Ron Paul's decision to end his campaign last night was such an important turning point in the convention that I thought I'd stop there and start over again from scratch with a new article for the new day. The character of the coverage is also going to change a bit, since I've now moved to the exhibit hall, have faster access and can add photos to the presentation, while keeping it all as live as possible.
Friday, 10:10am - Ah, Breakfast!
I've temporarily ditched my responsibilities as an alternate, even knowing that my district is probably short a few votes. I saw enough yesterday to have a pretty good idea how those votes are going to go with or without me, so today I'll probably concentrate on other things, particularly a study of the exhibit hall and a report on the goings on of the second general session this afternoon. Then tonight I'm going to the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas convention. I feel a bit like a sybarite, but right now my body is telling me not to do anything else without paying it some eggs and sausage.
Friday, 10:50am - Looking for A Log Cabinite
On planning out my day while I ate breakfast (made needlessly long because a waiter apparently served my meal to someone else by accident and they had to remake it)I decided that one group I really want to speak to is the Texas Log Cabin Republicans. Apparently because I don't move in the right circles I missed my chance to attend the meeting they held last night, so now I'm going to try to track them down. I'd like to sound them out about McCain and the direction the party is going. They've got a drive on to get some of the reprehensibly homophobic language out of the Texas GOP Platform. Our governor may look like a GQ model, but his righteous hatred for all things gay is truly impressive - can you say 'closeted compensation'. I was able to stop those resolutions at our district convention, by making a nice little speech to the Resolutions Committee, but they made it through in other districts so the fight continues. If by some miracle someone from the group reads this, I hope they'll send someone by to chat at the blog center in the Exhibit Hall where I'll likely be hanging out when not doing something else. I feel guilty that I'm not giving them more support by blogging from there, but my cellular modem makes it seductively easy to blog from anywhere I happen to be.
Article comments
1 - Baritone
I don't want to usurp Dave's article here, but I just thought I'd note the passing of Tim Russert of NBC News.
This came out of left field.
I know there is little love here for the mass media, but I do believe that Russert was one of the best at what he did. He was clearly a tireless and endlessly enthusiastic news man who was never caught unprepared. The reaction of his compatriots in the business is testament to his having been a good man, a good husband, a good son, and a good father.
I will definitely miss the astute energy that he brought to everything he did both on and off camera. His Sunday morning "Meet the Press" program will definitely not be the same without him, and it will be strange indeed not having his voice chiming in with excitement come the night of the November election.
B-tone
2 - Dave Nalle
I heard about Russert on the escalator here in the convention center and I can confirm that Republicans had a great deal of respect for him as a journalist and interviewer. Everyone I've talked to was surprised and saddened. Seems like he deserved to have more time.
Dave
3 - Dave Nalle
I've done another update to the blog. Half a day of the convention to go tomorrow, but I might cut out a bit early.
BTW, if you searched "texas republican convention" on google news Thursday or Friday the first listing out of about 4000 was for my original liveblog which held the number one spot for 23 hours. It was then supplanted by this second liveblog segment which held the number one spot for about 6 hours, after which it got bumped and the original article came back and is currently still number 1.
Either being really, really long and wordy earns you points with google or something makes articles at BC extra popular.
Dave
4 - Tami
I am wondering after reading your blog why you are in the republican party. It seems obvious that you do not believe the way the majority of Republicans believe. Why would you want to associate with them, when it is so obvious from your believes, values, writings, that you are a democrat.
Leaves me wondering?
5 - Dave Nalle
Tami, almost everything I believe in is a belief I share with a majority or a very large minority of the GOP. My beliefs are also those on which the party was founded and which it continued to follow until relatively recently.
In addition, my beliefs have very little in common with those of democrats in the most important areas.
I would suggest that if you call yourself a Republican and find yourself disagreeing with me on fundamental issues like limiting government and protecting individual liberty, then YOU are in the wrong party and ought to consider becoming a democrat.
Dave
6 - lyle
Where is Saturday? I must say I was a (Ron Paul) delegate at the convention and my will was completely broken by the end of it all.
7 - Dave Nalle
Saturday is actually in a separate article at The Righteous Fist Rides Into the Sunset.
Dave