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...
I will have you look at Sheena26 posts alone on Jeri Thompson on the topic of mean spiritedness...
As far as interest in Fred, if Mitt is the bee's knees why the grassroots support for FDT. Mitts only other competition up to then was Rudy...
Yeah, Romney rocked so much that Paul beat him at the delegate poll!
I believe that Fred Thompson gained popularity because he plays authoritative parts on t.v. and in the movies and because a lot of people thought he was the next Reagan, the Savior of the GOP, in others words “none of the above.”
As folks have been able to get to know FDT they have discovered he is not as conservative as they previously thought, he's a little bit clueless, and that he doesn’t have enough energy to do a conventional campaign (see following article).
In addition to dissing the debate in NJ and instead, announcing on Jay Leno, he went to NJ a month ago and said he was going to be back in the state a lot. He hasn’t been back there since and he just cancelled an engagement in NJ that was coming up.
No. fire. in. the. belly.
(Fred’s sked (schedule) October 12, 2007)
Fred Thompson has no public events scheduled for this weekend. Nor did he have any last weekend when he was hunkered down doing debate prep.
The week in between didn’t seem to be all that intense, either, except for the debate on Tuesday.
And the early part of next week? There is a Fox hit with Neil Cavuto on Monday afternoon and a speech that night to the New York Conservative Party. Two more speeches follow the next day back in D.C.
So is Thompson feeding the “lazy” narrative here?
It would seem so on the surface, but a Fred aide cautions that just because there are no public events doesn’t mean the candidate isn’t working hard.
Per this aide, Thompson was raising campaign cash in Texas on Wednesday and in Tennessee yesterday. He’s also holding a bevy of private meetings. And next weekend, he’ll be back on the campaign trail, doing retail in a key state.
By Jonathan Martin 06:05 PM | comments (16) | post comment | permalink ========= The job of POTUS is a 24/7 job that requires energy and vigilance.
“Romney/Hunter supporters are popping up around here”
That’s my dream ticket.
What makes you think that that dreamy Romney will generate any more enthusiasm in the general election that he did at this delegate poll.
If Romney were for gay marriage and “the gay agenda” why isn’t the gay community all happy and supportive of his candidacy? I wish Alan Keyes, and others, would knock it off. See this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJnYFU4v9a4
What makes you think that that dreamy Romney will generate any more enthusiasm in the general election that he did at this delegate poll which he lost soundly to Paul?
The “magic underwear” comments are disgusting and should be frowned on by all decent people . . . but I guess it’s too much to ask.
The anti Mormons are legion.
“What makes you think that that dreamy Romney will generate any more enthusiasm in the general election that (sic) he did at this delegate poll.”
For one thing, Romney is the only Republican who can debate Hillary on health care with credibility. That’s for starters.
You are welcome but the credit goes to rscully.
I spoke to many of the Romney supporters who stood in line for a seat well before he was scheduled to speak. Many of them actually didn’t even know about the straw poll, they were just there to see him. The only people who were directed to the straw poll were the people who registered to attend the convention itself. The public town hall meeting was privately sponsored by the Nevada Republican Women’s organization, which is were the first crowd gathered, and which happened to be down the hall from the convention.
I’m thinking that there are leftwing “Sleeper Agents” who have infiltrated the FR with the purpose of sowing dissension. If Mitt is nominated or close to it, we can expect to see a tidal wave of hate spewed in his direction.
If by “rocks” you mean that his hair was perfect and you could bask in the light from the reflection of his teeth. If you close your eyes reaalllly tight you could enter into a fantasy world where he really was a conservative with perfect hair and teeth and in this fantasy world he would transform America into the Norman Rockwell painting that he embodies, then yes, he “rocks”.
I agree! Most ‘Fredheads’ just don’t ‘get it’. As I’ve stated in previous posts, FRED THOMPSON IS A LOSER IN EVERY WAY. How many more fires does he need lit under his butt? He doesn’t exude confidence. He didn’t even show up in N.H. And as much as I admire Rudy, there’s just too much personal baggage associated with him. IMHO, Mitt Romney is the best presidential candidate that the GOP has that could DEFEAT HILARY, who will most likely get the DEM nomination. Mitt could debate circles around her...he’s extremely smart, knowledgeable, is conservative, is tough on terror and has exemplary family values. The GOP needs a candidate who has the best chance of a Clinton defeat...that is KEY.
Wonderful post....thanks!
More than anything else, Mr. Romney's position on assault weapons bothers me. There is absolutely no justification to bring back the 10-round magazine limit, but Mr. Romney says that he would support a renewal of that ban. If he reversed his position on this issue and made me believe him, I'd be supporting him already.
As it is, I may end up voting for Mr. Romney after all. My first choice would be Duncan Hunter, but I believe that he will be mathematically eliminated before I have a chance to vote. In that case, I may end up voting for Mr. Romney. I don't like all of his other positions, but he's a candidate with great potential. He's been a success at everything he's tried so far, and maybe he can be a success as president as well.
Bill
Thanks for an interesting report. Congratulations on getting to meet your candidate.
Watched John Hagee being interviewed by Glenn Beck.
He asked if it was Romney or Hillary who would he vote for (kinda a no brainer huh) he said Romney and stated why Romney.
Being home bound this last year I have had alot of time to think and have been flooded with lifelong wonderful memories of KV’s and my life. Things tucked away for years. Reflecting on these memories from the last almost 3 decades one thing came to mind.
How uptight/unforgiving and PC this country has become and not in a following of Christ and the divine gifts he has given us that aid our human nature. But man telling man what he is free to do IMO putting chains on the human spirit.
Esp post 9/11. Policy runs all above common sense and are God givin abilities to make daily decisions. We have become slaves to deception that policy/rules in place will be for the Good of all.
Yet those who have choosen to inflict horriffic crimes will continue to do so.
Yet if someone says something flipped or is having a bad day and is rude and offends another it seems the police and state are called in to supervise every squabble.
So when a man/woman runs for office and voices there faith in my Christian God I don’t take their word for it.
I will know by the ongoing type of leadership and decisions they make for our country.
I want to be able to live free again as an American who’s personal faith in Christian based in the Catholic Church.
Sleeper Agents = decievers/deception IMO
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