Thursday, September 04, 2008

Thursday ... final day of Republican National Convention

I'm skipping the Virginia delegation breakfast this morning to get some backlogged blogging done. This has been a busy week with activities planned at all hours of the day and night so internet time has been limited. SWAC Daughter has wanted to spend time online, too, so we have juggled our times when each would be on the computer in the limited time available.

The Waynesboro News Virginian has continued to run daily "Postcards from Minneapolis" updates, and we thank them for the opportunity to share a little of the convention flavor with folks back home.

There is a tired but happy group of delegates on this last day of the Republican National Convention.

We have a Target-sponsored lunch for the Virginia delegates today, and tonight will be the big event with Sen. John McCain's acceptance speech for the Republican Presidential nomination. They are busy this morning rebuilding the stage with a bump-out for John McCain to be closer to delegates much as a townhall-type meeting style.

When I return home, there will be stories to flesh out and photos to post. This is a beautiful area with extremely friendly people, and I have taken every opportunity to talk with locals ... everyone from police officers to bus drivers to home care givers to restaurant workers to college students. Since our hotel is located in the middle of the University of Minnesota, we have been surrounded by students.

I have switched from Fox News, which has been on our TV daily, to the Weather Channel to see how Tropical Storm/Hurricane Hanna is doing and whether she will affect our flight home on Friday.

Our next door neighbor in the hotel is former Lt. Gov. John Hager, and my neighbor across the aisle is a lady I first met two years ago during the George Allen campaign, a veteran who is support John McCain and is here as an alternate delegate.

We saw Alan Colmes from "Hannity and Colmes" yesterday as they whisked him down the sidewalk on a golf cart outside the Fox News complex. Tuesday we saw Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace, Greta Van Sustern, and other Fox personalities while visiting the complex ... but I have not seen Sean Hannity. That is the one person many of us want to see but he has been busy covering the convention for Fox News and his afternoon radio show. Bill O'Reilly was spotted Monday night at the Beach Boys concert. The Fox News folks are like celebrities to the Republicans.

SWAC Daughter spotted Karen Hughes Wednesday night at the Xcel Center and got a quick photo of her as she was interviewed by a local TV station. When they thanked her, she said it was nice to be there as a spectator for a change.

Karl Rove is the political guru of Republican politics ... and he is another I would love to meet. Fox is in their sky box over the convention floor and many of these folks are there as they work the convention.

It promises to be another beautiful sunny day here in Minnesota. Oh -- and I finally got to taste walleye, that fish of the North Country ... a tasty white flaky fish. We have also been treated to local dishes at other buffets -- foods that reflect the Swedish, Irish, and German populations of this area.

So much to say ... no time to say it right now. More to come....

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