For those of you who didn't notice, Colorado Public Television spent some time at Regis University for the two weeks we were on campus during the Democratic National Convention last month. Here is the result!
Please note, the segment on Campaign 2008 is about ten minutes in. They did a great job!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
RNC: Guest Post
Linda Petrou is an adjunct professor of communications at Wake Forest University. This posting was published by Media General's Washington bureau:
Delegate Dispatch: One Convention, Two Hats
Tue, September 02, 2008 - 2:12 AM
This week I am wearing two hats. One hat is at faculty leader for The Washington Center convention program. The other as an alternate delegate to the Republican convention here in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Last week was devoted to the Washington Center. Each day the entire group of 100+ college students and 14 faculty leaders plus staff met at Augsburg College which is almost a mile from the hotel. We had speakers during the morning and in the afternoons after meeting with our small groups (each faculty leader has 6-10 student assigned to them) we toured the area, including going to the state fair and the Xcel Center. While it was a busy week, it was rather quiet. But it all changed on Sunday as The Washington Center students and faculty moved out to another hotel near Mall of America so that the North Carolina and New Mexico delegations could move in. Since I am a member of the delegation I did not have to move.
On Sunday, the hotel was abuzz about the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's running mate. It was generally felt that this was a home run selection and the delegates were excited. There was concern though about Hurricane Gustav and what it might bring. We did learn later in the evening that the convention program for Monday would be truncated and that the governors of the affected states would not be in Minneapolis nor would President Bush come out to speak on Monday.
In the lull of Sunday afternoon and the start of the convention, a number of us went the Minneapolis Convention Center to hear a concert featuring Lee Greenwood and then to view the movie American Carol staring Leslie Nelson, Kelsey Grammer, and John Voigt among others. Afterwards we all attended the Welcome Reception hosted by the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was held also in the Convention center but in the area where they are holding Civic Fest. This is a display of presidential artifacts, including dresses from first ladies, an old Airforce One, a limo that was used by FDR, flags. It was fun to walk around and see all the exhibits.
Monday was the day that we had our first delegation meeting. Usually at these meetings representatives from the campaign appear and rally the troops. That was the case at this meeting. We heard from Senator Richard Burr, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, and Former Senator Dan Coates from Indiana. During their talks people's cell phones started going off. It was at this time that the breaking news came of Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant and of her husband's DUI in 1986. The feeling was leave them alone. It is a family matter not a public matter. The only reason it came out this way was due to the stories that were being printed in the Daily Kos stating that Sarah Palin's youngest son was not her's but her daughter's. The family decided to stop the stories and release a statement.
Later in the day I as approached by a reporter and she asked me what I thought about Sarah Palin's daughter. My response was what was she running for? The reporter looked confused and said why vice president. No I said, the daughter, what is she running for? It took a couple of moments and the reporter finally realized what I was saying. To help her out a little I said that we should leave the children of Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin alone. They are not running for anything. She then asked how did it fit with family values? My response was just fine. She decided not to have an abortion but to get married and raise the baby.
The convention proceedings were truncated today due to the hurricane in Louisiana. The convention was called to order and then recessed for about an hour so that the committees could meet. Once it was back in session the delegates quickly agreed to the rules and platform committee reports.
Then there was a collective gasp in the room as Laura Bush walked out followed by thunderous applause that went on for several minutes. She spoke about the storm and introduced a video from the governors of Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Mississippi. After these short videos, Mrs. Bush came back on the stage with Cindy McCain. Both women talked about the need for service and the need to help. They asked that the delegates take out their cell phones and text message 2help and type in give; this was an easy way to donate $5 each call which will be billed on the next statement. After that, the convention recessed until the call of the chair. We don't know as I write this whether there will be a session tomorrow or not.
It was not until we got back to the hotel and turned on television that we heard about the demonstrators. We did not see them nor hear them. They did, however, prevent the delivery of the box lunches for the delegates. The only thing that made it through the demonstrators was chips, cookies and water. No one knows what happened to the sandwiches!
All in all it was a good day. There was some grumbling from folks from Iowa who wondered why all the fuss about New Orleans; they had just been flooded out and no one had come to their aid. But everyone understood the concern and especially the symbolism of a hurricane in New Orleans.
-- Linda Petrou
*Disclaimer: Guest posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Washington Center.
Delegate Dispatch: One Convention, Two Hats
Tue, September 02, 2008 - 2:12 AM
This week I am wearing two hats. One hat is at faculty leader for The Washington Center convention program. The other as an alternate delegate to the Republican convention here in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Last week was devoted to the Washington Center. Each day the entire group of 100+ college students and 14 faculty leaders plus staff met at Augsburg College which is almost a mile from the hotel. We had speakers during the morning and in the afternoons after meeting with our small groups (each faculty leader has 6-10 student assigned to them) we toured the area, including going to the state fair and the Xcel Center. While it was a busy week, it was rather quiet. But it all changed on Sunday as The Washington Center students and faculty moved out to another hotel near Mall of America so that the North Carolina and New Mexico delegations could move in. Since I am a member of the delegation I did not have to move.
On Sunday, the hotel was abuzz about the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's running mate. It was generally felt that this was a home run selection and the delegates were excited. There was concern though about Hurricane Gustav and what it might bring. We did learn later in the evening that the convention program for Monday would be truncated and that the governors of the affected states would not be in Minneapolis nor would President Bush come out to speak on Monday.
In the lull of Sunday afternoon and the start of the convention, a number of us went the Minneapolis Convention Center to hear a concert featuring Lee Greenwood and then to view the movie American Carol staring Leslie Nelson, Kelsey Grammer, and John Voigt among others. Afterwards we all attended the Welcome Reception hosted by the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was held also in the Convention center but in the area where they are holding Civic Fest. This is a display of presidential artifacts, including dresses from first ladies, an old Airforce One, a limo that was used by FDR, flags. It was fun to walk around and see all the exhibits.
Monday was the day that we had our first delegation meeting. Usually at these meetings representatives from the campaign appear and rally the troops. That was the case at this meeting. We heard from Senator Richard Burr, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, and Former Senator Dan Coates from Indiana. During their talks people's cell phones started going off. It was at this time that the breaking news came of Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant and of her husband's DUI in 1986. The feeling was leave them alone. It is a family matter not a public matter. The only reason it came out this way was due to the stories that were being printed in the Daily Kos stating that Sarah Palin's youngest son was not her's but her daughter's. The family decided to stop the stories and release a statement.
Later in the day I as approached by a reporter and she asked me what I thought about Sarah Palin's daughter. My response was what was she running for? The reporter looked confused and said why vice president. No I said, the daughter, what is she running for? It took a couple of moments and the reporter finally realized what I was saying. To help her out a little I said that we should leave the children of Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin alone. They are not running for anything. She then asked how did it fit with family values? My response was just fine. She decided not to have an abortion but to get married and raise the baby.
The convention proceedings were truncated today due to the hurricane in Louisiana. The convention was called to order and then recessed for about an hour so that the committees could meet. Once it was back in session the delegates quickly agreed to the rules and platform committee reports.
Then there was a collective gasp in the room as Laura Bush walked out followed by thunderous applause that went on for several minutes. She spoke about the storm and introduced a video from the governors of Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Mississippi. After these short videos, Mrs. Bush came back on the stage with Cindy McCain. Both women talked about the need for service and the need to help. They asked that the delegates take out their cell phones and text message 2help and type in give; this was an easy way to donate $5 each call which will be billed on the next statement. After that, the convention recessed until the call of the chair. We don't know as I write this whether there will be a session tomorrow or not.
It was not until we got back to the hotel and turned on television that we heard about the demonstrators. We did not see them nor hear them. They did, however, prevent the delivery of the box lunches for the delegates. The only thing that made it through the demonstrators was chips, cookies and water. No one knows what happened to the sandwiches!
All in all it was a good day. There was some grumbling from folks from Iowa who wondered why all the fuss about New Orleans; they had just been flooded out and no one had come to their aid. But everyone understood the concern and especially the symbolism of a hurricane in New Orleans.
-- Linda Petrou
*Disclaimer: Guest posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Washington Center.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
RNC: Convention is not only about nominating McCain
Things are ramping up at the Republican National Convention here after a day of worry about the path Hurricane Gustav would take as it headed toward the U.S. coast. Mickey Edwards, faculty director of Campaign 2008: The Republican National Convention series, published an insightful piece in The Boston Globe that sheds some light on some of the inner workings of the party. The article centers not so much on events taking place within the convention hall this week but on an internal struggle to re-chart the direction of the GOP.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
DNC: Obama's send off from Invesco Field at Mile High
Thursday's send off of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama at Invesco Field at Mile High was a spectacle unlike any other. The Obama faithful were out in full force--more than 70,000 strong. It appears that the four-day long nominating convention out in Denver reached its intended purpose; uniting a party that was divided. The critics have been divided on Obama's performance, however. Venerable Washington Post columnist David Broder published an interesting piece on Obama's speech today. Broder, a long-time Democrat, says he doesn't think Obama's speech reached the caliber of his 2004 appearance in Boston, which made him a national sensation. But, this also begs the question, are the expectations
As many members of the media guessed would be the case, presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain came out in full force early the next day, naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential pick. The news of the day overshadowed media coverage of Obama's speech--but the critics and pundits--as is always the case--are, of course, divided over whether or not Palin is a good pick for the McCain camp. Still, the announcement, intended or not, certainly stole Obama's thunder for the day.
Now, with Hurricane Gustav threatening New Orleans, the GOP's response could be very important. Already, events are being cancelled and President George Bush scuttled speaking plans to be in the Big Easy. Will Gustav overshadow the GOP's bash out here in the Twin Cities or will they use it to their advantage in the news cycle? With the McCain camp criticizing Obama as the "biggest celebrity in the world," will a pared down GOP convention resulting from Gustav's assault give Republicans more ammunition to lob against the Democrats?
As many members of the media guessed would be the case, presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain came out in full force early the next day, naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential pick. The news of the day overshadowed media coverage of Obama's speech--but the critics and pundits--as is always the case--are, of course, divided over whether or not Palin is a good pick for the McCain camp. Still, the announcement, intended or not, certainly stole Obama's thunder for the day.
Now, with Hurricane Gustav threatening New Orleans, the GOP's response could be very important. Already, events are being cancelled and President George Bush scuttled speaking plans to be in the Big Easy. Will Gustav overshadow the GOP's bash out here in the Twin Cities or will they use it to their advantage in the news cycle? With the McCain camp criticizing Obama as the "biggest celebrity in the world," will a pared down GOP convention resulting from Gustav's assault give Republicans more ammunition to lob against the Democrats?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
DNC: A look back at the last 100 years
The Denver Post has a great, informative graphic about the last 100 years of the Democratic Party, in case you want a history lesson.
The last couple of days have been extremely exciting in and around the city. For those of you who missed it because you had fieldwork to complete, Bob Schieffer, the anchor of CBS' Face the Nation, visited Regis University this morning. He declined to pick a winner in the presidential race, saying he thinks that it's too close to call. But he did say that he thinks Hillary Clinton succeeded overwhelmingly in her speech attempting to bring unity to a party that was so sharply divided during the primaries. Schieffer also said that the future of journalism will remain in constant flux, adding that young reporters will have to continue to be on the leading edge of technology and always be flexible. If you missed the speech, be sure to check Regis University's Web page for streaming video soon!
RNC: It's getting hot in here!
Don’t let the weather fool you—things are starting to heat up here in Minneapolis-St. Paul, with McCain set to announce his VP choice Friday and the official start of GOP 2008 convention now just four days away. Our participants have been actively engaged in our morning sessions, which have included visits from Republican National Committee Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson, Former Congressman Tim Penny, and Minnesota State Representatives Pat Garofalo and Steve Simon, with more headliners scheduled to speak next week. The insightful questions posed by the participants have lead to informative and analytical group discussions which will set the tone for the next week as the convention gets underway.
On Wednesday, participants and honored guests enjoyed a reception at the historic Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul. Participants sampled an assortment of delicious spreads and desserts and were addressed by Minnesota’s House Minority Leader Laura Brod, as well as Dr. Paul Pribbenow, the President of Augsburg College. Everyone is anxious for the start of the convention, as the delegates are beginning to arrive and the Twin Cities roll out the red carpets for VIPs and leaders of the Republican Party. As the DNC winds down in Denver, all eyes turn to Minneapolis-St. Paul and our participants are ready and eager to take part in history.
Monday, August 25, 2008
RNC: Welcome to Minneapolis-St. Paul!
Campaign 2008: The Republican National Convention seminar officially kicked off yesterday! Whether you came by bus, car, plane, train (bicycle anyone?), from across the pond, country or just from across town, you came with one goal in mind—to be a part of history and we are very excited to finally meet and work with you during this seminar.
Please be sure to check this blog regularly for ultimate coverage of the Campaign 2008 seminar. If you are a budding blogger and want to contribute posts about your experience as a program participant, please email c2008@twc.edu and title your message “Campaign 2008 blog”.
During the next few days as the DNC takes center stage in Denver, CO, pundits are going to look increasingly towards the McCain camp for clues about his VP choice. It is going to be an exciting time to be here in Minneapolis-St. Paul, especially as Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s name gets tossed around the rumor circuits. For all of you political junkies, you will have plenty of opportunities to satisfy your hunger and get caught up in the convention waves that are sweeping the nation. Stay posted!
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