Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses several hundred supporters at Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. At right is his wife, Anita.
Posted on 09/09/2011 8:21:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses several hundred supporters at Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. At right is his wife, Anita.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, fresh off a Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley Wednesday night, campaigned in Newport Beach Thursday morning, with a rally at Roger’s Gardens.
The emotional peak of the rally was OC Republican Party Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, who is in the final stages of cancer, leaving his hospice bed to lead the invocation.
After the rally, Perry went across the street to Fashion Island for a private fundraising event. Here are some photos from the Roger’s Gardens rally.
(Excerpt) Read more at newportindy.com ...
"My father passed away two weeks before my 15th birthday so I’ve spent the past 25 years looking for father figures, mentors so to speak. In business, I’ve had two GREAT ones, Tommy T the Body Piercer and John Graham the CPA. This is my tribute to my Political Father…
[snip]
And last week, as I sat there with him in his room, he unable to leave his bed now, how do you say thank you to the man who because of him, I write this column today; because of him, I exist.
How do you keep your thoughts straight when he’s asking you to perform a role in his funeral?
So I thanked him. Then I thanked him again.
And while Michelle, T.J. and Joey will be losing their father, I, for the second time in my life, will be losing a father, too.
I am forever blessed and honored to have shared your time, Tom. You’ve shaped my life like you can never imagine.
Thank you, Tom, and I love you.
Obviously he thinks California is in play, at least enough in play to force the commies to commit resources there.
Wouldn’t that be something?
If the man describe in the letter above, got out of his death bed to lead the invocation for this event, I’d say there will be a lot of support for Gov. Perry in Orange County - all over California.
Smart move by Perry. California is more than just San Francisco and Sunset Strip.
(3 months earlier) June 14th, 2011........>>>It was a night of celebration for Republicans and also a tribute to the former 20-year chairman of the party. Fuentes’ son, Thomas Fuentes Jr. (T.J. Fuentes), gave the invocation for the evening, a role often performed by his father. And former Nixon aide and Republican United States Senate nominee, Bruce Herschensohn, made the evening’s toast for Fuentes.
Even still, with multiple speeches throughout the evening, Fuentes’ was a showstopper, focusing more on the ideas and future of the Republican Party, rather than his own, personal struggles. Below is the full text of his speech:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman!
Governor Martinez, Honorable and Distinguished Guests, Beloved friends, my fellow Republicans, all.
Thank you for your kind good wishes over the past few months.
Thank you, tonight, for your embraces, your hugs, your kisses, and your warm words of encouragement.
Yes, your old chairman has cancer.
But, in this battle, I remember that many of you have stood with me when we have battled cancers in our party, in times past. Cancers that have threatened the very life of the conservative cause we love. Cancers from the Left; tumors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, special interests, and self serving, narcissistic politicians and organizations who abandon philosophy for power; those who think money is more important than people and noble ideas. And, those owned by government employee labor unions.
And, time has proven us right. In the long run, we have won those battles, because we stood true to our convictions. And, now, we go on, together, to fight again, in 2012, for the conservative movement that we cherish.
I love our party. I love the ideals and principles of the Founders of our Republic. I love you, my friends.
I will stand with you in defense of those ideals and principles, until I can physically stand no more. Please continue to stand with me. Tonight, I can only ask you for your continued prayers.
Thank you. God Bless you.”
http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/06/14/tumors-like-arnold-schwarzenegger/45791/
You're very right about that!
There are more registered Republicans in CA than in any other state.
CA provides a huge popular vote boost for the GOP.
Past money for Romney is lining up for Perry.
.....>>>Mike Schroeder represents as well as anyone the shift away from Romney. He was Romney’s California political director in 2008. He is now off the Romney primary bandwagon and “leaning” toward Perry. For one thing, he doesn’t think Romney can credibly attack Obama’s health care plan given his own in Massachusetts. But he was also pained by the poor primary campaign Romney ran in California last time – never focusing on the delegates he could realistically win and while wooing those he had no hope to.
Perry, he says, has the potential to run a much smarter state campaign, of course, and next week’s rally is a good start in O.C. “The players who were at the big (2008) Romney event at the St. Regis (in Dana Point) are going to be at the Perry event. He has the momentum now, and the visual of all the former Romney people coming out will help that momentum and help with fundraising, where he is behind.”
Although he obviously won’t attend, the cancer-stricken former GOP Chairman Tom Fuentes responded immediately to Baugh’s email announcing the Perry appearance, emailing Baugh back to chide him for not spelling out the day of the week. “He’s still coaching!” Baugh said. Baugh, who is neutral in the primary, is working with two other GOP presidential candidates to make local appearances in coming weeks.<<<.....
Orange County is a conservative bastion. I like to think of it as the Texas of California (just as Austin is the California of Texas). I wish I could swap those regions citizens, as I’m sure it would improve Texas, at least. ;-)
Tom is home for good, done with chemo, just waiting for the cancer to take him. To remain alert, he has rejected morphine for now, taking Vicodin for pain. His wife, Jolene, sends groups of one or two upstairs, where Tom is propped up in their four-poster bed. Political mail strategist Jim Bieber and I were scheduled for 3:30 p.m. I thought we'd have 15 minutes. Jolene and the Lord gave us nearly two hours.
We talked just a little about current politics. Tom was happy Rick Perry is in. "I met Perry a couple of weeks ago when he was in town. Sat next to his wife, Anita. I got a good feel for the first-lady quality. One of the gauges I have is to get to know the political wives. That tells you a lot. I still get notes from Barbara Bush." Vintage Fuentes on several levels.
We talked about money and politics, his disdain for high-rollers who expected a quid-pro-quo for their donations. In all his years shifting money between people and conservative causes and candidates, he says, only one person ever blatantly asked for something in return. That person – now a candidate – may well win in 2012. If so, and if something unexpectedly, dare one say miraculously keeps that person from actually taking office? "That'll be me," Tom joked, pointing heavenward.
But politics was not at the root of our talk. Rather, it was the human lessons one learns on the way – the good one does and the love one can spread through political connections. Jolene brought tumblers of Glenlivet and the real conversation began.
Tom told us of a father and son, local political figures, estranged six years. The son had moved to New York. He wanted to come see Tom one last time. Tom said OK, but only if he tried to mend fences with his father. The son agreed, flew out last week and spent several hours with Tom, who reminded him of the story of the Prodigal Son."<<<< Source
Thanks for posting. Informative in so many ways, including the last days of a very good man.
It really touched me - slowed down my thoughts and left me with more than I had when I woke up today.
Mr. Fuentes has lived a life of reaching out, something we can all learn from.
California passed a law that gives it’s electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote. Yeah, it’s in play now. Maybe we can’t win there, but there are lots of votes to be gotten there.
Its not it’s. I hate it when I do that.
California passed a law that gives it’s electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote.There's always the question "are they evil or are they stupid".
Well, they are evil. And well, they are stupid.
“California passed a law that gives it’s electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote.”
How does that NOT disenfranchise its voters?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.