The Texas Observer

Tonight was John McCain’s star turn. This was his chance to show he could pull off some fancy stagecraft too. In fact, the stage itself had been broken down and reconstructed just for tonight’s speech to include a catwalk outlined in neon blue. When the time came, the lights dimmed. Then — like the intro to an old-school Chicago Bulls game — spotlights started roving the darkened arena. A booming voice spoke admirably of McCain. When the candidate entered stage left, all lights went out except one, bathing him in a bright halo.

This was McCain’s show.

However, the crowd — still buzzing from Sarah Palin’s speech last night — responded to McCain’s address with a bit of disappointment. The delegates were unquestioningly energized by a few key phrases such as “security,” “culture of life” and “school choice.” But the senator from Arizona got distinctly less appreciation — crickets, even — for his repeated acknowledgment of, and reaching out to, Democrats, independents and others outside the base. At times, it seemed as if McCain wasn’t speaking to the delegates at all, and they knew it.

The same thing happened when McCain expressed his respect for Obama, and when he stated his desire for peace. The tepid, obligatory applause that greeted him was reminiscent of an opera or a jazz show. The muted reaction was a stark contrast to the rest of the convention. Were these the same people who just last night beat their chests over Palin’s divisive tough talk and heartily whooped in response to Rudy Giuliani’s war cries?

Yet many delegates, when asked about McCain, stuck to their talking points: McCain is great, McCain is good. In a bit of a concession, one delegate from Houston said, “Even things I disagree with, I know where he’s coming from.”

As much as Palin’s speech last night sought to appease the right-wing base, McCain’s address was aimed squarely at independent voters watching on television.

McCain acknowledged more than once the struggles of working families. “Their lives should matter to the people they elect to office and they matter to me,” he said. He thanked undecided voters for their consideration. He said he would fill his administration with members of both parties. McCain sought to portray himself as a different kind of Republican, one less bound to partisanship and ideology — the anti-Bush. He stopped short of criticizing the Bush administration directly, however, except for his repeated references to “change.” He clearly tried to disown much of the record his party has compiled the past eight years.

The speech may not have wowed the delegates, but, lockstep as they are, it might not matter. What matters is how viewers around the country receive his words: as a sincere invitation to join him, or as shallow hucksterism at the 11th hour?

At the Crowne Royal Plaza, where the Texas delegation is staying in downtown St. Paul, the garish Texas flag shirts have been donned. People are starting to head over to the Xcel Center for the RNC finale: Sen. John McCain’s acceptance speech, which is slated for tonight. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback is signing cowboy hats for admiring Texans.

But people are still talking mostly about Sarah Palin. “That girl’s got ‘em on a run,” a Texas delegate said this afternoon in the lobby.

Outside, it’s a festive atmosphere. A “Terrorism in America” documentary by the Paul Revere Brigade is showing in a dimly lit bar. Young people are selling McCain/Palin paraphernalia on street corners.

And bored police in riot gear are smoking cigars and posing for photos with pages.

If anyone had any hesitation — and some members of the Texas delegation seemed to have some concerns — about Sarah Palin’s suitability to be vice president, that doubt was more than swept away by the fiery rhetoric and firm confidence of the Alaska governor during her speech tonight at the RNC. The lady came out swinging, and the Texans were thrilled.

In the immediate aftermath, delegates on the floor went wild. They hugged. They used words like “ecstatic,” “pumped” and “out of sight.” “I can’t contain my excitement,” one delegate said.

“I teach communication, and she was the essence of it,” said an Arizona alternate delegate, a communications instructor who described himself as an old friend of Sen. John McCain.

And that pit bull lipstick joke? Major mileage for Palin, a Tina Fey lookalike.

The only lingering doubts seemed to come from the Texas delegation’s outliers: the dozen or so supporters of Libertarian-leaning Congressman Ron Paul, the presidential candidate who was refused a place at the convention podium.

But even some Paul supporters were wooed by Palin. One alternate delegate from Mineral Wells, an Iraq war veteran, said he thought Palin would be an even better candidate for president than McCain. (Attending his first national convention, he kept running out to see if any votes had been cast for Paul during the official delegate roll call at the end of the evening’s events.)

If the Democrats had any illusions that they were dealing with a light-weight, Palin certainly smashed those tonight. No wonder the grass-roots loved it.

There was some serious business worship at the Texas delegation breakfast this morning.

First came the worship. The opening prayer thanked God for the party’s nominees, John McCain and Sarah Palin, “whom you selected to be our next leaders.”

Then they got down with business. After Anita Perry talked about Hurricane Gustav relief efforts (what would people have been talking about if not Gustav these last few days?), the delegation heard from reps from two major corporations — BNSF Railway and the energy company, Koch Industries.

Matt Schlapp, of Koch, openly thanked the delegation for helping to create a friendly business environment in Texas. Schlapp is a former Bush White House aide who joined Koch’s Washington office as a lobbyist in 2005. (Schlapp also served as a Bush campaign aide in 2000 and took part in the infamous “Brooks Brothers” riot during the Florida recount.)

Matt Rose, chairman, president and CEO of BNSF, offered more platitudes for the business environment in Texas. The railroad was once based in Minnesota, but moved to the more friendly confines of Fort Worth.

But the belle of the breakfast ball was U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. She may have been snubbed for V.P., but she’s still a hit with this crowd. In brief, stately remarks, Hutchison reminded the delegation that future generations just won’t be safe without a Republican in the White House. Hutchison also pledged her ongoing support for offshore drilling (while admonishing restrictions on speculators, investigation of price gouging or buying a fuel-efficient car). She added that by remaining present in Iraq and Afghanistan, and showing our persistence, we are showing a good example to the world.

Meanwhile, the woman who did win the V.P. stakes, the embattled Palin, is slated to address the convention this evening.

(We should add — because you were wondering, and because the TO just doesn’t talk enough fashion — the Texas delegation last night was a vision in resplendently Republican red, monogrammed polos, topped off with cream-colored cowboy hats.)

Finally, the Democrats are trying to get their message out, at least a little, in St. Paul. Sign on a bus shelter several blocks from the Xcel Center:

Arriving a little late to the convention tonight? Get held up at Ruth’s Chris over 72 ouncers? Trying to make it back in time for Fred Thompson? No problemo! Your friendly neighborhood public safety crew is here to help. All they ask is that you walk seven blocks east, six blocks to the south, and then maybe you can get into the convention. It’s simple!

These are the streets of downtown St. Paul tonight, on Day 2 of the RNC. The city is apparently on “lockdown.” The security perimeter has ballooned, and cops in riot gear, many in gas masks, are blocking intersections. A helicopter remains stationary over the Xcel Center, giving everyone their own private Goodfellas moments.

“It’s just strategy,” one cop said.

Everyone — including delegates, reporters, and, yes, even Newt Gingrich — have been diverted inexplicably around downtown St. Paul in order to enter the Xcel at a far-flung location. (Newt got in fairly swiftly.)

The enhanced security can’t be to guard against civil disobedience. There is little protest to speak of today. Just a march by the Poor People’s Economic Human Campaign, which according to people on the street was peaceful. There were just a handful of arrests so far today, small potatoes compared to yesterday’s more than 280, which included Democracy Now! reporter Amy Goodman and two of the show’s producers.

It’s time for a beer, maybe at the “CNN Grill” across the street. They’ve apparently brewed their own beer for the occasion. Maybe they should name the light beer after Wolf Blitzer.

- The latest issue of “The Black Republican,” was being distributed to delegates at the convention yesterday. With a stunning lack of creativity, three points are driven home again and again:

1) Sen. Barack Obama is a radical left-wing nut;
2) The Democratic Party is racist and;
3) Republicans support civil rights more than Democrats.

To reinforce the last point, the magazine, which is a product of the National Black Republican Association, points out that Martin Luther King was a Republican.

Bumper stickers advertising this come with the magazine, and according to news sources, the group also put up 50 billboards around Denver touting the piece of trivia for last week’s convention. (The Washington Post eviscerated this claim about King nearly two years ago. See the story here.)

It appears the association is banking on this distortion winning some support. The question is, from who? Take a step back from the mishmash of gross generalizations and misinformation and what do you have?

Just 2 percent of the GOP delegates to this year’s convention are black.

- Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul will host a rally today in the Twin Cities.

- Also on tap for today: Minnesota activist and former vice-presidential candidate Winona LaDuke and Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange, will speak at the Ripple Effect festival in St. Paul, subtitled “Beyond the Convention | Beyond Partisanship.”

- Texas alternate delegate Vincent Campos was cited in today’s Star Tribune as participating in yesterday’s protest events in St. Paul. Campos, 22, told the paper he is an Iraq vet.

- Ramsey County, where the convention is taking place, sought and was awarded a court order last week allowing disconnection of cell phone service of anyone deemed a threat to the RNC.

- Creative activist group Lobbyists for McCain were running around the Capitol in black three-piece suits and earpieces yesterday, amusing the crowds by chanting things like “No, you can’t” and “Hope, but different.”

On its website, the group says “We lobby for lobbyists; one could say we are the lobbyist lobby. After all, lobbyists need lobbyists, too.”

Check it out for detailed information on McCain’s stable of lobbyists.

The Republican National Convention got off to a low-key start today, although delegates were in high spirits. It’s a big pep rally after all, funny coordinated clothing and all.

It’s usually pretty easy to spot the Texas delegates. The delegation’s scheduled Thursday attire:

The protests outside the Xcel Center on this first day were just as underwhelming as the convention inside (though we hear journalist Amy Goodman was arrested). The atmosphere outside was not that much different than being at the state fair, which wrapped up here today.

Of course, much of the real action happens at the many private events happening after official business at places like the Science Museum and the Minnesota Historical Society. Both are within walking distance of the hockey arena-turned-GOP-glee-fest.

More on that later in the week …

The convention kicked off subtly today, amid tension about arrival of Hurricane Gustav.

The ever-weakening storm was the center of attention here. Texas Gov. Rick Perry appealed via telecast to delegates to donate generously to hurricane relief efforts. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain also implored attendees to donate generously.

A “Hurricane Information Center” at the convention had jumbo TVs tuned to storm coverage. President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Gov. Perry all canceled their convention appearances due to the storm. (We have to believe the McCain people are relieved that the unpopular Bush and Cheney won’t appear.)

It’s no secret that parts of the Republican base aren’t thrilled with McCain, but so far the GOP is doing a decent approximation of the Democrats’ show of unity last week. Delegates appear to be in lockstep behind John McCain. Only one delegate even hinted that support among the 138 Texas delegates was anything less than 100 percent. “About 99 percent,” he said.

Another delegate said it was more important to have a president with a “conservative ear,” regardless of whether they agreed completely on policies.

Inside the arena, the slogan “Country First” rings the floors. An over-sized, slowly waving digital American flag provided the backdrop. We’re thinking they’re going to stress patriotism.

By the way, Texans wore chambray shirts and cream-colored cowboy hats today, some with blinking pins that illuminated their section whenever the lights dimmed. As always, the Texans weren’t hard to find.