Hurricane Monday

So this was the day that Isaac was to hit Tampa but fortunately it was a non-event. The day was cloudy, breezy and rained off and on but there was no threat to health or property. Since official convention events were cancelled it gave us a chance to enjoy local sites. A few of us drove to Ybor City (pronounced E-bore) which is a historic Cuban district in Tampa. Our main purpose for the trip was to pick up our credentials for the Nuestra Noche event at the Cuban Club. Specials guests at this party include Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Suzanna Martinez (Gov of NM).

We picked up handrolled cigars for a few of our favorite menfolk and enjoyed a robust cup of Cuban coffee at the convention headquarters of the National Journal. We spotted Fox News correspondent Major Garrett and many other media elite whose names we could not remember.

Entrance to Ybor City

Cigars for my Vice Chair who 'held down the fort' while I was away (oops! I heard the PC police recently banned this phrase)

Always working - Eileen blogging here while sipping Cuban coffee at the HQ of National Journal

 

Delegation breakfast

Monday was our first breakfast as a delegation at our hotel in Clearwater. The WSRP has arranged for fascinating speakers to join us each morning. First up was David Bossie of Citizens United. From their website: Citizens United is an organization dedicated to restoring our government to citizens' control. Through a combination of education, advocacy, and grass roots organization, Citizens United seeks to reassert the traditional American values of limited government, freedom of enterprise, strong families, and national sovereignty and security. Citizens United's goal is to restore the founding fathers' vision of a free nation, guided by the honesty, common sense, and good will of its citizens.

 

Citizens United is known for producing high-impact and sometimes controversial documentaries. This week they are rolling out several movies including Our Sacred Honor, Occupy Unmasked, The Gift of Life and the brand new block buster The Hope and the Change. This movie explores Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and highlights the journey of forty Amerians who voted for President Obama four years ago. I have tickets for several of the Citizens United movies.

 

David Bossie did not disappoint us! His talk was funny, insightful and penetrating.

 

A perfect centerpiece blending Washington, USA and Florida

 

David Bossie of Citizens United

Sunday brunch

This post is out of order because it actually came before the Welcome Party. Our first official function as a delegation was a fabulous brunch at the Tampa Yacht Club. The menu included creamy grits with shrimp and all kinds of southern delicacies. After the brunch our hosts took us on a tour of Tampa. There are thousands of local volunteers who are rolling out the red carpet and are making us feel very welcome.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was on hand for the brunch

It was a lovely venue - very old world and charming

Party Dome!

The Grand Old Party threw a heck of a welcome party on Sunday night at Tropicana Field for the thousands of delegates, alternates and guests who are in town for the convention. We mingled at the Trop with bead tossing pirates, drummers, flamingos, belly dancers, Tampa Bay cheerleaders and lots and lots of local volunteers who wanted to show us the very best of Florida. There were 50 food stations and they served fabulous local cuisine dishes like Cuban sandwiches, paella, pulled pork and lobster mac and cheese.

We were entertained by the Tampa Bay cheerleaders, Shannon Magrane, the teenage American Idol contestant from Tampa Bay and Rodney Atkins, to name a few.

Security was uber tight and they closed off freeways to allow the buses to reach the Trop without trouble. A will devote a later post to the security alone. It's crazy!



Welcome to theTrop!

 

 Mounted security

 



 Washington friends

 

 Meg Witman, former CEO of HP and 2010 candidate for Governor of California

 

more Washington friends

 

Best steak ever!

Warning! Adjective hype alert!

Bern's Steak House is a Tampa restaurant famous for their legendary steaks, vast wine collection and famous dessert room. Seattle delegate Mark, who blogs here, arranged for our gastronomic adventure. After our fabulous dinner we enjoyed a tour of the kitchen and wine cellar before moving upstairs to relax in a private booth for dessert. All told, our dinner was a 4 hour phenominal experience. Wow, wow!

 Guess who else enjoyed dinner at Bern's?

(WSRP Chair Kirby Wilbur and his lovely wife Trina)

 

Best lobster bisque in the world!

 

 This tasted much better than it looks...

My first ever Chateaubriand cooked warm rare. Amazing!

 

Toured the kitchen

 Mark in the world famous wine cellar

 

Old, old wine!



Dessert at Bern's is a whole other experience

Hello Clearwater Beach!

On Saturday morning I made my way to Clearwater Beach to join the Washington State delegation. The WSRP (Washington State Republican Party) has a hospitality suite in our hotel for the pick up of our credential packets and to just hang out together. It's a big happy reunion as state Republicans gather together with a single purpose - to nominate and elect Mitt Romney as our next President.

The weather is incredible and there was no sign of the univited delegate named Hurricane Isaac. Convention events don't start until Sunday so we had a wonderful day settling in at the lovely Holiday Inn & Suites and exploring Clearwater and it's breath taking beaches.

 A cute little welcome touch when we arrived at our hotel

 

 Unfortunately that's not our hotel in the back ground but we all have the same beach access

 

 A parade of patriotic dolphins welcomed us to Clearwater

 

 Pirates!!

 

Look what a few years of service for the GOP can land you...

Jeff Kent, National Committeeman, has a whopper of a badge to wear on his jacket

 



RNC evening at Old Tampa Bay

Our Washington State Romney host committee has made sure that we have fun in addition to our time spent on committee work. On Thursday evening we were treated to a dinner event given by the Republican National Committee. The setting was exquisite on the water of Old Tampa Bay. The food was delicious and the company was marvelous. There were even hand rolled cigars for those who enjoy the pleasure of a fine cigar.

A few members of the credentials committee

Oregon

Oregon State Republican Chair Allan Alley

Oregon holds their state convention in a very unusual manner. Instead of a single location their convention is held in 5 different locations. The question of this challenge centers on whether or not any of the locations can continue their business after the chair adjourned the meeting at 5pm per the official rules. Two locations moved out to the parking lot and continued the election of alternates. These elections were ruled invalid and the Oregon Republican Party's Executive Committee, per their rules, elected alternate delegates. Our credentials committee affirmed the actions of the OSP and the contested alternates will be seated as elected by the Oregon Republican Executive Committee.

Yeah!! The work of the credentials committee is complete and we now have an extra day to play in Tampa before we gather together with our Washington delegation in Clearwater.

Oklahoma

The 2nd credential's challenge comes from Oklahoma- also from the Paul campaign. Their complaint is a bit in the weeds but basically they are saying that the Oklahoma national delegation was not approved by a roll call (ballot) vote and so are asking that the Oklahoma delegation not be seated at the national convention. At the conclusion of the Oklahoma State convention there body amended their rules to eliminate a roll call vote and conducted a voice and standing vote. The intent of the state convention body was not in doubt and our credential's committee voted in the affirmative to seat the Oklahoma delegation.

We dispensed the Oklahoma challenge in short order and now we will hear from Oregon...

Committee on Credentials

I arrived in Tampa a few days early to serve as a member of the Credentials Committee. There are 3 committees that serve the Republican National Committee- Credentials, Rules and Platform. Each state delegation elects a man and a woman to serve each committee. My counterpart on the Credentials Committee is Bob Brunjes from King County. Our job is to hear the cases of national delegates and/or alternates whose right to be seated at the national convention has been challenged.

There were 9 challenges from 8 states- the most contests since 1952.

The Washington State delegation was challenged by Ron Paul activists and their complaints involved procedural issues going back to the March 3 caucuses and county conventions. Our committee ruled that the RNC body has no jurisdiction over this matter because their challenge was already heard and ruled on by the state credentialing committee. As a national delegate who was individually challenged let me just say that the materials submitted by the challengers was riddled with false statements. Without a doubt this challenge was without fact and merit. This matter has been rightly decided and buried.

The challenges of 4 other states have either been dropped or settled outside of this body. That leaves 3 states who continued their contests: Maine, Oregon and Oklahoma.

First up Maine: It is clear the Maine state convention was riddled with serious credentialing, ballot and floor security issues. My word, what a nightmare situation! Multiple efforts were made to resolve the dispute and the RNC working with the Maine Republican Party procuded an alternate slate of delegates which includes representatives of both slates that were presented at the state convention. This is a fair and equitable resolution and allows for Maine to be representated on the floor of the national convention.

Vote of the credentials committee on Maine: an affirmative vote to seat a slate of delegates and alternates which constitutes individuals from both state convention slates (BTW: majority Paul delegates).

I sure hope Oregon and Oklahoma will be easier to consider.

Tampa things that intrigued me today...

Lots of helicopters buzzing over top today - apparently checking the roof tops for disruptive contraband 

Window washers hanging off sky scrapers

 



Day 1, Tampa

I have arrived in Tampa and had a good night’s rest after a long day of flying. As I came from the airport through Tampa there was a huge welcome billboard that said: Welcome to Tampa. The Mayor and City Council are all Democrat. Enjoy your stay. I'll try to get a picture because it's quite funny.

Every local that I have met has been well schooled in their manners and attitude. The welcome mat has been rolled out and they are so happy to have us here. There is lots of excitement! Everywhere we go people want to know if we are here for the RNC. My first meeting of the Credentials Committee is not until 3pm today so I can spend some time exploring the neighborhood. I move out to Clearwater Beach on Saturday to join the Washington delegation.

Do not succumb to hurricane Isaac hysteria. Around here there is a nonchalant attitude and they do not believe it will affect the convention. We might get some rain but what's a little rain when you're from Washington. I hope however, that we get to experience hurricane Biden! Rumor is that he plans to crash the convention. Oh, that would be SO fun!

Bon voyage from Mt. Ranier

Even as marvel at the beauty of Mt. Rainer, I am mildly concerned about heading into the path of Hurricane Isaac. I am watching the reports carefully and prayerfully requesting Isaac fizzles at sea... for the sake of all who could be affected.

I'm back...

Without too much fanfare I have returned to the pages of my blog (long neglected as life encroaches)...

Just in time for another epic adventure...

Tampa 2012!

Join me (via this blog) as I travel to the Republican National Convention and participate in the nomination of Mitt Romney as President of the United States and Paul Ryan as his chosen VP.

Like I said, it will be EPIC!

American's Comeback Team, part 2

America's Comeback Team!

Paul Ryan, a brilliant pick by Mitt Romney for Vice President!