Commentary and analysis on American politics, culture, and national identity, U.S. foreign policy and international relations, and the state of education
- from a neoconservative perspective! - Keeping an eye on the communist-left so you don't have to!
Well, this is my first "freelance" post, which is occasioned by spending an entire day with one of the right's most successful freelance bloggers: Robert Stacy McCain. Actually, I'm not really a freelancer myself. But when you're hanging 24-hours with "The Hustler," you definitely pick up some clues on how to get it done! And man, if my blogging needed some spicing up (as I've suggested a bit), you're getting some double-barreled jalapeño with "The Other McCain"!
Okay, we're picking it up just as we hit the road. Our first order of business was to head over to the Crimson Tide's lodging at the Westin South Coast Plaza. Pulling up to level five of the parking structure, Robert continues to organize the day's itinerary. We meet up with conservative hottie Brittany Cohan, in the second shot below:
We took a cruise around the hotel lobby, scoping things out. Security was tighter than a cork, but we happened upon the Crimson Tide's training crew, and Robert peppered them with his down home charm. Lots of laughs, and pictures too. See, "The Right-Wing Blogosphere’s Official BCS Pre-Game Show." After picking up some refreshment's at the hotel's Starbucks, we circled back out front just as the team buses were rolling out to Pasadena:
A substantial California Highway Patrol contingent was preparing to escort the 'Bama Boys' to the Rose Bowl (both teams practiced on-site yesterday):
Arriving at the Rose Bowl, Stacy immediatel starts making the interview rounds:
I took some pictures of the location:
While hanging out, the Texas Longhorns' buspulled up. After the fans clear out, I headed over to the souvenir stand:
Meanwhile, looking around for Robert, I see he's corralled a couple of 'Bama fans for a quick interview:
Robert's taking the video above. The result is below, where we see Alabama fan Stacey Mickles' predicting a 34-17 Crimson Tide victory in the NCG:
Next we learn that we'll have to travel back to the Newport Beach Marriott to secure Robert's press pass for the game. As we start heading back out to the car we see the video trucks lined up along the entry road:
Strangely, we bump into some U.S. Customs and Border Protection units. They don't want their picture taken, but we took 'em anyway, and Robert posted an entry over at the American Spectator, "Football: A Matter of National Security?"
I'm a local freeway-flyer, and in no time we're back in Newport Beach. The hotel is all decked out for the massive media presence in the Southland. The widescreen was just showing Texas Coach Mack Brown's press conference on the eve of the game:
Now Robert has a plan: Scoring a press pass is looking dicey, so he sets up shop in the corporate media workroom to file some blog reports:
That shot's a bit rushed, because I'm hungry! I head across the steet to the food court at the Newport Center Mall. (I was there a couple of weeks ago to take pictures of the nation's tallest Christmas tree.) I have a light lunch of chicken tacos, with a little avocado stuffed in there, which is unusual -- but tasty:
Heading back to the hotel to check things out, Robert takes my photograph:
Robert wants to keep working, so I cruised back over to Newport Center for some Starbucks. I return to the hotel at about 6:00pm to find out that he's been stiffed on the press pass. So, being an enterprising guy, he assembles the day's interviews into a story filed on deadline for the American Spectator. The piece ran this morning at 3:07 PST: "Roses in Crimson and Orange."
It's been a long day. By now Robert's probably into his third or fourth Corona. But I'm having coffee, as we're about to get back on the highway once more. We head to Redondo Beach to meet the awesome Juliette Akinyi Ochieng of Baldilocks. Also on hand is the lovely Jenny Erikson from Smart Girl Politics, at left:
We also met up with musician Chris Cassoneand pal Brittany from earlier in the day. Also on hand is Big Government's Mike Flynn. (Pictures are here and here, a little blurry as Chris is probably pretty buzzed by now - Mike Flynn is seated at rear on the right bench).
There are a few critical matters with which I do not agree with you as a conservative. Yet, I really do believe that circumstances are going to make judgment more clear in the days ahead. Conservatives who are presently "splintered" are going to come into agreement with greater access to accurate information - which is coming soon, from my view.
So, setting that aside - I honestly do wish you success in journalistic breakthrough.
I would advise you to do what the top successes are doing - like Malkin, McCain, etc.
GET IN FRONT OF CONSERVATIVE GROUPS speaking LIVE. This makes you a "leader" - and people will begin to follow you and you blog.
So, every time you can schedule to speak to groups - speak. With live speaking "face time" - you'll position yourself as a leader - and you'll "pick up speed".
The more groups you speak to - even if they are small at first - will lead to larger groups, etc. It will snowball.
Best wishes for success... I'm trusting you'll learn the reality of the USA Government - you'll stop feeding the gremlin of communist power posing as American "exceptionalism" militarily - and you'll leave this neocon confusion in the days to come.
But, I'd advise to do public speaking as much as possible to get you breakthrough.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for shopping through my links.
5 comments:
Professor,
Excellent capturing of the story of the "Gonzo Journalist".
Thanks for sharing.
This is fantastic, Professor!
Looks like you had a blast..great post!
I love the title, too, BTW!
DD,
Hanging w/RS for the game and afterwards on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. Fun stuff!
Hope to see you on Sat. in Altadena!
Donald,
There are a few critical matters with which I do not agree with you as a conservative. Yet, I really do believe that circumstances are going to make judgment more clear in the days ahead. Conservatives who are presently "splintered" are going to come into agreement with greater access to accurate information - which is coming soon, from my view.
So, setting that aside - I honestly do wish you success in journalistic breakthrough.
I would advise you to do what the top successes are doing - like Malkin, McCain, etc.
GET IN FRONT OF CONSERVATIVE GROUPS speaking LIVE. This makes you a "leader" - and people will begin to follow you and you blog.
So, every time you can schedule to speak to groups - speak. With live speaking "face time" - you'll position yourself as a leader - and you'll "pick up speed".
The more groups you speak to - even if they are small at first - will lead to larger groups, etc. It will snowball.
Best wishes for success... I'm trusting you'll learn the reality of the USA Government - you'll stop feeding the gremlin of communist power posing as American "exceptionalism" militarily - and you'll leave this neocon confusion in the days to come.
But, I'd advise to do public speaking as much as possible to get you breakthrough.
Wow - looks TOTALLY like fun!
Post a Comment