Category Archives: The Senator’s Wife

Bits and Pieces

So, here is what I know after my first day at a Republican National Convention.

Comfortable shoes are a must!

Thank goodness for these Ivanka Trump shoes I rocked for over 12 hours! All the walking and standing and walking up and down stairs and walking to point A from point B would have caused a Fitbit explision I’m just sure of it!

The Quicken Arena is Big.

Here is my view from the cheap seats, or “Loud City” as we say in OKC. And, it was loud!

I chose another angle to watch my Governor address the crowd.

She did a really nice job…especially since there was a little conflict and controversy taking place.

The arena is a cesspool of activity.

This lady from Colorado was one of the head Dump Trumpers. She had a small, but vocal contingent with members from several states (my own included) who tried to pull a coup.

They failed. I just happened to walk by an interview of her that took place before their movement was shut down.

Yes, there were some sore losers in the building. Fact.

This is one of my favorite reporters from MSNBC. He is what I would call a roaming reporter….
I am old enough to be his mother.

You run into people you know everywhere.

Cliff and our friend from Tulsa (center), ran into another Okie (tall, young one on the left) who will be the next head of the RNC. What a breath of fresh air he is and a great guy all around.

I am now a big fan of Facebook. Haha

We found the Facebook tent mid afternoon and their adorable intern from Northwestern (and his boss) allowed us to charge our phones while we enjoyed a cold beverage and chilled before the prime time speeches. They also explained a little Facebook live challenge they had going on a took a party pic of a few of us in their “Oval Office!”

The Media Narrative is skewed.

After our phones were charging we met several reporters for a national magazine who were looking just as exhausted and thrilled to have found the same shady respite. In the course of a conversation with them, we learned they had been covering the protesters…all 2-300 of them. Bet it looked like more than that on television, didn’t it?

Evidently, this is an unconventional convention.

Since this is my first ever political convention, I am not sure if there is a precedent for the nominee to speak to the convention before he speaks to the convention – but last night, he introduced his wife (who, by the way was stunning and humble and gracious and wow’d everyone but the media).

It was something else and brought the arena to its feet.

In fact, I really want her white dress but I hear it has sold out already.

Maybe I can just be her in my next life! Seriously though, she was simply breathtaking and you could have heard a pin drop in that arena when she spoke about her family, her immigrating to the United States, her life with Donald Trump. What I experienced in the arena and what I read from the media this morning are two different narratives and I will leave it there.

I am just thrilled to be experiencing a little history in the making from my seat on the sidelines!

Opening Bell

Last night was the opening reception at the RNC and it was held at none other than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in downtown Cleveland.

Thousands of Republicans swarmed the venue which boasted rows and rows of food trucks featuring a taste of the City! Big tents with various kraft beer and live music filled the venue and the actual museum was open for tours.

Architecturally, the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame is a beautiful contemporary structure and overlooks Lake Erie. I could not get over the outfits worn by Diana Ross and the Supremes….simply gorgeous!

The big stage was constructed on the lawn behind the museum where bands such as 3 Dog Night and the Doobie Brothers played. The evening ended with a stunning fireworks show over the lake and a long walk back to the rows and rows of buses which quickly transported the numerous delegates back to their hotels.

The Oklahoma Delegation went to the event on several buses which were under police escort with a heavily armed federal agent on board. The road to the event was blocked off at many places and police were positioned everywhere along the route. In fact, I don’t think I have ever seen that many police and federal agents in one location before. I hear the Bikers for Trump are also rolling into Cleveland to help…I hope I manage to catch a glimpse of that!

Cliff and I had a wonderful evening talking with Republicans from all across the country. Some were wearing outfits representing their state and others were outfitted in all the bling that one might imagine.

Most seemed very excited to be there and were just as strong in their support of the presumptive nominee. If there is still a Dump Trump movement, we didn’t see it…the only interesting tidbit we heard on the ground was the number of high profile hotels that George Soros rented out to house the protestors he has sponsored.

We’ll keep you posted with highlights from the events today. The theme this evening is Make America Safe Again and will feature Melania Trump, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Senator Jeff Session, Senator Joni Ernst, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty and my favorite, Scott Baio of Happy Days fame.

Civil Discourse and A Tale of Two Cities

An interesting thing happened on my flight up to Cleveland this morning. The plane was full of Republicans heading to the RNC and dozens of men and women on their way to Cincinnati for the NAACP convention. You talk about an eclectic dynamic on board!
While I sat in my seat listening to some Big Daddy Weave and getting my game face on for take off (because flying has never been my thing), I couldn’t help but hear the discussion taking place behind me between two strangers – one headed to Cleveland and the other headed to Cincinnati. Before take-off they had debated the economy and by the time we got to 10,000 feet, the conversation had moved to Benghazi and the Clinton Foundation’s ties to terror.

You would think that these two strangers with little in common would be in a raging fist fight by the time we reached cruising altitude, but instead they were laughing about their politics and seemed to enjoy chatting about their backgrounds and various political opinions.

Just goes to show you that if civil political discourse is possible on a Southwest airplane, then it can happen anywhere. I just wish more people were like my fellow passengers and instead of pitting one side against the other in violent protest, made a conscious effort to talk peacefully about our differences? Who knows, but if what I witnessed this morning is any example, a healthy dialogue about same could lead to common ground. At the very least, it will bring forth a better understanding and respect for one another which would be such a beautiful thing. Especially today.