Aurora delegate: Still buzzing from Palin

Alternate delegate Penny Falcon of Aurora will give updates from the Republican National Convention.

Thursday morning

Thursday’s breakfast meeting of the Illinois delegation at the Republican National Convention had one purpose: to carry the excitement of the presidential race to the Illinois races.

Delegates were still coming off the high of Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech and a post-celebration until the wee hours of the morning honoring Illinois Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson. But House Minority Leader Tom Cross reminded those in the audience they need to continue to channel that energy over the next 60 days and beyond.

"We have house and senate seats up this fall," said Cross, "and people have written us off, and said, you don’t have a chance."

Cross said that while Democrat leadership has failed to perform for Illinois in the past six years, voters need confirmation that Republicans will offer a better choice.

"While we complain about what they’ve done or not done," said Cross. "We need to show them what we could do."

Thursday’s meeting also offered delegates the opportunity to laud Mary Jo Arndt, outgoing national committeewoman for the Illinois Republican Party. Arndt said she was privileged to have been able to "share a historic and electric moment," with the naming of Gov. Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate.

"This has represented a dream for Republican women across the country," Arndt said. "What a bold, incredible choice."

Wednesday evening

I’ve spent the past week reporting on the events of the Republican Convention in the way that I’ve been accustomed to as a reporter for almost two decades.

Tonight, though, I have to stray from impartiality and try to find words when I simply cannot. I now know how the Illinois Democrats who ventured to Denver must have felt. To be given the opportunity to actually have an intimate seat in witness of history is awe inspiring.

Wednesday’s lineup of speakers served as a perfect frame to the final speaker of the evening: the Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. Each of the former presidential candidates had their fans in the audience. And each offered a distinctive speaking style. All of their speeches, though, delivered a united message in support of Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

But the packed Xcel Energy Center crowd came for the main event: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who delivered and then some. Thunderous applause punctuated the evening, and rolling shouts of "McCain" volleyed with "Palin" throughout her speech. And when Sen. John McCain joined her on stage with her family, the Center rocked.

"100 percent approval." "Where have they been hiding this woman?" "She’s got my vote." "She’s hit a home run," the balcony crowd said.

"This woman is my hero," said Gloria Campos of Murphysboro. "She is making history."

Wednesday morning

Who are Republicans? With Gov. Sarah Palin on tonight’s agenda at the Republican National Convention, Illinois delegates heard from a true GOP leader Wednesday morning about the values that shape her and millions like her across the nation.

Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert addressed the delegation at the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis to share his thoughts on the vice-presidential nomination. Hastert said that in his travels across the country he had met people just like the Palins: hard-working people who get involved at a local level to make a difference.

“Their idea of government is really the kind of ground-up government,” said Hastert of the people he has met. “They’re Republicans. The kind of Republicans who are like Sarah Palin.”

Hastert said tonight’s speech by Palin will allow voters to get a better chance to know the woman who has been named as Senator John McCain’s running mate, and to debunk press attacks on her character.

“They’ve been trying to redefine this candidate before she gets a chance to define herself,” said Hastert of the media.

As to the Democratic presidential candidate, Hastert was gracious but to the point: “He’s been riding on the pony’s tail, he’s been doing this dance … but there’s not a lot of substance.”

U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg and U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam were less diplomatic about their view of Senator Barack Obama.

“Senator Durbin and Senator Obama have not been serving this state as it’s crumbled,” Sauerberg told the breakfast crowd, while Roskam said that “ ‘Senator Obama’ has been silent to the entire fratricide that has gone under his own nose.”

Today’s convention theme is reform. But many of the delegates will continue to wear their service hats this afternoon, as we pack care kits for hurricane victims at the Minnesota Convention Center.

Then it’s off to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, where speakers include Gov. Palin, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Tuesday evening

Orchestrated excitement gave way to unstaged exuberance Tuesday night as the Republican Convention got back on track and offered a full evening of speakers with stories about service to our country.

The featured speakers were former Presidential candidate Fred Thompson and former Vice Presidential Democratic candidate Joe Lieberman, but First Lady Laura Bush also took center stage to honor her husband.

In the audience to hear her words: former President George Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, as well as Cindy McCain and her seven children. Tuesday’s theme was service, and speakers found an easy subject to frame that theme around: Senator John McCain.

Lieberman painted McCain as a “restless reformer who will clean up Washington and get our government working for all of the American people” while Thompson focused on McCain’s character and resolve.

“There’s two questions you will never have to ask” about McCain, said Thompson. “Who is this man? And can we trust him with the presidency?”

The buz zword of the Democratic Party was really a more fitting description of the Republican presidential pairing, Lieberman told the audience. “The real ticket for change this year is the McCain-Palin ticket.”

Tuesday morning

With service to America as Tuesday’s focus, speakers at the Illinois delegation breakfast meeting included retired U.S. Air Force Colonel George “Bud” Day. Day was shot down on Aug. 26, 1967, and held in a POW camp in North Vietnam, where he met John McCain.

Day said he received the “normal bruising around and torture” that POWs suffered in Hanoi. And shortly after being captured by the North Vietnamese, Day said he heard rumors around the camp that the North Vietnamese had “shot down the prince.” Because McCain’s father was a commander in the Pacific, “John, obviously, was a great prize trophy,” said Day.

Recounting how their captors grilled McCain in hopes of having him denounce the United States’ role in the Vietnam War, Day said his five years in captivity with McCain taught him innumerable lessons about the man’s courage and tenacity in the face of adversity.

“I know that when there’s a choice that has to be made, John will do the right thing,” said Day.

With Hurricane Gustav’s force reduced to a tropical storm, convention organizers can now return to the event’s original schedule. Former presidential candidate Fred Thompson and former Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman are on deck, as well as a satellite feed of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Behind the scenes, work continues to offer relief to hurricane victims.

Delegates will be packing care kits throughout the week, and phone banking continues to raise funds for victims of the Gulf coast storm.

Monday morning

Monday’s breakfast meeting opened with new marching orders: “Today is all business,” said State Rep. Jim Durkin, speaking to Illinois delegates, alternates and guests, at the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis.

The Republican National Convention has taken on a different tone due to Hurricane Gustav, and the opportunity to hear Republican leaders speak at the podium of the Xcel Energy Center has given way to necessary business: acting on reports presented by the rules committee.

Tonight’s CME Group event honoring former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert will now become a call to action for Illinois Republicans to help the victims of Hurricane Gustav. The 10 p.m. event has been pushed forward to 7 p.m. at The Guthrie Theatre, when delegates, alternates and guests will be working with Rebuilding Together to raise funds and volunteers to repair homes damaged by the hurricane.

According to Andrew McKenna, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, the nonprofit organization has rehabilitated more that 100,000 homes across America and 1,000 homes in the Gulf region damaged by Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

The joint fundraiser planned tonight has already received a donation of $10,000. Illinois Republicans are being asked to donate dollars, time and materials to this year’s effort. For more, go to www,rebuildingtogether.org.

Congressman Mark Kirk also has begun a relief effort for Hurricane Gustav victims. Kirk is collecting relief supplies – medical supplies, food and bottled water - at his office in Northbrook. Call (847) 940-0202.

Sunday evening

Minneapolis Convention Center was the hotspot for Republicans Sunday night as about 5,000 delegates, alternates and guests joined for the Delegate Party at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The perimeter of the massive center served as a historical backdrop, where displays of delegate memorabilia shared space with framed portraits of past presidents and a mobile exhibit of Abe Lincoln, the Bicentennial Tour. On one side of the room, Duane Schwingel, in Uncle Sam garb, posed for photos with a costumed Lady Liberty; on the other, delegates could don a judge’s robe and “swear in” their friend as Commander in chief.

Delegates spent the evening networking, exchanging political buttons, and nibbling on the endless appetizer stations. Much of the conversation focused on Hurricane Gustav and the plans to mobilize Republicans if the damage proved as extensive as forecasters predicted.

Monday’s events have been pared down to essential activities. Gone is the opportunity to hear speeches by the President and the First Lady. Gone is the Secret Service detail parked outside the Hyatt, where dignitaries were expected to stay. Still here, though, is the enthusiasm and drive to elect Senator John McCain as the next President of the United States.

Sunday morning

Sunday morning, thousands of delegates began the trek northward to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the 2008 Republican National Convention. Sunny skies and balmy weather greeted the early arrivers, as an airplane sporting a “Ron Paul Revolution” banner circled overhead.

Illinois’ delegation is stationed at the Millennium Hotel, in the heart of Nicollet Mall. Here, The Medicine Show Music Company, a trio of vaudevillian song and dance men, entertained as delegates crowded around three large-screen TVs to hear more about the impending hurricane. Gustav commanded attention all through the day, and by 3 p.m., Senator John McCain took to the airwaves to sideline all but the most necessary of activities Monday.

Sunday evening, the Illinois delegation has scheduled a Delegation Party at the Minnesota Convention Center, but it is very apparent that the Party will have a much different tone and focus.