12 DAY CONVENTION PHOTO RECAP: DAY 9 of 12-RNC DAY 1

AWOL Soldiers, Barack Obama, Corporate Responsibility, DNC 08 Photographs, Democratic National Convention, Elections, FEMA, GOP, George W. Bush, Green Party, Hurricane Gustav, Impeachment, India, Iran, Iraq War, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Libertarian Party, New World Order, Protests, RNC Photographs, Republican National Convention, Ron Paul, U.S. Elections, Uncategorized, War on Terror, aclu, constitution party, debate access, peace movement, photographs, political photography, politics, sarah palin, third parties

12 DAY CONVENTION PHOTO RECAP: DAY 9 of 12-RNC DAY 1

( Originally posted Sept 9/08)

 There was no question that the RNC was going to be different from the DNC (they have been, almost three cycles running now, from 2000 to 2008), and by the time I dragged my exhausted ragdoll self from Minneapolis to St.Paul to the Uptake.Org Offices, we were greeted, from the vantage point of our excellent locale, with Day One Protest Action. As you have seen in the videos from Day 8 “Police…”, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office engaged in all sorts of ‘preemptive actions’ against journalists, organized protest groups, and alleged terror cells. I really don’t know why anyone was surprise considering the $50 million plus budget allocated for “security”. Any doubts? Check the Sept.1 edition of Roll Call .

 Also, for a very excellent minute by minute account of Day 1 proceedings by an alternate delegate, check this.

1. Laura Bush - Much Better Than George Dontchya Think?

 Laura made her appearance consistent with her humanitarian role as First Lady, and was there to solicit donations for Hurricane Gustav victims. She introduced pretaped messages from Gov’s Haley Barbour, Rick Perry, and Charlie Crist. Later Cindy McCain appeared as the screen showed websites that delegates and home viewers could contact to offer aid.

 

 

2. Official Business - Republican National Committee Robert M. “Mike” Duncan, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)…

3. Side View of the Non-Traditional Stage, 4 ft. up, XCel Center 

 

4. View of the Hallway Leading into Minnesota’s Home of Hockey - the XCel Center

5. Another View of the Stage and Floor Activity, Day 1

6. Yes. the GOP Accepts It All!

 For those who felt the need — at BOTH conventions — to be fleeced of their cash for cheap volunteers, there was no end of merch booths available. There was one discernable difference however : the DNC had plenty of independent, bootlegged, and outsourced merch salespeople with it appearing that there was mch control over who was selling what (like a Grateful Dead concert). The GOP on the other hand, ran their merch op like the Rolling Stones, ensuring that very few bootlegged merch dealers were floating about.

 The bottom line at both events however was this; if you wait until the last day, the shirts drop in price from $25 to $5 as soon as the delegates start streaming out of the final event. Shop wisely, fellow convention goers!

7. FOX News, Providing Your Minute-By-Minute Hysteria

 FOX News had the biggest presence at the GOP Convention with a giant block sized tent and giant screen (facing the west entrance) providing all their broadcasting for the needs of delegates out having a smoke break. FOX also provided tours for the curious who wanted to see Hannity and Colmes, Bill O’Reilly, or even Greta Van Susteren in “action” ( as in: reading teleprompters when not have tantrums).  Here we see a pic of FOX showing the percieved impending doooooom (!) of Hurricane Gustav, for morbid voyeurs aka FOX News viewers.

 8. OK OK, Another Overview Shot, But We Find These Interesting…to See What SWAT Teams see

9 Some More GOP Convention Signage

 Who gets this stuff as souveniers when the convention is over?

10. Don’t Fence Me In

 This was the vantage point I was allowed, as the police squished me and other photojournalists out in anticipation of, well, what I’m not quite sure.

  

11.”We Love Cindy”- a Slow Hurricane Gustav Day

 To reiterate, the relief of delegates and party faithful, Hurricane Gustav was the perfect event, er storm, to ensure that George W. nor Dick Cheney would appear at the convention, under the guise of serving the country. I’m quite sure NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin and Gov. Bobby Jindal had it under control, having learned from Katrina — but it was a great chance to bring Cindy McCain and Laura Bush out. 

 

12. “McCain - Palin” Signage

 I predict a very quick honeymoon boost — and end — for the McCain selection of Sarah Palin. She will ignite the base, there will be psuedo ‘Hillary Supporters for Palin’ mobilized, but with the looming economic meltdown much more is going to have to happen. Much more.

 

13. Funk the War…Ring Around he Poseurs…

 Before getting kind of pushed out by cops (I also had to run back to the office for my batteries), I was able to get a few shots of the Funk The War organizers dancin’ n laughin’ and engaging in what was a peaceful protest from my brief vantage point. They had a permit for a speaker system and were playing music as part of the protests outsde the XCel perimeter. 

 

14. Cops Move In, As Always…

Just as more protestors strengthened the throng, cops clearly had had enough and started mobilizing. Moving out of the perimeter was either the dumbest or smartest thing I had done. Getting arrested on Day 1 would not have been at bad thing as I would have been out by morning, but despite my official RNC Journalist Credentials I still might have got hit with a felony charge - in other words, for “conspiring to riot”. But thanks to the excellent organization of the ACLU et al, chances are a charge like that would not not have been levelled, nor stuck - but if it did, it’d have been a hassle to make my way back down to hear the charges.

 Windows at Macy’s and other property damage ocurred later that day, but again, having been an experienced protestor, you do develop a sixth sense and some common sense to know when toy back away.

15. Police Block Off Access Back In

 These shots don’t really capture the madness or sheer volume of the police action, but here they were blocking what might now be a familiar street corner to readers. Buttressed by street barriers to prevent traffic, and reinforced by the perimeter fences, they smartly made the access points inaccessable. They also ensure protestors were fenced in, or “ranched in”, as I call it - making a confrontation eventually inevitable.

16. Pro War Protestors - “Let Our Soldiers Win!”

 These guys were located directly kitty corner to where the anti-war protestors were assembling (legally), and were blaring the country rock hit “Proud to be An American” over and over, which I’m sure is a form of torture in and of itself. There was no kind of overt confrontation between these 50 or so pro-war activists and the thousands of anti war protestors. Perhaps they realized they were outnumbered, but at the same time probably wanted their police pals to ensure their attention was directed to the right culprits. The Minnesotan American Legion helped sponsor the action of these folks, and I did chat with them in a polite and non confrontational manner.

17. Looking Up Outward From the Stage, At the Back of the Delegate Seating

 Hurricane Gustav, and Protestors conspired to ensure the XCel Center was more or less empty on Day 1. The GOP did engage in some official business that all conventions are legally obliged to complete, but it also provided a bit of a day off so that I could do a good solid walk-through before the convention floor was lousy with security and delegates and pushy fellow reporters.

18. One Kick Ass Huge HD TV Screen

 Yep, that’s what it was. The imaging behind it was intense, and in many cases, it was even inappropriate and insulting to one’s intelligence. Here, convention event organizers were experimentng and using the spare day to make sure all the gear was running nice and smooov. The stage set up for the first 3 days was very cool — only 4 feet up from the throng of media and delegates — until day 4 of course when a decision was made that Sen. McCain look better and “more comortable” in a town hall styled setting. I don’t know who it worked for, however.

 

19. Stink Eye From Sen Norm Coleman

 Sen Norm Coleman, whi is being challenged by SNL alumni and satirist and Air America Radio alum Al Franken (as everyone knows) was giving interview to local TV as I caught this one of him (it’s the crappiest of my Norm - shots, but I’m such an ass that he heard me snicker at one of his hockey-platitude answers, hence the “Stink Eye”). this was taken outside the XCel Center, on day one of course.

 21. World’s Best Delegate Nose Hair Goes To (drumroll please)

 OK, this is about the most immature thing one can do, but it’s not like I was hunting for nosehair like others search for mullets, but there wasn’t one profile shot of the 6 I had of him that didn’t prominently feature the schnozz dreadlocks. Click on the photo to soom in if you dare…and I apologize in advance.

 

21. And Now - For a More Solemn Moment - Day 1 Invocation 

 I have something rather disturbing to report from the Day 3 Invocation, but I’ll wait to report on that. As THIS BLOGGER reports, ” I will now sign off as former NC State and Minnesota Timberwolves basketball star Thurl Bailey gives our invocation”.

22. The Florida Delegation - Wearing the Same Shirts John Voigt Bought in Midnight Cowboy

 This IS the spirit though! - and it was something conspicuously absent at DNC Conventions. Kudos t the Forida RNC Delegation.

 

23 - Just Some More GOP Outdoor Signage  - No Biggie

24. Yet Here We Are Again With FOX News Satiating Curiosity  

 I have to admit to being surprised at seeing this — initially — since the Palin-rumours were initially conjecture and quite a few were brutal - and these were things I overheard RNC delegates talking about in the bar.   

 

24. More Delegate Outfit Coordination - the TX Delegation!  

 Just like FLA was in the Convention Spirit, so were the TX Delegation. I also have to mention that the Michigan Delegation came replete with the coolest gear however - they were wearing GOP Hockey Jerseys…nice! 

 25. Cindy McCain and Laura Bush Talk Up Hurricane Relief, Wear it On their Sleeves.

 Of course I cannot help but comment, the collective take of their outfits and Cindy’s face work could have helped stop a famine somewhere. Don’t think I’m making this comment simply because they are Cindy McCain and Laura Bush — I am an equal opportunity fashion industry hater and will never understand the money spent on yards (or meters) of fabric. 

26. The Pixellated Visage of the Terminator

 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did back out of the RNC entirely, but as sick I am of seeing him on the big screen, there he was in a really creepy money-shot as the RNC played ‘past convention footage’ over and over at that entrance. For a moment, I almost thought it was from some of that horrible illicit footage of him from the 70’s - no different really from the content, intellectual, and aesthetically illicit footage from the 80’s and 90’s come to think of it…  

 

 

 

 ~Sven Eric Balabanoff

 media enquiries, submissions, notes, and requests for permission: please contact editor@globalpundit.org - thanks.

 

admin @ September 15, 2008