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Yesterday I was at the California Republican Party Convention in Anaheim. I was invited to a small room in which Arnold appeared to speak to the California Women's Leadership Association, where I took the following two pictures. (Click pictures for a larger image.)
Notice how even though he's right in the middle of a great speech, at the same time he makes sure to be looking right into my camera when I take the shot. He didn't pause for the picture to be taken -- he was talking continuously. To me that says he's dedicated, loves what he does, and really sweats the details. He wants every picture to be great. This was a relatively small event. I don't think there were over a hundred people in the room.
Now, why that pro photographer is taking a picture of me taking a picture of Arnold, I have no idea. Maybe I can track him down through CWLA and get a copy.
Some highlights from his remarks (quotes are approximate, based on my handwritten notes):
"By replacing Gray Davis, you didn't fix the system. You got rid of the top leader, but the system is still in place. ...I've brought jobs back and revenues back. ...For the 6th largest economy to be almost in bankruptcy shows how bad the system is. Now the most important thing is to get to the root of that and change the system."
"Do you know how many education meetings I've had in my office? But the word education wasn't mentioned. The word children wasn't mentioned. How to build intelligence wasn't mentioned. The only subject that was raised by the visitors was how to increase our salaries, how to increase our pensions, our benefits, how to get more union people in to mow the lawns and fix the roofs."
"The TV ads -- you saw all the lies. They know that if they lose this, their power has shrunk. They're fighting for their lives now, but we have to fight harder."
"Every vote counts. I see victory at hand. I visualize it. Can you imagine what the media will say then?"
It was a great, inspiring speech.
One of the most important structural reforms Arnold is pushing for is redistricting. We've got to pass the redistricting initiative. See here for more info.
Another highlight of the Convention for me was the chance to shake hands with Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project. Jim is running for Congress.
I was told that Jim, an Independent, had been nearby but was, of course, not part of the Republican Convention -- and then the Republicans invited him in. A great move by the California Republican Party.
As you can see, Jim jumped up on a couple of chairs to make his remarks to the crowd. Some highlights:
"Okay, I'm an official politician now -- what do you people want to hear?"
"When I win it's going to be a political earthquake that's felt across the country."
"For almost 200 years this country has had the rule of law. The last 40 years, we've become complacent about being our own governors. Those pilots in our Congress are comatose. We have to get into the cockpit. We have to fly this plane.
I almost wish he was running in my district just so I could vote for him. He has my support.
Update 9-27-05: Correction: Gilchrist Was not Welcomed by the GOP to the GOP State Convention.
