convention. I will view the events here through that perspective. There will probably be aspects that the conservative in me will love, and there will probably be aspects that the conservative in me will hate. I will try to bring both to you as truthfully as I can.

That truthful reporting will also include references to whom is paying for all of these events. I read with some dismay the criticism of Democratic delegates accepting food, beverages, etc., in Denver last week. Folks, delegates and other attendees of these conventions pay their own way to the conventions. Flights are expensive. Hotel rooms are double or even triple what they would normally be if the convention was not in town. The local government raised sales tax rates temporarily and authorized taxis to charge more for this week. It is expensive (especially for Angela and I, who had to close our firm for a week on top of the expenses associated with the trip). However, I also understand some of the concern with certain event sponsorships (particularly the AT&T breakfast for Democrats that handed the telecom giant gift-wrapped legislation in Tennessee earlier this year). I will make every effort to give you the full picture, allowing for you to decide if there are any inappropriate sponsorships occurring.

Well, that's it for tonight. I had better get some sleep, because it is going to be a long week.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention

Well, I don't think anyone will debate my race, so one out of three ain't bad...

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention

I would love to post on the bold move by John McCain today with his VP announcement, the threat of another catastrophic hurricane moving towards New Orleans, or a host of other topics, but the truth is that my difficult court week has abbreviated my packing and preparation for our trip to St. Paul and the Republican National Convention.

If I post on the blog now, I won't be able to post from the Convention, so...

More to come Saturday!

MORE: OK, already, enough with the e-mail questions! Yes, I love the Palin pick.

LOVE. IT.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, Firm Life

Could the man in the middle be the next Vice President of the the United States?

Late yesterday afternoon, delegates and media were provided with the breakdown of speakers for next week's Republican National Convention. I have been waiting for that list, because it's standard thought that you can pick an unnamed VP nominee by examining that list - not as much as for who is on it but for who is not.

Many candidates whom I would qualify as "highly desirable" for conservatives are still in play by looking at the Convention agenda. Of particular note is the absence of Eric Cantor, Congressman from the swing state of Virginia, Chief Deputy Republican Whip in the House, and the kind of young, strong conservative that nicely balances the maverick McCain.

Is Cantor the answer to the million dollar question? We'll know in a few days, but I'm starting to think he may be. I may be arriving at that conclusion with my heart and not my head, but it certainly is a possibility. Maybe I'm reaching for proof here, but one could interpret the hiring a few months back of the highly regarded Matt Lira to run McCain's Internet efforts as a sign. Lira's previous job? He was the e-guru for Congressman Eric Cantor.

I'm just saying...

MORE:

Media Lizzy
Heading Right
Mason Conservative
Allyn Gibson
Flopping Aces

There's even a website devoted to Cantor's cause.

Labels: 2008 General Election, 2008 Republican National Convention

It's hard to "be in the now" this week, when:

1) we leave for the Republican National Convention in all of 5 days;
2) UT football kicks off in 7 days; and
3) the NFL football season starts in 10 days.

It's the best time of the year, folks. Between those events and the start of hunting season, Southern men live for these fall months.

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, Football

Funny thing is, folks, that I will be at the Republican National Convention in 10 days, along with my delegate wife, and we're learning about all of the goings on there along with the rest of you.

From Yahoo!:

Democrats will be treated to "Punk Rock 2008," "Naughty Pierre's Burlesque and Comedy Extravaganza," "Sex, Politics, and Cocktails Late Night Dance Party" organized by Planned Parenthood and the "Tent State Music Festival to End the War" hosted by Rage Against the Machine and veterans opposed to the war.

Also planning concerts in Denver are Willie Nelson, Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper and Rufus Wainwright.

Dude, you couldn't pay me enough to attend that moral abyss. Besides, the GOP has the real talent at their convention:

The Beach Boys and '70s rockers Styx are just two of the acts scheduled to entertain the 45,000 political junkies (plus 15,000 members of the media) descending on the Twin Cities Sept. 1-4. There's also former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar and country stars Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy and John Rich.

OK, I couldn't name one Styx song (Angela says that she can - go figure), but I literally wore out a Beach Boys tape when I was a teen. I also like Sammy Hagar, especially when he was with Van Halen. However, it's the members of the Muzik Mafia that have me stoked. I definitely want to party with that crew.

I also know that Trace Adkins is going to be spending some time with the Tennessee delegation. I want to get together with the superstars of country music and hit the town. Maybe I can sing a some with John Rich and Cowboy Troy, something like this...

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, Music

I guess I shouldn't be surprised about this sort of thing, but I am.

This just arrived regarding our pending trip to the Republican National Convention:

***

Dear RNC Guest,

The Minnesota Department of Revenue recently issued a tax change that
will affect your hotel stay. Beginning July 1, 2008, the Minneapolis
metropolitan area counties of Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and
Washington imposed a 0.25% Transit Sales & Use Tax, which will be used
to fund the area's transit system including light rail, commuter rail
and bus rapid transit.

Due to this change, the tax rate listed on your hotel confirmation may
not be accurate. Please refer to your hotel folio upon your arrival or
departure for the accurate tax rate that will be applied to your stay.

Please refer to your hotel folio for tax rate information, which may
vary from your hotel confirmation.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Kind regards,

2008 Republican National Convention Travel Desk
Travel Technology Group

***

Grr...

How did Minnesota politicos think this would go over? Seriously, how blinded by greed can a government be?

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention, Taxes

Liberal blogger Randy Neal, KNS reporter-blogger Michael Silence, Patrick Ruffini, and A.C. Kleinheider have all commented today on Obama's potential problem of not having his acceptance speech carried to the masses via the major television networks.

(If it isn't televised, I'll give you an advance copy straight from my sources in the DNC - "Change....blah blah blah...hope...change....change...hope...raise taxes on hard working Americans...embracing communism...hope...change...change...my racist wife...blah blah blah...not really an Arab...hope...Americans shouldn't be allowed to own guns...blah blah blah...$20 per gallon gas prices...change...change...hope...hope...hope.")

At least the Democrats can blame the media if this were happen. (But let's be honest - the liberal media will make sure that Barrack gets what Barrack wants.) The Republicans have no one to blame but themselves.

Months ago, when I was told when the Republican National Convention was going to be held, I started to laugh. Why? Because I seriously doubt that anyone will be watching half of the 4-nights of televised content, including John McCain's acceptance speech.

Why, you might ask?

Football, of course.

The geniuses at the RNC - who obviously have such a connection to the hard-working, blue-collar Americans out there - scheduled the opening night of the Convention head-to-head with a nationally televised interconference game between the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the UCLA Bruins.

OK, so that one probably only takes a good portion of the South and the West out of play. The final night of the Convention, though, when McCain really needs to shine, has bigger problems.

On that night, the RNC takes on a much bigger foe - the NFL.

Yes, the NFL will kick off its season at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 4th, opposite the McCain pep rally. The game will feature the ever-popular Washington Redskins visiting the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

The NFL assisted the RNC by agreeing to an earlier start time, but with an average NFL televised prime time game lasting just a shade under 4 hours, that puts McCain beginning his speech well after 11:00 P.M. on the East Coast. The next day is Friday, which, last time I checked, was a work day for most of us.

How does this kind of thing happen? The liberals over at DemConWatch saw the problems coming all the way back in February. How didn't the RNC catch this? Surely an intern somewhere could have viewed the schedule and said, 'Uh, Mr. Duncan, this might not be such a good idea?"

These two parties seem to be having a hard time running simple 4-day conventions. I think running the country might be a bit more of challenge over a 4-year term.

Labels: 2008 General Election, 2008 Republican National Convention

Besides the attention that appeals and motions required this week, one reason for the lack of posting this week has been the need to make travel arrangements for September.

Yes, folks, the Huddleston's are heading to Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention.

You're surprised? Well, so am I. But that is what a good husband does, even if he's (currently) not supporting the nominee.

Angela has been selected as an alternate delegate representing the 2nd District of Tennessee. Of course, I am extremely proud that people in high places think so highly of my wife to think of her when the need came for a replacement to the delegates who ran for the position earlier this year.

So a part of my week has been selecting the best "family truckster" to travel across country (flying with all of the stuff needed for little Leo wasn't really an option), as well as a hotel past Chicago for the drive up.

But now I have a question - anyone know of a good place to watch my Vols play against UCLA while I'm in Minnesota?

Labels: 2008 Republican National Convention