Hanging Out Above My Conservative Pay Grade
A few weeks ago when I was mulling over whether or not to attend the Tea Party Convention I was going back and forth on the matter because on one hand I was opposed to the very notion of the event and the other I thought it was too big of a conservative moment to pass up. While I was certainly skeptical about how it would ultimately come together, I knew the penalty for not going would be running the risk of missing out on a momentous occasion. While you can obviously tell by my other ramblings on the matter, I was not impressed with the early stages of the “gathering” but came around as Saturday evening approached. By the time the convention had officially come to a close, I could honestly say it was one of the best decisions I have made in quite a while regardless of my feelings on the event as a whole.
As I hinted at earlier, I missed much of Palin’s speech – part due to my general indifference and part because I was lucky enough to stumble into a fine conservative with a dedicated smoking habit that pulled her away for much of the speech and I seized the opportunity to pick her brain. She was traveling with a host of other conservative writers / contributors, and I had met her briefly earlier in the day when I was pimping for a photo op with Andrew Breitbart. She (Katie O’Malley) writes for Human Events and a number of other forums and was kind enough to introduce me to a world I was absolutely ill-prepared to enter in to at such an event – or anywhere for that matter.
I won’t waste your time name dropping and telling you about my night of drinking and rubbing elbows with conservatives of a greater caste than my own, but I will give a few shout outs to the kind folks that showed me a good time and shared some insights with me over the course of the evening…. and maybe just a little name dropping for good measure.
I already mentioned Katie O’Malley, but I didn’t tell you that she may be one of the coolest conservative chiks out there – sorry Katie I use the word chiks loosely and mean no disrespect. I don’t really remember where in the evening I was fortunate enough to have seen this, but it might have been one of the coolest things I have ever laid my eyes upon so I had to share it with you guys. Yes it is real and yes it is awesome. If she weren’t already married I might have proposed.
Other than for generally being an all around badass, Katie also deserves a trophy for putting up with me and for introducing me to two of the leaders in this wonderful little conservative blogging universe – InstaPundit (Glenn Reynolds) and the Gateway Pundit (Jim Hoft).
I didn’t get to speek to Insta for very long, but I did shut down the Jack Daniels Grille with Gateway and I’m telling you folks, he didn’t disappoint. He came down from St. Louis with Katie, Dana Loesch (Blogger, writer, talk show host, knockout), and Mike Kadela (Founding Bloggers) – he snapped about 3000 pictures of Gov Palin during her speech and maybe liked three. Have a look.
Illuminating what a total airhead I can be (at times)… it had never dawned on me that “Gateway” Pundit was from St. Louis but now that I think about it -”Gateway”… I’m an idiot. I think I might have even dropped that little epiphany on him last night as well, but hopefully he didn’t hold it against me. But in all seriousness, he was one of the coolest guys I have shared a beer with. He let me pepper him with questions all night, and for any of you who have ever shared a beer with me, you know that takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude and that’s putting it lightly.
Our first stop of the night was a Japanese restaurant nestled in the middle of one of the three massive conservatories. When I walked up it was like a who’s who of the blogging / conservative world. There was a gubernatorial candidate, a former state senator, a half dozen or so legitimate writers, a couple of the biggest names in the blogging community, a talk radio host, and the God Father himself Andrew Breitbart – and probably another dozen or so folks more important than I who were still completely off my radar. As I began to get introduced to all of them, I quickly realized I shouldn’t have had those Johnny Walkers earlier in the evening. I was getting names, professions, and websites all at once and thought my head was going to explode. I didn’t know whether to write them all down or stumble through asking them again later in the evening. Either way I looked like a pompous ass. How does lil old T Christopher not already know that the Gateway Pundit is Jim Hoft? His real name’s out there as much as “Gateway”. Absolutely lost on me in the moment… That’s the funny thing about knowing people by their URL’s and/or Internet moniker – you don’t know which to remember when you’re having a real conversation with them. I went with hello Mr. Gateway half the evening before I finally got a clue.
I probably would have had a breakdown if it weren’t for the little piece of heaven sent down in the form of the awkward tension turned conversation starter with Joe Basel over me lambasting him for his “raid” of Mary Landrieu’s office. His pending legal matter may have salvaged my night. I’m sure he would have preferred a different course, but it was certainly appreciated. I was also lucky enough to be seated next to another writer (Elisabeth Meinecke) for Human Events who had a little How I Met Your Mother Robin Scherbatsky – I also cover hockey – thing going that thankfully stole my attention so I wasn’t drooling over the conservative aristocracy the whole evening. Unfortunately for her, she was stuck with me instead.
I should also offer an apology and grant myself what we recovering fraternity boys like to call the day-after “Jackass Award” for not knowing who Dana Loesch was when I met her. I have listened to her show more than I care to admit, but was a bit caught off guard when she emerged as a bona-fide hottie standing in front of me. She was also one of the most down to Earth yet very unique individuals on this planet. I think I might have instantly become her biggest fan if I’m capable of such things or such an honor is out there to be claimed.
There were so many more that I doubt I will remember them all until I magically see their face next to a column I read habitually having previously been unaware that there really was a person behind the conservative content. There may be even more that I won’t remember until I am equally intoxicated and reminded of the evening while banging away on this computer. Either way, I am in debt to all of them for allowing me into their circle if even for an evening.
I was bitching that I couldn’t find any Tea Partier’s raising hell and asking to get thrown out of the place… who knew I’d find them in this crowd, and we’d all get thrown out together on the heels of multiple noise complaints?
That is the greatest tattoo I have ever seen. Im glad you made it down there. Did you get home before the snow?
Yes it was and yes.
And did I mention I dont know who any of these people are but I am glad you were excited to meet them.
I was too so thank you. It was a great group of people. I was honored to have met them.
I will admit I dont know all of them but I do know Andrew Breitbart. He is all over the place Manny…
I was happy to see the other guy in all of these photos. He is very handsome. Why aren’t you on the other side of politics T Christopher. You have the face for it. You need to show us more of you.
Thank you for the compliments. You are too kind and obviously delusional. I will not be showing you more of me around here. This was one of those needing to show what I did for the night kinda moments so it was a rare exception. As to the other side of politics… Maybe someday – if I don’t ruin my chances with my ranting on here. THanks again
So is that you in those pictures? Are you the gray hair or the dark hair?
OBV the dark hair. Just see the other Tea Party posts. The other man is Big Government’s Breitbart.
In that case. We do need to see more of him. He is very cute. Who is this girl hockey writer too? I think he brushed over that. Inquiring minds want to know.
Beth… Katherine is correct on both counts.
Why is it that the only time I ever get repeat follow up comments around here is when you people are prying into my personal life?
Because you are gorgeous and you are to modest to post more pictures of yourself. I keep on telling you. The RR is great but you would bring in more women if you would just show you in some swim trunks and a smile. It is marketing T. Get to know your audience.
I literally have 6 comments today – 6 that do not relate to this nonsense. You women wear me out. I wish you had half the passion to talk about something of relevance.
I am beginning to think you are friends of my mother’s or crazy aunts trying to marry me off via the web since your in person tactics have yet to work.
Did you say you wanted me to meet you mother? It is so soon but o.k. If you have six comments on the other articles then you should love us. You are too cute. Just give up on the humble act and go with it.
I did not. I said you all must know my mother and be playing me for a fool. The late hour is the only thing on your side. I do love you guys, I just wish you came here for more than gossiping and TMZ’ing it up about my personal life. I just don’t know how or why you come out of the woodworks on these posts and you’re so quiet on so many more. Am I scary on the serious ones or do I just visibly blush via the Internet allowing you to see it?
Maybe it happens to you because you do not answer questions. Who was the hockey girl? I said you brushed over it and you did again.
End of story. No brushing over things. That’s it.
You are not allowed to say “end of story”. YOU were the one who said
“I was also lucky enough to be seated next to another writer (Elisabeth Meinecke) for Human Events who had a little How I Met Your Mother Robin Scherbatsky – I also cover hockey – thing going that thankfully stole my attention so I wasn’t drooling over the conservative aristocracy the whole evening. Unfortunately for her, she was stuck with me instead.”
You were at a bar with your heroes and you were distracted by a girl? Go ahead. Try to run away from that. I am reading you like a book. There is more here than you are telling us.
Dont use my words and tactics against me. You’re not getting anything out of me on that front. Sorry. I would’t have included her except for the fact that it wouldn’t have seemed right to have excluded such a big part of my night and would have been mean to not include her. I was not trying to imply something or anything there and I am now forced to apologize to her for including her. I was just trying to give her a shout out as I was equally impressed with her as I was some of the conservative bigwigs. Thank you for making this extremely awkward for me now. Beth you are now my least favorite favorite comment(er). I hate you/love you. Much appreciated.
Ahhwwww:)) That is sooo cute. You are chivalrous too. You’re worried about what she might think if she reads this. I love you even more now. If it doesn’t work out with you and her I have a niece who you would love. She is beautiful and intelligent. She is a law student and very political too so you two would have a lot in common.
Beth you are now my least favorite favorite comment(er). I hate you/love you. Much appreciated.
That is so sweet. I really did not mean any harm. I think it is great that you not willing to talk about your personal life and do not try to market yourself with your good looks. I love your site and have enjoyed this ‘debate’ but now must go to bed. I promise I will comment in the future about more than your good looks.
I am following this like Twitter. When are you going to get on there? It is 2010 T. Move on it. You woman are pathetic. T has a voice that isn’t anywhere else out there and you want to waste time talking about how cute he is. Maybe that’s why he wont put up anything with his picture. Leave the guy alone over this. He was just telling a story of a fun night that I liked reading about. If he likes that girl you girls have killed that for him now. Was that your plan?
You are so dramatic Marine Manny. We are just having fun with him. Any girl who would get scared off by a few women flirting with her man isn’t worth having in the first place.
I am a guy and you guys are scaring me off. Just cut him some slack and post a commment about something he writes not this stuff.
I have been reading this feed for a while tonight and find it troubling. Some of you call yourself fans of this author and forget that he may not want to be marginalized as a pretty face. Maybe he doesnt show pictures because he wants to be taken seriously and has been taken lightly in his life because of his appearance. Look at Sarah Palin. No one takes her seriously bc she is attractive so maybe he has learned from that. I just think you ladies are doing him wrong by treating him like this and making him participate in this when he is obviously committed to responding out of obligation rather than choice.
Thanks James. I haven’t confirmed it yet, but i do appreciate the family coming to my defense. If you just share a great last name – love you all the same… thanks
I am sorry for starting this. I have been reading your other recent articles and just came back to this. You should get email notifications so that people know when something of this nature springs up. I like that you wont divulge your personal life here and respect that. This girl you will not speak of should be honored not run away. James is correct in saying that you respond out of obligation rather than choice bc I do think you respond religiously and that is not the norm on most sites. It is what brings me back here if I am being truthful. Thank you for this fun read. I dont remember who said it but you do need to be on Twitter. I would love to follow you.
No need to apologize. I have enjoyed it – reluctantly. No one crossed that line that would have led me to delete them. I do have the power of censorship here but I try not to use it. I do hope I never need to but I also feel the need to respond even when I don’t want to so sometimes I am torn. I like to keep my personal life personal / private and I regret that I intimated at there was something more to the story than I was letting on so I share in the blame for this.
Is this a joke? What happened here?
No idea.
I am happy to see that “T Christopher” is still the “True Gentleman” I knew in college. Name change notwithstanding, it is nice to see that you are still up for having a good time but not willing to share your personal life with everyone around you. I just laughed bc you did put up pictures and this is a website not Facebook but you know what I mean. I am glad you are still you “T Christopher.” Any girl would be lucky to have you under any name.
[...] my experiences at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville, so I will spare you another chapter in my novel of random thoughts and simply share with you a quick couple of videos that display a few of the prominent figures in [...]
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Many thanks for the well-thought article. I’m truly at perform proper now! So I ought to go off without reading all I’d like. But, I set your blog on my RSS feed to ensure I can read a lot more….