Blog from the Republican National Convention

Updates from Keith Wheeler, Alternate Delegate from the 14th Congressional District of Illinois and Kendall County GOP Chairman   2008 Republican National Convention Photos

McCain makes his presidential case for change - Thursday 9/4 - 11:18 PM
Schock speech moved to later time slot - Thursday 9/4 - 4:28 PM
The Big Night Awaits - Thursday 9/4 - 4:16 PM
Prepare for a real Schock - Thursday 9/4 - 1:07 PM
Thursday Breakfast Meeting - Thursday 9/4 - 10:18 AM
Palin Powerhouse - Wednesday 9/3 - 10:32 PM
Steele, Romney, Huckabee - Wednesday 9/3 - 8:47 PM
Anticipation!!!!! - Wednesday 9/3 - 7:40 PM
Wednesday Morning Breakfast Meeting - Wednesday 9/3 - 9:18 AM
Tuesday Session Finishes Strong - Tuesday 9/2 - 10:46 PM
Fox News Channel Celebrities - Tuesday 9/2 - 8:05 PM
Lesson Learned - Alternate Delegates have better seats - Tuesday 9/2 - 7:00 PM
Session II Underway - Tuesday 9/2 - 6:39 PM
Anticipation ... - Tuesday 9/2 - 4:35 PM
WBBM Radio Interview - Tuesday 9/2 - 4:14 PM
Tuesday Breakfast Continued - Tuesday 9/2 - 9:55 AM
Tuesday Breakfast Meeting - Tuesday 9/2 - 9:28 AM
Back and Out Again - Monday 9/1 - 7:23 PM
Laura Bush! - Monday 9/1 - 5:02 PM
Back in Session - Monday 9/1 - 4:16 PM
Meeting Underway - Monday 9/1 - 2:51 PM
Monday Session at Xcel Energy Center - Monday 9/1 - 2:22 PM
Monday Breakfast Meeting - Monday 9/1 - 9:47 AM
Arrival in Minneapolis - Sunday 8/31 - 7:41 PM


McCain makes his presidential case for change
Thursday 9/4 - 11:18 PM

John McCain stepped into the Xcel Center to accept the Republican nomination for the office of President of the United States to a frenzied crowd of supporters.

McCain made his case for REAL change in Washington with a dignified and presidential speech which didn't offer much in the way of new policy or political sniping. Instead, McCain demonstrated his unifying theme by reaching out to Democrats and independents.

McCain's call to 'stand up and fight with me (him)' received such an ecstatic reponse that most of us on the floor and in the arena couldn't hear the conclusion to his speech.

All in all, a fantastic finish to a tremendously successful Republican National Convention.


Schock speech moved to later time slot
Thursday 9/4 - 4:28 PM

We have been informed that Aaron Schock will speak to the Republican National Convention between 6:00pm and 7:00pm instead of 5:20pm.


The Big Night Awaits
Thursday 9/4 - 4:16 PM

Following last night's historic speech by the next Vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin, the Illinois Delegation is fully primed to hear from the next President of the United States, our John McCain.

The buzz following last night's session hasn't diminished in any manner. Now that the Nielson ratings showed she pulled 37 million viewers - just 1 million less than Obama with a huge segment of females - everyone is looking forward to every minute we'll get at the Xcel Center.

Sarah Palin has already had a very positive effect on the Republican base. Now, it's time for John McCain to build on the momentum from last night with a Presidential speech from the man most ready to lead our great country.


Prepare for a real Schock
Thursday 9/4 - 1:07 PM

I have just been informed that 18th District Congressional candidate Aaron Schock will be addressing the Republican National Convention today at 5:20pm.

Aaron is an excellent candidate with an exciting story. We are all pulling for his victory this fall.

Tune into C-SPAN and watch this impressive young man!


Thursday Breakfast Meeting
Thursday 9/4 - 10:18 AM

Congressman John Shimkus led off this morning's session with a spirited examination of the issues on Capitol Hill that explained the process by which Nancy Pelosi shut down the vote on expanded drilling.

Bill Strong informed the Illinois Delegation that John McCain will be coming to Chicago soon.

Longtime Republican National Committeewoman Mary Jo Arndt received a standing ovation as she took the stage. She then explained her efforts to get John McCain elected. She will now be Illinois Republican Party Chairman Emeritus which is a well-deserved honor.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross was introduced by State Rep. Jim Durkin. Tom acknowledged the new wave of leadership that is bringing the Republican Party new ideas and new energy. Tom went on to build support for the candidates running for state government back in Illinois.

Illinois Senate Leader Frank Watson got the crowd up, literally. He encouraged the Illinois Delegation to get up and hug each other in the spirit of cooperation recently demonstrated by the Democrat leaders in Illinois without any real sincerity. Watson made a well-taken point about the Obama (lack of) experience issue and Obama's lack of integrity shown by his choice to push the 'yellow' Present button while he was in the Illinois Senate.

Durkin then introduced former Congressman Bob Michel who led the Republican delegation in the United States House of Representatives. It's easy to see why he was a leader for so many years. Bob motivated everyone to work with our grassroots leaders and he did it with such grace - very inspiring!

Ray LaHood, retiring 18th District Congressman from the Peoria and Springfield area, thanked our new Party leadership including Andy McKenna and Jim Durkin. He then encouraged the Illinois Delegation to get very involved in this fall's election. LaHood looked forward to the 2010 statewide elections and discussed appealing to all voters instead of only Republican votes.



Palin Powerhouse
Wednesday 9/3 - 10:32 PM

Wow! Sarah Palin walked onto the national political stage, introduced herself, and went to work as the Republican candidate for the Vice-Presidency. Let me tell you. From my vantage point in the Alternate Delegate section for Illinois, Sarah Palin showed us why her constituents in Alaska give her an approval rating of more than 80 percent. From the moment she walked out onto the stage, she gave the Republican Party what it had been waiting for: a new, dynamic leader who reminds us of, well, us. She's a hockey mom with a sense of humor who knows the difference between talk and action. She said that her family has its ups and downs just like we all do. Sarah connected with the Republican faithful with her poise, her ideas, and her clear understanding of what it takes to lead. Like all of the delegates, we loved her comparison between being a community organizer and being the mayor of a small town. The latter actually has responsibilities. Of course, everyone adored her not so well-known joke "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick" We loved it and we love the nomination of Governor Sarah Palin to be the next Vice President of the United States of America.


Steele, Romney, Huckabee
Wednesday 9/3 - 8:47 PM

GOPAC Chairman and former Lt. Governor of Maryland Michael Steele lit up the arena with his remarks to the Republican faithful. Former Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was greeted with great applause and returned the favor with some tantalizing lines. Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee followed and delivered the very memorable line, "I didn't become a Republican because I grew up rich, I became a Republican because I didn't want to be poor and wait for the government to rescue me."


Anticipation!!!!!
Wednesday 9/3 - 7:40 PM

This place is ready to burst! The convention speakers have been doing a great job getting us warmed up and making solid arguments for supporting Republican principles. However, there's one specific speaker about which everyone is talking and for whom everyone feels tremendous enthusiasm: Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska - the next Vice President of the United States!


Wednesday Morning Breakfast Meeting
Wednesday 9/3 - 9:18 AM

Chairman McKenna introduced former House Speaker Denny Hastert who looked to the future of the Republican Party thanking the newer members of the Illinois Congressional delegation. United States Senate candidate Dr. Steve Sauerberg addressed the Illinois Delegation next with a comparison of the campaigns and the service they have provided to our state and country. Incoming Republican National Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte highlighted the benefits and effects of grassroots organizing. Demetra's counterpart, newly elected Republican National Committeeman Pat Brady told of his background with John McCain and his admiration and support of our country. Congressman Peter Roskam from Illinois' 6th district spoke of the critical aspects of this election which are currently in play: free enterprise, healthcare, and energy. Roskam made clear points in favor of the McCain-Palin ticket and promoted the ground game in getting their vote out. Jim Durkin reminded everyone to help out with preparing relief packages for the gulf coast disaster victims at 12:15pm.


Tuesday Session Finishes Strong
Tuesday 9/2 - 10:46 PM

The Tuesday Session of the Republican National Convention was very exciting - especially compared to the first night. Senator Fred Thompson got everyone on their feet with a great speech which chronicled the life of John McCain and made a very solid case as to why he is the right choice to be our next President. Something very strange occurred shortly after Fred finished. I found myself along with thousands of other Republican delegates on my feet cheering loudly for the man who eight years ago ran for Vice President against Dick Cheney and was the running mate of Al Gore. The convention hall received Joe Lieberman, the former Democrat turned independent, with great enthusiasm as he made the case why Democrats and independents should vote for John McCain.


Fox News Channel Celebrities
Tuesday 9/2 - 8:05 PM

I went down to the Fox News Channel broadcast booth just below our seating in the Alternate Delegate section for Illinois. I met Sean Hannity (who signed my Illinois Delegation badge), Karl Rove, Brian Kilmeade, Chris Wallace and McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. Here comes Bush!


Lesson Learned - Alternate Delegates have better seats
Tuesday 9/2 - 7:00 PM

I went down to floor level to check out the Fox News Channel broadcast of Shepard Smith's show. It was right behind the Illinois Delegation. You can't really see much from the floor. Therefore, the Alternate Delegates have a much better view of the convention activities. It's good to be an alternate.


Session II Underway
Tuesday 9/2 - 6:39 PM

Boehner got things underway and a tribute to GOP leaders who passed on since the last convention. He then offered ideas about the current situation at the national level and how the Nancy Pelosi-led Congress is to blame.


Anticipation ...
Tuesday 9/2 - 4:35 PM

We hear that tonight's speakers include President Bush and Vice President Cheney via satellite, Fred Thompson, Sen. Joe Lieberman and others.


WBBM Radio Interview
Tuesday 9/2 - 4:14 PM

On the way into the hotel restaurant where the Illinois Delegation was eating lunch, a repoter from WBBM radio asked me a few questions about John McCain, the 14th Congressional District race, and the growth in Kendall County. I thought it went pretty well. I just got a few calls from friends back home who heard the interview following the CBS report on WBBM. They said it sounded OK. If you heard it, let me know your opinion as well.


Tuesday Breakfast Continued
Tuesday 9/2 - 9:55 AM

The meeting had a strong lineup of speakers which continued with another war hero, Col. Roger Donlon, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for service in Viet Nam.

Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn spoke about highly of the Illinois Delegation in Congress. She reviewed the McCain platform in the clearest terms possible with great effect.

GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele got the crowd fired up the grassroots and Lincoln Republicanism. He focused on the battle of ideas in which we are currently fighting. He spoke about putting people over politics which John McCain demonstrated very clearly this week.

Ambassador Bolton closed the session discussing the consequences of this election with respect to national security issues. He used the Russian situation with Georgia as a contrast between the two candidates.

He made several points regarding VP candidate Sarah Palin and her qualifications for office and her record. He offered the idea of having Palin debate the Democrat nominee for President noting that she is not afraid to take on her own party - something that Obama never did in Chicago with the Democrat machine. He spoke about energy policy differences between the parties.

Bolton then recalled his discussion with Sarah Palin regarding missile defense and her understanding of our national program and Alaska's role in it. She is up to speed and ready to lead.

McCain campaign requested 1 hour of time to pack supplies for relief efforts.

Buses line up at 3:30pm. Be there!


Tuesday Breakfast Meeting
Tuesday 9/2 - 9:28 AM

Chairman Andy McKenna opened the Tuesday Breakfast Meeting by introducing 10th district Congressman Mark Kirk who offered updates on his district and the efforts being made to assist hurricane victims in the gulf region. Frank Donatelli then addressed the Illinois Delegation regarding the McCain campaign and made it clear that the real ticket for change this year. Col. Bud Day received a standing ovation on his entry into the meeting. He was a fellow POW with John McCain at the Hanoi Hilton in Viet Nam. Many stories and reflections of their extraordinary days in captivity held the audience's attention like a vice. Real American Heroes.


Back and Out Again
Monday 9/1 - 7:23 PM

After returning to the hotel, taking care of a few business matters and updating the blog, I am back out to the next engagement. One note I forgot to mention earlier: It takes a long time to get to the Xcel Energy Center and back. It's already a decent distance just using the interstate highways. Add to that the detours required due to the rumored protesters throwing items in the direction of the delegate buses from overpasses, and the trip takes extra time. You'd think that these protesters would realize that it makes little sense to go through all of that effort only to see us drive down a different road due to the hard work of Minneapolis-St. Paul's finest. Thank you to the host city for making this event run so smoothly and efficiently!


Laura Bush!
Monday 9/1 - 5:02 PM

After several formalities, reports, motions, and votes, the Republican National Convention got a big lift when First Lady Laura Bush appeared onstage. She introduced video messages from the gulf coast governors regarding the situation with Hurricane Gustav including Texas Governor Perry, Alabama Governor Riley, Florida Governor Crist, and Governor Haley Barbour. Another lift came when Cindy McCain appeared with Laura Bush to reach out for disaster relief: www.causegreater.com


Back in Session
Monday 9/1 - 4:16 PM

A recess was called an hour ago to let the individual committees finalize and approve their reports to the Republican National Convention. Here come some reports.


Meeting Underway
Monday 9/1 - 2:51 PM

Mike Duncan opened the meeting. The Illinois Delegation is seated far stage left and as an alternate delegate, I am seated in the first section above the floor. A request to contribute to the hurricane relief was made to use cell phones to text GIVE to 24357


Monday Session at Xcel Energy Center
Monday 9/1 - 2:22 PM

The bus has delivered us to the Xcel Energy Center and the Illinois Delegation has begun to assemble. The stage is set to open the convention with a different tone than what we all expected before the storm in the gulf made its presence felt. Things should get started shortly.


Monday Breakfast Meeting
Monday 9/1 - 9:47 AM