Dayhoff Soundtrack: Pres 2008 election Rep Natl Conv

Showing posts with label Pres 2008 election Rep Natl Conv. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Carroll County Times convention blog: Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Carroll County Times convention blog: Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Day one of the Republican Convention was supposed to last from 2:30 til 10:00 pm, with a list of speakers from President Bush on down. Everything was changed because of Hurricane Gustov. Republican governors of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas stayed home to manage the potential damage in their states. They were introduced by First Lady Laura Bush and appeared on closed circuit TV at the convention. Even President Bush and Vice President Chaney went to the Gulf States instead of the convention.

[…]

Read Mr. Helminiak’s entire post here: Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/talk/conventions/

20080901 Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Senator Fred Thompson address to the RNC on YouTube

Senator Fred Thompson address to the RNC on YouTube

September 2, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0sYZZYw7-U

20080902 Senator Fred Thompson address to the RNC

20080902 Carroll County Times editorial: Steele gets moment in spotlight

Carroll County Times editorial: Steele gets moment in spotlight

Related: People Steele-Michael
AK Gov. Sarah Palin videos on Kevin Dayhoff YouTube web page
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Good site for McCain/Palin info
Kevin Dayhoff YouTube web page
November 2008 US presidential election
September 1-4 2008 Republican National Convention

Editorial for Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Steele gets moment in spotlight

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's planned address at the Republican national Convention this evening provides an opportunity to spotlight a state political figure who helped end a Democratic lock on the Maryland governor's mansion.

The election of Robert Ehrlich as governor and Steele as lieutenant governor in 2002 ended 34 years of Democratic control of that office.

[…]

As a Republican in a heavily democratic state, Steele faces many challenges as he tries to advance through the party ranks. But his work as a partner to Ehrlich, and his work with the party since the 2006 election, put him in a class of up-and-comers that the party would do well to continue to encourage.

[…]

Read the entire editorial here: Steele gets moment in spotlight

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/09/05/news/opinion/editorial/editorial527.txt

20080902 Carroll County Times editorial: Steele gets moment in spotlight

Andrew Breitbart at the Republican National Convention

Andrew Breitbart, September 1, 2008 at the Republican National Convention Photo by Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net

September 1, 2008

On opening day of the Republican National Convention I took the opportunity to visit the print media news centers. They were large and complicated partitioned beehives of activity with what seemed to be miles of wires everywhere. When I stopped by the Washington Post news center, I found well-known blogger Andrew Breitbart (www.breitbart.com) and his business partner Larry Solov.

Mr. Breitbart was in make-up getting ready for a guest appearance on a Post news video… He was quite friendly and talkative and appeared to having the time of his life.

*****The Transom - The New York Observer: Andrew Breitbart Loves a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy by Spencer Morgan

Andrew Breitbart Loves a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy by Spencer Morgan September 2, 2008

Tags: Convention, Style, Andrew Breitbart

ST. PAUL—His name may sound unfamiliar, but Andrew Breitbart has built a career helping to create the Drudge Report and the Huffington Post, while also overseeing his own news-aggregation site breitbart.com—and becoming prominent in a largely underground movement of conservatives in Hollywood. Next week he plans to launch a new site (www.breitbart.com/bighollywood) that will give voice to this rogue community in the entertainment industry.

[…]

We had just left the National Review party and were headed to the National Journal party. At both events, the Los Angeles-based Mr. Breitbart, who is 39 and the father of four children, was the only person not wearing a blazer. “No matter how hard I try, I don’t fit in at these things.”

So he claims. Before we left, the pundit Jonah Goldberg accused him of being the most popular guy in the room.

At the National Journal party, publisher David Bradley was delighted to finally put a face to the name. “That’s Andrew Breitbart?” he exclaimed. Walking into the Weekly Standard party, a friend from L.A. greeted him. “Have you had a chance to take a shower yet?” joked Steve McEveety, who is Mel Gibson’s producing partner.
Read the rest of the article here: Andrew Breitbart Loves a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy

20080902 The Transom NY Observer Andrew Breitbart

20080901 Andrew Breitbart at the Republican National Convention

Gazette reporter Sean Sedam holds court at the convention

September 2, 2008

For much of the convention Gazette Reporter Sean Sedum could be found holding court in the middle of the open-air atrium of the Embassy Suites – Downtown St. Paul.

It is reported that he could often be observed chatting with the ducks which lived in the ponds in the center of the atrium...

In the lower picture Mr. Sedam, lower center, could be seen, in this ducks-eye view from the eighth floor, slaving away at the keyboard – in search of a Wi-Fi signal…

Gazette reporter Sean Sedam holds court at the convention
Monday September 1 2008 A day of deference by Sean Sedam

Gazette reporter Sean Sedam will be reporting from the Republican National Convention all this week. Check this page regularly for updates.

Video
Sights and sounds
Day 1
Day 2
Read Janel Davis' coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

Posted on the Gazette web site at 9:13 a.m. Sept. 2, 2008

Delegates convened at the Xcel Energy Center for three hours on Monday night [September 1, 2008] forgoing a roll call or primetime speakers in deference to the emergency weather roaring across the Gulf states.

President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were all bumped from the convention’s first day.

With eyes on Hurricane Gustav, opening day struck the right tone of "humility," said Carmen Amedori, a delegate from Carroll County who was a member of the House of Delegates from 1999 to 2004.

[…]

Read the rest of Mr. Sedam’s article here: Monday September 1 2008 A day of deference by Sean Sedam

http://www.gazette.net/convention/republicans/

http://www.gazette.net/convention/republicans/SedamSean08b_rgb.jpg

20080902 Gazette reporter Sean Sedam holds court at the convention

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

April Rose handles the administrative details for the Maryland delegation at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis St. Paul

April Rose handles the administrative details for the Maryland delegation at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis St. Paul

September 1, 2008

This is the first national convention I have attended for either party; so perhaps I have nothing with which to compare my current experience here at the Republican National Convention.

Then again, maybe I could draw from experiences from past Maryland Municipal League conferences and other national conferences for my wife’s work. All of which are well organized.

The Republican National Convention and the coordination with the Minneapolis St. Paul city officials, appeared from my level of participation, to go like clockwork.

It was well organized and coordinated and everyone was very nice. There were reports that there were 10,000 volunteers for the event and every one of them was wonderfully pleasant.

I was especially impressed with how well the activities of the Maryland delegation were coordinated and organized. Much of the credit goes to Chris Cavey, Don Murphy, Justin Ready and Jim Pelura – and April Rose, from Carroll County, who seemed to handle the administrative details with extraordinary efficiency.

In the series of pictures above April Rose is handing out credentials and taking care of questions, requests, and other assorted administrative details. It seemed like she was everywhere – perhaps her twin was helping.

20080901 April Rose handles the administrative details

A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

Dateline: Sunday (August 31, 2008) in the lobby of the Embassy Suites St. Paul.

[…]

Many of the top-name speakers have cancelled their appearances at the convention due to the storm. President George W. Bush, who was supposed to speak Monday, will not be in attendance. We are told that the business of the day will be conducted on Monday, but we will be out of the Xcel Center by 5 p.m.

[…]

Del. Tony O’Donnell and I head back to Minneapolis for a premier of the movie “An American Carol,” a satire on certain ultra-liberal documentary films.

The main character was a filmmaker named Michael Malone, who was associated with the liberal advocacy group “Mooveahead.org” It starred Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer and many other high-profile conservative actors, with a guest appearance by Bill O’Reilly. The release date is Oct. 3, and I urge all to make it a blockbuster sending the Hollywood elite a strong message on the possible unintended damage that can be inflicted by making films that strike to the heart of our servicemen and -women while at war.

[…]

Read former Maryland State Delegate Carmen Amedori’s entire post here: A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/specialevents/blog/2008/09/a_message_for_hollywood_1.html#comments

-- Carmen Amedori

Posted by baltimoresun.com on September 1, 2008 12:22 PM

*****

Carmen Amedori, Republican

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1998 to 2004, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission.

A native of Baltimore and graduate of Villa Julie College, Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters, before entering the world of politics.

She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000, and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Her backing has not wavered, and this year, Amedori is the Western Maryland regional director for McCain. She has also been cleared to be a surrogate — meaning she has the blessing to speak on McCain’s behalf when called upon.

Art Movies An American Carol

20080901 A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

Opening Day at the Republican National Convention in the Xcel Center

Opening Day at the Republican National Convention in the Xcel Center

September 1, 2008 photos by Kevin Dayhoff

On Monday, September 1, 2008, at the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Center in Minneapolis St. Paul in Minnesota, security was tight – but nevertheless, smooth and efficient – getting into the convention…

Once you got inside the Republican National Convention at Xcel Convention Center it was obvious that there 45,000 folks there. It was a veritable beehive of constant activity to the tune of the constant drone of talking…

Inside the convention center - as folks lurched from one stage of exhaustion to another, one of the more popular concessions, just to the inside of one of the main entrances at the beginning of radio row, was the coffee stand.

20080901 Opening Day at the RNC Xcel Convention Center

Best Shoes at the Republican National Convention

Best Shoes at the Republican National Convention

September 1, 2008

On opening day, I ran across one of the 10,000 volunteers, who was quite proud of her shoes. Everyone at the convention was extremely nice – even the security and the police officers.

20080901 Best Shoes at convention

Signage and banners at Republican National Convention

September 1, 2008

Signage and banners at the September 1-4, 2008 Republican National Convention at the Xcel Center in Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota

20080901 Signage and banners at Republican National Convention

Monday, September 01, 2008

Republican National Convention Breakfast Monday, September 1, 2008

Republican National Convention Breakfast Monday, September 1, 2008

Monday, September 1, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

Today is the first day of a much more subdued convention than what many of us had anticipated before Hurricane Gustav decided to crash the party.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain essentially cancelled everything except some party – convention parliamentary business.

Most of the Maryland delegation to the Republican National Convention here in Minneapolis St Paul, Minnesota got together early Monday morning for breakfast some presentations and business and events organizational updates.

This was especially important this morning as everything is very fluid…

This morning Maryland state delegate and convention delegate Tony O’Donnell and former Maryland state delegate and convention delegate Carmen Amedori presented an update on discussions and deliberations on the Republican National Party platform.

The platform process was not scripted and was very open. They had a blog which received over 15,000 suggestions, including videos and songs. The process was live on C-span. It was also recorded by court reporters – one was from Maryland.

The platform was reduced to 20,000 words – from 40,000. The prior year is used as the starting point for the subsequent year.

In other news tidbits, several members of the Maryland delegation are veterans of many conventions. For Anne Arundel county executive John Leopold (and about 2 others…) … it is their 8th Republican National Convention.

Although I have not seen her, political activist Phyllis Schlafly is staying in this hotel. I had also heard that political commentator Pat Buchanan is also staying here. I have not seen him either.

Of course, one of the challenges with such a politically charged congregation of over 45,000 folks from all over the country is rumor control and sometimes, getting hard information requires having good connections and lots of gumshoe detective work.

They expect some protestors in the convention hall. The suggested process is to outshout the protestors. Mr. Louis Pope, national committeeman, remembers the last convention in which a woman starting shouting anti-war slogans during President Bush’s speech – the crowd started yelling “4 more years.”

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the vice presidential running mate announced last Friday, has re-invigorated the campaign. $5 million in new donations were received this weekend. MoveOn.org has lots of comments meant to be negative about Sarah Palin. They seem pretty positive to us. Of course, I have followed Governor Palin’s career for a number of years. As a fellow journalist who has also switched back and forth of the keyboard (an elected official whose profession is writing…) one of the very first things that caught my attention is that she has a degree in journalism.

… The assistant minority leader in House of Representatives for Minnesota – Laura Brod, also spoke this morning.

Next stop later in the morning is a luncheon reception at “Circus Juventas:” www.circusjuventas.org.

Caroline Babylon contributed to this article.

20080901 Convention Breakfast Monday, September 1, 2008

Photograph of the Maryland delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention – delegates and alternates.

Photograph of the Maryland delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention – delegates and alternates.

August 31, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

20080831 MD delegation to the 2008 RNC

Minneapolis St. Paul Star Tribune: Police raids enrage activists

Police raids enrage activists, alarm others

By HERON MARQUEZ ESTRADA, BILL M c AULIFFE and ABBY SIMONS

August 31, 2008

Aided by informants planted in protest groups, authorities raided at least six buildings across St. Paul and Minneapolis to stop an "anarchist" plan to disrupt this week's Republican National Convention.

From Friday night through Saturday afternoon, officers surrounded houses, broke down doors, handcuffed scores of people and confiscated suspected tools of civil disobedience.

The show of force was led by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office in collaboration with the FBI, Minneapolis and St. Paul police, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and other agencies.

But a St. Paul City Council member described it as excessive, while activists, many of whom were detained and then released without charges, called it intimidation designed to quash free speech.

At least five suspected leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee, a self-described anarchist group, were taken to the Hennepin County jail, and another was being sought, said Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.

On Saturday afternoon, he displayed a number of the confiscated items: a gun, throwing knives, a bow and arrows, flammable liquids, paint, slingshots, rocks and buckets of urine.

[…]

"This is not the way to start things off," St. Paul City Council Member Dave Thune said Saturday morning. "This is sending the wrong message. Regardless of how you feel about these people ... they had a right to be there."

[…]

Fletcher said the RNC Welcoming Committee is "a criminal enterprise made up of 35 self-described anarchists ... intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention.

"These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers," Fletcher said.

[…]

Read the entire article here: Police raids enrage activists, alarm others

20080831 Minneapolis St. Paul Star Tribune: Police raids enrage activists

The Minneapolis Convention Center for “A Minnesota Red Carpet Extravaganza” called “Civic Fest”

The Minneapolis Convention Center for “A Minnesota Red Carpet Extravaganza” called “Civic Fest”

August 31, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

Pictures of the Minneapolis Convention Center event: “A Minnesota Red Carpet Extravaganza” called “Civic Fest,” at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota.

This was a wonderful occasion. Lots of great exhibits and nice people…

20080831 The Minneapolis Convention Center for “A Minnesota Red Carpet Extravaganza” called “Civic Fest”

Gazette's Sean Sedam reports from the RNC in St Paul

The Gazette's Sean Sedam reports from the RNC in St Paul

Photos: The Gazette’s Sean Sedam interviews Maryland state delegate Chris Shank and later former Maryland state delegate Don Murphy joins them… © Kevin Dayhoff Minneapolis Convention Center August 31, 2008

The Gazette’s Sean Sedam reports from the Republican National Convention in St Paul Minnesota

August 31, 2008

Shortly after we arrived in St. Paul, one of the fist things we did was travel over to the Minneapolis Convention Center for “A Minnesota Red Carpet Extravaganza” called “Civic Fest.”

I was happy to see the Gazette’s Sean Sedam there. The last time I saw him was at the Tawes annual clambake in Crisfield Maryland.

He said that he is also going to blogging and writing about events this week at the Republican National Convention. Find his coverage here:

The Gazette's Sean Sedam reports on the local angle from this week's Republican National Convention

See his reports

20080831 The Gazettes Sean Sedam reports from the RNC in St Paul

RNC Makes Convention Changes Due to Hurricane Gustav

RNC Makes Convention Changes Due to Hurricane Gustav

August 31, 2008

Earlier this evening we were informed that national convention officials have made changes to the schedule for Monday due to Hurricane Gustav:

RNC Makes Convention Changes Due to Hurricane Gustav

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/08/31/rnc-makes-convention-changes-due-to-hurricane-gustav/

by Shushannah Walshe in St. Paul, Minn.– August 31st, 2008 10:09 PM Eastern

With Hurricane Gustav about to slam into the Gulf Coast, the GOP is making drastic changes to the convention, which is slated to start here tomorrow.

John McCain addressed the press via satellite from St. Louis where he is campaigning today and was joined by RNC chairman Mike Duncan and McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. The convention will not be canceled or postponed, but there will be serious changes starting with Day One of the convention. Instead of a whole evening of speakers praising their almost-nominee and hitting Barack Obama tomorrow’s events will be abbreviated. McCain said it was “a time for action” and convention-goers should take off their “Republican hats” and put on their “American hats” to bring the country together while Gustav wreaks havoc on the Gulf coast, “This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans. We have to join with 3 million other Americans on behalf of our fellow citizens. It’s a time for actions.”

Davis said that each day’s convention activities would be announced that day and he did not talk about specifics for later in the week. Tomorrow the convention will open at 3pm central time, but it will only consist of “essential business” which includes electing officers, adopting the Party rules and the Party platform and it is expected to conclude around 5:30 pm.

Read the entire article here: RNC Makes Convention Changes Due to Hurricane Gustav

20080831 RNC Makes Convention Changes Due to Hurricane Gustav

Don Murphy welcomes the Maryland delegation to the RNC

Don Murphy welcomes the Maryland delegation to the RNC

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Shortly after we arrived at the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown (175 East 10th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States 55101 Tel: 1-651-224-5400 Fax: 1-651-224-0957;)-former Maryland delegate – and chair of the Maryland delegation to the RNC gave us a warm welcome. And a few instructions before we headed over to the Minneapolis Convention Center for activities, touring the vendors and displays, some food and a delegation picture.

20080831 Don Murphy welcomes the Maryland delegation to the RNC

Check in at the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown

Check in at the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown

August 31, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown (175 East 10th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States 55101 Tel: 1-651-224-5400 Fax: 1-651-224-0957)

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/MSPSPES-Embassy-Suites-St-Paul-Downtown-Minnesota/index.do

The folks at the Embassy Suites St. Paul – Downtown hotel could not have been nicer or more accommodating. Everyone seemed to have a genuine interest that we had available everything we needed. Not only was everyone nice, but check-in was very efficient, well organized and everything went very smoothly…

20080831 Check in at the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown

Flying out to St. Paul Minnesota to cover the Republican National Convention

3:37 PM EST Sunday August 31 2008

It’s Sunday August 31, 2008 and my wife and I are celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary by flying out to Saint Paul, Minnesota for the Republican National Convention.

That is, of course, if the convention takes place. It appears that Mother Nature may have a say about that… I haven’t had the time to get a weather report today. However all indications are that Hurricane Gustav will making landfall to the west of New Orleans sometime on Monday.

Depending of the strength and severity of the storm and any resulting damage - - it will not be appropriate for presidential candidates to be partying on dry land far from harm’s way.

So, we’ll see.

I’m attempting to work on an airplane and I’m not finding it easy. I swear that it was easier – either years ago or when I was younger. I wonder which?

I’m flying Northwest and when we checked in we discovered that there was a $15.00 per bag fee for our luggage, which took us by surprise. I sure hope that I can later reflect upon the newly initiated luggage fee as an insurance policy so that we don’t land, after a two-hour flight, in Minneapolis St. Paul and our luggage lands in Singapore or Pyongyang, Korea.

Our A319 plane is full. Does “A319” mean that this is an “Airbus?”

Of course. For whatever reason, it seems that whenever my wife and fly anywhere, we always sit behind really important people who simply must recline their seat as far back as possible so that the headrest of the seat ahead of me is resting upon my chin.

Oh joy.

A colleague, who had attended the Democrat National Convention, blogged the event. I’ll be curious if I will be able to do that for the Republican National Convention, in the next several days. A quick review of the schedule reveals only a begrudging moment or two for a minimum amount of sleep and non-stop activity throughout everyday.

And speaking of sleeping; that is how, for now, I will attempt to Zen the remaining hour of this flight.

4:05 PM EST