The Republican Party of Arkansas held its convention June 27, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock.
The state party, headed up by Doyle Webb of Saline County proved to be healthy and optimistic, with the convention drawing an estimated 180 people.  Speakers included Doyle Webb, Ed Garner, Rita Hamilton and others.  The mood was upbeat, and at one point the suggestion was made that when Republicans have Cap and Trade brought up to them in conversation, they should respond with "Quack."  When pressed to explain, they will say that "In Arkansas, if it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck...."(It's a duck - just like Cap and Trade is a TAX.)
Chase Duggar gave a brief "tour" and tutorial on the RPA's new website, which has drawn compliments from other states.  California had a representative comment that our website "does more stuff" than theirs.  Doyle Webb commented to the crowd, jokingly, that "We may not have shoes or indoor toilets, but have a good website".
The new website really is nice.  I have used it, and it has a lot of nice features.  I have submitted my blog info to have my blog added to the site's blogroll.  The RPA's web address is www.arkansasgop.org.
All the usual "Roberts' Rules of Order" procedures were followed in the meeting, and robust debate was seen over a couple of issues - one being a "rules review" issue, which one man wanted to table for 6 months while more study was done, but in the end, it was decided that 6 months delay would be unwise, so they had the vote and took care of the minor issue.
A group from the Republican Women of Marion County, in the "Operation Speak-Out" effort presented a proposed resolution to the convention seeking to request that our elected Republican Legislators introduce, at the earliest, a Constitutional Amendment stating, "The Arkansas State Constitution cannot be amended except by a vote of the people of Arkansas".   This proposal was in response to an article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette of 4-26-09 wherein certain Democrats stated their intent to try to change the AR Constitution without the vote of the people.  Amendment 7 (passed by voters) gave the legislature the power to pass any measure by a 2/3 vote, including a constitutional amendment,  but Operation Speak-Out felt that the Supreme Court in 1951 considered it "inconceivable" that the language of Amendment 7 meant that the legislature could pass or change a Const. Amendment.  After some debate, the proposal failed.  The vote was 53 to 53, with Doyle Webb opting not to vote, and the measure failed for lack of a majority.
Present at the convention were numerous candidates running for upcoming elections, and we got to hear briefly from Fred Ramey (candidate for US Senate - Blanche Lincoln's seat), David Meeks (candidate for US Congress - Vic Snyder's seat), Nate Bell, (candidate for State Rep, Dist. 22), Jonathan Dismain, (Rep running for Senate), Dan Greenberg, (current State Rep running for Senate), Prissy Hickerson (Cand. House Dist. 1) Anna Grizzle (running for David Dunn's seat) and Matthew Shephard, (Candidate, Dist. 6).  All seemed energetic, qualified, and ready to run.
Also introduced was John Eves, Chairman of the Arkansas Republican National Hispanic Assembly.  I was not aware that this group existed, and was interested to hear about it.  Their website is www.ArkansasRNHA.com.
One point that was emphasized to the crowd was that there are differences between the parties, among which is that we are the Conservative party, and the Democrat Party is the Liberal party.  With this crowd, that is important.  ( I know it is to me.)
After adjournment of the official meeting, and lunch break, several training classes were held, on new media skills, coalitions, and other useful campaign information.  Jason Tolbert, of the blog "The Tolbert Report" was one of the speakers at the "New Media" class.  Mr. Tolbert is a respected blogger and has been a guest on The Dave Elswick Show on FM 102.9.  This coming Monday, David Meeks will be Dave's guest.  Tune in to learn more about this exciting candidate.