Republican Convention Getting Back on Track September 2, 2008

By now you know that  Republican Governor Sarah Palin has announced that her 17 year old daughter, a student in high school, is pregnant, plans to keep her baby and marry her boyfriend.

It will be interesting to see how much of a distraction that surprising issue creates as the National Republican Convention gets back on track this Tuesday.

The R’s decided to downscale Monday’s official start of the convention because of Hurricane Gustav.

President Bush , who was supposed to speak to delegates on Monday, will now address the group via satellite this evening from the White House.

Also speaking will be former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, and Independent Senator (former democratic vice presidential candidate) Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

2 on the Beat will have reaction later from members of the Texas delegation.

Could PUMA Take a Bite Out of Obama’s Spotlight? August 22, 2008

They call themselves PUMA, which stands for Party Unity My A**.

The PUMA members are loyal supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton, and they’re angry that she is  not going to be the Democratic Party nominee for president. 

The PUMA Logo

Just days before the start of the convention in Denver the group is sending out a massive number of e-mails targeting Clinton national convention delegates like Houstonion Teresa Herrin.

Clinton Delegate Teresa Herrin saying no to "PUMA"

Herrin told 2 on the Beat that the emails are encouraging her to stand firm in her support of  Senator Clinton in an effort to block Senator Obama’s nomination. 

Herrin says she appreciates PUMA’s efforts, but she is prepared to support Senator Obama AFTER a  roll call vote for Senator Clinton.

The roll call  will allow delegates like Herrin to stand up and represent the 18 million voters who cast their ballots for Clinton during the presidential primary.

So for now, Herrin plans to just say no to PUMA.

Democrats, Delegates and Donations. August 21, 2008

 

Obama Delegate Roger Harris

Regardless of your political point of view, attending a national party convention is exciting and a real honor, but it’s NOT cheap.

During the past several months 2 on the Beat received emails from democratic party delegates who were holding fundraisers to  help defray the costs of  attending the convention.

48 year old Missouri City resident  Roger Harris is a married father of two young children.  When his girls go back to school on Monday, August 25, Roger will be signing in for his first day as an Obama delegate. 

To get to Denver he reluctantly solicited donations. He told 2 on the Beat that the cash he raised won’t cover all costs, but he is grateful for  friends who pitched in. 

2 on the Beat thinks a person shouldn’t have to be rich  to be a delegate and attend a national convention.

The political process should be accessible and affordable to anyone who is willing to participate in one of the most sacred and important traditions in our country; nominating a  democratic or republican party candidate to run for President of the United States.