Saturday, February 23, 2008

Alabama Delegation Meets

The Alabama Delegation meet Sunday February 17. To make the meeting, I had to fly back from Dallas Texas then drive over three hours to Montgomery through torrential rain. Minutes after I arrived the tornado warning sirens went off. A big tornado struck Prattville, AL just minutes after I had passed that town! No one was killed, just a lot of damage as this photo shows.















The meeting continued as we were in a strong building. The McCain delegates were obviously nervous and loaded for bear, as they were outnumbered by the Huckabee delegates. They made a motion to adjourn and meet again a month or so later "after McCain would have it all wrapped up". I thought, I just came through a tornado to get here and I'm not driving all the way back again just to do what we came here to do today. Well, the controversy continued. I won't get into details, but some of this had more to do with internal Alabama politics than the convention. When all was said and done, we elected a delegation chairman, Mike Hubbard, the party chairman who was neutral on the candidates. We elected Huckabee delegates to several key committee positions, but also some McCain people were elected for some positions too.

I have to relate one incident (one of several). At one point a McCain delegate said, "Come on, who here thinks Huckabee has any chance? I mean we all know the nominee will be John McCain". Well, that did not sit well with us. I wanted to say, the fat lady may be warming up, but she hasn't sung yet, in fact there may yet be another act to this opera! I seriously thought about standing up and saying : "NUTS". That is what General Mcauliffe said in the battle of the bulge.  Well, we don't just give up because the other side is ahead. Let's let all this play out, then we will join forces whoever the nominee happens to be. I was proud of how the Huckabee delegates handled themselves.

One note, I was impressed with Mr. Edgar Weldon.  He deftly calmed the nerves and guided the meeting to a successful conclusion.  (I was later on to find Mr. Weldon has been a great asset to the party and has vast experience in bringing consensus over the years).

3 comments:

miracleshappen said...

Thank you for your dedicated efforts to participate in the primary! Did anyone stick up for Huckabee when people said what you mentioned? We picked up our precinct convention cards today when we voted for Huckabee so that we could go to the delegate caucus in Texas March 4th to serve as delegates for Huckabee.

Dr. Dean Brandon said...

The Huckabee people were reserved in their demeanor. A few hands started to raise when he said, "Who here really thinks...?". Once I talked to the Huckabee delegates by themselves (apart from the whole mixed delegation), there was a strong resolve and determination, a real pride in what Mike has done and pride that we could represent the voters and Mike. I kept thinking, I am the voice, the representative, for all the Huckabee voters who could not be here today. So, this is what it is to be an elected representative. I could here their voices and feel their passion--sort of kept me humble and motivated me to do what needed to be done.

11 Smiths for Huckabee said...

Please help us get this video out to Texans by posting it on your blog, then emailing a link to all the Texans and all the Huckabee supporters you know! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhApGSuT2BY

Thanks, and GO HUCKABEE!