Blog For Arizona

DaBait in Da Desert (Part 4)

Having found a parking spot on the four level of a downtown parking garage, we rushed on foot the two blocks to the Wyndam. We knew we were running late; supporters were already out on the street corners waiving placards and chanting for their candidates. Photographers snapped pictures of these groups as if they were odd and endangered species; in fact, in W's America, that may not be far from the mark.

We flew up the escalator to the 4th floor ball room which was already 1/3 full and into the security office. We got bright yellow tee-shirts which read "Dean for America: Security". It's always seemed paradoxical to me that security wears the color of cowards on their appointed rounds, looking like so many pee snowcones. Wouldn't a red, white, and blue rugby shirt with sewn-in muscle pads be more appropriate? Or a Jet black ninja outfit with a menacing black mesh mask? I picked out a two-way radio and tried slipping on the "don't argue with me" attitude of security personnel; failing that, I just adopted a "don't hit me" attitude.

Jonna Lopez was directing security this night. She is a heck of a good organizer in a flustery event such as this. She was joined by other students from UA, ASU, and NAU, and two crusty old organizers, Me and Peter. We were assigned to the float around in front of the ballroom, keep an eye on the auction table and to check upstairs where our guest overflow would go once in a while.

Ilene Hart was in charge of the silent auction. She's a very charming woman and had convinced many supporters to donate some good loot to the cause. I must say I didn't take the duty of watching the table very seriously; only Democrats and cross-over Republicans were in attendance. Even if Bush Republicans were in attendance, I wouldn't worry about the table, but I would want the deed to the hotel in my pocket and the hotel's creditors locked in a closet where no one could find them.

Nicole Felker had a registration table set up with a bank of laptops to check ticket numbers against the database and to enter new supporter information of those who forgot theirs or never had a ticket issued. It looked somewhat slow; they appeared to be using four or five laptops wired to an Ethernet/modem/wireless hub dialed in to an ISP. Of course, the hotel may have had Ethernet laid down. I soon got too busy to ask.

Security is extreme boredom punctuated by moments of panic, or at least grave concern. There was much to do before the debate began. One of the more frustrating moments of the evening was trying to find a suitable spot for a woman who used crutches to support most of her weight. She was standing outside the ballroom looking distraught. The ballroom was swirling with hurrying people. I asked if I could help and she admitted she was intimidated by crowds because of past experiences. I asked and looked around but I could find no designated disabled section. In the end, I escorted her all the way down the isle, an experience likely harrowing to her, and settled her in the front row because it had enough room for her to maneuver.

I spotted Michael Crawford, a Tucson lawyer and former Tucson Councilman who is confined to a wheelchair, at the back of the room. He was hanging out by the buffet for lack of a better place to park. We chatted for a bit and shared the saltiest pretzel ever made by the hand of man. Apparently, at some point there had been a red ribbon across a row somewhere to reserve it for the disabled, he had learned, but it was long gone. More thought needs to be given to the needs of disabled at our events and sites.

People were having a very nice time chatting and mingling, I felt a little jealous until Jonna pulled me aside to give me a full tour of the facilities and the backstage are. Such little privileges make having to work an event worthwhile. The catering kitchen off the ball room had been largely cleared, though it was still functional and the hotel staff were busy keeping the buffet and bars supplied. It was through here that the candidate would pass to appear on stage without fighting through the crowd.

There was a very brightly lit vestibule with an emergency stairway at the end of the kitchen, and off this stairwell, to the right, was the entrance to the backstage area which was kept nearly dark for the rear-projection large screen TV showing the debate to the crowd. I noticed that the large run of cables for power and audio running in front of the door to the stairwell had been "secured" with a Dean for America sign taped over the top. Later, I found the electricians taping down cable runs up on the overflow deck on the 5th floor and I dragged them downstairs to thoroughly tape the cable runs in the dark backstage area. With the sudden transition from bright light to near darkness, I figured anything lying on the ground would be nearly invisible. The last thing we need is a candidate with a broken hip; that would be the end of the campaign for want of a few strips of duct tape.

But now it was time for the debate to begin. I rush out front to watch on the lobby monitor.

P.S. There are no official shots on the Arizona home page. If anyone took photos at the watching party and Dean's appearance after, please send them to me to post.

Next Time: The Debate, Dean Comes...

posted by Michael Bryan @ 10/17/2003 03:02:00 AM