It's time to transition to another topic that is near and dear to my heart: North Carolina politics. While this blog has focused solely on the national presidential race to this point, it's time to talk about the Tar Heel state and its inner-workings.
North Carolina is staring down an election year in which national Republicans (John McCain and Elizabeth Dole) are facing a surprisingly large challenge and state-wide candidates (Pat McCrory, Robert Pittenger, Bill Daughtridge) are experiencing surprising doses of relative success. Why the change? I don't know. But what I guess is that it has something to do with this cycle's call for change.
Change in Washington means getting rid of President Bush which means getting rid of Republicans. But Raleigh is dominated by Democrats who have insulated themselves from defeat over the past few decades. So when folks in North Carolina want change in their state government (and they should) the natural agent for that is the Republican Party. Add that to a gubernatorial candidate who's old, entrenched and a liar and you have all the makings for a Republican victory in November.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
It's Electric!
Wow! That's the best word to describe last night's events at the XCel Energy Center. As Sarah Palin walked along the stage- waving to the boisterous crowd- the man sitting next to me turned to me and simply said "Wow!" After the little known vice presidential nominee addressed crowd last night, the arena was on fire.
But the spark was ignited long before Gov. Palin ever took the state. GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele took the stage first and encouraged the United States to "drill, baby, drill." And as the crowd got to their feet, fired up by an exciting discussion of the issues important to both Republicans and America, they were lifted off the ground by speeches from Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Guliani. The former mayor must have been a boxer before he launched his political career because he threw some real jabs last night.
Republicans and Americans throughout this country have a real reason to be excited about this election. Despite what liberal pundits on CNN and MSNBC may say, the issues are on our side and we have selected leaders who are not afraid to make those points. Bring it on Obama, we're ready for a fight!
But the spark was ignited long before Gov. Palin ever took the state. GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele took the stage first and encouraged the United States to "drill, baby, drill." And as the crowd got to their feet, fired up by an exciting discussion of the issues important to both Republicans and America, they were lifted off the ground by speeches from Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Guliani. The former mayor must have been a boxer before he launched his political career because he threw some real jabs last night.
Republicans and Americans throughout this country have a real reason to be excited about this election. Despite what liberal pundits on CNN and MSNBC may say, the issues are on our side and we have selected leaders who are not afraid to make those points. Bring it on Obama, we're ready for a fight!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
No Such Thing as A Free Lunch...
... Unless you're a conventioneer. One of the great things about attending national conventions (whether you're a Republican or Democrat) is the functions that are thrown by various groups throughout the week. The post-convention parties are thriving even as legislation is passed aimed at stopping the influence of corporate groups in politics.
For example, the National Federation of Young Republicans, along with the Rock the Vote organization, threw a great party/concert at a trendy nightclub in downtown Minneapolis Sunday night. Last night, AT&T threw a great event at an Irish Pub for members of the North Carolina and Wisconsin delegations. But those are just a few examples, because every night delegates are forced to decide between numerous parties, watching Mike Huckabee play with his band or spending a quiet evening at the bar in their hotel.
No matter what a delegate ends up choosing, my stomach and my wallet can tell you that at a National Convention the free lunch (and dinner) is very much alive.
For example, the National Federation of Young Republicans, along with the Rock the Vote organization, threw a great party/concert at a trendy nightclub in downtown Minneapolis Sunday night. Last night, AT&T threw a great event at an Irish Pub for members of the North Carolina and Wisconsin delegations. But those are just a few examples, because every night delegates are forced to decide between numerous parties, watching Mike Huckabee play with his band or spending a quiet evening at the bar in their hotel.
No matter what a delegate ends up choosing, my stomach and my wallet can tell you that at a National Convention the free lunch (and dinner) is very much alive.
Party Time!
Well, folks, the RNC put the party back in the Grand Old Party last night as the convention returned to business as usual. After a day that was dampened by speculation as to what Hurricane Gustav would do in the Gulf Coast, conventioneers were excited to hit Tuesday's convention events in full force.
I got to walk down on the convention floor last night, and as I made my way over to the North Carolina delegation (just ten rows from the front of the stage) the excitement was in the air. Women wore their traditional- funky hat- convention garb and men wore jackets filled with buttons that both supported their party and bashed their opponents. The delegation from Texas dressed alike: their delegation (obviously the largest at the convention) could be seen from anywhere in the upper levels.
Of course, the speakers helped, too. Last night Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson got the crowd on their feet with a speech that fed the delegates all the red meat it cared to digest- and most found it pretty tasty. And, as if Sen. Thompson's great performance was not enough (he seems to perform better when he's not running for president), Senator Joe Lieberman's direct appeal to Democrats even had the hall clapping for Bill Clinton!
The line up of speakers tonight promises to be even better. Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee take the stage in addition to Mayor Rudy Guliani. Of course, the moment that all of America is waiting for will come when Alaska Governor Sarah Palin addresses the audience. The speech will be a hit with the crowd: she seems to be attracting more applause whenever she's mentioned than John McCain is.
I got to walk down on the convention floor last night, and as I made my way over to the North Carolina delegation (just ten rows from the front of the stage) the excitement was in the air. Women wore their traditional- funky hat- convention garb and men wore jackets filled with buttons that both supported their party and bashed their opponents. The delegation from Texas dressed alike: their delegation (obviously the largest at the convention) could be seen from anywhere in the upper levels.
Of course, the speakers helped, too. Last night Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson got the crowd on their feet with a speech that fed the delegates all the red meat it cared to digest- and most found it pretty tasty. And, as if Sen. Thompson's great performance was not enough (he seems to perform better when he's not running for president), Senator Joe Lieberman's direct appeal to Democrats even had the hall clapping for Bill Clinton!
The line up of speakers tonight promises to be even better. Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee take the stage in addition to Mayor Rudy Guliani. Of course, the moment that all of America is waiting for will come when Alaska Governor Sarah Palin addresses the audience. The speech will be a hit with the crowd: she seems to be attracting more applause whenever she's mentioned than John McCain is.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Raining on the GOP Parade
Well, it looks like this week may not work out how I- or any other Republican- expected. As I was landing here in Minneapolis Saturday, Republican organizers were rushing to re-arrange the year of planning that they had worked so hard on.
As I walked around last night, questions about what this week would actually amount to swirled all around. Make no mistake, Republicans are here and are ready to have a good time. But we all recognize that some things are more important than partying and politics. In between meetings and events, all of the delegates are stealing looks at Fox News to see what devastation Gustav has brought so far.
It will be interesting to see what the party decides to do for the rest of the week. Walking out of the opening reception last night, I asked a party official what the schedule looked like for the rest of the week: "we'll play it by hear," he said. That seems to be the new theme of the week, and it sure reinforces the old theme of "County First".
As I walked around last night, questions about what this week would actually amount to swirled all around. Make no mistake, Republicans are here and are ready to have a good time. But we all recognize that some things are more important than partying and politics. In between meetings and events, all of the delegates are stealing looks at Fox News to see what devastation Gustav has brought so far.
It will be interesting to see what the party decides to do for the rest of the week. Walking out of the opening reception last night, I asked a party official what the schedule looked like for the rest of the week: "we'll play it by hear," he said. That seems to be the new theme of the week, and it sure reinforces the old theme of "County First".
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