This diary is mainly pointers to audio files on my web site and longer blog entries on my LiveJournal with pictures. Hope this is okay. I had a long day, and it's not done...
I went to the Republican National Convention as a reporter for KFAI-FM, a Twin Cities independent radio station. I'm a political wonk with strong opinions, but I like to talk to people about their passions. I wasn't there to get into arguments or even debates. This is their show, and I'm from the host city. I was fair and balanced, and just asked questions.
Over the course of the first day of the convention, I did fourteen audio interviews and took over a hundred pictures. The first five interviews have been made into mp3s for the News Dept. to use as they see fit. Here they are, unedited. More later, I hope, and I'll either update this diary or announce them in Baron Dave's LiveJournal. The text in Moreville is edited from the most recent entry.
The Republican National Conveniton was in Defensive Mode. It was fairly easy to get in, if you had the proper credentials. Several layers of security: Swiping your credentials, metal detectors, guards everywhere. All friendly, all expediting the crowd. It was easier than getting on an airplane.
But it was hard to get out. Really. Once you were in, if you wanted to go into the city, you had to walk around the double-ring of fences. Once I got outside, to see the protests, a huuuuge number of riot police were standing around... but that will have to wait for the next report.
First interview struck gold. As I was trudging from the parking lot, the corner hot dog vendor turned out to be pissed that he had been kicked out of his usual spot at Rice Park near the convention center because he didn't pay the requisite kickbacks. George of George's Hot Dogs (mp3, 5:42).
Next up: Talk Radio Row. A nice conservative talk show host from Georgia, who had been to the Democratic National Convention and compared. Martha Zoller of the Martha Zoller Show (mp3, 5:16).
A guy was standing there looking like he wanted to be interviewed, so I granted his unspoken wish. He turned out to be an elector for McCain in Maryland, who runs a think tank. Andrew Langer (mp3 6:22).
Still over in the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, the Texas Delegation arrived, and I pulled aside one particularly friendly looking lady, who was not only a delegate but a member of the Rules Committee. Melinda Fredericks (mp3 7:58).
I couldn't go into on the floor or in "the bowl", most of the hockey area of the Xcel Center, but I did wander around the periphery. Three women were standing together, t-shirts proudly displaying their political views with the backs of the t-shirts with a hasty add-on. Moms Trust McCain (mp3, 3:26).
Update. Amy Goodman of Democracy Now arrested. Video. (Democracy Now runs on our station. I wasn't here for this, the link is to her website.)