Justin Shaw is getting his Republican engine turbocharged, Frauna Hoglund is having her GOP spirit renewed, and Tim Eyman is simply being entertained.
The three are in New York City attending the Republican National Convention, a four-day political fete that ends tonight when President Bush addresses a packed Madison Square Garden.
“It’s exciting,” said Hoglund of Everett, an alternate delegate and chairwoman of the Snohomish County Republican Party. “Our message here is about the leadership of the Republican Party. It’s been about courage. It’s been about compassion. Everything I bring home I firmly believe is what all Americans believe in.”
Bush is expected to recap his first term, point out differences between himself and Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry, and offer a forecast for a second term should voters re-elect him on Nov. 2.
Shaw, 19, will be sitting in the stands with his father, Keith, and taking copious notes. “The speeches are my favorite part,” he said. “I liked Arnold (Schwarzenegger) and (Rudy) Giuliani. Arnold got out the word to immigrants. Giuliani delivered some hard hits, and that was exciting on the opening night of the convention.”
Shaw is attending as a guest for winning an essay contest at Cascade High School in May. He said he has picked up on the convention theme that President Bush is a president who won’t back down in the fight against terrorists, and will also take the initiative on domestic issues. He’s been sharing his insights each morning on television’s Channel 13.
Eyman, an alternate delegate, is a self-described political junkie who finds the cacophony of activity amusing and enthusing.
On Wednesday, he met Karl Rove, the man behind Bush’s message, when Rove spoke to the 79-member Washington delegation. “It was cool to be up close with the guy,” said Eyman, who also tabbed Giuliani and Schwarzenegger as the best speakers of the first two days.
Protesters are not impeding access to and from the convention, they said. Police are everywhere. “I almost feel like I have a New York police officer by my side all the time,” Hoglund said.
Eyman watched the massive street protest Sunday. “It was a big circus with all the circus acts,” he said, noting that many people and groups seemed to be acting as outrageous as possible to get attention from the media. “I was thoroughly entertained.”
Shaw also watched Sunday, but had a different experience. He encountered hostility from protesters who disliked his “Firefighters for Bush” T-shirt.
“I turned it inside out and wore it because it was getting pretty serious,” he said. “I’m getting to see how the party system works. It’s making me more of a Republican, and I’m really growing to dislike the people on the street.”
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or e-mail jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
