The hours of the convention days are long early morning breakfasts kick off a full day that doesn't end until a few hours after the gavel falls in the convention hall. This morning is a bit different. Last night ended and I went to bed shortly after 2am, but I had to wake up by 4:30 am. I am not typically an early riser, so 4;30 am comes rather quickly.
Why would someone do this to themselves? It's because when former Maryland State Delegate and Chairman of the Maryland Delegation to the Republican National Convention says it may be a good idea to so, it probably is. Murphy's idea was to walk a few blocks from the hotel to Key's Cafe, from which MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show with Joe Scarborough would be broadcasting. The whole idea was to watch it and have breakfast while doing so. The problem is that the show comes on at 6 am EST, and since that is 5 am CST, I had to wake up at 4:30.
The only problem with this was that when we got there at 5am, the door was still locked. A staffer let us in and we proceeded to sit down at the table closest to the door. Dave Lissing of Hedgehogreport.com was also with us. The whole idea to get there so early was predicated on the notion that there would be a line at the door and that it would be the only way we'd have a chance to sit down. Needless to say, beyond the show's staff there was nobody else in the cafe other than the restaurant workers and ourselves.
By 6am this had changed. By this time Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) had come in. Pawlenty, who until the announcement of Sarah Palin, was considered to have the inside edge in the Veep sweepstakes came in and we were still pretty much alone within the cafe. Murphy recognized himself immediately, and both Lissing and I quickly followed. The governor was quite agreeable. Since we did not have a confirmed speaker this morning, Murphy quickly asked the governor if he'd be free to come over and speak to the Maryland delegation around 8:45am.
Murphy and Pawlenty's advanceman talked over the details and we got a pretty firm commitment that the governor would be there for breakfast. Murphy potentially had pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Two hours later, it became reality as Pawlenty grabbed the mic at our breakfast.
After Pawlenty, people began to filter in and out: Rudy Giuliani, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (TX-R,) Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan. I managed to get a picture with all three.
Murphy tried his magic with Hutchingson too. She may be eating breakfast with us tomorrow!
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