RNC Blog: You just had to experience nomination night to understand it

Editor’s Note: Roberto Armando Jose Pena Alvarez attended the 2012 Republican National Convention as a first-time delegate from El Paso. Here is his blog about the experience.

Aug. 31, 2012

Hi Fellow El Pasoans,

I don’t know how to do a blog. This week was my first attempt. So, I am having trouble with relating last night’s experience to you. Those are the only correct words so far – relating and experience.

I can’t “tell” you, or “write” you about what was last night. “Experience” is the best word in my vocabulary to describe it.

You see, I was left with, no, we were all left with, a “feeling,” a “high,” an “exuberance, commitment, rush, sentiment, realization, eagerness, etc…” and plain good ol’ feeling about the future of our country; the future for our children, grandchildren.

I’m someone who tries to keep up with politics and politicians, but I was shown a truer side of Mitt Romney that I had never read about or seen on TV. Bane Capital was exposed as most ethical, job creating, diverse in personnel and clientele, and providing capital so employers could avoid bankruptcy.

Romney partnered to create 90,000 jobs at Staples, Sports Authority, and a U.S. steel company, and an on-site daycare chain with 2,000 jobs, and on and on and on.

He was exposed by his sons, as a practical penny-pincher when one of them said “My dad is cheap.”

At the Swiss Olympic HQ, he changed his room to the equivalent of Motel 6 to lead by example the saving of the bankrupt and scandal-ridden U.S.Winter Olimpics. His caterer of choice is Domino’s Pizza. We heard from the Hispanic Olympic hopeful who lived for a time in Romney’s house.

We heard testimonials from “ordinary” families of how Romney personally goes out of his way to help people – “average” people. We heard the story of how for months he befriended a 14 year old fighting cancer, even writing the boy’s will. We heard how he recognized that his wife’s job was more important than his job. We heard that his day starts at 6 am, but coming home, his briefcase would stay at the door and he would devote his at home time to family.

So much for the touchy feely part of the evening. Now abut the politics. Each delegate has an elected alternate who can stand in for the delegate if the delegate is not “on the floor.” Mine was Ed Beck from El Paso. He kept texting me that he was ready if I had to take a break. I think I actually disappointed Ed by staying alive and healthy the whole time.

Governor Rick Perry came by to say hello to delegate Dr. Tim Roth. They’re old friends. Tom Holmsley and I tagged along to get our picture taken with the governor. Perry reminded us that he was coming to El Paso for our Boy Scout fundraiser in September

Comptroller ofPublic Accounts Susan Combs visited with Party Chair Tom Holmsley about her visit to El Paso in October. Mayor Rudy Giuliani was walking behind us when CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer stopped him for an interview, right behind us!

Attorney Gen. Greg Abbott wheeled his chair all around the Texas delegation. He reminded Tom and I that he would be in town with Rep. Dee Margo on Monday, Sept. 10 th , to participate in the Texas Hispanic Leadership Forum at the Downtown Library. It’s to focus on connecting the Hispanic community to the conservative values of the Republican Party.

I passed former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton in the walkway. His hair and moustache is really white, not grey.

Best lines of the night-

Clint Eastwood: “When you have someone who just can’t do the job, we’ve got to LET THEM GO.” “…We own this country …the politicians work for us”

Jeb Bush: “After four years, it’s time to stop blaming my brother…and take responsibility for your failed policies”

Marco Rubio: “…it’s about our future, not Obama’s”

Mitt Romney: “In America, we praise success, …don’t apologize for it.”

One of the best parts of the evening was the 15 block walk back to the car. Gilligans Bar and Grill was on the way were we met up with El Paso alternate delegate Troy Brown. The stories got better and bigger as the beer was poured.

The band Journey was playing the outdoor concert next door. Did I forget to mention we had the Oak Ridge Boys for intermission the other night?

It was all in all, pretty cool!

Thanks for staying tuned, Signing off as: Roberto Armando Jose Pena Alvarez, aka: Bob Pena

Aug. 30, 2012

Have to leave for the Convention at least two hours before opening. Learned a new hard lesson last night; if you leave the convention floor, you might not get back on. Left for a potty break, and when I returned, the Tampa Fire Marshall sealed all floor entrances due to overcrowding. I quit trying to sweet talk my way back inside when the guy next to me identified himself as a member of Congress, and was told to pound sand.

But, I’m prepared for tonight; will stop for a Subway and Coke on the way downtown. Texas Delegates were told to wear a dark suit, so I can sneak my dinner onto the floor. A really good thing too, I had to shell out $12.50 for my chicken nuggets and small soda.

I am really feeling popular here. I have been interviewed by the media three times! It’s almost embarrassing considering that I am seated next to El Paso County Republican Party Chairman Tom Holmsley and former Reagan aid and author, Dr. Timothy Roth. But, somehow I was the delegate the media wanted to talk to, not my very VIP fellow delegates. In fact, I just got a call from an amiga in Kansas who saw my interview on Univision. I hope the ones on Telemundo and Galavision make it on the air as well. More to follow tonight.

Earlier on Aug. 30, 2012

Tonight, Newt Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and then, the next president of of our United States, Mitt Romney! Tonight will be awesome. Get this. The benediction will be delivered by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
Maybe we’ll get lucky get absolution for this week of, of, of, of civic duty?
More later,

Roberto Armando Jose Pena Alvarez, aka: Bob Pena

Delegate, El Paso County Republican Party

Aug. 29, 2012

Hi El Paso,

Hope most of you are watching what is going on here in Tampa, so I want to tell about something you didn’t see on T.V. In fact, it’s what I didn’t see either. I mean: WHERE ARE THE PROTESTERS?!

All the state delegation hotels have extreme police presence, I counted 11 sheriff vehicles just driving into our Texas/Louisiana Delegation hotel, the Saddlebrook, and we’re 25 miles from the convention center. The secure perimeter around the convention is about a mile withno private vehicles allowed. Just getting into the grounds requires a pass, and into the Tampa Times Forumitself is no different than boarding a plane.

But, wanting to avoid the delays on the official delegate buses, we drove tothe convention. Once downtown, street after streetis closed off, barricades and fencing everywhere. At every corner: police, secret service, sheriff, guards and security. Along oneblock we walked pass well over one hundred officers in full riot gear.

In one of the many closed off streets wasthe silliest testament to the protest that never protested. It was four rows of port-a-potties, lined up with great precision, one right next to another, from one street to the next; over a hundred, maybe two. They looked new, and theirfencedarea was spotlessly clean. It was close to the park, where I guess they hoped the protesters would gather. But nobody came, not a soul in sight!

But this blog is about the convention,there wasone line that said it all for me, and I hope for my fellow El Pasoans. It was former El PasoanGoverner Susana Martinez discovering: “I’ll be damned, we’re Republicans!” Latinos, are you listening?!

Enough said,

Roberto Armando Jose Pena Alvarez, aka: Bob Pena

Delegate, El Paso County Republican Party

Aug. 28, 2012

Hola,

It was a bit frustrating to wait a day to get started, but well worth it. Attended breakfasts with Ted Cruz, Frank Luntz, and Tag Romney. Got to hear convention speakers Rick Santorum, Ann Romney, Nickey Hayley, Gov. Cristie, Gov. Walker, and assorted biggies of the Conservative movement. Wow!

Highlights included sitting two seats from Michele Bachmann, shaking hands with Gov. Perry, bumping into Gov. Haley Barber, watching Charles Krauthammer in the Fox booths and Joe Scarborough at the MSNBC room, Andrea Mitchell getting angry and too many others to even remember.

All very exciting for a first-time delegate to the National Convention.

Almost made me forget about the hours waiting in lines, the two hours in the bus to get back to the hotel, even the $18.00 breakfast sandwich.

Almost, I said.

We are all FIRED UP!

Roberto Armando Jose Pena Alvarez, aka: Bob Pena
Delegate from El Paso County Republican Party