Last week, the Democrats convened to confirm their nominees for office and speak to the party faithful. This week, it was the Republicans' turn.

GOP Senate nominee Rep. John Boozman spoke to about 650 convention delegates in west Little Rock on Saturday, telling the crowd that "the time is here to act."

"I'm tired of hearing people apologize for our country. I'm tired of people apologizing for our prosperity," said Boozman.

Citing a litany of concerns about new federal regulations - such as financial reform, the stimulus, and health care - Boozman said that the country is at a "crossroads," which he described as bordering on socialism over free market principles.

He stressed that private sector jobs and finding ways to protect savings would be the foundation of his campaign efforts.

"I challenge all of you to help our campaign and all of these campaigns," said Boozman.

Interestingly, Boozman never mentioned his Democratic opponent, incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln, in his remarks.

Jim Keet, the Republican nominee for Governor, had a higher energy level than Boozman.  Keet also stressed that "the time is now" for the GOP to make gains from the statehouse to Congress.

"I got re-engaged in the political process because of what I saw happening nationally," said Keet, discussing the topics of health care, the stimulus, card check, and cap-and-trade legislation.

"I asked our Governor to come out against health care reform and he didn't do it until after it passed," Keet said. "That's not leadership."

Keet coined a new phrase at today's convention that is likely to turn up in his future campaign rhetoric: "O-Beebe-besity."

"What is 'O-Beebe-besity'?  It's taking a $940 million surplus and turning it into zero," he said.

Claiming that state government employment had grown by more than 4,000 workers during Gov. Mike Beebe's term, Keet reiterated that he would take a 20% cut in pay and reduce the Governor's office budget by 20% on Day One if elected.  He vowed to root out waste and fraud in state government through a blue ribbon panel.

"I'll take a census of the total number of employees in state government on Day One and four years later, we're not going to have one more additional state employee because you have to stop the growth in state government," said Keet.

He also advocated job creation policies and improving literacy as a way to boost education. Keet chastised Beebe's claim that the state budget was balanced.  He cited a $390 million debt owed to the federal government from borrowed funds for state unemployment claims.

Keet closed with another theme he said he'll integrate into his campaign rhetoric: planes, games and automobiles.

He criticized Beebe's support for the 2007 purchase of a new multi-million dollar state airplane used for gubernatorial travel. He called for ethics reforms as an excuse to stop "games" being played by state elected officials.  And, he said he would make an issue of the unfolding scandal involving constitutional officers' and state employees' use of taxpayer-financed automobiles.

"Beebe said that was the 'tradition and practice.' That was the 'tradition and practice' of the good ole boy network," said Keet. "Folks, I'm going to bring that to an end."

"It is time to send the chairman of the board of the good ole boy network home," Keet concluded.

Republican nominees for Congressional office include First District candidate Rick Crawford, Second District candidate Tim Griffin, Third District candidate Steve Womack and Fourth District candidate Beth Anne Rankin.