After a great drive and a bit of an early morning, Katie Wycklendt and I have just joined Daniel Suhr at the beautiful Grand Geneva Resort and Spa for the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s State Convention 2007.
9:45 AM: After listening to Dan analyze a rather disappointing array of hospitalities last night, the high point being New Glarus on tap Ted Kanavas’s, we are on the convention floor listening to the awards. I will post them as soon as I have them but, I will probably butcher all the names if I attempt to keep up with each one. I am definitely looking forward to hearing each of our representatives speak.
9:47 AM: Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin Brad Courtney is about to speak. I am going to hand it over to Katie for a bit for a new perspective. I realized on the way that this is my third RPW convention. Which is nothing compared to Daniel who has probably been attending since he was six 
Katie: As a convention virgin I’m taking in the scene and watching as Daniel is able to work just about everyone in the room. Brad Courtney is praising some of the “bright spots” on the recent Republican record, including the convincing election of Van Hollen and holding the majority in the state legislature.
9:52 AM: Courtney is being praised for taking over the chairmanship just before a tough election. He makes a good point about party unity, emphasizing the importance of voicing our concerns to our representatives while keeping our disputes inside our own circles. Points for the Reagan quote: “My 80% ally is not my 20% enemy.”
9:58 AM: Brad Courtney says goodbye as chair of the party — he’s giving up his position after this year and announced his resignation at the prayer breakfast that we unfortunately missed this morning.
10:00 AM Brandon: Mary Buestrin our national committeewoman is speaking as Katie is taking the opportunity to get to know Ryan Wrasse, the new chairman of the Wisconsin State Federation of College Republicans. Mary is speaking about the need to utilize the New Media in order “quick recovery”. There is definitely a need to bounce back and blogs, vlogs, podcasts and facebook can help but we need to make sure we “Lean” or clarify our message completely before we broadcast it through these mediums. We need a strong message to get ahead in a time like this when the national stream of opinion is flowing against us. Mary Buestrin is speaking of the RNC’s continued fundraising victories over the DNC, very important but, more importantly, how will we use it? 5 billion facebook flyers
10:05 AM: No we listening to the general message of being behind the troops as we battle nationwide to give our forces abroad what they need to win, not undercutting them and waving the white flag as Senator Reid has been doing lately. Fund the troops! (Applause) We are 15 minutes ahead as we are coming into what should be the GOP gubernatorial speech. “Men and women of purpose”, exactly the kind of message I was talking about above. Time to hear from Mark Green. I would give it to Dan, the biggest of Green fans but evidently he is still getting business done
10:09 AM: Mark Green “standing with us” and “bullish” about this state. Great positive message “we will win!”. He is speaking about confused voters (by WEAC, trail lawyers and casinos), again, we need to lean our massage and convey it. Mark has invoked Reagan two minutes in. His message is spot -on “show Wisconsin what we stand for” this conference is to complete the sentence “We are Republicans because ______”. He mentioned homeschooling and “put the Wisconsin back in the University of Wisconsin”. [DANIEL: Is it possible for us to put Wisconsin students at the front of the line and still be the best university in the world? Something to think about...]
“Every citizen is entitled to vote but, only once!”
On Democrats and corruption: “I sleep well at night, I wonder if they do.”
This is definitely what he conveyed in his recent piece for The Wisconsin Interest, Wisconsin Interest Special Series: Is Conservatism Out of Gas? Raising the Banner High
Mark Green has just closed with a resounding “God Bless Wisconsin and the United States, the greatest nation on the face of the earth”. U-ra ra!
10:16 AM Katie: Listening to Mark Green makes you wonder how we possibly could have elected another candidate as governor here in Wisconsin. Scott Fitzgerald, the senate minority leader is now taking the podium to make his remarks. Clever introduction: “I’m Scott Fitzgerald, the next majority leader in the state senate.” Fitzgerald notes that we didn’t lose the last election because of what our ideals are (our ideals are right); it’s because we lost our grip on those ideals. Mentioning Wisconsin as the birthplace of welfare reform, he criticizes Doyle’s “culture of cronnyism” for keeping us from being the birthplace of tax reform, economic reform…. “THIS BUDGET IS A DISASTER,” he says, mentioning that he’s unwilling to continue beating around the bush.
10:22 AM: Fitzgerald is mentioning a few of the types of people Democrats want to raise taxes on:
“If you own a car.
If you buy a house.
If you sell a house.
If you own a house.
If you rent an apartment, get sick, live in a nursing home, listen to music, buy a gun, go to the drycleaner, if you’re on welfare, when you die, when you’re born…” I can’t keep up anymore. “Neither can the taxpayers.” –Brandon
10:26 AM Brandon: Ed’s note: I think it’s interesting that we even use the term “Special Interest” to chastise the Democrats, we both have special interests that fund us, the difference is, we can be proud of the business, families and patriots who support Republicans. The Democrats cannot use their supporters as assets, they can only use their supporter’s assets. Who wants to brag to the people of Wisconsin that you are using gambling profits and dues from unions that protect mediocrity to try to get elected and increase this behavior? Or abortionists, ambulance chasers and all the rest? You can use their money but you cannot use their support because they do not have the support of the American people.
10:31 AM Katie: Mike Huebsch is up now talking about how out of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois, we are the only state with a Republican majority in the Assembly. “There is no more important time for the Republicans to be in the majority in Wisconsin,” he says, talking about a lot of different issues where we’ve had victories, including tax cuts and education reform (choice vouchers).
10:36 AM DANIEL: Well good morning friends, and welcome to the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s state convention. For the record, Brad Courtney is the man. A champion for the grassroots doesn’t even begin to encapsulate everything he has sacrificed for and fought for in this cause. Mary Buestrin gave a great report for the RNC… we’re looking really good compared to the DNC. And Mark Green asks the fundamental question, “We are Republicans because…” His answers ran the gamut of issues, though frankly I see our position on issues (school choice, etc) as growing out of our shared philosophical beliefs and moral values.
Scott Fitzgerald gave a report for the Senate Republicans. We need to hold three seats: Darling, Kapanke, and Harsdorf. We’ll hope his confidence that we wins all three holds… Then we’ve got three to fight for to take the Majority back – Wirch, Breske, and Hansen. All I’ll say is good luck.
“Every movement has a moment” – Huebsch. Great line.
And now Wisconsin’s Republican statewide office-holder, JB Van Hollen (who threw a rocking hospitality suite last night). Speaking of hospitality suites, since Reince is still introducing JB, Kanvas had New Galarus, so kudoes. RACC/CERS Kareoke… I’ll refrain from comment on the quality of certain acts. Paul Ryan and the 1st District – great idea with the Andes Candies. Big fan. JB’s was the biggest party, receiving line on one end of the room, dance floor and DJ on the other.
One of the things I love about JB is that he talks about “the philosophy” and “the principles.” He also talks about “making a difference.” Kinda looking for JB to start talking about what’s new at DOJ, but now that he’s the Republican standard-bearer statewide, I guess he has to talk taxes and school choice too. Now we’re on to public safety. Gotta fix the DNA backlog! I love someone who gets all jazzed up about Introduction to Criminal Justice 101.
10:52 AM: JB Van Hollen is promoting the use of DNA evidence and selling the great services of the state crime lab. Making a difference already. I like it, he is was very focused: Get rid of the state crime log, stop sexual predators, protect our citizens. Solid! Just want you expect from Wisconsin’s top cop, not suits against our state’s cranberry farmers or driving after a little too much wine (cough cough lautenschlossed).
Public Integrity! He’s now talking about his unusual election circumstances and his focus on principle. Remain optimistic.
11:01 AM: Paul Ryan is being introduced by Reince Priebus (a candidate for the new Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman).
Paul Ryan is always great. Republican’s lost Wisconsin “we didn’t walk our talk”, if there is anyone who walks their talk, it is Paul Ryan. “I am not sure I want us back in Washington” unless we get back on track. We will not get back in the White House if we don’t focus on our principle.
Here is what I want to know: When is Paul Ryan going to make his next political move? Due the fact that I am not in his district I have been unable to vote for him, I’d like that chance.
11:07 AM: He is now hammering on his best topic: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will take up 100% of the federal budget. WOW! If we keep on this track with spending we will need to be taxed at 40% of our GDP. I love the low tax agenda. Economic freedom is crucial to all of our freedoms and Democrats do nothing but limit it.
Paul Ryan: “We know what we belive in, we jast have to go do it!”
11:11 AM: The grisly, sometimes crotchety Jim Sensenbrenner is now taking the podium. A Wisconsin Republican stalwart, it should be interesting to see what he says.
Katie: He’s beginning by talking about the North Shore area (Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point … all the way up to Mequon). Pretty sad to hear him talk about the new blueness in my hometown/area.
First Packer analogy of the day. Republicans in Wisconsin are in at a point just like the Packers in the 2006 offseason. It’s time for us to rebuild our roster and get ourselves together for next season. He points out that we as Republicans have lost our brand identity — good business term — and so the voters didn’t have the same reasons to vote Republican that we gave them in the past. This seems to be a recurring and appropriate theme at the convention so far. Maybe the Packer analogy will help all these Wisconsinites in the room understand the concept. 
11:17 AM: Sensenbrenner is waiting for the Journal Sentinel’s apology for criticizing his hesitation to send money to the Gulf Coast without accounting for it properly. He tells us that he and Scott Walker like to joke about whose week it is to be bashed in the JS editorial section.
Sensenbrenner is giving some examples of what builds the Republican brand he’s talking about — border enforcement, real ID, stopping violence against women, protecting families…
11:24 AM Brandon: He just stated that he has been asked to join the Committee on Environmental Impact and Global Warming or as Republican’s call it, the “Hot Air Committee”. For more information on all the hot air from the left on environmental alarm-ism, check out this post.
Great Quotes:
“You know how to spend your money better than we do”
“Queen Nancy”
He closed with the correction game plan Green Bay Packers analogy.
AND NOW, THE REALLY BIG SHOW… TOMMY THOMPSON!
11:26 AM: The greatest gov in Wisconsin history, friend of WI GOP… He just entered to “I was born in a small town”. He started loud with a party of the future”, quick quote from someone nearby “wow, someone fired him up”.
Thanks to Brad Courtney and “all these Republicans”, wishes he had an AG like Van Hollen. “Ya believe in ideas and ideals”. John Gard will be back. Now he’s giving “Queen Pelosi” some trouble for her global traipsing in promotion of terrorism. Democrats don’t have the “Courage and conviction to criticize partial birth abortion”. Tommy loves to throw in the “isn’t it great to be a Republican in Wisconsin!”.
Some of you don’t think I can win. He is listing his other other challenging races. He won assembly, governor, etc. People said he couldn’t win because he is Republican and not good looking He told us about is “mission and vision for Wisconsin”. Won by 100,000 votes, only Gov in the country in a Dem state, Dem year etc.
Time for some Midwestern common sense. He has been in Iowa every week since the first week of December. Been in 50 counties, 49 to go in Iowa. He is “feeling like when he was running for the governor of Wisconsin”, I think that may be the problem Mr.Thompson, this isn’t the governor’s race but, I wish him the best.
11:40 AM: He is talking about Harley Davidson riding, Iowa storming, campaign plans. Needs our help to “put us back together again”. He has ideas and plans. He definitely needs to differentiate himself from our current pile of ten. The Democrat “professional spender” , Republicans at the time were “amatuer spenders”. He will increase the Army by 100,000, Marines by 50,000 and limit tours of duty to 12 months. One quote from the crowd “volume doesn’t necessarily equate passion”. He is definitely fired up and very focused on national security. “Only candidate on either side of the isle that laid out a plan”, what about Sam Brownback’s three state plan? Ahh, he is the only one to promote a vote in the Iraqi legislature to either accept or reject American help in Iraq.
He is proposing that Iraq: “Take oil profits and split it one third to the federal government, one third to the territorial government and one third to the people.”
Now he has moved to women’s rights and health issues. Pretty shocking view of healthcare in Afghanistan: 1 our of four babies dying, no running water. 450 women came back to thank America for the hospital he helped to build. Chairman of the global fund and went to Africa. Definitely impressive humanitarian record. Everyone one a trip he organized “full of hot air” but, they stayed with those with AIDS for context. He regretted he had to get on a Suzuki, not a Harley, to deliver anti-retroviral drugs. Thanks from a mother of seven for the AIDS drugs America delivered. Thats the power of healthcare. He is promoting this as a way combat anti-Americanism and it seems it could be effective. We would really need to look deeper into it though, how will it effect our country and our liabilities?
There it is, the first invoking of Ronald Reagan.
11:56 AM: “We are the party of July 4th, not April 15th, Red White and Blue Not White Flag…” he just closed with an Irish prayer. Thank you Tommy!
11:57 AM: Tommy Thompson is now giving the Tommy Thompson award to Brad Courtney.
Time for lunch!
1:05 PM Brandon: We’re back for the resolutions (ZZzzzzz). The resolutions are running smoothly with the usual pro-gun rights, pro-troops, pro-Republican items. If things get interesting, we’ll fill in. The highlight so far is that we’re up on the press table with a better view watching the fun and chatting with Sean Hackbarth from The American Mind (here is his convention coverage). Owen stopped by as well.
We all thought this AP story on Sam Brownback’s big oops last night when he referred to Peyton Manning rather than Favre was rather unfortunate for him, especially during this slow news day. HT: Logan
1:54 PM Katie: Wow… the room appears highly polarized over same-day voter registration with plenty of people taking the Mic. I’m not sure if many people have a good concept of how vulnerable the system really is. One man from Columbia County has brought up the practice of going through bars to 
register voters just before an election. I probably would have rolled my eyes at the suggestion that tactic was extensively employed, but I’ve heard directly from people at Marquette’s Gay-Straight Alliance that they did this exact thing to get people to come out and vote “No” on the marriage amendment. Not that who’s doing it makes it in any way right or wrong, but it is being done.
2:23 PM Brandon: Perfecto Rivera from Milwaukee county GOP is insisting that the term “illegal alien” is just as offensive to Latinos as the n-word in the black community. Wow. The Is won, I guess we can’t use aliens anymore….
2:58 PM: Just finished the closing prayer and thats all folks! Thanks for reading!
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I love being able to quote my favorite tv show:
“You know how to spend your money better than we doâ€
Governor Ritchie (Republican nominee for President):
“The American people
know how to
spend their money better than the federal government does.”
What you gotta remember is he lost the debate…and the election. Granted it’s a TV show, but remember—I love to quote The West Wing.
And then you have President Bartlet’s response (Which I quote just cause its his quote and it brings up good points):
“That’s the ten-word answer my staff’s been looking for for two
weeks. There it
is. Ten-word answers can kill you in political campaigns. They’re the tip
of the sword.
Here’s my question: What are the next ten words of your answer? Your taxes
are too high?
So are mine. Give me the next ten words. How are we going to do it? Give me
ten after
that, I’ll drop out of the race right now. Every once in a while… every
once in a
while, there’s a day with an absolute right and an absolute wrong, but those
days almost
always include body counts. Other than that, there aren’t very many unnuanced
moments
in leading a country that’s way too big for ten words. I’m the President of
the United
States, not the President of the people who agree with me. And by the way,
if the left
has a problem with that, they should vote for somebody else.”
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Sorry if the term “illegal aliens” offends, but if they are alien to the country, and are illegal, they ARE illegal aliens. I’m not going to stop calling them what they are just because someone’s feelings are hurt. Perfecto should be more offended by those breaking the law They are making it harder for those who are legally in the country.
[...] Fighting Like Warriors and Thinking Right. Systematically Debunking Liberal Rhetoric. « Liveblogging the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s 2007 State Convention [...]
“disappointing array of hospitalities last night”
I thought it was just right. The best part about it was they were in the same area, unlike last year which were way too spread out. Opportunities to jump from one party to the other and see virtually everyone was there was great, at least I thought.