News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
August 30, 2012

Republican Convention jam packed with stars

Vigo GOP secretary says event fast paced, entertaining

Arthur Foulkes The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — The Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., has seen its share of big-name speakers and entertainment. But it’s also had a few glitches along the way.

Vigo County Republican Party secretary Randy Gentry, a delegate at the convention, said the event has been fast-paced and filled with GOP stars.

On Tuesday night, Ann Romney, wife of candidate Mitt Romney, spoke. As did New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Wednesday’s speakers included Sen. John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Between speakers, country or rock bands have provided entertainment.

“It’s been a non-stop, all-star cast of all things Republican,” Gentry said of the convention. In that regard, it’s been an improvement over the 2008 convention he attended in Minneapolis-St. Paul, he said.

However, this convention is getting low marks for its bus transportation for thousands of delegates and their guests. The Tampa Bay Times reported that some delegates endured four-hour bus rides returning to their hotels late Tuesday night, some not returning until 3 a.m.

“The transportation logistics have been horrendous,” said Gentry, who endured his own 31⁄2-hour bus ride back to his hotel Tuesday night. Part of that, however, may be due to enhanced security at this event. Compared with four years ago, security is noticeably more intense, he said.

The Republican National Committee said Wednesday it was hiring additional buses. But some delegates were already making alternative plans, said Gentry, who is also Republican vice chairman of Indiana’s 8th District.

There is a greater feeling of excitement and energy at the convention than Gentry recalls from 2008, he said. “Everybody was really pumped” for a late-evening speech by Ann Romney on Tuesday, whose husband will accept the nomination as the party’s presidential candidate tonight.

“It impressed me how much energy was left in everybody after that long day,” Gentry said.

Chris Bauer, a 2001 Rose-Hulman graduate and Terre Haute native, lives just blocks from where the convention is taking place. He and his wife, Christa, decided to stay in Tampa despite the road closures, heightened security and large crowds, he said.

“We decided to just stick it out and make the best of it,” Bauer said Wednesday. “The city has done a fantastic job.”

News reports Wednesday indicated that the number of protesters at the convention has been much lower than originally expected. Only a couple of thousand had shown up, according to USA Today. About 15,000 had been anticipated.

Perhaps due to the odd routes the buses were taking, Gentry said he had not seen a single protester as of Wednesday afternoon. Bauer said he had seen a few, but some of them were not really protesters but rather supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, who challenged Romney for the GOP nomination.

Meanwhile, the police and military presence around the convention is very noticeable, Gentry and Bauer stated. Police on bicycles, horseback and on foot are practically everywhere close to the GOP event, they said.

Getting in and out of the convention complex involves “layers and layers of security,” Bauer said. Otherwise, life is fairly normal for people living nearby, he said.

“All in all, it’s been a good experience,” Bauer said.

Even the weather has been better than expected at the convention, especially since initial forecasts indicated Hurricane Isaac could be striking the Tampa area.

“Very, very humid,” Gentry said of the weather currently in Tampa. Yet, at least the sun was shining, he added. “It’s turned back into nice Florida weather.”



Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House China, Others Want What's Under the Arctic Ice CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools Raw: Suicide Bomber Kills 2 Americans, 13 Others Raw: 6 Die in Russian Ship Fire Raw: Texas Gov. Flies Over Tornado Damage Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
NDN Video
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News