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Convention Awards
By cr nation | July 16, 2007
CR Nation is proud to bestow the following awards, based on tips and input from CR moles at the convention. If you have additional awards that you think should be handed out, please e-mail crnation@gmail.com.
Best partiers (tie): To the state delegations of Maine and Michigan. The Maine CRs held another successful Mainefest. Their definition of success? When no one is thrown out of the hotel. The Michigan CRs lived it up at every party. Chairman Dan Carlson leads by example.
Worst partier: To Justin Smith, who refused to have even a victory glass of champagne. He may rule the Dry Caucus, but what’s the fun in that? (And who is there to rule?)
Honorable mention: To Blake Harris, who also avoided alcohol this weekend. At least he smoked a victory cigar.
Biggest fashion statement: To the newly-formed Seersucker Caucus, who attended Saturday morning’s convention in style. If the trend is to continue, though, they must find matching shoes.
Honorable mention: To the hat-wearers. The Texas delegation strutted in their cowboy hats, and the fedora worn by Reece Hruzik of the Oregon CRs was a definite hit. But isn’t it proper etiquette for men to remove their hats indoors?
Biggest insult: To the California CRs, who hijacked a microphone at the Saturday night party and toasted 2005 candidate Michael Davidson while Paul Gourley was standing nearby. It is unknown if Gourley raised a glass to his former opponent.
Biggest irony: To CRNC Alum George Gunning, who was ejected from the gallery during the raucous 2005 convention. This time, he served as sergeant of arms.
Biggest surprise: To the speed of the board meeting and convention. Attendees were bracing themselves for many long and painful hours, but both meetings finished in what might have been record time. If this is what a New CRNC looks like, you won’t find many complainers.
Honorable mention: To the no-show of former state chairs Brian Siler and Brent Ludeman. After heavy participation at the national level for the last year, some were shocked that they did not even make the trip to Washington.
Most repeated phrase (tie): “Collapse in the direction of victory.” Tom Robins, former CRNC treasurer.
“Votes, volunteers and earned media.” Tom Robins, former CRNC treasurer.
Robert’s Rules of Order Scholar: To Mike Keough, who repeatedly tried to shorten the convention with motions to prematurely end the roll call for nominations. After all, it’s not like everyone needed to say, “No nomination.” (Although someone obviously thought otherwise.)
Robert’s Rules of Order Non-Scholar: To Paul Gourley, who argued that he didn’t have a vote in the CRNC elections. He was wrong. What else is new?
Winners:
To Ethan Eilon and Blake Harris, who successfully managed Charlie Smith and the New CRNC candidates to unanimous victories. You know you’re doing well when the worst that can happen to you on the convention floor is someone abstaining or objecting to suspending the roll call.
To Charlie Smith and the rest of the New CRNC ticket, who won. Future elections probably won’t be so easy.
To Michael Davidson, who espoused principles in 2005 that were codified into the constitution in 2007. He will have no trouble finding willing workers if he ever runs for office.
To Jess Beeson, who got behind Charlie Smith early on and worked with the opposition on amendments and strategy. Now we know who the brain behind the Gourley campaign was.
To College Republicans, who avoided another divisive election and unanimously passed comprehensive reforms and unanimously elected new officers. Now they can focus on what really matters: electing Republicans and training the next generation of leaders.
Losers:
To the Establishment, which failed to field a candidate and watched helplessly as the amendments demanding transparency and accountability passed without debate. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
To Brian Siler and Brent Ludeman, who claimed to lead a massive number of states and wield enormous amounts of influence. In the end, they stayed home and could only convince two state delegations to abstain. Real power there. Better think about trying another profession.
Topics: CRNC Awards |
July 16th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I would say the Michigan delegation was definitional the winners of the best parties because the made the party where ever they went, whether it was San Antonio’s, Baileys, or Hawk and Dove… Not too mention their presence at the hotel bar night after night…
July 16th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
I do not believe this person went to “Maine-Fest”. Walton put on quite a shindig to say the least. I am curious to know who gets Best Newcomer to CRNC?????