About the Author

Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Report from St. Paul at RNC Sent by Joel Strom

September 2nd, 2008 • Richard Cochrane

Sarah Palin news…..Laura Bush….anarchists and the secret service….life in the bowels of media workspace of Al Jazeera

Seems the only question being asked by the media today was “what about Sarah Palin’s daughter”, “don’t you think that Republicans are hypocrites for supporting a woman whose daughter is pregnant outside of marriage” and on and on.  This is completely unsurprising of course, but one would think that at some point, just a precious few would feel just a bit embarrassed with their tabloid questioning - certainly more important questions to ask (perhaps energy, security, leadership, substance). In case you are wondering, nearly all delegates in the California delegation handled these questions with class and clarity  – fully supportive of our VP candidate, anyone who has children knows that being a parent carries with it much concern and love and we wish the family well in helping their daughter bring the child to a healthy birth.

Laura Bush, as usual, was great. She was warmly received, delivered an impassioned request for us to help others, to serve others and to always use the best in us to do for our country.  Other than the First Lady’s eloquent remarks, the remainder of the convention was a meandering moments of speeches and mulling on the floor. Lots of bodies searching for food and water (anyone remember NY?).  Many seats were empty, but not sure if that was because of low attendance or just the rare occasion when the there actually were more seats than attendees.Overall, not the same mood as previous convention, subdued excitement would likely be the best two words I can muster.

Our bus ride to the convention was unusually lengthy.  No one seemed to know why it took 45 minutes to travel to the convention center.  The bus traveled at speed approaching 20 miles an hour, yes 20 miles an hour!  Turns out, secret service had something to do with it.  Apparently, the compassionate and patriotic left had some plans in mind for not only our delegation, but for each and every visitor to the Target Center.  During the morning caucus, it was explained to us that the “anarchists” had created some credible threats to our safety. The demonstrations at the Center were, indeed, quite rough and in a change from previous conventions, including, I believe, the recent Democrat convention, demonstrators were allowed to be within shouting distance of the convention site.  This created a most difficult obstacle course for convention goers.  Of course, such an event is not complete without such intolerant behavior.

Our delegation communications director, Charles Moran, asked me to do an interview on Al Jazeera English.  After asking him if he was serious and if he just did not like me, or if he just wanted to ruin any chance I had to run for political office, I agreed to do the interview.  I did not know that Al Jazeera English is connected to NBC News, but found that out once we entered the workspace shared by the two networks, deep inside the lower level of the Target Center’s basement.  Had an interesting conversation with the show’s host, Riz Khan, an Indian-born, Brit with a deep resonating voice.  We talked issues from the Israeli-Arab conflict to Sarah Palin’s nomination.  After receiving a complimentary coffee mug we left for the interview in the Associated Press skybox.  The convention had long since emptied so not a soul was observing.  Questions were fairly routine, one coming on a call from Nigeria about Sarah Palin’s daughter.  Amazing, isn’t it, that with all the problems facing the African continent that the call coming in from that region of the world is more concerned about Sarah Palin’s daughter than AIDS or Sudan?

More tomorrow.
Joel

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