Jenny and I just returned from Vancouver after serving in the Lewis County delegation to the 2010 Washington State Republican Convention. This was our second convention, and we had a great time. It's notably easier when you "know the ropes" after floundering through your first convention.
The two highlights of the event for me were 3rd Congressional District candidate David Hedrick and U.S. Senate candidate Clint Didier.
I was already a supporter of local tea party icon David Hedrick. So I am biased, but I'm going to say he dominated the 3rd district speeches to the assembly Saturday. Fellow candidates Herrera and Castillo lacked Hedrick's fire and substance. It felt like they were telling us what we wanted to hear, while Hedrick spoke with conviction about the liberty he loves. The delegates (almost 1200 of them this year) responded much more vigorously to Hedrick than his competitors. Alternates not seated on the floor watched the proceedings on screens in a separate room, and I'm told even they were on their feet cheering for David Hedrick.
We caught up with David during the lunch break afterward, as he worked the crowd in the park across the street. Delegates were talking about him, some walking up to shake his hand with refreshed looks on their faces. He's different, and it shows.
Hedrick seems to be gaining momentum recently after strong showings at candidate forums and the convention, positive press reports, and unveiling a revamped website provided by supporters right here in Centralia (myself included). Watch the speech and learn more at http://www.DavidWHedrick.com/.
Clint Didier: I'd done my homework on Senate candidates, and I knew his principles looked good on paper. But I never expected the effect he had on me in person. I first encountered him at the patriot coalition event at the Red Lion on Friday. He walked in -- straight off the plane from a dramatic last-minute Palin meet -- absolutely *engulfed* the podium (he's a Super-Bowl-ring-wearing former tight end who still looks battle-ready at 51), delivered a quick, impassioned speech, and followed it by the most concise, honest, extensive, and numerous answering of questions I've ever seen. And when they ran out of question cards, he called on folks from the audience. Then he was gone.
I sat there with a silly grin and considered the past few minutes (was it minutes?). I'd nodded, clapped, screamed, jumped to my feet, and blinked away tears, all seemingly involuntarily. Here was a man who loved liberty, had the character, passion, and inspiring personality to back it up, and was in a position to really do something about it. I'm being dramatic because it was. Clint Didier is amazing.
Of course he did well the next day speaking to the floor, too. Rossi was nice enough -- shallow and uninspiringly perfect as usual. Akers actually made some sense, but he's too narrowly fiscal (what about liberty, Paul?). Didier? He was mad as hell and ready to beat tyranny to a bloody pulp (ideologically, of course!). Like David Hedrick. Like me. Like most of us. The convention loved him, and so do I. Learn more at http://www.ClintDidier.org/.
We heard a lot about liberty and the constitution from a lot of candidates. I am convinced that at least Didier and Hedrick meant it.
