Bob Collins
The torch — and the good seats — have been passed. Here’s the view at the Xcel Energy Center for the Texas delegation to the Republican National Convention. Texas, with its native in the White House, has been a front-row resident at five of the last six national conventions. Those days are over. Arizona and Alaska have leapfrogged to the front. Minnesota, as the host state, also gets prime seats.
No matter, insists Texas delegate Cathie Adams of Dallas, who is also a national committeewoman for the Republican Party, and a deft deflector of questions that otherwise might yield intrigue.
Ms. Adams has been in the Twin Cities for more than a week because she’s on the platform committee, whose work will be approved in what little convention business delegates will attend to on Monday.
“It is the most conservative platform — maybe ever. It’s right on energy issues, the life issue, on immigration issues,” she told me late Monday evening after another evening of receptions.
Adams knows conservative. She is among the most conservative delegates in Minnesota this week. She heads the Texas Eagle Forum, which was formed by Phyllis Schafly.
As with everyone else, Adams has her attention divided between the Twin Cities and home, where Hurricane Gustav is expected ashore. “I have not heard of one person who would be leaving,” she said. “Some (delegates’) families might come and meet with them until the hurricane blows over.”
Adams almost didn’t make the Twin Cities. She and a friend were hurt last December when a drunk driver being chased by police, struck their car on a Texas interstate highway.
