Before the convention started, I had a feeling that Wednesday would be the high water mark…this was definitely the case. In general, the speakers who went Thursday didn’t deliver. I expected more from Governor Pawlenty than what we got. Senator Grahm’s speech was my favorite of the night and I think the most under-appreciated one of the week. He got nothing from the crowd. On tuesday, it felt like the audience blew Lieberman off a little, too.
Before the big names got up to speak I tried to walk around every part of the arena my credentials could get me into. I saw John Oliver from the Daily Show and, as I expected, the camera crew gave no indication that it was from Comedy Central. Looking at the poor sap being interviewed/ridiculed made me smile.
They showed the Palin bio movie. Later they showed a Cindy McCain bio movie prior to her taking the stage. Before that movie, I never saw Cindy McCain as a humanitarian, but I was really impressed by her story...not so much by the speech. I doubt it’ll be the kinda thing anyone takes into consideration when considering who to vote for. And I don’t think the public will hear any more about her story before Election Day, but I came away thinking her cosmopolitan heiress image is quite misleading. That said, the big-collared thing she wore Monday night to talk about hurricane victims looked like it belonged on a fashion runway, not a political convention.
During John McCain’s speech, two hecklers were answered by the crowd chanting "USA!" I didn’t participate in all that. I found it all to be uncomfortable and amusing at the same time. Kinda like when I hear people boast of how the only TV they watch is BBC World. I actually like the way McCain started to handle the situation though. It was just like the times when I’ve seen him in a debate or on Meet the Press and someone else starts to talk over him. He doesn’t flinch one bit, but just keeps moving through his talking points. He started to do this tonight but eventually gave into the disrespect. Perhaps he knew that nobody was listening to him at that point. I think he should’ve just talked over it all…the screaming and the chanting. If he’d done it right, he might of even come across a little like Clint Eastwood
By and large, the speech wasn’t very moving. I’ve heard a lot of pundits talk about how he’s better off the cuff than in front of a teleprompter. Probably true. He was much better in the debate and town halls I’ve seen him in.
His plans for America’s schools probably won’t go anywhere but I loved hearing him talk about the issue.
I didn’t hear a whole lot that directly related to the profession of architecture. McCain, Pawlenty, and to a lesser extent, Palin, talked about the need for renewable energy. They definitely played up their appeal to small business owners and entrepreneurs in discussing tax policy. Beyond that, the most professionally pertinent stuff I heard tonight came from a former football player. When I was milling around between speeches, I statred talking to a guy named Joey Browner. I have since looked him up on wikipedia only to be further embraced of being so oblivious as to who he is. But looking back on the conversation, I think he may have even liked the fact that I didn’t know who he was. We talked about the new stadiums going up around the Twin Cities and whether its benefiting the teams or the community-at-large. He contends the RNC would never have come to the Twin Cities if the new arena (the Xcel Center) hadn’t been built. We also spoke a good deal about Minneapolis’ new light rail transit. I guess he works or volunteers for a group lobbying for its expansion - that was the organization on his business card. He was a real decent guy.
Speaking of light rail transit, on the bus rides to and from St. Paul, I heard several people talking about how great these new trains are in Minneapolis…a stance not all that popular in certain circles of Minnesota’s Republican Party. But I think McCain would be all for it – Pawlenty seems to be on board.
After I squeezed my way out of the Xcel Center, I called my parents back in Indiana to compare notes on the evening. This had become habit over the past few nights – they’ve definitely gotten a big kick out of my opportunity this week. I took the bus home…sat next to a Dupage County councilman from the Illinois delegation. We talked about the Cubs and Minneapolis versus Chicago weather. I told him that I didn’t think they were all that different, it’s just perception.
The last few days have been short on sleep, but I feel real fortunate to now have these memories...
David Little, Assoc. AIA