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ROBERT TRIGAUXTimes business columnist Robert Trigaux shares his first-person account of the Grand Old Party's grand old party.
Tuesday, 6:52 a.m. -- I'm beginning to understand it now. For political junkies, attending a national political convention is like a kid getting a free week's pass to all the theme parks of Orlando. So many choices, so little time. Where to start?
Maybe with the long lines. Last night, convention delegates began to descend on Madison Square Garden in earnest around 7:30 so they could get in and settled in time to see the evening's main speakers -- Sen. John McCain and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Well, well. Madison Square Garden was ill-equipped to handles the masses because each person must go through a metal detector and, in many cases, face a hand-wand check as well. Meanwhile, this city's humid heat wave and the crammed-in quarters had plenty of folks pretty drippy by the time they got into the convention facility.
It all worked out in the end. Memo to attendees who want to see the Ah-nold -- I mean California Gov. Schwarzenegger -- tonight. Go early.
What exactly is a national political convention? Folks back in Florida get to see major Republican speakers on prime time TV. Viewers with deeper interest can find more coverage of speakers, and commentary, on cable news, while C-Span might bring select coverage of some of the peripheral meetings and parties.
If you only knew the amount of convention-related activity going on each day around New York City. Here's just a sampling from Tuesday's vast political buffet.
Florida delegates will rise and shine this morning and share a breakfast with Matthew Dowd, chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign. Remember, Florida is one of those anointed swing states that gets special attention at this campaign. Only Ohio seems to be getting as much stroking by the GOP, including prime spots up close for their delegates on the convention floor.
Also today, Gen. Tommy Franks is a guest of The Taxpayers Network honoring leaders. Nextel is hosting Nascar drivers. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, is helping to host a movie screening of a Harry Potter movie. Country singers Clint Black and Dwight Yoakum are performing at a gig sponsored by two big energy players, the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute. Actors Sean "Samwise" Astin, Billy Baldwin, Hector Elizondo and Joe Pantoliano will be on hand at gala sponsored by The Creative Coalition and General Motors.
Even President Bush's little-seen sister, Doro Bush Koch, is helping in the family's re-election cause as a breakfast speaker with the Maryland delegation. And presidential daughters Jenna and Barbara are scheduled to appear with their grandmother, former First Lady Barbara, at a lunch honoring Laura Bush and a viewing of a documentary on her by Lifetime Television for Women.
That leaves, literally, about 100 other events, presentations, parties, honorings and panel discussions going on throughout the day. Even the Democrats have a rapid response team nearby to offer their spin on events, as the Republicans did during last month's Democratic National Convention in Boston.
After the Florida delegates' breakfast this morning, interested members of each state delegation will hop on a bus and participate in a pre-arranged service project somewhere in the city. Florida will head to Queens to do some painting and clean-up at a facility for kids called Safe Horizon. Let's hope those delegates that go brought something to wear for the occasion.
Nor are the protesters done. Today is August 31, and the protest movement plans a few "A31" events round town and, of course, Madison Square Garden.
Just another day in the Republican Disney World. On to breakfast!