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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

The RedState Gathering 2012

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  June 21st, 2012 at 04:46 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

We can now share that RNC Chairman Reince Priebus will be joining us at the Fourth Annual RedState Gathering this August. Chairman Priebus has presided over a major turnaround at the RNC. He has dramatically reduced the party’s debt, made the RNC fully functional and operational, and worked with conservatives to build a grassroots operation to defeat Barack Obama. We at RedState support all that he has done and are privileged to have him speak at the Gathering.

And Reince Priebus is not the only conservative star you’ll get to hear (and possibly chat with). I can now share that Joe the Plumber and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz will be speaking at the Gathering. They join the likes of Bobby Jindal, Florida Governor Rick Scott, and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson.

As you know, Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher gained national attention in 2008 when he questioned Obama on his redestributive tax policy. He is now running for Congress in Ohio’s 9th district.

We’re also delighted to have former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel joining us. Karen was recently in the news as the person at the Komen Foundation who spearheaded the effort to have the group cut funding to Planned Parenthood. She left Komen when it reversed that decision.

Former Solicitor General Ted Cruz is a true champion for Constitutional Conservatism. His battle against the establishment’s David Dewhurst for a US Senate seat is one of the most highly-watched battles in this primary season. Regardless of the outcome of his July 31st run-off, Ted Cruz has emerged as a true player in conservative politics.

I’ll of course be there as well, visiting with attendees, and you’ll also have the chance to chat with your favorite RedState.com contributors and diarists. As an attendee, you’ll not only be able to catch all the excitement up close, but also have the opportunity to meet our speakers and ask them questions.

If there’s one event you will want to attend this year, it’s the RedState Gathering.

2012 RedState Gathering
Where: Jacksonville, Florida
When: Thursday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 5th

Click here to learn more and register now

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COMMENTS

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  • Liberty Patriot

    I’m looking forward to going to the gathering in my backyard, but I am not sure sure about Ted Cruz’s stature.

    I have to say this statement is generous, “Former Solicitor General Ted Cruz is a true champion for Constitutional Conservatism.”

    Cruz worked for a terrific Attorney General in Texas – Greg Abbott. Abbott made the decisions and Ted carried out orders. Ted’s now taking credit for the work that Abbott did. It’s telling that Abbott has not endorsed, campaigned or raised money for Cruz. Since getting out from under Abbott’s wings, Cruz started a campaign for *Attorney General* while Abbott remained in office. Cruz eventually folded the tent on that. Next, Cruz goes to work for a law firm whose partners gave thousands to Obama. While at the firm, Cruz becomes the lead attorney for a China conglomerate – a Chinese company run by the Chinese government!

    All I’m saying is the Cruz wears the colors and we conservatives can sometimes be like lemmings when we fall inline behind people who wrap themselves in the right colors and use the right language.

    I’ll listen to what Ted has to say at the gathering, but I think it’ll be thin, full of dogma and mostly his ‘form over substance’ style.

  • mikeymike143

    and he is supported by virtually every conservative group out there.

  • http://nextgenerationvoters.com Bethany

    have to see if I can raise the money in time. When is the deadline to purchase tickets?

  • Caleb Howe

    To get the current rate and the deeply discounted hotel rooms. The prices go up on July 12.

  • http://nextgenerationvoters.com Bethany

    Thanks so much :)

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    We KNOW for CERTAIN that Dewherst is a Rino. He has a record of rino-ism behind him.

    I am just afraid he has the money and name recognition to beat Ted.

  • http://nextgenerationvoters.com Bethany

    but is there a student rate? Or if my mom and I were going to come, could we purchase tickets using the spouse option (even though it’s my mom and me)?

  • Bill S

    I thought you were going for a shotgun wedding to get the discount.

  • checkmate2012

    or are they separate charges? Also is there a phone # to call with questions.

    Thanks and I hope no shotgun weddings are included :)

  • http://nextgenerationvoters.com Bethany

    LOL I’m a teenager– no weddings.

    My question’s still out there, though: Is there a student rate or can my mom and I apply with the spouse rate? Or would my mom and I buy two separate tickets?

  • checkmate2012

    I’d also be there with my Mom who lives in FLA and I’m in TX. I was just kidding with Bill but also have the same questions :)

  • http://www.MelanieAngellElliott.com 1994bobbysgirl

    Our company is interested in exhibiting our products.

    www.ConservativeChildrensBooks.com
    www.MelanieAngellElliott.com

    Thanks for any info; I’ve searched repeatedly and can’t find.

  • ihateliberals

    Anyone who still thinks that the RNC is on our side can’t be thinking clearly. Reince Priebus is good enough reason to not attend. If anyone thinks that Priebus is a conservative doesn’t know much anut the New RNC. The RNC ever since Micheal Steele has been part of the RINO and Liberal Republican movement. They attack the Tea Party which seems to be the last strong hold for conservatives. Erick I am afraid you are losing it!

  • commonsenseobserver

    His competence stewardship in the RNC has helped to elect conservative Republican candidates across the country, even if we have complaints about RINO-ish candidates. It will continue to.

  • celador2

    When I read the previous notice of speakers my heart warmed, I mean realy warmed. I felt such affection for the speakers. They are all brave people who led in crisis and have sparked a wave of awareness for life, liberty and persuit of happiness.

    And two if them live or hail from my state. Ron Johnson was a businessman who took up deficit spending and debt in his Senate race against Russ Feingold. Wisconsin State party chair Reince Priebus was instrumental in winning that seat for Ron Johnson 2010. His work since to turn around RNC debt has earned him a honored slot. And he helped with Scott Walker’s recall campaign in the state again.

    Ron Johnson also in a short time has served the state, and he has served the constituitional conservtive movement in Senate. Most notably Ron has been a front man on the need for a budget resolution. I am so proud of all of them.

    Governor Jindal is leader of awesome proportions! Look how he has moved his state LA into school choice and expanded the party in state. Jindal’s policies and influence grows.

    Rick Scott was an Obamacare foe in the early days. His work to deal with debt and get Florida back in line using market solutions has paid off.

    It was a single brave action, the one seen on TV when Joe the Plumber was visited by Obama 2008 when he spoke of wealth redistribution. The campaign stop went viral and made the front page. That exchange gave us Joe the Plumber now candidate Sam Wurzelbacher. His street curb questions challenging Obama’s wealth views ignited another spark to a grassroots tea party sweeping the US. Joe challenged the basic assumptions and found them lacking.

    Kaen Handel is brave and I appreciate her being honored as a speaker for her stand on life and defunding abortion clinics Planned Parenthood. This message to stand and fight moves me much.

    Ted Cruz is brave for standing tall and caring enough to carry the banner for constitutional conservatives in his state and among us across the land.

    GOD bless you all, enjoy that good food and those hotel, conference cheap rates for such luxury!

    I will not be able to enjoy your company despite there being no where else I’d rather be. I will be there is spirit.

    Cel

  • PowerToThePeople

    but even if your opinion on Preibus was close to valid, it would not be a good reason to miss out on the others.

    The RNC under Reibus has not been perfect, but Reibus has turned it around and whether or not some want to hear it, many times the TP needs to be put in their place and their candidate needs to be defeated. Way too many TP’s think they run the show now and if someone does not bow to them, they think they are all powerful enough to boot them out. That or they put up a sorry candidate that has not been vetted well enough and they end up embarrassing us all.

    Under Reibus, many a conservative has won that would not have had the RNC not boosted them up.

  • celador2

    By his actions in helping elect and save seats of tea party identified people Reince deserves a RS speaker’s slot. He did the right things when the odds were against taking down Feingold 2010., It was a dark time for a long while for Gov Walker too. But Reince has been there from the start.

    As chair RNC his job now is to be chair of a wide party that represents a wider array of views than does a local tea party chair. However, as State party chair Wsconsin, Reince oversaw the fall of Russ Feingold replaced with Ron Johnson, two House seats returned to GOP , the state senate and Assemby were returned And Scott Walker defeated Tom Barrett by a five point spread 2010.

    That team of Walker and Senate and Assembly passed the historic roll back of collective bargaining fo public employees. Walker reforms were set to balance budget and lower taxes. They made gains in school choice and defunded abotion.

    That impressive performance of so many victories as state party chair elevated him for RNC chair candidate January 2011. Steele had too much debt and Reince eventually won..

    During his second year’s tenure he helped Scott Walker, Rebecca Kleefisch and several senators in recalls.Tea party groups were very active too. Reince set up or RNC did help to coordinate Victory centers to fight recall 2012. These centers remain for the Romney campaign to GOTV. Wiconsin is a swing state again now. Reince helped along the way or all the way.

    It is important to give credit where it is due. That is the only thing to do. Front line workers deserve a kudos , no, a standing ovation.
    There are several speakers chosen and not one should be singled out for insult. Look at their virtues instead. They are many.

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    Those comments start at about the 2 min 10 second mark.

    ThankGodForTeaParty

    He also took up for the tea party when Debbie & the Dems blamed them for the Giffords shooting in Tucson.

  • Flagstaff

    try the “contact” link at the top of the page. It will give you an email address that usually responds to questions (I think).

  • Flagstaff

    and register that way. Always easier to get forgiveness than permission.

  • Flagstaff

    doesn’t deserve that blanket criticism. He’s done a good job so far, and he’s getting better at it as he goes.

    You may not have noticed, but the Democrat Party is becoming a coalition of minority special interest groups, but they are big groups. “Vote for Obama and he will feed money to your ox.”

    I think Priebus is trying to keep the Republican Party focused on being a principled party of smaller government, responsible fiscal policy, and conservative values. This is a much harder sell, and he can’t describe or even mention our own minority interest group in the same way our opponents can appeal to theirs or he’d be accused of being a nasty person. There may be times when an individual candidate doesn’t live up to those principles, and then the goal becomes to find a better one. Sometimes the “better” one is not always obvious.

  • earlgrey

    fundraising call I got because I am very unhappy with my state party. I have been donating to SCF. I shoudl show the RNC some support, but there are so many races.

    I do think Priebus is awesome, and the fact that he is participating in this event actually reflects positively on him. Might make me reconsider next time I get a call from RNC.

  • ihateliberals

    Over-all the RNC has not supported conservatives to the extent that I would give money to them again. I have been a Conservative Republican for almost 60 years and i don’t like what the RNC did to conservatives and the fact That Micheal Steele basically told us to get lost. He along with Karl Rove have been very detrimental to the Party and the RNC continues to support RINO’s like John Boehner and others that have beaten down conservatives. The only time Boehner talks about or acts like a conservative is during election time like right now. He does not support on a regular basis conservative causes. I also don’t consider myself a member of the Tea Partyd. While I like the fact they spoke out against Obamacare they really have fizzled.

    With Priebus the first year he was Chairman I couldn’t even remember his name. he was never in the news for or against anything. At least there was no doubt about Steele being the Chairman. With all this being said I will not give to the RNC again. I will only donate to those candidates that i truely believe are conservative and not RINO’s. I will give to one RINO this election cycle and that is only to beat Obama and that is Mitt Romney. Romney is a first class RINO but I would say more Liberal Republican than anything. I don’t care about Romney at all now all I care about is beating that Socialist Obama.

  • ihateliberals

    unitl I read this article I have heard squat from the RNC in months. Maybe you guys follw the RNC closer than I do but I am a devout Conservative and i just can”t support people that aren’t. While Priebus may do things for conservatives whenhe has to it doesn’t seem like theRNC is all rpo consedrvative. The RNC continues to support the likes of boehner, McCain, McConnell and these guys are no more conservitve Republicnas than Karl Marx. i don’t like the left-ward movement of the GOP and i don’t like the Tea party per-say. The Tea Party seemed to be all tak and no action after that one burst of energy in 2010. What happened? Where is the RNC where is the Tea Party. If they are doing anything significant that news isn’t reaching us here in Central PA.

  • checkmate2012

    mostly for your ignorance (which clearly shows in your lack of grammer and punctuation if you even know what that is doubtfully) but definitely for your Lefty viewpoint. Your pseudo-name tells it all as well.

    Someone said and I happen to agree, “you can’t argue with idiots”.

  • gekster

    Didn’t see what happened in Wisconson, did you.
    You missed Murdock also, and that is just to name a few.
    If you missed those two, it would make no sense to go on.

    And Priebus has done a lot of things,
    he just doesn’t grandstand about it.
    He just does it.

  • gekster

    and beat you with experience.

  • checkmate2012

    This guy posted earlier that he didn’t care for Reince but then went down the rabbit hole comparing our GOP leaders to Marx. I’m tolerant but not that tolerant and have seen you, acat and others go after for someone for lefty comments. I will not succomb to a match of ignorance but will debate ideals.

  • gekster

    you can?t argue with idiots,
    they will bring you down to thier level,
    and beat you with experience.

    Hope that clears it up.

  • checkmate2012

    and beat you with experience. What experience does an igonoramous have? None. So I can argue with idiots based upon experience and knowledge. Even though I took the quote out of context, I disbelieve that we can’t beat the ignorant with THEIR experiences :)

  • http://libertynews.com/ mbecker908

    Are you voting for Romney??

    Yes or no, no waffles allowed.

  • acat

    and how does it compare to being a True Conservative?

    Inquiring cats want to know just why you picked your label.

    Mew

  • gekster

    Free speach and all. ;)

  • tnfriendofcoal101368

    A devout conservative clings to his bible and guns, a severe conservative is a corporate raider who screws the little guy and has dinner at the country club, and a true conservative listens to Spandau Ballet songs while plotting to take contraception away from woman. See the mystery is solved.

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    and you don’t like the Tea Party per se, then you complain about both and wonder where they are and why they aren’t taking action you like. My question is what are you doing to change that? Are you a member of your local GOP? Your local tea party?

    Things aren’t going to change in one election cycle, but I can tell you that tea parties across this country are working toward making sure red states stay red and swing states turn red. We had members of our tea party here in Alabama spend days in Wisconsin helping with GOTV. We made phone calls. We have an initiative going to send boots on the ground to swing states. The tea party made a significant contribution in the 2010 elections – it’s first opportunity to do so, I might add. We’ve made a difference in several primaries – Walker, Mourdock, hopefully Cruz. We’re working with True the Vote. We’re spending our time and money, so again I ask, what are you doing?

    I agree that the GOP and the RNC could do a much better job of standing up for the principles of our platform, especially the leadership. But if you don’t get involved and tell them, who will?

    I spend the evening at the Alabama State GOP dinner tonight and heard Col. Allen West admonish our party to not lose their way. To hold fast to our conservative principles of limited government, strong defense, etc., but what I think was more important is that two of our state legislators were seated at my table. I engaged them in a discussion of legislation that has been passed in AL and some that didn’t. One was receptive, and the other unsuccessfully tried to talk over me and my guests. He left with no doubt that we were engaged in the process, and that we intended to track votes. Again, what are you doing?

    If you are active in your local GOP and/or tea party, that’s great, and I appreciate your efforts. If not, you need to get busy and stop sitting around waiting for somebody else to make a difference. Am I frustrated? Yes, but just as much so with those who do little else than complain about those in charge as with those in charge.

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    We’ve got a similar organization of terrifically effective conservative Latino Republicans here in AZ, but here’s a Texas group that lays out for conservative Texans what to DO:

    http://latinosreadytovote.com/?p=3480

    (Sorry for no hotlink; when I “upgraded” to Windows 7 and Firefox 13 the html editing toolbar that I had been using no longer works with the “improved” Firefox software. Sigh.)

    I hope this helps.

    Thank you.

    CW

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    that our state GOP Chairman announced that the AL State GOP has launched a new initiative also designed to make sure we win those swing states of NC, FL and VA. It’s called “Battleground Patriots.”

    The website is BattlegroundPatriots.

    I realize that different folks have different talents and some have other obligations that may prevent them from getting as involved as we are, but I get so tired of the constant complaints, especially about the tea party. As the old saying goes, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.

    There’s certainly opportunities for people to get involved in things they can do from home with GOTV and True the Vote.

  • Flagstaff

    as individuals, and the county Republican Party members, helped elect the more conservative candidates in our last local election. The two who ran, won, and this is a very liberal Democrat college town.