Ramin Talaie | the BLOG

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ramintalaie — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:45:58 +0000

Here is a quick NYT.com front page of a photo I took for Bloomberg News.

RNC Day 4 – The inside

ramintalaie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:13:38 +0000

I never got a chance to post picture of the inside and McCain’s speech. I got back to my hotel at around 2 am and had to get up by 4:30 to catch a 6:30 flight. So I am a few days late, but I just wanted to close this series.

Covering the conventions is not a one man event. I have already decleared this convention to be my last convention. We shall see in 2012.

RNC Day 4 – Protests on the outside, McCain on the inside

ramintalaie — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:06:14 +0000

I am tired! Can’t you tell?

RNC Day 3 – The show is on

ramintalaie — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:12:08 +0000

What can I say? Palin speaks well. She spoke well to her base thats all I should say here and for now.

RNC Day 2 – It is still not a Good Old Party here

ramintalaie — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:24:57 +0000

The day began with a little rain here in St. Paul. There were rumors of demonstrations and protests, but we did not see any. Close to 300 people were arrested during the events of prior day. According to the NY Times reports, the police had fired projectiles (plastic and foam bullets) into the crowd. A few journalists were also swept up in the mass arrest.

On the inside Fred Thompson delivered a better speech than the keynote speaker, Joe Lieberman. Overall, it was not a very exciting evening. Movement on the floor is getting harder and harder. I am sure we will find more restrictions today.

The highlight of the day was not walking by Cindy McCain or getting stuck in the hallway with the Bush’s, the H.W. not the W, but photographing Karl Rove on the set of Fox News. I only posted one, I have better pictures of him. I liked this photo better, it shows his character.

RNC Day 1 – When she was 17 . . .

ramintalaie — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:22:54 +0000

The controversy keeps following the Republicans and yet this is still a very close race. Today’s big news was about the pregnancy of Palin’s daughter.

The first day of the Republican convention started with another protest. A few thousand demonstrators rallied in front of the State Capital with signs and slogans. A small group of anarchist kids in their teens and twenties damaged storefronts and clashed with the cops. In response the riot police fired teargas and sprayed them pepper. After several arrests things were back to normal and things moved to the inside.

On the inside, there was a different story. There were no big name speakers. The Republicans called the convention to order and took care of convention business. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain were the only real highlights of the short day.

RNC Day -1 / Gustav wears an Obama T-shirt today.

ramintalaie — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:30:35 +0000

It is a beautiful day here in St. Paul. A few clouds and blue sky provide the backdrop to a small group of demonstrators on the day before the start of the Republican National Convention (RNC). War veterans of various U.S. conflicts lead a peaceful march to the RNC site from the Minneapolis State Capital building. Names of dead American servicemen and women along with dead Iraqi civilians are read aloud as they make their way slowly along the route.

By all standards, it is a small demonstration for a Republican convention. Still, it is a typical rally with a large number of police and security watching at a close distance. Overzealous photographers get in each other’s way. No more than three hundred people participate in this short and slow march. The convention itself is getting a reality check from a category five hurricane called Gustav. The huge hurricane is making a direct hit on the Gulf Coast including New Orleans. As a result, the Republicans have scaled back the first day to the hours of 3 to 5 pm for convention business only.

Another demonstration is scheduled for Monday. I assume more of the same.