September 10, 2004

Evergreen neighbors love President Bush

Attend one of 7,796 parties in the nation

By Van Tieu
Staff Writer

After the president’s speech, partygoers gather around the guest of honor (back row, center). Photo by Craig Swarthout

Amid the red, white and blue stars and stripes and napkins bearing the Republican elephant, Evergreen resident Paula Isaacs laid out an abundance of international eats—sushi, taquitos, pot stickers, croissants and most importantly, American cheese—for a party supporting President Bush.

The Isaacs’ kitchen table reflected the rich variety of cultures that gathered in Madison Square Garden for this year’s National Republican Convention, 3,000 miles away, on the same night that President Bush accepted his party’s nomination for president of the United States in New York.

And similar to one of the earlier keynote speakers of the GOP convention, former New York Mayor Rudy Giulianni, Evergreen resident Jim Harr exclaimed, “Finally, I found some other Republicans!” as he entered the Isaacs’ party for the president on Sept. 2.

Isaacs was one of the 7,796 volunteers hosting a party for the president across the nation and one of 12 in San Jose. She came across the party section of the GeorgeWBush.com Web site coordinated by the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign team and signed up to host a party of her own.

Other Bush supporters who signed up for materials received bumper stickers, lawn signs, a party agenda, a letter of thanks from President Bush and other materials to throw a successful and informative party.

“The party is a grass roots tool,” explained Isaacs at the start of the party. “We’re going to see Bush accept this nomination, and we’re basically getting the neighbors involved.” About 75 adults and children, including 12- to 16-year-olds who were genuinely interested, attended the event.

The younger kids were just as enthusiastic as the adults, begging to have their picture taken with the cardboard cut out of President Bush, and cheerfully shouting, “Vote for Bush!” as guests made their way to the party.
The younger children also wrote and decorated postcards for the president, while the adults talked about the upcoming election.

Bonding between Republicans
After Isaacs read the letter of thanks from President Bush, partygoers introduced themselves and stated why they were voting for Bush. In a crowd mixed with ‘born Republicans,’ ‘converted Republicans’ and ‘independents,’ several were in consensus.

“I’m voting for Bush because I feel safer,” said Debra Murphy, as nods of agreement made a wave across the crowd.
In the process of discussing the politics of this election, Nicholas Dinh, a volunteer of the Bush-Cheney 2004 Campaign team, believed the party for the president achieved its goal. “The strategy was to create a bonding between Republicans in the neighborhood and get the word out,” said Dinh.

A taste of New York City in Evergreen
While President Bush delivered his acceptance speech, the younger children stayed outside and continued their play, while a few of the older children joined the adults around the television set tuned to the FOX News Channel.

The excitement and the spirit from the audience in Madison Square Garden emanated from the television screen and into the Isaacs living room. Hoots and applause boomed from the living room as President Bush slipped a couple of jokes into his speech and provided his ambitions for America.

“I believe the most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people,” said President Bush, all joking aside. “If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch.

“I am running for president with a clear and positive plan to build a safer world and a more hopeful America. I am running with a compassionate conservative philosophy: that government should help people improve their lives, not try to run their lives,” continued Bush.

To create jobs, Bush said he would encourage investment and expansion by restraining federal spending, reducing regulations and making tax relief permanent. He also suggested making our country less dependent on foreign sources of energy and leveling the playing field to sell American goods and services across the globe.

To further improve the economy, Bush promised to lead a bipartisan effort to reform and simplify the federal tax code if he is re-elected. Another priority in a new term would be to help workers find better, higher-paying jobs by encouraging them to go back to school to learn different or higher-level skills.

“So we will double the number of people served by our principal job training program and increase funding for community colleges,” said Bush. “I know that with the right skills, American workers can compete with anyone, anywhere in the world.”

Bush also touched upon creating “American opportunity zones” in poor communities, providing tax relief and other incentives to attract new business, as well as better access to health care.

Another priority for a new term would be to build an “ownership society,” because Bush said that ownership brings security, dignity and independence. He set a new goal that night: “Seven million more affordable homes in the next 10 years so more American families will be able to open the door and say welcome to my home.”

“It feels like you’re there, with the energy of the crowd and the momentum,” said Cecil Lawson, a candidate for the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) board of trustees.

Though the ESUHSD board of trustees is non-partisan, Lawson was asked to speak to the Republican group at the Isaacs party and inform them on education in our community. He is concentrating on fixing problems in ESUHSD concerning school safety, academic expectations, attendance, and facilities. “If you don’t feel safe at school, learning will not take place,” states Lawson.

After Lawson’s talk, partygoers left the party with a stronger insight and involvement in politics, not to mention a piece of cake that read, “We Love President Bush.”