They’re heeeerrrrre…
Given that national conventions these days are generally conceded to be long, expensive political ads where the best news for the parties is no news — just happy, smiling delegates reaffirming their support for happy, smiling candidates who will repeat the same campaign mantra they’ve been using for months and will continue to use until Nov. 6 — they sure do get a pile of attention.
Wait, correction on that. Conventions get a pile of attention in the cities that host them. For the rest of the country they’re sort of a big yawn — unless, as often happens (Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Paul), there’s trouble. Or a candidate commits a big, juicy gaffe. (If only that Akin guy were going to speak at the convention — now that would be fun.)
Local leaders and GOP overlords have worked tirelessly (and probably prayed a little, too) to make sure no such unpleasantness will occur here. For Mayor Buckhorn, the main goal is for conventioneers to leave with such a good impression of Tampa that they’ll want to come back, while the GOP hopes to convince the world that Mitt Romney is as “honest” and “warm” as his multi-million-dollar stage set. And the protesters — eclectic, impassioned, resourceful — will bring up a range of issues that likely won’t get much airtime inside the Forum or on CNN.
In this guide, Creative Loafing Tampa has teamed up with The Huffington Post to look at the political landscape in which all these disparate parties are coming together, from the head honchos to Occupy Tampa to the seven people you’re most likely to meet. We also asked local residents to offer some advice for the visitors. As you might expect, the locals were a tough crowd.
Of course, CL being CL, we’ve got info on food & drink, arts & entertainment for residents and visitors. Plus, we offer some alternative notions — OK, fantasies — of RNC parties, tours and haberdashery we’d like to see. And, CL being CL, there’s a little bit of why-the-hell-are-you-messing-up-my-city-you-damn-politicians attitude in here, too.
So, whether you’re convening, escaping or eager to experience this crazy next chapter in Tampa Bay’s history, this guide’s for you. Just watch out for Isaac.
This article appears in Aug 23-29, 2012.