THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

The 2008 Republican Convention in Minneapolis is about electing Arizona Senator as President and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Vice President. Yet the second night of the convention was about reminding America of President George W. Bush. History will vindicate this great man, and that history starts now.

I literally conducted about 30-40 interviews. Most of them were 3 to 5 question “walk and talks.” I now have blog material through the election itself.

In a major thrill, radio legend Hugh Hewitt interviewed me on his radio program for a couple of minutes to promote my blog. Hugh Hewitt is the preeminent blogger in America, and it was an honor.

http://www.hughhewitt.com

In another major thrill, Miss Texas came up to me and told me that she saw me heckling back at protesters the other day, and was grateful. She is running for Miss America. She was not allowed to be interviewed about politics, but she was allowed to answer non-political questions. It was a fun interview. I told her that my girlfriend is my Miss America. She was touched, and her fella is a lucky man not just because of her beauty, but her pleasant disposition.

There were so many speeches that covering even perfunctory remarks from all of them would be overload.

Congresswoman Michele Bachman was spectacular, as was Senator Norm Coleman. They will get coverage in a column entitled “Minnesota North Stars.”

Miles McPherson, a defensive back for the San Diego Chargers spoke in his capacity as a minister. I did not boo, but could not cheer for an anti-Oakland Raider.

Fred Thompson gets the Zell Miller award for A+ stemwinder. He fiercely defended Sarah Palin against slimeball attacks. He movingly spoke of the heroism of John McCain. Fred Thompson was the hit of the night.

His remarks will be covered separately because I also heard him speak earlier in the day at a blogger meeting. He had different material for the pair of speeches.

Joe Lieberman is a fine man, an all around great human being. Fred Thompson had the crowd fired up, and Lieberman, to put it charitably, calmed people down. He is 100% right on the war, and is a pleasant person. Thompson should have spoken last.

Heck, Thompson should have spoken twice.

Laura Bush spoke for the second time in as many nights, and her remarks also will get more attention later in the week.

Tonight President Bush was forceful. He hit back. His critics are not fit to shine his cowboy boots, and he finally swung his steel toe up their lily livered hides.

For 8 years he has been told to be bipartisan while the left has slandered, slashed, and torched him.

Tonight was his night.

“The Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas are working together. The coordination is going well. Yet there are still risks. Citizens affected should listen to your local officials before deciding to return home.”

“There are no finer examples of decency and integrity than my mom and dad.”

“I have stood in ruins of buildings knocked down by killers and vowed to grieving survivors that I would not let them down.”

“I know the hard choices that can only be made by a President.”

“John McCain had his bones broken. His honor was never broken.”

“If Hanoi Hilton could not break him, the angry left never will.”

At that moment the crowd leapt their feet and cheered. I pumped my fist in the air. Yes, he did go there. He called out the hateful bigots that are a cancerous element of our society. It is not their views. It is their disgusting methods of expressing them.

I remembered why I loved this guy. For 8 years he held his tongue on these bullies and monsters on the left. He finally decked them between their disgusting enraged eyes.

I would have clapped for an hour had he not continued speaking.

“John McCain will make the tax relief permanent. He will lift the ban on offshore drilling today.”

“He is not afraid to tell you what he believes. Believe me, I know.”

“In the face of retreat, I ordered the surge. One man in the face of doubters stayed resolute.”

“He said that he would rather lose an election than lose a war. This is the vision and courage required for our next Commander in Chief.”

“We have to stop future attacks before they happen, not wait to get hit again.”

I love this man.

“When the debates have ended, and the ads have all run, and it is time to vote, cast your ballots for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

He then offered a self deprecating remark.

“With Laura Bush speaking, you have clearly traded up.”

I fought back tears as he was ending his speech. Then the floodgates opened.

I realized that while I believe in and will vote for John McCain, it takes time to develop affection for somebody. I voted for George W. Bush in 2000. After 9/11, I supported him even more. By 2004, I was one of the true believers.

Now I am saddened that he is leaving office.

My only criticism of him was that he was too gracious.

He finally let his worthless critics get theirs.

The lilliputians in the demagoguic party are slinking somewhere.

As for the Dub, I hope he goes after his critics with a ferocity that unleashes on them.

If not, he has me to happily do it for him.

This is not because of the republican party. I simply believe in him personally.

I love this guy, and am thrilled that when the dust of his speech settled, he was where he always was…standing tall in the saddle.

George W. Bush led a military that took down the Taliban and kicked Saddam’s hide. Then Dubya branded a big old metaphorical “W” on Saddam’s hide for emphasis.

This man let the world know that after dealing with those monsters, the angry left can’t touch him.

May the protesters see that quote in an endless loop until what is left of their heads explode.

Thank you President Bush. God Bless you sir.

Your words rang true, and it was an honor to hear them.

eric

The Tygrrrr Express is partying in Minneapolis. It has been a thrill ride a minute.

Yes, this has been an unorthodox start to the convention, but there are so many things to see and do. Memories to last a lifetime are the rule, not the exception.

First of all, I am sleeping at a sportsbar in Downtown Minneapolis known as “Centerfield.” Brad is the owner, Josh is his son, and they make fabulous pizza. I have to say, if sleeping in a sportsbar sound fun…it is.

http://www.linwoodpizzamn.com/

As for the convention itself, below is a very paper thin recap of what has turned into a fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Gustav. After that, some more adventures occurred, including clashes with leftist protesters and a police escort home for me and a friend.

First Lady Laura Bush:

“Our first priority is the safety and well being of those in the Gulf Coast region. Gustav is a reminder that we are first all Americans. Shared ideals will transcend partisanship.”

Texas Governor Rick Perry:

“The people of Texas are helping the people of Louisiana. We are prepared to take them in.”

Alabama Governor Bob Riley:

“As the expression says, we look not at what is before us or behind us, but what lies within us. We will come together because of the collective greatness of our people. The storms will not shake our will. The National Guard soldiers are displaying the values that shape our nation.”

Florida Governor Charlie Crist:

“Hurricane Fay left our state last week. We mourn the 14 Floridians lost in Hurricane Fay. Floridians are not asking what party one belongs to. They ask how we can help. Neighbors are helping neighbors.”

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour:

“We have felt your prayers. We need them, and we appreciate them. We will never forget the generosity.”

There was universal praise for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who for obvious reasons did not have time to tape a statement. There was also widespread praise for President Bush. The Federal Government and the states affected have been in close cooperation and coordination.

None of the Governors announced to the world that they were “so overwhelmed.” They simply got down to business. These Republican Governors are capable, competent, and on top of things.

As for interviews, I interviewed radio hosts Hugh Hewitt and Armstrong Williams, as well as former Indiana Senator Dan Coats. I met Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, who is an incredibly nice man. Also, even though I had interviewed her by email, I finally met Townhall reporter Amanda Carpenter in person. I briefly met Mitt Romney, who I have met before. He was his usual gracious and friendly self. Later today I will be doing a blogger event with Fred Thompson, as well as meeting some Republican Governors.

Before leaving the convention center, I ended up accidentally stumbling into a meeting of “Catholics for McCain.” They knew I was Jewish, but we are all good republicans. Heck, they fed me. I had not had an ounce of food until 5:30pm, and the bread of affliction tasted delicious. Later today I will be attending a Jewish party in one of the luxury boxes in the XCEL Convention Center, and look forward to seeing my new Catholic friends again.

After the convention, the protester were out not in full force, but in quarter force at best.

I had fun with them. I even offered to bring a razor to the convention to shave the beards of the men and the underarms of the women. This was after they said mean words my mother would not condone.

One protester complained that we were in a police state that used military tactics on civilians. I told them that they were wrong, because I pleaded with the police to use brute force, and they refused. They would not use tear gas or rubber bullets. So I guess democracy is alive, even for scum. The protesters continued to yell about fascism, and the police still would not validate their opinions. I was hoping they would have the sequel to Kent State just long enough for protesters to grasp what freedom means.

I told one protester, “You have the right to speak. I have the right to say that you are full of garbage. Notice I did not curse. That is civilized discourse.”

As for the anti-semites that make up Code Pink, I pointed out that Jews are leftists for the most part, and to engage in anti-semitic rhetoric was stupid.

When asked by Ron Paul supporters about him, I explained that I did not care about black transvestites.

I even offered to give leftists protesters a hug. Most refused. I asked them if they were for peace, and they said they were. They explained they could not hug a republican. When I explained that peace has to mean everybody, they tried to protest, since they are protesters. However I loudly announced that my feelings were hurt, and that they would not hug for peace.

Some of my escapades were videotaped, and I should be on You Tube soon. My poor parents may have to go into hiding.

One leftist protester made a remark about Sarah Palin’s daughter getting pregnant at age 17. I refuse to cover this non-story the same way I refused to cover Al Gore’s son committing actual crimes.

I told the protester that the media should leave Sarah Palin’s daughter alone, and the same goes for Al Gore’s son, the Bush twins, and Chelsea Clinton (until she entered the arena). I told him it was a disgrace to go after Mary Cheney. The man agreed, and we shook hands. I told every protester that they were my opponent, not my enemy. Some of them got it. Others are what they are.

Lastly, at the end of the night, the inability to figure out the bus schedule had us asking police officers for cab information. Instead, they offered to drive us back to Centerfield Sportsbar. It was awesome. We had our own convoy.

The good news was that they gave us a ride. The bad news, in their own words, were that “it would be in a minivan.” They felt bad for us. They know we wanted the whole police officer squad car with the sirens blaring type of thing. It was not to be. We would have taken pictures of us in the back of the squad car. Instead we just took photos of us with the officer. He reminded is that he was not a member of Minnesota’s finest, but Minneapolis’s finest. Other cities were to get no credit.

Today will be more thrills.

On to the next adventure.

eric

I had the pleasure of meeting former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

Other events took place yesterday. I attended a concert at the XCEL Center featuring country music stalwart Lee Greenwood. I truly get misty eyed when he sings “God Bless the USA.”

Another event occurred that was so controversial that I will need a couple days to discuss it. It involved the David Zucker movie “An American Carol.” For ethical reasons, I am holding back my comments for several days until I can elaborate.

As for the convention itself, everything is in a state of flux. I am supposed to attend an event with several Governors. I also have a bloggers roundtable with a couple Senators. These events may be postponed, but human life supercedes entertainment and partying. If the republican party wants to talk about life, it must step up strong regarding Hurricane Gustav, since the 2005 debacle involving Katrina (which I still blame on Louisiana Democrats, but perception is what counts) is one reason why the Republican Party lost the 2006 elections. Conventions are fun, but rolling up sleeves and getting to work, especially in matters of life and death, must come first. It is about governing.

As for interviews, I interviewed several people, and the highlight was Senator Santorum. I ran into him by chance, and he was gracious enough to do a spur of the moment interview.

1) What are the most important issues of the 2008 Election?

RS: Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama. He is completely unprepared. He is the most liberal Senator to ever seek the White House.

2) What are the most important issues to you personally?

RS: The war is most important. We have to win. We cannot accept a policy of retreat and surrender. Obama does not understand how to go about winning this war. Iraq is the central front in the War on Terror. Islamic terrorism must be defeated. Also, Obama’s economic policies would deliver economic body blows to our economy. He will increase the power of government. He will increase taxes. He will increase mandatory spending. He will bring an entirely new welfare state. He will do damage to economic growth by mandating new regulations and standards. His plan will bring about economic devastation.

3) Who are your 3 favorite political heroes?

RS: I really don’t have political heroes. I admire many people, but none that I would put in the category of heroes. I obviously respect Ronald Reagan. One person I thoroughly enjoyed working with was former Indiana Senator Dan Coats. He was good.

4) How would you like to be remembered? What would you want people to say about Rick Santorum the person?

RS: He did what he thought was right for the good of America.

I would like to thank Senator Santorum for his time and his graciousness. He was a fighter for the people of Pennsylvania, and our entire nation would benefit from him returning to public service in a higher capacity.

eric

The convention has not even started, and the Tygrrrr Express is already getting his groove on, which I believe is the exact same thing as getting my freak on, but slightly different than getting my swerve on.

I was supposed to arrive in Minnesota Saturday morning, and sleep at the airport while awaiting the Chicago Cannonball. Just before the plane took off, they asked for volunteers. A few minutes later I was a few hundred dollars wealthier, had a hotel in LA for the night, and got to fly first class Saturday morning.

The Chicago Cannonball and I are actually sleeping at a club. They have a loft. She might kill me in my sleep, but I think this is cool. I went to bed to the soothing sounds of ACDC below me, and the streets were jumping.

Several blogger friends from Chad at the Grizzly Groundsweel to Pastor Ed Boston to Bill from ARRA News Services are hanging out.

They are staying in other places nearby, but to sleep in a loft in a sportsbar is a fun experience. Again, I speak for me only.

Today I will be going to a concert my Lee Greenwood, who sings “God Bless the USA.”

Last night I interviewed Barb Davis White, who is running for the 5th Congressional District against Keith Ellison.

Yet today’s adventure is about my interview last night with Jason Meszaros, The Minnesota Director of Operations with Vets For Freedom. He did a tour in Afghanistan in 2004, but several of his VFF coworkers just got back from Iraq last week. I interviewed Jason on the radio several weeks ago, along with Pete Hegseth, the National Chair, as well as Nathan Martin of the Ohio chapter.

Below is my interview with Jason Meszaros.

1} What is the state of Iraq in 2008?

JM: Eric Schwab just went back, and came hom several days ago. The evidence of improvement is compelling. In 2004, there was no Iraqi Police, or Iraqi security. Now they are everywhere. Marketplaces are open for business. People are outside. They are not afraid any more. The streets are alive. This is for two reasons. First of all, Al Queda has been driven out. Second, the Iraqis are stepping up. Kate Morley attended a council meeting while she was embedded there. Pre-surge there were no council meetings. Local political improvements in 2006 is the reason for this. The people are making the political progress.

2} What in Iraq is still left to do?

JM: More is needed at the local level. More reconciliation is needed. The Sunnis joined the Government. The neighborhoods are still segregated, although less so. Walls are slowly coming down. Reintegration is occurring.

3} How can ordinary citizens help? What can we do?

JM: Keep spreading the message. The surge is working. Iraqis are stepping up. Write letters to the editor and members of Congress. Talk to Veterans. Civilian support of Veterans is essential.

4} What is the situation in Afghanistan at this time?

JM: The resurgence in power is due to Al Queda being back in Pakistan because we successfully drove them out of Iraq. However, in Afghanistan, due to the terrain, they will not be able to form a counterinsurgency like they initially did in Iraq. Afghanis have a military consisting of several tribes. The people are united, and they have checked their heritage at the door. Their hiding areas are pocketed. They are not hitting urban areas, as they were once able to do in Baghdad.

5} Are the recent developments in Pakistan with Purvez Musharraf stepping down a positive or a negative development?

JM: It all depends on who the successor is. Musharraf was a good ally. We need diplomacy with the successor to make sure that they do not become a Muslim theocracy like Afghanistan became. It all hinges on who the successor in Pakistan is.

6} What else should the American people know?

JM: I know nothing about John McCain’s VP pick. I am not a politician. I just know that we need the new media to keep stepping up. We need the bloggers to get the message out. We are winning. The military is winning. We need the civilians to show their support.

It was fabulous to interview a hero. he is right. We are winning. What he is too humble to say is that it is because of brave men like him.

May God Bless the Vets For Freedom, and the American military personnel and their families everywhere. We are free because they are brave.

eric