My thoughts on the State GOP Convention

First of all, let me tell everyone that I personally thanked State GOP vice-chair Kitty Dunn for putting on such a well organized convention.  The entire agenda was completed before 5:00.  This is my third term as a state delegate and this was the first time we made it through the entire agenda.  Of course some of the more uncomfortable items such as automatic delegates were tabled until the organizing convention next year.

Getting There

I knew that both conventions were in the same location and that the Race for the Cure was also in the same general area, so I took UTA.  Front running was not running early enough.  I did not wake up early enough to get the bus I had planned, so I woke up my 16-year old son and met the bus in Centerville.

I met as many candidates people as I could before finding a seat for the convention.  I did have a run in some one of Mike Lee's supporters before the convention.  I told him that I was voting for Cherilyn and then he asked me who my second choice is.  I told him I was leaning toward Bridgewater.  We then got into a debate about corporate business incentives.  The person cut of the conversation when I told him that Ogden may have to pony up to keep my job in the city.  The best way to cut off a libertarian is to explain the long-term consequences of their views.

Beginning of the Convetnion

Kudos to the VFW for the flag ceremony.  It was well done.  They should have Veterans groups perform more public flag ceremonies.  I believe that there are few that understand the sacrifice that people make for our freedoms like war veterans.  They are our ultimate survivors.

The Senate Race...

The senate race was very interesting.  Tim Bridgewater was the first candidate to speak.  He brought energy into the room that none of the other candidates were able to match.  As articulate as Bennett, Lee and Eagar were, they just could not come close.  That is why he nearly came out of the convention as the party's nominee.  He was able to win over the majority of delegates who earlier voted for Eagar and Bennett in the earlier rounds...which included me.  He won my support for the primary.


Back to Bridgewater and Lee, here are the results from round 2:

• Businessman Tim Bridgewater -- 37%
• Attorney Mike Lee -- 36%
• Sen. Robert Bennett -- 27%

The results from round three had Bridgewater ahead 57% to 43%.  This means that Bridgewater got 74% of Bennett's supporters in the final round.

Mike Lee is the other finalist.  Has anyone else noticed that Mike Lee talks about how much he loves the constitution, but has at least four amendments in his platform?  He supports the Balanced Budget Amendment, Term Limits, the repeal of the 17th amendment (Direct Election of Senators)  and an amendment ending birthright citizenship. Only Mike Lee's supporters, the ones that were trained by Club For Growth at their thinly vieled meetings were enthused by Lee's speech.  He does not quite have the right demeanor.  I predict that Bridgewater will be the one to replace Bennett in DC.

The Other Races.

I voted for Van Oaks for governor, because he spoke about going beyond being the best managed state in the US.  Herbert seems to be content with the status quo.  Van Oaks got 25% of the vote.

My congressman, Rob Bishop was being challenged by GOP malcontent Mike Ridgeway, who most delegates are not taking seriously any longer.

The second district race was fun.  Morgan Philpot avoided a primary against Neil Walter.  But the young Mr Walter impressed me.  You are going to see him again in Utah Politics.  His people impressed me, too.  He is well spoken and optimistic.

Resolutions

I will only comment about the immigration plank in the platform.  I simply do not like the term "amnesty."  It means different things to different people.  I like the idea of requiring the federal government to protect our borders and I like the support of the rule of law.  Let's say that you find an undocumented immigrant who is is law abiding, and offer a path to citizenship which requires the person to pay a large fine, back income taxes with interest, report to his nearest consulate, pay all of his back taxes to his home country, learn English and then wait ten years to become a citizen some would call that amnesty.  Others would call this justice.  And someone else may call it harsh.  Amnesty is a word designed to invoke an anger emotion in some people.  It should be taken out of the plank.

The platform plank as adopted...
We oppose illegal immigration and all forms of amnesty, or legal status, to illegal immigrants.  Etc.

It is strong enough just to say...
We oppose illegal immigration and any law seeking to provide legal status to those who entered our country illegally or who have abused their visa privileges.

I would also remove the opposition to a guest worker program because people usually stop reading at that point.