The Kingwood Tea Party Society hosted gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina yesterday at Town Center Park in Kingwood. In an interesting twist of fate, the park was double booked and the KWTP function had to move to an adjoining parking lot at the Fred Astaire dance studio. Lest you think this was a bad thing, what it did was allow about 200 people that would normally not be at one of these gatherings hear a candidate that speaks from the heart.

In fact, so many "regular" voters were there and kept her busy that I think she missed a personal appearance at the Houston Tea Party Straw Poll - at least I didn't see her but I did leave around 7:15 pm. As I watched the curious onlookers stop, listen and hang around, I thought, think what would happen if more people would take the time to do that instead of hearing people skewering her for a botched answer on a radio talk show. But then, that is a bit too much to ask of our modern voter, isn't it?

It was, as is the norm, a well run event, which is what the KWTPS is becoming known for. Founder Robin Lennon talked very briefly about their issues of Limited Government, Free Markets, and Fiscal Responsibility. Then Claver Kamau-Imani, founder of RagingElephants.org,  who, after correcting the flag placement, gave yet another energetic, inspiring speech. That dude must take some good vitamins to keep up with his schedule - he'll be in Ohio, Kansas, and Missouri for the next few weeks. It is one of the biggest failings of the leadership of the Harris County Republican Party not to have marshalled this guy's talent to help stop the bleeding. Wrong color, I suppose.

And then it was Mrs. Medina's turn. She briefly addressed the "truther" controversy and then moved on. Good - reliving that moment over and over isn't going to help her campaign. She stuck to her usual themes, which, incidentally, have zero to do with 911. If everyone is as receptive to her message as this crowd was, she'll be just fine in the end.

All in all, a beautiful day in beautiful Kingwood, a great crowd, a couple rousing stump speeches - does it get any better than this in retail politics? I don't think so.