Tales From the Driver's Side, Wrap-up

Here are some of the pictures I took at the Convention. I'll post more when my new friends forward them to me. Enjoy!

View at the Marina

Convention Center By Day

Convention Center at Night

 With Steve Hays 

 With Joe Trippe

 With Brit Hume

 With Olympic Silver Medal Winner Bill Schuffenhauer

 With Eric Bolling and Other Drivers

All of these folks were very gracious and appreciative of our volunteerism. I also met and/or spoke with Fox News folks Dr. Krauthammer, Megyn Kelly, Neil Cavuto, Carl Cameron, Greta VanSustern, Bill Hemmer, Chris Wallace, and Juan Williams. I also spoke with Herman Cain, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, House Speaker John Bohner, Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, and Former Ambassador John Bolton. Folks I drove around included Former Alabama Democratic Congressman Artur Davis, North Carolina Congressman Tim Scott, Texas Congessman "Quico" Canseco, Republican Operative Joe Burns, the entire delegation from the Virgin Islands, Federated Republican Women  President Rae Lynn Chomensky,  NAACP Director Hilary Shelton and North Carolina GOP Congressional hopeful Richard Hudson.
It was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to volunteering in 2016!

Tales From the Driver's Side, Day Six

As told to Carol: This is my last day of volunteering at the Republican National Convention, and we have all been running around picking up speakers left and right--well more right! lol I've met a lot of great folks, and I'll show you some pictures after I leave here. I'm still on duty and will be working until all the people have been safely delivered to their temporary homes.This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and I'm grateful for it!

Tales From the Driver's Side, Day Five

As told to Carol...

In our meetings, we were told, once we got busy, we would be busy!

I was on board this morning at 7:30am. I picked up my credentials - for me and for the vehicle - and made it through the layers of security to the parking lot. From some reason, my vehicle wasn't where it was supposed to be, so it took over an hour to find it. But once the walkie talkie crackled to life, it's been non-stop. I've been to the airport, to hotels on the beaches and downtown; I've delivered speakers to the Forum for rehearsals and back to their hotels. I've seen lots of celebs - or at least political celebs. And I've spoken with a few of them. Sorry, I can't use names.

I saw a few protesters today. Someone said there were around 300 (everyone was expecting 1000's) - and probably about that many police types around them. 

I'm waiting right now for my last pickup of the day. Then I'll be going back to St. Pete Beach and the boat. (I'm keeping the vehicle for the night. We'll be back at it at 7:30 again in the morning.)

Speaking of the boat, last night was a real rockin' experience! The bay was rough. I think I got about 10 minutes of sleep! But who's complaining.

It's been raining all day, but the wind has died down considerably.

Tomorrow's my last day of volunteering. Looking forward to what the day brings!

Tales From the Driver's Side, Day Four

A Quiet Day (as told to Carol)
Not much happening on the volunteer front. I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I've been told to be on deck at 7am.

This is Carol: I decided to join members of the Tri County Tea Party on a bus trip to the Faith and Freedom Coalition Rally this afternoon at the Tampa Theatre. We boarded the buses (there were three) around 11 this morning and took an uneventful ride to Tampa.  (Uneventful rides are the best!) We got there early, and the doors were not yet open so we were in a line that stretched around the block.

The doors opened pretty quickly, and the line moved right along! When we turned the corner, we saw the protesters. First rule of protesting: make it very clear what it is you're protesting against. It took a few moments for us to figure out that these were anti-Romney protesters. That was just fine with us. They have every right to exercise their first amendment rights.
Then along came the Code Pink women. These women are pretty radical and carry signs with some pretty raw language. All of a sudden, three or four of them decided to lay down on the sidewalk. Don't know why as they were not blocking our way. Here's their website: http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=3
I must say what we saw today doesn't come close to resembling what is shown on their website.

We heard some great speakers today: Gov. Scott Walker (who was the target of more protests inside), Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov. Bob McConnell, Newt Gingrich, Atty Gen. Pam Bondi, Phyllis Schafly and Dr. Ralph Reed. I'm glad I went. It's vitally important that fiscal conservatives (like me) find common ground with social conservatives (like the lady sitting next to me). Today we did exactly that!

Tales From the Driver's Side, Day Three

Hurry up and wait!
We are at the ready; however I have not yet gotten the call to begin volunteering. So today, my hosts and I visted Fort DeSoto Park. On May 30, 1539, Hernando DeSoto landed in this area and began his historic expedition of the southeastern region of (what is now) the United States. He died 3 years later. The fort was actually built beginning 1898 in response to the United States involvement in the Spanish American War. The area was named Fort Desoto in 1900; and the Fort was abandoned by the U.S. Government in 1922. Fort Desoto Park was officially dedicated in May 1963. The park is made up of five keys or islands and is one of most beautiful tropical areas in Florida.
This afternoon the outer, outer, outer rain bands started coming in and the wind is picking up. We have been busy battening down the hatches - making sure there are no possible missles on the boat. At this point, we have no plans to abandon the boat.
Stay tuned!

Tales From The Driver's Side, Day 2

From Norm Knighton (as told to Carol)

It's been a quiet day today. I left the boat and went to the site to do some test runs with the SUV. I met five of my fellow drivers. Three are lawyers and two are JAGs.
We made a couple of round trips from the airport to hotel sites and got familiar with our cars.
I went back to the boat, met up with my hosts, and we had a delicious dinner at the marina.
I also received an email giving me some information for Monday. Not sure about Saturday and Sunday. I may just be stuck lounging around here. Darn!

Tales From the Driver's Side

From Norm Knighton (as told to Carol)

Several weeks ago I received an invitation to volunteer at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Since that is something I have never done, I responded that I was interested. So, after filling out forms, passing a thorough background check, going through orientation and training, I'm in Tampa to start my "official" duties tomorrow or Saturday. I have been chosen as a driver and will be picking up speakers from the airport and taking them to different locations in downtown Tampa. I will be given a new SUV to drive.
There is so much secrecy surrounding this Convention because rumors are swirling that "Trouble's brewing!" And I'm not talkin' about Hurricane Issac.
Today I stopped at (secret location) to get my shirt. Now's there a problem. I was given one shirt and a baseball cap, but I'm working for the next five or six days. They were pretty adamant about not giving me another. But that's fine because we drivers don't necessarily have to wear a "uniform." We can wear our own clothes as long as we conform to the dress code and look clean and neat. (Which Norm has no problem doing-Carol's add.)
After that I headed south to find my digs for the next week: I'll be staying with friends on their 38' boat. (I'd call that a "yacht"!-Carol's add.) We're about 30 minutes away from the Convention Center. (It's beautiful down there. Norm and I had a look at the location on Saturday. In military parlance, tough duty!!!-Carol's add.
I'm settled in for the night. Tomorrow we'll be doing some test runs to the airport. And then .....