Almanac: At the Capitol

"Welcome to Minnesota" is what Gov. Pawlenty said while a huge image a very un-Minnesotan canyon projected behind him.

A few minutes later a huge forest fire seemed to his background. Okay, really it was an enormous yellow, glowing grove of trees. Who came up with this stuff? I can't tell you the number of complaints I've heard about totally random unrelated odd images appearing behind the speakers at the RNC.

St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington and Mayor Chris Coleman held their last briefing on the RNC at TPT today. The tally for the week included 3700 officers, 818 arrests, 30 people arrested who said they were media. Coleman said "our goal was a safe and successful convention, we clearly have done that." Chief Harrington summarized "nothing burned, no one was injured." Media who had proper identification and credentials were "expedited" through processing, but officials say they knew the rules of engagement. Harrington added in the last three days they uncovered an arson plot that included Molotov cocktails intended to fire bomb the X, police and St. Paul.

Images from the Xcel Energy Center on the RNC closing night.

Gov. Pawlenty sat up in a suite not with McCain campaign folks but surrounded by his family and friends.  He seemed very serious during McCain's speech and not very celebratory.  He did not apppear to crack a smile.  He did stand and applaud.  The disappointment many delegates and political insiders felt turned into to disgust about Pawlenty's mediocre speaking slot.  As many weaker speakers followed him it became more evident that the governor was slighted.  Even Democrats feel bad for the guy

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty got a standing ovation immediately upon walking out on to the stage at the RNC.  It was the first speech of the night that people actually stopped and listened to. Most of his remarks we've heard before, but this national audience liked it.  They answered along with his refrain "John McCain put our country first."  The VP contender said "I've gotten to know John McCain and his purple heart is a heart of gold."
Privately, most delegates and reporters say Pawlenty deserved a better speaking slot and were disappointed with him getting about five minutes early in the night. Most expected he would be introducing McCain.

Rep. Erik Paulsen also got a quick speaking slot even earlier in the night. His DFL opponent Ashwin Madia got to wave from the stage at the DNC.  We spoke to Paulsen right after his speech and he said it was exciting and valuable.
 

Gov. Pawlenty will  give a five to six mintue speech tonight at the Republican National Convention.  On my weekly segment with Mondale and Jones on WCCO Radio, Pawlenty told us the schedule is still in flux, but that's what he knows now.  There was talk that Pawlenty might introduce McCain,  but he will be speaking much earlier talking about "John McCain's life story" and "Sam's Club Republicans." Also on the show, Mrs Pawlenty praised the court system for quickly handling all the protesters.  She of course is a former judge.

We were just feet away from Gov. Sarah Palin as she delivered the most important speech of her life. The Minnesota delegation repeatedly said "she knocked it out of the park." The anticipation was huge. The mood was electric. Her tone was friendly, tough, passionate, emotional. It played perfectly in the hall.

Some of the more experienced Minnesota delegates said they hadn't seen that energy at a convention in decades. Minnesotans went nuts again when Gov. Pawlenty delivered the roll call touting Minnesota's lakes, fishing and people. I'm hearing from several sources that Pawlenty could be introducing John McCain tomorrow night in prime time. That would be a well-earned spot for McCain's good soldier.

But what many viewers, delegates and media didn't get a good look at was anti-war protesters dressed in pink being forcefully removed from the hall during Palin's speech. A security official appears to strike the woman in the face. Not a great image as protesters continue to distract from Republican's delivering their message.

Sen. Norm Coleman addressed the convention for a second time today.  That equals Sen. Amy Klobuchar's appearances before the DNC and is twice as many appearances before a national audience as his opponent Al Franken.  The Dem turned down his short opportunity before the mic in Denver.  The Republican former St. Paul Mayor woke up the crowd in his five minutes at the RNC.  He hit on the topic on everyone's mind:  Sarah Palin.   Coleman said "Minnesotans are always thrilled to welcome another hockey mom."   He got some good cheers, even a standing ovation at the end from the delegates on the floor.

It seems people off the floor but in the hall may be having a harder time connecting with the speakers because you can't see their faces.  There are not the big easily viewable screens like in Denver.  People really have to strain up past speakers and rafters to see a jumbotron.  And it is more difficult to relate to strangers hundreds of feet across a room when all the "real people" are talking.  What the X does better than the Pepsi Center is allow people in the hallways to see into the hall, but you need to see faces full of emotion to really get the impact.

Sen. Norm Coleman welcomed delegates to "Pig's Eye" as St. Paul used to be known. He said 15 years ago the city struggled with crime and taxes until "conservative principles restored the city." Coleman officially kicked off the politics taking a subtle swipe at Obama. He sounded the common campaign note, talking about "change" Republicans could deliver. His six minute speech was very well received.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann walked out on the stage blowing kisses to the hall and waving specifically to the Minnesota delegation. She spoke for about seven minutes and began by saying she was the "first Republican congresswoman" elected from Minnesota.  She talked about her family and her foster children.  Bachmann also took aim at Obama and said "John McCain doesn't just speak service, he lives it."  The representative delighted in talking about "Minnesota Nice" saying that even though there are a lot of liberals here "they're happy liberals."

Outside the convention hall, protesters continued to cause chaos. We watched hundreds, even thousands of police, clad in riot gear, closing down streets and at the ready for a real riot.

Protesters took over the story in downtown St. Paul today, overshadowing the start of the Republican National Convention.  They turned out in the thousands and remained mostly peaceful.  I saw some angry interactions between the pro-war and anti-war people, but nothing violent or extreme in the main organized march.  The anti-war people were flipping the bird at the pro-war people and that seemed to upset them more than the conversations and confrontations I witnessed.  The outbreaks that resulted in arrests were smaller splinter groups.

Visually, the protesters got pretty close to the Xcel Center despite the big black fences in the way.  And the protesters put on a good show for the press with lots of powerful visuals.  One woman who was barely dressed other than pearls and red body paint said she was a "deconstructed Republican."

The police force was ready, really ready, clad in serious riot gear. The incongruous scene that stands out to me was a nice local cop noticing we were struggling to find a road they weren't blocking off, so he lifted his visor and gave us some specific directions on how to get passed him in the skyway. That's Minnesota nice and our David Gillette sums it up perfectly in his cartoon.

Inside the X, the security mood was much more laid back than Denver.  We got easier floor access, working our way to the Minnesota delegation. On the way, we ran into Sen. Norm Coleman who sounded pretty confident that he and Gov. Pawlenty would still get a chance to welcome the convention.  Coleman said having this convention in the place often called "the house that Norm built" makes him feel like a proud papa.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman says despite events in the Gulf Coast cutting back the RNC, we "should not be deterred, our community is coming out shining." And as protestors threatened to steal the story, Coleman added "we are prepared in City of St. Paul." In the briefing at our tpt studios, Chief John Harrington said it's "game day, finally" and "we will not tolerate lawlessness in the City of St. Paul." Harrington said he would hope protestors would understand the day is focused on people dealing with the hurricane and "not ramp up and try to steal the story." Coleman added that the number of protestors won't swell because the Iraqi Veterans for Peace or others can't bring in more people quickly.