Thank You, Gail Russell

Perhaps I have been too busy with Obamacare coverage; I just learned that Gail K. Russell will no longer be Kentucky's  Republican National Committeewoman.  She served admirably for eight years at a considerable cost (the post is voluntary and with all the command-performances, costs the Committeewoman approximately $25,000 per year). Gail also reached out to developing the next generation of conservative leaders, particularly young women.

I appreciate her service and will miss her in that role. She brought integrity, intellect and graciousness to her duties for the party.

Will Mike Duncan Oust Steele?

There have been grumblings that Michael Steele needs to go almost since the day he became Chair of the Republican National Committee. Steele's gaffes made him the Republican equivalent of Joe Biden. In addition, Steele let go of some outstanding political operatives, and did not bring in sufficient new talent to pick up the slack -- particularly fundraising.

Now, Kentuckian Mike Duncan -- who preceded Steele as RNC chair -- is being urged to run against Steele at the RNC meeting in January.

The RNC would be lucky to have Duncan for another term, if he is willing to run. In any event, Steele needs to go.

GOP Outraises Dems

For a party that's supposed to be on life support, there's a lot of money coming in. The Republican National Committee out-raised the Democratic National Committee $5.76 million to $4.52 last month.

When the Senatorial and Congressional Committees are added in, the totals for the parties are $10.92 million for the Republicans, $10.70 million for the Democrats. The Republican committees have no debt -- none-- whereas the combined debt for the Democratic committees is $17.33 million.

Looks like the Dems run the party the same way they run the country: lots of red ink. How long before the bailout?

RNC Launces Web Site For Grass Roots Input

The Republican National Committee has launched a new website to give activists at all levels and all over the country an opportunity to shape the party's future.

It's called RepublicanForAReason.com. (I'll add it to the blog roll on the right.)

The Republican Party has become fat and intellectually lazy as a result of too many years in power. It's time to return to the tenets that Ronald Reagan relied on: limited government, individual responsibility, judicial restraint, respect for life and peace through strength.

Let the RNC know your vision for our party.

This Swim Mom Hearts Sarahcuda

Gov. Sarah Palin walked out to the Convention podium and drove a four inch stiletto heel through the heart of the Obama-Biden anticipated coronation.

Palin took to the stage to such thunderous applause that I worried she would not be able to deliver her speech in prime time. The crowd would not sit down or stop clapping.

I had no idea that the applause interruptions threw off the teleprompter's timing, forcing Palin to speak from memory. None of us noticed, so poised was her delivery. This woman was under tremendous pressure to deliver after being villified day after day, report after report. She surpassed all hopes and expectations.

The sound-bites from Palin's speech are still reverberating. "Conventional wisdom," that is, the media elites, remind us that the vice presidential candidate makes no difference to the outcome of the election. Not this year, not with this candidate. It just makes Palin's nomination historic in yet another respect.

Leaving the convention after her speech, delegates kept repeating their favorite zingers. Like one Texas delegate, who may have been an original Suffragette. This lady climbed on the bus and announced to the crowd, "I'm visualizing a pit bull with lip stick!"

There were as many good lines as passengers, and no consensus on which was best. What was undisputed, however, was that it had been a historic speech, not just because of Palin's gender, but because she had breathed life into the conservative movement. This speech was simply too good to be confined to just one election cycle.

Throughout the speech, I was reminded of Ronald Reagan. Her humor, her willingness to take on her critics directly, her ability to not just roll with the punches she'd endured but to give as good as she got -- it was all classic Reagan. This woman is a great communicator, and as with Reagan, cut through the media and spoke directly to the American people. Like Reagan, the media have mocked her for being unqualified, and make clear that they think she's not very smart. What a gift to the GOP.

When Palin confronted the media on their treatment of her, the crowd started chanting "NBC" and pointed up to that network's anchor booth. Somewhere in Rockefeller Center, heads rolled.

With every zinger, people around me yelled things like "Out of the park!" and "That's gotta hurt!" Palin stood up for herself and her family, and made us laugh at the same time. She created a humor gap between the two tickets that underscores Obama's pretentiousness and McCain's and Palin's genuineness. (Biden is unintentionally funny.)

At the speech's conclusion, when Palin's entire family -- including her future son-in-law, and Baby Trig -- took the stage, the mood changed. The applause continued to thunder, but people teared up. No amount of hate speech or media mockery could strip this family of its dignity, fortified by love and faith. Anyone who thinks this mother has put career before family has only to see her hold her baby.

Then McCain showed up. To be sure, the Convention crowd was pleased to see the presidential nominee and applauded his intuition and boldness in choosing Palin. McCain has been criticized for not saying more when he joined the Palins on stage. Here's what he did do. He spoke to each member of the family, and took extra time with the expectant couple. We could not hear the words exchanged but the body language spoke volumes: McCain wanted to make sure that they were holding up all right despite ridicule that no person --let alone a 17-year old -- should have to endure.

Palin's speech was fabulous. In the end, however, the images counted more. McCain's solicitousness with this couple honored their decision to choose life for their baby. Palin's refusal to marginalize her baby, bringing him on the stage to share the moment with the rest of the family, reaffirmed the dignity of all human beings and the sacredness of life. It was breathtaking; lives will be saved as a result. That's a change for the better.

Excerpts From Senator McCain's Speech

Sen. John McCain has an impossibly hard act to follow, given the rave reviews of Gov. Sarah Palin's speech. There is simply no way he can top her speech. Instead, he needs to remind America of relentless independence and honor. He needs to remind America that we know who he is, and though we may not always agree with him, he will always be straight with us and put country first.

Here are excerpts from the prepared text of his speech. He will likely deviate from the text a far amount. But here's what he's planning to say tonight:

On running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: "I’m very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country. But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming."

On solving problems in Washington: "The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom. It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you. Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."

On love of country: "I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s."

Excerpts of Mrs. McCain's Speech

Watching Cindy McCain stroke the hair of Gov. Sarah Palin's baby, it was apparent that Mrs. McCain is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. She obviously loves children -- and her husband. She learned how to fly a plane to overcome her fear of flying, and then served as her husband's pilot when be first ran for statewide office, because she didn't want to miss the campaign. Here are excerpts from the prepared text of her remarks for this evening:

On Americans' duty to their country:"That duty is what brings me before you tonight. And it's much larger and more important than just me or John or any of us: It's the work of this great country calling us together - and there is no greater duty than that, no more essential task for our generation -- right now."

On John McCain's character: "It's going to take someone of unusual strength and character - someone exactly like my husband - to lead us through the reefs and currents that lie ahead. I know John. You can trust his hand at the wheel."

On John McCain leading by example:"Forgiveness is not just a personal issue: it's why John led the effort to normalize relations with Vietnam retrieve the remains of our MIAs... to bring closure to both sides. That's leadership - national leadership. And it's leading by example."

Personal reflections on John McCain:"If Americans want straight talk and the plain truth they should take a good close look at John McCain...a man tested and true...who's never wavered in his devotion to our country...a man who's served in Washington without ever becoming a Washington insider...who always speaks the truth no matter what the cost...a man of judgment and character...a loyal and loving and true husband and a magnificent father!"

Rudy Delivers

Rudy Giuliani says we need the national leader John McCain, not the "community organizer" Barack Obama.

Huckabee Applauds McCain For Uniting Party With Palin Choice

In his address to the Convention, Mike Huckabee used a line that he tried out a breakfast with the Texas delegation: Sarah Palin got more votes running for Mayor of Wassila, Alaska, then Joe Biden did running for President of the United States.

Mitt Romney Urges America To Vote For McCain-Palin

Waiting for Sarah

Vice Presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin's speech is embargoed, but the excerpts are not. So here's a taste of what we'll hear later:

On her experience as a public servant: "I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education better. When I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."

On why she is going to Washington, D.C.: "I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country."

On energy policies that the McCain-Palin administration will implement: "Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems - as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines...build more nuclear plants...create jobs with clean coal...and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers.

On John McCain: Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."

Countdown to Palin

It would not be possible to overstate the excitement and anticipation of Governor Sarah Palin's acceptance speech tonight. She's been in St.Paul polishing the speech for several days but did not attend any of the events scheduled before Sen. John McCain selected her to be his running mate.
The convention will focus on the themes of reform and prosperity. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told reporters that today will offer a sharper contrast between the leadership styles and visions of McCain and Barack Obama. "We're getting a little more political tonight."

Davis criticized the "salacious nature" of much of the press coverage of Palin. Some of it, including a New York Times story that the paper was forced to retract, is "inappropriate" and "not factual."

Despite the smears, Palin remains a "bridge to many voters," including Democrats and independents. "This is a ticket that can unite the country," Davis said.

Davis said that Palin impressed McCain with her "tenacity for reform," and her extensive knowledge of energy -- a critical issue in this election. "Every candidate was fully vetted and went through exactly the same process."

Palin is scheduled to speak at approximately 9:30 C.D.T. following Rudy Giuliani,

Convention Changes

The Bushes will address the convention by live feed from the White House tonight. Then Sen. Fred Thompson will give a speech on the courage and service of John McCain. Sen. Joe Lieberman will follow with a speech entitled "Original Maverick: John McCain."

Both senators are among McCain's closest friends and will try to give a sense of what makes him tick.

Rudy Giuliani's speech will be postponed until later in the convention.