The Long View

National Review, Nov 10, 2003 by Rob Long

***** DRAFT COPY *****

NOT FOR RELEASE

Democratic National Convention

July 26-29, 2004

Fleet Center, Boston

Tentative Breakdown

opening ceremony: Dixie Chicks (status: CONFIRMED)

keynote address: Gov. Howard Dean, "The Fight Lives On, and Stuff"

nomination speech for vice president: Sen. Joe Lieberman (note: must have only kosher snacks in green room) OR Sen. John Kerry (note: must have some kosher snacks in green room)

acceptance of the nomination for vice president: Gen. Wesley Clark, "What I Meant When I Said . . ." (note: will need clips/photos/uniformed personnel behind podium and in hot clusters on floor) POSSIBLE FLIP: Sen. Bob Graham: "A Step-by-Step Guide to My Friends in Florida on the Proper Use of the Ballot-Marking Stylus"

nomination speech for president: Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun

acceptance of the nomination for president: Sen. Hillary Clinton, "You Like Me, You Really Like Me" (status: CONFIRMED)

Visuals:

"We Support the Troops" Parade, including video-conferencing with actual troops in Iraq (note: find actual troops in Iraq)

"Hola!" Univision/Telemundo installation on floor, with tortilla press and colorful pinatas (note: sync with daytime telenovelas for live cutaways)

"Deficit Sack Race": kids of all races and creeds footrace with sacks full of rocks, symbolizing crushing debt burden for their generation

Possible "Specials" for daytime:

Pie-eating contest (per Sen. Kennedy)

Drum circle

Freedom Trail walk with Rev. Al Sharpton (note: Sharpton WILL NEED golf and snack carts for walk)

"Make Way for Ducklings" tour with "The Barb(a)ras" (status: Sen. Boxer CONFIRMED; Streisand needs more details)

Acting Workshop (note: may need to limit number of actors)

Follow-on tasks:

American Flag Pins (need 76,000)

Bill Clinton laryngitis

Terry McAuliffe trip to Afghanistan

Kennedy containment

***** DRAFT COPY *****

NOT FOR RELEASE

Republican National Convention

August 30-September 2, 2004

New York, NY

Tentative Breakdown

opening ceremony: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (check with pyro-effects in re AS's request to "freakin' just appear in a cloud of smoke and all those things, from the sky like a bird or whatever") (status: UNCONFIRMED)

keynote address: Mayor Rudy Giuliani, "A Time For Heroes" (status: CONFIRMED) (note: His Honor interested in referencing his time as a houseguest of a gay couple -- please circle back via Rove et al. on this) OR Gov. Schwarzenegger, "Terminate the Tax-and-Spenders" (per his team; needs to be refined)

nomination speech for vice president: Vice President Dick Cheney (via satellite from Walter Reed) OR Mayor Giuliani, "Still A Time For Heroes" (see note above) OR Gov. Schwarzenegger, "Let's Freakin' Kick Their Butts and All of Those Things" (need coordination here)

acceptance of the nomination for vice president: Vice President Cheney (via satellite from Walter Reed) OR National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice (status: UNCONFIRMED but likely)

nomination speech for president: Mayor Rudy Giuliani, "Heroes and Hopes: A Time for Heroes, Again" (see note above) OR Gov. Schwarzenegger, "Terminate the Terrorists with Eye Lasers and Relentless Killing Machines" (note: NEED guidance here)

acceptance of the nomination for president: POTUS (note: Noonan?)

Visuals:

"We Support the Troops and They Don't" Parade, including video- conferencing with actual troops in Iraq (note: find troops from PA, FL, WI, MN, CA)

"Hola!" Univision/Telemundo installation on floor, with tortilla press and colorful pinatas (note: sync with daytime telenovelas for live cutaways)

"Tax Burden Sack Race": kids of all races and creeds footrace with sacks full of rocks, symbolizing crushing tax burden for their generation

Possible "Specials" for daytime:

"Arm Wrestle The Terminator": Gov. Schwarzenegger playfully arm- wrestles with New York children of all races and creeds

Ground Zero tour with Mayor Giuliani (note: will need to plan a spontaneous firefighters something-or-other for this event)

"Heroes and Hoagies" sack-lunch discussion with Mayor Giuliani

"Denny Hastert Loses 15 Pounds": workout with Gov. Schwarzenegger

Follow-on tasks:

American Flag Pins (need 238,678)

American Flags (need approx. 853,920)

Kennedy containment (per Gov. Schwarzenegger)