A GOP Event Worthy of a Don
Posted by: Vito Andolini | 05/14/2008 10:40 AM
Tuesday night, the Republican Party of San Diego County held its annual major fundraiser at the Town & Country Hotel and Resort in Mission Valley. After a beautiful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner by the Heritage Kids choir, and some red, white and blue "party poppers," the event was in full swing.
An Invocation by Rev. Dwight Johnson was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Local radio show how Mark Larson, from San Diego 1700 AM, was the Emcee of the evening, and did a great moving things along, whilst making a plug for his radio show every so often.
As is custom at these dinners, awards were given out in the following categories:
The Local Elected Official of the Year Award went to San Diego councilman Kevin Faulconer, and was presented by (appropriately) San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders.
The Wendell Cutting award for Legislative Staff Member of the Year went to Collin McGlashen, and was presented by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (who flew down from Sacramento just for the event, and just happens to be Collin's employer).
The Newt Gingrich Award for Best Campaign went to candidate for 75th Assembly Nathan Fletcher and candidate for San Diego city council district 5 Carl DeMaio, and was presented by 1st Vice Chair Mike McSweeney.
The Louisa Akins Award for Woman of the Year went to Claire Plotner, who is also the president of the county Republican Women Federated organization, and was presented by 2nd Vice Chair Warene Wall.
The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Eloise Johnson, and was presented by Treasurer Gary Felien.
The Chairman's Leadership Award for long-time service, dedication and support of the Republican Party went to three San Diego couples; Doug and Nancy Barnhart, Sam and Vivian Hardage, and Tom and Cookie Sudberry. Again, appropriately, Karolyn Dorsee - long time fundraiser - helped present the awards.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders introduced Texas Governor Rick Perry, but not before first thanking all those in attendance, and the county party for their support of him and all the GOP endorsed candidates. The mayor got a standing ovation from the crowd, which seemed to last forever. Mayoral candidate Steve Francis was nowhere to be seen, and judging from the crowd he wouldn't have been very welcome either.
Governor Perry gave a fiery speech to a packed room with over 450 attendees on the importance of standing up for the traditional values which made this country great. He further touched on how the Boy Scouts are a core institution which needs to be preserved, and the Governor also promoted his new book On My Honor, of which signed copies were available for sale. A standing ovation followed, and the crowd seemed to be really having a good time. Several people commented about how "why isn't this guy running for president?" I suspect we haven't seen the last of Gov. Perry.
The event invitation had mentioned a guest appearance by "former President and First Lady", and not until after the Governor's speech was it revealed that the guests were actually Bill and Hillary Clinton. Well, not THE Bill and Hillary, but pretty darn good impersonations by Steve Bridges and Marianne Curan. The crowd burst in to laughter, and the comedy routine was very funny. Bill flirted with every woman in the room, and Hillary even let off some of her (in)famous screeches. It was a great ending part of the program.
Other than some disorganization about seating, which seemed to be related to the sheer number of people attending more than anything else, the event flowed well, and staff and volunteers seemed to do a good job of managing the event. The event concluded promptly at 8:35 PM, which was right on time.
Chairman Tony Krvaric announced that the event had broken new records, both in terms of fundraising and attendance. From the looks of the list of sponsors and the packed room, I'd say he was correct. Krvaric has proven to be an incredible fundraiser, and it looks like the local GOP has now truly arrived, and is really a force to be reckoned with in local elections.
Reactions by people leaving the event were exclusively positive. I couldn't find anyone who had anything to complain about, which is very rare. Kudos to the San Diego GOP and Chairman Krvaric for a great event.
Here is a KUSI video.
It was one of my greatest pleasures when working with Lee Atwater in Senator Thurmonds reelection campaign race...
"Hitler" (A.K.A "designfreak" and "Brian's Girl"), YOUR COMMENT WAS EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE and DISGUSTING. IT HAS BEEN DELETED AND YOU HAVE BEEN BANNED.
MIGHTY THOR
It was a great event. The only change I would make is to cut the Bill and Hillary skit in half.
As frustrated as I am at the lack of long term success in California for "the cause" I sometimes find myself drifting towards the left. Even at one point I considered voting for Obama. I assure you I am not alone amongst righties in this.
However, what reminds me that I have more in common with the right than the left is civility. Whenever I see the boorish behavior at the Seattle WTO event in 1999, hear about cars with republican bumper stickers being vandalized and most of all troops being spit on and disrespected by the likes of Code Pink. All these bother me alot. I am not alone amongst frustrated righties in this.
Considering that we just lost another special election congressional seat in Mississippi yesterday. I assure you that righties all over the country are forgetting what the left are really all about.
I therefore humbly ask mighty Thor to paraphase what "Hitler" said and other banned crass inaproprite comments by lefties. Thus reminding us what kind of culture the left will bring when they are left unchecked in power.