Friday, 11:35pm - Late Night Wrap-Up
After the regular convention events wrapped up tonight I got a quick bite to eat and then went off to the biennial convention of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas. I've been a member of the RLC on the national level for years, but the local Texas chapter wasn't really very active until a couple of years ago so I had never really been involved. Strangely I'm now on the national board of the RLC, but I only have loose contacts with the Texas chapter which is now far-and-away the largest chapter in the nation. Its size was demonstrated tonight when they scheduled the business meeting for the caucus for a room designed to hold about 60 people and about 150 showed up. Fortunately some other group around the corner was sponsoring an open bar so those who were stuck in the hallway had a pretty good time drinking and socializing. The Texas RLC has become so large because of an influx of Ron Paul supporters from the 1500 member Ron Paul meetup group based in Austin and headed up by the very able Lisa Mallory.
As I've mentioned in previous articles I've attended a couple of their meetings, but what was apparent at this event was that the group has become more focused and more serious. There were still a few odd birds in attendance, like the guy who's been wandering the halls all day carrying a sign about the dreaded (and fictional) North American Union, but on the whole it looked more like a potentially viable political organization and I got the impression that despite discouragements at this convention they were in it for the long haul with the GOP. They seem to have reached the sensible conclusion that the best future strategy is to start electing people to office at the local level. Working in local politics largely puts them outside of the control of the GOP leadership, but once they start getting people elected then those office holders are going to establish a legitimacy for the movement which produced them with the party insiders. It's sort of the inverse of the top-down strategy which has failed the Libertarian Party for year after year. It's a strategy for a serious and political movement with a bright future.
Friday, 11:47pm - One Last Photo
I encountered the two fellows in the photo to the right at the main entrance to the convention floor. The Sergeants at Arms had banned them and their giant homemade signs from the hall, so they stationed themselves at the entrance from the exhibits to the main hall where they're pretty hard to miss. They're a reminder that unbridled enthusiasm with a touch of obsession can be found in the old and new elements of the party, with the old-style pro-lifer on the left and the new-style party reformer on the right. I can't necessarily agree with all their causes, but I have to admire their brashness and tenacity.
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