Red State Gathering much more than a ‘bloggers’ conference’

Pt. 1: Prelude to a declaration for the presidency

View of Marion Sqare Park from the Francis Marion hotel. The park is leased to the City of Charleston by the Washington Light Infantry and the Sumter Guards. One requirement in the lease is that the park stay open as a parade ground. [Photo by Kay B. Day/The US Report]Ahead of the Red State Gathering, I had no idea what to expect. Media often call this a “bloggers’ conference.” Postings at the Red State website suggested a gathering of conservative political activists who either read or post in the diaries at the website.

I didn’t personally know a single person who would be there (as far as I knew) and I had no idea whether I’d be treated well, neutrally or negatively because of my positions on some issues.

I was going, though. Three Southern governors, the most statesmanlike senator in the entire US body of senators and an up and coming freshman in the US House of Representatives would be there. Toss in a charismatic US Senate candidate who wrote a remarkable analysis of one of the many cases he argued before the US Supreme Court.

Who wouldn’t want to be in Charleston, S.C. for this? The place would be crawling with media.

This week I’ll feature a series on the Red State Gathering, including articles, video and photos. Frankly, despite the humidity and the fact me and the other attendees and occasional homeless people I smoked with had to stand out on the street to take a puff, I had a blast.

If there’s one political conference I want to be at in the future, that would be Red State.

We stayed at the Francis Marion hotel on King Street. Restored to its original décor when it opened in 1924, the hotel is structurally awesome, with lots of stairs and huge chandeliers in the lobby and ball rooms. The historic area has great shops and restaurants—our favorite meal was at Fish on King Street. The hotel is named for the Revolutionary War hero Gen. Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox.”

Read Pt. II of Red State Gathering 2011

(Filed by Kay B. Day/August 15, 2011)