[b9]

Thank you, Finny, for being the eyes and ears of those of us who couldn't make it yesterday.

I trust your take any day over any other reporter.

It's one thing to see videos of the speeches, and quite another thing entirely to get your first-hand impression and observation. No newspaper would report this kind of depth.

Aside from Thompson's true, deep, humility, the thing that came across the most for me was his way with people. He was quietly, respectfully mobbed for quite some time getting out of the building. Just watching body language, the comfort levels were extreme. There was no wall that I could see between politician and person. Thompson believes in the power of the same conservative principles that a lot of those folks there have lived, loved, and voted, and it gives him a lot of confidence. He's very tall, but oddly, not imposing.

And this:

He is humble. "I don't need another thing to add to my resume," he said, and I believed him. He's doing it because he knows he's one of those rare politicians who, like Tom McClintock, intellectually embraces the core values of American conservatism in government, starting at the Constitution. I think his conscience is making him do it.

Others may report/record the event, but you report the spirit which, to me, is the substance of the whole thing.

Thank you!

[Finny]

Really kind words, thank you, but understand that all that was my opinion, gut feeling. Not reporting, but opinion! I only attempt to be removed enough from my own inclinations to see what I want to see and "report" likewise. Besides, I was an active prevaricator. The candidate needs to know where he's striking the right chords, saying things we agree with. I'm all for yelling and cheering at music events and things like this, where the folks onstage are there to connect with the audience. It's good for people to cut loose sometimes. It's like singing. In other words, I did things to influence the outcome of the event. I'm no reporter!

Can anybody else who went make a good guess as to the attendance? DeVore's release said 700 people, but I think that's a bit high. I saw one report (on the MSM, of course) that had it at about 300, but that seems pretty low. I'd guess ... 500? Anybody?