Peace Out

The fireworks have been blown, the balloons have dropped, and the two parties have officially nominated the candidates that we knew they would nominate months ago.

But, it wasn't all pointless. We learned that CNN has more money than God. That workspaces at both conventions were not without their charms. That people love Hillary and that bears probably don't like Sarah. That protesters can be universally obnoxious. That journalists really are impacted by inclement weather. That pirates live among us. That The Beach Boys are still alive. That swag isn't all it's cracked up to be. And, that malls named after America are really big.

A big shout-out to my three commenters and twenty readers. I've really enjoyed this and will remember you all when I become a rich and famous blogger.

Now, it's time to get the hell out of this partisan storm of wonks and political hacks and back to DC.

Peace Out.

Who never ever learned to read or write so well...

McCain's theme song for most rallys and whatnot is "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry. Mr. Berry isn't so impressed.


For me, this song will forever be associated with Marty McFly ripping on the electric guitar in the Enchanment Under the Sea Dance. Sorry Johnny.

Freaks and Geeks

Welcome to the circus that is the area surrounding the Xcel Center.

I'm not quite sure I understand their map. They offered to give me some free literature on the subject, but I passed.

Here's something fun. On the back it had a picture of John McCain holding a dead fetus. Not kidding. And, the Hawaii delegation watches it all from afar.

Where the Elephants Roam

With only one day (praise Jesus!) left in the convention, I guess I should post some pictures of our RNC workspace.

They really rolled out the red ($360) carpet for us here.

This time, instead of working in a freezing tent, we're in a freezing gymnasium. Also, the overhead lights have gone from non-existent, to interrogation-bright. I believe I've lost all sense of time.

Here's a handy map of the Xcel Center complex. It's not handy at all because the complex is actually more of a giant maze and not one of the 4,000 volunteers wondering around here have any idea where anything is.

A view of a another gymnasium-type workspace adjacent to ours. The random car down there is some sort of promotional thing. The journalists walking by it can barely afford bikes, so I'm not sure it was the most brilliant marketing strategy.

The convention floor. This is the view from the press stand.

Tomorrow, all of these balloons will fall on John McCain's head.

And, finally: proof that I'm actually here (and that St. Paul is windy).

It's Time (ha ha) for Joe Klein and Steve Schmidt to Take This Outside

Joe Klein is pissed. I suppose with good reason. The McCain campaign has spent the past few days freaking out about the media's coverage of the whole Palin thing. And, they've decided that the best way to make the press fall in line is to shame them into it:

"So what's going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he's ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field...any intimations that he's gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable.

The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair--sexist (you gotta love it)--personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media--about the substance of Palin's record as mayor and governor."

I don't know if Joe Klein is actually reporting from St. Paul, but if he is; Schmidt better watch his back.

It's Palin Time!

Do you think she'll field-dress a moose on the podium?


That would be awesome.

MSNBC: Bring It.

It seems I missed a quality poster yesterday as I was taking blurry pictures of the MSNBC set:

So, Olbermann and Matthews are running on a joint ticket now?

UPDATE: Looks like Olbermann had better things to do this week than campaign for the MSNBC presidency.

I Get Around

The GOP had a truncated schedule yesterday due to Gustav, and I finished work early. I have zero VIP connections, but a friend does. So, we made our way over to Minneapolis to check out a fancy Republican party and a fancy Republican concert.

The party had fresh-baked cookies and a flag in my Diet Coke. Conservatives: God love em'.

Then, it was on to the concert. Can you guess who was playing?

Yep. I have video proof. Brian Wilson was there, John Stamos was not. But that didn't keep the (largely white, male and older) crowd from partying like it was 1969. The first concert I ever went to was a Beach Boys concert. As I was ten at the time, I don't remember much about it, but I'm guessing the set list hasn't changed much over the years. They rocked it out.

I heard a story about a party at the DNC Convention that ended with an impromptu duet of "Gold Digger" starring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. Poor Republicans - The Beach Boys are about as hip as they get.