unofficial blog of the convention


Through a series of remarkable circumstances that have kept me from updating this site (until now) I've been consumed by the convention whirl since Sunday. Monday I got all-day access through an old friend from Arizona who's a state representative and one of that state's delegation. Then through alternate delegates from North Carolina I met Monday night, I got into a swank Travis Tritt party thrown by the folks at GM, and access to last night's session. Then, I found out this afternoon, these new friends can also get me into tonight's session! Since I have to meet them at 6:30, unfortunately I can't launch into the detailed assessment I planned to write.

For now, a quick run-down.

So far I feel like I've had great access to a variety of perspectives. Monday I hung out with my friend, attended a lobbyist-sponsored dinner at Ruth Chris with a handful of other Arizona politicians, and then that night I sat with their wives while we listened to McCain give his speech. In the view of politician Mac Magruder (overheard commenting to his wife), McCain "went from a politician to a statesman" Monday night. Sitting with the wives gave me their reaction to the arrival of Michael Moore, which unfortunately somewhat upstaged the Iraqi woman giving a speech. Apparently many were unprepared for his appearance (some even thought it a security gaffe), which was clearly just to hear McCain. By the time the Sept. 11 widows finished talking, Moore had left the scene. Only later, when running into New York Sun columnist J.P. Avlon did I learn that Moore had been issued credentials by U.S.A. Today.

Later that night I mingled with the North Carolinans, as I said, and then rounded off the evening chatting with a copy at the 34th St. station while I waited for my train.

Tuesday I caught a glimpse of the protesters, as I ran errands around Union Square and the East Village. Protesters also dogged the pre-convention party at which I volunteered in the check-in line. Although they were few in number and generally unintimidating in their chants, the police presence that arrived to keep them contained was incredible. Police cars and vans were lined up across the street, providing a partial barrier between them and us. Several police decked out in riot gear (hats with clear visors, the white, pretzel-shaped riot handcuffs strapped to their sides) stood on the corner making sure nothing happened.

Still, our event was pretty high-profile. Karl Rove spoke, Michael Reagan taped a broadcast of his show, and its rumored even the Governator made an appearance. I only checked in such notables as Phyllis Shlafly and a NY politician named Maltese, before meeting Alan Keyes when I got to go inside the party later. Brushing with fame paled in comparison to the perspective of the restroom attendant, however, who described bandaging a guest who'd been wounded by protesters somehow, and comforting a weeping Japanese woman who had apparently been stripped by party security (?!!). I haven't seen the sort of protester violence described by the papers, but two men we checked in did have ketchup on their sleeves which protesters had apparently launched as it was blood (we joked whether it was Heinz or W ketchup).

After the party, I made my way to the Garden in time to hear the Bush girls, Arnold and Laura speak. Although my guest pass was technically for the nose-bleed 400-level section, I had no trouble joining my benefactors in their 200-level section very near where Larry King was taping a broadcast with Bob Dole, and not far from the section where the Bush and Schwarzenegger families were sitting. The 300-level seating is apparently where relatives and other official guests of the delegates sit, while the 200-level seating is for alternate delegates. They have easy access to the floor, and lots of goodies under the seats each night (last night was a weighty tome of Bush speeches I think I'll send my grandpa as a souvenir).

When the speeches finally wrapped up, it was off to the Texas party, one floor up from the Hammerstein Ballroom where we'd partied the night before. For a party hosted by Texas (and AT&T) it had neither the spicy salsa one would expect nor lavish spreads of barbecue. In fact, many of the hors d'oeuvres were Asian-themed: wonton wrappers, vegetable rolls, etc. The one alcoholic nod to the hosts was the inclusion of Lone Star beer.

As a general assessment of the speeches, I thought Monday night (theme: A Nation of Courage) was very solid. What particularly impressed me about the big-name speeches was the detailed argumentation. Compared to the superficiality of Kerry's acceptance speech (which I have commented on), both McCain and Giuliani did a better job building their cases — making assertions and then offering multiple pieces of evidence as substantiation. Giuliani for example, argued that terrorists have been given little more than hand-slaps by the world community since their attacks on Israel's Olympic team in 1972. Both the German and Italian governments (responding to a later attack) released the terrorists after only a few months, he said. This kind of response by the world community has encouraged them to increasing boldness. Not until Bush and Blair have world leaders put their foot down and refused to accept such behavior.

In general, Monday night's speakers seemed to be addressing a younger, more sophisticated audience. Tuesday night played to an older generation despite the Bush twins' jokes about Outkast and Sex in the City. Both Arnold and Laura made numerous references to the Cold War and Communism, in arguments that aligned the threat of terrorism with that period of fear. Laura's references to our children no longer hiding under their desks resonates with an older generation than mine (which I think would be more persuaded by McCain and Giuliani), for whom "the Cold War" is a fairly distant memory.

All in all, though, I have to say I miss the Democrats a little (gasp). Without their presence, it's not much of an argument. One politician's wife and I discussed how there was something almost hokey and therefore unbelievable about the ridiculously packaged ads promoting Bush. And why do all the signs say things like "We love W"? I almost wish I could my own, more nuanced sign to hold when I go tonight. But all the signs — even those that look handmade — appear to be generated by some special faux-grassroots publicity team.

That was another thing I appreciated about both McCain and Giuliani. They both gave their speeches so well — and Giuliani in particular was a master of congenial engagement. His off-the-cuff delivery of personal anecdotes gave a remarkable intimacy to the speeches that seemed very candid and natural. By contrast, the Bush women's delivery was so wooden at times you wonder if they were ever consulted on what to say. Or did someone just write all the content and say, "Here! Practice this."

One interesting aspect of my perspective last night: because we were sitting almost on the sidelines, I had a profile view of Laura. I don't remember how long she spoke, but I could see her lifting one foot from time to time, or appearing to scratch the back of one ankle with a toe. These details helped to humanize her in a strange way, despite the stiff 3-pivot turn of her delivery as she addressed the arena. A couple women behind me noticed the foot-shifting too and commented that she must get tired standing up there like that.

Well, I've less than an hour to get ready for tonight, so I'm afraid I'll have to leave it at that. Tonight I'm taking my notebook again, so I'll try to fill in more details tomorrow. Feel free to post questions in the comment section if there's something I haven't talked about.

posted @ 04:44 PM on Wed - September 1, 2004 remark! Email |  as quoted:
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