RNC - Tampa Bay

RNC - Tampa I have walked the perimeter of the golf course twice now. The second time I was in what we are getting of the hurricane, sprinkles that sometimes generate into hard sprinkles but often just muggy. Little wind.

< P> I saw a lot of different sea birds: egrets, gulls, herons, even a falcon. That was pretty cool. I got some great pictures.

The delegates have a scavenger hunt which I have joined. I might not be much help.

We had a planned welcome party at the local baseball field, Tropicana last night, Sunday. The lead act was Todd Akin. I hope I have got that name right.

Since the Monday convention was called off due to the hurricane. So instead I guess we have another party to go to.

We got dropped off and saw the demonstrators with what looked like army between them and us. There was as much of the police people as there were demonstrators. But they have discovered several people with guns nearby.

Everything is fenced off with six or seven foot high temporary fencing. I think there is wire on top. The buses have a security guard with an automatic rifle. There are thousands of security of various agencies. At the airport lot of people walked about with shirts saying they were RNC staff. But they did not help us, they must have been a type of security too, though seemingly without weapons.

The locals seem pretty sanguine. I'm a little surprised I don't hear or see more complaining about all the closures.

When we are bused around the police have blocked and stopped traffic. You would think it was a big VIP, the president or something moving in a caravan.

Last night at a party on the bay there were a half a dozen patrol boats with machine guns moving around.

We were at a place called Taylor's (or something) last night for our second party. The first rowdy drunken party at Tropicana Field Sunday was good. I had a good party experience there. I met a lot of interesting people including several media. It was fun to watch the dancing. The act, Chet Akin (?) was pretty good. But the second was too much of a good thing. I laid back on the alcohol this time. I may be repeating myself but Tampa food is none too good. They tout Cuban food. It will never be Tex-Mex.

One party was pretty good. Two in a row is too much. I guess we would not have had the second without the hurricane. The second was sponsored by AT&T who had screens all over with advertising for the company.

Today I am going to a Pro-life convocation at 11 PM before the main meeting calls to order at 2PM. I don't know why I am in such a hurry since I am just an alternate.

Each alternate is paired with a delegate. I can only get on the floor if my delegate expressly allows me to. My delegate is a nice lady, very politically experienced. She only half jokingly said if I wanted to get on the floor I had to kiss her ring. It a big brightly jeweled ring in the shape of Texas. So when I see her I pretend to kiss the ring. Hey why not? It's a good joke.