tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76767022011-07-14T19:44:26.205-05:00Jim Van Nostrandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244561350886559296noreply@blogger.comBlogger501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1095091373545572962004-09-13T10:56:00.000-05:002004-09-13T11:02:53.546-05:00

Webb Blog is closing shop as the traveling circus of the 2004 presidential campaign moves on. I'm grateful to all who helped in my blogging debut -- including the many readers who offered pithy commentary, attaboys and amusing observations. That goes for my editors and the kind folks at TwinCities.com. Be sure to vote in November.

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094482715775637452004-09-06T09:31:00.000-05:002004-09-06T10:00:11.426-05:00

Here is today's installment of convention-related mail from Pioneer Press and Webb Blog readers. From the looks of it, it appears that Sen. Norm Coleman's busy week in NYC prompted the most mail. Here's a sample. From Ruth, a native Minnesotan now living in Southern California: "I read about Coleman's name dropping and using Dylan's line from a familiar song. It was so disgusting and it is so

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094220469237462912004-09-03T08:38:00.000-05:002004-09-03T09:15:43.320-05:00

As the Republicans, the protesters and the media all begin to depart New York City on Friday, a few observations. First, thank goodness that both political conventions went as peacefully as they did -- despite all the pre-convention worries about terrorist attacks and so on. The police, the security forces and the planning in both New York and Boston were staggering, especially in New York, and

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094150039809891462004-09-02T13:24:00.000-05:002004-09-02T13:33:59.810-05:00

Minnesota Republicans invited a stand-up comedian to their delegation breakfast Thursday morning -- in addition to state party chairman Ron Eibensteiner, that is, who has been known to make a few jokes now and then. Eibensteiner went first, telling how he'd been at a thrift store, "and lo and behold, John Kerry came by searching for another Purple Heart." But the professional in the room was '

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094151798391746642004-09-02T11:36:00.000-05:002004-09-03T08:37:37.066-05:00

If you ask the GOP delegates, the honor of the most memorable convention speech may well go to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger_ at least until President Bush's speech tonight, of course. But here in the media village on Wednesday, the gossip focused in another direction: the cringe-worthy speech Tuesday evening by the Bush twins. It's gotta be tough to be a college-aged kid, and deliver a

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094090529554646332004-09-01T20:46:00.000-05:002004-09-01T21:02:09.556-05:00

There's an old joke in Washington that the most dangerous place to be is between a politician and a TV camera. That seems to be true in New York, too. Inexplicably, the Pioneer Press' assigned seat in Madison Square Garden is right next to CNN's booth. On Wednesday night I was headed to hear Vice President Dick Cheney's speech when I noticed a clot of people around my seat. I was about to worm

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094080394591694182004-09-01T17:23:00.000-05:002004-09-02T12:49:58.836-05:00

Minnesota reporters here, including yours truly, have noted that this marks Norm Coleman's return to his native New York. Coleman was raised in Brooklyn -- which is a huge place, with more than 2 million people -- in the Flatbush-Midwood area. In his day, this was a mixed Jewish/Italian/Irish neighborhood. "It's where Woody Allen grew up, it's where Ruth Bader Ginsberg is from," Coleman said.

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094077320370352342004-09-01T16:57:00.000-05:002004-09-02T12:49:35.056-05:00

Normally during convention week, I don't bother with the partisan e-mail blasts that clog my mailbox. Hey, both parties get a chance to make their own case, at their own convention, and that seems fair enough to me. But occasionally one of these e-mail barbs rises above the norm. The liberal Minnesota ACT group is busy composing satrical fake "postcards" that U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman might be

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094049453357770182004-09-01T09:25:00.000-05:002004-09-01T09:37:33.356-05:00

On Wednesday, the Minnesota delegates will finally see why they came to New York City: they're visiting Ground Zero. There's been some muttering among Republicans about coming to a city where they're not wanted. And there's some truth to this: you can't walk down the streets outside the security perimeter without seeing signs like "Fascists Repent" and "A village in Texas is missing its idiot."

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094048439262195122004-09-01T09:12:00.000-05:002004-09-01T09:20:39.263-05:00

For Minnesota delegates, it's not all parties, speeches and protesters. On Tuesday a large group donned their old clothes to paint a room at the Salvation Army's Bedford day-care center, as a demonstration of President Bush's "Compassion Across America." By one account, the painting went well, but the room wasn't completely painted when the leave-or-else order came from the bus schedulers. So a

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094051079133374702004-09-01T07:51:00.000-05:002004-09-01T10:04:39.133-05:00

The partisan back-and-forth is continuing about President Bush's remark about the war on terrorism, "I don't think you can win it." On Tuesday Bush gave a much more spirited version to the American Legion convention, saying "We are winning, and we will win." Now Democrats are reminding everyone how Republican operatives lashed out this spring after a Democrat from Pennsylvania, U.S. Rep. John

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1094052677916985542004-09-01T07:21:00.000-05:002004-09-01T10:35:52.693-05:00

If you watched Tuesday night's session, you caught Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. And as at the Democratic convention, the moment I found most powerful was his memory of life under oppression, and a reminder of the freedoms we too often take for granted in this country. An excerpt from Schwarzenegger's speech: "When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria. I saw their tanks

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093991048406157862004-08-31T16:58:00.000-05:002004-08-31T17:38:49.600-05:00

Today's installment of Viewer Mail comes with the reminder that I've set up a special convention e-mail account -- WebbBloginNY@hotmail.com -- so keep those cards and letters coming. Except for the spam. One saucy reader wants to know about the "spa" that has been set up here in the media area, and wonders whether I've gone for a visit. The spa is giving free massages, haircuts and facials, I'm

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093966903753502682004-08-31T10:10:00.000-05:002004-08-31T10:41:43.753-05:00

You've got to hand it to Sen. Norm Coleman. Minnesota's Republican senator was out partying with Rudy Giuliani until 2 a.m. Tuesday, then back at Madison Square Garden at 6:50 a.m. for a full slate of radio, TV, wire service and newspaper interviews. True, he did look a little bleary-eyed early on (but hey, who didn't?), and he hadn't shaved, so an aide had to fetch a razor and some shaving

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093968317278439802004-08-31T09:47:00.000-05:002004-08-31T11:15:12.150-05:00

Happily, calm has been restored in the media village. Food has returned. A surprise food shortage at the "restaurant" here was the subject of much chit-chat at the Republican National Convention yesterday, but by this morning, the restocking elves had done their work. In truth, the real problem isn't so much the food -- there are lots of restaurants nearby. Instead, it's the fact that the

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093969822098805452004-08-31T08:16:00.000-05:002004-08-31T11:30:22.096-05:00

OK, OK, people. By popular demand (well, two emails), it's time for an update on Laurie Coleman, the senator's wife who created a small stir last week with a pair of provocative photos published in The Washington Post. Mrs. Coleman is here in New York, and making the Republican rounds. Fellow reporter/blogger Alan Bjerga of the Kansas-centered Ozblog -- http://bjerga.blogspot.com -- spotted Mrs

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093917326520901542004-08-30T20:42:00.000-05:002004-08-30T21:54:27.573-05:00

Joe Repya, a veteran from Eagan, twice basked in the convention spotlight Monday night. First, Repya led the Republican delegates in the Pledge of Allegiance. He thinks he was chosen for this honor because, after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, Repya volunteered to come out of retirement and rejoin the active-duty military. He expects to go to Iraq soon, again serving our country. His

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093915226769302852004-08-30T20:05:00.000-05:002004-08-30T20:20:26.770-05:00

The roll-call of the states began early at the Republican National Convention -- on opening day -- and that's when Sen. Norm Coleman stepped to the microphone and quoted Bob Dylan. "Minnesota native Bob Dylan said 'Times they are a-changin.' They are changing in Minnesota, with our great young Republican governor Tim Pawlenty, half of our Washington delegation being Republican, and for the first

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093892741100362662004-08-30T13:43:00.000-05:002004-08-30T14:09:32.163-05:00

Here in the fine-dining capital of the world, food is strangely sparce. The convention had hardly opened when the "restaurant" in the sprawling media center sold out of bagels. (And in New York City, of all places!) By early afternoon, it appeared to be out of prepared sandwiches, salads, fruit and chicken fingers. That pretty much left hot dogs, from what I could tell. This is the first day,

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093884724322775242004-08-30T11:41:00.000-05:002004-08-30T11:57:35.586-05:00

The Republican National Convention has begun, and on Day One, a handful of Minnesota Republicans are getting a moment in the sun. Eric Hoplin, president of the College Republicans and a native of Detroit Lakes, is scheduled to speak at about 1:25 p.m. Minnesota time. U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman will be delivering Minnesota's vote tonight, as part of what convention organizers call "a rolling

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093884011076450142004-08-30T11:25:00.000-05:002004-08-30T21:50:33.923-05:00

It didn't take Minnesota Republicans long to see the value of hailing from a political swing state. On Monday morning, they awoke on New York's chic East Side, listened to a cabinet secretary for their morning speaker, and then enjoyed VIP status as they were wisked efficiently aboard buses directly to Madison Square Garden. The same hotel-to-hall trip four years ago in Philadelphia would have

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093829821525435572004-08-29T20:18:00.000-05:002004-08-30T12:00:06.593-05:00

From the looks of it, you'd almost think most of New York City banded together to send an in-your-face message to the Republican conventioneers: Go away. Even miles away from the big anti-Bush protest march on Sunday, the streets of Manhattan were alive with anti-Bush signs, t-shirts, leaflets and buttons. Wherever you walked Sunday, it wasn't unusual to come across two or four people in each

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093828677101709262004-08-29T20:08:00.000-05:002004-08-29T20:17:57.103-05:00

New York is unlike anywhere else. Less than an hour after arriving here, I'd already gotten into my first traffic accident (a fender-bender, nobody hurt), and then been admonished by a policeman for walking too slowly across an intersection. The accident occurred when my zippy cab-driver pulled up at the East Side Marriott hotel where the Minnesota contingent is staying. Just as my cabbie darted

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093828098221168922004-08-29T20:04:00.000-05:002004-08-29T20:08:18.223-05:00

One Amtrak employee Sunday certainly captured the spirit of the political conventions, where superlatives run as thick as confetti. As the train from Washington was leaving for New York, he welcomed aboard any GOP delegates, and added, "we hope you have the best convention ever in the history of the world."

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093562693087128542004-08-26T17:50:00.000-05:002004-08-26T18:28:07.910-05:00

This week's most unexpected bit of pre-convention buzz came courtesy of Laurie Coleman, the actress-wife of Minnesota's Republican senator Norm Coleman, who posed for a pair of "provocative" cheesecake photos that appeared in The Washington Post on Thursday. See the photos for yourself: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34218-2004Aug25.html The Post described them as being released

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093563917382968162004-08-26T17:32:00.000-05:002004-08-26T21:23:55.090-05:00

When Minnesota Republicans gathered at the 2000 national convention, they were seated so far back that their closest neighbor was the delegation from Guam. This is the sort of punishment parties like to inflict when The Other Party wins your state 9 times in the previous 10 presidential elections. But hey, that was then. Now, everyone's kissing up to Minnesota, the new swing state. Ron

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093631297559299342004-08-26T13:26:00.000-05:002004-08-27T13:30:23.983-05:00

Republican officials just released a map of the convention floor, confirming that the delegations from Minnesota and Guam have indeed officially parted ways. Minnesota's delegates will be seated in primo spots on the main convention floor, directly behind the delegation from Florida, the Mother of All Swing States. (And home of the president's brother). Guam, meanwhile, will be in its usual

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093627040259692502004-08-26T12:09:00.000-05:002004-08-27T17:41:41.846-05:00

Protests have begun in New York, as have the efforts to spin them for partisan purposes. Republicans claim that the protesters are organized by Democrats, who are dissing the president. Democrats claim that the protesters are acting on their own, and they'd prefer to leave the GOP festivities alone. In Minnesota, the state Republican Party has unveiled its own website featuring Minnesota

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1093365735817450262004-08-24T11:11:00.000-05:002004-08-25T15:28:27.756-05:00

Greetings again. After an August hiatus, WebbBlog is back in business, this time gearing up for the Republican National Convention in New York City, starting Aug. 30. So here's my gig: The good folks at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Knight Ridder have encouraged me to blog at the political conventions, focusing on All Things Minnesotan. I'll still be writing daily stories for the Pioneer Press

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091477982986520002004-08-02T15:03:00.000-05:002004-08-02T15:19:42.986-05:00

Hey everyone, Webb Blog will be taking a break between the political conventions. But check back during the Republican National Convention in New York. The GOP convention runs Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 at New York's Madison Square Garden. See you then.

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091476819695794132004-08-02T14:25:00.000-05:002004-08-10T15:26:57.133-05:00

Thanks to everyone in the blogosphere for their thoughts, greetings, corrections and amendments on my inaugural blog from the Democratic National Convention in Boston. One person corrected me on the title for Mary Beth Cahill. She's the campaign manager for the Kerry campaign, not a spokesperson, as I earlier referred to her. Mea culpa. This may be the Internet, but we still aim for accuracy

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091389619847757862004-08-01T14:06:00.000-05:002004-08-01T14:50:48.613-05:00

On the final day of the convention, I asked several prominent DFLers how they thought the week had gone. Some of their thoughts. U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., was impressed by a range of things in Boston, "from the unity, which is genuine, and the intensity of support for the ticket, and the sense of hopefulness about the campaign." Dayton said that earlier in the year, Democrats worried that

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091199977130187332004-07-30T09:54:00.000-05:002004-07-31T10:21:59.813-05:00

The race for the airport is underway Friday, after John Kerry's acceptance speech last night. My airport cab driver, whose meter was suspiciously not running, offered unsolicited thoughts about the week. "I wish every week was DNC week," he said. Why's that? Doing good business? "There's no traffic. All the Republicans were scared away, and they have all the cars." I don't know about the

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091144044957379062004-07-29T18:11:00.000-05:002004-07-30T10:07:06.916-05:00

With the Democratic convention coming to a close, it's time for a few updates from Boston. Security update: The security here was professional and thorough -- and thus far, thankfully, there's been absolutely no security problem. A huge tip of the blog hat there to the folks who made it so. Movie star update: Actor Rob Reiner appeared at Thursday's Minnesota delegation breakfast, and actor

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091120806724115122004-07-29T11:23:00.000-05:002004-07-29T13:16:36.720-05:00

It was after midnight, with Boston's Fleet Center nearly empty, when Minnesota became the last-in-the-nation delegation to cast its votes for John Kerry. In the end, the delegation cast 85 votes for John Kerry, and 1 for Dennis Kucinich. Or rather, that's what they did - after first flubbing the vote. Here's the chronology. The traditional roll-call of the states began about 11 p.m., once

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091118142901566172004-07-29T11:18:00.000-05:002004-07-29T11:22:22.900-05:00

Wednesday night's session included a convention hall of American flags and the appearance by a cluster of retired military brass. Afterward, two delegates leaving the hall were critiquing the evening. "It was like being at a Jack Kemp event," groused one.

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091038209852979762004-07-28T12:59:00.000-05:002004-07-28T13:10:09.853-05:00

What are the key words that Democrats will emphasize about the Kerry-Edwards ticket? Strong. Strength. And how do we know this? Because the delegates are being given "talking points" about the ticket -- or at least the Minnesota convention delegates were. When a reporter or TV camera appears, this is what the delegates should say. Here's one of the talking points: "John Kerry and John

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091037200883070382004-07-28T12:23:00.001-05:002004-07-28T12:53:20.883-05:00

As up-to-speed Minnesotans know, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., blew into Boston yesterday to give the Republican perspective on Democratic nominee John Kerry. Coleman did an impressive job at appearing on every possible media outlet, but evidently, he skipped one. Comedian Al Franken is in Boston, too, to host his liberal Air America radio program. Franken told the Minnesota delegation

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1091036062836287382004-07-28T12:23:00.000-05:002004-07-28T12:34:22.836-05:00

Yes, political conventions are gaudy and overblown, but at their best, the giant gatherings by both parties can still stir your idealism and remind you of the glories of this country. It's not the computer-generated flag waving on the giant video screen, nor the choreographed sign-waving for the cameras. Instead, at least for me, the power came in personal stories that revealed something

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090972297716496022004-07-27T18:38:00.000-05:002004-07-28T14:03:48.366-05:00

It wouldn't be a convention without free-range celebrity sightings -- that is, spotting VIPs outside of their usual habitats. Actor Ben Affleck has been much-spotted by Minnesotans this week. Patty Wetterling said she was excited to meet Garrison Keillor. Others spotted rock star Bono, diva Patti LaBelle and filmmaker Michael Moore. But a special tip of the blog hat goes to WCCO-TV's Pat

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090946206018072962004-07-27T11:12:00.000-05:002004-07-31T10:36:11.046-05:00

With each passing convention, the size of the featured video screen grows. This year in Boston, the screen inside the convention hall totally dwarfs the podium. So if you're sitting in the audience, and someone is speaking from the stage, it has the rough effect of watching a drive-in movie, with somebody is perched atop the popcorn stand. This is all a cautionary reminder about the exponential

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090934138191967022004-07-27T08:05:00.000-05:002004-07-27T11:00:17.376-05:00

By the strange-but-inviolate rhythms of big political conventions, Tuesday tends to be the dullest day...the day that isn't the big-blowout opening day, that has no balloons, no confetti, and no acceptance speeches. Thus, it is with this convention. So with a bazillion reporters in town, that means it's a perfect day for lesser-lights to get some ink, some air time, or some bandwidth. Two

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090879741875102892004-07-26T17:06:00.000-05:002004-07-27T15:38:11.850-05:00

Another benefit of being a political swing state: more interesting morning speakers. On Tuesday, the DFL will hear from actor Rob Reiner, best known as the reliably liberal son-in-law Meathead from the 1970s TV classic "All In the Family." But Reiner is also fondly remembered for his role in the 1980s mockumentary, "This Is Spinal Tap." Imagine. A speaker that goes to 11. Also on Tuesday

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090879564644461932004-07-26T17:00:00.000-05:002004-07-26T17:38:20.370-05:00

For anyone wondering what it's REALLY like to cover the Democratic National Convention, the answer is...it's dang cold. Not outside. Inside. July or no, the media tent's overzealous air conditioning system is inspiring the Knight Ridder scribes to don wool sweaters, winter coats and - in the case of fashionable Alan Bjerga of The Wichita Eagle - a snappy green sweatshirt draped rakishly

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090857790603158592004-07-26T10:56:00.000-05:002004-07-26T17:34:04.956-05:00

The convention organizers in the Democratic National Party seem to be having a little trouble with math. When the head of the Minnesota DFL Party, Mike Erlandson, went down to the convention floor on Sunday for the first time, he was surprised by what he saw. They "didn't have enough seats" for the Minnesota delegation. They were about 15 short, he said. You wouldn't think that getting

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090857359541085982004-07-26T10:49:00.000-05:002004-07-26T17:33:23.593-05:00

Humorist Garrison Keillor gave the Minnesota DFL convention delegates their first reason to stand and cheer, when he delivered a brief why-I'm-a-Democrat chat at their Monday morning breakfast. "It's going to be a great year for Democrats, and you and I will make it so," Keillor said. "It's one thing to grasp power in order to do favors for one's friends. It's quite another thing to speak to

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090809178939525062004-07-25T21:21:00.000-05:002004-07-25T21:32:58.940-05:00

Lesson No. 1 at a national political convention is, nothing this big ever works flawlessly. The Minnesota convention delegates got their first lesson Sunday, when they arrived for the kickoff event of their convention week - the welcome-to-Boston reception for Minnesota delegates, at the State Street Bank building in downtown Boston. Alas, when dozens of Minnesotans showed up at the building,

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090808468726913012004-07-25T21:13:00.000-05:002004-07-25T21:34:46.750-05:00

With Boston invaded by legions of Democrats, it's no surprise that there are red, white, and blue Kerry-Edwards signs and buttons all over downtown. But Sunday, there was one unexpected bit of political propaganda located in Boston's Public Gardens. Mounted horse patrols had deposited a few droppings near the park's entrance. And some busy Democrat had stuck a button atop the pile. It read,

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090626379352833802004-07-23T17:20:00.000-05:002004-07-26T17:32:28.803-05:00

The awkward question about political conventioneers these days is, What do they really do? I've been asking Minnesota convention delegates this question. The most exasperated response I received was, "They nominate someone for president!"  Well, yeah.  Nevertheless, it's still surprising to attend a modern-day convention and see firsthand that the delegates don't seem to decide anything.  Apart

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7676702.post-1090598003180331252004-07-23T10:08:00.000-05:002004-07-26T17:31:47.366-05:00

Greetings, earthlings.  This weekend the political world decamps for Boston and the Democratic National Convention -- and the good folks at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Knight Ridder have asked me to join the madness, and keep my eyes peeled for All Things Minnesotan.   So, we're off.  We include 14 Minnesota reporters and photographers, 91 Minnesota DFL delegates and alternates hoping to

Tom Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389026808851674613noreply@blogger.com