Republicans Abroad Korea

An even race after the conventions is good news

From Dick Morris and Eileen McGann (via Real Clear Politics):

Two facts offer the GOP some comfort if the exchange of conventions yields comparable bounces and a deadlocked outcome.

First, the Republicans have a great deal of ammunition left to fire. They really have not unloaded their main attacks yet, settling for more limited hits on Obama's celebrity status. When they unload attack ads focusing on Obama's tax program and on his naivete, they are likely to score big.

Second, each time an Obama bounce dissipates, voters must get more and more inured to the experience. An immunity will develop that will make voters less and less susceptible to his charisma. In any event, the convention will be Obama's last opportunity to speak with his beloved teleprompter. After that, he's on his own!

McCain has pulled even with Obama in recent polls.  Each party traditionally gets a ten-point bounce in the polls after their conventions.  However, I have a gut feeling that many Americans will be turned off by Obama's stadium rally at the end of the Democrat's convention.

Coming soon to a shirt near you

Next RAK meeting Sept. 7 August 24

Republicans Abroad will have its next regular meeting at 2:00 on Sunday, September 7 August 24  It will be in the lobby coffee shop at the Millennium Seoul Hilton near Seoul Station.  The hotel is a 10-minute walk up the hill from Seoul Station.  It is a 10-minute taxi ride from Itaewon or City Hall (depending on traffic).

We will talk about our ongoing voter registration acitivities and issues related to the November 4 election.

Here is a (not very good) map:

Click on the image for a larger map. 

You can also find Hilton on this map and print it.  Here are some instructions for the my fellow computer semi-literates: 

• It is centered on City Hall. 
• Right click twice on the map (reduce).  You will see Seoul Station on the bottom of the map, near the center. 
• Center the map on Seoul Station.  After you have centered Seoul Station, you will also see the Hilton.
• Left click twice on the map (enlarge) and re-center the map
• Now it is ready for printing.

See you there.

RAK registers voters at July 4 celebration

Republicans Abroad, along with Democrats Abroad-Republic of Korea and the Korean post of Veterans of Foreign Wars, conducted a highly successful voter registration and absentee ballot application drive at the VFW tent during the Independence Day celebration at Yongsan Garrison on July 4.

RAK Chairman John Lee worked with other volunteers to assist over 110 people in filling out Federal Post Card Applications (FPCAs).  In addition, John provided 40 FPCAs and registration information to an officer so he could register the soldiers under his command.

Thanks go to the VFW for sharing tent space with us and DAROK for doing their part to make the registration drive a success.

Next RAK meeting on June 22

Republicans Abroad will have its next meeting on Sunday, June 22 at 2:00.  It will be in the lobby coffee shop at the Millennium Seoul Hilton near Seoul Station.  The hotel is a 10-minute walk up the hill from Seoul Station.  It is a 10-minute taxi ride from Itaewon or City Hall (depending on traffic).

Our main order of business will be to finalize our voter regitration drive plans.  Other possible topics include election-related activies and doing something in relation to the current American beef issue.

Here is a (not very good) map:

Click on the image for a larger map. 

You can also find Hilton on this map and print it.  Here are some instructions for the my fellow computer semi-literates: 

• It is centered on City Hall. 
• Right click twice on the map (reduce).  You will see Seoul Station on the bottom of the map, near the center. 
• Center the map on Seoul Station.  After you have centered Seoul Station, you will also see the Hilton.
• Left click twice on the map (enlarge) and re-center the map
• Now it is ready for printing.

See you there.

RAK meeting on May 25

Republicans Abroad will have its next meeting on Sunday, May 25 at 2:00.  It will be in the lobby coffee shop at the Millennium Seoul Hilton near Seoul Station.  The hotel is a 10-minute walk up the hill from Seoul Station.  It is a 10-minute taxi ride from Itaewon or City Hall (depending on traffic).

Among other things:

• Prepare for our June-September voter registration drive
• Work on how we can help elect John McCain
• Select RAK leaders for 2008

Here is a (not very good) map:

Click on the image for a larger map. 

You can also find Hilton on this map and print it.  Here are some instructions for the my fellow computer semi-literates: 

• It is centered on City Hall. 
• Right click twice on the map (reduce).  You will see Seoul Station on the bottom of the map, near the center. 
• Center the map on Seoul Station.  After you have centered Seoul Station, you will also see the Hilton.
• Left click twice on the map (enlarge) and re-center the map
• Now it is ready for printing.

See you there.

RAK Meeting on March 30

Republicans Abroad will have its next meeting on Sunday, March 30 at 2:00.  It will be in the lobby coffee shop at the Millennium Seoul Hilton near Seoul Station.  The hotel is a 10-minute walk up the hill from Seoul Station.  It is a 10-minute taxi ride from Itaewon or City Hall (depending on traffic).

Among other things:

• Chairman John Lee will report on the RA International meeting last February.
• We will choose a new excutive director.
• We will start planning 2008 election activities.

Here is a (not very good) map:

Click on the image for a larger map. 

You can also find Hilton on this map and print it.  Here are some instructions for the my fellow computer semi-literates: 

• It is centered on City Hall. 
• Right click twice on the map (reduce).  You will see Seoul Station on the bottom of the map, near the center. 
• Center the map on Seoul Station.  After you have centered Seoul Station, you will also see the Hilton.
• Left click twice on the map (enlarge) and re-center the map
• Now it is ready for printing.

See you there.

RAK Super Tuesday lunch

Taking advantage of the Lunar New Year holiday some Republicans Abroad Korea members gathered at the VFW Canteen in Seoul last Wednesday to watch the Super Tuesday results (Korea being 14-17 hours ahead of most of the USA).

Turnout was a little disappointing, although expected since many of us were with family or were traveling that day.  We had nine people come out, including one Democrat and one independent.

There were also a couple members of the media.  I haven't found any articles that mentioned us but I did see some pictures over at Getty Images.  I don't think I will get in trouble for posting one:

• 
• Republicans Abroad members at the VFW Canteen in Seoul.

Here is another picture including Kurt Mohay.  Someone from the Chosun Ilbo was there as well.

Thanks for the folks at the VFW for allowing us to have the non-partisan event at their canteen.

RAK "Super Tuesday" vote watching lunch this Wednesday

RAK members and interested members of the general public are invited to join us for a Super Tuesday vote-watching lunch

• Time:  Wednesday, February 6 from 11:00 to 3:00
• Place VFW Canteen, near Yongsan Garrison in Seoul (10-15 minutes from Noksapyeong Station)

Here are a couple of maps to the Canteen (mislabeled "Lodge," the VFW has "posts").

Area map from Noksapyeong:

Detailed map:

Directions:  Take the #6 (Brown) line to Noksapyeong Station.  Exit through exit #2.  Walk strait from the exit (with wall on your left and road on your right) for 6-8 minutes.  When you come to a stop light and a cross walk, take the small road that forks to the left (see detailed map).  Walk 5-7 minutes.  You will see it on your left.  It is in the basement.  Look for 2 Blue & Yellow signs in front of bldg, one says “VFW Canteen”  It is in the basement.

If you are driving, go North from Noksapyeong Station, turn left at the first stop light and look for parking.  The maps are 16 months old, so the parking lot marked on the detailed map might be gone.

Pleae be there by 11:30 if you want to order lunch (it has to be delivered).

Republican presidential campaign links

It is time to get the old RAK blog out of mothballs.  Here are some links to the major presidential campaigns:

Button images came from Dr Don's Buttons, which copied the images from the campaigns.  I might make a purchase from them for Republicans Abroad once we settle on a candidate.

BTW, I noticed that the results of the straw poll taken at the last RAK Thanksgiving dinner have been reported at Paul's campaign homepage.