On Thursday I was a table host
for the Goldwater Institutes Annual big event. It was held at the Phoenician
and driving in at the Camelback entrance there were protesters that had been
hauled in by Acorn and SEIU to protest Wisconsin's Governor Walker, this year's
speaker. President and CEO Darcy Olson announced over a thousand people were in
attendance which was more that had come last year to hear New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie.
2011 Goldwater Dinner featuring Wisconsin Gov. Scott
Walker
Event
Date - November 10, 2011
Wisconsin Governor Scott
Walker is no stranger to controversy. Just two months after being sworn-in, the
plain-spoken Republican became the most talked-about conservative in the
nation. Faced with fleeing legislators, angry protests, and harsh criticism by
President Obama, Governor Walker maintained his principled stand on common-sense,
conservative values.
With a looming $3.6
billion budget shortfall, Governor Walker passed an ambitious budget repair
bill that asked public workers to pay some of the cost of their generous
benefit packages. It also eliminated collective bargaining for nearly all state
employees, breaking the grip of labor unions at the state capitol.
Before being elected
governor, Scott Walker reformed the scandal-ridden Milwaukee County government
by cutting debt, reducing the workforce, and authoring nine consecutive budgets
without increasing the property tax levy. Despite failing national and state
economies, Milwaukee County recorded a budget surplus in 2009, and now thanks
to Governor Walker’s bold leadership, the Wisconsin state budget is moving in
the right direction
It was held at the Phoenician and driving in at the Camelback entrance
there were protesters that had been hauled in by Acorn and SEIU to protest
Governor Walker.
I admit I was lazy and didn't
stop to take photo's and of course now I'm kicking myself for not doing it. Normally I would have taken a
lot of pictures at the dinner, but it was jammed packed and all I did was chin
wag with people as meandered around looking at the auction items.. Nope did not
buy anything. Clint and Shawnna was the only photo I took of people I talked with. November 11th was their wedding anniversary and Shawnna was wearing her anniversary gift. Besides they are friends and a great couple.
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| Clint and Shawnna Bolick
Clint is the Director, Goldwater Institute's Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.
My table guest were my Co-Host on "Hair on Fire" Randy Pullen and his wife Katherine, Arizona GOP Chairman Tom Morrissey and his wife Chris, Owner and Business Manager of KFNX 1100 News Talk Radio Francis Battaglia and Matt Battaglia, Charles Long, Sharon Oliver and
my attorney Michael Kielsky. 
We didn't have a lot of table conversation except with the ones closest to you, it was noisy and you couldn't hear across the table, Hey our table was the only one decorated....One of the neat things the GW Institute does is after the dinner the guest can choose the books they would like to keep.
There were a couple of memorable moments, Darcy did her thing of welcoming everyone and then she asked if there were any protesters in attendance to please stand up..That comment got some snickers aan applause. Next before the close of of dinner part of the closing remarks made by Dr. Tom Patterson was a video celebrating Darcy ten year anniversary with the Goldwater Institute. Called DarcyVader it seems when Darcy took over the Institute she did a lot of hiring and dismissing staff. It was all down in fun and was very cleverly put together by staff. I especially liked Darcy dressed like Darth Vader. It was a fun night, the food was delicious and the dessert was scrumptious, I could have just had the dessert and been perfectly happy with the meal. Of course I would have wanted more than one.be###
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