Random Convention Thoughts

Kurt Luidhardt of Prosper Group Think has some random thoughts about the GOP state convention.

I’ll have my own list to add in the next day or two. Still thinking about it.

Most enthusiastic: 9th District delegates when Mike Sodrel was announced.

I’m from the 9th, and I must say that the reaction Sodrel got (both in the general session and in the district caucus) was so enthusiastic as to surprise even me. He certainly got the loudest and most rousing cheers of anyone at the entire convention, and that was even with only maybe a ninth of the delegates present cheering for him (and they didn’t have noise-making gadgets either).

This is his year.

Pin Cushion Award: Steve Shine for handling the large delegation of Ron Paul delegates in the 3rd district caucus with class. He may get the Pin Cushion of the year award for getting criticized by both sides of the Republican Party in the 2007 Fort Wayne Mayoral contest.

Strangely enough, there was no trouble at all from the Ron Paul delegates in the 9th District caucus; there were only maybe a dozen of them there.

Best Demonstration: LG Becky Skillman with the drum corps and crew of loud supporters. She actually pulled this off without having to beg delegates from the floor to help.

The Skillman demonstration was impressive; though the Zoeller demonstration (composed of almost three hundred people and easily twice the size of that for Costas) was quite impressive also (doubly so since it had no marching band or noise-making gadgets).

(Read more below the fold)

Best Pre-Convention Party: Jon Costas. He may not have been victorious, but he had the ladies swooning with his smooth singing the night before. I mean, how could you beat having the candidate sing with his own rock band? His party was so good the Zoeller people came and crashed it.

I actually briefly attended the Costas party (complete with a Zoeller shirt wadded up and wrapped around my orange Zoeller hat so as to not advertise either one) and was not impressed. The Zoeller signage outside was rather brazen.

Candidates that are leads in bands should not have their bands play at their receptions; either the band will not be as good without them, or the candidate will not be free to mingle with delegates on the floor.

The Bennett reception at State Party easily was the worst pre-convention party (sorry, but it’s true, and I endorsed Tony Bennett); the air conditioning was not working and the place was like a sauna.

Biggest rumor confirmed: LG Becky Skillman confirmed to me that she did, in fact, street race in High School and that her nickname was “Hot Rod.”

As interesting as this is, I suppose it’s the rumors that were proven true that might well be of greater consequence.

Best dressed: Tie between Chris Faulkner with his white suit and the family following Greg Zoeller around dressed in some sort of German attire.

Faulkner’s mobster suit (he endorsed Costas; “I’m fine with twisting arms and breaking legs,” he would say) was certainly up there.

A word must also be said for the deer-hunter orange Zoeller hats.

Biggest Loser: The Indiana Convention Center. The venue was horrible. It was difficult to hear the speakers, it muted the applause, and ruined the photo ops so important to events like this one. Like Gary Welsh, I found myself irritated that they didn’t open up to serve refreshments to any delegates. I hope we don’t go back next year.

I agree. The venue was awful. It’s a pity that the entire convention center isn’t going to be demolished and rebuilt.

Biggest Winer: Tie between Greg Zoeller and the righty blogosphere who propelled him to victory.

Good candidates propel themselves, but blogs cannot function without someone foolishly giving them plenty of ammunition.

Biggest Loser: The Indiana Democrat Party. Why won’t they have a floor fight at their convention? Because they can’t even get candidates to run for office. Republicans went out of their convention enthusiastic about 2008 and with a strong statewide ticket. Meanwhile, the Dems face a June convention without enough candidates to fill their statewide ballot and with a Governor’s candidate that no-one wants to serve with. The Democrat’s belching after the GOP convention rings a lot like envy.

The folks at One North Capitol aren’t alone in this category, but they’re certainly the big losers for November. What divisions the GOP has are shallow and will swiftly heal.

The divisions on the Democrat side are as broad and deep as the Grand Canyon by comparison.

(This post is also available at the Hoosierpundit)