Heather’s Blog
We’re done! I can’t believe these two weeks are finished. Our country now officially has the nominees selected – on both sides – and thus begins two intense months (which we all know will be full of jabs and barbs traded on either side of the aisle).
We’ve had a week of surprises… but on the other hand, some not-so-predictable ones. Conventions have become no more than a rah-rah session for candidates. Marshall and I were commenting on this, walking away from our live shot: so much money is traded, just to allow party faithful to rub shoulders, bolstering themselves up. The business of roll call, of selecting an actual nominee, has been reduced to a side-bar event.
What if conventions allowed for suspense, for a race determined to the finish line? I would venture to say that more Americans would become engaged in the political process – a right that so many others worldwide can only dream of.
On a side note, somethingsmelled fishy at the RNC tonight. You might be thinking it all surrounds the political talk… no my friends. It really did smell of rank fish inside the Xcel Energy Center. So much so, that photographer Isaac commented, “Did they bring a real live elephant in here?!” Yeah, it was really that bad.
Now it’s time to celebrate. I couldn’t be more proud of the crew I worked with these past two weeks, covering the DNC, and now the RNC. James, Isaac, Rob, Tak, and Marshall: we’ve worked as a team, competitively pushing each other to keep going. It’s been great, and I’ll never forget this experience.
If it weren’t for Gobstoppers, things could get nasty in our trailer. You think I’m kidding. The brilliant buy was made last night during our run to Cub Foods at something like 2:30 am. We all got hooked on them last week at the DNC, so we decided to continue the tradition this week as well. Ahh, I had to cancel my dentist appointment anyway this week, so why not live on the edge? Bottom line, the little bits of heaven are helping us keep our sanity.
You know, things here are wonderful, really. I am continually keeping in mind what our news director told us last week, “Just remember, in a month from now, you’ll be wishing you were covering the convention again.” It’s true, even though I am exhausted. Thoroughly. So much I over-slept this morning, by a long shot. Ugh. That’s never fun.
So I’m making this post brief tonight. Over and out (like a light).
These protestors aren’t playing paddy-cake. These folks are screaming for attention. And today I witnessed most of it first-hand. Here we were, doing our live shot for the noon, things pretty much in control. Then this mass of people comes down the street, straight towards the Xcel Energy Center. Police officers told me several arrests were made, even tear gas dispersed to keep them under control. The scene poses much more of a security threat than the protestors in Denver. There, protestors were kept at a long distance; here, the Center is yards away from protestors (even though a security fence is in place in between). Over the weekend, local police had arrested six in connection with the “RNC Welcoming Committee,” a self-proclaimed anarchist group. Inside theseized home they found axes, knives, anti-war material.
Excuse me, but don’t all those weapons and violent intent go right against what they’re protesting? I don’t get it.
It infuriated me they were flying the American flag upside-down. Here’s my stance: if you’ve got a problem with the very foundations of this nation, go ahead and move out. American gives you the chance to speak your mind, butdefaming her name just disgusts me.
Security’s really ramped up here, too. We’ve got to go through probably twice as many security checkpoints in between our ABC compound (where the writing and editing happens), and our live location inside the Xcel Energy Center as in Denver. We’ve got to go through the same security lines as the general public here for the convention. As a result, it’s imperative we leave super early for live shots… ahhh… an earlier deadline! Yikes.
Quite the news from the Palin camp today (that being Gov. Palin’s 17-year-old unwed daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant). News, though, that Republicans are turning around into praise – it’s been reported Bristol has chosen to keep the baby and marry the child’s father. Question is, will Republicans and/or non-committed voters have compassion in this circumstance, leave Palin’s family out of the voting equation, or drop the VP running-mate all together? On a person-to-person level, Bristol needs as much support as possible right now… she will face hard times going into her senior year, and now even more scrutiny being under the media microscope. She’s making a decision that isn’t the easy route, that’s for sure.
What a relief it is that Hurricane Gustav wasn’t what it was expected to be. I anticipate the GOP to take an upturn in activity now that the big threat has, for the most part, passed.
On another unrelated note, the mosquitoes here are going to town. But only have a taste for Marshall, it seems. HA!
Oh, and for those who read my blog from the DNC, I’ve solved the hairspray issue (it was confiscated back at the DNC by one security lady who had the audacity to take it away). Got my replacement supply, so now the world can continue as normal. 🙂
“Still blogging, eh?”Isaac keeps asking, his laugh masking the facthe’s ready for me to wrap this up andleave. Time for us four – James (who has a hidden talent for elephant impersonations), Isaac, Marshall and myself – to all pile in the car and catch some Z’s!
One week ago, we were in a much different place: Obama had just picked Biden as his running mate, and McCain was still riding the wave of an abbreviated primary-caucus season. But now, a tidal wave of comments, criticisms, and questions have flooded the Republican party.
Not to mention one huge hurricane barrelling towards Louisiana. (Everyone, say a prayer for those bracing for something that could prove to be “Katrina, Round Two.”) We’re hearing the convention might beabbreviated to just Monday and Tuesday.
I’m going to leave my personal politicalbeliefs out of this blog (even though blogging, by definition, expands the typical journalism format) as it pertains to either party. I will, however, make it known that I am so privileged to be part of history. No matter the outcome, America has arrived at a point to include females and minorities to be seen as valid. For that, I am proud.
I really had no idea how big Mall of America was… until I went there today. EVERYTHING is there. You might find this amusing, but shopping isn’t really my thing. I’m probably the only girl you’ll find who would rather do something else. Mall of America, well, that’d maybe appeal – simply because there are roller coasters inside. YAY!
Isaac, my photographer, and I spent the whole day tooling around St. Paul and Minneapolis. Great towns that keep the true historical feel!
