Slog - Comments on The Civic Fest http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest The Civic Fest, which is in Minneapolis, is far from the convention site. There's a mock-up of the Oval Office here, a little chunk of Air Force One... and that's pretty much it. This is where the convention vendors are all located—the folks selling T-shirts and buttons and mugs and commemorative plates. It's also the site of the RNC's Official Convention Gear shop. And this place is freakin' deserted. Empty. And, man, are the vendors ever pissed. One vendor in particular—a vendor who wished to remain anonymous—unloaded on me about how poorly sales are going. She sells political schwag "on... Copyright 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:36:27 -0800 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:00:28 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by search & replace vendor.

]]> search & replace http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121220 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121220 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:58:53 -0800 Comment by Fly-Over Illinois I have a totally off-subject question. McCain/Palin are the new Boris and Natasha.

]]> Fly-Over Illinois http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121227 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121227 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:59:58 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe So pack up and leave. Go to a grocery store and buy some Old Dutch and get the fuck out of there.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121235 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121235 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:01:51 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Nobody wants to buy a defeated army's uniforms.

They strip them off themselves and pretend they never were part of the army instead.

Forty years in the wilderness - this is their fate.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121242 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121242 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:03:16 -0800 Comment by Lloyd Cooney They will need huge dumpsters in Minneapolis!

]]> Lloyd Cooney http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121257 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121257 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:07:05 -0800 Comment by DOUG. You should buy all the "McCain/Palin" shit you can get your hands on. They're gonna be collectibles next week.

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121289 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121289 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:11:56 -0800 Comment by COMTE Maybe if they were selling those "Sarah Palin: Abstinence-Only Education DOES Work!" how-to manuals, they'd have more business.

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121339 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121339 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:18:11 -0800 Comment by Greg Of course it's deserted. It's mostly a staging area for vendors, and they tried to charge $15 a head to attend, and expected people to feel honored to pay for the privilege. And the visible police presence in both downtowns (MPLS less to than St. Paul at least) is oh so inviting.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121341 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121341 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:18:45 -0800 Comment by Gomez Actually, that reflects the general spending habits of liberals and conservatives in general. Liberals generally are willing spenders and impulse buyers. Conservatives are more deliberate about their purchase choices.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121401 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121401 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:27:05 -0800 Comment by Cat in Chicago Those filthy capitalist pigs.

]]> Cat in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121425 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121425 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:32:22 -0800 Comment by Balt-O-Matt Oooh, Dan! Pick me up something!

]]> Balt-O-Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121429 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121429 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:33:23 -0800 Comment by GK Yes, conservatives are "careful with money."

i.e. cheap

That's why they're rich! Duh.

]]> GK http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121432 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121432 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:33:48 -0800 Comment by Ziggity Maybe we can silkscreen some of John Bailo's Photoshops onto some t-shirts - that should move 'em.

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121480 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121480 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:43:44 -0800 Comment by Fnarf When will this ludicrous idea that Republicans have anything to do with financial or fiscal probity end? The Republicans are the party of waste and profligacy and deficit spending, and have been for almost thirty years. Sarah Palin turned a surplus in Wasilla into $12 million of debt in just a couple of years, and raised taxes there 33% in the process.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121494 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121494 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:47:48 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle You know, you can always use them for tie-dye.

Nothing a little dip in the vat won't cure.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121529 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121529 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:55:07 -0800 Comment by dawicksta I was having kind of a bad day and this has given me a HUGE pick me up. Thanks for the thorough investigative reporting Dan! PS I'm dying to know IF you were able to secure a pair of tap shoes and WHAT you are doing with them??!!??!! Consoling the irritated vendors with a tap and a =)????

]]> dawicksta http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121568 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121568 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:06:14 -0800 Comment by Gomez With the obvious exception of military spending, I should have added :P

I was referring to their general personal spending habits, rather than how they handle a government's coffers.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121618 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121618 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:16:39 -0800 Comment by irl from what I saw on the teevee all the repubs are too fucking old to walk over there.
Every shot of the crowd was old white people. . .a few African Americans but only a few.

]]> irl http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121631 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121631 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:21:26 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle All the African Americans were up on the stage, irl.

Not in the audience.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121688 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1121688 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:36:27 -0800 Comment by east coaster Maybe she'd have better luck selling political schwag to the protesters.

]]> east coaster http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1122096 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1122096 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:14:09 -0800 Comment by Stacy I am convinced you didn't make the full circle of the Civic Fest. It has many interesting historical items, did you mention the white house replica that it took 15 years to build, how about all of the old flags that were displayed, there were many interesting things to see if you enjoy any type of presidential history. I think you need to forgot about the vendors and talk about the actual show.

]]> Stacy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1122334 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_civic_fest#c1122334 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:00:28 -0800