“Anything traveling that far ought to have a stewardess on board.”

That’s how far she hit that home run last night!

Great moments abound from that historic night and I will recap them later when I get back down to the Excel Center. Exhausted but exhilirated…we press on!

I did get a call from a reporter asking “aren’t you concerned that she is so socially conservative?”

Yeah, the media asks THAT question about Obama ALL the time! NOT. Ever heard them ask a Democrat ONCE - “Aren’t you concerned about him being so liberal?”

Time to catch the shuttle!

Tonight has a very electric feel to it.

Running into, literally, very recognizable faces…BIG night tonight.

Orrin Hatch with a splint on his right hand. George Pataki. Bob Schieffer with CBS. Brett Baier with Fox. Saxby Chambliss (i think), Mitch McConnell. Columnist David Brooks. and that was just heading to my seat….

One thing people are saying back home is why are people sitting down?

Because we are trying to stay on time.

Rudy is going to be great…and the level of emotion for Governor Palin is something I have never experienced, felt or realized possible….

We are about T minus 15 min and counting…gotta go!

All the talk of boucing is important but misses a lot of what happens at these things.

Load the bus at 4pm for a 6:30 start of the session….Lots of walking. tons of stair climbing. constantly have to show ID. concessions were open yesterday - all the workers are beyond nice. State theme is Minnesota Nice. and they are. the pork sandwich? a little dry - they should stick to camp style walleye and leave the pork to folks who know how to BBQ.

Great event overall and will get to speeches shortly.

Sightings - Reporters - Mort Kondracke (shorter than expected), Howard Fineman, Andrea Mitchell - she spent her time trying to find Ron Paul delegates to interview. Mrs. Greenspan (Andrea), how about going over to the VIP section and interviewing the dozen plus POWs who served with McCain or the 5 Medal of Honor winners? I would imagine that they have very interesting stories of defending freedom of the press. Rich Galen of Mullings. what a nice guy. Senators Olympia Snowe and Mel Martinez sitting next to Va delegation. Miss Minnesota. George and Barbara Bush - awesome people. Did I mention Miss Minnesota?

Meetings - Marco Rubio -Speaker of Florida House. Bookmark him - future leader - national level. Had dinner with him at GOPAC - policy guy through and through. Gov. Tim Pawlenty who apologized for not finishing his breakfast at GOPAC before his speech and also apologized for speaking too long. I replied “i wasnt able to hear all of it anyway”. He’s also a policy wonk. True reformer. Nice as the people he represents.

Met Jon Voight and Kevin Farley (Chris’s brother) who are promoting the David Zucker film “An American Carol”. Got Voight to bite my pencil (take that Costanza!). Frank Luntz gave a great talk at breakfast after Gov. Gilmore called out Gov. Warner on the Card Check legislation that basically ends secret balloting in organizing unions. The assault on Right to Work Laws in Virginia continues!
LG Bolling did a great job stretching the breakfast as we waited for Voight and Farley with a rendition of “Little Brown Shack”. Luntz was critical of the hotel the Va delegation is staying in but it is fine.

Last night. Speeches and tributes.
Nicely done on tributes to former GOP electeds/notables who passed this year. the tribute that stopped everyone, rightfully so, was the one to Petty Officer Michael Monsoor a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on a grenade in Sept 2006 thus saving several fellow SEALs. His sister was there and the ovation for her was moving. The Hanoi Hilton POWs and Medal of Honor winners were also paid tribute to rousing standing ovations that lasted until Orson Swindle, himself a Hanoi POW, got us back on schedule. Whoever made a time allotment for that speech will not make that mistake again. Powerful moments.

Short phrase summations of some great speeches last night.

Laura Bush - classy lady. We’ll miss you.

President Bush - doing his job. History will be kinder than the American media/left.

Fred Thompson. Best speech. Moving tribute to McCain with humor and stark contrasts to Obama.
A year earlier?

Joe Lieberman. Statesman. Spoke the truth. Country First. Michael Moore’s favorite Democrat line was great!

Will report back from the Convention upon arrival…time to work out and then head over!

Chris

Greetings from St. Paul!

Happy Birthday to my dad Bill who is with me in the Twin Cities. Not telling his age but email him at bsaxman@shenspring.com and wish him many more. Good man and a great dad. He still is not proficient with chop sticks but LOVES sushi and sashimi - yes, we found a great place near the hotel - been twice.

Brief but succinct.

Minnesotans are incredibly friendly and gracious hosts.

Security is tight.

Protesters? Well, you got to love when anarchists are screaming about their rights as they are being arrested. Dad’s take was hilarious but not for public consumption.

Very well organized overall. Powerful appeal to help the Gustav victims made by Cindy McCain and Laura Bush.

Mrs. Bush is beloved by the GOPers. Cindy McCain is as well. Mrs. McCain, Roberta - Senator’s mom (96) - attended the whole session yesterday as well. We should all look that good and be that sharp at 96.

The convention delegates were very involved with Gustav yesterday. As I was checking my email about 3pm Monday, a lady from Baton Rouge sat down to the laptop next to me and was nervously trying to log on with a toolbar problem and she was crying. Naturally, I asked if I could help and she said, “I am trying to get in touch my girls,” showing me a picture. I said, “I’m sure they miss you too, where do you live?” With her lip quivering, she replied “Baton Rouge”. “Oh.” I tried to reassure her that her girls were fine and she was thankful but that encounter will always stay with me as a memory of this convention.

On to happier notes…one never gets over seeing famous celebs or media stars or politicians…quick run down on who I have been able to see and meet.

Seen - Wendy Malik actress. Mitt Romney. Rudy Giuliani (five min ago) Sen. Kit Bond. KC and the Sunshine Band (a proud Republican). former Sec of Veterans and Ambassador to Vatican Jim Nicholson.
Kelly Anne Conway who spoke at breakfast today - great talk, very funny! The McCain family.

I’ve met The Beach Boys -super nice guys - It was awesome to be able to go back stage before the show and hang out. Bruce (last name help here) wrote the Manilow song “I Write the Songs….” originially as a hymn. Who knew? Then out of their room popped Bill O’Reilly! Tall. Man. 6′8″ at least. Got individual pics with all. Then met Pat Boone this morning. Dad told me just how popular he was back in the day. #1 show when everyone watched the show. Everyone.

So, that’s my initial take on the convention itself. No real politics so far, just a snap shot of the first 24.

The Virginia delegation is stage right (to the left on TV) and about a 45 degree angle from podium, about 20 yards away.

Tonight Laura Bush then the President via satellite, Orson Swindle, Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman.

heading to the floor now, will not be able to respond to questions so email me at saxman8091@tmail.com

Hope you are well!

Chris