12 DAY CONVENTION PHOTO RECAP: DAY 10 of 12-RNC DAY 2; RON PAUL’S RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC

12 DAY CONVENTION PHOTO RECAP: DAY 10 of 12-RNC DAY 2; RON PAUL’S RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC

originally posted sep 7 - reposted and updated sept 17 - captions updated and coming

1. Ron Paul Addresses the 10,000 + Strong Throng.

Much like the Obama Rally, we spoke to people who travelled from Thunder Bay, Ontario, from Buffalo, NY, from Idaho, Nebraska, California, Georgia, and Florida. “Ronvoys” made the trek from their respective hometowns - busloads of people stopping at all points in between to pick up people who either registered through the Rally For The Republic website, through local Meetup.com groups, or any number of the various Ron Paul oriented activist websites.

CSPAN aired the entire event live, and the entire complement of speakers can be found HERE. The Campaign for Liberty reports that the event was fully “sold out”, which is quite an accomplishment considering that the Republican National Convention was also in town.

Major Media did actually talk about the event, but more or less after the fact. We’re quite certain that if the event had been “forwarded”, in broadcast parlance, the event would have atttracted even more throngs of people. We’ll include some video of the event to complement the photos in case you missed the event, want to relive the event, or simply want to hear some of the themes and content of the various speakers.

Unlike the DNC and RNC speeches, each invited guest was allowed to speak about whatever they felt was relevent, not simply boilerplate speechcraft. The only Denver exception was Dennis Kucinich’s fantastic address to the DNC, which was ghettoized in 2 ways. One, he was shceduled to speak extremely early in the day (four hours earlier than the 2004 DNC in Boston), and Two, the DNCC misrepresented the time Kucinich would be speaking, with the complicity of Time Magazine, who were handing out daily laminate cards of the scheduled speaker times. The primetime speaking engagements were mostly dead accurate, but somehow Kucinich’s was waaay of the mark. Hm.

Getting back the Rally For the Republic, in many cases it was interesting to hear speakers who were largely considered George Bush’s “base” in 1999/2000, such as Lew Rockwell and Grover Norquist. By 2004 many started to have their doubts. By 2008 the thought of the man makes them shudder.

The speakers weren’t all disaffected Republicans. independent’s, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Democrats, and free-thinkers also made up a heay percentage of the audience, as did the politically curious, policy wonks, politico nerds and media voyeurs. It was, in some opinion, what a proper political convention should be composed of.

Considering that many spent the full 8 hours and more to participate in the program, it might not be a stretch to surmise there are politcal-consumers who are well educated and are realizing, now more than ever that, and let’s face facts here people, the political duopoly in the U.S. is more rigged than many people would really want to know.

2. Ron Paul (2)

3. Ron Paul ( After the Goldwater Introduction)

4. Ron Paul (4) Confetti Drop After Goldwater Introduction

The roar of the audience was just as intense as the roar was for McCain at the XCel Center, and while it would be hard to compare it to the Obama rally, for the inside of a basketball arena ( Target Center, Minneapolis, MN) it was comparable.

4. Barry Goldwater Jr.

The son of the man known as “Mr. Conservative”, ( Barry Goldwater - an icon within the Republican Party, the man who served as the Arizona Senator and battled LBJ for the presidency in 1964) made a rousing intro of Ron Paul and explained how he was a Paul supporter from Day 1, going so far as to hit the campaign trail for him and even went to New Hampshire to do what he could to get the Ron Paul message out.

If this doesn’t represent a very negative and Dick Morris-esque shift for the GOP - where the son of a GOP icon (who shares the same conservative values of his father) working for Ron Paul is ignored by the media, then it would be hard to guage what does.

6. Barry Goldwater Jr. Introducing Ron Paul (2)

7. Jimmy Vaughn Makes Surprise Appearance

Blues guitar virtuoso Jimmy Vaughn (brother of Stevie Ray Vaughn) made an unnannounced afternoon performance and played an improvised blues in the spirit of the event called ‘Down With Big Brother’. The audience engaged in a call and response in the best of blues traditions. Vaughn also played the Ron Paul Rally After Party at the Lone Tree Annex in Minneapolis. Musically, it was quite a 2 week period week for convention goers, who got to see everyone from Aimee Allen, Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, Tom Morello, Tao Seeger, Ike Reilly, Nellie McKay, Sara Evans, and countless other marquee performers.

7. Aimee Allen - Performing Universal Soldier As a Request For Ron Paul

Allen, an already seasoned performer, came to the attention of Ron Paul supporters after penning what was to become know as the official Ron Paul Campaign song - garnering airplay on radio and MTV. The Song - ‘Ron Paul Revolution’ went over so well she was asked to perform it twice, so she essentially played 2 encores.

Aimee Allen’s Live Performance of ‘Universal Soldier’

Aimee Allen’s Live Performance of ‘Ron Paul Revolution’

Aimee Allen’s Official Video for ‘Ron Paul Revolution’

8. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson

Gov. Johnson, known for his public stance on the War on Drugs, his surprise victory over Gov Incumbent, his fiscal conservatism, vetoing over 750 bills during his tenure, his refusal to raise taxes, not to mention his Triathalon Competetiveness and his climbing of Mount Everest, Johnson could almost have served as the example for Gov Jesse Ventura. Needless to say, his Libertarian principles and truly maverick style of leadership earned him many friends and critics — and he was certainly at home addressing the Ron Paul Rally.

9. Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura

Although his message was a little different from his counterparts (his position on gun control, immigration, revolution, and 9-11 make him different from some in attendance), his new book,’Don’t Start the Revolution Without Me’ as well as this being his first political speech in ages. it certainly felt as though Ventura never left. There had been speculation about whether he would make a run for President as an independent (he hasn’t ruled it out for 2012), Ventura adddressed issues of ballot accesss, fiscal responsibility in running campaigns, as well as campaign reform - Ventura definitely struck a strong chord with the audience. His historical interpretation of the Second Ammendment, his call for Revolution, and his declaration that “I am not a Republican, I am NOT a Democrat” all brought the house down. He’ll still be a political force to watch whether he considers office or offers his opinion.

10. Jesse Ventura “To Hell With This PATRIOT ACT!…”

Ron Paul Supporters Raise a Jubilant Ruckus For Passing and Honking Traffic Outside the Target Center

The mood was jubilant and party oriented. For an event that long (almost 9 hours) it’s hard to imagine keeping an energy level up up for a political event — but there was no shortage of energy wahtosever. They came in all sort of costumes (Lady Liberty, Abe Lincoln, Revolutionary Soldiers), and bearing all sorts of signs (‘Veterans For Paul’, Revolution Now!‘). Many chanted, and one long, red haired firebrand even belted out an incredible version of the national anthem.

Barb Davis White - the Invocation.

Barb Davis White led the Invocation. She is “running in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Born of a Jewish mother and a black Catholic father‚ Barb graduated from North High‚ earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota‚ and obtained a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Bethel Theological Seminary. She completed her Program for Non-Profit Organizations at St. Thomas University.”

Howard Philips - Chairman of The Conservative Caucus

Howard Philips has an extensive resume and I’m going to take the lazy route and quote the Rally for the Republic website for the particulars, for those who aren’t familiar with his extensive work since the early 70’s. There are certainly some components to his resume we aren’t thrilled with, but that, again, is the nature of democracy…

”Since 1974‚ Howard Phillips has been Chairman of The Conservative Caucus (TCC)‚ a non-partisan‚ nationwide grassroots public policy advocacy group. TCC provided leadership in opposition to the Panama Canal and Carter-Brezhnev SALT II treaties during the 1970s. Since then‚ TCC has led national campaigns to end judicial tyranny‚ restore a U.S. military presence at Panama‚ deploy SDI‚ eliminate the graduated income tax‚ and terminate federal subsidies to ideological activist groups. Other TCC campaigns have involved opposition to NAFTA and the World Trade Organization (WTO)‚ passage of the Constitution Restoration Act (CRA)‚ and withdrawal from all institutions of the New World Order‚ as well as continuing efforts to oppose socialized medicine‚ abortion‚ and special rights for homosexuals.

During the 1970s and ’80s‚ Phillips coordinated efforts to build private sector support for anti-Communist freedom fighters in Central America and southern Africa. He played an instrumental role in the leadership of the New Right‚ as well as in the founding of the religious right in 1977. Phillips has led geostrategic fact-finding missions to Eastern Europe‚ Africa‚ the Baltic States‚ South America‚ Central America‚ Western Europe‚ and the Far East.

Phillips is President of The Conservative Caucus Research‚ Analysis & Education Foundation and the U.S. Taxpayers Institute‚ and is Chairman of the U.S. Taxpayers Alliance.

Howard Phillips founded the U.S. Taxpayers Party (USTP) in 1992 to offer America leadership committed to restoring the Federal Republic to its delegated‚ enumerated constitutional functions and returning American jurisprudence to its original “common law” Biblical foundations. Phillips was nominated in 1992 and 1996 to be the USTP candidate for President of the United States. In 1999‚ he was chosen to be the Y2K Presidential nominee of the Constitution Party‚ the renamed USTP.

Phillips left the Republican Party in 1974 after some two decades of service to the GOP as precinct worker‚ election warden‚ campaign manager‚ congressional aide‚ Boston Republican Chairman‚ and assistant to the Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

A 1962 graduate of Harvard College‚ where he was twice elected president of the Student Council‚ Phillips is President of Policy Analysis‚ Inc. (PAI)‚ a for-profit consulting firm which publishes the bimonthly Howard Phillips Issues and Strategy Bulletin (HPISB).

During the Nixon Administration‚ Phillips headed two federal agencies‚ ending his Executive Branch career as Director of the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity in the Executive Office of the President‚ a position from which he resigned when President Nixon reneged on his commitment to veto further funding for “Great Society” programs.

Phillips has published four books: The New Right at Harvard (1983)‚ Moscow’s Challenge to U.S. Vital Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa (1987)‚ The Next Four Years (1992)‚ and Victory 2000 (1999). He was the recipient of the Strategic Resource Group’s William Wilberforce Award for “Ministry to the Nation/Public Policy” in September‚ 1996; the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools Award‚ 1995; the Young Americans for Freedom “Alumnus of the Year” Award‚ 1990; the National Association of Pro-America 1983 Award for “promoting Constitutional government”; and the June‚ 1982 Eagle Forum Award‚ for leadership in the pro-family cause and “steadfast opposition to the mischief of the Federally financed feminists”. In May‚ 2002‚ the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty conferred upon him the title of “Patriot.”

Grover Norquist - president of Americans for Tax Reform

Grover Norquist - president of Americans for Tax Reform

Mr. Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)‚ a coalition of taxpayer groups‚ individuals‚ and businesses opposed to higher taxes at the federal‚ state‚ and local levels. ATR organizes the Taxpayer Protection Pledge‚ which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases. To date‚ President George W. Bush‚ 192 House members‚ and 41 Senators have taken the pledge. On the state level‚ 8 governors and over 1‚200 state legislators have taken the pledge.

Mr. Norquist is author of the book Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government’s Hands Off Our Money‚ Our Guns‚ Our Lives. The book is an optimistic look at how the conservative movement can and will grow during the next 25 years.

Mr. Norquist also:

    * Serves on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association of America.
    * Serves on the board of directors of the American Conservative Union.
    * Serves as a Contributing Editor to The American Spectator magazine.
    * Serves as president of the American Society of Competitiveness.
    * Wrote the book Rock the House - an analysis of the 1994 elections‚ which has been translated and published in Japanese.

In the past‚ Mr. Norquist served as:

    * A commissioner on the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce.
    * A commissioner on the National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service.
    * Economist and chief speechwriter‚ U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1983-1984).
    * Campaign staff on the 1988‚ 1992‚ 1996 Republican Platform Committees.
    * Executive director of the National Taxpayers’ Union.
    * Executive director of the College Republicans.