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Political Blog: It’s time to hit the campaign trail

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

By Christian Lanier, delegate to Republican National Convention

The morning began with our final delegation breakfast, which we shared with our Alaska friends. Sarah Palin is the talk of both delegations. Because of Tennessee's Presidential Primary Election laws the top 2 vote-getting candidates statewide and same for each congressional district split the delegates. Thus, there were delegates elected not only for Gov. Mike Huckabee (who won the most votes in Tennessee), Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. McCain. Each had their own favorites for VP, and some had issues with prospects like Joe Lieberman, Tom Ridge and even Gov. Romney. Alaska's daughter has Tennessee Values and she sealed the deal for the ticket among all of Tennessee's delegates. I have not seen as much enthusiasm for a candidate since Ronald Reagan. I received a lot of e-mails from my Huckabee friends back home who were thrilled about Gov. Palin. Folks back home want everything Palin!

Our first morning speaker was Congressman Zach Wamp who fired us up for the coming day. Zach’s enthusiasm is catching and those of us who are inherently morning-impaired (like me) or who have been sleep deprived for all the activities (OK, that fits, too) needed a Zach wake up call!

Former Sen. Bill Frist next spoke about the issues and ticket. Finally the Alaska State GOP Chairman, Randy Ruedrich, thanked Tennessee Chairman, Robin Smith, for allowing Alaska to share the mornings with Tennessee and Robin reciprocated. Alaska presented Robin with a hard hat and safety jacket.

We took a while off to return to our rooms and head to the Mall of America (we have to boost that Bush economy to confound the Dems). When lunch time arrived we were treated by Congressman Zach Wamp to a delicious luncheon at the California Café on the third floor of the Mall of America. Many of us had grilled salmon caesar salads, if you go to the California Café, that is tops. Other choices were Angus burgers, and a chicken dish. Let's face it once I see grilled salmon, I forget the rest of the choices. For desert everyone had three scoops of ice cream and sherbert.

Joining us at lunch was one of Zach’s fellow Members of Congress from Ohio — she had just happened in and Zach kindly asked her to join us. Then Zach introduced our guest speaker as someone who was “engaged in the hunt for Red November” and would “bring Law and Order” to the country — former presidential candidate/Sen. Fred Thompson. Fred did a fantastic job laying it on the line about the consequences of losing the November election and why the McCain-Palin ticket would keep America safe, with a growing economy, and lower taxes. Sometimes you realize that you are at an important event, with a former presidential candidate and possible candidate for governor of Tennessee (Zach), and the 512 megabyte card in your camera is full and in that circumstance you take off down the hall to Radio Shack (which you fortuitously remember was a few stores back) and get a 2 gig card. There is going to be a lot of picture taking today.

After lunch we made a couple of other stops at the mall and headed back to the room to get ready for the final session of the convention. After a quick change it was off to the buses. On the way to the Excel Center, I sat behind the officer riding with us. Every bus for every session had an officer riding “shotgun” in the front right seat. Police cars were along the route and sat at every entrance ramp throughout the week. Almost every night there were arrests and some tear gas dispensed. While we never saw any protesters outside the hall except a handful of Ron Paul folks the first night, when we went back to our rooms, we found out that there were 96 arrested one night and maybe more tonight. So while I am sitting behind the officer, I hear the radio traffic mention problems at city hall and the state capitol — we never went there.

On the bus were Nashville friends Franklin and Julia Jarman. Julia was a fellow delegate I had met at one of our Delegation Meetings before the Convention. Franklin is the son of Maxy Jarman who had run for governor in 1970. We talked about his dad's campaign. I still have some stickers and buttons. Julia attended Vandy at the same time I was there although we had never met before. Very nice folks.

Once I and some of the other Tennessee Delegates got to the floor, I received a couple of e-mail requests for Convention Gear. I made an 'excursion” to the “Club Level” — two levels up from the floor. The Excel Center is huge and frankly, I ended up at the wrong gate. Not to worry, it was a great misadventure! Who do I run into but Dr. Henry Kissinger and George Stephanopoulos talking with each other. George S. had other places to go but I had my photo made with Dr. Kissinger and mentioned that I sat at the head table with him at a GOP Statesman's Dinner around 20 years ago in Nashville. He remembered the dinner and recounted details — yes, he is a genius. In fact that brings to mind that I have an old photo from that event with Henry Kissinger on one side and U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kilpatrick on the other. Well, back to the future. I return to the floor.

A few minutes later, I run into one of my friends from Young Republican days, Susan Richardson Williams (TVA board member). She is looking for convention gear to bring home for a friend. I could never began to explain where the store was, but thought I could get us back up there. So off we go to the store. On the way up we are told that there is a second store on the 3rd floor that has even more gear than the one I had previously found. So off we go again. Arriving there around 8:30 p.m., they tell us they are “closed” — this was nuts to close that store that early! So down we go to the “Club Level.” Along the way we talk about what we've done over the years and I happen to mention running into Dr. Kissinger and recounted how I mentioned the dinner we shared so many years ago. Well, Susan tells me that she was the one who had organized that dinner and I reported how fondly Dr. Kissinger recalled it — this so demonstrates how the many things we do each day touch the lives of those we know and those whom we have met; how those things we hold in memory are also remembered by others and connect us. We made it to the other store, but there were “slim pickin’s” by the time we arrived. She had to meet other folks on the Suite Level and I had to get back to the floor.

Once back downstairs, I met Sean Hannity and he signed by Credentials Card. When I returned to Tennessee's seating (just to the left — OK, the far, far right, if you went far enough right), Gov. Mike Huckabee was coming down the aisle. Julia Jarman, whose son is on Gov. Huckabee’s advance team, intervened and line up a photo with me. Next came former Majority Leader Bill Frist. Let's face it, a National Convention is takes on the character of a massive autograph and photo op event. And since these folks are politicians, they don't have you charged with stalking!

The time was close approaching for Sen. McCain to speak. But special treats for Tennessee are addresses by Congressman Marsha Blackburn and Former Majority Leader Bill Frist. Congressman Blackburn’s topic was changed at the last minute but, she handled it with such eloquence that no one would have ever known.

All of a sudden it began to hit everyone that the Convention was drawing to a close and everyone went to the Tennessee Delegation Sign for a photo and to autograph it. Between the speeches, dance music played and folks took to the aisles. As Sen. McCain spoke the cheering got louder and louder. I was next to Congressman Marsha Blackburn and her administrative assistant. Being on the second row from the back this night we decided to stand in the folding chairs to yell, cheer, and shake our signs (Warning: This is not recommended for nonprofessional politicians. It may be dangerous to children, the elderly and the uninitiated! But it is the only way to blow out a great Convention.)

You could feel the music in the floor. I want those speakers! “Raising McCain” took the roof off. Then came the confetti and balloon drop. Somehow the technology of the “balloon drop” has never been perfected by either side, but they all came down over a 20-30 minute period. So the best thing was later seeing Andrea Mitchell buried in a sea of red — this was Republican Red.

What a historic Convention, the first GOP woman VP nominee! I've followed politics for a long time. I was aware of the Kennedy-Nixon race in 1960. I was the only one in my Nashville eighth-grade history class to speak for Goldwater, I worked in all the rest in some fashion or other. And, of course, I've followed the Democratic party side of things.

Never, ever have I seen this kind of excitement about a VP nominee. Most of the time the selection is the “sigh of relief.” Occasionally you see a memorable one like Spiro Agnew (“Nattering Nabobs of Negativism”), or Geraldine Ferraro (because she was the first woman VP nominee). Usually the choices are mundane at best (as in Miller for Goldwater); some are distinguished (Nelson Rockefeller) or sometimes they are downright sorry like Dan Quayle. Dan Q. is a nice guy who was right on the issues but could not adequately explain them. Let's face it, leadership is about convincing people to follow you; it is about motivation; and to achieve that our leaders must be able to (as Ricky Ricardo used to say “'splain it”). As a Republican looking back on the last eight years, I observe that all the talk about “the failures of George W. Bush” are more spin than substance. If the other side is trash talking you 24/7, it’s time to “go to the mattresses,” and you have to fight back before they finish the first sentence. I'm here to tell you: from what I saw at this convention, Superwoman Sarah Palin isn't going to let anyone run over the home team.

I rode the bus back to the hotel, tired and exhausted, but totally ecstatic. I stopped by my room to pick up Pam who had preferred to watch the events on TV and to check out an e-mail from my daughter, Jodie, who was thrilled that dear old dad made it on “The Conan O’Brien Show” — interviewed by Triumph the Comic Insult Dog (just after Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota) — she sent me the link to view it online.

So here is the e-mail I got from her:

“I looked up the episode as soon as I woke up this morning!! Go to Sept.

4's episode, and 9 minutes and 28 seconds in...There you are! You”re famous! All my friends know and are so psyched! Triumph is hilarious!!

Hope you have a safe drive today! I love you!!”

She sent it to all her friends. Maybe I am still “cool.” I have the best daughter in the world. She is a young Sarah Palin.

Some us from Hamilton County gathered in the restaurant for a late, late burger and beverage. Lauren Fairbanks won the “hoarsest” award for enthusiastic screaming! Her mom, Marty, Tim Gossett and I sat with others we had met. Oscar Brock came through. We could barely talk. One last one for the road. ... The Republican Red Army must sleep before the new battle begins at dawn.

Contributed Photo -- Republicans celebrate during the convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Contributed Photo --GOP delegate Christain Lanier shakes hands with Dr. Henry Kissinger, former U.S. secretary of State.

Contributed Photo --U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., watches proceedings during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Contributed Photo --Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith, of Hixson, stands on the convention floor.

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