Posted on 08/28/2004 3:11:43 PM PDT by Libloather
Garden's set to rock
Final touches in place for one huge party
BY MAGGIE HABERMAN
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Madison Square Garden is ready for a Republican party.
The star-spangled balloons are blown up and bagged; the cherry-red carpet is nailed in place; the blue delegate seats are nailed to the floor, and the confetti with pictures of GeorgeW. and Laura Bush is set to go.
There's one stage for the speakers and a separate, hydraulic platform for the entertainers. Then there's a secret stage for the President himself that won't appear until Thursday night.
That was the view around the Garden yesterday as the final touches were put in place before the opening session Monday morning.
"All of our major construction is done," said Bill Harris, the head of the Republican National Convention, as he gave Gov. Pataki a tour of the hall.
With fortresslike security outside and a final security sweep taking place over several hours during the night, Harris showed Pataki the highlights of the construction. In the background, technicians did an audio check on the tribute to the late President Ronald Reagan.
Pataki said he was thrilled with what he saw.
"I've been to some pretty exciting Knick games and I've seen a few great rock 'n' roll concerts here, but this really matters," said Pataki, who, after his press conference, tested out the podium a few times.
With the memory of balloon-gate at Boston's Democratic National Convention still fresh - when thousands of balloons failed to fall after John Kerry's speech and the man in charge of the drop was caught shouting the "F" word into a microphone on live TV - Pataki said Harris had assured him this would work.
"We have well in excess of 100,000 [balloons]," Harris added. "I am very confident it's going to work. We had a great test yesterday."
Officials also released the delegate seating charts yesterday, showing delegates from New York - a heavily Democratic state that hasn't been in play for Republican presidential nominees in years - getting the best seats it may ever see at a GOP convention: right on the floor.
But for the most part, the best seats go to the swing states such as Ohio, which is front and center, and Florida and Missouri.
And when Bush hits the convention hall on Thursday on a circular stage, the seating will be rearranged to accommodate a theater-in-the-round - with even more swing states getting close to the stage, such as New Mexico.
And Bush's home turf, Texas, will also get a good, front-tier view of the President.
As for which stage Pataki will take - the main one or the special presidential one - when he introduces Bush on Thursday, both the governor and Harris were coy.
"I think Gov. Pataki's going to make his introduction from wherever he wants to make his introduction from," Harris said.
From what I saw on C-Span this morning, the stage will hoist the entertainment from underneath the main floor up to delegate level. I think it is then lowered in order to switch over to an entirely different band and their gear. Great idea!
I'm worried that it only takes a couple people on the inside to sabotage this entire event via microphones or some other minor mischief to disrupt things.
Bring it on.
Let's just hope the balloon dropping rig is working.
That's stupid - why would you WANT some waterhead to break into the PA with a wireles mike or do something to disrupt things?
Bring it on.
Party?
Party?
UN Observers at our polling places - that makes a party?
What the aich is wrong with BUSH?
I'll vote for him - but he has become, the "lesser of TWO EVILS in my mind.
I am sooo excited. I don't plan to step one foot inside Manhattan until Monday when I have to work. I will be glued to the TV.
Hrmph (clearing throat) I read your page, and you are not a troll, by your own words. I believe you.
What the aitch is the matter with having a party when a party nominates its candidate? And how does this tie in with UN observers at our polling places?
Just askin'...
I'll be partying the eve that Bush gives his speech. Go Mr. Bush!
This is what happens when I have too much "Miller Time" at home - I think it would be best for me to not drink and post!
I am mad at Bush for allowing this, but I may have the facts wrong. I've heard that this was set up awhile back so that other countries could observe "Democracy" in action.
I quatate "Democracy" because I do know that we are a Free Republic - I'd kind of like to keep it that way.
Sorry I acted like a TROL!
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