I am back from the GOP state convention. A few thoughts (just mine):
Governor McDonnell had an excellent video to speak to the convention (The Governor is apparently in Europe on a trade mission); well put together.
Bishop E. W. Jackson gave a stirring speech to endorse George Allen as the winner of the US Senate primary. I spoke with him afterwards and encouraged him to run for office again. Bishop Jackson’s line that I enjoyed the most was “I am not an African-American but I am an American!”. Here’s his church’s website in Chesapeake.
George Allen proposed among other things in his speech a law that members of Congress don’t get paid if they do not pass a budget on time. That’s Paycheck Fairness I could support! His best line was “The best social program is a job!”
The report of the delegation elected for the national convention is that seven went to Romney and six for Paul in a Unity slate. I voted for that slate as I had no other choice.
Both National Committeewoman Kathy Terry and candidate Donna Holt very shrewdly use their seven minutes for a nomination, a second and brief remarks from the candidate. Jamie Radtke moved Holt’s nomination and Pat McSweeney seconded it. I also met and voted for the challenger for National Committeeman, Shelby F. McCurnin, Jr. He is for Ron Paul, too.
There was an unfortunate dust up that could have been prevented concerning the Warren County (Front Royal) delegation. Apparently there was a paperwork dispute as to if any delegates signed to go to the state convention. (I might add, Ron Paul carried Warren County in the primary.) So, the credentials committee chairman stated in a officious tone that the committee tried to reach out to Warren and had failed to hear from them. Hence, their delegates were not to be seated. There was no explanation (I heard bits and pieces that a county GOP official said no delegates filed for the state convention but that the mass meeting tried to act properly.) I decided to take up for the Warren County delegation and supported their effort to be seated but the majority, including alas almost all from Hanover, voted to accept the credentials committee report.
My take on this is I do not know who was technically right but I will not accept officials standing up and saying in effect, I’m a long time Republican and you have to trust me. So I vocally took up for Warren County.
I voted for Donna Holt and McCurnin for the national committee but did not stay for the results since there were only two candidates. Some of us activists and bloggers have families and responsibilities!
I plan to attend a Ron Paul Social at 4pm at Legend’s to network and discuss strategy.
