Archive for the ‘Midwest Republican Leadership Conference’ Category

During the MRLC we had the great opportunity to interview former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.  We talked to him about a lot of subjects, but one portion of the interview that sticks out is his recounting of his experience with President Bush on 9/11.  Make sure to check it out…and turn it up (we promise, next time we’ll have a mic to mic people)

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Fellow HA Directors Greg Magnuson, Scott Fluhr and I had the unexpected pleasure of talking the ear off of John Gizzi of Human Events during the MRLC. Following presidential races since 1976, Gizzi has seen and written about more in politics than any of us will probably see in our lifetimes. I hope you enjoy this interview. I can tell you we did.

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We had the pleasure of sitting down with Republican Leader in the Indiana House (and contributor to Hoosier Access), Brian Bosma during the MRLC. We asked him about the property tax issue, the speculation of a Special Session, the agenda the Republicans will have going into next years short session as well as the possible return of the Marriage Amendment. Check out our conversation below.

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During the MRLC, Greg, Scott and I had the great opportunity to talk with Politico.com’s Jonathan Martin after the Romney and Thompson’s speeches. We talked to him about everything ranging from state to national politics (he knows quite a bit about what’s going on in Indiana). We were able to post the audio of that interview earlier this week, thanks to Chris Spangle (aka, Abdul in the Morning’s right hand man). But because I know HA readers craved it (you did, didn’t you?), here is the video from that same interview.

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During the MRLC, fellow HA Directors Scott Fluhr, Greg Magnuson and I were able to attend the panel discussion on immigration hosted by WIBC’s Greg Garrison with panelists Congressman Mike Pence and former Congressman Mike Sodrel. Afterward, I was fortunate to spend a few minutes with Congressman Pence to get his views on what went wrong for Republicans nationally in 2006, what could be done differently in 2008 and what the chances are for Republicans to take back the House in 2008. It was a fun conversation that touched on other topics as well. Take a look.

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I had the pleasure of getting to interview Congressman Dan Burton during the MRLC. We were able to talk about what it’s been like on the campaign trail for him this election cycle, his stance on immigration as well as other topics.

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(cross posted at Josh in the Box)

After a whirlwind weekend in which we live blogged events and interviewed candidates and other distinguished people during the MRLC, we the bloggers of Hoosier Access had the chance to be interviewed ourselves by Abdul in the Morning’s right hand man, Chris Spangle. Check out our thoughts on New Media vs. the “old” media.

Chris Spangle interviews Scott Fluhr, Greg Magnuson and Joshua Gillespie

The audio quality isn’t great, but it’s the best we could do with a camcorder while being stuck in the back.  Turn it up and enjoy!  There is some great stuff here.

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By: Brian Sikma 

While I was down at the MRLC working with media credentials, I had the opportunity to observe liberal media bias up close and in action.  Perhaps the most obnoxious question that I heard was repeated by the same reporter to just about every Republican that she interviewed.  The question went something like this “What are your thoughts on Sen. John Warner’s statements about the situation in Iraq?”  Frankly, as a conservative Republican I could not possibly care less what Sen. Warner thinks.  Sen. Warner is very much infatuated with Sen. Warner and he shamelessly checks the direction of the political winds before he issues his policy pronouncements.  (Unfortunately, she didn’t ask me the question so I never got to use that answer.)

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(Sorry for the delay. I meant to post this over the weekend)

When Fred Thompson entered the room he didn’t do it with a flashy introduction or on the stage. Fred Thompson came from the back of the room to mill around with the people. Fred, with his entourage, his aura, and the overall mood of the crowd, came into Saturday night like a Presidential candidate. The atmosphere was more Presidential than the other announced candidates had mustered. Senator Thompson gave a speech in front of banner-carrying and button-wearing “Fredheads” fresh off of a three course meal, hoping that Saturday was the night and that the rumors of a September announcement were put to rest.

Fred gave his speech in front of a huge gathering of people and with a giant American flag hanging from the wall behind him. Even though it wasn’t the night he officially declared his intentions, you have to wonder how it’s going to go down.

Shortly before the speech started I had been informed by Fred’s people that an interview wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t surprised really, but with an impending return to Indianapolis (remember we have Peyton Manning here) and next time as a candidate, we should be able to get some time with Senator Thompson. He is the blogging candidate…oops, I mean he is the blogging testing the waters guy after all and is friendly with the blogging crowd.

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My liveblog of Mitt Romney’s speech has been quoted by gay website The Bilerico Project in their “Homotextual” section:

7:57 - Mocks John Edwards’ haircut. For those of you in Kentucky, that’s the pot calling the kettle black right there.
– Indiana blog HoosierAccess.com liveblogging presidential candidates Mitt Romney’s speech to the Midwest Republican Leadership Conference

This, of course, marks the fulfillment of one of my goals in life.

For those of you keeping track, these are the Hoosierpundit’s goals in life (in no particular order):

* Live long.
* Prosper.
* Achieve utter and total world domination.
* Visit Room 101 (accomplished by visiting a Baron Hill campaign rally).
* Have hair as good as John Edwards or Mitt Romney.
* Have a wife that looks like Jeri Thompson.
* Be quoted by Bilerico (Woohoo!).

We decided to condense the clips of the Fred Thompson speech into one post here so that post would be the one stop shop for all the clips.