TAMPA, August 26, 2012 — While the 2012 Republican National Convention does not start until Monday (or Tuesday), there is still plenty of action going on.
Upon landing in Tampa on Friday, an immediate moment of levity was provided by a creative panhandler. His sign read “Voted for Obama, lost it all.” If ever a panhandler earned a few extra dollars, this guy was it.
Yet the big initial news is far more serious. Isaac is more than just the son of Abraham and the Father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac is now the hurricane that threatens to derail the convention. The 2008 GOP Convention turned into a hurricane relief fundraiser and 2012 could be a repeat.
Hurricane Yitzchak (Isaac for the non-Jews) has already led to the cancellation of Monday’s convention business. The GOP will bang the gavel and declare a recess until Tuesday. For members of congress, it will seem like a typical session day.
Some are declaring the hurricane Al Gore’s revenge. Others are claiming that this is proof that Barack Obama really can make the oceans rise. He was just waiting for the right time. The only major disappointment is that the hurricane provided an excuse for Vice President Joe Biden to back down from his threat to become an Occupy protester and disrupt the convention.
Had he arrived in Tampa, the GOP could have given him a prime time speaking slot to reinforce why he and his boss should be fired. President Obama continues to pray that a hurricane hits Charlotte just before Biden speaks at the Democratic Convention.
As for Tampa, there are plenty of things going on. For those who are Jewish, there is a Synagogue only two miles from the convention center. The Chabad House (formerly Temple David) is at 2001 W. Swann Avenue, Tampa, Florida, 33606. Across the street is Sweet Bay Supermarket, where kosher food can be purchased. This Tuesday and Wednesday, services will begin at 8:15am. On Monday and Thursday, services will be held at Weinberg Village at the Tampa Jewish Community Center Campus. This is 15 minutes from Downtown Tampa. For those looking to donate to a worthy cause while in town, Chabad of Central Florida is a great option. Rabbi Rifkin and his family do so much good, and the more the community at large helps, the more the Rifkin family can. Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians are all welcome.
Those who are “too busy” should keep in mind that when a natural disaster is on the horizon, prayer might help.
As for the convention itself, this is 100 percent politics. The festivities already began with a Saturday evening gathering put together by the ladies at Palladian View. The brainchild of former South Carolina GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd, Palladian View is designed to get women under forty interested in politics. Guests on Saturday got to mingle with some of the brightest female stars in the Republican Party. Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch were the main attractions. High-ranking members of the National Federation of Republican Women were also in attendance. The NFRW is known for giving the men a kick in the pants when the GOP veers off course.
While many events are in a Hurricane Isaac state of flux, updated Sunday information has several fantastic politically conservative events going on. The ladies of Palladian View will have an event entitled “Her New View: Lashing Back at the Backlash.” South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will be the main speaker. The reception starts at 4pm and the event itself begins at 5pm.
At 7pm, those same ladies will be putting together “Blogbash,” a gathering of conservative new media activists. Former Mississippi Governor and RNC Chairman Haley Barbour will be there to rally the faithful. Also at 7pm is the 2012 Unity Rally featuring Herman Cain and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. There can never be too many events, as some will be going to the Tampa Bay Rays (Raymond James) baseball stadium for pre-convention festivities.
One thing to keep in mind is that while official RNC convention business is canceled for Monday, that does not necessarily mean that outside events are canceled. Many state delegations are having breakfasts, lunches, dinners, panels, and of course hospitality suites at night. After all, this is about a party.
As of this writing, I am scheduled to address the Alaska GOP delegation at their Monday morning breakfast. So those who begin their convention with me and end it with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will have a great time from beginning to end.
It’s time to get down to the business of fun and the fun of business, as the 2012 GOP Convention hopes to make a bigger impact in Tampa and beyond than Hurricane Yitzchak.
Brooklyn born, Long Island raised, and now living in Los Angeles, Eric Golub is a politically conservative columnist, blogger, author, public speaker, satirist and comedian. Eric is the author of the book trilogy “Ideological Bigotry, “Ideological Violence,” and “Ideological Idiocy.”
Eric is 100% alcohol, tobacco, drug, and liberalism free. Follow Eric on Twitter @TYGRRRREXPRESS
Eric Golub is an independent writer for the Communities. Read more from Eric at TYGRRRR EXPRESS
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