Foo Fighters, Mary J. Blige to perform in Charlotte

Democratic National Convention organizers announce their full slate of entertainers scheduled to perform next week, including James Taylor, the Foo Fighters and Mary J. Blige on the closing night.

By DONOVAN SLACK |

8/31/12 7:10 AM EDT

"This roster of performances only adds to the excitement building in Charlotte for the historic week ahead of us," DNC Chair Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in a statement. "The tens of thousands who will attend Convention events in person, and all those tuning in across the country, should be ready for quite a show."

Here's the full schedule:

Thursday, September 6 (Bank of America Stadium)
Foo Fighters
Mary J. Blige
Earth, Wind and Fire
James Taylor
Delta Rae
Inspire the Fire
Marc Anthony (national anthem)

Wednesday, September 5 (Time Warner Cable Arena)
DJ Cassidy
Jessica Sanchez
Branford Marsalis (national anthem)

Tuesday, September 4 (Time Warner Cable Arena)
DJ Cassidy
Ledisi
Amber Riley (national anthem)

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/08/foo-fighters-mary-j-blige-to-perform-in-charlotte-133950.html#.UEClSU13_mR.twitter

DNC Schedule - Speakers

Schedule:

 

The first two days of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5, will be held at Time Warner Cable Arena. President Obama and Vice President Biden will accept the Democratic nominations for President and Vice President on Thursday, September 6 at Bank of America Stadium. Sign up now for your chance to attend this event. The convention committee will unveil additional convention program details and speakers in the coming days.
 

Speakers:

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin

Congressman Xavier Becerra of California

Newark Mayor Cory Booker

Congressman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina

Former President Jimmy Carter (via video)

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who will be the first Latino keynote speaker at a Democratic National Convention

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee

Congresswoman Judy Chu of California

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri

Former President Bill Clinton

Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina

Former Republican Governor of Florida Charlie Crist

Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Walter Dalton

The Honorable Arne Duncan

Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colorado

Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx

Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts

Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez of Texas

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper

Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland

Former Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt

DCCC Chairman Congressman Steve Israel of New York

Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau

Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.)

Congressman John Larson of Connecticut

Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California

Congressman John Lewis of Georgia

CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon

President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan

Caroline Kennedy

U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts

Women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter

Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy

Delaware Governor Jack Markell

Boston Mayor Tom Menino

The Honorable Karen Mills

U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, together with the women of the U.S. Senate

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will also lead a presentation of the women of the House:
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez of New York
Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin
Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania
Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland
Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Joyce Beatty of Ohio
Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii

California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez

Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado

Congressman David Price of North Carolina

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada

President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

The Honorable Ken Salazar

Journalist Cristina Saralegui

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius

Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland

Congressman Chris Van Hollen

Los Angeles Mayor, Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa

The Honorable Tom Vilsack

Senate candidate from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren

DNC Chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida

Congressman Mel Watt of North Carolina

http://www.demconvention.com/speakers/

Final Day

            The very last day was the most exciting day of the entire week. Starting with breakfast at the Hyatt, all political science students and communication students had a great meal. While eating, Georgia delegates spoke briefly about the convention and the future of the Republican Party. During the breakfast, we had a surprise speech from John Boehner.

            At 5:00 p.m. I was waiting to get on a tour bus to go down to the Tampa Bay Times Forum where I get to see my first convention of the week. Riding down to the forum, I was able to see some areas of Tampa. Since I have never been to Tampa before, getting to see every road and building was very exciting. When the bus finally reached the forum, the atmosphere and people was nothing like I seen before. It is very different to see it live in person, rather than on TV.

            When the ceremony began, it was like a rock concert. The most impressive part of the convention was the speeches. Every person who spoke had their own language that made each speech unique and special to their story.

             For this convention, it is impossible to pick a favorite speech. Every speech had its own flavor that represented Romney as a caring husband, father, and friend. However, Romney’s speech will stick in my mind for a very long time. For many years I have watched presidential speeches on TV to stay current with what’s going on in the world. I have also been fascinated with presidential speeches and the work they entail. Being able to witness Romney speak publicly to me is a dream come true. 

Delegates react to Romney speech

Delegates react to Romney speech

Signing Out from Tampa

The small delegation of Kennesaw State University students will make their way back home Friday morning (in a few hours roughly) and they will be welcomed back with great fanfare.

Whether this trip we have eagerly been a part of will turn out to be a once in a life time experience or something that some of us students make a habit of, it will occupy a special place in our hearts. There are a lot of first time experiences for college students but this one has certainly been a special privledge, for any college student.

Another group from KSU will soon head off for the Democrat's convention, hopefully they will learn from our trip and our blogs/features/news/videos/etc. and do a great job representing our university.

On behalf of my fellow KSU COMM students and KSU's Political Science students I would like to thank Sue Everhart, the Georgia Delegation, our professors Dr. Kerwin Swint and Dr. Carolyn Carlson and everyone who made us feel welcome Tampa. Also special thanks to Senator Barry Loudermilk and Congressman Tom Graves who gave us their time and took part in the final video interview of the night to wrap up this RNC2012 trip.

, Matthew Bradshaw

Save the best for last.

The saying really is true: “Save the best for last”. Since today was the keystone moment of the entire convention, it should come as no surprise that it was overwhelmingly the best day that this week had to offer.

First, we started the morning with an incredible breakfast with the Georgia Delegation. And again, my expectations were exceeded. Speaker of the House John Boehner came and spoke to the entire delegation. He spoke with a lot of the typical political talking points, but he gave us a little insight into the way the House of Representatives truly operates. Whereas a lot of perspective on Congress comes solely from the news media, we were able to see what happens within the walls. Speaker Boehner was constantly picking on Georgia Representatives, even calling Representative Austin Scott “sweetheart” in jest. It was such a unique experience and it only started what would be a very long day. After a few hours, we were lucky enough to attend a reception in honor of Attorney General Sam Olens. What transpired was nothing but great conversation and more networking with the delegates.

After the reception, it was finally my time to attend the convention and see the activities first hand. To say that attending the last day of the RNC was “incredible” would be an understatement. The final day of any convention, Republican or Democrat, is bound to be one of the most electric environments imaginable. The lineup tonight was one that could really send the Republican Party home with passion in their hearts, and they did not disappoint. The introduction that Representative Marco Rubio delivered was, in my opinion, phenomenal. As Governor Romney followed, he gave a speech that covered all bases and really appealed to the majority of American voters. In terms of political speeches, I believe that the Republican Party went on the offensive and placed the ball in the court of the Democrats.

This entire experience has been absolutely life-changing and I hope that I am able to make it back in another four years. 

Tampa, It's Been Fun...

Today has completely exceeded my expectations.  This morning, we all attended the Georgia delegate breakfast and meeting. It was an amazing opportunity to find out how things operate while delegates are at a convention.  We were fortunate enough to have the United States, Speaker of the House, John Boehner speak to us.  

I've seen/heard Boehner speak in person before (at the convention earlier this week), but it was very special to hear him speak in a room of around 250 people.  After the breakfast and delegate meeting, Dr. Swint and I returned to the hotel, where I sent a few emails and took care of some things before we went back into town. 

After dinner, Dr. Swint, Steven and I walked to the building where the Politico event was being held.  When I walked into the loft-style room, I knew that everything Chase had said about the Politico lounge was true.  They were live streaming a broadcast from the lounge, and had televisions screens broadcasting the convention. When Clint Eastwood took the stage, everyone started paying attention. I tweeted about Senator Marco Rubio's encounter with Eastwood's water (check it out @kylemchappell).  Anyway, Mitt Romney delivered a very touching speech that focused on his personal life.  

We just arrived back to our hotel from the final delegation event at the Grand Hyatt.  I am incredibly grateful to the Georgia GOP and the faculty and administration at Kennesaw State University for setting this up and being so incredibly accommodating to us.  We have had such an incredible time!  Tomorrow we will be heading back to Kennesaw; and while I am not sure if I'm ready to give up the life of a guest at a National Party Convention, I am sure of one thing:  A person can actually function on 4-5 hours of sleep every night for at least a week.

Final Day of the Convention

Happy to be wrapping up the convention and to be heading home tomorrow!
This evening we were able to go to the forum and see the speeches, as well as watch Romney accept the position as Presidential Nominee.
Through the evening my favorite speaker was Marco Rubio, as his speech had so many things I feel hit home to the audience.
The excitement in the audience was incredible, and the pride we all had in our country was overwhelming as USA! chants took over throughout the crowd.
It was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to come down here for this class!

So here are four links to the stories I completed yesterday at www.kennesawcommunication.com
http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/?p=1195&preview=true
http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/31/sam-olens-honored-at-brunch/
http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/31/rnc-interview-toria-morgan/
http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/boehner-ralston-address-georgia%E2%80%99s-gop-breakfast/

Happy reading! :)

Final Day

Today was the final day of the convention, and the students who hadn't yet experienced some of the speeches were really excited to see the festivities tonight. Those of us that went Tuesday and Wednesday pretty much just worked on tying up any loose ends with our stories, and I felt really accomplished knowing I was done with everything.

This week has been a great learning experience, as a Democrat reporting on a Republican convention, most people thought I wouldn't have enjoyed my time here, but I have. I've met some amazing people and covered some good events throughout the week, and I'll remember all I've learned in the years to come.

I leave you the readers with one final note:

HILLARY 2016

The Unexpected Credentials

I was able to get last minute credentials for the last night of the convention. It was a great unexpected surprise.

I was so honored to be apart of history. The electricity in The Forum was intoxicating you could not help but be excited. I look forward to following the campaign all the way up to election day.

A speaker who's political career I plan to follow is Marco Rubio. He spoke well and had great points.

What a magical night!!

Romney - Ryan

Mitt Romney Accepts Nomination, Addresses the Republican National Convention

Senator Marco Rubio Addresses the Republican National Convention

Clint Eastwood Addresses the Republican National Convention 2012

John Boehner: Joe Biden-Paul Ryan debate will be ‘greatest show on the planet’

2:41 pm August 30, 2012, by jgalloway

TAMPA — House Speaker John Boehner, touting GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan’s convention debut, told members of the Georgia delegation late this morning that Ryan’s upcoming debate with Vice President Joe Biden will be “the greatest show on the planet.”
We know this because, after five days, members of the press were allowed into a delegation meeting. All previous sessions had been ordered closed by state GOP Chairman Sue Everhart.
But intervention by state House Speaker David Ralston – Boehner was his guest at the event, and Ralston saw no reason to hide the fact – resulted in a handful of reporters being allowed entry. For the 13 minutes of Boehner’s remarks only.
Boehner opened his remarks with a nod toward Doug Collins, who won the GOP nomination for the new 9th District congressional seat, and Lee Anderson, the presumed GOP victor in the race to face down U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta.
Boehner also spoke about Mitt Romney, who accepts the Republican nomination for president this evening. But the Georgia crowd really didn’t stir until Boehner touched on Romney’s decision to name Paul Ryan as his running mate – who began his political career volunteering for one of Boehner’s Ohio campaigns.
The U.S. House speaker claimed that, after declaring themselves highly pleased with the choice of Ryan because of his controversial proposals on Medicare, Democrats have gone silent. “Why? Because they were getting their butt kicked,” Boehner said.
Boehner had nothing but praise for Ryan’s speech on Wednesday night, and pointed to Oct. 11, when the vice presidential candidates will debate on the campus of Centre College in Danville, Ky.
“There’s not one of my Republican guys that won’t be glued to the TV the night that Joe Biden and Paul Ryan debate,” Boehner said. “I don’t care where we are, I don’t care what we’re doing. I guarantee you 242 of us are going to be watching because it’s going to be the greatest show on the planet.”
Paid reporters were then swept out, but Kennesaw State University student Sara Lynn Colley was able to elude enforcers, and reported here that the final speaker of the session was Gov. Mike Leavitt of Utah, who worked with Romney during the Utah Winter Olympics.
A forbidden tidbit from her report:

“We have been called to skate the performance of our lives,” he said. “History compels it and history needs it.”

Now you understand why Leavitt’s address had to be kept secret.
***
U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, was ready to leave the Tampa Bay Grand Hyatt, where the Georgia delegation is staying, when he learned that Boehner would be making an appearance.
The hills of Kentucky were calling, and he wanted to take his son deer hunting. But duty demanded he pay his respects to his leader.
During his speech, the U.S. House speaker declared, “You always tease the one you love.”
Shortly afterwards, he noticed Scott in the audience. “Morning, sweetheart,” he said to Scott.
“He’s called me worse,” Scott said, wincing at the knowledge that a nickname may have just been born. He should have gone hunting.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

Daria Willson: A Women to Meet

Had the opportunity to talk with Daria Willson. Willson is a guest of delegate Hank Schwab. I got to hear about her experience at the 2012 Republican National Convention thus far and read some of her very informing and entertaining  pieces.

http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/daria-willson-a-women-to-meet/

Boehner, Ralston Address Georgia’s GOP Breakfast

Posted on August 30, 2012 by ccatlanta

By SARA LYNN COLLEY

TAMPA Fla. – Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and Speaker of the U.S. House John Boehner were filled with pride as they addressed the Georgia Republican Party at Thursday morning’s breakfast at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

“I am proud to be a part of a legislature that has conservative governing values, with hard workers, and plenty of good conversation,” Ralston said after thanking many of the delegates for their hard work and courage.

Along with highlighting the accomplishments of the GOP on a local level, Ralston encouraged the party’s support of presidential nominee Mitt Romney and running-mate Rep. Paul Ryan.

Ralston spoke of his experiences with the Republican National Convention, and was thrilled to see how far the party has come, and to watch the places it will go. Ralston then introduced the Speaker of the House John Boehner.

For more, please link to http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/boehner-ralston-address-georgia%e2%80%99s-gop-breakfast/

Philippe Berry: International Media Presence at the Convention

Los Angeles and U.S. Correspondent for 20 Minutes Philippe Berry thought is was very important to be at the 2012 Republican National Convention reporting.

http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/philippe-berry-international-media-presence-at-the-convention/

Catherine Bernard: a Voice for the Unheard

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Steven Welch

By STEVEN WELCH

TAMPA, Fla. —When it comes to standing up for those who cannot always speak for themselves, Catherine Bernard, a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention from Georgia, sees hope for a better future through criminal justice and political reform.

Catherine Bernard, delegate from Georgia's 12th district. Photo by Steven Welch.

 

Bernard is a public defender from Dublin, a small town inmiddle Georgia, and represents the state’s 12^th District at the 2012 Republican National Convention. Her passion for the political and social issues facing America is apparent upon first meeting her; she hopes to bring change throughout the criminal justice system through her work helping the less fortunate, those who might not otherwise have a chance to turn their lives around. It is those times when she is able to help turn someone’s life around that she feels most rewarded from her career.

“When I can do something great for a really deserving person, like a young man with some marijuana or cocaine charges who is facing a bunch of prison time, when we can suppress some of the evidence in his case with legal arguments and get him probation instead of prison,” she said. “That’s a life-changing thing.”

She feels these kinds of moments lend themselves to her credibility in dealing with criminal justice reform, allowing her the ability to speak out about them through her political activism.

For more, please link to http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/catherine-bernard-a-voice-for-the-unheard/

Young Republicans Get Involved

Posted on August 30, 2012 by mbradsh3

Luke Salisbury is one of the students from Utah who volunteered to work at the Republican National Convention.

http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/young-republicans-get-involved/

Georgia, Florida Attorneys General Call For Smaller Government

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Steven Welch

By STEVEN WELCH

TAMPA, Fla. —In a joint speech Wednesday during the Republican National Convention, Attorneys General Sam Olens, of Georgia, and Pam Bondi, of Florida, outlined how they feel President Obama has unconstitutionally forced his policies into the lives of Americans.

“We know that the Constitution limits federal power, but President Obama clearly believes those limits just get in his way,” Olens said. “So he ignores them, time and again.”

Olens, the only member of the Georgia delegation invited to speak at the convention, stressed his belief that Obama has failed in his goal of creating more green jobs to help stimulate the economy, saying he “funnels tax dollars into campaign donors’ pockets.” Along with the lack of job creation, Olens also brought up the Fast and Furious scandal and how it has affected Obama’s administration.

“He promised to have the most transparent administration in history but now refuses to come clean with Congress and the American people about Fast and Furious,” Olens said.

Bondi used her opening remarks as a segway into both speakers’ beliefs in the failure of Obamacare, proclaiming it to be one of the ways the president is overstepping boundaries to create bigger government. Agreeing with Bondi, Olens echoed his earlier remarks that Obama’s plan went against the Constitution and would not be beneficial to the American people, so the Republicans tried to prevent it from going into effect.

For more,  please link to http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/georgia-florida-attorneys-general-call-for-smaller-government/

The Grand Finale

Today is the last day of the convention, and it has already been a blast. I woke up this morning around 8:45am and got ready for my full day at the convention. We left our hotel for the delegation hotel at 9:40am, and we arrived in time to enjoy the delegate breakfast and meeting. Today’s breakfast was held in honor for Georgia Speaker of the House, David Ralston. Speaker Ralston. addressed the meeting, and after his address, we had the opportunity to listen to Speaker John Boehner address the crowd. He was a great speaker, and his jokes are hilarious.

We also had the opportunity to hear other guest speakers such as a former Governor of Utah. After the breakfast, we spoke with Joe Dendy, Cobb County GOP Chair, about the upcoming events of the day. Once the mingling was over, half of our group headed back to the hotel, and the rest of us were hanging out at the hotel until the Sam Olens reception at 2:45pm. I know I am writing this blog early in the day, but I figured that I would blog about my expectations for the rest of the day. I am very excited to go to the Sam Olens reception, and hopefully, I will get the opportunity to meet more delegates and influential people within the Republican Party. Our bus leaves for the convention forum at 5:00pm which I am very excited about the “grand finale” night of the GOP convention. I am very excited to hear Mitt Romney’s speech and to figure out who the mystery speaker will be. Last, I am also looking forward to attending the closing reception tonight after the convention! I will write another blog update tomorrow once I return to Georgia. Follow me on Twitter for live convention update @cduvall2 !

Wednesday Night: "We Built It"

The speakers Wednesday at the Republican National Convention used the theme “We Built It.”

For more, please link to http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/wednesday-night-we-built-it/

Condoleezza Rice Hypes Up The Republican National Convention

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke Wednesday at the Republican National Convention on the current state of the country, how Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan understand the realities of the country, and the power of America, which really got the crowd going. 

http://www.kennesawcommunication.com/2012/08/30/condoleezza-rice-hypes-up-the-republican-national-convention/

Challenge, opportunity for Romney tonight

Can his party win over middle-of-the-road voters?

Ann Romney sat in a VIP box at the Republican National Convention on Thursday with her granddaughter Chole Romney and her son Matt Romney.

TAMPA — At some point after 10 o’clock Thursday night, after the warm-up acts have finished and the horns of the house band have quieted, Mitt Romney will stand alone on the biggest stage of his life.

He will look out over a convention hall alive with partisan enthusiasm and possibility — the Texans under their matching cowboy hats, the West Virginians in their miner’s caps, the Massachusetts delegation enjoying its rare moment in the Republican sun.
 

It will be, for Romney, both the culmination of everything he has worked for and a way station on the path to his ultimate quarry: becoming president of the United States. He’s arrived here through diligent preparation, good fortune, and burning ambition, eager to lead his party toward November on his economic message.
 

“Everyone who has been involved in Governor Romney’s life over the years feels the weight of this moment,” said Kerry Healey, Romney’s lieutenant governor and one of Thursday’s featured speakers.
 

A frenzied convention hall in Tampa, though, is hardly a nation. So while Thursday’s anointing indeed represents a political triumph for Mitt Romney it is also fraught with risk. To name just one: Can the modern Republican Party, with its increasingly conservative bent, successfully court middle-of-the-road voters?

For more, please click http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/romney/2012/08/29/mitt-romney-speech-tonight-has-challenge-can-his-party-win-over-middle-the-road-voters/rFLEI7GFYtjfj2Ad7LZuRM/story.html

DNC readies 'contingency plan,' watches weather for Obama acceptance speech

Posted by

CNN Political Reporter Shannon Travis

Tampa, Florida (CNN) - Democratic National Convention officials have been anxiously watching the weather for next week when President Obama will deliver his convention speech from an outdoor stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, a convention official told CNN. Another source said officials have readied a "contingency plan" which would be announced "closer to the convention" should extreme weather strike.

 

On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, the DNC will hold events at the indoor Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. On Thursday, President Obama – and Vice President Biden - are slated to deliver acceptance speeches at the outdoor Bank of America Stadium. The stadium seats just over 73,000.

Forecasts show the potential for rain and possibly thunderstorms on Thursday for Charlotte, creating the potential for the soaking of the tens of thousands of attendees and casting a cloud over the carefully-staged event.

"There's been some conversations that the forecast is already predicting storms," one convention official said.

For more, please link to http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/30/dnc-readies-contingency-plan-watches-weather-for-obama-acceptance-speech/

Also, the 10-day weather forecast for charlotte is at http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Charlotte+NC+28202:4:US

 

Five things we learned at the Republican National Convention

By Peter Hamby, Kevin Liptak and Paul Steinhauser, CNN

updated 1:26 AM EDT, Thu August 30, 2012

 

Tampa (CNN)

 

-- On the night vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan made his debut on the national stage, the GOP turned its attention to America's influence abroad and what the party sees as President Barack Obama's failed economic policies. The roster of speakers at the Republican National

Convention boasted two of the party's foreign policy heavy hitters and rhetoric designed to appeal to voters who are still undecided. Here are five things we learned from the convention's second night:

1. Romney's enforcer comes to play

 

On Tuesday, the GOP convention was about love (Ann Romney) and respect (Chris Christie).

But to the chagrin of head-scratching Republicans eager to take the fight to President Barack Obama, there wasn't much talk in the Tampa Bay Times Forum about the current administration in Washington.

 

Paul Ryan put those anxieties to rest on Wednesday with a lengthy, aggressive and systematic attack on Obama's record in office, with one question as the thesis: "Without a change in leadership, why would the next four years be any different from the last four years?"

 

For more, please link to http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/30/politics/5-things-weds/index.html

Condoleezza Rice outshines Paul Ryan

By E.J. Dionne Jr.

TAMPA — Maybe it’s unfair to say so because former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice didn’t have to carry any water as a member of the Republican ticket. But her speech to the Republican National Convention was more serious and, yes, more presidential than any other speech on Wednesday night. She outshined Paul Ryan.

 

Yes, I disagreed with many things Rice said, and there was a hole in the speech where the word “Iraq” should have been. But it was more the speech of a potential chief executive than Ryan’s was.

 

The most striking aspect of what Ryan said was what he didn’t say. This was not the Ryan of blueprints and budget proposals. Ryan sought to bury his budget for electoral purposes tonight, though you can be sure it will be unearthed at the Democratic National Convention next week.

 

And he has clearly picked up the Romney campaign’s habit of playing fast and loose with facts. For example, he declared of President Obama, “He created a bipartisan debt commission. They came back with an urgent report. He thanked them, sent them on their way, and then did exactly nothing.”

 

Somehow, Ryan said not a word about the fact that he was himself a member of the commission and that he voted against its report, one reason it did not get the votes it needed to for adoption.

 

For more, please link to http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/condoleezza-rice-outshines-paul-ryan/2012/08/30/456c8ae6-f257-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_blog.html

Condoleezza Rice Addresses the Republican National Convention

VP Nominee Paul Ryan Addresses the Republican National Convention

The Wednesday Convention Update

Today was very eventful!  We traveled along with Dr. Swint to the "Romneyville" protest camp next to an Army/Navy Surplus store.  We were surprised to find that the camp was basically inactive.  This could have been due to the fact that the temperature was incredibly hot, and the occupiers were stuck outside in the heat and humidity.  It was a good experience to at least see where some of the "action" was happening. My only thought is that the occupiers were too exhausted (by the heat etc.) to even consider doing any protesting, other than occupying a lot next to said Army/Navy Surplus store. 

After we left Romneyville, we walked back toward the main area of downtown Tampa. We encountered a group of protestors holding various bits of propaganda (including signs and the like.)  One man in particular decided to get on a loud speaker to let everyone know what he thought about Mitt Romney… (Weston actually has video footage of this guy). Needless to say, it was an interesting experience. 

The convention this evening was another amazing night filled with incredibly memorable speeches.  I would love to mention every single speaker, but for the sake of saving you readers from a lot of reading, I'll just name a few...  Tim Pawlenty delivered an incredible speech that really got delegates back on track for the remainder of the evening.  Condoleezza Rice had some of the greatest crowd reactions of the entire evening; she was very well received, and eventually exited to a standing ovation.  

Finally, Vice Presidential hopeful, Congressman Paul Ryan took the stage and was immediately given a standing ovation.  Ryan spoke of his family and his home, Janesville, Wisconsin.  Ryan additionally addressed unemployment along with several other issues being addressed throughout tonight's meeting; some of the most notable, being Medicare, and the debt crisis. Overall, Congressman Paul Ryan was very well received by the Republican Party, and I am excited to see what tomorrow brings!

Condi In the House

We are now halfway through the convention events, and the opportunities we have all been allowed to experience are nothing short of awesome.

This afternoon, I had an interview with one of the Georgia delegates that I have gotten to speak with several times this week about the issues the country is facing, and it was really insightful to learn what she thought. I decided after meeting her the first day that I would write a profile on her, so I'm glad we were able to work out a time to do the interview in between her busy schedule and the speeches this week.

Tonight we saw the second day's speeches, which included Senator John McCain, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and a keynote speech by Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan. Condoleezza's speech was one of the most inspiring from the entire convention so far, and reaffirmed the reason why I respect her. As it gets closer to Mitt Romney's speech on Thursday, the entire party seems more and more pumped up about what is to come.

I've learned a lot so far about the whole convention process, and look forward to seeing it go out with a bang tomorrow.

Getting to Know the Delegates

            My day began interviewing guest delegates at the Hyatt Tampa Hotel where we briefly discussed policy changes and what they wish their government would do to better their nation.

            Later during the day I interviewed Bryan Tyson, At- Large Alternate, where I did a mini- bio of his political views and what he thinks the Republican National Convention will do for the Republican Party. During the interview, he talked about how politics influenced his life at an early age. He talked about as a young lawyer he worked his way up the latter.

            Finally, I had the opportunity to do a video interview with Colonel Oscar Poole. With a four question interview, Pool explained why he gets involved in Republican Convention events and what he expects the government to achieve to better secure a our nations economy. As a self-made businessman, Pool’s greatest concern is for small businesses and the future they face.