And they’re out of here.

 

I worked this morning packing up equipment from RNC media booths.  Security was still high at the Excel Center, but there was a general feeling of relief that it’s all over.  Crew people were much more talkative and not much of it was positive.  I’ve heard comments from higher-ups that a lot of money was wasted and many people are upset about the overzealous police actions – particularly the footage from last night of the woman surrounded by police being sprayed with mace (sorry, you’ll have to find it on your own – I have to leave for work soon).

I did enjoy one IA guy’s story about watching a conventioner set up a late night hotel meeting with two out of place attractive young women whom the crew guy was really really sure were not just “new friends.” 

And we had fun on our break looking at convention materials that are not usually accessible to the public.

Damn, I missed brunch

 

I have a five-show week-end to get through.  Catch ya’ next week.

Enjoy!

4 more months of this is more than enough

Nothing Much Happening

I haven’t been able to update on the convention before now since I’ve been working calls at the last minute.  This morning I helped set up a party for the California RNC Delegation.  I haven’t worn my “McCain 1908″ t-shirt to a call, but I today I did wear my “Best War Ever” shirt to the delight of the crew.  The crew head said he has one that says, “Swing State My Ass.”  I did manage to get downtown for awhile yesterday and what struck me most was that nothing is really going on.  I’m sure the people who were gassed would tell you differently, as would illegally arrested journalist Amy Goodman, but it’s not like the streets are teeming with dangerous rallying protesters.  In fact, the only people on the street are a lot of police and the usual suspects who show up at every national event in hope of press:  The PETA people, the “9-11 was an inside job” crazies, the guy with the giant neon green ”You Are Going to Hell” sign, and the Tampons are Abortion fanatics (my wording, not theirs.) 

From the coverage of Denver it seemed that hundreds of regular people were travelling across the nation to support Barack Obama and the Democratic Party and to just be there for the historic occasion.  There are no lines of people trying to get in to see the convention or hoping shake McCain’s hand.  From what I can see, for the Republicans there’s just not much happening.

Update from St. Paul

I worked a call at the Excel River Center last night.  It was weird, like being in the lion’s den.  I went though multiple security checkpoints and all IA people had to leave our tools behind – no wrenches, flashlights or knives.   But what is more American than laboring and sweating so that someone else can say things I disagree with?

Yeah, basically I pushed around some platforms. 

 

Before turning everything in I went into the bathroom and took this pic of me with my RNC badge.  A convention-related young woman (i.e. in business clothes) walked in on me and said it was the weirdest thing she’d ever walked in on in the bathroom.  “Not uncomfortable, just weird.”

One Suit stopped to comment, “Look at those stagehands” as another woman and I walked by pushing a seating platform.  I hate that shit.

There is talk that if Gustav is bad then they might cut the convention short.  They ended it early Monday because of Gustav.  Seriously – I think they are hoping the hurricane will be bad so they can show how generous they are.  It’s a freaking madhouse downtown.  Most protesters are peaceful  (10,000 marched) and a lot of Minnestotans are just out to see it all, but 200 anarchists are messing it all up.  They threw glass through Macy’s windows and through police cars.  That does not go over well here – people here do not hate the PO-lice.  Any community sympathy there might have been for Sunday’s pre-emptive raid (of the anarchist “Welcoming Party” house) is gone gone gone.  Kind of funny though too: they slashed the tires of a FOX news van (which FOX reported) and one anarchist got kicked in the head by a horse’s hoof – I don’t think the city kids were expecting lots of cops on giant horses.

 

I’m working a state fair load-out today and then taking my camera downtown to see what I can see.  If I can find parking!  Had to walk almost a mile yesterday.