Published: September 06, 2008 05:23 pm            

Rogers excited about 'raucous' GOP convention

Somerset — Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers had only just stepped off the plane at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington when he dialed the Commonwealth Journal’s number to report back on his trip to the GOP’s biggest event of the year.

Rogers took in the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., this past week. His description of the event was unexpected but driven home quite firmly — the convention, Rogers stated repeatedly, was “raucous.”

And while one doesn’t typically associate the word “raucous” with the party known for conservative ideals and traditional family values, it was an overflowing zeal for the GOP’s future that brought things to such a fever pitch, Rogers suggested.

“It was very exciting and unpredictable,” said Rogers of the convention. “I’ve been going to these since 1976 and I don’t recall one quite so raucous. ... I don’t recollect one quite as exuberant on the floor. ”

So just what had the Republicans so fired up? To hear the Fifth District U.S. Representative from Somerset tell it, Alaska’s Sarah Palin, John McCain’s choice for Vice President, brought the house down.

“People were excited; she’s an extremely popular figure,” said Rogers. “No one knew much about her. When McCain named her (to VP), there was a great deal of inquiries about her, her family, her background and so on. So the delegates at the convention were sort of anxious to see just who this person was and what she would say in her speech and were rooting for her.

“As it turned out, she gave a spectacular speech,” he continued. “She had a charismatic presence (which) electrified the convention and has electrified the campaign.”

Rogers is just as high on McCain, a fellow congressman whom Rogers has known for over two decades as a colleague. Rogers championed McCain’s foreign policy experience and reservoir of governmental knowledge.

“People are looking for someone they trust and know, someone who has experience and has some gray hair to take us through these troubled times,” he said. “The country faces a lot of tough, tough problems here and abroad and when (voters) get in the voting both, after they’ve shaken all the hands and listened to all the speeches, I think they’ll vote for someone who will protect them and their country from terrorism, from economic problems, someone who has pledged to bring down gas prices by drilling off the continental shelf. ... I think people (will vote) for protecting themselves.”

Safety from harm was a frequent topic at last week’s event, thanks to forces of nature. Things started slowly, as Hurricane Gustav forced the cancellation of many of Monday’s activities.

“Then when the threat of the hurricane was not as severe as feared, spirits picked up and fists started flying politically, so to speak,” said Rogers.

But whose fists will hit hardest in November? After eight years of a Republican White House, McCain is charged with not handing over momentum to the opposing party as voters weigh party allegiance alongside such issues as fighting in Iraq and the economy. Rogers believes his party’s man — and woman — are up to the task.

“I think he’ll win,” said Rogers succinctly of McCain. “Gov. Palin gives him an exciting partner and I think it’s going to electrify the Republican party. I think the polls will eventually show that we got good balance out of this convention.”

        

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