What Can You Do? Make the Most of It

First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain take the stage to address the Republican National Convention Monday afternoon, Sept. 1, 2008, speaking about relief for Gulf Coast citizens affected by Hurricane Gustav. Photo by Mark T. Osler

For a first-timer at the Republican National Convention who was looking forward to a lot of special events, Eugene Jorissen took the hurricane-scrambled first day in stride. OK, maybe he had a mild letdown.

President Bush-canceled. Vice President Cheney-canceled. Lots of other appearances and speeches-not going to happen. Jorissen feels bad for the people in the path of Hurricane Gustav, and he understands the reasoning behind the decision to rein in the convention’s opening festivities. Still, “it’s been disappointing in a lot of ways. It’s been an exciting anticipation, and then to have some things canceled, it’s disappointing.”

But he’s excited to be at the convention and participating in whatever events do go on. As he joined a rather long queue to get into the Xcel Energy Center Monday afternoon for the abbreviated session, he didn’t find the scene too inconvenient. It reminded him of a Bush campaign event in Traverse City, Mich., near his hometown of Ludington, with metal detectors and dozens of security people. That was 2004, and a raucous crowd shouted, “Four more years!” and “U.S.A.!”

While Monday’s convention session proved to be more subdued than that event, those assembled in the convention hall took every opportunity to celebrate-which included drawing out the applause for first lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain, as well as for the governors of the Gulf Coast states who appeared on video. “It was nice to have the two ladies and the four governors-they were doing their job,” Jorissen says.

He’s an alternate delegate, so his hall pass gave him admittance only to an upper tier of the Xcel Center. But he wangled his way down onto the convention floor and to the Michigan delegation to get a better view of Laura Bush. The delegation has prime seats, reflecting Michigan’s significance as a swing state in the fall elections. A bad economy could put the state into the Democratic column, but with several Michigan Democratic officeholders very unpopular, the state is considered a toss-up.

Republican leaders are well aware of the importance of giving Michiganders a good view at the convention that will rev them up for the fall. “They kinda want to see us do well,” Jorissen says.

Determined to experience everything he could, Jorissen participated in a discussion with conservative guru Grover Norquist, attended delegation meetings and meals and took in a display of presidential memorabilia. And he purchased buttons that showed support for candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin.

As the disclosure that the 17-year-old unmarried daughter of Alaska Gov. Palin is pregnant rippled through the convention hall, Jorissen took the news with equanimity. “It makes them human,” he says of the Palin family.

“It’s a matter of family values,” says Jorissen, whose grown daughter and two grandchildren live with him and his wife. “I believe strongly in supporting families.”

Elaine S. Povich is a freelance writer who covers politics.