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Reporter Ted Jackovics covers the RNC host committee. Email



Reporter William March has covered state and national politics since 1994. Email


Reporter Josh Poltilove covers RNC security and protests and the impact of the RNC throughout Tampa. Email


Reporter Mary Shedden covers social media and the RNC. Email
@MaryShedden


Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski covers the city of Tampa. Email
@TBOKevinW


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Dress right for policy discussions hosted by The Hill

Posted Aug 27, 2012 by Dennis Joyce

Updated Aug 27, 2012 at 08:57 AM

The folks at The Hill, a news source on Congress and all things political, suggest a uniquely Florida style of attire for their weeklong series of public policy briefings in Tampa.

To the audience for this four-day series, and to speakers including Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl and Jonah Goldberg of the National Review, The Hill suggests wearing “Hurricane Business Casual.”



The RNC convention for liberals, courtesy of Progress Florida

Posted Aug 24, 2012 by William March

Updated Aug 24, 2012 at 02:06 PM

Are you a Tampa-area liberal or progressive who’s feeling a little left out of the whole RNC 2012 shebang? If so, check out A Progressive’s Guide to the RNC.

Courtesy of Progress Florida, it’s a guide, with handy-dandy interactive map, to events for liberals taking place during the RNC.

It includes info on such events as the March on the RNC commencing at 10 a.m. Monday, the “Romneyville” event sponsored by the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, a Melting Middle Class Ice Sculpture, a Rally Against Voter Suppression sponsored by Florida Consumer Action Network, the Wonkette party (or “drinky thing and meetup”) and of course, a discussion of the mainstream media: “Mass Media: Enemy or Tool?”
sponsored by Food Not Bombs World Gathering. FSP isn’t sure which it prefers.

Progress Florida calls it “the definitive guide for progressives who want to stand up for the middle class, oppose the Republican Party’s extremist agenda, and get the unscripted, behind the scenes play-by-play.”



Hacker Collective Posts RNC Battle Plan

Posted Aug 24, 2012 by Josh Poltilove

Updated Aug 24, 2012 at 10:52 AM

A YouTube video purporting to be from the hacker collective Anonymous offers a battle plan for protesters during next week’s Republican National Convention.
The six-minute video, titled “Anonymous RNC Battle Objectives Preparedness Plan,” features a shadowy figure wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, speaking in a computer-altered voice. Posted Wednesday, the video had been viewed more than 1,000 times by Friday morning.
“Every battle must have a plan of action,” the figure said. “There are some objectives that should be completed at the Republican National Convention this August to give us all a tactical advantage.”
Among the objectives – knocking down fencing, shutting down police radio communications and disabling cameras set up by the city.
The figure provided a website where protesters could find the camera locations.
“These cameras should be disabled by any means necessary – whether it be by hacking or other means,” the figure said.
During the convention, law enforcement will rely on radio communications for strategies to stop protesters, the figure said.
“It would be wise to jam up police radio communications with the use of radio frequency jamming devices,” the figure said. “Those of you with the knowledge to create an RF jammer should create one. And those of you with the financial ability to purchase one should do so and bring it to the RNC.
“It is also recommended that anyone with a smart phone download police scanner applications that will allow you to listen in police communications.”
It also is “an important objective” to tear down lightweight fencing from downtown areas, and it’s recommended to do so in area where police are less concentrated.
The figure listed a website where protesters could find a map of “corrupt corporate buildings” in Tampa.
“These corporate places should be dealt with, but the small businesses should be left alone,” the figure said. “Unless, of course, there is a Mitt Romney sticker in their window – ha, ha, ha.”
The figure recommended protesters bring gas masks or respirators to the event and have helmets, shin guards, knee pads, chest protection and a protest sign made of hard material that could be used as a shield.



RNC Host Committee “met every milestone”

Posted Aug 21, 2012 by Kevin Wiatrowski

Updated Aug 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM

RNC Host Committee CEO Ken Jones says his group has kept pace with the demands placed on it by the convention schedule. But he refused to go into any more detail about the group’s progress toward its goal of raising $50 million.
“We’ve met every milestone we had to meet,” Jones told a press conference Tuesday morning at Tropicana Field. “We did successfully enough in fundraising that the convention will happen.”
Jones said the full report of the committee’s fundraising will be filed with the Federal Elections Commission in mid-October.
The committee “probably will not” continue to raise money after the convention ends Aug. 30, Jones said.



Gov. Scott, Buckhorn, Al Austin to speak at first day of RNC

Posted Aug 20, 2012 by Dennis Joyce

Updated Aug 20, 2012 at 04:04 PM

Mayor Bob Buckhorn, GOP fundraiser Al Austin of Tampa, and Gov. Rick Scott are scheduled to speak on the first day of the Republican National Convention on Monday, Aug. 27.

Buckhorn and Austin are listed near the start of the afternoon session at 2:15 p.m., the only early session during the four-day gathering. Scott is listed during the evening session, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

The schedule was released today by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. He also announced that the theme of the convention’s first night will be “We Can Do Better.”

“Americans know we can do better than joblessness, poverty and debt,” said Priebus.  “This convention will present our vision for a brighter, better future and it will lay out an optimistic, achievable plan to make it happen.”

“Probably no four words could better sum up the conclusion that is shared by millions of Americans as they look back on the past four years,” said Convention CEO William Harris.  “We can do better than this, and the country knows it.”

Featured speakers for Monday include Ann Romney. Here is the complete list for Monday:

2:00 pm   Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus
          Color Guard
          Pledge of Allegiance
          National Anthem:  The Oak Ridge Boys
          Invocation
          Opening procedural steps, appointment of convention committees
          Welcoming remarks, and House and Senate candidates and RNC auxiliaries
          RNC Chairman Priebus
          RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day
          Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn
          Convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris
          Chairman of Tampa Bay Host Committee Al Austin
          Republican Congressional Candidates
          State Delegate Barbara Comstock (VA)
          Representative Tim Griffin (AR)
          Republican Senate Candidates
          Republican National Committee auxiliaries
          Consideration of convention committee reports
          RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
          Committee on Credentials Chairman Mike Duncan
          Committee on Permanent Organization Chairwoman Zoraida Fonalledas
          Convention Permanent Chairman Speaker John Boehner, Presiding
          Official Convention Photograph
          Committee on Rules Chairman John Sununu
          Committee on Resolutions Chairman Governor Bob McDonnell
          Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman Senator John Hoeven
          Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman Rep. Marsha Blackburn
          Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States
          Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States

7:15 p.m. Recess

7:45 p.m.  Reconvene
          Remarks by Speaker John Boehner
          Remarks by Governor Rick Scott (FL)
          Remarks by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
          Video
          Remarks by Senator Rand Paul (KY)
          Various Speakers
          Remarks by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA)
          To Be Announced
          Remarks by Artur Davis and video
          Remarks by Senate Republican Candidate Ted Cruz (TX)
          Musical Act
          Remarks by Governor Nikki Haley (SC)
          Remarks by Mike Huckabee
          Remarks by Mrs. Luce’ Vela Fortuno
          Remarks by Mrs. Ann Romney
          Benediction by Sammy Rodriguez and adjournment.



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