John Fund, an editor from The Wall Street Journal and a frequent analyst on Fox News was the keynote speaker last night. He had a sobering message about the potential voter fraud that could upend the presidential election. In 2000 we had the Florida debacle but in 2008 we could have the same situation in multiple swing states as corrupt organizations like ACORN attempt to steal the election. OpinionJournal.com has a blockbuster article and details the link between the Democrat Party and ACORN:

Taxpayers are naturally suspicious that political insiders and contributors on Wall Street are going to make out like bandits once Washington starts spending the $700 billion in the financial market rescue. But Democrats have already decided to spin off potentially billions of taxpayer dollars from the bailout fund to their own political buddies -- not on Wall Street but on nearby K Street. Read the rest...

DC update

We had a great start this morning as we heard from a panel of professionals from The Leadership Institute. It was very practical and we learned how to be more effective activists. The presentations included making speeches, writing press releases, fundraising and running for office.

Anne and I slipped out of the next series which were reports from state legislators in order to fit in our epic DC run around the mall. We started at the Capitol and made our way to the Washington Monument, circled and touched it and then ran back to the Capitol. It was very muggy weather but so well worth it!

The main topic of conversations this weekend is of course about the potential financial bailout by government. This is a critical time in DC and all eyes are on Congress as they debate this massive economic plan. During this crucible American moment we decided we needed to visit our elected officials and since we are only two blocks from the Hill we trucked up to the offices for visits with several WA Congressman.

Our first stop was at the office of our own Rep. Rick Larsen. While all the others are working non-stop to fix this financial mess, Larsen's office was dark and all locked up. We wrote a little "no government bailout" message on our business cards and slipped them through the mail slot. Washington state has very few conservative friends in DC but we do love Cathy McMorris Rodgers so we stopped by and had a brief chat with her top staffer. No committment from her about how Cathy plans to vote but we did express our deep concerns about putting government in charge of a system that they are largely responsible for destroying. We encouraged free market ideas to stimulate economic growth and asked for that message to be passed on to Cathy.

The highlite of our Capitol visit was stopping by Rep. Reichert's (8th district) office and his pleasure at having visitors from the other Washington. He invited us to sit and visit with him and he shared some stunning details about the bailout. He is leaning in the direction of a no vote but we'll have to see what happens when the final version is unveiled.

Finally, we stopped by Indiana Mike Pence's office to encourage him to stay the course. He has been a voice of sanity and reason during this insanity.

Along the way, coming and going we stopped for a photo at the U.S. Supreme Court and a brief visit at the Library of Congress.

Congressional Republicans: The Heroes of the Hour

A friend sent me the following article and it's too good not to share:

In Washington, it’s a showdown between the representatives of Wall Street and the representatives of Main Street. But have you noticed that the old partisan alliances are reversed? It’s the Democrats who are now the Wall Street Party. And Republicans—with the conspicuous exception of President Bush—are now the Main Street Party. Read the rest.

McCain v. Obama

Clearly McCain was the more cheerful warrior in tonight's debate. I thought Obama was irritable, rude and defensive. It was apparent that McCain got on Obama's nerves and messed with his mind.

Sen. McCain was very strong on foreign policy issues and really showed he has the experience to lead America. No one can accuse McCain of not being sharp and knowledgable about world events.

My favorite moment was the bizzarre response of BO to John McCain's story about the soldier's bracelet he wears... "Well I wear a bracelet too." How absolutely juvenile and immature... like what you might hear on a grade school playground.

Did you notice how many times BO admitted that Sen. McCain is right? Amazing!

McCain scored several zingers that were a direct hit:

1. BO is the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate

2. BO has never visited the countries of Eastern Europe and only recently traveled to Iraq.

3. BO would have pulled the troops out of Iraq before the successful surge even began.

4. When BO declared he would bomb Pakistan McCain was incredulous that he would say that out loud.

One more obvservation... tonight McCain successfully reinforced in the minds of Americans that he is a reliable and comfortable shoe and by election day I believe most Americans will break for McCain rather than the inexpereinced and relatively unknown BO.

We had the opportunity to watch the debate as a group on a huge screen. There were cheers and jeers throughout and at the conclusion we had on-the-spot spin by political experts.

Cindy

The first order of business at Eagle Council is to hear from all the EF State Presidents. Each is given 5 minutes to highlite the good and bad from their respective states. Cindy covered the 2008 legislative session, Rossi election, presidential caucus, the new EF brochure and building an effective team in WA state. She did great!!

We managed to squeeze in a quick monument tour today... after this and before that...

Big disappointment turns happy

If you have ever been to DC you know that one of the most often heard phrases is, "It's closed for refurbishing." I swear, at any given time half of this city is closed for repair or refurbishing. So we were very disappointed to learn that our favorite balconey restaurant on top of The Washington Hotel is currently closed for such a reason. However, since this hotel is one of the oldest buildings in this city it's understandable. Instead we ended up at the The Willard which is equally historic... President Lincoln stayed here the night before his first inauguration. This place was packed so we walked 2 blocks to another restaurant called Old Ebbitt Grill. This is how this restaurant is described: Located two blocks from the White House, Old Ebbitt Grill has been a natural gathering place for presidents and generals, lobbyists and theatergoers since 1856.

We had a wonderful late night mini meal and kept an "eagle eye" for VIP's. We saw several lookalikes but no actuals. = (

Posting from the other Washington

For the next 4 days I will be in Washington, DC for an Eagle Forum conference. Now that I am set up with my nifty little air card for wireless internet I will able to post regular updates. Cindy and I flew in this afternoon and Anne was on a later flight but is on her way to the hotel as I write. As soon as she gets here we are going to take her to a magnificent hotel that has a dining balcony that overlooks the White House and Washington Monument. I'll try and take pictures for you.

Call Them By Name!

If you know anything about Luanne, you know she is a Chuck Norris fan. Well, Chuck has a new book titled, Black Belt Patriotism and the following quote in reference to elected officials captured my attention: "Call them by name on blogs, and explain to people why they should be ousted; then do it. No more talk. Stay the course, no matter how long it takes."

Well, that's exactly what Charles Culbertson has done in the following letter... he has called out Rick Larsen by name and Rick deserves to be ousted!

Dear Editor:

Like Sarah Palin, I am a proud member of the NRA. I look for candidates who support my values. I have to speak out on behalf of Rick Bart who is running to replace Rick Larson in the 2nd Congressional district. Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Rick Larson turned his back on the 2nd amendment. He voted against legislation, written by a fellow Democrat, which affirms the recent Supreme Court’s landmark decision to restore the 2nd amendment rights to DC citizens. This bill passed handily with bipartisan support. I guess Rick Larson’s vocalization of support for the 2nd amendment was in fact, just words. We need to put people into office who represent us, Rick Bart promises to do just that. Let’s give him a chance to join other Mavericks in Washington DC and make the changes we need!

Sincerely,

Charles L. Culbertson II
2nd Congressional District, Whatcom

Awesome day with 8th graders!

Today I had the great experience of teaching 4 separate 8th grade history classes about the process of becoming a delegate to the National Convention. I was very pleased to see the students informed and engaged about politics and I plan to keep my eye on several that appear destined to become future leaders of America.

In my presentation I tried to relate a historical and civic perspective on grassroots politics and political parties. It was also a presentation where I tried to weave my Biblical worldview and how that relates to God's call on my life in the area of politics. There were also lots of stories about our adventures in St. Paul and of course I gave my impressions of the presidential candidates.

The students were amused by the array of the political buttons and credentials that covered my jacket and they had fun trying on the elephant hat (see picture!) that I had with me. The campaign candy bars were a hit too and several removed the "Luanne Van Werven for National Delegate" sticker and plastered it on their shirts and foreheads. They also clamored for the McCain-Palin buttons that I had with me and I can only imagine the conversations in some households today when their children come home wearing a Republican campaign button.

There were 3 very sweet moments today that I will treasure for a long time. The first came at the beginning of the second class when the teacher asked Taryn Honcoop to introduce me to the class. I've known Taryn since she was born and her introduction was very generous and precious and absolutely made my day. The second fun moment was a student in the third class of the day who asked if I had the education of a lawyer in order to be a delegate. Wow! Now that's an ego booster! And finally, after the fourth and final class a dear sweetheart of a girl came up and asked me for my autograph. I tried to tell her I'm not a famous person but she was not deterred.

I am so pleased to tell you that if these students are the future of our country then we are in secure hands. Thanks to teacher and students for giving me an unforgettable experience!

The Palin Backlash

Watch this short video as a panelist of Wall Street Journal writers cut through the fog and dissect the Palin backlash.

McCain Closes to Within Two Points of Obama in Washington

Washington is the latest state to show a strong western surge for John McCain since he added Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Washington finds Barack Obama still ahead, but barely. It’s Obama 49%, McCain 47%. A month ago, Obama was up by twelve percentage points. Recent polls have shown McCain gains in Montana, New Mexico and North Dakota.

Read entire article.

For Your Own Sake, Stop the Jesus to Obama Comparisons

SO VERY WELL SAID by Erick Erickson of Red State:

Being a partisan, I want to win this election. And I think you lefties have come upon a winning strategy to help us do it. The whole "Jesus is to Obama as Pontius Pilate is to Sarah Palin" analogy will do nothing but inflame the senses of the evangelical community, others who recognize the offensiveness of the statement, and the edge of voters needed to push John McCain toward victory.

So for Republican victory, keep saying it.

But the greater part of me must encourage you on the left to desist from this statement. Should you buy into this, I think you endanger your eternity because you blaspheme the Lord.
Jesus was not a community organizer. By training on Earth he was a carpenter. By design before the world began he is the Son of God and Truth itself.

You all on the left tend to get bogged down in moral relativism -- the whole idea that what is right for me may not be right for you; truth to many of you is fungible. Truth, of course, is in no way fungible. We may, on both sides of the aisle, conveniently avert our eyes now and then to the Truth, but it remains.

To say that Christ is a community organizer demeans the Savior of mankind and denies Him for who He is. Saul Alinsky, the man who, to quote Wikipedia, "is often credited with laying the foundation for the grassroots political organizing that dominated the 1960s" dedicated his book that started the community organizer fad to Lucifer -- "the very first radical." Lucifer was a community organizer in the Alinsky model. Lucifer convinced Adam and Eve of a reality not quite real and caused the world's problems.

That is what a community organizer does. He convinces people that a problem barely perceived is very real and incites the community to fix the problem -- no matter that the problem may be nonexistent or, if existent, a small matter. That is why Alinsky dedicated his book to Lucifer.
Christ organized no community but Heaven's own (several times He was implored to organize and take action, but declined). To say Christ is a community organizer treads too near comparing Him to Satan. To equate Him to Barack Obama is offensive and it is at its base blasphemous. Blasphemy is the eternal, unforgivable sin.

You continue this analogy at your peril and at my political victory. But your soul is far more important than any political victory. So I suggest you stop. And if this post just emboldens you to make the comparison even more, you are most likely already lost.

Dear Mr. Obama

This is the campaign video of the season. Powerful! Please pass along!

This is too hilarious

This video brings back one of the best memories of the convention. Last Thursday after McCain finished his speech and as they started dropping the balloons a few mischievious delegates started dive bombing reporters and camera people with balloons. I specifically remember seeing Andrea Mitchell in our area and at one point she stiffly said to me, "You must be pretty excited about your candidate." Of course I answered in the affirmative!

Clever quote from a favorite writer:

“Barack Obama, a famous fan of pickup basketball, must recognize his plight: It’s two on one now. John McCain drafted Gov. Sarah Palin, the star point guard from the Wasilla Warriors, to double-team Obama. (McCain’s team doesn’t care if no one covers Joe Biden, who seems to spend most of his time yelling to the media, ‘I’m open! I’m open!’ But when he gets the ball, all he does is talk about what a great player he is and dribble in place.)” —Jonah Goldberg

Sarah Palin Returns to Alaska

Wowza! I watch Sarah Palin's remarks as she made her return to Alaska to see her son off to Iraq. She arrived to find supporters jammed in an aircraft hangar, her first trip back to Alaska since John McCain selected her for the national ticket on Aug. 29.

The crowd roared with delight in greeting Sarah at the Fairbanks airport and she did not disappoint them. Her speech, so naturally delivered, was part, "I love Alaska!" and part, "How about that John McCain!"

She is something! No wonder the Dems are reacting so badly toward her. She has completely changing the dynamic of this presidential race and they are not taking it well. What Barack and company believe is due them appears to be slipping away.

I watched the live coverage on CNN's Anderson Cooper's show and was really disgusted at their disdain for Sarah. Guest David Gergen called the warm welcome by Alaskans "bizzare" and a snarky female guest sniffed that Sarah's speech was "nothing we haven't already heard from her stump speech."

It looks like Sarah could have the last laugh.

Having arrived back home after the convention and digging deeper in the national story that is "Sarah", I continue to be very impressed by the selection of Sarah Palin for VP. However, I was not fully prepared for the passionate reaction this woman has generated from folks not usually interested in politics. Literally, she is the topic of conversation everywhere I go. From people who knew I was at the Republican National Convention, they all want to know if I met Sarah or shook her hand (sadly, the answer is no). I can't overstate the excitement and energy I am hearing and they ALL loved her speech. They loved the fact that she gave it right back after taking an unjustified beating from the media and Democrats.

Let me also say that Sarah Palin and her family are in desperate need of our prayers. They are under the most intense scrutiny anyone can imagine and every word, every deed is being thoroughly examined. Make no mistake her opponents are desperately hoping she fails. Badly. Let's beseech the God of heaven on their behalf.

Below is a link to a great article by Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard: Last Tuesday, as the hordes of media that had begun to dissect every moment of her political career and personal life were distracted by speeches from Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman in nearby St. Paul, Sarah Palin sat quietly with her family for an hourlong dinner in the Skywater restaurant of the Minneapolis Hilton. It was a rare respite from the intense scrutiny she was subjected to over the first week of her new life in the national spotlight. Read the rest: McCain Finds the Right Wingman

The Fox Experience

Griff !

Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly

Sean!

The Fox Experience

On Thursday we got to the Excel Center early enough to do some exploring. Fox News has a huge broadcast tent set up and it’s also open for people to tour. What a riot (not literally) to see all the big Fox News stars up close and personal. They were all so friendly and hospitable. Brett Baer gave us a big hello and wave just before he sat down for his live show and Sean Hannity was parked right at the entrance for pictures and autographs.

The absolute highlite of the Fox Experience was getting our picture with Griff who is just as cute as can be. I was about the only person in the Fox tent who did not know who Griff was but apparently he is the official “protest reporter”. He was in Denver at the Dem convention and got roughed up by the protesters (I missed all that) and he told us that Fox has now pulled him from reporting at live demonstrations because he is too recognizable, although he did show up at the melee at our hotel on Wednesday night.

Breaking News!

Apparently I was quoted in the New York Times today.

After the McCain speech and as the balloons and confetti were raining down, reporters were everywhere looking for "the story". This NY Times reporter happened to catch me in a very lighthearted and celebratory mood. You can read the article here.

UPDATE: It looks like you need to register to read the NY Times online so I have copied the relevant section here:

Indeed, some Republicans in St. Paul predicted that Mrs. Clinton might not turn out to be “the great asset” that Obama advisers like to call her.

“Let me tell you something,” said Luanne Van Werven, a Republican delegate from Lynden, Wash., as the convention closed late Thursday night. “I secretly think Hillary loves Sarah Palin.”

Why?

“Because she wants Barack to lose, so she can run again, of course!” Ms. Van Werven said with a laugh. “I just bet Hillary was watching Sarah’s speech on T.V. Wednesday night and cheering, ‘You go, girl!’ ”

Meet My Body Guards

These are the guys I have hired to protect me from the rif raf who have decided to harass me because I'm a Republican. Get a job. Get a life.

The Sarah Palin Story

The Republican Party has released a super video biography of Sarah Palin that was supposed to be shown before her speech at the convention but because they ran out of time it had to be scrapped. You can watch it here!

Substance Over Style

Okay, John McCain's speech did not have the soaring rhetoric of an Obama speech but it sure did have a lot of specifics about issues. Speech giving before large crowds is not his forte and he doesn't feel the necessity to pack his time with a ton of applause lines but in the end I am hopeful that Americans saw a man who has the experience and honesty to lead in times of crisis.

The story of his captivity was deeply moving and I suspect this was the first time many Americans heard the details of his stay in the "Hanoi Hilton". It has obviously shaped who he is today.

Several things really stand out to me:

1. He is impressive on foreign policy.
2. School choice is a winning issue for Americans, especially families of school age children.
3. John McCain is passionate about America and that is contagious.
4. John McCain is an American hero and this campaign is not about him but about this country.
5. He is a maverick and fiercely independent in many areas but on key Republican issues (life, taxes, spending, judges, marriage) he is solid.
6. Sarah Palin was the story of this convention and she is the future of the Republican Party.
7. A McCain/Palin administration will reform Washington in ways that will benefit our families.

This was the experience of a lifetime and I am so grateful for this opportunity. I am exhausted but energized and will return to Washington and work like mad for 60 days to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin... right after a nice long nap.

**I will have many stories and pictures to share over the next few days so please check back!

Getting Ready for Tonight!

Balloons waiting to be release!

More Reflections on Sarah

These thoughts are a little more random but now that I’m finally waking up my brain is starting to percolate. (We were up very late last night!)

It was a very powerful moment when she looked directly into the camera and promised to be a “friend and an advocate” for those parents of special needs children. There was a least one woman seated nearby who became very emotional at that promise.

My favorite response to Sarah’s speech came from Fox News commentator Charles Krauthammer. He said, “She didn’t just throw out some red meat but she slaughtered a small cow.” On the convention floor we were just amazed during her speech and kept looking at each other with mouths agape, saying, “Can you believe she said that?” We have been waiting a long time to hear someone effectively take on the elitist in an empty suit named Barack Obama.

This posting is a little out of order but I just have to tell you about our wonderful lunch yesterday at Rossi’s Steakhouse. It is a warm and quaint jazz club that serves up a fabulous steak. We had the privilege of hearing from Dino Rossi via satellite and he gave us a very encouraging update on his campaign. When we get back to Washington electing Dino and John McCain will be a top priority!

A Very Late and Exciting Night

After the Sarah Palin speech we still had official business to take care of on the convention floor. If you stayed up that late you probably saw the roll call of states as we officially announced our delegates for John McCain and placed his name in nomination for President of the United States of America. It was nearly midnight before we left the Excel Center.

You may have heard about the violent protests by anarchists here in St. Paul. So far they have centered their protests near the Excel Center and we have been protected from most of the action but last night they moved their demonstrations to the hotels in Minneapolis (where we are staying). We had heard reports that the anarchists could attempt to kidnap delegates so security was extra tight last night and the buses back to the hotels had motorcycle police escorts.

About 1:00AM I got a call from another delegate who told us their bus was being held blocks away because there was action right outside our hotel. Well, this was too much too miss so we grabbed fellow delegates and rushed downstairs to see if we could “help”. Sure enough, the streets were all blocked off with police in riot gear carrying clubs and weapons trained on the gathering crowd. At one point we realized we were being sandwiched by anarchists so we retreated back to the safety of the hotel lobby. We never found out exactly what prompted the arrests but they already had about 30 protesters on their knees and handcuffed. I have never been so close to such an ugly scene and I don’t think I’ve ever been so thankful for the brave men and women who daily lay their lives on the line for our protection. I am also very angered at the self-indulgent scum bags who go out and hurt good people and destroy property for their far left, anti-American causes.

SARAH!!!

Well, there is no doubt Sarah Palin’s speech was epic! For all the chatter about last night being the speech of her life she showed us she has everything it takes to take on the status quo.

She hit it right on all the topics from energy independence to the value of family. John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin was a great idea. It’s a ticket that really works.

Her small town values were magnificently displayed last night and she obviously has the unique ability to connect directly with ordinary Americans, much like Ronald Reagan could. This is a remarkable gift.

She took on Barack Obama and did it with a smile on her face and everything she said about Barack Obama is absolutely true. He is an inexperienced tax-happy liberal and Americans can’t afford to put him in the White House.

She has put liberals and the elite media on notice that she is strong and smart and can hold her own in national politics. Rich Lowry says it well when he called her a “winsome warrior”.

Some favorite lines from her speech included when she said, “News flash. I'm not going to Washington to seek the good opinion of elites but I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country”. She really brought down the house when she commented that being a mayor is like being a community organizer except with actual responsibilities. This was a direct zinger against Obama’s thin resume as a “community organizer” (whatever that is).

My daughter’s comment is that last night Sarah Palin opened a can of whoop a$$ against Barack Obama and it was a direct hit.

She certainly passed the test!

There are a ton of great articles out this morning but this one from Rich Lowry in the New York Post is one of the best! Barack Obama, Meet Your Nightmare.

Tuesday Night at the EX

David Gregory

Alan Colmes of Fox News

Rudi Giuliani

Senator Fred Thompson

Pollster Frank Luntz

Newt

Senator John Thune of South Dakota

Tom Brokaw

Luanne with former Speaker of the House Denny Hastert

Sean Hannity


Bill Hemmer of Foxs News Morning Show

Paddleboating the Mighty Mississippi

On Tuesday our Washington delegation was treated to a wonderful boat ride on the Mississippi River, traveling in a stylin' paddleboat. We have a great group of fellow Republicans and I have made many new friends. We have one goal in mind and that is to elect the McCain/Palin ticket.
I was stunned (and relieved) by the level of security and our boat were escorted during the entire trip by the several Coast Guard PT boats which was armed with high powered weapons. There were also 2 armed Coast Guardsmen on our boat.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane

Hard working WSRP staff who have planned and arranged our entire stay in Minnesota

Leave Us Alone

Grover Norquist from Americans for Tax Reform spoke to our Washington delegation and held a book signing for his new book titled "Leave Us Alone". His presentation was amazing and he detailed the differences between John McCain and Barack Obama in the area of taxes. Suffice it to say the contrast is stunning! Barack Obama has plans to raise our taxes significantly. Barack Obama is young in age and experience but he is old in his thinking and failed liberal policy ideas.

You're Going to Make it After All

After our Tuesday breakfast we ran into Mary Tyler Moore who encouraged us to chase our dreams!

By the way...

I have not been able to keep up with my blog as much as I had hoped because we have been going non-stop. It's almost impossible to connect to the internet on the convention floor but Cindy, seated up in the guest section with her nifty wireless card, has been able to post lots of updates on her "Clearly Conservative" blog. Between the 2 of us you should get a great picture of what it's like at the convention.

Convention Commences

MONDAY - What a day! We started today with a lovely walk to a nearby restaurant where our state delegation met for breakfast. By 8:30AM it was already warm and humid but you won’t hear any complaints from me! We were briefed on the changes for the first official day of the convention. All eyes are on Gustav and so it was decided that much of the day’s activities would be set aside. The schedule is very fluid but we know a few things for sure. President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will not be coming to St. Paul to address the convention but First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain made a joint appearance to offer support for those affected by the hurricane. It was a poignant moment when Laura Bush walked on to the stage. We were asked by delegate officials to offer polite but restrained applause but that was not to be; she received a very long and warm welcome. Most female delegates loved Cindy’s dress but I wasn’t one of them. = )

Another Convention Blogger

For an additional perspective of the Republican National Convention visit the blog of my friend Cindy who is here with me in St. Paul. Together we hope to cover every fun and exciting aspect of the convention.

Media Notice

Today there is an article about my trip to Minneapolis as a delegate in the Bellingham Herald. You can read about it here. All in all, a positive and fair article with only a couple of small inaccuracies.

On Tuesday I will be interviewed on KGMI at 6:50 AM (PST).

Yesterday at the Minnesota reception I was approached by Esquire Magazine for an interview but since I don't read Esquire (nor do most people I know), I probably won't have a chance to read it.