tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52170723718756766722024-03-13T00:25:04.180-07:00The Great Convention CaperMelissa and Anna's Photos and Newsy Bits from the 2008 GOP ConventionMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920278196597388449noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-4149281920858023372008-09-06T07:54:00.000-07:002008-09-10T06:53:47.646-07:00Day Four<div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Congressman Zach Wamp hosted the delegation for lunch at the Mall of America on Thursday. The guest speaker was our former senator, Fred Thompson.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242931210590431442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf7AswkEW4abUOAg5ubq735nTBYbopX-U_61aQOkdFGQ585Tj637baKPVvQMRGlw4wcMl8uHhJLdr4ECmc76tl9iEPV9lWwxsYpd9Hz25XErBx_zMnI9K73AX_C9PPzDyEFsACFnegtyB/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242923536075120562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb3qz-EJIl89-3fUafaBKM7EAePOcrKf16zjXWCyAptQ-EefybGmzuH7p4vjLkbl4-ibXeAgdd1pAzU21zLSqyxLj7riiRWmpd0rZzuZL0r1Mm7E54-chrUfTmgawExsV1uXL8wEr-EGi/s400/IMG_0285.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242923539527042898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObvqPOSu7wu7_6uhqKnLKjjXdbklP0UwQkfhH1l0g0KsZ6FRQFWjTqoA9Uut9_fQF7s-g2KXR35IFTNiqHgIr0lOWq1-08e6WroQNJKw3zWkLwx8X8mT60YmvtykkaqHtJ628RFnGz8vJ/s400/IMG_0286.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">We enjoyed visiting with the Callahans from Knoxville. In this picture we are watching as Fred Thompson arrives.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242923544223112994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j25hGcrOwhtnaEHLUzHjhbCXPveSuNBXpSj872eTnWpYDhJBKfGSSckj1DoLsUxA-H8ffVcMf0E40a5iS_AEqwC30GR6BdFBaJ6AtOzxGlJy2EbJqTIVsSGbybr0sjcbTj1ALiqgDAiF/s400/IMG_0290.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Senator Thompson gave an inspiring talk, rallying the Tennessee delegates for the upcoming state elections</span>. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242923549617400498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhigm1egnpJYJ3PqKeUFfLE1ESrqq-Lb2cu9cRMjOdn6D05cI-cnisXDe7cHGa-U1wTuIY7NydzS2cm9UCnisUki_VXhleOuNJuYjKER9SXjrjWMXIhjIJzwDXILNHVyTIPC0LwUEh5sn/s400/IMG_0292.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">After lunch, Anna and I did some more window shopping. I really enjoyed visiting this store, a holiday store. There was a really neat Christmas village display</span>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242931202832484450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Rxse77uWwLPr7O-ndmIIu2onjPrk3q_t2lgaXOeoy8t1tdcFgoS3ykwIy_FSw81f5FesrcFxlh1Sqh7mn4jTpLmlCv2LtLs9lstyUxVZPAmtIK-1JvNQhTpATSnCqURFBRVjDXAA_kW/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242931207823178690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTzSx2EMzVh22KXj6UVQkEHrse1F0TyycfLLOu_eIZyCi_YLRKh0hJCX1eD0txwrNUa6JwgDOruxx73QK5nHnPe6uABHINLVIhHx8yTDvaveqHEH610H5qHRb9SghepLBe56fO5vvfZfe/s400/IMG_0302.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">It was so strange to cross the <em>Mississippi River </em>so far north. The scenery was beautiful. I was surprised to see so many trees. They were shorter than ours at home and there were many different types of conifer trees that we don't have. I guess I was expecting Minnesota to be all prairie - flat and plain</span>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242931211662515874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViBeZ6wLAJ-ddEqcgtgEZsxuHvxzzol4qSMuRo8uIBeOr57Frgc0Xm7BcUanZpJBsX82LD-oS60CfuTZKURo7XxiR0GGZs7peJ8SSzPuNxOPlD0XUkFNQQUNtIYJMmfMJFlkxLkuOmu2U/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">We arrived at the convention early enough to tour the Fox News tent. Security was understandably high.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242931217209164290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZJENqvH3eDF5NcglRanf1Yi4PPlwuqNQ8LVZfYLSuLtbXjYcnhc0XDSefcP5QlR0d69BZg5vxFQwifyQprT3TxjPmYdEINQDNq2hopPHN-0ene4cTtsj5s9SXYVlim71nb0uDdKVQc3Z/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Inside, we were amazed to see all the activity as the crews worked to produce the shows.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242935301314027442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEBFXrJB72dNyUh8g1a48M4sa_ZfCdmPySRKm8Ydov8PKMJoSAGdjt9wQ2knjhbjaei1CwcpK97iqbmpYXkRZdLYuWF00x8IFsjgfu7iUmuXasQEYMKdiCj5DEKPXRN53tEYIczpwpeqc/s400/IMG_0310.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">We recognized anchor Chris Wallace. It was fun to see the different news personalities throughout the week. I stood behind Shepard Smith once while he was on air, but I think I was too short to be seen</span>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242935306856469490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeNQNTKMgGNcfA9h2iCrTSaGYsOSPxDi9Nh-W7qAHgKpQaiUvokRWCimf9ORkNpuXmhNBUB3C5fyXOn-yKdZeeF-jhD2CmIhPT116mdg-fUIHPnq5OuoGcQGgX9z4k0iwuJa6capnYHRe/s400/IMG_0312.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242935316063633906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBczSEABFljkW_jS36v3maIp5FdRU8-3mJetc6Ne6GbDg7S1nXiZtVJt1zceFl_jMBnPrEQ7uinxBGe5nZMqiJye4g6pJ7uyvod9oakkaWxe8nYmHMFtzrzyq9KbsAhJKkNQrdpEoS91z/s400/IMG_0316.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">The Alaska delegation shared our hotel. They were easy to spot on the convention floor with their hard hats and construction vests that said "Drill here, drill now". We enjoyed our shared breakfast meetings with them. They were so pleased that it was <em>their</em> governer picked for VP! They said that they have felt distanced from the other states, or "the lower states", as they referred to the continental 48.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242935329169163426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeS-B7bFXy9af34fr_blMoIIl_tZdE8YyNDAm0yEjHKD1vJGkR3XXujG0rK5DgH8g43dnJIFEOnVK0xH52N6axOOsdjyDQT9qcgV6pMWgGG62d1_E5vxVMmZw4PgNNgHmdgY4jR55prtAe/s400/IMG_0322.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">An honor guard from Fort Snelling presented the colors to begin the final night of the convention. The stage had been redesigned for McCain's speech. He wanted to be in the middle of the crowd, to create more of the "town hall meeting" style that he has used on the campaign trail.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242938405245211586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAX_d8WURwhW-sBnyVxMUtNOJ_XsfOScZtvhNC6QoG8yt6cVs72H2q9kmB3CfGJ9Q2WhPZqL68TjQQ1NHphPlJiQScHlQefLrLRaeAw_bOsUN-XLnW_HZg357c1VvAw8c-gb7Befp_HIA/s400/IMG_0333.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">The pledge was led by eight former Olympic gold medalists.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242938408031221346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X-tJRSENuNjypwcHXUWGlf_zeRSqdFqOGa1TLHovEPdKFM8NzpQayoaWXbSs1FDYyhu1E2E43ZCxc92qH767SChjGfX5A9FUpFkJEZKy3tUFO_OG3_Rmt2qqljlZnlbP3JwASbPE-b14/s400/IMG_0334.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Mrs. McCain introduced their seven children before she gave her speech.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242943447740757362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vp-ANlIFL7I8AZkW5LLPjuSGKiApn0Qgh1TP1FaOT8lO3npUcdN4xbjwYJnIEKCW2cDAJjIlAn-z96Wq-0TNE5PfWRKNxElBpEZfx0BOVdGWQ3SgQvb6mbuu54LeVxaq4Z2oZgXlUB7B/s400/IMG_0373.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242943451910779122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05l1XW-Bloo-iP6KjWrvvk3Tak8a4eFDpdyLr6GbmRNG7LKYXvnagon3uTsBPLN4tpQs1wj7WHjE8On4XR8XmeBB3t7EbeohGaP7WmNQHvV7Yn-HFzsh2GPN95BbaS67pSwMBpUdM4CHF/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sam Brownback, senator from Kansas, was one of the speakers, as well as our former senator and Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242943439606008802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbqqje04lGSZMmiAk3yetS1AkGD7fk2Z1sPYZvPthQaw0ttn4mqoSYg9hoFbuOd_f0rUdgDJ7upJ4wL1D2hV8Y4fbHEAoacqWZr2iPMkvf6ppyxo1lJaFN_B9ZMbs8YZ0Qkl1y7MVYgAr/s400/IMG_0354.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">McCain approaches the podium...</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242946280464133074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4ysDI8mI_54OV3Hzi9v5ZkeNKdmljDBIKYCDxb7jiflpU8t5MZgGpk48cT4V0CrohfqE5D9dG_OMzkWK6NI01NVCjwLHBy8b80QVmlkj85MVYDajcLRH0a2esZC5wc3reKza2DhZZEly/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242946292785528226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-_qG73Bojw77Pp8VuGTqeZlckKjzr60LTRrlXjP0P3bQWRFUAN1Q72n0EUTnRPQY5PVrm4LJz-bCa_HLTeEDYPk_goAOlhayZnmeEUjB1jJJUaGfF5l5TuuM4tuFZE8Mz03tPUlXP8kJ/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">...and the crowd goes wild!</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242946294449967234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JbIi8gl-LZLJczWX-YrHYrVvR4p8XGCLc5B_vw0jbf5Hzq5kTppaZgpmKdY9o-sK6ywQfYLPMKGiIyp-_72JNZJvBMz_ommsruQuSrrAMenCKf8I3gosEIGvlw22Xzf7xESAb-rHb2lD/s400/IMG_0405.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">His speech was inspiring. He addressed all the important issues, defined his plans for when he is elected, promised to veto the first bill with earmarks that crosses his desk (and all the ones that follow), and outlined his priorities as President.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242946301702403106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8MpPUTDvmHQeVmo1SjKYTtg_gnga6ONNwtFif1zmBMu5slAQBV0e2yUz6RXtqeYMTsFvjS1nN2rqPhOJSkamwCCyShqs89hC_d8-qG1UsaqReYqJ_9MmkG-jdnnJRdTopCsoK8tsoapE/s400/IMG_0416.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242957505072975618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirL-iTqP48SE93RNY0NSApc4hYYuNkpNbrsoBfQO49k7EhxuLAt2exc1g9MugGP2FVpMK2fdVtA3SpzBir4jMNUSSeXz9F83UZqOAZxC3mfDs7On3ghU83bWMoCMC1iGdk0bcuKNlDP8vD/s400/IMG_0417.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">The crowd's reaction was enthusiastic!</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242957525565808082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGNOelMWNuDD_R1qguzyCUpjBl6BTbReov2sma1IugbmPul3Ba1JYFKEiKn9OVVkUqbf7mFEaEphfLSHyUjZwPjdOresX325cAAhAUJAhQgylhShbnCYvugwovUNmWoT1-4hO5nWAxObB/s400/IMG_0430.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242957525762389090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_2zHIV9qtrJgkeOfqMqkuSUnSCXKq9JsHbRbXla3Wu6MZmZuQMGXVP2lsARldNX-O5ck8w3GlnWjCTaHYxitAWHzHUyZ2wmWVR6pQzjAIzU8uqhLihAmQziE_PW7wnxbHyaoQO-2n6W3/s400/IMG_0438.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mrs. Cindy McCain, the McCain children, and the Palins joined him at the close of his speech.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242961462275601138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjE5X6Db1qu5QrjPUnJehPscMLDXpqFCJh9faztJS-8lrp3aYQzLyvM4lXuMLYg5zzaHFYgAjqkmiI1vMntlh-ygriB8hCVzxkUw7HiGQ7vVnfN2vI14btYmUrkzXQqhc1rBbOKcMP80h/s400/IMG_0443.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242961469562680530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKVV0sJDOvMoY2Dsglkmsl3Td2GyKcFWNhKv47oddyZ2APbScU6vWmqK2ZIUUPkvm6Qn9D8cr6POLXd4dfVTZaVSpLpqyfi1VAsBomL07j44c4hsnVzlvog8Y88PNqUTIPQ1jmd9_9P6-/s400/IMG_0454.JPG" border="0" />The party begins!</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">First, red, white and blue ticker tape.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242961465073970658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesM49BdnkkcANaziupAGOjgAqzO1WXEiKA8BR53OJ2ajOfQePgUdxlDHvnCgD6-4SHRg3YfAEMnuCAPUM4WUPWYELwMmPqYcosaOT-GmcyKVcXE0N3rTTvU5lw4MJA8_Gu2zsBf_GKkNy/s400/IMG_0448.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Then, the traditional balloon drop. This year there were more than 150,000 balloons, the most ever dropped.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242961475020727282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ5JhpljIfMa428EMx8ZYUBoPwHuFFtZOf8QWkQ9o6yHrjn3FWotWQmSODVgxffaavxWbxJ1dDmiXYPeM5ct_KNCWc8lE0uj2hd8ZcVaz9cmuucD46nbQCb8RYaCy-MgQBQ_X3js9dq2D/s400/IMG_0457.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242961482629054194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUy_jv8fQJ9HhYybK3x-PuYAjVS3n5BO1GIbJV4FVB0lTxtSqSFX_uug8WvvlW08DUk_JJm9rughFUh_KzPXN_fn6fzAMqhjlwr6JR2C65SpFWHtkNJQZRV3WkPFN6kjg5BxNiKZk1rbxt/s400/IMG_0460.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242965629327410834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLsVjnaXgEt4A7KrrQaJr7bgfo7FVZP_egsYR8PFMl_tVwl-JyMFTKn87TQRnp73xaojCrxMF4vi2gyPximEyhAmGUJMfTmBNpQ6JRrvJ63VZEEX1HdGdiwC-GRqceOkhOt300tkkr8Dj/s400/IMG_0505.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Shiny gold streamers...<br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242965626629250194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBqLhhavCSNtr0E03huXFtRO_E8xSfkznAS_5uHt0HwUkSpaCGXTHhYYAofpHYvOuDzpCtohI08flrHD41vIQQzBZuHqcX4dhHPs9qpYrWj93M2gE_Zg0BgBMVTZN75mYtCpxVhvM-LK0/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"> ... and more balloons!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ1Wp68XK7hyphenhyphenoi9L6a1t-_43Y-AtyuEMVAWUSHL2atorGQDjJBIMT5iCfQy0l2wcNBUJSvaIolLSxgmxs6TaU-ABUnd1nCRlEbh-Z59YJJq1U8FWx6-5HLzLyP_HdDmE3bg5dVPc5ZwC2/s1600-h/IMG_0506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242965661015213410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ1Wp68XK7hyphenhyphenoi9L6a1t-_43Y-AtyuEMVAWUSHL2atorGQDjJBIMT5iCfQy0l2wcNBUJSvaIolLSxgmxs6TaU-ABUnd1nCRlEbh-Z59YJJq1U8FWx6-5HLzLyP_HdDmE3bg5dVPc5ZwC2/s400/IMG_0506.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Digital fireworks...</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242965621515264178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRjaEvC3qNgHtHFlcVz6ARV9Le40zXZDMhfC0A9U_Ak3-HPdBsfUdZK6jVyzAEKVX2d5KDd3OqMdRniCZslLIix5sZ0Shyphenhyphen-h2nDe5R_KAwr7RMMRvVhdapxsZJGQmREPOK_m9gauczaPu/s400/IMG_0482.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">...and more balloons</span>!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242965620081260802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqBeNNXcp6n-8MEVDq_fdtpJfxIZSFkORsJkjewZ222GETbCkgxjxCAbs4KurBunTMRLtz-KI8Rm7S6VWZ4vmAAUuMNIFgAcihtHO11AylLzL42Ix44s6mVt5UY-cWFsa5SDv-Vl8vfsZ/s400/IMG_0466.JPG" border="0" />Being at the convention was an incredible experience for Anna and me! We were so glad that the party platform stayed true to the Republican ideals, and is maybe even more "Republican" than it was before. We met many sweet people from many different states, and made many friends among our delegation. I am looking forward to next time! Until then, though, there are races to be won...<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920278196597388449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-82853529247843758222008-09-05T14:30:00.000-07:002008-09-06T16:07:02.891-07:00Convention VideosJohn McCain's acceptance speech<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OrlkcMOMhrQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OrlkcMOMhrQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Cindy McCain<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8awYa_BZxig&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8awYa_BZxig&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Rudy Giuliani's speech is worth watching!<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Da1YmYRvU6w&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Da1YmYRvU6w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-49099705083384566092008-09-04T08:47:00.000-07:002008-09-08T19:18:37.700-07:00Day Three<div align="center">We rode the metro to downtown Minneapolis for the lunch event given by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. It was on the roof of a very fancy restaurant. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242276684283566178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpSartngiMuC58nsUdadhj5ksZXBp0cCbMhUHatsXur-i8IOoU6v4RdvBqVNzE02LCZjPRW0BvcPeuyEyMjqMW7rKa48gBMcGFwvmURU0wcCqsScAsD0Mrf86M3s92PvgXGhd0HO0uNRv/s400/IMG_0142.JPG" border="0" />Melissa visits with the Kuhns and Jerry Bowen, members of the Tennessee delegation. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242276675526727378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeOingCG-z_aHea-BFoipvXaBLwItYyBxJ8acleNzzDDI5OhNc4ColDL7QkFogoZ35Ofok-bM4p3kgbbfnLH5yGTUmDExkVc0CM16tCcJxuyvgA6IwcmlIZ886_RqahahtzjDGYwEvypO/s400/IMG_0140.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The view from the rooftop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpSartngiMuC58nsUdadhj5ksZXBp0cCbMhUHatsXur-i8IOoU6v4RdvBqVNzE02LCZjPRW0BvcPeuyEyMjqMW7rKa48gBMcGFwvmURU0wcCqsScAsD0Mrf86M3s92PvgXGhd0HO0uNRv/s1600-h/IMG_0142.JPG"></p></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFiOnMH4B7bJhahs7_xi4-b_0Khhv2ZnHMNSw9x4sShtr8bs7aXOCcUXXEFTtl9z4l7HARI4ikCo7kq1t95UsSrvYhZeOEHJ1kUFPnivv88tQqdL_IoJsmwKSQIxz1sNqoIEwVu4lEBSu/s1600-h/IMG_0143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242275612281295762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFiOnMH4B7bJhahs7_xi4-b_0Khhv2ZnHMNSw9x4sShtr8bs7aXOCcUXXEFTtl9z4l7HARI4ikCo7kq1t95UsSrvYhZeOEHJ1kUFPnivv88tQqdL_IoJsmwKSQIxz1sNqoIEwVu4lEBSu/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBGpdPuje8l8JO19j5omHlNwGS6CD4UknAwTeEp8DQFOuaekgHrk5SqPAVefluYRrgury_7IS4W7_x6XiO3e-p-IHCWltuqU-8nBGmlVY8MkVBheBfRLrK9Aq2_2nyX84fUSP3k0MnUAt/s1600-h/IMG_0144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242275622060994898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBGpdPuje8l8JO19j5omHlNwGS6CD4UknAwTeEp8DQFOuaekgHrk5SqPAVefluYRrgury_7IS4W7_x6XiO3e-p-IHCWltuqU-8nBGmlVY8MkVBheBfRLrK9Aq2_2nyX84fUSP3k0MnUAt/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeievCKmWcf-_lZ-R8qw2f6fVFCZxz7TSIs6l8PttW5w0_RU8JFPnjWEjUEbq0EgBqyM92cHTq8jJLntwTCS0U-b6Wb-5OeJ2j2Pc2-hPCwzcytfWZU1q4AfjyfU2Y12QV90o8xWV5a5-/s1600-h/IMG_0146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242275625451417730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeievCKmWcf-_lZ-R8qw2f6fVFCZxz7TSIs6l8PttW5w0_RU8JFPnjWEjUEbq0EgBqyM92cHTq8jJLntwTCS0U-b6Wb-5OeJ2j2Pc2-hPCwzcytfWZU1q4AfjyfU2Y12QV90o8xWV5a5-/s400/IMG_0146.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje9JjAtIsATiwYAngSk8B7WSl5ctfjN_hwVdHu490IlP7suM8g6w20BwzI0PegqmvLYYCFE2bK7JxqZ39-lLtayfUoWq20FM5Wt3avFMMZU6CDfvHeo6zdHJAc7cu6Mj6djvMGPO5Xrbp/s1600-h/IMG_0147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242275632295372706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje9JjAtIsATiwYAngSk8B7WSl5ctfjN_hwVdHu490IlP7suM8g6w20BwzI0PegqmvLYYCFE2bK7JxqZ39-lLtayfUoWq20FM5Wt3avFMMZU6CDfvHeo6zdHJAc7cu6Mj6djvMGPO5Xrbp/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Nathan Guinn, Stephen Sebastian and Chip Saltsman discussing politics with the Lt. Governor</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MqNq_VLII9NcOUk7shHGPhHCzkoDqtq_Ycy5k_z7ozfvqoIcEqzqtNxB46S7QFspNwzaMKwxu5DzR6Tis1n5tmB7U-AAHOL6vbvC6RK4QRDHz4SqYWwOAqeB9qfJd1gsGIOmOAthgPM5/s1600-h/IMG_0149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242275638992009522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MqNq_VLII9NcOUk7shHGPhHCzkoDqtq_Ycy5k_z7ozfvqoIcEqzqtNxB46S7QFspNwzaMKwxu5DzR6Tis1n5tmB7U-AAHOL6vbvC6RK4QRDHz4SqYWwOAqeB9qfJd1gsGIOmOAthgPM5/s400/IMG_0149.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>This little band of musicians walked past while we were on the roof</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepPi3223P8LNhX1R58U-2UPRoGUAbAeJmmNxuRyn1zJi3pGbRYmUpGvi5N86ZSCfVRyzl6KFgUO-BpCtAdounrhyphenhyphenwKKefetP06HvyJBlBY__atEIp-u_KEFWIfTj5kwMQjoAvqwMgA4C5/s1600-h/IMG_0150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274907798698018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepPi3223P8LNhX1R58U-2UPRoGUAbAeJmmNxuRyn1zJi3pGbRYmUpGvi5N86ZSCfVRyzl6KFgUO-BpCtAdounrhyphenhyphenwKKefetP06HvyJBlBY__atEIp-u_KEFWIfTj5kwMQjoAvqwMgA4C5/s400/IMG_0150.JPG" border="0" /></a> Melissa and State Senator Jamie Woodson<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVqc4yw7Y7B7_RXZwB49Y6jJLkqKX9MUQM9K39fimEFqsu8SdQgD5SWUdxykyqhwE37zIvG1zhEykvhv3IOC-Tv1m59MdBi956HxnzhKly_C0olAbhNOKriOz2tBdxImAHznCFIVbJxUy/s1600-h/IMG_0152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274915354857874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVqc4yw7Y7B7_RXZwB49Y6jJLkqKX9MUQM9K39fimEFqsu8SdQgD5SWUdxykyqhwE37zIvG1zhEykvhv3IOC-Tv1m59MdBi956HxnzhKly_C0olAbhNOKriOz2tBdxImAHznCFIVbJxUy/s400/IMG_0152.JPG" border="0" /></a> After the luncheon, we had another Tennesse delegation event given by our U.S. Senators. It was at the Museum of Science, overlooking the Mississippi River.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274016027403618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIm2JRSkSusP2ofXYeRFBtq4F9NyrdHLBLobipaTAMhCej_LlzRi3fBWtu9CO2kPlBG8-sRoIvAdaHRm4AykK05rh2CJxACE_6CsxgkqMK8CD4Ol2Fr0tiiG-4SFvDZc26pfDcvceX9Q4/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" border="0" />Bob Corker speaks<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r9CGUpjlrb6yuA105u1IX-gL5ZYg91Z69xCYB5vQ0K-iR_f6f1M2rh5l2RHrIXQ5kViR8zR2wPd9U_nc5iFxM5HROfNsrUK8affabn_lJNonkq8clM_uyU9SrDoRlee679FYcIdSOV75/s1600-h/IMG_0159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274922746858738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r9CGUpjlrb6yuA105u1IX-gL5ZYg91Z69xCYB5vQ0K-iR_f6f1M2rh5l2RHrIXQ5kViR8zR2wPd9U_nc5iFxM5HROfNsrUK8affabn_lJNonkq8clM_uyU9SrDoRlee679FYcIdSOV75/s400/IMG_0159.JPG" border="0" /></a> Senator Alexander<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHt__xkOapeq8nCwf-fdLMN-32xs7fsi1dM0BZAzcJOxBuDS91aWCENfT94_BAWxmFJ-LQTdyHUU1Wp2EZ7xd-NeDZNAdq2L7b1Dukv42zSR2HLE327NkRj16tb0Xuza51-B5UNxukX4a/s1600-h/IMG_0161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274928203822290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHt__xkOapeq8nCwf-fdLMN-32xs7fsi1dM0BZAzcJOxBuDS91aWCENfT94_BAWxmFJ-LQTdyHUU1Wp2EZ7xd-NeDZNAdq2L7b1Dukv42zSR2HLE327NkRj16tb0Xuza51-B5UNxukX4a/s400/IMG_0161.JPG" border="0" /></a> Both of Tennessee's Senators</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b-8vIJq5K_rvl2J1Ne3_UtoDFavitQrFJvLVnle8zKiVg200YlMEIqcZ_-ufw54RarVr0kdym-LZbeKm75Hz22hQrsFH_dGPIeSeDNuAmZIa-mBQ9-pghFKaUjLLK0uibfPXG_AAYfz1/s1600-h/IMG_0160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274003044939058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b-8vIJq5K_rvl2J1Ne3_UtoDFavitQrFJvLVnle8zKiVg200YlMEIqcZ_-ufw54RarVr0kdym-LZbeKm75Hz22hQrsFH_dGPIeSeDNuAmZIa-mBQ9-pghFKaUjLLK0uibfPXG_AAYfz1/s400/IMG_0160.JPG" border="0" /></a>As usual, there was plenty of food...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCOxxd2Y9i1BQdKV0UCxku0_pZi-Fa3fJqY4nyocvpidGGjFCRK7EqdqVLATbweYwfClwcjYuCVBUR4TkrMOVDgUJy0yUf_AF4Su3Sqpb-NyL2Iw1vpQT1uaqAXp745gqqpt1wFfuPlHy/s1600-h/IMG_0163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274012402066770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCOxxd2Y9i1BQdKV0UCxku0_pZi-Fa3fJqY4nyocvpidGGjFCRK7EqdqVLATbweYwfClwcjYuCVBUR4TkrMOVDgUJy0yUf_AF4Su3Sqpb-NyL2Iw1vpQT1uaqAXp745gqqpt1wFfuPlHy/s400/IMG_0163.JPG" border="0" /></a> ...and live music<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242273214095344018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QZ4LABVkxZXLuaRbRhxKvTV7lDH6S46UgyA5_Gnqtv9Ne4GS7NACFF4leCmN2XZ5pzvcpwi00j8SR4Eh88RdtQWZ4gzSBJmHjBuiNrC-81N_KFka-_YG1Z7xoJsB0wl32DuV9fIXQWJ7/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" border="0" />The river from the balcony<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN9P7ttA-LMJhRHv5hkiJHHuKB5bcL-lxrE8gCSsA3Bgf_x1N7P7rhYC1hwDEWcBvxlAPrNkE2criKpRhpHArTOVKdhWF0z0nrqpVlPwDinsgioc57c-Bttz5paSZ6lTyx8ODEAcDI0gV/s1600-h/IMG_0166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274022350756034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN9P7ttA-LMJhRHv5hkiJHHuKB5bcL-lxrE8gCSsA3Bgf_x1N7P7rhYC1hwDEWcBvxlAPrNkE2criKpRhpHArTOVKdhWF0z0nrqpVlPwDinsgioc57c-Bttz5paSZ6lTyx8ODEAcDI0gV/s400/IMG_0166.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm3TlWzkDjqMvXYYFVdfHjVzVDtD7maR8s9gJmVRXY0sNxs6XMEJWmHSc16dhTmv4CvxlIVEOpNilRYdJPUIVLbCGdcvd0iRVE6-JU5jG8ZxBUoTlSNRbJxRIa53OR_07Urt2CbV3XlvJ/s1600-h/IMG_0167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242274025095003890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm3TlWzkDjqMvXYYFVdfHjVzVDtD7maR8s9gJmVRXY0sNxs6XMEJWmHSc16dhTmv4CvxlIVEOpNilRYdJPUIVLbCGdcvd0iRVE6-JU5jG8ZxBUoTlSNRbJxRIa53OR_07Urt2CbV3XlvJ/s400/IMG_0167.JPG" border="0" /></a> Senator Corker with some ladies from the Republican Federation of Women<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98iISN0BbJJZ3wDLoWC3ZLZYhEL1ZGlLEM1OamoyTFoP46wY6RKlv799KyJvP0875wOV3wU96G6Sx3P6iWdpg0uWwM3F0eL8MrOwPlJtPvwzEX6sq_AjqJbzMs4hDVKAbdzkJi12Uom5a/s1600-h/IMG_0168.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242273209888909106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98iISN0BbJJZ3wDLoWC3ZLZYhEL1ZGlLEM1OamoyTFoP46wY6RKlv799KyJvP0875wOV3wU96G6Sx3P6iWdpg0uWwM3F0eL8MrOwPlJtPvwzEX6sq_AjqJbzMs4hDVKAbdzkJi12Uom5a/s400/IMG_0168.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The third session of the convention<br /><br /><br />California Representative Abel Maldonado gives a rousing speech<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFgb-A5Q7ooAFI9mmWlOnifCOKoWG6c9oSUK13QIg10JLe8_j4NwvOyDNMWhEqW-79PWFnkhnuvTgD47tYSIVrQ-8V1peRJ8q-A-W58mWGlQ7ltUB35zhYq-pEZVsFOgo8WIJ4PE0h8Sm/s1600-h/IMG_0177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242273216261754770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFgb-A5Q7ooAFI9mmWlOnifCOKoWG6c9oSUK13QIg10JLe8_j4NwvOyDNMWhEqW-79PWFnkhnuvTgD47tYSIVrQ-8V1peRJ8q-A-W58mWGlQ7ltUB35zhYq-pEZVsFOgo8WIJ4PE0h8Sm/s400/IMG_0177.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mr. Hardin let me use his floor pass tonight. Here's the view from the Tennessee delegation area.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_788iYhugKDq0VQaZ6F9r1usGcemoxGVxYK3D5rSVOag11ooCr7P0SzD71exEGiVr2cCUSQ4W30KXUtY1s4ybVIggEnODwwB5sycnAWO_icqqDUpWwEdldSlzGcd0c8XbNoinpknkY60/s1600-h/IMG_0182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242273224493246866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_788iYhugKDq0VQaZ6F9r1usGcemoxGVxYK3D5rSVOag11ooCr7P0SzD71exEGiVr2cCUSQ4W30KXUtY1s4ybVIggEnODwwB5sycnAWO_icqqDUpWwEdldSlzGcd0c8XbNoinpknkY60/s400/IMG_0182.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242267642574049970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfCkh9nx6LzLmFCJ138jgZPPyETdwahtwnxzFqB2DvOlOH3a7Hf_R9JjYrLksJWXUIwrMYe7GRWfWyUw3BXhFXU-WZxdki5YWA4yytiTwLe0v7KBGV8avsTaD1wdaOWAmBaT543jkJ3Tb/s400/IMG_0184.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242267651285063634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_JuE8T0SdaECghGeqMZzVXxaQ3Mll7syqfXc91Y8QicuuDOCR1L59YzCpUYWYuFsbmABdkx-AFcsjq-BVbopLycYQ35hiAcLxKd2aYPGee_3uLasQNSAl3YqP44HsrJrICwPCHefzdZz/s400/IMG_0190.JPG" border="0" /> Mike Williams of Texas<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSG8Sp3eXW8COzX-rkTnqF_YXte9dkgXuJrm7nj_6KI0pRpA5BfSOeb9ORxTe5-_lyfc5x2NdfeeOTzItiwwDeC2T4dm7A_xZADtu1LVT9tFU9rCF-pU47qmO_hR3XJmWfuer1Qcxig20/s1600-h/IMG_0183.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242273226328786658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSG8Sp3eXW8COzX-rkTnqF_YXte9dkgXuJrm7nj_6KI0pRpA5BfSOeb9ORxTe5-_lyfc5x2NdfeeOTzItiwwDeC2T4dm7A_xZADtu1LVT9tFU9rCF-pU47qmO_hR3XJmWfuer1Qcxig20/s400/IMG_0183.JPG" border="0" /></a>Bob Dole came past while I was on the floor<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXanbfSRTXDNO6Y9LJ18kbz0yfklazwmB3WmPFdXwGrJeTr9Frb0Ynj6ynSeNyZ09Mt41Eji-vcoYlm6SCmuBVZGx0kMolZcb_YQQWTfrf2rvVbbPFXSoiwquzpaZzQjUuVlR-vQIIRlk/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242267646824036194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXanbfSRTXDNO6Y9LJ18kbz0yfklazwmB3WmPFdXwGrJeTr9Frb0Ynj6ynSeNyZ09Mt41Eji-vcoYlm6SCmuBVZGx0kMolZcb_YQQWTfrf2rvVbbPFXSoiwquzpaZzQjUuVlR-vQIIRlk/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" border="0" /></a> Part of the delegation from American Samoa<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfUdZOnYhdx7Dk-DxHQrvfnXCCfdajoAw50whqfEO44FsWeuOFc8P2r-EUAvv7-xMVq3-m5UaKn4OuidS3L_2dyw9MqLuLEKvCa_P5fgnutSSRcSYNwz2uboYEuVOTxJpQf5ZsVLA2P5Z/s1600-h/IMG_0196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242267659727967554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfUdZOnYhdx7Dk-DxHQrvfnXCCfdajoAw50whqfEO44FsWeuOFc8P2r-EUAvv7-xMVq3-m5UaKn4OuidS3L_2dyw9MqLuLEKvCa_P5fgnutSSRcSYNwz2uboYEuVOTxJpQf5ZsVLA2P5Z/s400/IMG_0196.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sean Hannity greets fans before he goes on the air <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242266009266496386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pjl_ba9gySHD7m5GYmjbcAoC-e5-PLvzm-E8JEoRAcS8k9saM3G1GwZHeNuySM68VqZ1KvZy5hRIXDh8QyLSjE7YfFyxwF1Sjf2FwXIuaeg1v2TRCsQVSQYeZZ0CyLEQg5T1tn0vX-ng/s400/IMG_0194.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMhp8ns0-jj3o2xqrk36W4kNqLfJZxL0_3zREq0YoxIA_7MmII2Rm7R_a3rG48h20v3FuymoCm_-Jqv8HxGgDQgkVcyARxgNkI5tOF3uTL-oKkewm3JOjz1PnwS1XL10RLGURRJJv-9P9/s1600-h/IMG_0199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242267666075205906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMhp8ns0-jj3o2xqrk36W4kNqLfJZxL0_3zREq0YoxIA_7MmII2Rm7R_a3rG48h20v3FuymoCm_-Jqv8HxGgDQgkVcyARxgNkI5tOF3uTL-oKkewm3JOjz1PnwS1XL10RLGURRJJv-9P9/s400/IMG_0199.JPG" border="0" /></a> The great Michael Steele of Maryland<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PGuWKuiH9YntezWKBWhgoFzqAbe8B2M4T70XHYe7YRpKOQhOS5DZcamVwC9RbZqga7u7g-5CF2-BYR_-kUbD227bPdmBf_i8WiYPzq4yCUo3AVjUmPebqcluMAkns3RWujKNVU7oxVHl/s1600-h/IMG_0200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242266011723422050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PGuWKuiH9YntezWKBWhgoFzqAbe8B2M4T70XHYe7YRpKOQhOS5DZcamVwC9RbZqga7u7g-5CF2-BYR_-kUbD227bPdmBf_i8WiYPzq4yCUo3AVjUmPebqcluMAkns3RWujKNVU7oxVHl/s400/IMG_0200.JPG" border="0" /></a> We really enjoyed his speech<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNtxdMv8ePfAEyOyNrhgppboC_EhRnYrwqvkxbrZytvhEmc3ZapHtnTDz1hc-Vh9mavJThwPo_p6f7Y6njlDinnhqxxryz1mZGzXLMkUegO-oNg2zHUbdxapjFKA5vWCUPuO_0oUYBX2M/s1600-h/IMG_0201.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242266016835900466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNtxdMv8ePfAEyOyNrhgppboC_EhRnYrwqvkxbrZytvhEmc3ZapHtnTDz1hc-Vh9mavJThwPo_p6f7Y6njlDinnhqxxryz1mZGzXLMkUegO-oNg2zHUbdxapjFKA5vWCUPuO_0oUYBX2M/s400/IMG_0201.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KnJg1-jVvScY-EF-ddK6pxSfKNLPC6DwKRxvwAcSAFrmYYnlbwWLztBWiflGGhUTyZmQk_auc87u8qI9E-8S0Uw49LRwWMOnXom9GTWpmNr3MVrohbZhw1FMh_Ltgd1wxgPAdbEIhDTN/s1600-h/IMG_0205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242266018213137090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KnJg1-jVvScY-EF-ddK6pxSfKNLPC6DwKRxvwAcSAFrmYYnlbwWLztBWiflGGhUTyZmQk_auc87u8qI9E-8S0Uw49LRwWMOnXom9GTWpmNr3MVrohbZhw1FMh_Ltgd1wxgPAdbEIhDTN/s400/IMG_0205.JPG" border="0" /></a>Mike Huckabee gets a huge welcome from the crowd<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ3ycx3cgvk8QGFv3tk20OdXb7wSG9dYATQGCyVqWfoDBiLzEkbAyiwF8fTUYeeNCyuh1KjUGJfdmudTIppjdXQseva_sttX2rNYvVZ9UX3ed_l3YQ1tbY1eo8IlyAvNw-_gk6u7KUG64/s1600-h/IMG_0206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242203180869375938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ3ycx3cgvk8QGFv3tk20OdXb7wSG9dYATQGCyVqWfoDBiLzEkbAyiwF8fTUYeeNCyuh1KjUGJfdmudTIppjdXQseva_sttX2rNYvVZ9UX3ed_l3YQ1tbY1eo8IlyAvNw-_gk6u7KUG64/s400/IMG_0206.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242202985469181250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmVZ-AdbgQ_TeBRrutb4xmkhjibPBrPBmJoqNXB-vtTUvBmjjtTMBJDMKG1FRAFmwd-CF1Sf3B2_PPpvYF7nmyW8RaozThz0ucMuDLIslf9I1e6mVYqTtCi-dS7DwZygDgAwaj_6dG8x0/s400/IMG_0211.JPG" border="0" /><br />Here's the video of his speech<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j7HeUwyVwIY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j7HeUwyVwIY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Sarah and Janet Huckabee (second and third from left) watch Gov. Huckabee speak<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyvBAqle3JC9moH7z-3N64KYKTLveaBNuqsC3Ga7-c3BNoe53og5GyATIA8knWJj9yJbKbANSRQTKAVith4vq85Zb__bMDO1Ab0l1Xo-FmDDW78-oJYU5gyhhpO8uaEGEA_9Fuv4IVTaA/s1600-h/IMG_0216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242202819528615042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyvBAqle3JC9moH7z-3N64KYKTLveaBNuqsC3Ga7-c3BNoe53og5GyATIA8knWJj9yJbKbANSRQTKAVith4vq85Zb__bMDO1Ab0l1Xo-FmDDW78-oJYU5gyhhpO8uaEGEA_9Fuv4IVTaA/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" border="0" /></a> Rudy Giuliani's speech was terrific!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mzarCo9PAWZZL5KwGcMQVYRP-ngKGj6vi0ZYeQyM4faVT80yCpOAcDO6yY-EAKjReWvmWSUGs7r3ml-uoHMBd1lW42lsDhuQ5q-WdkpF9ciBcQCsitj4_6s0un7VMf7zTGmey-_5EINg/s1600-h/IMG_0233.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242202823803958770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mzarCo9PAWZZL5KwGcMQVYRP-ngKGj6vi0ZYeQyM4faVT80yCpOAcDO6yY-EAKjReWvmWSUGs7r3ml-uoHMBd1lW42lsDhuQ5q-WdkpF9ciBcQCsitj4_6s0un7VMf7zTGmey-_5EINg/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXizr30vRuSaa7vmDoK7Vgpm-uw9m8Tz0IHun_AyB3TVX1lwKl_GBExkyRj1lpC4wt2bx7HDfdMZjMBiRkm0XRE33gYON4BRbGx5G5Opzw2KDylsLA3SFRt0JbBBwIrjPa88AAHCPcyt3/s1600-h/IMG_0232.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242202269361884786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXizr30vRuSaa7vmDoK7Vgpm-uw9m8Tz0IHun_AyB3TVX1lwKl_GBExkyRj1lpC4wt2bx7HDfdMZjMBiRkm0XRE33gYON4BRbGx5G5Opzw2KDylsLA3SFRt0JbBBwIrjPa88AAHCPcyt3/s400/IMG_0232.JPG" border="0" /></a>Listening to "America's Mayor" - Gov. and Mrs. Huckabee, Mrs. Giuliani and Roberta McCain in the back and Cindy McCain and the Palins in front</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGUqgP13cZuqtkii5D9nTD26rzDW1_Gu9o6D086dmlvCOiOxVp7DnJRZqU4kNXOIJkHF8Kg5-Jg6Q57_AGpTFGiYbz_pQtavURfylWR6n09VruVtRywqdWhGeBIj0-paSDccd5LW14y_e/s1600-h/IMG_0238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242197378593861298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGUqgP13cZuqtkii5D9nTD26rzDW1_Gu9o6D086dmlvCOiOxVp7DnJRZqU4kNXOIJkHF8Kg5-Jg6Q57_AGpTFGiYbz_pQtavURfylWR6n09VruVtRywqdWhGeBIj0-paSDccd5LW14y_e/s400/IMG_0238.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sarah Palin comes out to give her acceptance speech<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ANQ_DZXkGoX4JzVISns8LFISQb3JAs4oc7WwSIJO7PLit2s0KkR0k1v1gBY7ndydue5eyqjnkcqdVBztZE6xo5aI8HtoLmOff_y_5qYvc1nVYNtmeX0IQUbC5zfPlLvd-BnZTbWcb8Bh/s1600-h/IMG_0241.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242197381328044674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ANQ_DZXkGoX4JzVISns8LFISQb3JAs4oc7WwSIJO7PLit2s0KkR0k1v1gBY7ndydue5eyqjnkcqdVBztZE6xo5aI8HtoLmOff_y_5qYvc1nVYNtmeX0IQUbC5zfPlLvd-BnZTbWcb8Bh/s400/IMG_0241.JPG" border="0" /></a> A very excited crowd<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicMTsWgpx1oaj7fp5iaGLT-xuayltLi2uwJNoX1gSY0K0NBfDHh4TwLbWPwv9xnAJ8_r6SRzDjVEBq9PEvDA264uxDG90JbbzfaK8g5kPyM0rQDS1y5fbUBpHy5Jqee4ebmrU2QtXqzpd/s1600-h/IMG_0245.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242197385950183410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicMTsWgpx1oaj7fp5iaGLT-xuayltLi2uwJNoX1gSY0K0NBfDHh4TwLbWPwv9xnAJ8_r6SRzDjVEBq9PEvDA264uxDG90JbbzfaK8g5kPyM0rQDS1y5fbUBpHy5Jqee4ebmrU2QtXqzpd/s400/IMG_0245.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242197397669789746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkfsuJiPTx7TNxlMpfPydijAONiQh6ikxKg1g-b14JWGuVXUWVML8jJSoh7cFyTnPN8amXICwxbqpEHzgLvGJvUyJ0gOwSa3HomoVtOWbAulnOiYftArZ-5Bd0bJ4x7lFNFkiat6XQPIe/s400/IMG_0246.JPG" border="0" />Little Piper Palin holding baby Trig<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNrvoAHVLuusGuvWpa5XKDsV5raC1sizCMZpnOHPiZ85-kbqYJfhs1GoHqwMwu_2pUYO7w-xrQgiEKJdqDlde1TR57pvdhbobVuhwE1banjug0oJs-YZjA1cnL0qNsTy3BTRPvo7LRCea/s1600-h/IMG_0253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242197390816827154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNrvoAHVLuusGuvWpa5XKDsV5raC1sizCMZpnOHPiZ85-kbqYJfhs1GoHqwMwu_2pUYO7w-xrQgiEKJdqDlde1TR57pvdhbobVuhwE1banjug0oJs-YZjA1cnL0qNsTy3BTRPvo7LRCea/s400/IMG_0253.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5CO_WLgGTsGfHBtatOEJjxBAkRAeL9X3ZlWp1y7yA_ERW5eLRmGeHE_foOO6eiPzIempu0q58yvfjpAhG0vW6MnCV2bfCpaxa38I7GAB7xassYzgkrd9rSIB9CqF_8f7SruZUsvY-O2i/s1600-h/IMG_0249.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242196356162700578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5CO_WLgGTsGfHBtatOEJjxBAkRAeL9X3ZlWp1y7yA_ERW5eLRmGeHE_foOO6eiPzIempu0q58yvfjpAhG0vW6MnCV2bfCpaxa38I7GAB7xassYzgkrd9rSIB9CqF_8f7SruZUsvY-O2i/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Palins on stage<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qj_OCubRPrhoTR7LXz7jLrXhNbgYefh1Uw934csPk16Cmo0C76sjFxXfT7BVg1FVAK1HzKy0abmxAAVnP-CzzGrc7R9VcMSg5lUyjnT6Vbqttd0W3Ux0BB5gk4ZK-3TbjCULzqHf_mSB/s1600-h/IMG_0259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242196360778897874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qj_OCubRPrhoTR7LXz7jLrXhNbgYefh1Uw934csPk16Cmo0C76sjFxXfT7BVg1FVAK1HzKy0abmxAAVnP-CzzGrc7R9VcMSg5lUyjnT6Vbqttd0W3Ux0BB5gk4ZK-3TbjCULzqHf_mSB/s400/IMG_0259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6kYORRI60XF4ilw3AynEfa4Ck6HF9r3a-Gp1C3d9Z_DxQt_0kHkU_BhbOuPunSzeZX0RNQG8VuaizxHKV_FUuEwhz9gFsyJLUulBDsqBuN7PoNWkehYEcQbeIPNk26W0oeTkS2ZtHw9U/s1600-h/IMG_0264.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242196357230311874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6kYORRI60XF4ilw3AynEfa4Ck6HF9r3a-Gp1C3d9Z_DxQt_0kHkU_BhbOuPunSzeZX0RNQG8VuaizxHKV_FUuEwhz9gFsyJLUulBDsqBuN7PoNWkehYEcQbeIPNk26W0oeTkS2ZtHw9U/s400/IMG_0264.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNdPHVKEJmOeVbHUHy-3Ug45DjvU_8LW2WBnrB2BLE16Avkhc76T_ldE3bT4a9_wVaqBwcUyPJOYjeYdN4UFBpV2hAASOtyfWwDRPINI-jyWcTwD0CGmGf0A2sasqbz28gFKlz2Nz7t9S/s1600-h/IMG_0262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242196363291128290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNdPHVKEJmOeVbHUHy-3Ug45DjvU_8LW2WBnrB2BLE16Avkhc76T_ldE3bT4a9_wVaqBwcUyPJOYjeYdN4UFBpV2hAASOtyfWwDRPINI-jyWcTwD0CGmGf0A2sasqbz28gFKlz2Nz7t9S/s400/IMG_0262.JPG" border="0" /></a>John McCain on stage for the first time!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242194403803147762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KaPfrF7SnnFaVn1RZoma8vNB7GFiLxGgFwf6Q2wc5wh0P4cl4fpfPHuNMxQ59pGzbz45-kxsAVM6GYbhHp9Hazh4YW4C3sP3Zo9_JOLMDSNtrmpsRoQTSM5uWTTLug_XMRXkupL1yNLS/s400/IMG_0278.JPG" border="0" />Piper is so cute<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242194410969842530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhgbOp8n3sIq3wLdJifyJevvkGo8bXeL4dSkt90jgN8br6N111HPr-qSZXEy-Szue47DyZo9HSHeUDvj2UF_8EVPzK5cWe4AnG8XOQn-E7xGfFQ4K02iMiBs581S7kBj7iLgKjHx2ySlM/s400/IMG_0280.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_9LV3lyPHnpRZVfjWD2jjEMbaj4QSpRYwWCbB8yi_yAi7L2L0MfgMuhlDMBPGfzdJlJX12-HtZXnDiMLQYuU3Z5xKQSrFj-aiMCORxoX5frivKINFeVzsSt4cq53wdbBdwcUqrlbyCeh/s1600-h/IMG_0270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242196362625811794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_9LV3lyPHnpRZVfjWD2jjEMbaj4QSpRYwWCbB8yi_yAi7L2L0MfgMuhlDMBPGfzdJlJX12-HtZXnDiMLQYuU3Z5xKQSrFj-aiMCORxoX5frivKINFeVzsSt4cq53wdbBdwcUqrlbyCeh/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAC1POuQeH3-OHFdw9Me8hgqKUevyHKSagwg7g2ligcsWwqq5UwScwtT5Ah4Pa85a4DWRTuTofgjK2exAgKtZylwLpq7LI1TuOvONteXzwtp_LlV6ABNUcOUPyAKJ9QmjUAWhXgu9iura/s1600-h/IMG_0274.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242194402508326562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAC1POuQeH3-OHFdw9Me8hgqKUevyHKSagwg7g2ligcsWwqq5UwScwtT5Ah4Pa85a4DWRTuTofgjK2exAgKtZylwLpq7LI1TuOvONteXzwtp_LlV6ABNUcOUPyAKJ9QmjUAWhXgu9iura/s400/IMG_0274.JPG" border="0" /></a> The convention roll call<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCPYXPprCI3CZG8cYG87dobNsu-NPApMN4CBcQTZ9dzLKakUovl0AGwJD3h9gCdFWdmTmHtek8YrIx_N_rR8_UxbJ_b1kmbS4aUGHUh0pqJ5qaEmdfgmlWW2cIkq0OSbZ6ba7bvDMzKi2/s1600-h/IMG_0284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242194412104939538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCPYXPprCI3CZG8cYG87dobNsu-NPApMN4CBcQTZ9dzLKakUovl0AGwJD3h9gCdFWdmTmHtek8YrIx_N_rR8_UxbJ_b1kmbS4aUGHUh0pqJ5qaEmdfgmlWW2cIkq0OSbZ6ba7bvDMzKi2/s400/IMG_0284.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br />John McCain was nominated, of course! </div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-31301462340473132892008-09-03T19:46:00.000-07:002008-09-04T08:22:18.388-07:00Day Three - Breakfast<div align="center">Dr. Bill Frist (former Senate Majority Leader) makes an appearance at breakfast this morning </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxWcQJ0nlo8NzOdSuxpPdE3h8kdJfxTO3gtZ8-y1qJiXiVOtMAm0LrkKKmMUzLU9Lm-6VSB2k8sk6pMSdAaIV-M66n1_o4TGmRMi01WFqtIQjcIsSlDB9aM8S1cjjNOO_E8C_hJCVCMdh/s1600-h/IMG_0116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242179324951212274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxWcQJ0nlo8NzOdSuxpPdE3h8kdJfxTO3gtZ8-y1qJiXiVOtMAm0LrkKKmMUzLU9Lm-6VSB2k8sk6pMSdAaIV-M66n1_o4TGmRMi01WFqtIQjcIsSlDB9aM8S1cjjNOO_E8C_hJCVCMdh/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our friends, Dan and Jane Hardin, visit with Senator Corker <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242179463927275122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQcRV4dlHBidiTHHD_COcEhDUMsqvKWaR5YjRDZwd0SxR17XV6Utungcv84MzCOwdKNNGNxbnm2pnORROKj-02uBANEdgOXA4LQQLqjUOcFdRBKJceN7a3aO7oJVZV_V8O4fsxyrP8ol9/s400/IMG_0115.JPG" border="0" />Our great Senator, Bob Corker<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242179336959327826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4vCapq7FfFRQZo9x1a6YQL6PJwRDZcx4f0kld26yOL1_7n87u4tMNzq4cq0LjZ6Ey6wBJZYV0EZcySi6b9v0DFYDS6gt4ZZzYZ9LkSE2oiy4yRAdWzf2wimnBiHc6rILjPWhKLgxgxxe/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" border="0" />Senator Lamar Alexander introduces Mike Huckabee<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qAnr4lwRiqn7RogCWxp_JLy2_a76GD77Ac-BGQYGhwzzgQt4U4F8cdGwVc_irc-M4oknbKzYoGQq1tOguyi0aW4T-l5DhM4xe3dOSdCyA1OemPmtCgNSS-L0vbHvbOPjIPN1lja9eMqN/s1600-h/IMG_0118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242179334742101762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qAnr4lwRiqn7RogCWxp_JLy2_a76GD77Ac-BGQYGhwzzgQt4U4F8cdGwVc_irc-M4oknbKzYoGQq1tOguyi0aW4T-l5DhM4xe3dOSdCyA1OemPmtCgNSS-L0vbHvbOPjIPN1lja9eMqN/s400/IMG_0118.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gov. Huckabee and his former campaign manager Chip Saltsman still stick together<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-Yp57OV3u00BiInJBxfIfIcpFIfOEIAcHXyFYtG3OHMYx51_POkkb7v-ly5G7or726nfpPX2KuCJE7a6mEUQ5TpRNMUSb0s6zz-T0zgMDiWTb2Nr4UB9tN1nCYPjKsf3vwzaUS2PsEuU/s1600-h/IMG_0124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242179343064116466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-Yp57OV3u00BiInJBxfIfIcpFIfOEIAcHXyFYtG3OHMYx51_POkkb7v-ly5G7or726nfpPX2KuCJE7a6mEUQ5TpRNMUSb0s6zz-T0zgMDiWTb2Nr4UB9tN1nCYPjKsf3vwzaUS2PsEuU/s400/IMG_0124.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242181198806955074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGvuHmzUjtFkvPYkkOfkgwK7OkAg7_xzYi2-cnsecjMFmE6obCGSIx6_quDvRQBGTz64F1VkVmnF02i4II8SlD3KeY1zWTAe_GLRuVID_dKmcgaSdN7fwQ-GlFw_uULkv_X6__hyphenhyphenc6ZxR/s400/IMG_0123.JPG" border="0" /> Our favorite Republican, Gov. Mike Huckabee!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y-1XrL7hHRm6kommHDbSPkt0zJg8BpqFCof9kGZErzGbaRdykiem6kXO8kk6TaN1tndSzSUhiAsnQCp074hKZ_OoCXjYkugumJVd0BtvVUPekh5q-x_AtA7YNv-FyvvquvPIRTLNjCxz/s1600-h/IMG_0127.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242178535945743490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y-1XrL7hHRm6kommHDbSPkt0zJg8BpqFCof9kGZErzGbaRdykiem6kXO8kk6TaN1tndSzSUhiAsnQCp074hKZ_OoCXjYkugumJVd0BtvVUPekh5q-x_AtA7YNv-FyvvquvPIRTLNjCxz/s400/IMG_0127.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gov. Huckabee urges party unity...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR8rw-065Oil4z-PTy3ZUK5rz1M_74Qbz2TDDhVjRW7nfbke37D6rS4B593iSU8RL0GOo0zRpyd6-plv2Nz6-pGpa5qHbCc9UpwGmiyUmp7SAEvFjjbDWM6S-od9T9kvXyOX8NCKU6Z5I/s1600-h/IMG_0131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242178538630504562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR8rw-065Oil4z-PTy3ZUK5rz1M_74Qbz2TDDhVjRW7nfbke37D6rS4B593iSU8RL0GOo0zRpyd6-plv2Nz6-pGpa5qHbCc9UpwGmiyUmp7SAEvFjjbDWM6S-od9T9kvXyOX8NCKU6Z5I/s400/IMG_0131.JPG" border="0" /></a> ...and tells some great jokes!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242181846877222690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuerEqfJxQ0c4KVw37mFBI4YCaL0PQJc92_lqCdWZEj6HWjtXgTMkJJ_kcYsbKgD_X5uISJSGWEz2Ha-OdoR76xSOMD448p9sDyw82jMm-8jjWo7cIJLum6leZpnjMtaEM1CnzC5udmL2D/s400/IMG_0126.JPG" border="0" />We were disappointed that Huckabee's escort took him out a side door before anyone could speak to him. Melissa was able to visit with Mrs. Janet Huckabee at the convention last evening and she remembered her!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqODwscKsf3pVtedHsQZnBubDlyxSVctRs0ibx8EZJ1WSyb4e7ig7XDWUrTjUKSMJqV-IxlRFZe-cOWW323crx09VHyyD1YgiFHB3nzk7hwKYcvtSDjkftFzlzAUqMmyzatYyjBIkn3Im5/s1600-h/IMG_0132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242178542654424770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqODwscKsf3pVtedHsQZnBubDlyxSVctRs0ibx8EZJ1WSyb4e7ig7XDWUrTjUKSMJqV-IxlRFZe-cOWW323crx09VHyyD1YgiFHB3nzk7hwKYcvtSDjkftFzlzAUqMmyzatYyjBIkn3Im5/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" border="0" /></a> Melissa, Mr. Bruce Saltsman (Chip's father) and Congressman Zach Wamp listen to speakers<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqmxIvdaisKWcOqRZZiIUriXMlJHhK2CFBggwx86puI4ArxC4rbk27cwOCCAbKCzoV1UQswP3JB0dbvgNUYOq_dJVhuPSWfoGuprPHGnH_2SsTVzRvcao6H1795p1iQu2D_8f2IeQJMhj/s1600-h/IMG_0135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242178549443543074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqmxIvdaisKWcOqRZZiIUriXMlJHhK2CFBggwx86puI4ArxC4rbk27cwOCCAbKCzoV1UQswP3JB0dbvgNUYOq_dJVhuPSWfoGuprPHGnH_2SsTVzRvcao6H1795p1iQu2D_8f2IeQJMhj/s400/IMG_0135.JPG" border="0" /></a> After Gov. Huckabee, Mark Shriver (brother-in-law of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) spoke to the delegation on behalf of his organization, Save The Children.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9TL1zDhK0ps1ULk3nnXIubQCm8MvSacHJmJHDh9SBinA89oOc1WUo7Mp92KUWDJ7RNOZq3xxmuDSpKSsflR938o6BxINNO_Bpny_gc-3UOD1ATIw4CuKcCDAoF9OBOo6NBIK1qYxfd1/s1600-h/IMG_0137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242178553374954114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9TL1zDhK0ps1ULk3nnXIubQCm8MvSacHJmJHDh9SBinA89oOc1WUo7Mp92KUWDJ7RNOZq3xxmuDSpKSsflR938o6BxINNO_Bpny_gc-3UOD1ATIw4CuKcCDAoF9OBOo6NBIK1qYxfd1/s400/IMG_0137.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-2512116686235460792008-09-03T00:39:00.000-07:002008-09-04T07:46:17.077-07:00Day Two<div align="center">Fox News' huge tent in front of the Xcel Center </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9Bae4oaW8IRX4wqBjBsL-kKXTITEr-WovroHYzkE4cX3gh2MHpdnJCBZycNfghq2MOq7ssg-M4f5Q07xF-Os_bh_I0LHmqrYCTyyC5PHguCVe8ZBVaUcUtUvmyWf37QhyLmvg0wXBmKk/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242170243411645346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9Bae4oaW8IRX4wqBjBsL-kKXTITEr-WovroHYzkE4cX3gh2MHpdnJCBZycNfghq2MOq7ssg-M4f5Q07xF-Os_bh_I0LHmqrYCTyyC5PHguCVe8ZBVaUcUtUvmyWf37QhyLmvg0wXBmKk/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" /></a> Fox's huge TV screen outside of the Center<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcHuHeuwikmUsH1fbzcewKl84YY4Bn5Hm0oy7FfMV7NKW9ieeLYg1KeVGu2sj796zBgFFi3BWzl2g6W49LaphF9S6RtFxSvDRVKlr-3rjxXRVtYUHZIR7cRBaXceSwZYBaygd5rhK9Y5f/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242170244013524210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcHuHeuwikmUsH1fbzcewKl84YY4Bn5Hm0oy7FfMV7NKW9ieeLYg1KeVGu2sj796zBgFFi3BWzl2g6W49LaphF9S6RtFxSvDRVKlr-3rjxXRVtYUHZIR7cRBaXceSwZYBaygd5rhK9Y5f/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Gyhkbc41Y-jlNKtBQ51Lt7BAQEBZNVovE2_R5eM-up-lekQYHSpGQL5P9_20A02vZkGoZoOTNDbbaZ5FhDvK5QMcoW2CMjA-YpNN_Bqxzu_FZYsiqncta16RI2AreLJAo4W4BFgp5BSk/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242170248071816082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Gyhkbc41Y-jlNKtBQ51Lt7BAQEBZNVovE2_R5eM-up-lekQYHSpGQL5P9_20A02vZkGoZoOTNDbbaZ5FhDvK5QMcoW2CMjA-YpNN_Bqxzu_FZYsiqncta16RI2AreLJAo4W4BFgp5BSk/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" /></a> Before tonight's session<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0e4_vU2IDsWGGNQ5CHyqEcag2gsM2r3ALQYjMVnDs6fpAuvCGqECo5TOSf-pzILIOAjQu8KeSrzY95HLQPVCAHUdi1vCVZ3qlxTSX0Ek4L4smwW2wYbMV3dAmQx8IS5ZOWxuvZUIfR4d/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242170249121298914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0e4_vU2IDsWGGNQ5CHyqEcag2gsM2r3ALQYjMVnDs6fpAuvCGqECo5TOSf-pzILIOAjQu8KeSrzY95HLQPVCAHUdi1vCVZ3qlxTSX0Ek4L4smwW2wYbMV3dAmQx8IS5ZOWxuvZUIfR4d/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" /></a> Republican House Leader John Boehner (Chairman of the 2008 Convention) calls the convention session to order<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnV7JswBqWyBjbs0_A6WpN7zpZVj7UpaQpYTKv0mGuaNJYR-JD95wJrsrkfRqbccg_k6L-4YGawl4t21LOFNDPGFJopOZJR77FCVUkmGvgiNMtLKg1N0rpEMn3HpyYfNI-dcV7zICsr6b/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242170253766437970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnV7JswBqWyBjbs0_A6WpN7zpZVj7UpaQpYTKv0mGuaNJYR-JD95wJrsrkfRqbccg_k6L-4YGawl4t21LOFNDPGFJopOZJR77FCVUkmGvgiNMtLKg1N0rpEMn3HpyYfNI-dcV7zICsr6b/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" /></a>I took this picture from the club level while the official photograph of the convention was being taken <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242171122235005538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObeZZ5cwfsSCUy2Tg7KPDyyJRQEzR9NAgnfK08wX5SmpCrelGAgeX_MD9wVf10-k3ESRyDCUeIjtb8YnYHd1f8dLkzJvoP1rZ_8jePqbHxVF5xpwc0epUSbWKHHXIVd7u8BHDLDjWOepx/s400/IMG_0032.JPG" border="0" />Karl Rove on the O'Reilly Factor<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MCUAypfeDR2KRFPU7SHA61GrpiIs8QXSPoMNjrQKq74nFW6PCe6SwckCE9aiYRlLvsN_Zv0nBMHtL-2F7L_-yDKQfxtMXVHd87x-tmomWuJpSMMSr3g1jhzFzs0_7Nn3XlgQ-tAetkWh/s1600-h/IMG_0034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242167479443145986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MCUAypfeDR2KRFPU7SHA61GrpiIs8QXSPoMNjrQKq74nFW6PCe6SwckCE9aiYRlLvsN_Zv0nBMHtL-2F7L_-yDKQfxtMXVHd87x-tmomWuJpSMMSr3g1jhzFzs0_7Nn3XlgQ-tAetkWh/s400/IMG_0034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsdfgSdlMQ1jcMxbLo4y6A-Sqj6vi5pLIqg1Bv0WzxeqVxBYgOwCgb94rlgZxheguyE63BdWoZMYJVTdJhAQYO-5fYUfhEXvpCCKN9DWFeyzTmKmzPqFmjHwXzjRq6QXScj3n4juOfGAj/s1600-h/IMG_0048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242167485687720066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsdfgSdlMQ1jcMxbLo4y6A-Sqj6vi5pLIqg1Bv0WzxeqVxBYgOwCgb94rlgZxheguyE63BdWoZMYJVTdJhAQYO-5fYUfhEXvpCCKN9DWFeyzTmKmzPqFmjHwXzjRq6QXScj3n4juOfGAj/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is Nikki and her father. Nikki was brought to the United States by Mrs. McCain and adopted by the McCain's friends.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbzmj14R0xJBtokWGn5GJ-Q8AWK_cgtoPUic_72BE6xjEE4IFM4gSTeQepA5fds_n28lXrbECkxswWW8mJAl1kaooWM3XhhVF0f-KuwqLE4kDkBOt6hwvYcfdWGLlcaRScPozWInjm3JM/s1600-h/IMG_0054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242167486460008498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbzmj14R0xJBtokWGn5GJ-Q8AWK_cgtoPUic_72BE6xjEE4IFM4gSTeQepA5fds_n28lXrbECkxswWW8mJAl1kaooWM3XhhVF0f-KuwqLE4kDkBOt6hwvYcfdWGLlcaRScPozWInjm3JM/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" border="0" /></a> A video about Teddy Roosevelt<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OEK0EvXz9uVlxIRvtLeLrb_lZwlBY-hPB-QJLkj86pT507tboBH-S05D0NAznl0rTU84TRdRRSMVddzc-L2edet_f5nFM3V3-_QVxHNuOQ3jUEUIr5ieF9eNT31AsW4Vibmfd1EVdlwt/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242167490729815874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OEK0EvXz9uVlxIRvtLeLrb_lZwlBY-hPB-QJLkj86pT507tboBH-S05D0NAznl0rTU84TRdRRSMVddzc-L2edet_f5nFM3V3-_QVxHNuOQ3jUEUIr5ieF9eNT31AsW4Vibmfd1EVdlwt/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cindy and Bridget McCain<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMurX58_Zwkot71JfVyQchtJCLx1-OiLX_sPYAZX6OnkNkd51X87zI7MIhQnxDL6ogGiT7W6Xp4B9LRyWPqiHV1QL3C8vVNZ6v4BwIAfOCHrRqf3qcL23U0uSRnZpynbk5rMqRTTFIfrBr/s1600-h/IMG_0059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242167496962267970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMurX58_Zwkot71JfVyQchtJCLx1-OiLX_sPYAZX6OnkNkd51X87zI7MIhQnxDL6ogGiT7W6Xp4B9LRyWPqiHV1QL3C8vVNZ6v4BwIAfOCHrRqf3qcL23U0uSRnZpynbk5rMqRTTFIfrBr/s400/IMG_0059.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi0UUxYnfuu-Dxw5D80uaZX-fv4PZa7XTQc3iWV4rFY_OYE50IbVxPQchsAfpT6XEf4gL8_gmrlZMbZnSdbEzDhvXZHlc1HGKwKUXDaPNU2smR31RyaWzULBKe49Chr6KzT5nH5QW9iyO/s1600-h/IMG_0060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242166057130110754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi0UUxYnfuu-Dxw5D80uaZX-fv4PZa7XTQc3iWV4rFY_OYE50IbVxPQchsAfpT6XEf4gL8_gmrlZMbZnSdbEzDhvXZHlc1HGKwKUXDaPNU2smR31RyaWzULBKe49Chr6KzT5nH5QW9iyO/s400/IMG_0060.JPG" border="0" /></a> Former President and First Lady George and Barbara Bush arrive in time to watch their son and daughter-in-law address the convention<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw6MyCeIngWTZkjG0m_gFOisDfEcr-zKTV1FKG-8Ikboh56-PT24yyf65hz4y4FAJQ78Z8AGuB7Wy6hXhTREJgWnUj5Y4FXDy4vBWWjneocWrOVgOk3Ygw_H85qrVbUSadafRkI91VuuW/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242166058665819026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw6MyCeIngWTZkjG0m_gFOisDfEcr-zKTV1FKG-8Ikboh56-PT24yyf65hz4y4FAJQ78Z8AGuB7Wy6hXhTREJgWnUj5Y4FXDy4vBWWjneocWrOVgOk3Ygw_H85qrVbUSadafRkI91VuuW/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" /></a> Members of the media are everywhere<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1YdfYIDUbt5EzXEnBq62RSPyX2SvNpsXDN6zEl5YTs5dN1RwNw09gvVGetVcDHXpROBkoUBI9cJNSQfk5FwnGRwk3mnuoZCuVnnyGKGLoyJnLqWG3-Q27BOIBNFVhIlRvJdw0PT-v_0m/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242166063548227234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1YdfYIDUbt5EzXEnBq62RSPyX2SvNpsXDN6zEl5YTs5dN1RwNw09gvVGetVcDHXpROBkoUBI9cJNSQfk5FwnGRwk3mnuoZCuVnnyGKGLoyJnLqWG3-Q27BOIBNFVhIlRvJdw0PT-v_0m/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" /></a> CNN's political team<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5l9Lsmd2r5JRXCMjfrPYL_XWohX7Qp_Z030e_TjFxUbfdBE4S8z1no7HPIH6JltZERAjk0gQBbuJYS3IQ0SlJLVKXSJrMGJA9MqcDCHRwyub48RZ0QChyphenhyphenKhAzzvh_sZrBWlThdi5C5WN/s1600-h/IMG_0069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242166064806559122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5l9Lsmd2r5JRXCMjfrPYL_XWohX7Qp_Z030e_TjFxUbfdBE4S8z1no7HPIH6JltZERAjk0gQBbuJYS3IQ0SlJLVKXSJrMGJA9MqcDCHRwyub48RZ0QChyphenhyphenKhAzzvh_sZrBWlThdi5C5WN/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie86sulv225Nuk9DRPFPJE4C1G-Bu4loxudBLoYRarjOwxZ8yqItjijrjTwiTXs-vk5A9wE1_R9didvnIJQdAj0H31KVTt8Hp9GP-SpP4XZ045wx9vEIp-atzWzm5JdHCYCKAxM_bTw2wv/s1600-h/IMG_0070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242166073081552082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie86sulv225Nuk9DRPFPJE4C1G-Bu4loxudBLoYRarjOwxZ8yqItjijrjTwiTXs-vk5A9wE1_R9didvnIJQdAj0H31KVTt8Hp9GP-SpP4XZ045wx9vEIp-atzWzm5JdHCYCKAxM_bTw2wv/s400/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" /></a>We both had a chance to be on the floor tonight. This shot of Laura Bush was as close as I could get. It is terribly crowded down on the floor.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ6eDMzaYUAwHv-LcnYYvQs4KKskuIeUQdqphUxu3u9OkKL387niwXMy_w9GhBxCiXeqsV2os_-3T2jjoDan0Y_Vow5TsHMxhGt0PSiZ8nRxP1P8x7A0rOT1z4BlaAu2ooRbYud320eIu/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242164809660755682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ6eDMzaYUAwHv-LcnYYvQs4KKskuIeUQdqphUxu3u9OkKL387niwXMy_w9GhBxCiXeqsV2os_-3T2jjoDan0Y_Vow5TsHMxhGt0PSiZ8nRxP1P8x7A0rOT1z4BlaAu2ooRbYud320eIu/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a> I love this lady!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlpmaWZ5mHzpohbBikzL5qIHw9DX2a9-GGrSh1PL_Ij-lO-D77U7LyacQsDVeRZMYVh07a7rEzDRdSnGLFU2AX0Rs07yzNJi6OQErRCoGAU-WsR_KyFTFYTqo8eHv3YRHOgNLlQHc5_6g/s1600-h/IMG_0076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242164811824295730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlpmaWZ5mHzpohbBikzL5qIHw9DX2a9-GGrSh1PL_Ij-lO-D77U7LyacQsDVeRZMYVh07a7rEzDRdSnGLFU2AX0Rs07yzNJi6OQErRCoGAU-WsR_KyFTFYTqo8eHv3YRHOgNLlQHc5_6g/s400/IMG_0076.JPG" border="0" /></a> With the Tennessee delegation on the floor. This is Senator Bob Corker and Congressman Zach Wamp.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiGZJ2R1ctb0YMEP1lO8TNR4iY1KQrV1tFbG5DRUVain4cD1kHZgRD5IiGFR0mHUpnRFjPOwbsyjd-cb63FKIzOyjLWZ8d_Z0mGZ9rruhvybtei28UrazWCtguwyS8O3fnE8yOVGmdPyu/s1600-h/IMG_0078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242164815275261346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiGZJ2R1ctb0YMEP1lO8TNR4iY1KQrV1tFbG5DRUVain4cD1kHZgRD5IiGFR0mHUpnRFjPOwbsyjd-cb63FKIzOyjLWZ8d_Z0mGZ9rruhvybtei28UrazWCtguwyS8O3fnE8yOVGmdPyu/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" border="0" /></a> The President speaks (via satellite)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1GrFxE5qJPAjLH5au9tatUqaMzkZ7lmG8TY_948w8CtGl0J8W4egWDktGNVgPmlVnoPMW_dJxV98ledxOUdMZXWOljJsXey2Kpul1Jb1uP7YV7cjzlwMBFMFgAmM0ikYE9DaX6D9Rdv2/s1600-h/IMG_0081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242164819562865714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1GrFxE5qJPAjLH5au9tatUqaMzkZ7lmG8TY_948w8CtGl0J8W4egWDktGNVgPmlVnoPMW_dJxV98ledxOUdMZXWOljJsXey2Kpul1Jb1uP7YV7cjzlwMBFMFgAmM0ikYE9DaX6D9Rdv2/s400/IMG_0081.JPG" border="0" /></a> He was great!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bNn3p5x8gb5r5GTygDa_W2N1DIPv6uMT78hhSzXIZc4TK77SlfSMojCIJdnnpTQ7W6YsYUcO33DI8YMgMLqn2DNamX_hJQODKDJZpKV40rKHkgMPuPNfcbwUwXuoM2M0h6ZnrR6eFTRE/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242164823004484610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bNn3p5x8gb5r5GTygDa_W2N1DIPv6uMT78hhSzXIZc4TK77SlfSMojCIJdnnpTQ7W6YsYUcO33DI8YMgMLqn2DNamX_hJQODKDJZpKV40rKHkgMPuPNfcbwUwXuoM2M0h6ZnrR6eFTRE/s400/IMG_0084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU4-4lI-xIEXZ1EtUzG15hQlFvkVYe14cFZ9VaPYwoKXh92ehzCR6U6p5ZiQMtjHcMcI8SReugo7xCYlk6mJEzW4JiPwI05TiAie40UZlWwBwppDHvE5FABNx7DRxf9_G37sttYBrURd-/s1600-h/IMG_0087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242163269171342738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU4-4lI-xIEXZ1EtUzG15hQlFvkVYe14cFZ9VaPYwoKXh92ehzCR6U6p5ZiQMtjHcMcI8SReugo7xCYlk6mJEzW4JiPwI05TiAie40UZlWwBwppDHvE5FABNx7DRxf9_G37sttYBrURd-/s400/IMG_0087.JPG" border="0" /></a> Fred Thompson gave a fabulous speech<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242163299785747410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5xUF64_JW4EsuWwxYYtxVzjeOYKrBQ7k-XgWmcxOQR7j438CLbffy4KEfByMQBi7_TKn2bMV4RZNBADSYMBpKW-55N3sX7mft5ybcIsuTmcLOD4dM3gxzIO-yJUIcCtG2X8EYfqHHpn8/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0whJgR1GWepCWGXQyZMxKLMUK1iXXzv-UtA4lr6QP0t33wf8flEmWlParqLpfElJ0hfh3swBIVI6mteGyq-TlcainKnd2HwFdLDTe-0bELdbX2LRsD21GFY6ph9PwiVZgD3mVHBhVi4S/s1600-h/IMG_0090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242163297122875170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0whJgR1GWepCWGXQyZMxKLMUK1iXXzv-UtA4lr6QP0t33wf8flEmWlParqLpfElJ0hfh3swBIVI6mteGyq-TlcainKnd2HwFdLDTe-0bELdbX2LRsD21GFY6ph9PwiVZgD3mVHBhVi4S/s400/IMG_0090.JPG" border="0" /></a> Joe Lieberman<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV11xFP52EikB_vbl4LWTdblVds3EUPDuLiJAL5vJvgXQoieNjUoZP-Dc5l7tOVnfyFExQ_USGy6EC2sVTbAIWpINdvqUVgGRFmcGzF8OK9GkB4FAy8yTcalPJHAMdpCf5AckIf6Lafex/s1600-h/IMG_0098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242163300842384098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV11xFP52EikB_vbl4LWTdblVds3EUPDuLiJAL5vJvgXQoieNjUoZP-Dc5l7tOVnfyFExQ_USGy6EC2sVTbAIWpINdvqUVgGRFmcGzF8OK9GkB4FAy8yTcalPJHAMdpCf5AckIf6Lafex/s400/IMG_0098.JPG" border="0" /></a> The VIP seating area</div><br /><div align="center">Cindy McCain, George H.W. and Barbara Bush and Fred Thompson are on the front row, with 4 of the McCain kids and their grandmother behind them.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242163305151752274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA8NWJPknZK-mkl-m2ZkQrDFNqKk5eYcZYzwVQFttv39Eh3IS9j3L_h6WbIRY92PBlygFOr75zkqLtCVZqS783_h1ps2QweEQ-ueYAqj8vC0jydf7CVtWwFcT6oR3t1_6A2dS2_VpwWQz/s400/IMG_0104.JPG" border="0" />You can watch videos of the speeches at <a href="http://www.gopconvention2008.com/videos/">www.gopconvention2008.com/videos/</a></div><br /></div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-8689854212472664222008-09-02T11:06:00.000-07:002008-09-02T13:12:42.176-07:00Day Two - BreakfastI thought I'd post about the first part of our day while I had a few minutes before we leave for the next event.<br /><div></div><br /><div align="center">It started with breakfast at 7:30 again. Today the Tennessee and Alaska delegations were together for breakfast. We knew that former New York Gov. George Pataki would be speaking to us after he arrived but we didn't know who the other speakers would be. </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241490581460274370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD_NWZy5sy-XW42IBvJQ9iOgwjeQNPj1Eubu7O_RR8t2dZKh75aCv9UP80KK3hx1XfLLKrbv8tq7r1yP677asY2XNHxibqAYg7tG_VfZp9vYj_fai8z35YLeqIqrrxqIRktpyTDoSftFH/s400/IMG_0721.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241492926595140418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOVslpLcCDAyfrxZxAjeALK8KHDfmbG_VxuiFPEF4uW2dxQ6AoUk1ekE3sKWJaOqK5pRyFT5oCCB0CRHjbRloFwxErvLdJraTbpfrqJWonYbSwlTooLT7GfrhM35ryc6k3ilbAlgO-KYt/s400/IMG_0723.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2CjKYVB2ac_qgfkFju_garvdYXPY5Quik4H3cRuVUz0PJv0YT0CHbYQRctKtXKkwkoD09aRJtDJcBlwvJ17rU628FrcWG_FMxeGr4qOJe1W1hC5HC4zhw1zU0dL4lxI5jOLNV5niv6_a/s1600-h/IMG_0722.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494465831509202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2CjKYVB2ac_qgfkFju_garvdYXPY5Quik4H3cRuVUz0PJv0YT0CHbYQRctKtXKkwkoD09aRJtDJcBlwvJ17rU628FrcWG_FMxeGr4qOJe1W1hC5HC4zhw1zU0dL4lxI5jOLNV5niv6_a/s400/IMG_0722.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey introduces the first speaker: Tom Moe, a Vietnam veteran and cellmate of John McCain's when they were imprisoned in the Hanoi Hilton.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241492938171547282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNfAq-87FeOorvbNLrInpoqksE4yf4LhD4zUzyTtWhbGBPtSZVpK6axOfQogGZpUctK3Kyc7RzpaNKA1Tw7RwPxK2zKdnlRQVLICHrbZY7Id0Ls0r8PGOzjSVLZT33eMoih8QYYMG9QDA/s400/IMG_0727.JPG" border="0" />Mr. Moe is a very close friend of Sen. McCain's. He shared some very gripping stories about their experiences as POWs. He said that when they were in solitary confinement and heard another prisoner walking by, they would put their hands under the door and wiggle their fingers to give them encouragement. He also shared what he remembered about one time when John McCain was being brought back from a beating. McCain could hardly walk, but when he saw Tom Moe, he gave him a "thumbs up." <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241499657559419202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmrR1vFsX29kpvjubgYweAscx2J1ondCmB_peddz6HM7JkD9f6pQWK6tg8kEG_7AKipKaMxfRimWvgOIyY2YPgxRnY1VUVlLYFbajqFiuK0skaUY4pldhwgwVAhRT9Kx1NI4vrPiZMjKv/s400/IMG_0732.JPG" border="0" />Giving this great American hero a standing ovation<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241492942725035586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnaqqedV5-oT0lOoJVvfXXT6N71CAjkbqsZDhMtQZHglxSQJqkDIyuw3OqJUsE-9iMxiDWJdr3H_o480HsKj-2iqgUe0uCcqWHoqJ0xD-F2CWK_3dJwgtRJUO3k_gFKjLnTXnnyPQu6oP/s400/IMG_0730.JPG" border="0" /> The next speaker, much to our surprise, was none other than Joe McCain, Sen. McCain's younger brother!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494113908734594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwlAkSgZ3oVFYOgm7fcYQYR4tQ8QBh1LWkFjv_5_SEXGU_AJgyxPd4CN5M0bCKxs3dssRyZwltKGlskgaYzyD6bkDycwdIMwVirj8pqDYVYwhr-VnHDSGCk1LN4V9dwQ59F0U2jUJRvnm/s400/IMG_0734.JPG" border="0" />He looks and talks very much like John McCain, and has a great sense of humor<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-hwNcsPOFSLeatVbtlxxY9E9GntQ0wDHeBCKEJKRN3D7QRFR05jRBcLnsDgSIGfZ4LbqO9fxMflVLW4JcwQ0TEhKmZUTx8alyJHLMdE4hJE-iY4NxvNrCU9olo9tzykLNMYN4uWLVbkA/s1600-h/IMG_0739.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241488542923291138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-hwNcsPOFSLeatVbtlxxY9E9GntQ0wDHeBCKEJKRN3D7QRFR05jRBcLnsDgSIGfZ4LbqO9fxMflVLW4JcwQ0TEhKmZUTx8alyJHLMdE4hJE-iY4NxvNrCU9olo9tzykLNMYN4uWLVbkA/s400/IMG_0739.JPG" border="0" /></a> Showing John McCain's flight jacket<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOpjs4Meu8EqSCyGST8oZqB1ZR1fO1d6t_xdSFcGhAJrbBfVbyQ1EIqY0JJUTj0qQnF5m1SIoF2iirkSROiRCeuW7BxrCTDucLBcT-eQ1yFileCkFdZav9eRH1HkrtM7MlLrn3yeWtW_D/s1600-h/IMG_0738.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494119809710450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOpjs4Meu8EqSCyGST8oZqB1ZR1fO1d6t_xdSFcGhAJrbBfVbyQ1EIqY0JJUTj0qQnF5m1SIoF2iirkSROiRCeuW7BxrCTDucLBcT-eQ1yFileCkFdZav9eRH1HkrtM7MlLrn3yeWtW_D/s400/IMG_0738.JPG" border="0" /></a> A standing ovation for Joe McCain<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz_mjvF3n7mVnhcoiHrOCF3xb-CT3faDyj1Xlzlru1cbdIZUeRwNDW-iXefYUCiQtojv4lksTi_nZ52odZpNYk5L-V_x-m3tf26pOa2Ke22wOhJziuEqZwqyExI_sjmKYEM90mZUuPr-f/s1600-h/IMG_0741.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494123029462306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz_mjvF3n7mVnhcoiHrOCF3xb-CT3faDyj1Xlzlru1cbdIZUeRwNDW-iXefYUCiQtojv4lksTi_nZ52odZpNYk5L-V_x-m3tf26pOa2Ke22wOhJziuEqZwqyExI_sjmKYEM90mZUuPr-f/s400/IMG_0741.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gov. Pataki<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOepWEIGGrQLgLi-ZG4jjUfSTx6gldc0TF0SNcDX-8g338QAnGnBuom5RSXLD3sflzOZ0sO9n9BtASOSDQ-y62rlV0NwTJlrIryV3sl_brUrDbDWpH1-F7VWmPh0uH0HoyTtoujFvc5cH2/s1600-h/IMG_0742.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494131065369314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOepWEIGGrQLgLi-ZG4jjUfSTx6gldc0TF0SNcDX-8g338QAnGnBuom5RSXLD3sflzOZ0sO9n9BtASOSDQ-y62rlV0NwTJlrIryV3sl_brUrDbDWpH1-F7VWmPh0uH0HoyTtoujFvc5cH2/s400/IMG_0742.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241488530360184722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPWHoIUO3qcO5fwD4NtNT2vm444JV8tc6X7765uneegZtiW_14vcv8T8JqmY5IJaWMDmu9DB-OXMsF2CIQNvsL1i0Em-F1t2e4wHvtIyFpdzu1S1XrgkI8dSqqihIUJEzAfeGZWKyU79c/s400/IMG_0745.JPG" border="0" /> I went to the back to take some pictures and got to speak with Mr. Moe and Mr. McCain! <br /><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494138231462226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_AGPzrMRWhmJurKysOvr1V6Dc0PPSUU4dqf8Eft34aRaNur4ImTj1WhuyX3Qd8wKjRP5hSUiezvwcWRBcxs7GsBDzD-i0gffsqvwDw6IPAm5-vFWdnHtB6TXg3vm8WBIGoLPbmy5Pncf/s400/IMG_0749.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241499654701194306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQKiIAr3Kert9ejsF7DCylQMpNjkcqsLFIqIMykK0r6KIsMKVeNOHAEDN_Ju_GtUvZM9C6QZO45gZX1YVjJvfqT66hz5ii1BQJI-7rA-58tOU7Dhh3BneLG2UfUFOiRkITzD0B42-ujQb/s400/IMG_0747+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" />State Rep. Jimmy Eldridge poses with Joe McCain and the flight jacket<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlDVQTLtNI0dKNBizazLg4NLE-PNeL-94mYGUUHCPBbG599oTQvh9T2MJ7fh8gXcjFbcpHwQ6D1ypWNxj84RSjSYo81Qddx2Gxsf7TtnjV8YeWfXWB7pf5uvHHzxUeEFioQSuTb5wQsq1/s1600-h/IMG_0752.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241488497425707586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlDVQTLtNI0dKNBizazLg4NLE-PNeL-94mYGUUHCPBbG599oTQvh9T2MJ7fh8gXcjFbcpHwQ6D1ypWNxj84RSjSYo81Qddx2Gxsf7TtnjV8YeWfXWB7pf5uvHHzxUeEFioQSuTb5wQsq1/s400/IMG_0752.JPG" border="0" /></a> Someone took my picture with Mr. Joe McCain and promised to email it to us later.</div></div></div></div></div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-38003837891850703692008-09-01T08:05:00.000-07:002008-09-20T18:45:19.679-07:00Day One<div align="center">We started the day with a 7:30 breakfast with the Tennessee delegation. Our speakers were State GOP Chairman Robin Smith and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">After that event, we took the hotel shuttle over to the Mall of America.<br /><br />The indoor amusement park</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM_UBSgB_7dFJT3-49TtFsTki8XInVzGi69NNQkEW2uRQZvxQv41XplLx1Goo6zuLDeNmauRIgLGtzwoL3-VCmk2pY7x5piwtS1c2SYrVNmAmEkWX2SuY3_6GgKm1FoDJg8B_hayyJJY-/s1600-h/IMG_0603.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241441288819480514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM_UBSgB_7dFJT3-49TtFsTki8XInVzGi69NNQkEW2uRQZvxQv41XplLx1Goo6zuLDeNmauRIgLGtzwoL3-VCmk2pY7x5piwtS1c2SYrVNmAmEkWX2SuY3_6GgKm1FoDJg8B_hayyJJY-/s400/IMG_0603.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241441307461502594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0teO0F4bEBRbgM-IwrEpWDzK5cVjUVGDj8uJEt1akZ4M4V-oVu_USKMChwOEday5ualZTIzv899Dj_g-9PZ_asDUYxlP-7rjaZ-WiD6WcjnE73si3KOd7mjng6gx9_OQ0fvq6-sZHObT/s400/IMG_0607.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM2qWaMA6iNOpCWaUxainpOoLd99rxKGCCTGqu2n3EXL5C6H9siWCWePMU92S63o5ZOkSToW-6OvQmaV7rvoPQX1rF7g43tl8ARc2xjDAR5hgijd5afHws0pOxO74bNt210uGirki02yR/s1600-h/IMG_0604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241441289267384658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM2qWaMA6iNOpCWaUxainpOoLd99rxKGCCTGqu2n3EXL5C6H9siWCWePMU92S63o5ZOkSToW-6OvQmaV7rvoPQX1rF7g43tl8ARc2xjDAR5hgijd5afHws0pOxO74bNt210uGirki02yR/s400/IMG_0604.JPG" border="0" /></a> Some of the many escalators<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyMQ2ejIIwPKQ0tiCgBV8H7IH4DnqtiW2BWSy9BHOGfxQgu24-wTl615M8KNBLtA8axYkIAlcqT7SfqpKNZj89olhP3W5bpsd4ZQ9oXRKxsOttT0lH8vvgrf37siK_j1dLTyGL7OFV1G9/s1600-h/IMG_0606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241441301776773730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyMQ2ejIIwPKQ0tiCgBV8H7IH4DnqtiW2BWSy9BHOGfxQgu24-wTl615M8KNBLtA8axYkIAlcqT7SfqpKNZj89olhP3W5bpsd4ZQ9oXRKxsOttT0lH8vvgrf37siK_j1dLTyGL7OFV1G9/s400/IMG_0606.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The convention officially began at 2:30, but we arrived early to go through security. This white tent is one of the security tents.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1dOQG3HyHYvHVqim1YPt7hcPPYPpgUlToPeNmpOvYWO33QvHWQZl95viyQkOrXVkUw6X_qpJmPchIEFb94tKtljBM_otS0cBzn6Kl8RoELtcpzQ9TsLKCSwW0FQrx1tJ64qwBV7HGeIx/s1600-h/IMG_0609.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241443072344530146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1dOQG3HyHYvHVqim1YPt7hcPPYPpgUlToPeNmpOvYWO33QvHWQZl95viyQkOrXVkUw6X_qpJmPchIEFb94tKtljBM_otS0cBzn6Kl8RoELtcpzQ9TsLKCSwW0FQrx1tJ64qwBV7HGeIx/s400/IMG_0609.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Xcel Energy Center<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449080453240146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CT44ms6N6OzpMNmFbxf8Bu0LrIaQpu397T1mV7XXQkHJ6wGmMsUUVpPNkSTNStd5vxBAj-7u8j4Wgq9HG_lLsKR79EU7NXbl-HqJ982G0eky80nls4BTVsN4b2ZRH4UqEBjdXSCj4RIR/s400/IMG_0709.JPG" border="0" />The huge digital screen and platform <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241443083721735250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFCc1u3e_Z-pRC7T73MAm45mp1qd43gX8652PsZRrQl8cqtpF0FMSphIk-zULR-PxnlkhOhuqRb0sAT8W3gFZF1aGe_0fYHH0wLtCV-6NjR3W9uX3H81Vao8RQTDr2pEdBhItuZ1iLhFT/s400/IMG_0613.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLEJzhRQO9rY5cgJ-0xISg48ix3rG3COcKKMekzPi1n3bqPHIqlzZ1KSWrrzC0D6JRwCEHSZE5PVtxRHUEg_Jfz74QRSh8KWnqEXlA-87ubtPo7Hqc8xZaKljSpfzsPkWHuq0NmcfDc_F/s1600-h/IMG_0610.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241443078444866626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLEJzhRQO9rY5cgJ-0xISg48ix3rG3COcKKMekzPi1n3bqPHIqlzZ1KSWrrzC0D6JRwCEHSZE5PVtxRHUEg_Jfz74QRSh8KWnqEXlA-87ubtPo7Hqc8xZaKljSpfzsPkWHuq0NmcfDc_F/s400/IMG_0610.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241445245999317218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4odFbqwnpxY0ceudnyHED7iDBpyEMLHxDSsHFXO7pzYY1bVZYNZFF-I4ymykG2GVcjk7gcl26qx8bsWaH47qHDEQZSH7QkCGjmRfzGUbkraG5lFxXd38BwM1D1u2psb25cqukF89olZME/s400/IMG_0637.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241444471683420930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmIhyphenhyphenZBFrsErdm7Ti2fbZwe6rdxsdnd_AV9e1k7RqLr_0MzCRiPpT186f8CuUnRVkFglsyWi20X2hGfi5UwuhL8XtNQZ9MNiXNFWSIm7g19L5Dvn1r2ZeCjDqcNTO3Ren7YQX8czvjjU5/s400/IMG_0626.JPG" border="0" /><br />This is the view from my seat in the club level. Melissa's seat with the other Tennessee alternates is directly across from here, right above where our delegates are sitting on the floor.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSoT8oeYHGaP0IsifvKoFXgzUL091Zn58FByUa9mVU4vIY6RwDZTlt2CIIDicOT5MP6B6gOrCaockncsV0XnJtu1W49fEmawlZtdTnSqEeUOgQwboevh15aCp7_2iFXzsJL6I5mx_MdxH/s1600-h/IMG_0625.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241444464800735458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSoT8oeYHGaP0IsifvKoFXgzUL091Zn58FByUa9mVU4vIY6RwDZTlt2CIIDicOT5MP6B6gOrCaockncsV0XnJtu1W49fEmawlZtdTnSqEeUOgQwboevh15aCp7_2iFXzsJL6I5mx_MdxH/s400/IMG_0625.JPG" border="0" /></a> Thousands of balloons ready to drop on Thursday night<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241444481536127154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hF0U4Ue7XNFzWcwXSdwmHUe609rD3Z0rshBtwY_OPuqTLSXEog6lN367EC1HJF5eHooGO8iqUtKxwZWXBlM_F-N0x327n_1AOqBBhz-5JMAN9hzcbpwNKRow5L3lJelD_VRvOY6-EUYC/s400/IMG_0632.JPG" border="0" /> All of the members of the Texas delegation dressed alike today!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241443086620739314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirToY0LSZDULFxWULCAVl3LupoPLWgj2DLYpuOI12aAtf86pLS4mmZ03xNqjShH9kodZ83bCR771-43Ty1t020XwGCXA5GB_SlI76tmf8F5lMlDevx0jJ5TiRhbmIfbgdUrN6V4BnZsQNS/s400/IMG_0619.JPG" border="0" />You can spot the Texas seating area easily<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfYmkahvildzlojzOQ_cxDMPWHv6SyeGakuwIOMTl28PzFmfC5hH2dwxVsEjh27R5uEoh5Qc6ICC3ViVIp33YoeElQ0BPjYfe2cs7wNeGihAYnrX3zMmw0n-jwvARDetdOJIIFvysJC4y/s1600-h/IMG_0634.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241444484919334594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfYmkahvildzlojzOQ_cxDMPWHv6SyeGakuwIOMTl28PzFmfC5hH2dwxVsEjh27R5uEoh5Qc6ICC3ViVIp33YoeElQ0BPjYfe2cs7wNeGihAYnrX3zMmw0n-jwvARDetdOJIIFvysJC4y/s400/IMG_0634.JPG" border="0" /></a> At 2:30, RNC Chairman Mike Duncan called the convention to order. Everything that was not strictly business was cut out of today's schedule because of the hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rNucEbS1j2uTqaSabXcv6caJkfYN04lS9DGENuv4vWqXwGuKXAR32jUUXGcW2OOvmwTgTLKR9eX6jT3_kzsIUbP4XGQS7s9QnDhyphenhyphensuzomN8qhNpMvdFIpSQRHZUMCe4SR9CjrnisjWuz/s1600-h/IMG_0642.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241451916896179122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rNucEbS1j2uTqaSabXcv6caJkfYN04lS9DGENuv4vWqXwGuKXAR32jUUXGcW2OOvmwTgTLKR9eX6jT3_kzsIUbP4XGQS7s9QnDhyphenhyphensuzomN8qhNpMvdFIpSQRHZUMCe4SR9CjrnisjWuz/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" border="0" /></a>The Pledge of Allegiance<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241445264457245474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrrfjC1rwbVwjs4l9crC4qAk6sBOAQauGY_vFd8AN4cTSoxocVW2lzeAEUgWRd2Ayn6vFay8N-R-nu1JgGNSSKCv26QHHvCFWysWqg7jij_Rx1vl_uNWISYaV7pFBFuFf-jeCm8RRqJHP/s400/IMG_0648.JPG" border="0" /> A delegate making a motion<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBd1bZCdgi9d8HiKl3zGBOPUvXIJ3EdolfyCHDlZVADyualUrs8RH-g3ddlJfc4gZYxzz9uWrb0l0MIGWMBnv9HY29Jen67OVfN8DmS-DCtpYDYLwGmoIW3UjgU4lPE7z0RMMzLbQWDcr/s1600-h/IMG_0651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241446141293648770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBd1bZCdgi9d8HiKl3zGBOPUvXIJ3EdolfyCHDlZVADyualUrs8RH-g3ddlJfc4gZYxzz9uWrb0l0MIGWMBnv9HY29Jen67OVfN8DmS-DCtpYDYLwGmoIW3UjgU4lPE7z0RMMzLbQWDcr/s400/IMG_0651.JPG" border="0" /></a> Another motion<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32BlmxMRzpOeDDpm3B0W912bApZ6c2VfVvzbK9kvgqxvHROnoLLXzKQhdG5ToSKNZB7_YPUVgQdoO-l8EY8yhTZEX9bGRIOrSUNWwubcRtqV1G64dNbrDdu2DymJ3Cl6ErnKokX0YgXw9/s1600-h/IMG_0652.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241446144583983890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32BlmxMRzpOeDDpm3B0W912bApZ6c2VfVvzbK9kvgqxvHROnoLLXzKQhdG5ToSKNZB7_YPUVgQdoO-l8EY8yhTZEX9bGRIOrSUNWwubcRtqV1G64dNbrDdu2DymJ3Cl6ErnKokX0YgXw9/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The convention took a break for about an hour while the four committees met to discuss the party platform and other business.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241445255946006082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHKrzBF5Lq5UYcdSwWuwYAVnArQjk4S-zqlTzFA7NcDNxYdeurZUrqJpBOLWXw1kYL-TpIGskRigGsAjEKZUtOolT87l-wk1fAAFq7PoiwZ7y8f9Ehwfx05yqzL0jTDMBezlPnviW-ajs/s400/IMG_0641.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241445251189895490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RyMlRn0svpQFSHxSq3zj_9PPij0h0TEKWjUQCENDpuyl26641DxGouTpn9j8crthCEXHbSeKbzzcDnsrWtcfBjOUnnmuIkGibHeLZ58cNGGrz042EyEpwPaerG2yRumsoD7InixMni_4/s400/IMG_0640.JPG" border="0" /><br />Chip Saltsman, campaign manager for Mike Huckabee, is a Tennessee delegate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBrjJCWn7HzPAyhMthRqfHBh1uRA66QsrPjQ7P74C2z_8lVp97OzP49rylCBGMSFrYcUNoSFYqj5w4SvmSsc-6xOHUy4U8nSYKn8uKIF9rT2DaEptcZWo_dfIXfsrwY1B6lG9FuxpCzKL/s1600-h/IMG_0655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241446150223530466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBrjJCWn7HzPAyhMthRqfHBh1uRA66QsrPjQ7P74C2z_8lVp97OzP49rylCBGMSFrYcUNoSFYqj5w4SvmSsc-6xOHUy4U8nSYKn8uKIF9rT2DaEptcZWo_dfIXfsrwY1B6lG9FuxpCzKL/s400/IMG_0655.JPG" border="0" /></a> We spotted John McCain's mother, Roberta, and his daughters Meghan and Bridget in the crowd! Security is very tight (we are only allowed on our seat level) so there was no way to get to speak to them. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241446158121460082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo0P1NmplYPncQO1ynIuup23hBovRl4AL52D5tkzvU0Vxvz9juK3TTM1O0bkhZjkxglu9KN_hB8wpRaE0Xs-dI9CIXBmPYfzi50e63Jg1uX6eIsdR5Artf0YLrt5-D4DVdjvkQLFBxR8J/s400/IMG_0659.JPG" border="0" />Here's a closer look.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241451626266064530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt7CccM1RwVVKysZlywVbtu58hRJ-exZuyqgxpOPvzXCBNgBwB-Mxf7YrTDn91UoGPuL1E32n2SWVRxnFWPrHUuD29z0jdSeKO3DKEfXG-6ArlttX-Eh-4Y6etSdYHUy4OsGoTRgqM5So/s400/IMG_0669.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPROtc0OGOcHwcZnOtxes6cYerswxV5BCYv69pdZmx8yiZdQEJ_9GTU7GDD2QzhTAEyE26Fo3mipG6XYd-Z2VDxugg7oe5TiH6skuU50EThj2GXC_40aebUXj4nEF_HxaYRudHdrUoCbO/s1600-h/IMG_0658.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241446154669407586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPROtc0OGOcHwcZnOtxes6cYerswxV5BCYv69pdZmx8yiZdQEJ_9GTU7GDD2QzhTAEyE26Fo3mipG6XYd-Z2VDxugg7oe5TiH6skuU50EThj2GXC_40aebUXj4nEF_HxaYRudHdrUoCbO/s400/IMG_0658.JPG" border="0" /></a>Platform Chairman Kevin McCarthy (a Congressman from California) presents the party platform<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241451622325980642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPfgHMdQ62iJNNF96mT5xOHGjPftg-GS1tH63lc8QShDt9tZNUn-1irDUm9CkD6QUdjgGv-U40ulVYQ-BwMAeLHRtC2w0zDY_B6lYHTOABynbiAJ913TayHIBHDqraUdGKlgwaauwtNTe/s400/IMG_0667.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHMYJJKbEta2fkaPbndnoSNaPzyCLg4aKeOG_VHhECoFN67L7m_YqbZ7yCzHQ5jnfaVHat2YNqw4IW9wgiTyFCAHUNurjpzBVxHYZEd58AOyIgo1lGYIXrkiJUg34BsrXePTG5J3eZ4Ur/s1600-h/IMG_0644.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241445260781757010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHMYJJKbEta2fkaPbndnoSNaPzyCLg4aKeOG_VHhECoFN67L7m_YqbZ7yCzHQ5jnfaVHat2YNqw4IW9wgiTyFCAHUNurjpzBVxHYZEd58AOyIgo1lGYIXrkiJUg34BsrXePTG5J3eZ4Ur/s400/IMG_0644.JPG" border="0" /></a> Fox News has a live desk right below my seating area. This picture is Brit Hume on the air, hosting the evening news.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bM6vNWKewExhPyAsD17GL9Xrg1l1xPCWBOvmqrlN7BojltcACCIk5O76AISxKZWV-fjDnI5U5ogcls-wspRttp1nRcaQV9oYAA4XF7yBgXK9gClIHuAbYPVNx5_6d5uMyki5PwN4-_4M/s1600-h/IMG_0670.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241451632897162978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bM6vNWKewExhPyAsD17GL9Xrg1l1xPCWBOvmqrlN7BojltcACCIk5O76AISxKZWV-fjDnI5U5ogcls-wspRttp1nRcaQV9oYAA4XF7yBgXK9gClIHuAbYPVNx5_6d5uMyki5PwN4-_4M/s400/IMG_0670.JPG" border="0" /></a> The most exciting part of the day was when First Lady Laura Bush spoke. The crowd went wild for several minutes!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeffDsHrzR-6AYYltD7Oshamju7R5xFJQQ6-hTQCJGIrS9DMnslfFiRyLRFckk8zp1Wv_9e3XXNad6ixA35Ska-2ezxMkHiR4Wq68fRs1JQthC9EuV9_f50XiNheJ2fvTIFaUlU0icLRK/s1600-h/IMG_0671.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241450554530221234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeffDsHrzR-6AYYltD7Oshamju7R5xFJQQ6-hTQCJGIrS9DMnslfFiRyLRFckk8zp1Wv_9e3XXNad6ixA35Ska-2ezxMkHiR4Wq68fRs1JQthC9EuV9_f50XiNheJ2fvTIFaUlU0icLRK/s400/IMG_0671.JPG" border="0" /></a> She is such a lovely, gracious lady with incredible presence and poise.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241451614339361730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11o9T2OvAmVkM-hU2pj0r3fo6eNYBsdQ146KwFBVLbKNQcMHY8nDuOdc7BPGwB2pX_jXHH27GKYv9LFMckjHrXiA3vIeGht5WuW9ny9sOeaJwcFJrD0u3tuULvbg344UsTT9ABeXt4n5X/s400/IMG_0681.JPG" border="0" />She spoke only about the tragedy on the Gulf Coast, and how we are all Americans, no matter which party we belong to.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZUTQcpe7f6rg7hfVUNlEg65IeXI7gQrjLp3DF1MI0XSEAV2yynFlwnoyQa06UbjSzFbEgphKrWzDaz0lDyXT3SLE4O_IQV128YG_h7wYB9ai9Q6q9LmwIe2R-rGC0iIQaaiDvNKioZXz/s1600-h/IMG_0677.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241450555374074226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZUTQcpe7f6rg7hfVUNlEg65IeXI7gQrjLp3DF1MI0XSEAV2yynFlwnoyQa06UbjSzFbEgphKrWzDaz0lDyXT3SLE4O_IQV128YG_h7wYB9ai9Q6q9LmwIe2R-rGC0iIQaaiDvNKioZXz/s400/IMG_0677.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mrs. Bush then introduced videos of the Gulf Coast governors who couldn't attend the convention.<br /><br />Rick Perry of Texas<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE6aQE1zFnRDIBzjWMk63vSd98enOUogorqBkaiqmJPTfHo-VUOtJj6HW7_MOpMJoRuCpg9XDISFnH4l5Hbt1MNPgBTxM0DtZsCrdQ_WfP-yP3SPTntw6DLkf_9Ye1bIVQ_FMCNxap5A_/s1600-h/IMG_0685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241450561267159794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE6aQE1zFnRDIBzjWMk63vSd98enOUogorqBkaiqmJPTfHo-VUOtJj6HW7_MOpMJoRuCpg9XDISFnH4l5Hbt1MNPgBTxM0DtZsCrdQ_WfP-yP3SPTntw6DLkf_9Ye1bIVQ_FMCNxap5A_/s400/IMG_0685.JPG" border="0" /></a> Bob Riley of Alabama<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNA-wyNqmRGv-rCRVBnMFSdVDXF4DD7FI35NdkEmN1UsQ_PbtPTXPKIpR5edW110IW70RKuFLipis_XKVrRoKReJe6jSQbrU13LuUBe_bgAO1SXsgCAIO4Cm-dbDCH6xGrVC3sNe5XGXV/s1600-h/IMG_0687.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241450562936310610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNA-wyNqmRGv-rCRVBnMFSdVDXF4DD7FI35NdkEmN1UsQ_PbtPTXPKIpR5edW110IW70RKuFLipis_XKVrRoKReJe6jSQbrU13LuUBe_bgAO1SXsgCAIO4Cm-dbDCH6xGrVC3sNe5XGXV/s400/IMG_0687.JPG" border="0" /></a> Florida's Charlie Crist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4YG0eSJ8F5hsyxqCDthE44MaiAC-2cdaUPBu2WitsoatEOgNNO7iYGaq3uy5Zq8oKWNWifRQclZtIsvGRqXB77spHfnKXCkQYsKZYrUs2B2TizpI-1OoWmue03wpJ-rJg7HMGL-WFK0m/s1600-h/IMG_0689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449930281304338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4YG0eSJ8F5hsyxqCDthE44MaiAC-2cdaUPBu2WitsoatEOgNNO7iYGaq3uy5Zq8oKWNWifRQclZtIsvGRqXB77spHfnKXCkQYsKZYrUs2B2TizpI-1OoWmue03wpJ-rJg7HMGL-WFK0m/s400/IMG_0689.JPG" border="0" /> <palign="center"></a>Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi <p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3oKSsWqBfoaJpgEyBpo9CdvfhVyB9g_GrjYcJiKI3j4LRz4rYu6MpzFon9ZmbzaDJyKthPL0cdW3UoRwXPnGmnv9Xtr2QBuuU8KyWiaAn2yhV82Oh_isijet3AJvGW1W467rVqYcBafL/s1600-h/IMG_0691.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449932930430546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3oKSsWqBfoaJpgEyBpo9CdvfhVyB9g_GrjYcJiKI3j4LRz4rYu6MpzFon9ZmbzaDJyKthPL0cdW3UoRwXPnGmnv9Xtr2QBuuU8KyWiaAn2yhV82Oh_isijet3AJvGW1W467rVqYcBafL/s400/IMG_0691.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p>Mrs. Bush returned to the stage after the videos, accompanied by Cindy McCain.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio4eKH9J8Cu7CZ3IyhLk1sBLvYgAYHUsDpXSOfiew19LImkBkSxzG9bRHR2nY37J8bFDATmLl4QhCc_RidraE0a4cqZIy3jE_7qxJm9hVJKnydfsHfbbS131kaZZOKDD2oVFmR36GV58M/s1600-h/IMG_0692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449971340415042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio4eKH9J8Cu7CZ3IyhLk1sBLvYgAYHUsDpXSOfiew19LImkBkSxzG9bRHR2nY37J8bFDATmLl4QhCc_RidraE0a4cqZIy3jE_7qxJm9hVJKnydfsHfbbS131kaZZOKDD2oVFmR36GV58M/s400/IMG_0692.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p>They spoke about the hurricane relief efforts. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449980293102866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhS2SyezuAq9hT3uYYsskIBnxN0AumdBPwuZ4MuAbWCb1goMSVFrSWDqoGSXEH4ofwEPAKO9xchyphenhyphen2FbjGubFu29c3cH0QFA9u58RO2OlCjS5IarsRjQcV8XRqMhTOlfqXLZWqSmCNosQV/s400/IMG_0696.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">“This is a time when we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats."</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLT2Ugihty_s9KVjZClut_FVhQzvm-BaiV8AQBNEv-_Ds3MrznXnXnsC8urOOcw1FC1lSX_n9qKdOyEjMfGxvx1tQ9go0m4f-Mvf204KZ_dPxkx9P2N3fnOmugDjgl11M8UFAOsr0uWbbF/s1600-h/IMG_0697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449982199017794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLT2Ugihty_s9KVjZClut_FVhQzvm-BaiV8AQBNEv-_Ds3MrznXnXnsC8urOOcw1FC1lSX_n9qKdOyEjMfGxvx1tQ9go0m4f-Mvf204KZ_dPxkx9P2N3fnOmugDjgl11M8UFAOsr0uWbbF/s400/IMG_0697.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYPqA5Cbx4CbYHG0_l8sxZeK8rpokI7aiUoFN_Bscy7RbK3bOGhaIqHs4zYKUvLM2xCYVVmSDkrFMWM1dt-96qpjF4RlY1UwJC7hb6jK4fUtUxEOJirBb4LiwlbzL0qvgdVFudftTIO5s/s1600-h/IMG_0700.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449070512923890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYPqA5Cbx4CbYHG0_l8sxZeK8rpokI7aiUoFN_Bscy7RbK3bOGhaIqHs4zYKUvLM2xCYVVmSDkrFMWM1dt-96qpjF4RlY1UwJC7hb6jK4fUtUxEOJirBb4LiwlbzL0qvgdVFudftTIO5s/s400/IMG_0700.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMtZfr9VQJ7SA3GDBUjWZZmk8B3kalL4pPBoCGZfOi94N1X-0Acc_84EQU_Q8MKE0l1zrJm_I-GYoGt1V6bN8Zhkgf_NXTXudFVQLjhhLPL5uN0ENTxYZkwfGJDbLf8gtw9TVLtZFPeGD/s1600-h/IMG_0706+(1).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449071586943858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMtZfr9VQJ7SA3GDBUjWZZmk8B3kalL4pPBoCGZfOi94N1X-0Acc_84EQU_Q8MKE0l1zrJm_I-GYoGt1V6bN8Zhkgf_NXTXudFVQLjhhLPL5uN0ENTxYZkwfGJDbLf8gtw9TVLtZFPeGD/s400/IMG_0706+(1).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4Qt6zXWQ89jEaw9-yCx_kxbGXiCA9hJj7-Xztb0JKH8FConi9YNTNjugrnHL4HqAHCRwEhuww9mOxX5UDtBxTUSQP1s7lT3w0IsHeFIzd1ljnedeV3tHAaFV64hkL0Z3OEyM1-ju2sNU/s1600-h/IMG_0708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449079660081922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4Qt6zXWQ89jEaw9-yCx_kxbGXiCA9hJj7-Xztb0JKH8FConi9YNTNjugrnHL4HqAHCRwEhuww9mOxX5UDtBxTUSQP1s7lT3w0IsHeFIzd1ljnedeV3tHAaFV64hkL0Z3OEyM1-ju2sNU/s400/IMG_0708.JPG" border="0" /></a>The session ended as soon as the business was completed. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">We attended the MedTronic party for the Tennessee, California, Indiana, Arizona and Minnesota delegations last night. They were showcasing Minnesota chefs, musicians, and of all things, ice sculptures! The lights shining on the ice changed colors every few seconds, giving everything a strange glow.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241448098262727730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tAATavxFbZXwyUbZFu6Ih0jGcHFkpui82tNoWWjymaDZUBSIyCsh1r0WCKUVnCudAwG9NX5ycFsJD2CygK5yDk0_72zIju1QMpQqO5Jso4AqJql75wL35pyfjuM_m8oU5JRn68OQfYAV/s400/IMG_0713.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGya__wM4yOLRL6TJGHL3-AC4vGRtNuWeqe1Irlo1SKdT-SHAsuQDTwMYRK7TozlSdGBNyJqUjZKB5YH6CJ1pg9JP-m5ZJI09DpJgacQE8IJyWFAN_Y_KejVDGE0pECXlRQVxAS6lcclFZ/s1600-h/IMG_0710.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241449084756217442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGya__wM4yOLRL6TJGHL3-AC4vGRtNuWeqe1Irlo1SKdT-SHAsuQDTwMYRK7TozlSdGBNyJqUjZKB5YH6CJ1pg9JP-m5ZJI09DpJgacQE8IJyWFAN_Y_KejVDGE0pECXlRQVxAS6lcclFZ/s400/IMG_0710.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbuQvshQV0kZ6f6s0D8d3r7Wl7mtO3nidr5hb5dsn58JidvIgTlBDuezZPJronfElgOOi-2jJgOGwVnGCoCWulkKw6NA9gR_MzNUZYfk_vtjSx2mWJSCztSW4mHlPn5DUlUpae6hEb5kB/s1600-h/IMG_0714.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241448088990881410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbuQvshQV0kZ6f6s0D8d3r7Wl7mtO3nidr5hb5dsn58JidvIgTlBDuezZPJronfElgOOi-2jJgOGwVnGCoCWulkKw6NA9gR_MzNUZYfk_vtjSx2mWJSCztSW4mHlPn5DUlUpae6hEb5kB/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEG8kaN1PZFKScklS7qkQl6j6x8FuKeah0Kljc_VR9D5sT8BCSxLFUMzdLgWEuw3kf3wRpnKnb3uuKo6kiqig-6J1x_zXHZMheBAhtzxXxHUT-TTWrlXK8blQ9TaI2DSQC1wna-FiXBWC/s1600-h/IMG_0712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241448103561798866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEG8kaN1PZFKScklS7qkQl6j6x8FuKeah0Kljc_VR9D5sT8BCSxLFUMzdLgWEuw3kf3wRpnKnb3uuKo6kiqig-6J1x_zXHZMheBAhtzxXxHUT-TTWrlXK8blQ9TaI2DSQC1wna-FiXBWC/s400/IMG_0712.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yWA02l6scamd_7TgGuReR2CHtHbUKIkF0vzTH3uCRZYOgcEVDZLSUAyv2F3tpQ7osgnmAGNHp0JaApD6ZFS5SzfLRQee4hclNRRcFWRpzPU-bqFNK2UP7yjdWUdek9OXMsmpzr5GoHy4/s1600-h/IMG_0711.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241448107174257890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yWA02l6scamd_7TgGuReR2CHtHbUKIkF0vzTH3uCRZYOgcEVDZLSUAyv2F3tpQ7osgnmAGNHp0JaApD6ZFS5SzfLRQee4hclNRRcFWRpzPU-bqFNK2UP7yjdWUdek9OXMsmpzr5GoHy4/s400/IMG_0711.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p>Senator Norm Coleman addresses the crowd<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241448085884184946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickJUbAzY-r_BdxoDR02J0I6UYBcuOlRmCEfQ2a_vDyp3gARe5PGdL9Ov5vAyM8PyJm-nvWuyujN9pir-lrnxz7WrI7Iw25kiL09FpGLiP2W_qT6Labf6kMpjN4sGGDKtBQj63yOeBTQzd/s400/IMG_0719.JPG" border="0" />Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made an appearance at the event, but we were enjoying the original compositions of a local pianist in another room, so we missed his speech. </div>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-36958202498335903182008-08-31T07:30:00.000-07:002008-09-20T18:42:44.231-07:00We're Here!<div align="center">...after a long trip and a bit of adventure at Atlanta. When we disembarked at the "B" terminal, we (<em>I, </em>that is - this was Anna's first time to fly, so she can't be blamed) forgot to check the monitor, and just went straight to the original departure gate for our next flight, in the "T" terminal. On the way, we took a wrong turn, though we followed the signs. We ended up having to go back through security. We finally made it to the gate in terminal "T", then checked the monitor, and found that the flight had been moved to the last gate in terminal "A". </div><div align="center">Now we know....<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>***Joe Scarborough, of "Morning Joe", was on our flight from Altanta to Minneapolis***</em></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center">When we arrived at our hotel we were inundated with "plunder." <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240880754453295890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5nCIsAOeCJY3rYfsZXlwUbOdepIb42YcGFZKeLtKUU7E6zPoouQXK6nKLTE57uuvw9aypa3SdclbdXbwyZfR38cvGvo-6EHwGmXzF6C48C11uKwYJWm4z09hLJVIQgPxsVPckbBt9Rcu/s400/IMG_0539.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><p align="center">After changing from our travel clothes and sorting through the stuff, we were off to the "Civic Fest," Minneapolis' welcome party for the delegates. Think of all the best exhibits from the Smithsonian on display: a band wagon from the Ringling Bros. Circus, a HUGE dolls' house replica of the White House, Abe Lincoln <em>in the flesh</em>, FDR's limo....it was a great party - we would have been glad to stay longer, though our feet hurt now.<br /></p><p align="center">There were local musicians scattered throughout the convention center. They were very good players. A clarinetist in particular was phenomenal! We were going to get a picture of him - he was in a trio with a double bass and a banjo - but the lines were too long and they were gone by the time we made it over to the area they were in.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240880762769055090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ByN4hhXIkJObBiC2akipBUUiN7HPAVkrZBPS7SKCe0K65yLLsJbY5sznU_SyL1D4OWcLznzm3Dfk6iGHwVKTo9ewFHiqMiFrw13qJYUD9U5GC6vdet3rmZ2NPeVQchS-gP5caaVNPvy0/s400/IMG_0540.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">This is a big screen painting of the White House with a recreation of the Rose Garden in front.</p><p align="center"><em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">oops! That picture disappeared - I'll put it back on soon.</span></em><br /></p><p align="center">Air Force One<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240891462404066994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUVGGgZ5y67J9XqqqVMDVEPZKhYUoZkhsa8gnFFaFWqWzXugUppLpHh76qPDToaTkvtInSHTRMR9iASVPIvU-GKZtwf5ZZgEv2mXkwApM9yr9dPXriNQCLiX2jkPNrUZINYjXHsVvHcBa/s400/IMG_0547.JPG" border="0" />Gowns of the First Ladies. The rust colored one is the dress Mrs. Laura Bush wore while entertaining Prince Charles and Camille at the White House.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240891468732421922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjUhJIVH9ugqpyHKWgEXb6P6qC98wjvfSM0yNoMeyBQB9tWUgLHxVO1em-OWfixM_X8t5elwOpODW6bajAYoMiAs4y5vBdo_ZnqU2MDmM0r0Ty3B4_eRq2P0_YNaJzMorzvh8n1cXP4fQ/s400/IMG_0548.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240891472346518578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU0YQImyRTnh0rAfzxzf4LVbOUZVAcHmNc2NVI60tJW6FeKnNyQosOmcCNIIpha1TTW-Mv7m4eyvqbRVO3efLhy7ocFFauON_sfaq8vvoRiKkrKl504JfcmlVSmB9yCK_8b-_6Ov6IMOV/s400/IMG_0549.JPG" border="0" />Abe Lincoln. He looked just like his paintings!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240895247788651250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kPvvPJRX69cbpr-qJXIYRnW8O2Venl86a7EUHsWKx1C7ocrW4UQwZ944z2GTfXAqsBiQ582rZd1-4eqN9GF9Sqrfp91fp6PYjBli1f6IBCYqZxFHNR6KS7W52L8KpbuTxPEF0NNZJBbT/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240895248861402962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnegQ0D5yUei2cMeLMNk_jlFcDCC4WxuL3GNfQc-0230U1H9wSAHdVSA4KMt3xGO0No7jpkY0cZILFB42ZGj9flw6NoBirpyqKpZiiZYGZW-_wbS0yBpzNkFgkIVgEMLyXm2blobsuxJk_/s400/IMG_0553.JPG" border="0" />The son of one of the GOP national committeemen - we thought he was so cute! The press did, too, and were really rude, trying to interview him and his father while they were trying to look at the dolls' house.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240895253779949762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjFpUfDG4NboLxTyFrYcrzmXn4v13eHhWaCVawTAJmEGJuTs_R0_qe_GVUhBiT7DAOltEW_19HU1zZyILHhSDcOzSKjp97VP91XlvacvFXOvVMKfu3yc39QRc7Y2ZrA-Mo5zhjTLj4pXA/s400/IMG_0554.JPG" border="0" />The to-scale replica of the White House. This was begun in the '50's, and has been updated to match the current administration's decorations. Our family actually saw this same model in the early '80's when it visited a mall near us in Houston, but I was too little to fully appreciate it then.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240895257831687810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WyNIAvTjgkpkhr5wBcq2k9xpVBHJ0pSdHfJ1608mvFgfDnxjAPZPIs3QDXpztM9ksExf8Iy05rGsR01fKPGYkUmg0Jg21bz_sj1pD_msGlhG3Cpn2CguH09Z8fUx_gLibnxeMfFoR4xS/s400/IMG_0564.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240895261729275202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu6gQZ_jWa2szu_-sf-4RYn633MkYe3e5WKoAHoy_aAjnwnstQH2Rm_T1X0HL8k6q6jZsMgs060eo7Inn9H8VO7trAxa2S-xAton0UK6siDuWq2kqAMTu6R3SeD_c0yEUQEtDalnOk8S4/s400/IMG_0565.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243838326458153010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVP34-7u0yToIpS9FVedqq_n9i-d9B4Mm-DUTB1y5bmZBb4bve_x9JRsf8A4s_tAqfXNPyRVRLAuzKyJ9I969ukEcl7CXhfR7mxeU1vyXl2YBEVcLFiD0SIYPXULavMTif1xBXNCkRur0/s400/IMG_0575.JPG" border="0" />This is the miniature Oval Office. We were amazed at the level of detail throughout the model! Televisions and lights were on, the paintings had been recreated, there were papers on desks and smoke coming out of a chimney! <span style="font-size:0;"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243838331531668402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEuzkLc8he8M6iGpgqX3CjjSvhIcdG4ZRjGtNwbb8390kJqne5Mx_m3t7qIm7BzBg6Rfp7J-m21FRzH_5scO7PUTWUhI1u9mlySAUBlP1nHNr9Uq1jg8R6huBMDL_NMBuWWQIFRWOKbB6/s400/IMG_0573.JPG" border="0" /></span>We came across David Barton (in the cowboy hat), historian and president of Wallbuilders. We loved hearing him speak at our homeschool conferences in Knoxville.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240900278919989426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHz2lGXBDl_KNgGU1PpSZ2xAI9iP_XUN_ghlY5yRGaj1vSQr94OG8LmxSPlTTI-kuheHWtMQPlSrwBedvPXmsAQh2Iio9Xx0YGjcwzPgKa_gZG5ig0595aGL2jiA9BKg3nOjH2Cz15M_3/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" border="0" />Here I am visiting with Mr. and Mrs. David Hathaway from Rhode Island. Five years ago their daughter Connie was in a string workshop quartet with me. It was fun to meet them! Mr. Hathaway was the Rhode Island coordinator for the Huckabee campaign during the primary.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240900282925019858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56UFmKe3TPcR1r9tusMs0HS0aVTYh-ErfdfzMT_tFltwzLOiM3duem1HPiPDTJrE8RS4103KA413hdyWBebgx7sB2_fSiL9hHCeRSEW0dBvC9-4rkwUUKoyIGdn972HGBkEM7_jg41xvV/s400/IMG_0591.JPG" border="0" /> The chefs preparing the best roast beef sandwiches ever! Mine had a Carribean sauce on it, and was delicious! The story turns tragic, though. We set them down to talk with a friend, and when we turned back around someone had cleared them away. I had gotten only one bite of mine! We were too embarrased to go back for another. Sad. At least the hors d'oeuvres were plentiful!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240902915056879474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1lpGycdOlloFlgu81_Ttw52qgdkWP0rjr-K3bPZsCL31zn7QWIi4s1syanDyjPXcw0HlL4H_Pw_YXlTbH3e2YtGz5VLz2h894SXN7f6_kSDjFnwIgrY7WnCTLEvN200vLEtJ9YiQSSEk/s400/IMG_0586.JPG" border="0" /> We weren't exactly in the Oval Office, though it does look as if we were! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240902920531844354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGshj-KJcHgL5QPAOGOOwWv8Tqg28LcnXNyd5PD4xi-wbglymtyt70QWqQJmUpivtlullKFYG3E0yR45kOjrZWeDyIlR_gF-453CNuoYRZ3IFQc7DT_wGoxHWLEHvAuR5B8MN8rOfcM3S/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" border="0" />We met a lot of famous people...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240902925235032306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREbQg51YQoSuAx2Sapxh2S8tYz-aZmZQDaIr1kiMX1jmn3VLLnU8Sx1tim9GgT7ztfJuiRLwbgnKK1zOLjSF2DQ7D8JnztbIdPSI4TVBoOTs4zsYenCFEEfblU4-tv1iD57ctaAloco0d/s400/IMG_0598.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240904362562193602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUUgBbJze33lacXfocv4VzTujAFaLC2qRQgLrwv_zNzF8QFgKvoqg0jNmJEWnuOag8U8nCOA_b7PEG4Lx1s-UpEEWwHSciWhkgKs6wD3VEqwkZQymf10cVzf3E3msYDCRAwgMBRWHV9Fm/s400/IMG_0599.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243838333643010578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB9dbIHhGWIjv2mp0gX8gCWrLBDl_HnTd02IHMsNSanmPJn6_iT6mzhvn2mESzISMABelQ1I25Ctps57h9UIErteXUixT9R0wudXP3bocIq3qXlI6xm2cHzrWIhcJuQ-zoU_q7DAaoPtV/s400/IMG_0601.JPG" border="0" />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920278196597388449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-12079366874181190472008-08-25T13:44:00.000-07:002008-08-25T17:57:29.203-07:002008 Republican National Convention Program Themes and Speaker LineupThe RNC will begin one week from today! For those who are interested, the official program of the convention and a preliminary list of speakers is as follows:<br /><br /><br />Monday, September 1st - <span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;"><em>Service</em></span><br /><br />John McCain's commitment to his fellow Americans, a commitment forged in service to his country, is one of the defining hallmarks of his life. Monday's events will highlight John McCain's record of service and sacrifice and reflect his commitment to serving a cause greater than one's own self-interest.<br /><br /><br />Monday's speakers include:<br /><br />Senator Joe Lieberman<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJT5kJl5HMlFP_PFT0OvKUj5Px6xRRnSswAzIVXArwhoNQs9J6SippcsTYAAzAhNE6g6kAgiDRqByYt2fIuiBiSm8WGi11ELH-2j5lf3pwIZ8TFaT_AlciWN7d8Qdtbh-dAMT9gyDedYU/s1600-h/lieberman.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zKQpM38kbJIqh04mu5NnGh642tOX3OAOItT3CYSpipfY_vKGtX3-9u8yu33PuUqd_NWTEFwV3Q7FTFdLP_j69jsH7uYzgA6GbrpiThDtAKNB-DArUoWl5wp4hbEZO40ItL28btGhwI2a/s1600-h/lieberman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238595116265179346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zKQpM38kbJIqh04mu5NnGh642tOX3OAOItT3CYSpipfY_vKGtX3-9u8yu33PuUqd_NWTEFwV3Q7FTFdLP_j69jsH7uYzgA6GbrpiThDtAKNB-DArUoWl5wp4hbEZO40ItL28btGhwI2a/s200/lieberman.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx6ypAI0-WKhAG7-sdzTlxitU_z-kKFDpixy2Cr0jd3RTR2Szqzl31AYB2pwfN89Rrbv40V8WKKpzpSNe7VLUK6-cktOs2Fg-E3eX0xWI-aVaIHn5duCSy_GiBIUUQ3xdQVt5FeH6j4wy/s1600-h/039_22741~Arnold-Schwarzenegger-Posters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238567985542803554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx6ypAI0-WKhAG7-sdzTlxitU_z-kKFDpixy2Cr0jd3RTR2Szqzl31AYB2pwfN89Rrbv40V8WKKpzpSNe7VLUK6-cktOs2Fg-E3eX0xWI-aVaIHn5duCSy_GiBIUUQ3xdQVt5FeH6j4wy/s200/039_22741~Arnold-Schwarzenegger-Posters.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Vice President Dick Cheney</div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsG82u-kODc0FiG8pHV4huW4QUEEBOwzl-30snhhv3SFvrx_2pfCUoWnvqfHlwA39EDo1cczf1-HDcSu8PbvInRgpJ5KrGwYDVxMOOuzml4CA1RVDHZ2pNhxVYspO4w2A5VYSjIiRkwIo/s1600-h/cheney.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238567990179730626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsG82u-kODc0FiG8pHV4huW4QUEEBOwzl-30snhhv3SFvrx_2pfCUoWnvqfHlwA39EDo1cczf1-HDcSu8PbvInRgpJ5KrGwYDVxMOOuzml4CA1RVDHZ2pNhxVYspO4w2A5VYSjIiRkwIo/s200/cheney.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">First Lady Laura Bush</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySPHoCm7J6DxBDIXqAy-31g133WBh7F-Yj4pjPfG3dlcSYHmkfLpMY6oHWDtHR8OlLu6gjIQgsj5_RT_wR7xiOUHZa5-AY6r_FCKq1AhoGA9MHVe9EG82uhfx5UlKOHGsB047izWAL1P6/s1600-h/Laura_Bush.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238567326702813202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySPHoCm7J6DxBDIXqAy-31g133WBh7F-Yj4pjPfG3dlcSYHmkfLpMY6oHWDtHR8OlLu6gjIQgsj5_RT_wR7xiOUHZa5-AY6r_FCKq1AhoGA9MHVe9EG82uhfx5UlKOHGsB047izWAL1P6/s200/Laura_Bush.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">President George W. Bush<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu__yG8bXEX4PogTJJKNdPd2GbXqTdoZf1uAXSdp5W4swMg6I_3UbvyMSfhK9UzD85jRslFjlE_CQrOxnD_a_IFWVvRnv2YU77Sx4HGBs9QrYWwv05gUnVJweC1P3yt80EZWuvel0FJuo_/s1600-h/bush.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238569041513577746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu__yG8bXEX4PogTJJKNdPd2GbXqTdoZf1uAXSdp5W4swMg6I_3UbvyMSfhK9UzD85jRslFjlE_CQrOxnD_a_IFWVvRnv2YU77Sx4HGBs9QrYWwv05gUnVJweC1P3yt80EZWuvel0FJuo_/s200/bush.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Tuesday, September 2nd - <em><span style="color:#cc0000;">Reform</span></em> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">John McCain's life is a testament to the fundamental truth that every American can be a force for change. A restless reformer who has dedicated his career to taking on special interests and the status quo, John McCain will deliver the right kind of change and reform to meet the great challenges of our time. On Tuesday, the convention program will underscore his vision of a government that is transparent, principled and worthy of the American people it serves.<br /><br /></div><div align="left">Speakers will include: </div><div align="left"><br /></div>Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T1NtQ78R9-X7Wh4-6UloAs9kHf7QwbGamrm_qujaF52-eiM42XEv3qSysJWOMIbU0URbVlaFM0qbYpayS4juy3o2dLx7ldHUj0YdJwexzTJ11jw1gTBoQ9u63rmbb5rmWDFHPNd8mADz/s1600-h/rudy.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238570774521157554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T1NtQ78R9-X7Wh4-6UloAs9kHf7QwbGamrm_qujaF52-eiM42XEv3qSysJWOMIbU0URbVlaFM0qbYpayS4juy3o2dLx7ldHUj0YdJwexzTJ11jw1gTBoQ9u63rmbb5rmWDFHPNd8mADz/s200/rudy.bmp" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />Former Governor Mike Huckabee<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6bxMRb2KzLAiIk_StpzLvq6z1pSSpQTW3rCQyS8nwEJxQgV1kuZ_x8yASGFkwxqycDWZGWYh6rTLOeX84OfxUmzRjIIjfAZKbvoUzeQJppF543hieMub1UL9Mo7SUg678-06uTQ8PIwd/s1600-h/huck.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238571490392403650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6bxMRb2KzLAiIk_StpzLvq6z1pSSpQTW3rCQyS8nwEJxQgV1kuZ_x8yASGFkwxqycDWZGWYh6rTLOeX84OfxUmzRjIIjfAZKbvoUzeQJppF543hieMub1UL9Mo7SUg678-06uTQ8PIwd/s200/huck.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Former Governor Tom Ridge<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKj3lYpelWo6MZgQd_fGcEp2JAaXNHH4IVQJ47cbv8uU_5PHDO9ABVeMZfNo9cw_bybm5INkbVTBQD0tMdFkaeXM1jgRSBaAIbL9pFwxRbXLiAahqb7yJUusDVDH0M9mcpq3y0CqlUkWU/s1600-h/401px-Tom_Ridge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238571661246887426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKj3lYpelWo6MZgQd_fGcEp2JAaXNHH4IVQJ47cbv8uU_5PHDO9ABVeMZfNo9cw_bybm5INkbVTBQD0tMdFkaeXM1jgRSBaAIbL9pFwxRbXLiAahqb7yJUusDVDH0M9mcpq3y0CqlUkWU/s200/401px-Tom_Ridge.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Governor Sarah Palin<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqmI-bZVb75t4pU5nyUwQdPaz7EBTxB0CrccY6zD-xejUvhOiu55a92hD20dVPCJ2x-Q7SkaxGc8dbyCVREqpKUMeMeZDDdRlr9rzMQlxNbE9YFkMmoOcH9lFqGlCNf4WFdrPLxIdqxBE/s1600-h/gov-palin-2006_official.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238571927906044354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqmI-bZVb75t4pU5nyUwQdPaz7EBTxB0CrccY6zD-xejUvhOiu55a92hD20dVPCJ2x-Q7SkaxGc8dbyCVREqpKUMeMeZDDdRlr9rzMQlxNbE9YFkMmoOcH9lFqGlCNf4WFdrPLxIdqxBE/s200/gov-palin-2006_official.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Governor Jon Huntsman<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP934_mGSbeHtGnr30RT6Z5eATrJODu3jfS3O0vDGYamaM5FJHcm82keoqbxgX3Pi6Dz_6asBX7yFxOPu57plIpDwJOPxnawq3AIBvII2BNei2enWRWWsJGALqmFIv-H3cVZ3lxLzOjxB/s1600-h/huntsman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238572188026357474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP934_mGSbeHtGnr30RT6Z5eATrJODu3jfS3O0vDGYamaM5FJHcm82keoqbxgX3Pi6Dz_6asBX7yFxOPu57plIpDwJOPxnawq3AIBvII2BNei2enWRWWsJGALqmFIv-H3cVZ3lxLzOjxB/s200/huntsman.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rosario Marin, California Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency and former Treasurer of the United States<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238572385992477938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo0EVgMJ-aqaLNpKdyCJqfp1GoKQ-iXOeR_E6bjACFxpdKDfeY8epmDCpkmOoBy3sKN6z0BJB6EQsbQcxMa6iBAk6jGiTODcowjwSFg6XSQsfzaS8OFOjc3CknuzudJKLj10PUCZn-Ikb/s200/447px-Rosario_marin.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Former Senator Fred Thompson<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9LMDai9wyB30iKHCXaM5zVBw8uG3t3j6KotPBdpirVt1dCDaPiN9sasm6yhN-jdDZV_-0XNaU4wt6gCQi5-Y8HrVMx2d-XAH5Kli_dkLYg4Rw8XUywjf7DN3cgQL6zSeu4uoXZsUFhn8/s1600-h/20070302_ThompsonFred.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238573092733727666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9LMDai9wyB30iKHCXaM5zVBw8uG3t3j6KotPBdpirVt1dCDaPiN9sasm6yhN-jdDZV_-0XNaU4wt6gCQi5-Y8HrVMx2d-XAH5Kli_dkLYg4Rw8XUywjf7DN3cgQL6zSeu4uoXZsUFhn8/s200/20070302_ThompsonFred.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Governor Linda Lingle<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVrInnGEwRABjDv8Qb6SL02GdGZ_3ToBeDIDeyhsfApDOutjbgrZuvInUBh5aOo-knMgMEQ4lyJmvUDyNlEdtZFn2I6xRuHUiyOXItxztmr-n6hsXFjRNT_P4vLcTPfo8xxdP5GzXU-My/s1600-h/linda+lingle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238573713981127218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVrInnGEwRABjDv8Qb6SL02GdGZ_3ToBeDIDeyhsfApDOutjbgrZuvInUBh5aOo-knMgMEQ4lyJmvUDyNlEdtZFn2I6xRuHUiyOXItxztmr-n6hsXFjRNT_P4vLcTPfo8xxdP5GzXU-My/s200/linda+lingle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Former Lt. Governor Michael Steele<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui085fcrqDAlJuGXKLbWQpJXAoKO9kwXydFup8kNWE31n5Pm65c8i6rIiiGcu4NOAxccE5165kuY6cWg84o5MUvZFC4A9HTxSpxRtxF7H1L0KJzkAHHH331jEMFSQRGoedeQM7fWXHgK8/s1600-h/Michael_Steele.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238574069330391618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui085fcrqDAlJuGXKLbWQpJXAoKO9kwXydFup8kNWE31n5Pm65c8i6rIiiGcu4NOAxccE5165kuY6cWg84o5MUvZFC4A9HTxSpxRtxF7H1L0KJzkAHHH331jEMFSQRGoedeQM7fWXHgK8/s200/Michael_Steele.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Wednesday, September 3rd - <em><span style="color:#cc0000;">Prosperity</span></em><br /><br /><br />Wednesday's program will focus on John McCain's plans to get our economy back on track and continue our long tradition of meeting the challenges we face and using our prosperity to help others. The day will conclude with an address by the vice presidential nominee.<br /><br /><br />Speakers on Wednesday will include:<br /><br /><br />Senator Norm Coleman<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03_wrHYSSTIzGxnctooMwANixxUZ86GPoCp5g4Pts9V7muNap1OYoN0R8ENeRt1nmKrDPKzzdYQFisr-_hvh_Ih1QWGzrmuzc_6EmwNIiK2dvDX5U6PkjY2m_4EDDRvKlsG4Lt0NMH5k5/s1600-h/norm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238574398588267314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03_wrHYSSTIzGxnctooMwANixxUZ86GPoCp5g4Pts9V7muNap1OYoN0R8ENeRt1nmKrDPKzzdYQFisr-_hvh_Ih1QWGzrmuzc_6EmwNIiK2dvDX5U6PkjY2m_4EDDRvKlsG4Lt0NMH5k5/s200/norm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Meg Whitman, National Co-Chair for McCain 2008<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqc4cYHSIwTkhEuHPquRUUSs355jUz0GsYKBxAgDMlZ_KR0NTddoNpgkVW0-vKS3Ac7B607T3hGcT1dqopIxPuJiiN63wvbSHh9lBALI1kVWZQTIDybnYdikFAZocW6rHJc8PtaMhh-ev/s1600-h/MegWhitmanPhoto.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238574802754366306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqc4cYHSIwTkhEuHPquRUUSs355jUz0GsYKBxAgDMlZ_KR0NTddoNpgkVW0-vKS3Ac7B607T3hGcT1dqopIxPuJiiN63wvbSHh9lBALI1kVWZQTIDybnYdikFAZocW6rHJc8PtaMhh-ev/s200/MegWhitmanPhoto.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Carly Fiorina, Victory '08 Chairman for the RNC<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZh9ZmCoj2tn6gQWJG2KBjlX4YxvdicyPdzMSMA1UjG__7CLlfzNmOiejbxaatW1r3lBqARyseE5ThR76luPrt9LWimPD4IBzFxspparq6TLwjWWRXwAJQ4A3RMauTUFkTqXxHaGgHksI/s1600-h/Fiorina_Carly__sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238596608454493122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZh9ZmCoj2tn6gQWJG2KBjlX4YxvdicyPdzMSMA1UjG__7CLlfzNmOiejbxaatW1r3lBqARyseE5ThR76luPrt9LWimPD4IBzFxspparq6TLwjWWRXwAJQ4A3RMauTUFkTqXxHaGgHksI/s200/Fiorina_Carly__sm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Former Governor Mitt Romney<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERPHGKM2TeBE_Q5KXa63E21ZXulf88yTR3zDEMTR8TFuhYzeEUibJa_ZLuFuJTfxgT26Bs6OHue53KsCkCP560W4S99JY_pFZEW49L-UJSXFrxZh2XmsCGQYZ8GCQ19sU22HGiUPLWOIh/s1600-h/mitt-romney-11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238575724549404642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERPHGKM2TeBE_Q5KXa63E21ZXulf88yTR3zDEMTR8TFuhYzeEUibJa_ZLuFuJTfxgT26Bs6OHue53KsCkCP560W4S99JY_pFZEW49L-UJSXFrxZh2XmsCGQYZ8GCQ19sU22HGiUPLWOIh/s200/mitt-romney-11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cindy McCain<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-Fkq_aOOqDW4Wj_UI4sJ3LLhhU2PEgcD0b5YgAyE95SDitaaYkQE_cI5BsS2-OyPmz74wwXvqu3a13jrQhGGcZHgNUqoBJSeuH7jrYzVr0dgQe5nhSjRmduHw2dQnHt-1FpLGmvnfn6R/s1600-h/cindy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238576427788645170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-Fkq_aOOqDW4Wj_UI4sJ3LLhhU2PEgcD0b5YgAyE95SDitaaYkQE_cI5BsS2-OyPmz74wwXvqu3a13jrQhGGcZHgNUqoBJSeuH7jrYzVr0dgQe5nhSjRmduHw2dQnHt-1FpLGmvnfn6R/s200/cindy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Governor Bobby Jindal<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOLiwvtW8EREL3j1icTI_d-4NtLQ84r29ldmDKvqm6sNQhYOT6cPRMiuJ7eOKdysR9F4pvzGq8pR-qQaF86xAJKWxzCtl7eog6adEosypXv9J_FBYsaXsBMrEY54byaGrl76ebASwmFsv/s1600-h/BobbyJindal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238576811541339394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOLiwvtW8EREL3j1icTI_d-4NtLQ84r29ldmDKvqm6sNQhYOT6cPRMiuJ7eOKdysR9F4pvzGq8pR-qQaF86xAJKWxzCtl7eog6adEosypXv9J_FBYsaXsBMrEY54byaGrl76ebASwmFsv/s200/BobbyJindal.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Vice Presidential Nominee<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkGSEE82cejFz1KfCcBtTgH0ixww6bX-OiOj6Jh72y-xpvLBsRmlH5pIGRzYNqHvSJ7YSBADOdasOX5VIRmyCwB9YxI_26CStUANCDDLoiIIU7JdAljVllmf-nKylJolUCfYluU48OKI4/s1600-h/head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238577552648362770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkGSEE82cejFz1KfCcBtTgH0ixww6bX-OiOj6Jh72y-xpvLBsRmlH5pIGRzYNqHvSJ7YSBADOdasOX5VIRmyCwB9YxI_26CStUANCDDLoiIIU7JdAljVllmf-nKylJolUCfYluU48OKI4/s200/head.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Thursday, September 4th - <span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Peace</em></span><br /><br /><br />John McCain understands the challenges that America faces in the world and the sacrifice necessary to defend our freedom in a way that few others can fathom. Thursday's events will reflect his vision of an America in pursuit of peace and seen as a beacon of goodwill and hope throughout the world. The evening will close with John McCain accepting the Republican Party's nomination for the Presidency of the United States.<br /><br />Speakers on Thursday will include:<br /><br />Governor Tim Pawlenty<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GUJ2vPicah8n0YAWZpE81XbA2tyt9FGFWeaQHg3SZhGG7wZ_ko8SslbnZDdsKnzeggePfP5MQlU4wfksMUKIf_KCP1mbH-2YN7V1vDLwlkZ1dVBaI2FUF7pCvPZ3gJZeogyTTmEhzOf7/s1600-h/480px_tim_pawlenty_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238577900059319634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GUJ2vPicah8n0YAWZpE81XbA2tyt9FGFWeaQHg3SZhGG7wZ_ko8SslbnZDdsKnzeggePfP5MQlU4wfksMUKIf_KCP1mbH-2YN7V1vDLwlkZ1dVBaI2FUF7pCvPZ3gJZeogyTTmEhzOf7/s200/480px_tim_pawlenty_1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />Governor Charlie Crist<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4pduh1aaAvSthgbtlZk1vFlzyeaTGvmugpujkoskjxW8zhdxETLWpeI9tYB_9OOwn45NiGio825z3uANY3fTeWb_bqXRudKWMjy2QP93wtFbPlsU4ECRpwvVylwrD5_53-C0TyxDgGFS/s1600-h/CharlieCrist.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238578055680997986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4pduh1aaAvSthgbtlZk1vFlzyeaTGvmugpujkoskjxW8zhdxETLWpeI9tYB_9OOwn45NiGio825z3uANY3fTeWb_bqXRudKWMjy2QP93wtFbPlsU4ECRpwvVylwrD5_53-C0TyxDgGFS/s200/CharlieCrist.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Senator Sam Brownback<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hJAnb8S1tTDy_K3djBc9sa6AVXxQX2lylOZEUzAEe4lSf7R08ZB7vNwkI80UHjHnSRdQwJWi_6pVZqmtGeykvLye2i06JauV48fQDdkdh0cahwcpZt5pw_l2NCWkxxz7ADlPqb4L92XI/s1600-h/474px-Sam_Brownback_2003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238578618879358930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hJAnb8S1tTDy_K3djBc9sa6AVXxQX2lylOZEUzAEe4lSf7R08ZB7vNwkI80UHjHnSRdQwJWi_6pVZqmtGeykvLye2i06JauV48fQDdkdh0cahwcpZt5pw_l2NCWkxxz7ADlPqb4L92XI/s200/474px-Sam_Brownback_2003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Senator Mel Martinez<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjE2dxAKoKinsIpW4UYdjez37VdG8DaHq8jYd5mEr1NealbEGvN7xG7T-ll5AurlftToSSrwfwjSOfqdT6WQQE-Fz78DJgcWb6P8lko9C7o2iJDzT2YcrYTpy-yKGcOyvuzeYUBvB4RfW/s1600-h/Mel_Martinez.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238578812169627922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjE2dxAKoKinsIpW4UYdjez37VdG8DaHq8jYd5mEr1NealbEGvN7xG7T-ll5AurlftToSSrwfwjSOfqdT6WQQE-Fz78DJgcWb6P8lko9C7o2iJDzT2YcrYTpy-yKGcOyvuzeYUBvB4RfW/s200/Mel_Martinez.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Final Speaker: Presidential Candidate John McCain</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiqmyjEd45lkyTBlFb0F4rWpnCzPyqaKmO25WsA5ZHpO9loYXl6mEhmUWLSq-WNhyphenhyphenfERLxjaMx9SV2FOwRE8tj8LYGzFoQjWm1MyOd8yIhdWtY88s3VM8kd3bGreaHePZFslvk1V9ar01/s1600-h/mac.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238609095629409362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiqmyjEd45lkyTBlFb0F4rWpnCzPyqaKmO25WsA5ZHpO9loYXl6mEhmUWLSq-WNhyphenhyphenfERLxjaMx9SV2FOwRE8tj8LYGzFoQjWm1MyOd8yIhdWtY88s3VM8kd3bGreaHePZFslvk1V9ar01/s400/mac.jpg" border="0" /></a>Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13908562610437636477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217072371875676672.post-6718367975719264962008-08-18T11:43:00.000-07:002008-09-03T22:13:11.651-07:00<span style="color:#000066;">Yes, I know... even though I wrote in my email that the blog is empty, some of you are sure to come over, anyway. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">So, while I am still tinkering with the layout, I thought I'd give a little piece of family trivia related to the Republican Convention:</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Did you know</span></strong>.... </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">...that Daddy's grandfather, Jesse Monroe Smith, was a delegate to the 1912 Convention in Chicago?</span><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Republican_National_Convention_1912.jpg/180px-Republican_National_Convention_1912.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#cc0000;">I tried to find Grandfather Smith in the picture, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#cc0000;">but the people all look the same - </span><span style="font-size:78%;color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#000000;">black</span> & <span style="color:#ffffff;">white</span>,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#cc0000;">...and fuzzy...</span></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="color:#000066;">That's the Convention where Teddy Roosevelt and other Republicans broke away from the GOP and formed the "Progressive Party" - or the "Bull Moose Party", as it was more commonly known. The Party lasted only four years, and had women's liberation as one of its platform planks...<br /></p></span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920278196597388449noreply@blogger.com0