We just got back from the Welcome Reception for the Delegates. It was a nice set up in Downtown Minneapolis at the Minneapolis Convention Center. There was, of course, lots of food but the theme was a “Civic Forum.” There were displays of the White House, Air Force One, the founding documents, different historical flags, and more historical campaign memorabilia than I could list. As a history buff and political junkie, I ate it up.
We also received a copy of our schedule for tomorrow. We will still have our Arkansas Delegation breakfast tomorrow morning and hopefully Gov. Huckabee will be speaking. The Convention will be an abbreviated business session tomorrow afternoon from 2:30 to 5:00. I will post some updates and hopefully video tomorrow. Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are will the residence of the Gulf Coast.
I have arrived in St. Paul and finally checked into my room a mere 13 hours after leaving my house at 3:00 AM this morning. I just finished my first official vote as an alternate delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention, a roll call vote. We heard from our Delegation President Congressman John Bozeman, got organized, and passed out creditals and passes for the week. The two biggest topics of discussion right now are Hurricane Gustav and the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as our Vice Presidential nominee.
First, on the positive note, everyone is so excited about Gov. Palin. It seems everyone from across the Party agrees that this is a very smart pick. Jim Barnett, Arkansas’ National Committeeman, told the story to the delegation of when he heard the announcement. On Friday morning, Mr. Barnett was meeting with the Rules Committee when a young lady with the RNC staff came in and announced it to the Committee with a tear in her eyes. The Rules Committee (and the Arkansas Delegation after hearing this story) broke into thunderous applause. The base is energized!
Second, of course, everyone is watching what will happen with Hurricane Gustav. The immediate concern is for the people who live on the coast. The second question is what to do about the Convention schedule. The news is that we will have a short business session tomorrow and that President Bush will not be speaking as originally planned. We share a hotel with the Mississippi delegation and it is crawling with reporters looking for someone to interview. A dozen reporters must have asked me if I am “disappointed” that the President is not going to be here. Obviously, I am disappointed I will not be able to see the President but he is exactly where he should be, doing exactly what we needs to be doing.
Finally on a lighter note, I thought you would all enjoy seeing this video of me arriving at the airport. I met Jim Edward, better known as the Huckabee cowboy hat guy. If you saw any coverage of Huckabee’s Iowa caucus victory party or the Super Tuesday watch party in Little Rock, then you saw Mr. Edwards with Huckabee stickers all over his cowboy hat. He is here as a delegate from Texas and now has McCain and “NoObama” stickers on his famous hat. I think Gov. Huckabee would approve!
As I make my final preparations to leave for the Convention, I am anxiously watching the television. However, instead of keeping a close eye on Fox News for the latest political developments, I am watching the Weather Channel as Hurricane Gustov approaches the coast. It reminds my watching the coverage of Hurricane Katrina three years ago, except this time it strikes much closer to home. My parents moved to New Orleans almost two years ago as my dad took a position as a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. This weekend they evacuated to my house with all their important irreplaceable belongs, such as their wedding pictures and important documents. It is unexplainable feeling sitting beside your parents as you watch the television and pray that the hurricane does not strike their city again. My dad will spend this next week as my guest at the Republican Convention in St. Paul and my mom will be with my sister in Memphis. I would ask you all to pray my parents and the thousands like them across the country as we prepare for Hurricane Gustov.
“Today, a maverick has chosen another maverick – Senator John McCain made a phenomenal choice to join his ticket in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. A fiscal conservative with a record of cutting wasteful spending and fighting for the development of new energy resources, including drilling, Governor Palin envisions exactly what our country needs to move forward. As the Commander of the Alaska National Guard and a mother of a soldier deploying to Iraq in September, Governor Palin has what it takes to lead our country in a time of war. She is the mother of five, solidly pro-life and pro-traditional family, a hunter and fisher, with a record of challenging the status quo. As a Republican woman, I take immense pride in the fact that once again, our party has demonstrated that is truly the party of change and the party of ideas. It is an exciting day for our country.”
Karan Ray, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Arkansas
“Sarah Palin is a pleasant surprise for those of us who had hoped that Senator McCain would pick a principled and authentic conservative pro-life leader. Sarah Palin is both principled and authentic. As a Governor, she also brings an important balance of understanding of the critical domestic issues that is needed and that the Democrats have ignored with their ticket. Governor Palin is smart, authentic, tough, and a dynamic choice that will remind women that they are not welcome on the Democrat’s ticket, they have a place with Republicans.”
“Governor Palin is a proven reformer who is a wise steward of taxpayer dollars and champion for accountability in government. Governor Palin’s success is due to her dedication to principle and her roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic and serves as a wonderful example of the spirit of America. By selecting a working mother with a track record of getting things done, Senator McCain has once again demonstrated his commitment to reforming Washington. I applaud Senator McCain for selecting Governor Palin. This decision is yet another example of why the American people can trust him to make wise decisions and to confidently lead this country.”
“Sen. McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is an outstanding choice that should be extremely reassuring to the conservative base of his party. She is a strong executive who hates corruption and puts principle above politics…Gov. Palin’s commitment to the sanctity of life is not just a political position. She was advised to abort her fifth and youngest child when it was learned he had Down syndrome. She refused. That’s bravery and integrity in action. Gov. Palin’s views align with Sen. McCain’s own stated position that human life is precious and must be protected – and that gives us confidence he will keep his pledges to voters regarding the kinds of justices he would nominate to the Supreme Court and the way he would conduct our nation’s domestic and international affairs.”
Today, Sen. McCain announced that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is his selection for the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Gov. Palin spoke to a rally in Dayton, OH and hit a homerun. She is a surprise pick for McCain but a pleasant one. I believe that this selection will solidify the Pro-life Conservative base of the Republican Party and also appeal to female voters who may have supported Sen. Clinton in the Democratic Primaries. This was one of the first big decisions for Sen. McCain and I believe it is a great one!
This evening Mike Huckabee posted an entry of his HuckPAC blog to let his supporters know that he is not on his way to Dayton, Ohio as some media has reported and that Sen. McCain has not contacted him.
There are reports that I’m on my way to Dayton tonight. Not true. Wasn’t invited to be there and any reports that I’m going to be there are a big surprise to me. I have never been contacted by the McCain campaign at any point about the VP slot. I have never been asked for any information, background, etc., so as I have said repeatedly in interviews, I didn’t consider myself to be under any consideration. I think people thought I was being coy and just not talking, but I have built my political life on trying to shoot straight and tell it as it is and as I see it. I have been honest in telling you that I had no reason to believe I was ever seriously considered or “vetted” for the ticket. That’s why I have continued with HuckPAC because I have felt that we (me and you) shouldn’t give up, but rather gear up and help good pro-life, conservative people to office across the nation.
Gov. Mike Huckabee was a guest today on Rush Limbaugh’s radio program. It is rare for Rush to have a guest on his show so this was a rare occasion. Evidently Gov. Huckabee asked to be on the show to clear up some remarks Rush had previously made. Rush had stated that Huckabee’s opposition to Mitt Romney for Vice President was based on the fact that Romney is Mormon and that Huckabee had used this to stir up the Evangelical base against Romney.
Huckabee spoke to Rush from New York City where I believe he is in town for another appearance on “The Colbert Report.” Huckabee clarified that he was not opposed to Romney as Vice President based on religion, but rather because Romney “beat us (Huckabee and McCain) up on the issues” during the Primary and that he believes Obama will use this against McCain in the same way McCain used the comments Biden made regarding Obama. In addition, Huckabee is not comfortable with Romney’s record on important issues such as the right to life. Huckabee stated that he will support McCain no matter who his Vice President is but that he felt a pro-choice pick such as Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman “would be a disaster.” Huckabee said that he would rather see McCain choose someone like Tim Pawlenty or a surprise pick that could rally the conservative base.
Of course, it would not have been a Huckabee media appearance without some memorable Huckabee quotes. Rush asked Huckabee if he was on the short list and Huckabee said “I don’t even think I’m on the long list. I have not been asked to pack a bag to go to Dayton on Friday so I don’t think there’s any illusion. If he’s looking for a female the closest I would get is if they would ask me to maybe dress in drag and run that way but I don’t think that’s going to happen, so, no, I don’t think I’m on the list at all.”
It will be interesting to see what the impact of Hillary Clinton’s speech last night and Bill Clinton’s speech tonight will have on the Natural State. Although Sen. McCain has a sizable lead in the Arkansas opinion polls, the Clintons still carry a great deal of favorability with many voters. Will the Clintons rally their die hard supporters to now support Sen. Obama as Hillary Clinton implored?
The friends I have spoken with this morning spoke about what a great job Hillary did last night. However, their reaction was that of “Oh, how I wish she was the nominee. I would definitely be voting for her, but I am still not sure about Obama.” I think Hillary accomplished what she set out to accomplish. She gave a great speech and formally endorsed Obama. But at least here in Arkansas, it seems that she only further endeared herself to her supporters and not to this year’s Democratic Presidential nominee. I predict this sentiment will only grow after Bill Clinton’s speech tonight especially when contrasted against tonight’s speech from Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Elizabeth Aymond, communications director for the Republican Party of Arkansas, sat down with me today to discuss the upcoming Republican Convention for the Arkansas Delegation.
@ademillo still being finalized but more importantly @lt @blakerutherford and I went to the B-spot where I had the chicken and waffles in reply to ademillo10 mins ago
Politicial break over now back to taxes 18 hrs ago
