Monday Highlights

Mitt Romney spoke to the Utah delegation in their morning breakfast. He talked about how Utah loves the color red not only in its scenery but in the candidates it chooses. Romney gave his wholehearted endorsement to the McCain/Palin ticket.

Romney called them both mavericks who are willing to go against the political grain; praising Palin for putting an end to the "Bridge to Nowhere" as governor of Alaska.

Romney talked of Biden's so-called experience in foreign affairs. Noting that Biden opposed Reagan's military buildup; he opposed the Persian Gulf War and he favored breaking Iraq into three countries.

After Romney's speech, Stan Lockhart addressed the delegates reminding them that "I Can" (the last four letters of Republican and the basis of the state parties media blitz) sounds better than "O Crat".



Monday night was supposed to be the night President Bush addressed the Republican National Convention, but instead Utah delegates spent Monday night preparing hygiene kits.

With Monday’s events abbreviated to only official business on Monday afternoon, delegates found there calendars empty on Monday evening. As Utahans do, delegates looked for ways to provide service.

The local wards of the local LDS stake literally overnight helped provide the items for the kits (which include two combs, two towels, two bars of soap, toothpaste and four toothbrushes). Getting the call on Sunday night, members purchased the needed items on Monday for the delegates to put together beginning at 6 p.m.

With the items provided, delegates put together approximately 1,000 kits.

Having participated in a number of county and state conventions, I am used to being able to debate platform amendments and rules amendments. This is not the case at a national convention. While these items are presented to delegates for approval, there is a script that is followed closely. The lesson learned is that if you want to have a real voice in the convention process, you need to put yourself in a position to be on one of the committees that are voted for by national delegates long before the convention.

While these committees have real power, the elections in the Utah delegation went largely uncontested with the exception of one race.

One item of discussion amongst delegates was news of Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy. It is amazing that liberals are taking this opportunity to attack the ticket. When asked what he would do if his daughter became pregnant, Senator Obama said he would not want to force his daughter to have a child. Palin’s family was faced with this decision in real life, and they proved their devotion to the pro life cause.

That being said, I hope the press will give Palin’s family their privacy.

On Tuesday, Utah’s delegates will listen to Senator Bob Bennet on Tuesday morning. A tour of downtown Minneapolis including a visit to the Metrodome, lunch with Senator Hatch featuring Lee Greenwood and another service project will take up the bulk of the day. The schedule for the convention on Tuesday night has yet to be determined.




Monday night was supposed to be the night President Bush addressed the Republican National Convention, but instead Utah delegates spent Monday night preparing hygiene kits.

With Monday’s events abbreviated to only official business on Monday afternoon, delegates found there calendars empty on Monday evening. As Utahans do, delegates looked for ways to provide service.

The local wards of the local LDS stake literally overnight helped provide the items for the kits (which include two combs, two towels, two bars of soap, toothpaste and four toothbrushes). Getting the call on Sunday night, members purchased the needed items on Monday for the delegates to put together beginning at 6 p.m.

With the items provided, delegates put together approximately 1,000 kits.

Having participated in a number of county and state conventions, I am used to being able to debate platform amendments and rules amendments. This is not the case at a national convention. While these items are presented to delegates for approval, there is a script that is followed closely. The lesson learned is that if you want to have a real voice in the convention process, you need to put yourself in a position to be on one of the committees that are voted for by national delegates long before the convention.

While these committees have real power, the elections in the Utah delegation went largely uncontested with the exception of one race.

One item of discussion amongst delegates was news of Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy. It is amazing that liberals are taking this opportunity to attack the ticket. When asked what he would do if his daughter became pregnant, Senator Obama said he would not want to force his daughter to have a child. Palin’s family was faced with this decision in real life, and they proved their devotion to the pro life cause.

That being said, I hope the press will give Palin’s family their privacy.

On Tuesday, Utah’s delegates will listen to Senator Bob Bennet on Tuesday morning. A tour of downtown Minneapolis including a visit to the Metrodome, lunch with Senator Hatch featuring Lee Greenwood and another service project will take up the bulk of the day. The schedule for the convention on Tuesday night has yet to be determined.