SWAC POSTCARD: National convention comes to close for energized Republicans

The 2008 Republican National Convention came to an end Thursday night with the Shenandoah Valley’s own Del. Chris Saxman making the closing motion and ending with the words “sine die” or “without day” — a Latin phrase of adjournment sometimes used if a group is not expected to meet again.
After four days of convention and events, thousands of exhausted delegates headed home to begin the work of campaigning to elect Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as our next president and vice president. The Virginia delegation wearily climbed on board the bus for the last time and everyone exchanged exciting stories and details of the final evening, most carrying some type of memorabilia — confetti, signs, campaign buttons, shirts, caps.
Sarah Palin has energized the Republican Party in a way I have not seen in years. Everyone is excited and it crosses gender and age. This campaign is on track to win in November.
While the news accounts talked about security issues and protesters in St. Paul, we were isolated from it and did not see protesters. Riot police, state troopers, local law enforcement and National Guard troops surrounded the convention area and protected us, and we thank them for that.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are home to some of the friendliest people I have met. All welcomed us and made us feel at home, and as we made our way out of the Xcel Energy Center on the last evening, they thanked us for coming and wished us safe travel home.
Goodbye, Minneapolis. And thank you.