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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Steve Bell

Steve Bell's 2008 US convention sketchbook: Day nine

Gas guzzler vehicles
Today, the temperature drops about 20 degrees so it’s much more like home. Over lunch at a diner down the road I draw some gas guzzlers. I realise I have not seen a single Smart car in over a week. It’s hard to imagine a Smart car crossing the prairie, since it would obviously be blown away. This is big bum country for cars and people. You need a big bum to stay grounded here Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
American flag
The convention hall is dominated by a single vast video screen behind the podium showing a constant view of fluttering stars and stripes. It’s unsubtle but very effective Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
Republicans
Today I’m in a different part of the hall, well away from the Texans. Most of my neighbours turn out to be from Pennsylvania. They are much more orderly, reverential and white than the Democratic crowd and constantly standing to salute a succession of political worthies and war heroes Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
Republican convention screen
Periodically something other than a flag is projected on the big screen. In this case it is a view of the ripples on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
Laura Bush
We’re into prime time on the eastern seaboard now, so on comes Laura Bush to introduce her husband, George, who is unaccountably skulking in the Oval Office Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
George Bush
His image appears on the monstrous screen. It is quite unsettling but not quite the same as being in the same building. Is Air Force One broken? He is always an awkward speaker, not to say a bit of a stumblebum, and this performance is no exception. Indeed, because his face is so vast my eyes are drawn to a twitch in his right eye and his consequent lopsided grin Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
George Bush
He has a hapless, almost pathetic, look about him. One line particularly stirs his audience when he expresses his confidence in John McCain’s ability to face down the 'Angry Left' Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
Fred Thompson
The video link is terminated and on comes the former presidential candidate and soap star Fred Thompson to sing the praises of the war hero and transcendent maverick John McCain. His down-home folksy delivery goes down a storm with the congregation Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
Fred Thompson
He has a wonderful face for caricature, a bit like a professional gurner Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
Senator Joe Liebermann
The star turn tonight is the former Democratic vice presidential candidate and now independent pro-war senator Joe Lieberman. This is clearly a man on a vengeance mission against his former party and he accomplishes it very effectively Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
American flag
He stands beneath the moving image of the single fluttering flag and delivers a withering putdown of the Obama campaign. On one level it is the most treacherous and mendacious bullshit. On another it is political theatre of a very high order - all the more impressive because of its restraint. These Republican hicks are not to be underestimated Photograph: Copyright © Steve Bell 2008
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