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Political Hay
Convention Trials
Republicans face the music — and their star attractions could lose their singing license.
TAMPA — Some days you just can’t make a nickel. With just 18 shopping days until the Republican National Convention in Tampa, the problems mount. Even scheduling a country singer for one of the convention’s associated hoe-downs is proving to be a problem.
Residents of Tampa are beginning to realize what a monumental disruption the four-day political rodeo and masa-cree at the end of the month will be. Downtown Tampa will be in virtual lock-down, with most businesses closing down or closing early to get out of the way of 50,000+ convention delegates, cops, journalists, demonstrators, gawkers, and various convention worker-bees taking over the area.
Nothing, it seems, has been easy or cheap. The federals have contributed $50 million in tax money for security for the convention, which substantively is little more than a back-drop for four days of political speeches few will watch. (The Tampa Bay Rays will play the Texas Rangers at Arlington the first three evenings of the convention — it’s a safe bet that these games will get higher TV ratings in the Bay Area than the speeches.) It will take all of that money and all the local and regional cops to ride herd on the thousands of demonstrators, noisily, and in some cases destructively, representing every left-wing and anarchist cause known to man.
It’s a dead-bang cinch that what takes place on Tampa’s streets over the four days will be more dramatic than the speeches. The good news on this front is that both Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee and Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor are competent, no-nonsense cops with considerable assets at their disposal. Though badly outnumbered, they will be a match for the vandals.
It’s not clear that the local host committee has raised the money it promised to raise to support the operatically expensive convention. Not nearly enough locals have volunteered to do the unpaid fetching and toting and schlepping around of delegates and other officials that’s needed.
And speaking of unpaid, local political consultants have complained privately that their services are expected to be provided pro-bono while hot shots out of Washington are being handsomely paid for theirs. Other vendors expecting to provide products or services for the convention have found that arrangements have already been made with out-of-town companies. Some hoteliers have found the RNC less than a dream to work with. More than one local politico has lately been heard to lament: “Tell me again why we wanted to have this here.”
So that the RNC doesn’t feel too picked on here, let’s be clear that similar complaints are being heard in Charlotte. Politics is, among other things, a very big business. And the folks with the money like to keep it themselves. Hardly a shocker.
In addition to these very human problems surrounding the convention, Mother Nature also has her thumb on the scale, not to Tampa’s advantage. The weather service reported that the average heat index — the famous “feels like” measure that considers both temperature and humidity — for the hottest part of August 27, the first day of the convention, is 105. Over the four-day period of the convention, the heat index has reached 111. It doesn’t cool off much at night. If demonstrators get too frisky, they run a bigger risk from heat stroke than from the cops.
It’s not even clear where Florida convention delegates will stay for the four days. The Republican National Committee is indulging a snit with the Republican Party of Florida because Florida held its presidential primary at a date the RNC considered too early. For this indiscretion the national party decided to stash Florida’s convention delegates in an adjoining county, more than an hour’s drive from the action (such as it will be). To relieve the accommodation problem, I suggested to RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry that he park most of the Florida delegation at the 30,800 square-foot home of Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, less than a mile from the convention center. Derek will be otherwise occupied during the convention. Curry laughed at the suggestion — but he didn’t say no.
With all these problems and contentions and pettiness you’d think scheduling a country singer would be, comparatively, a breeze. Wrong again. Even this is playing out like a George Jones and Tammy Wynette song.
Until early this week things were fine. Wildly popular troubadour Willie Nelson was enlisted to play a benefit for military veterans scheduled during the convention. OK, his politics are dopey, and his preferred policies on the weed aren’t exactly consistent with that of most Republicans. But his music is magic, his personality compelling, and what a line the folks putting the benefit together could have used: “We’ve got Willie Nelson; they’ve got Slick Willie.”
But it wasn’t to be. Willie backed out citing a scheduling conflict. But not to worry, Randy Travis was available and signed, so says the Tampa Bay Times. Travis is a singer with a pleasing, traditional country sound and personally more conservative than Willie. It’s been a while since Randy’s hits: “On the Other Hand,” “Storms of Life,” “Diggin’ Up Bones,” “Honky Tonk Side of Town,” et al. Lately he’s been devoting his time to gospel music. Good backup, eh?
It was until Randy ran amuck. The Associated Press reported Travis was arrested Wednesday near Tioga, Texas, and charged with driving while intoxicated and felony retaliation and obstruction. According to the AP, police reports say Travis was naked at the scene, threatened to kill the arresting officers, and refused to take a sobriety test. A distinctly un-conservative evening. Travis was charged in February of this year with public intoxication.
This is sad news for the group that wanted to do something for veterans, which doesn’t need this kind of distraction but does need a country singer. It’s even sadder news for Travis, for his family and friends, and for his many fans, which include me.
RNC spokesman James Davis told me the Nelson then Travis concert was not an RNC event, but just one of the many events scheduled around the convention by other groups. And it’s hardly one of the more important issues surrounding the convention and the historic election it is a part of. But it does go to show you. Some days you just can’t make a nickel.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (32) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 8.10.12 @ 6:35AM
I'm having the same problem trying to schedule a weekend in Niagara Falls. Perhaps it's the wrong time to leave town.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.10.12 @ 2:09PM
I hope nonviolent protesters ruin your Grand Old Plodder convention in Tampon Florida!
JD| 8.10.12 @ 4:52PM
A hateful day to you, too!
Occam's Tool| 8.12.12 @ 11:55PM
Dear Appleby: try to get a ticket to Niagara on the Lake's Shaw Festival if you can. Magnificent theatre.
JimH| 8.10.12 @ 8:05AM
It would seem that the RNC is trying to provide both kinds of music for the delegates; country and western. I'm glad I live out in Lithia, away from this mess.
Von Mises Jr| 8.10.12 @ 8:25AM
If Floridians and the RNC wish to assign blame for some of the unnecessary cost of security, they can look straight to Obama and the White House:
"We now have a new GSA scandal - one that involves the Obama White House," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "These documents clearly show that federal agencies colluded with the Obama White House to allow the Occupy Wall Street protestors to violate the law with impunity. These documents tell us that the GSA and DHS can't be relied upon to protect federal workers or property." http://www.americanthinker.com.....sting.html
Four more years of the Obama regime with his admission to Medvedev giving him "More Flexibility AFTER the Election" and this anarchy could be coming to a neighborhood like yours. http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/.....r-election
pogybait| 8.10.12 @ 8:51AM
Larry, a more proactive progressive solution would be to take a few days off for self pity at one of the many carbon neutral federally funded Democrat election centers.....and gaze upon the angelic visage of Barack Obama or listen to some pre-emptive apology speech....
Reggie Love| 8.10.12 @ 9:45AM
Ted Nugent may be available.
I also believe the Beach Boys,except for Brian Wilson,are anti-Obama.
Frank Drackman| 8.10.12 @ 9:50AM
I think Merle Haggard's available...
just imagine, an updated version of "Okie from Muscogee"
"We don't smoke Crack in Muscogee,
We don't our trips on XTC,
We still wave Old Glory at the Court house,
In Muscogee, Oklahoma, USA.."
cut to the crown, chanting "USA! USA! USA!"
and from the rafters, shooting flaming arrows into the Crowd, who else but the "Nuge" himself, launching into a cover version of Metallica's "Don't Tread on Me"
Frank
Bob Grant| 8.10.12 @ 10:03AM
Haggard's a flaming libtard.
I heard the DixieCup Chicks might be available.
No joke but I would like to see the Mormon Tabernacle.
Frank Drackman| 8.10.12 @ 10:47AM
Umm, DUH, I'm not suggesting appointing Merle to a political position, where he could do some real damage, like that Mongoloid John McCain(Seriously, HOW did he get through the Academy/Flight Training? and if the Viet Cong really wanted to do some damage, they could have sent him back early to crash more jets...)
And the "Mormon Tabernacle" is a building, dummie, it can't sing, dance, or play a musical instrument, or fit into the Tampa Bay Times Forum...
Frank
Bob Grant| 8.10.12 @ 12:18PM
Choir....happy now????
Crassus| 8.10.12 @ 10:57AM
Mr. Gigante:
During the 1980 election, Haggard campaigned for Ronald Reagan. He was about the only country music star to do so. Almost all the rest supported Jimmy Carter. Don't know where you get your info that Haggard is a lib. He was a big supporter of both Reagan and Nixon.
Bob Grant| 8.10.12 @ 12:31PM
He had a falling out with GW Bush around 2005/06/07 and renounced his membership to the republican party...
He supported Hillary Clinton in the '08 primary, and Obama in the general...
He loves trashing FOX news at every opportunity...
I stand by my assertion.
He's a born-again Libtard. The worst kind.
KyMouse| 8.12.12 @ 7:54AM
"Okie from Muscogee" was a sarcastic slam at middle America, wasn't it? I've always heard that Haggard was surprised that it became a mainstream hit, and only when that happened did he pretend to mean its lyrics.
Is the Charlie Daniels Band available?
Occam's Tool| 8.12.12 @ 11:56PM
What about Kinky Freidman's "Asshole from El Paso?"
JimH| 8.10.12 @ 10:17AM
If you want to stick with CW, how about Toby Keith; Beer for My Horses or As Good as I Once Was, Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue would all play well. I know he once had some nice things to say about BO, but he seems to have learned better.
Frank Drackman| 8.10.12 @ 11:00AM
Been a RepubicKKKlan since casting my first vote for Ronaldus Maximus in 1980...
That bein said, Romney could use a little more flash,
I'm thinkin some "entrance" music, like baseball closers have, "Enter Sandman", "Welcome to the Jungle", something to GET THE GRASSROOTS FIRED UP!!!!!
and yes, if Lynyrd Skynyrd's awesume version of "Dixie" happens to make it on the play list, so be it.
Seriously, this is a nation where not all that long ago, George Wallace carried 5 States, and we're gonna let some jug-eared/nappy-headed/homo-lovin/Nobel Prize/Hahhhhh-Vud Lawyer sing "Lets Stay Together" out of key and the Marxist Stream Media acts like he's friggin Elvis risen from the dead...
Sure, the DemoKKKrats get 99.9999% of the Black Vote, 89.99999999% of the Brown Vote, why can't we get 69.99999% of the White Vote?
Umm OK, we'd still probably lose, but you get the Idea...
Frank
Bob Grant| 8.10.12 @ 12:50PM
Hackman,
No one cares about the convention(s). No one will watch the convention(s). Only portions will be televised live by various cable channels so, really, who cares who performs?
Frank Hackman and His Merry Jug Band could perform and no one would give a s**t.
But continue to give us your too-clever-by-half comments because, really, they are chuckle worthy.
Frank Drackman| 8.10.12 @ 1:42PM
"Thats what your wife said" (Rim Shot)
except it was "18 inches of Alabama Black Snake" instead of what you said...
Frank
Bob Grant| 8.10.12 @ 3:01PM
" Don't listen to him. My hubby is a pathological exaggerator. You can subtract a good 15 inches from that number...and that's with his Viagra, Cialis, Levitra cocktail."
- Skank Drackman
Occam's Tool| 8.12.12 @ 11:57PM
Dear Frank: I'm the one with the Alabama Medical License, son....
Bill8472| 8.13.12 @ 1:53PM
An Alabama Medical License? I bet you had to go to school for two or three semesters to get that puppy after you finished high school...
grant1863| 8.10.12 @ 11:24AM
I'm one of those residents who decided NOT to volunteer. There is no one I care about seeing in person and nothing is compelling enough about the RNC to give up personal time and lost wages to help someone find the Mons.
Would like to volunteer for a local Florida candidate in the fall. Maybe we can see a column on Florida candidates.
Denver Todd| 8.10.12 @ 11:35AM
Having witnessed the DNC convention back in 2008, I can say it was an interesting time. I took lots of pictures, and yes, every left-wing and anarchist cause was there, and it seemed like law enforcement and those groups played off each other. I would say that making sure you have video and still cameras will do much to document the excesses of these causes. I could never quite figure out why they were there in 2008, because they and the DNC are in bed with each other, but I guess that what they were saying was that while the DNC was leftist, they just aren't left enough. One of the saddest moments of the convention, one that still sticks with me quite vividly, was being in one of the buses that crawl the 16th street mall, and chatting with a young lady who was on her way to a "Christians for Obama" or some such meeting, and I was thinking now nieve she was for ever thinking that that man was a friend of believers. Even then, most faithful knew what he was up to.
KyMouse| 8.12.12 @ 8:05AM
Denver Todd, my guess is that "Christians for Obama" are not exactly evangelical, Bible-believing followers of Jesus, but rather have much in common with the "Christian Alliance for Progress." CAP's mission is to "reclaim Christianity from the religious Right."
I'm having difficulty finding their Web site at the moment, but in the past, I have read their praise for abortion, same-sex advocacy, Darwin-only evolution, etc., etc.
Bob Grant| 8.12.12 @ 8:43AM
Read about obama's spiritual adviser Jim Wallis, founder of The Sojourner's Community.
It is yet another Chicago-based socialist organization, but cleverly packaged as a Christian movement.
Yes, it IS insidious as it sounds.
Bob K| 8.10.12 @ 10:07PM
The campaign started 15 months ago. What did you expect Throneberry? Can't anybody here play this game of politics?
Those who aren't bored stiff with this electoral
extravaganza featuring democracy at it's dumbest are pi**ed off because the half wits running the campaigns are calling them 3 times a day begging for more money to spend on television commercials no one watches!
And what boring beasts will come out of Tampa and slouch towards Washington DC to save us all?
God help us all!
83champ| 8.12.12 @ 3:48PM
The Republican Establishment at work. I guess the Tea Party will have to 'pick up the trash' again.
83champ| 8.12.12 @ 3:48PM
The Republican Establishment at work. I guess the Tea Party will have to 'pick up the trash' again.
Occam's Tool| 8.13.12 @ 12:00AM
Wille Nelson is an antisemitic scumbag second only to Jack in Wi. in his hatred of Jews. He also is a leftwing traitor.
What about Toby Keith for the RNC?
Bill8472| 8.13.12 @ 1:51PM
Aren't the popular singers who are not ideologically opposed to Republicans concerned about some loudmouth Democratic politico in Chicago or Boston, or somewhere else, proclaiming that these people won't be allowed to perform in theaters in their cities in the future because they don't share Milwaukee's values or something?