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Free Republic | August 18, 2002 | Auntie Mame

[Auntie Mame]

Dear Freepers:

I just returned from the First Annual Free Republic Network Convention in Las Vegas.

The Free Republic Network Cruise last October was the most fun I've ever had in my whole life. The Free Republic Network Conference I just attended was the most informative and inspiring two days I've ever had in my whole life.

The Free Republic Network is stretching its muscle, not by talk, but by action. The Free Republic forum is liberty's college. The Free Republic Network is liberty's workplace.

If you attended, please use this thread to post your observations, comments and highlights of the conference. I will give mine below. But before I do, I'd like to take this time to thank Bob Johnson and the FRN board for putting on this conference. It's hard for me to find the words to adequately describe how great this experience was--and how much I learned.

[strela]

Ditto (re thanking Auntie Mame for the notes). I've added
them to the Word file - I'll update the thread after lunch.

[cyn]

Aaaaaargh yerself! great note.

[dalereed]

I spoke with Matt Lewis after his presentation and questioned him on how we ever got away from the successfull methods of campaigning of the 50s, 60s, and 70s and degenerated to the extremely expensive method of doing it on TV, which in my estimation is extremely expensive and inefective.

Basicly, his answer was that to run a volunteer campaign, ringing doorbells, etc. would take almost the full amount of time of a consultant and a TV campaign only one day a week. In so many words, these people aren't really interested in winning (except to be successfull enough that they can get clients in the next election), only the money they can make.

It's time to return to what is successfull and a whole lot cheaper!

[Auntie Mame]

Very interesting, dale. Are you of the mind that ringing doorbells is a good way to go but you've got to have a lot of volunteers to do it?

[dalereed]

We used to cover an Assembly district in the last 2 weekends before the election with 70-80 people.

A few seconds talking to a person and personally handing them the literature gains a lot of votes!

With the precinct lists we would concentrate on the high Republican registration first and leave the high democrap precincts until last and if they got missed we didn't lose much.

It would take about 4 times that many people to cover a Congressional district in 2 weekends.

Doing it before the last 2 weekends is not productive.

This is where chapters could make a difference and change the face of politics in the country.

Ask Joe, he knows exactly what i'm talking about.

[Auntie Mame]

Strela, I finally went over to the excellent thread you made with all our notes consolidated. Wonderful job and I think you so very much.

There is one addition that came to mind as I read through the thread. On the abortion discussion from Chuck Muth (and you already have a section on this, I think), he said: On abortion, even if you're running for dogcatcher and you obviously have no say on the abortion issue in that job, but even if all you are doing is running for dogcatcher (I know, I know, I'm being repetitive here), sheesh, quit interrupting me.

Where was I? Oh yes, he said, "Even if you're running for dogcatcher you'd better have a position on abortion because for some voters this is all they're interested in." Well, I probably shouldn't have put that in quotes, but he said something like that and mentioned running for dogcatcher.

I also remember Matt Lewis talking about training some people from the Christian Coalition and he was having them practice their "sound bites" and how one woman, when asked a question about something controversial, even though she had a set answer that she was supposed to repeat, went back to her natural state and snapped out, "Romans 34:10," (I just picked that out of a hat, don't know if it's even a real verse). Remember that one? We all laughed, that I remember. What he was saying was even with a lot of training, it's easy to fall back on your old (bad) ways.

I'm a little weak here in the remembering department, but these are impressions that I hope will jiggle yours or another attendee's memory.

[Auntie Mame]

This is where chapters could make a difference and change the face of politics in the country.

Beautifully said, Dale. You are so right.

[tubebender]

"The Leadership Institute: This was the meat of the conference and it was almost too intense."

Small world...received in the mail today a 6 X 12 color photo post card from the Institute. It shows this summers interns plus Morton Blackwell and Congressman Tom Delay. We have supported them for a few years and it nice to know they were there for you.

[Syncro]

Here is BADJOE, someone apparantly in the witness protection program and one_paculiar_harbour...(yea I typho pretty often...Dr. Zoo can I re-inroll in your school?)

One of you looks a little upset... it is because you were going to give me tht drink??? :>)

[Syncro]

Here are 3 fine people, Nick Danger, SwampFoxNC and Snow Bunny

[Syncro]

Well if it is one they give you when you are at the tables they are all flat and watered down...LOL

[Syncro]

The lovely DoughtyTwo...Mrs. DoughtyOne...

And the here she is with the guy she keeps around to mow the lawn...lol JK buddy...you guys are an awesome couple. I have a picture of DoughtyTwo relaxing at the signup table, ask her if she wants me to post it...:>)

[Auntie Mame]

We have supported them for a few years and it nice to know they were there for you.

Thank you! They were excellent.

[Syncro]

Man it was hard to get your picture, you were just a blur on the screen most of the time...thanks for all your hard work...

[Dr. Zoo]

LOL...it was grate to see you again any mouse...

[Dr. Zoo]

Sync, I think that is enough for tonite...aren't you scheduled to sweep out the Laboratory tonite?

[DoughtyOne]

Those are great photos. Let me correct one thing though. Sandy and I like DoughtyToo for her screen name. She's a very capable woman and doesn't take second place to me. Your DoughtyTwo was a natural and no offense was taken. Thanks for pinging me.