Posted on 10/14/2007 12:50:47 AM PDT by rscully
The Conservative Leadership Conference was held at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel/Casino in Sparks, Nevada (Sparks is right next door to Reno, Nevada), from Thursday, October 11 through Saturday, October 12, 2007. There was a very large turnout. There were several conservative speakers who attended, including Mitt Romney and Duncan Hunter. Ron Paul and Alan Keyes were also among the featured speakers. I was working the conference itself, as a concierge to the public speakers in the VIP room, as well as helping to register guests, media and speakers.
Governor Romney spoke on Friday, October 12th. He first spoke at the town hall meeting, which was sponsored by the Nevada Republican Women’s organization (it was open to the public). The crowd was huge. I’ve seen YouTube videos of his other town hall meetings, and this one was by far the best. He was relaxed yet dynamic, really funny, well-spoken, and down to earth. He not only gave ideas, but concrete plans for those ideas. To say he connected with the audience would be an understatement. My favorite line was when he quoted Senator Cankles recently saying "I have a million ideas. The country can't afford them all" to which he replied, “Well, then I have a million reasons not to vote for her!”, which received a rousing round of applause from the group. He received several standing ovations.
Personal note: I had the opportunity to meet and talk to him for a couple of minutes prior to his first speaking engagement (the Town Hall Meeting). My personal observation is that he is TRULY a lovely person. You can just tell he is a good man, as the goodness just seems to emanate from him. His smile was genuine, not plastic, and he was jovial and relaxed prior to the meeting. In case ya’ll are wondering, he had a firm, sincere, look-you-in-the-eye handshake. Can ya’ll tell I was beyond impressed with the man? I also had the opportunity to be in the VIP room (only a small amount of people were allowed inside), to speak with him again and to take more pictures.
After he answered questions at the Town Hall Meeting, he went back to the VIP lounge and rested for a few minutes before getting ready for the press junket. He really interviews well. He was prepared, confident, and concise. He is definitely ready for prime time.
I could not believe the stamina of Governor Romney and of his national campaign staff! He was in continuous fluid motion, from one speaking engagement to the next, from one interview to the next one. He and his staff are a finely-tuned, cohesive machine. I observed that he was meticulous in his appearance, polite to his staff and everyone around him, and incredibly focused despite the demands of his crazy schedule.
I spoke to several of my fellow conference volunteers, some of them college republicans, who were either undecided or uniformed about Mitt Romney. They were blown away (in a good way) by him at both his speaking engagements, highly impressed with his message, and told me they could confidently envision him as our next president. In short, he had earned their votes.
The best thing I liked about Mitt Romney was his optimism for the future of the country (with the right leader!), and particularly of its people. He was very direct in wanting to gather, as he calls it, “the three legs of the Republican Party”, which are the social conservatives, the fiscal conservatives, and the military/defense conservatives, in order to have them coalesce into the one great party that Ronald Regan had been able to bring together and make strong. I share that view with him. I’ve noticed that we’ve been so busy with the infighting that we’ve forgotten that want a lot of the same things. We in the GOP, by and large, share the same goal: save and protect our country from within (and from the outside), and work together to keep the Hildebeast from taking “the ring”. Romney is the one who can to do it, folks, like it or not. Our country would be lucky to have him.
As a side note, unfortunately my daughter broke her ankle on the trampoline, so I had to leave the conference early. I am so bummed out that I missed Duncan Hunter by 30 minutes!! I would’ve been his concierge as well had I been able to stay. I did have the opportunity, however, to speak with his campaign staff. They were lovely people and clearly appreciate and love their candidate. I personally think he is a wonderful statesman and agree more with him on many issues than anyone else, however, unless he’s on the ticket as VP, I don’t see him getting anywhere in this election cycle. That’s my opinion, but I don’t think I’m alone here.
Here’s hoping for a Romney/Hunter dream-team ticket!
Also, I had the misfortune of hearing Ron Paul and Alan Keyes speak. We all know Ron Paul has, well, walked off the reservation, but DANG, he’s starting to scare me! I had a personal assistant volunteer (high school student), who got stuck listening to one of his supporters go off on how Mitt Romney is a member of a political society that is conspiring to establish a One World Order, etc, etc…she was smart enough to tell him “I love the X-Files, too, but I know it’s only a tv show!” BWAAAAAAHAAAAA! I have trained you well, my young Jedi.
I really used to like Alan Keyes, but he sounded so shrill and, well, nuts. There were a few points I could agree with him on, but yikes! What went wrong, Dude? I have problems with political speakers pulling the race card, especially as a crutch. I’ll leave it at that.
Below are pics of my meeting with Governor Romney, as well as pics I took with former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and Nevada Congressman Dean Heller. BTW, I’m the American of Hispanic Descent brunette in all the pictures! I had so much fun! It was a busy, exhausting, exhilarating day. I wish ya’ll could’ve been there!
Love and kisses,
Rscully (Yes, I’m a fan of the X-Files, too)
Okay, here's hoping the pics turn out okay...
A minor thing, but the Thompson voters do not describe Fred in such a plastic, Step ford candidate way.
Also a Thompson-Hunter connection makes sense, my guess is that (as a Hunter constituent, and a conservative) is that Romney is not a favorite of my Congressman.
“His smile was genuine, not plastic, and he was jovial and relaxed prior to the meeting. In case ya’ll are wondering, he had a firm, sincere, look-you-in-the-eye handshake.”
“I could not believe the stamina of Governor Romney and of his national campaign staff! He was in continuous fluid motion, from one speaking engagement to the next, from one interview to the next one. He and his staff are a finely-tuned, cohesive machine. I observed that he was meticulous in his appearance, polite to his staff and everyone around him, and incredibly focused despite the demands of his crazy schedule. “
“Here’s hoping for a Romney/Hunter dream-team ticket! “
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Way to go rscully! Thanks for sharing.
Slick Mitt in his magic underwear.
Great report too btw.
Is Alan really getting that bad?
Last time I went to see him speak about five years ago he seemed a bit arrogant and a tinge of the race card thingy.
I like Hunter but my buddy here is for Romney so we went for the combo ticket, hopeful.
I must say though I think that strong square chin of Romneys’ is so manly. He looks like he smells good. I know that has nothing to do with his abilities to lead our Country but if the guys can fawn so can I. (raspberry to the guys)
Hmmmmm the Romney/Hunter supporters are popping up around here. (wink)
A minor thing, but the Thompson voters do not describe Fred in such a plastic, Step ford candidate way.
You’ve got to be kidding! All I read on Free Republic these days is drooling, giddy, head-over-heels-in-love talk about Fred Thompson by all his faithful fans.
Give me a friggin’ break!
Face it, ansell2, Mitt Romney clearly is the cream of the GOP crop in every way — optimism, creativity, energy, management ability, looks, intelligence, executive experience, family life, readiness for prime time, everything-he-touches-turns-to-gold ability, etc., etc., etc.!
thanks for posting. I saw Mitt in Winter Park, FL and really enjoyed it. He’s a great candidate.
I, for one, am WAY more conservative than ever;meaning, I’ve changed. People can and do change. If he is no longer an abortion advocate or liberal on gay marriage, I have no reason to not believe him.
I, too, see a Romney/Hunter ticket as AWESOME!
Thank you for sharing excellent report!:)
That is only your personal aasumption...
I think otherwise!
An interesting observation. Compare the BILE and sheer HATE hurled at Romney in these threads and contrast with the Fred Thompson threads. Yes, people might have second thoughts about Thompson as I do because of worries about his energy level and stamina but you don't see the the hate hurled at Thompson as you do at Romney. Oh, and the bigotry as well.
The great thing about Romney is that you know that the moment he becomes president, he will be hands on. Mitt took the corrupt 2002 Winter Olympics, whose outcome looked bleak and COMPLETELY turned them around into an incredible success. He’s got the ability and the energy.
A Dream Ticket Indeed! Mitt’s faith is going to a be a flash point for his supporters.
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Say whatever else (positive or negative) one may have to saye about Romney, he sure knows how to work a crowd. That’s bound to help the Republican ticket in 2008.
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