The Republican National Convention

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Selecting the Republican Candidate for President 2008

What a convention! Now, it's all over but the voting. The convention has come to a close and John McCain and Sarah Palin will be hitting the campaign trail. It's going to be an interesting couple of months.

In the meantime, if you missed the Republican National Convention, join us here as we recap the exciting, historical events that took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, September 1 - 4, 2008.

Ready for some old-fashioned GOP excitement? Let the festivities begin!

The 2008 Republican Presidential Ticket - John McCain and Sarah Palin 

Convention Schedule Highlights

Nightly themes and featured speakers.

  • Monday, September 1: "Serving a Cause Greater Than Self." The pared-down schedule included speakers First Lady Laura Bush as well as Cindy McCain.

  • Tuesday, September 2: "Service: The Courage and Service of John McCain." Speakers included, by video, President George W. Bush as well as Senator Joe Lieberman and former candidate and Senator Fred Thompson.

  • Wednesday, September 3: The theme, "Serving a Cause Greater Than Self." Prime-time speaker, vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Additional speakers include McCain's former primary rivals Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Rudy Giuliani.

  • Thursday, September 4. The theme, "Peace: A Safer and More Secure America." Featured speaker, accepting his party's nomination, Senator John McCain.

Look for a complete schedule of each day's events on the Republican National Convention's official website.

McCain-Palin Campaign Buttons

Campaign buttons for 2008 Republican presidential candidate supporters.

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John McCain's Nomination Acceptance Speech

The 2008 Republican Candidate for President

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John McCain's Biography

John McCain's life in his own words.

A highly readable book about John McCain's family and his life up to when he was released from the POW camp where he survived based on the faith that had been instilled in him by his father and grandfather before him.

Faith of My Fathers

Amazon Price: $1.49 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

Books by politicians are not often worth reading, but John McCain's Faith of My Fathers is an astonishing exception to the rule.

The Republican senator from Arizona has a remarkable story to tell--better than just about any of his peers--and he tells it well, with crisp prose and an unexpected sense for narrative pacing. The first half of the book concerns his naval forbears: his grandfather commanded an aircraft carrier in the Second World War, while his father presided over all naval forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. They were the first father-son admirals in American history.

Young John McCain knew he had enormous shoes to fill and rebelled against many of the expectations set for him. . . (click on the book to read more)

Sarah's Speech

Sarah Palin's Wednesday night speech rocked the GOP convention!

Watch history being made in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
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Sarah Palin's Biography

The book that became an overnight bestseller before it was even printed!

When John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for vice president was announced, everyone wanted to find out more about her. Naturally, they looked for a biography. Good news, there was one. Bad news, it wasn't available. Better news, the publisher decided, quickly, to reprint it in paperback. Best news, it's available now and you can order it here.

Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down

Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

In 2006 an angel-faced but tough 42-year-old former small-town mayor named Sarah Palin became a long-shot candidate for Alaska governor demanding a higher ethical standard in state government. The timing of her reform message and a widening scandal produced a tornado that reshaped the political landscape. Surprising everyone, Palin thumped by wide margins both a sitting governor in the Republican primary election and a former governor in the general election to become Alaska's first female chief executive and its youngest ever.

2008 Republican National Convention Featured Speeches

Highlights from the RNC in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 1-4, 2008.

Here are some highlights of speeches from some of the evening and prime-time speakers including President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Mrs. Cindy McCain, Senator Joe Lieberman, and former candidates Senator Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney.
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The Logo of the 2008 Republican Convention

Featuring the traditional GOP elephant.

"The circular design features the silhouette of a triumphant elephant, a Party symbol dating back to 1874, along with the names of the host cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

"'Choosing our logo is another important milestone in planning the 2008 Republican National Convention,' said convention President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cino. 'This design highlights the spirit of the Republican Party and it will adorn everything from the Xcel Energy Center to t-shirts and other souvenirs.'"

(From the GOP Convention 2008 website.)

History of the Republican National Convention

This will be the 39th. Minneapolis-St. Paul was also the site of the 10th Republican convention in 1892.

"The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S. presidential election, and to adopt the party platform and rules for the election cycle.

"Like the Democratic National Convention, it signifies the end of a presidential primary season and the start of campaigning for a general election. In recent years, the nominee has been known well before the convention, leading many to oppose the convention as a mere public relations event and coronation.

"Historically, the convention was the final determinant of the nomination, and often contentious as various factions of party insiders maneuvered to advance their candidates. Since the almost universal adoption of the primary election for selecting delegates in the last quarter of the 20th century, however, the convention's significance has diminished. The national party focuses on the convention as a unity point to bring together a party platform and state parties."

The above is from Wikipedia. See the complete Wikipedia article for more details.

Additionally, the GOP convention website presents an informative question and answer format history of the convention.

What's the Forecast for Minneapolis-St. Paul?

Check it here.

Current weather conditions in Saint Paul, MN (55102)

Local Pollen Reports

77°F (Feels like 80°F)

Last update: 5/27/12 7:53 PM CDT

Humidity: 76%
Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 69°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.57in falling
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 6mph From: Airport Conditions
powered by weather.com

Tonight


Low
Low: 65°F
Sunrise: 5:32 AM
Sunset: 8:48 PM
 

Monday
May 28 


N/A
High: 78°F
Low: 54°F
Sunrise: 5:32 AM
Sunset: 8:49 PM

Tuesday
May 29 


AM T-Storms
High: 61°F
Low: 49°F
Sunrise: 5:31 AM
Sunset: 8:50 PM

Wednesday
May 30 


Mostly Sunny
High: 61°F
Low: 49°F
Sunrise: 5:30 AM
Sunset: 8:51 PM

Finding Your Way to the Xcel Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

Site of the Republican National Convention 2008

Convention Wear: Shirts for Republicans

Show off that traditional elephant emblem.

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Plan Your Trip to Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota

Hurry and make those reservations!

Convention dates are September 1-4, 2008. Why not go early and stay late? Make a vacation of it.

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Convention Wear: John McCain for President in 2008

Team McCain T-Shirts and Sweatshirts

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The GOP Convention and Republicans in History

Books and DVDs for Republican fans and historians.

If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans by Ann Coulter

If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans by Ann Coulter

“Uttering lines that send liberals into paroxysms more...1 point

The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan

The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan

During his two terms as the fortieth president of more...1 point

Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans by Lewis Gould

Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans by Lewis Gould

From Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War through the more...0 points

Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning by Jonah Goldberg

Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning by Jonah Goldberg

Fascists, Brownshirts, jackbooted, stormtroopers. more...0 points

Stories in His Own Hand: The Everyday Wisdom of Ronald Reagan

Stories in His Own Hand: The Everyday Wisdom of Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan loved to tell stories. Sometimes he more...0 points

The Right Words: Great Republican Speeches that Shaped History by Wynton C. Hall

The Right Words: Great Republican Speeches that Shaped History by Wynton C. Hall

Award-winning presidential scholar and speechwrite more...0 points

Republican Convention Memorabilia

For historians and collectors of Republican and GOP memorabilia.

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McCain - Palin Collectibles

Get them on eBay before they're going, going, gone!

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Have Something to Say? It's Your Turn.

Going to the convention? Have something to say about the candidates? About this lens?

Speak up. We're listening.

  • scrapperkare Oct 21, 2008 @ 10:03 am | delete
    Very nice lens! Good recap of the Convention.

    Play GO FISH with Sarah Palin's Alaska
  • Jewelsofawe Sep 17, 2008 @ 2:30 am | delete
    Great lens!

    What about Palin for President?
    http://www.squidoo.com/palin_for_president
  • democracy_conservator Sep 4, 2008 @ 9:02 pm | delete
    Great lens! There is a lot of very useful information here. No matter which political party you belong to, you need to make your vote count. Please feel free to visit my lens and say hello anytime.
  • May 31, 2008 @ 10:00 pm | delete
    RON PAUL 2008-- he's the only man uncorrupted by the system. It's time to give civil liberties back to the people, not use fear to take them away.
  • 7thAngel Apr 16, 2008 @ 12:29 am | delete
    The election is McCain's to lose. Select the right running mate and he'll take the oath of office next January. OTOH, if he selects someone like Giuliani, he'll get smoked.

    BTW, nice lens!
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