Home Sweet Home

Well, it's been a long, weary, and intermodal trip from Washington back to New York, so with my apologies, I'm going to have to defer further distillation and elaboration from my notes on today's Blog Row at the Capitol (see following several posts if you don't know what I'm on about).

Pictured are Reps. Eric Cantor (VA),  "Judge" John Carter (TX), and Mike Conaway (TX).

Funny, I hadn't noticed them arriving alphabetically...

Suffice it to say the whole rowdydow was a runaway success and I am wholly impressed with the way the Republican Party (as embodied by the RNC, the House Republican Conference, individual Members' offices, and other organizations) is making such effective use of the medium.  They're tapping into power of the b'sphere in ways a thousand screaming Vermonters could only dream.

For the record, attendees (with Blog Row posts linked when available) included:

William Beutler, Hotline
Matt Margolis, GOP Bloggers/Blogs For Bush
Eric Pfeiffer, National Review’s The Buzz
Tim Chapman, Town Hall
Mary Katherine Ham, Town Hall
Justin Hart, Right Side Redux
Ian Schwartz, Political Teen
Kevin Aylward, Wizbang
Pat Cleary, RedState/NAM
Flip Pidot, Suitably Flip

Sorry to anyone I missed!

Topically speaking, we hit tax policy, fiscal discipline, pork, Iraq, Harriet Miers, social security, pork, political blogging, hurricane relief, homeland security, pork, government fraud, waste, and abuse, the possibility of a 3rd Bush Supreme Court nominee, and the midterm elections.

And pork.

It was, in a word, engrossing.

The cadre of Representatives that stopped in was nothing short of astounding (especially as there was a vote going on).  I have to admit in the hubbub of it all, I missed a couple of the introductions.  Thankfully, the exceptional event organizers followed up with official rosters, pictures, statements, and more.  For posterity, I give you the 23 blogophilic Representatives in attendance:

Louie Gohmert TX-1
Deborah Pryce OH-15
Mike Pence IN-6
David Dreier  CA-26
Kevin Brady TX-8
Jack   Kingston GA-1
Mario  Diaz-Balart L-25
Phil   Gingrey  GA-11
Scott Garrett  NJ-05
Marsha   Blackburn TN-7
Steve   Pearce  NM-2
Chris Chocola  IN-2
Chris Cannon  UT-3
Dan Lungren  CA-3
Mark Kennedy  MN-6
Katherine Harris  FL-13
Bob Inglis  SC-4
Trent Franks  AZ-2
Mike Conaway  TX-11
Jeb Hensarling TX-5
Joe Wilson  SC-2
John Carter  TX-31
Eric Cantor  VA-7

Self, you've just attended the first ever exclusive GOP Blog Row live at the United States Capitol.  What are you going to do now?

I'm going to Disney World.

No, seriously.  Next post will be from the Grand Floridian.

Meantime, click on the post extension link below for Conference Chairwoman Pryce's statement published after the conclusion of the event.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             CONTACT: Sean Spicer or Andrea Tantaros

October 20, 2005                                  PHONE: 202-226-9000WASHINGTON,

House Republican Conference Hosts First Ever ‘Blog Row’

DC—Today, House Republican Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) issued the following statement after the first ever Blog Row:

“Today House Republicans welcomed eleven bloggers into the Capitol in what was the first of many communication events directed at the blogosphere.” said Pryce.  “I am always excited about opportunities to reach out directly to constituents, be it through a podcast or a conference video posted to our website.  Today’s event is just another example of how House Republicans are taking our policies and plans for this Congress directly to the American people.”

“Bloggers serve a wonderful purpose in today’s twenty-four hour, blitz and glitz media world.  They have the ability to report the stories behind the stories and empower the American people to really think about the news they take in from mainstream media. Today, I thank the Blogging community for helping House Republicans get our message of strong fiscal policies directly to the internet and the American people.”

During the first ever Blog Row, Members were able to take questions and provide in depth answers while bloggers posted comments and summaries throughout the entire two and a half hour forum.  The House Republican Conference reached out to bloggers nationwide, with eleven able to attend the event and post live from the Capitol. Today twenty-three Members spoke at “Blog Row’ on everything from belt tightening in the budget to the recent elections in Iraq.