RNC - Day Three

Tuesday was an exciting day at the Convention. The RNC is trying to get back on track and after a program cut short on Monday, due to Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf Coast region. We knew early in the day that the evening would a be long one.

I love being in St. Paul. It's a beautiful city with pieces of old architecture, like St. Paul's Cathedral to the glass and steel buildings stretching into the northern sky in the city. The Mississippi River runs through the city and at one point through St. Paul flows east-west. The city is beautiful, green and breathtaking.

I spent the afternoon at the Minnesota History Center attending an event by The White House Project. They hosted a screening of "14 Women" a documentary following the 14 female U.S. Senators in 2006. As a Senate hopeful myself, it was inspiring to hear the stories of these women who were able to balance the different facets of their lives and campaign actively and win a seat in Congress.

After an emergency stop to Starbucks, I headed over to the Xcel Center ready to hear from Fred Thompson, President Bush and Joe Lieberman. The theme for the evening was getting to know who John McCain is. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson addressed the convention supporting John McCain (despite Thompson's failed presidential run) and criticized Barack Obama, saying "The Senate has always had more than its share of smooth talkers. And big talkers. And obviously, it still has."

One of the most touching stories of the evening came from longtime friend of the McCain family, Wes Gullet, of Phoenix, AZ. When Cindy McCain was visiting Bangladesh, working in one of Mother Teresa's orphanages, she brought back to the states two baby girls who had little chance of survival. Cindy McCain knew that Wes and his wife were trying to start a family and brought a daughter to them. She also brought home a new daughter for the McCain family -- without discussing it with her husband and family.

I was adopted from a Sisters of Charity orphanage in India in 1979. My parents, like the McCains gave me a second chance at life. I firmly believe that had I not been adopted, my chances of survival would have been incredibly slim. There are still children overseas and in this country who need homes and loving parents. Also speaking to the convention last night were President George W. Bush (via satellite) and Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT). President Bush reiterated his support for McCain.

Senator Lieberman, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats told the crowd he knew that a lot of people were probably wondering what he was doing at the convention. He said, "What you can expect from John McCain as President is precisely what he has done this week: which is to put country first. That is the code by which he has lived his entire life, and that is the code he will carry with him into the White House. I have personally seen John over and over again bring people together from both parties to tackle our toughest problems we face."

Also in attendance: Former President George H.W. Bush, First Lady Barbara Bush, Cindy McCain, Bridget McCain, Meghan McCain and 12 of the POWs who were with John McCain at the Hanoi Hilton.

Tonight we're looking forward to Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney addressing the convention. Even more exciting, it is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's night. I'm excited to hear her acceptance speech and believe that it will answer many of the questions voters have about her.

RNC - Day 2

You know those days when you're incredibly proud to be an American? Today was also one of those days. I know that politicians are known for platitudes and empty rhetoric (and that's both sides of the aisle), but we knew going into the Xcel Energy Center today that this would be different. The balloons are still held snugly in the rafters in anticipation of a party. But tonight, there was no party.

Today our party leadership, Mike Duncan and Ken Mehlman, both urged delegates and alternates and those at home to reach out to their fellow Americans and help the people of the Gulf states region.

This wasn't the opening day I expected or hoped for. But ultimately, we have to do what's right those in need. The federal government has the chance to begin to right the wrongs from three years ago. The scars of Katrina are still there and will be there for years to come. I've met delegates from the state of Louisiana and they are wonderful people. They talk fast and hug you on the spot. They appreciate that other Americans are concerned about them and pray for them.

The highlight of the session today was a visit from First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain, wife of John McCain, who both asked the delegates and alternate delegates to donate to various hurricane relief funds and to encourage their friends to do the same.



Before the session started I attended "Walk the Red Carpet" at the Ordway Performing Arts Center. The event's purpose was to shed light on the issue of heart disease and women. The guest speaker for the event was one of my favorite women in politics...Mary Matalin. She spoke on one of my favorite topics, women's leadership and encouraged the women in the room to run for office and pledge to make a difference in the lives of others. She also said, "If you want something said, elect a man. If you want something done, elect a woman."



Protests: I did not know until I returned to the hotel that there had been a scuffle between anarchists and police near the capitol. The Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments have kept protesters as far away as legally possible. I didn't see any protesters, but I could hear a rally a few streets away. Only by watching the local news in Minneapolis did I learn that the protesters were demonstrating against the Iraq war, the Bush administration and the GOP convention. I am safe!

RNC - Day One

I have arrived in the fair city of Minneapolis. I love it here. I think I always have. I lived here when I was a kid, ok, a baby, but I always claim the great state of Minnesota as my home. My parents went to college here and myself and three of my siblings started out in the land of 10,000 lakes. Although I have traded lakes for mountains, (and right now I miss those mountains...it's one of the ways I navigate in Colorado!) I have always wanted to return to Minnesota for longer than a week at a time. So here, I am, taking in the sights and sounds of the RNC in the Twin Cities.



It all started with the flight that almost didn't happen...



I was one of the last people to make it on the plane, which is funny only in that I was standing in line at Caribou Coffee (yes, DIA has NO STARBUCKS!) when my friend Jeremy sent me a text message:



Jeremy: WHERE ARE YOU!? Did you make the flight?

Me: Yeah, dude, I did. I am getting coffee.

Jeremy: Well that's nice. The doors to the aircraft are closing in 15 minutes.

Me: "Aircraft"?

Jeremy: HURRY UP!



I made it on the plane. We actually arrived in Minneapolis early, which has happened to me...NEVER! The weather here is beautiful. The air is humid and weighty, without being uncomfortable or in any way ugly. When you land in MSP, you see gorgeous green trees and lots of blue lakes. It's makes you want to be outside and explore the city. However, as soon as I got off the plane, I headed straight for the hotel...where I waited for three hours to check in.



I did get my credentials today, which was around the time we started hearing that things might be amiss with the RNC Convention plans. By noon we knew that President Bush and Vice President Cheney would not be addressing the delegates on Monday night. Within two hours, we had a new schedule for Monday.



The RNC has to convene tomorrow, no matter what. In order for the Republican party to nominate a candidate for president, the delegates have to vote. In order to vote, the convention body must be called to order...you get the picture. In order to not look like a bunch of rowdy party animals while New Orleans is under siege and under water again, the RNC has decided to take a low key approach to this year's convention.



So we will meet for two and a half hours tomorrow and will continue to play the rest of the week by ear. I've heard people ask, why can't we just reschedule the convention until next week, or try to complete all the party's business in one day. The logistics of such an undertaking are unrealistic and we will move forward.



Tonight we attended the welcome party for all the delegates. It was fun but after about an hour of olive trays and free Merlot I was ready to head back to the hotel. I am now in the hotel bar, surrounded by Oklahomans and Coloradans who drink more and yell louder than I do.

One last note: I know there are people who believe that Senator McCain and the RNC's decision to scale back to bare bones tomorrow was a political move. I hope it wasn't. But only time will tell. I know that I would feel really weird about throwing a huge party - balloon drop and all - while there are people being drown out of their homes just down the Mississippi River. All politics is local. What we do now will shape the tone of the RNC coverage for the rest of the week. So I think we learn to take the high road. We learn to put others first and remember that we are always our brother's keeper.

See you tomorrow.

Republican National Convention - The Trip - Post 1

Tomorrow morning I leave for Minneapolis, MN to attend my first (and I hope not my last) GOP nominating convention. Over the next five days I will post pictures, thoughts and anything else that I think seems interesting to give those at home a sense of what's happening at the convention.

Feel free to post comments, ask questions, send emails, wish me luck, etc.

I'm going to Minnesota!

Doesn't quite have the same ring as "I'm going to Disneyland!", but I suspect I will enjoy my time more at the Republican National Convention as an alternate delegate more than I would waiting in line with thousands of kids and their impatient parents.

As part of the McCain Unity Slate at the Colorado State Convention, I will be part of the action this September from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. I couldn't be more excited (or terrified)! I've never done anything like this, but I certainly hope this is the beginning of something truly amazing. I am so glad you're along for the ride.

I have been in a fund-raising frenzy ever since I heard the great news. I will leave at the end of August for a week-long trip to the great state of Minnesota. All delegates and alternate delegates are responsible for paying their expenses...hotels, airfare, food, transportation, etc. And all delegates, (from both parties) are encouraged to fund raise through friends, family and other contacts to help ease the financial responsibility.


I'm through my email lists, BlackBerry, address books and business cards to organize every person I have ever met. Phone calls will be made. Letters will be signed, sealed and delivered. There will be many schmoozing sessions over coffee between now and August.

There's still that part of me that wonders, what if people don't want to contribute to my campaign? For as many reasons as I think people should contribute to my campaign and the journey to the Midwest, I can think of twice as many for people to not participate. I am asking my friends and family, Democrats or Republicans, to help me get to the Convention. It's important to for me to be a part of something bigger than myself and I know my friends and family are with me in this endeavor.

So now...the work begins.

Catching the Political Bug

I Caught the “Political Bug”

First of all, I am going to participate in The White House Project’s “Go Run” event in late March. The event is designed to prepare women to run for public office in the near future. I’m working on developing that confidence in myself and I think this event will be a great start to it….which leads to me to…

Things Are Falling into Place…I am getting ready to attend my county assembly and state and congressional district assemblies in the near future. Honestly, I am a bit nervous, but I think that this is has been one of the greatest challenged I’ve ever faced. I have to walk into situations where I know no one. No one is introducing me to anyone else…I’ve had to do that myself, and that is daunting to someone who is used to always knowing someone in the room.

Not only am I one of many anonymous delegates, I have to try to get everyone in the room with a vote to pick me. What makes me stand out from the rest? This is why I love politics.

Standing in a room with 60 other women, and about 5 men, I realized that this is the starting point for so many things to come. Several women in the room were already candidates getting ready for a race that won’t end until November. The strength and resolve of women is fascinating to me. I’ve heard that I should leave the politicking to men. Tonight State Speaker Andrew Romanoff applauded loudly and cheered when City Councilwoman Faith Winter said that more women should enter the political arena as it was possible that women might be able to do a better job. I couldn’t agree more.

This doesn’t make me anti-male. Give me a break. I love men. But I do believe that for too long women in this country have been told to keep quiet and let the men do the important work. Women must have a vested interest in the future of their communities, and what better way to do so than to serve your community? Public servants aren’t in it for the money (state reps make $30,000 annually). I have to believe they do it to serve their fellow man.

I hope to be a public servant someday. When I think about what I have “gotten” from my community, it seems only appropriate to give back.

Super Tuesday Digest

What an exciting time to be involved in politics at a grassroots level! I went to my first Caucus last night and learned so much about the political process. This is the kind of stuff you can't really be taught in high school or college, you have to be there to soak it all in.

When I got there, there were only four other people from my precinct. I was a little disappointed, but when we all got to talking, I liked having a small group as we were able to have great conversations.

The whole process took us a little longer than it would have if we had precinct leaders. Apparently, there are none for my precinct. It's a two-year commitment and involves getting to know your neighbors, encouraging them to vote and hosting precinct events. I am now a precinct leader.

I was also elected to be a delegate to the county assembly, multi state house and multi state senate district assemblies, and the state convention. I am excited and nervous, but the process to becoming a national delegate is now officially underway.

I understand why people don't get involved in the political process. It takes a commitment and sometimes the bureaucracy is astounding. But if you can get past that and try to learn something from each interaction you have, I think becoming a political animal is so worth it.

Why read about history when you can make it?