We arrived in Bloomington in time to watch the second half of the Husker football game in a crowded bar with a lot of other crazy Husker fans who live in the Minneapolis area. Once we got to the hotel, we helped the NEGOP wrap a few delegate presents and organized credentials. This ended up being one of our few nights where we got to bed at a semi decent hour.
Sunday was spent helping pass out the credentials and presents to the delegates in the afternoon, and then we headed to the Civic Fest at the Minneapolis convention center, which was packed with bands, food and drink lines, and presidential displays which included part of the old Air Force One, several First Ladies dresses (I think from inaugural balls) a live eagle, and rows of shopping for the political junkie.
To tell you the truth, I can't remember if we went to bed, went out, or what happened. I think I went to bed and my roommates hit the clubs.
Monday began with a breakfast at our hotel sponsored by Meridan and a great guy, Sam. By the time that broke up we had to gather in the lobby in 45 minutes to board the buses our delegation had chartered to take us to lunch at The View Restaurant and Bar. Due to Hurricane Gustav, the convention was altered for the day, so we were prepared for an easy 2 hour "work" day.
This is when I had my first experience with protesters of all kinds. We got within 4 blocks of the Excel Center when the traffic was stopped. From our bus (or what I came to think of as a big bullseye) we watched thousands of protesters walking around the convention center, and protesters walking past our bus, showing with their hands how happy they were to see us (especially the guy who was wearing swimming goggles to protect his eyes from the mace that would surely be coming his way).
After conversation with some in our delegation who thought we should go ahead and get off and walk the rest of the way, and the rest of us not wanting to be killed, our driver wisely went down a side street, got back on the interstate, and headed for another entrance. On the way we saw an off ramp closed by a human chain, so we kept on going. We were finally dropped off on a corner three blocks from the secure zone, and without protesters in site, we headed off.
Our big white bus must have given us away, because within a block, we had a group of 30 people who really needed a shower screaming at us, banging drums, and getting into the face of those behind me. Once we reached the "zone" the police had found the little lost group, and 8 riot police on horseback headed out with a round of thanks, applause and cheers from all of us in line. I would have taken a picture, but I was just so happy to feel safe it never occurred to me.
To get inside the convention, we had to show our credentials a few more times, have them scanned by a what looked like a credit card scanner, go through metal detectors, and have our bags x-rayed while secret service stood by in case of a problem. I finally got to my section just in time to hear the pledge of allegiance, national anthem and the opening prayer.
To say my seats were in the nose bleed section is underestimating the height. I was three rows from the rafters, but it was fun to see everything going on and watching press run from one "famous" person to another. This is when I learned that, as Tom described, "my protesters" had been maced, pepper sprayed and dispersed. After the shortened two hour session, we headed out with the mass of people to find bus red 21 that would take us back to our hotel and I along with two other ladies were stopped by Al-Jezera TV who wanted to interview us. We nicely declined.
Getting to our bus was easier said than done. We first found the “yellow" buses, got excited that we were close, and then walked blocks to find the "red" buses and even farther to get to # 21. Just think of cattle in a really long shoot.
Once on our bus, the first time on an official GOP bus that can drive in and out of the secure zone, we learned that they all have an armed officer who is the last one on and first one off for our safety. I kind of thought this was overkill until I learned that the CT delegation got a brick in a window, other buses had sandbags dropped from overpasses onto them, and there was a fraction group who considered kidnapping delegates to disrupt the convention. I learned to hide my credentials if they were not needed.
We arrived back to our hotel without incident and decided to have our own little NE party near the pool. After a rather long run to the store to buy drinks and food by a few in our group who know how to throw a party, we had a great time. I found out that if you need to fill a bathtub with ice, forget the ice bucket and go for the trash cans.
The party broke up around 12:30 so I headed to bed and my roommates headed out to crash an exclusive party in a club. They rolled in about 2 am and I learned about their near death experience when during the cab ride to the club, a car ran a red light, and if not for the screams in the cab, they would have been t-boned and "Montana" (never did learn his name, but he was part of their delegation in our hotel) would have taken the brunt.
Tuesday morning began with a breakfast at 7:30 am that seemed to be missing a few in our group. We had a few hours off, so I went shopping with a friend and got caught in a downpour. The skywalk system is pretty handy, but would have been even better if it went to our hotel.
In the afternoon, we headed to a lunch alongside Lake Minnetonka, at the Bayview event center. The lake and club were beautiful, but with the morning rain and clouds, it was pretty cold. We then headed to the "zone" without problems and had our first whole "work day". This is when I also started a bad sore throat and once back at the hotel I went to bed while my roommates hit more clubs and walked in about 4:30 am.
Thank goodness for all of us Wednesday was a brunch that did not begin until 10 am. The speakers were kept a surprise, and the McCain campaign banner that was hung peeked our curiosity. Turned out it was Joe McCain, John's brother who did a great job and seems like a very sweet man. There were a few others, including a former POW who was kept in the room next to John McCain at Hanoi Hilton. It was emotional to listen to this guy speak while he used a cane and obviously had lasting health issues because of the torture he endured.
We then headed off on the buses again for a dinner on a yacht that took us up and down the river. We went through the lock system and I got some pictures of the new I-35 bridge that is being rebuilt from the collapse. For those who don’t know, I really am not a motion person and was a little apprehensive about eating and riding on boat at the same time, but it ended up being one of my favorite experiences of the week.
This is when I meet a gentleman who moved from NE a few years ago, and now works for Hubbard County MN, where my mom was from. We talked about how beautiful the Park Rapids area is, and I tried to explain where all of my cousins live.
We arrived at the convention center and were moved to a different side to get in the "zone" and got to see the team broadcasting from outside the center. To tell you the truth, I have no idea which network. We were in such a vacuum of news that I would have Tom text me information so I knew what was going on in the outside world.
This was by far my favorite night of the convention. The speakers were great and Rudy Giuliani was fantastic; you could tell he was having a blast. By the time he was finished, the energy in the room was amazing, and once Gov. Sarah Palin walked out, I swear the roof lifted a little. Every single person was on their feet, screaming and clapping...even those standing in the back behind the highest seats.
You should know that the main reason I was so excited to go was to hear Gov. Palin. I was completely impressed by her no nonsense attitude and not being afraid to take on the establishment. The first few minutes of her speech I was mildly worried that she was nervous, but I had no reason to be concerned. I later learned that the teleprompter had problems during her and Rudy's speech, but you would never know. Gov. Palin memorizes her speech.
During the roll call, I quickly had three people tapping my shoulder when Arizona passed on their delegate votes. We had three professors; two from England and one from New Zealand (I got it right Richard!) and they were confused about what was happening. I figured they allowed Arizona to be last or have the honor of putting McCain over in the delegate count, and after a call to a lawyer in our delegation on the floor, it was confirmed that the home state is allowed to have the honor.
For my family members, at least one professor is from Warwick University in Coventry.
This was also the night that I got to switch out credentials for a short time with a delegate and take my pictures on the floor with the NE sign. While sitting there I noticed a red phone. I asked the lady beside me who has been to 3 other conventions if it was security. Nope. They call your delegation if you are not cheering enough.
This session went late, so our dinner on a train by the convention center was delayed until the next day, so we headed to bus red 21 and boarded, expecting the normal ride home. That is until we were near our hotel and we saw lanes of cars stopped a couple blocks in front of us, and suddenly had two motorcycle police escorting our bus. Turns out, there was a concert downtown which turned into a small riot. The police were busy spraying down the people with mace, and they did not want our big bullseye anywhere near the problem.
We finally made it to our hotel and most of us decided to just stay in the hotel bar instead of going out. We watched a couple of police going down to help, and a few younger guys who were walking quickly away from the problem, trying to blend in. I had a quick meal and went to bed, my throat hurting more than ever.
My roommates braved the conditions and arrived home about 4 am. The alarm went off at 7am, and I could not get up. I had the chills, my throat and chest hurt, and felt like general crap. My roommates showered and dressed to make the bus for breakfast on the Burlington Northern train and lunch on the UP train, but I slept. I finally showered and dressed to have lunch in the hotel restaurant that consisted of amazing baked mac and cheese and hot tea that made me feel much better.
The group returned by afternoon and we boarded the GOP bus that took us directly into the “zone”. We were all excited to not have to worry about our safety until we learned that we needed to walk a couple blocks outside the zone to get to the location where we had our delegation picture taken. This is the location where the thousands of protesters were the first day.
Walking by the riot police who were grabbing bottles of water and slamming down burgers was more than a little unnerving. I noticed a slight strange chemical odor near the riot police, and once my throat began to slightly burn, it confirmed that I never, ever want to experience mace or pepper spray. I took one photo of a few of the officers and a water fire truck that looked like they used to spray the crowd if needed, but I was too nervous to stop and take pictures of the big group of riot police and just wanted to get where I needed to be, as there were small pockets of protesters all around.
After the picture, we headed back into the zone with no problem, and I made my way to the nosebleed seats. Most of our group crashed other sections for closer seats, but I and the one professor who was still there stuck it out. Turns out it was a great seat to see the protesters who got in and interrupted McCain’s speech, and to see the lady who took them on before security arrived. It was also a great view of the balloon drop that lasted about 30 minutes. At the end, I was able to get on the floor again and pick up a little confetti to bring home.
We learned that during this session the protesters were at the State Capitol and wanted to march to the convention center. From what I understand, not only were they maced and pepper sprayed, but this time they also used percussion bombs. With all that craziness, our bus ride was pretty quiet, and I was finally feeling better, so we crashed a party at a club.
Friday morning, everyone in our group looked more than a little tired, and it is a good thing that it lasts only four days; we are too old to survive longer. I had a great time, and I am looking forward to the next convention. Who knows what stories I will have next time!
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