The daily bus ride most convention goers take from downtown Minneapolis to St. Paul is really a brilliant way to start each session. Taking a special vehicle that is set aside for only certain people and goes on roads that only those special vehicles can go on makes the destination all the more exciting. In a way, its like Disney World – as far as I can remember you never just park your car and walk through a set of turnstiles. In order to enter the theme park, you have to take either a monorail, a train, or a ferry. I’m sure it was nothing more than a logistical solution, but the buses here have ended up making each day more like a ritual…less commonplace than driving a car to a parking lot. I think it helps to set the mood.
On the ride over today, I sat next to a guy who I came to learn is something of a big shot in Spanish language TV and radio. Without blabbing too much about our conversation, he’s a lifelong Democrat, cousin to a current Democratic Senator, and taking plenty of flack for crossing the aisle to support McCain. Apparently, word of his attendance got out back home and after Monday night, his voicemail was full. It was a good conversation, talked a lot about JFK and Reagan. Conversations with moderates have tended to be more interesting than those with party loyalists…not to say they’re any more enlightened, just more open-minded and generally more positive in nature. I’m guessing most of ‘em have lower blood pressure, too!
Watching political conventions on TV, I always wondered how those people got so many political buttons to wear. I figured that in the arena concourses there must be a whole line of 50-gallon trash cans filled with free “flair”. I’ve come to find out the uncle sam hats and the like are all for sale at gift shops around the arena. In case you’re interested, a standard run-of-the-mill button goes for $4 (or 10 for $15)!
Before going into the Xcel center last night, I walked around the outside of it to see if the other side of the building was exposed to any more signs of St. Paul city life. It wasn’t. The security radius is generous.
I was interviewed by an NPR reporter tonight. She was asking about Republican stereotypes and whether or not I disagreed with my party on any issues. I hate being interviewed. It’s already difficult enough to speak extemporaneously about serious stuff. I tried to be honest in my answers, but given that a stranger is sticking their arm out at me, with a microphone only an inch from my mouth (literally), half of my thinking was spent on making my answers coherent, let alone truthful or insightful. Even as I was speaking I could just hear how my words could be easily misconstrued. NPR has me on tape listing off stereotypes about Republicans as well as things I disagree with them about. I’m just hoping that I sounded so nervous and rambling that they won’t use any of my quotes!
On the one hand, I don’t think any ideology has a monopoly on good ideas, but on the other hand it seems like a stereotype/cliché in and of itself to interview a self-doubting Republican. I seriously hope they don’t make me come across as the guy who thinks of himself as the smartest Republican in the room.
I saw the [former] CEO of eBay [Meg Whitman] speak…was pretty blah. I would like to have seen more of Michael Steele’s speech. “Drill baby drill” and palin’s hockey mom/pitbull quip are the two soundbites that are still on my mind. I wonder if we'll hear them played over and over in the news? I talked at length with my fellow AIA’er Nick. Getting to know him and hear about how he ties together interests in architecture and government has been good. Rudy’s speech was something else…humor is powerful!
The welcoming applause for Palin was big and genuine. It seemed like it lasted forever. This may be the moment from tonight I remember the longest. Party affiliation aside, it was a historic and moving thing to see. The only other times I’ve seen a crowd show that much unconditional appreciation/support has been at sporting events. Actually this felt bigger. People had been waiting a week to clap for her…then we got to hear her speak.
There was no bio movie introducing Sarah Palin. Rudy took that role. Someone on the bus back said that Jon Voight (who’s been at the convention) narrated such a movie, but I guess they decided not to show it. If she was seriously picked just last friday that would really be something for them to turn around a bio movie in less than a week. She’s been out campaigning since that time, anyway. Also, looking at the high production value of Biden’s movie last week I can’t help but wonder when that decision was really made. Perhaps the lack of movie suggests McCain’s VP decision truly was a late one?
I saw a heckler get dragged away while Sarah Palin was speaking. It happened right next to the stage so I know she had to be aware of what was going on but she didn’t glance over once.
After Palin’s family came out on stage, McCain joined them…he didn’t speak much though. It was a lot of standing around that I can only guess was intended to provide a good backdrop for the TV pundits to talk over. Especially considering the fact that the convention goers never got to see the cameras switch to specific people in the crowd, one could make a good case that the best seat in the house belonged to those people watching from home. The post-speech milling around by the candidates seems kinda unnatural when you’re watching it in person.
After the speeches, I took the GOP bus back to downtown Minneapolis. At that point I got on a public bus to take me the rest of the way home. That bus was full of concert goers from a Rage Against the Machine concert that had just ended at the Target Center. I wasn’t at Disney World any more…it was back to real life in Minneapolis. I really enjoyed being able to talk openly with like-minded people the last few days, but I think I still belong living amongst the Rage fans.
David Little, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, NCIDQ