Thank you for taking a few shots of the police in St. Paul. I'd have preferred to also see a couple shots of the police state the Denver police (and assorted agencies) managed to set up.

vote nader

Photo #23:

Check out the little green dot on Obama's suite. Is it a high powered laser being aim at him? someone try to burn him using a laser burner?

On photo 33, there are five names before Palin's husband, but only four people. . . which of these things is not like the other? Is Willow a misprint?

McCain is doomed.

Obama is celebrated around the world, specially for his anti-war and enviromentalist promises.

That shot of John McCain entering the stage with the spotlight on him is outstanding!

Although the images are quite misleading. If you didn't watch either convention you might think that the Republicans had just as many people in their audience as the Democrats and that McCain's speech was just as touching as Obama's... hardly the case.

A "Big" thanks to "The Big Picture", from your neighbor to the North

http://www.anotherfaceinthecrowd.com/blog/

Conventions, plural? Nah, these are photos of the same Convention... of the Big Business Party. The few days between the events was just an interlude between the two factions.

Does anyone else find it interesting that there were lots of various protesters at the Rep. National Convention but we didn't hear anything about people protesting at the Dem. National Convention?

Congratulations Vitor - you totally breaks the spirit of the Big Picture with that post.

These are all winners.

What a spectacular show of American democracy in action.

@Rebecca -- No, there are 5 kids there. Piper Palin is partially obscured by her older sister Willow.

@ Rebecca - Piper is the little girl between Willow and Todd, she's a little shorter but I think she counts as a person ;)

#7 -- Piper's in between her sister and her father. She's just short.

It's hard to imagine an easier decision.

Obama '08

First image = Super LOL
http://ad.vu/mr4u

It's Palin vs. Obama!

Really... it is.

"Obama is celebrated around the world, specially for his anti-war and enviromentalist promises."

Uh, Vitor.....the world doesn't vote for president. It really doesn't matter what they think.

#27: top model, haut couture!

Any one notice the sharp racial contract between the attendees of the RNC and the people who were cleaning up after?

Rebecca - The littlest Palin girl is standing almost behind her sister. She's kinda hard to see but she's there.

Also, Sarah Palin really needs a stylist! What was she thinking with those white tights??

#25 ... not too many white people cleaning up the Republican convention, are there...

love #7. armpit deep in balloons!

Nice pictures. Too bad the so-called "exchange of ideas" in American party politics is complete charade made to convince people that the group in power actually changes from time to time. At least Barack Obama is intelligent, and as a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago should know the limitations of government.

Photo #21 is just plain scary.
"Everything is proceeding according to MY design..."

Thanks for a nice overview and some really outstanding photographs. Hard to imagine being the center of so much attention, and interesting to watch these people craft their images into iconic images--politics would be another animal without photography.

Wonderful coverage of both sides.

Thank you for posting so many great images!

I love photo 31. Pathetic little paranoid cop with no balls can't even look a true patriot in the eye.

Photo 24--With all her millions in beer money, you'd think Cindy McCain could get an aide to apply her self-tanner in a more evenly. Her legs and feet look to be about 3 different colors.

...
Typical prattle from so many.

I am sure the " racial contract (sic) " of the clean-up crew at the Democratic Convention was similar.

The green dot commented on in photo #6 ...maybe a camera focusing aid..?? Just a guess.

To have a nice balance show us some more demonstrators, and protesters instead of the rubbish politicians, please...

Thanks for these anothers great pictures.
I am always surprised by all the people who came to a politic show (and i use show voluntarily).

Of course for me, a french guy, politics are more strict and conventional. But we are more than two (or three) candidates for a presidential election.

I don't know exactly the two candidates programs for US, but i dislike some ideas of some republicans like homophobia and the importance of religion in US politic.

great photos but exactly how much money is wasted on these conventions/election campaigns?

Looks like he is looking him right in the eye to me...great pictures.

I imagine the green dot on Obama's suit in#23 is not actually on his suit but in the foreground and is a piece of falling confetti or some such. It's blurred, suggesting it's not on the same visual plane on the people.

Photo 25: The republicans' only idea on how to create new jobs.

JC from UK...

Each of the two major parties gets nearly $20,000,000 (Yes 20 million dollars EACH!) of taxpayer money to put on these shows. That is in addition to the $80+ million each party gets to push their candidate...

Each of these conventions unconstitutionally received $16.8 million in taxpayer funding, while the third parties and other outside-the-establishment groups (cf. www.campaignforliberty.com/mission) receive no public money and continuously must bear the burden of exclusionary campaign and ballot-access laws.

No, that green dot is more than likely a smidge of lens flare from the light to his immediate right.

Stellar pictures, #27 is pretty freaking epic. And #26 blows my mind, also a great capture of the environment.

Anyone notice the halo effect on Obama in #1? I'm sure it's coincidental... or could it be subliminal...

Re #10 & #16: It's the same girl!

She's not partisan, she really *loves* speeches ;)

Photo 22 - actions speak louder than words. This is pure theatre. Free speech my A**.

The green dot in #23 looks like a lens flare to me, just like the two red ones above their heads.

You can see the grand scale of the Denver Convention much better in photo #4 than you could on TV. Congratulations to the Mile High City for doing such a good job hosting this event.

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com

Great set of pictures! Amazing!

Should be a really interesting political race..too bad it won't change any thing if either side wins...doesn't matter.

People are heinousness, nefariousness, vileness, selfish, beings by nature, it is no one's fault, just how we are, hence, nothing will change, it will only get worse...

Neither Obama nor McCain will help the USA...only "viva la revolution!" is the answer!

my blog - http://doorway123.blogspot.com

American politics always dazzle me. I understand that the acceptance speech and the nomination process is a tradition for both the D's and R's, but does it really need all this show? And why only two candidates (+ Ron Paul)? Aren't there any more political parties/movements in the US? It baffles me that in the 21st century one of the biggest countries in the world still only haves two political voices.

Anyway, nice photos, thanks again. Hoped to see more from the demonstrations or from the conventions backstages tho.

thanks.

I didn't realize just how emotionally invested I have become in this election until I saw these photographs. #22 in particular--it almost looks like that man is trying to suffocate the protester.

I'm also amused at certain similarities--e.g., each candidate gets a closeup of a woman weeping during their speech (see #10 and 16), and all the presidential and vice-presidential candidates do photo shoots with their entire families. One would almost think that we were electing them for their parenting skills as much as their policies!

Thanks for sharing.

No pictures from the Green, Libertarian or other party conventions? More free advertising from the Globe for the Dems and Reps, I guess.

#24

white tights and open toed shoes? i don't mean to play fashion police but wow, someone is in need of some fashion advise before going on stage!!!!

I got to love picture 28, the guy doing a facepalm to McCain.

Wow!!!

Beautiful pics. It's interesting that the are visuals are "balanced" so perfectly. Unfortunately, the content of the two wasn't nearly as balanced. Nor will the policy outcomes be as balanced.

It reminds me in a way of "American Beauty" when the young man says the video of the floating bag is the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

It's so beautifully captured... but sometimes you're literally looking at filth and trash.

All that money at the RNC (Cindy's $300,000 outfit alone) and it looks like they hired a bunch of Mexicans to clean up. Think they're union? Not so much.

Shorter McCain: ""After 6 years of my party's full control of government, I'm going to change the 'constant partisan rancor' in Washington with my running mate, the self-described 'pitbull with lipstick' attack dog, unlike our uppity (negro), elitist, effete, 'farthest-left liberal in the entire Senate' opponent."

@ 42

If you mean the light that lighting the back of his head up, then yes I see it too. And the light is lighting the back of McCain's head up just the same - well, actually a little brighter.

Do I think either of them get any kind of "spiritual boost" from it? Nope.

Also, as a side note. Both stages scream excess - especially the Democratic stage. I don't even think the Oscars have ever had a stage like that. =/

great pictures

I like obama, but I can't stand his wife Michelle. Whereas, I like Cindy McCain, but not John lol

The picture number 22 says it all..

John McCain, specially his wife, and that Palin bunch, scare the living crap out of me!!!!! Plastic, they're not real people... Obama's o.k. he could be my neighbour...
www.javga.nl

#30

The Addams Family.

It's hard to imagine an easier decision.

McCain '08'

Apparently God was here the other day..

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/conv_09_05/conv27.jpg

Viking,

While this is true, Obama was the first candidate in history to turn down this free money. The reasons for this decision are explained pretty well in this article:

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1590030/20080626/story.jhtml

why the womans cry??? im from germany, and i dont understand why the people start to whine....

Amazing photos.. really love all of them, even the Republican ones.. lol

http://webmojo.ca

#32: all politics aside, the Biden family are a beautiful looking bunch =)

"McCain is doomed.

Obama is celebrated around the world, specially for his anti-war and enviromentalist promises."

As was mentioned the whole world doesn't vote, Thank God. Sometimes war is needful and global warming is a sham.

Also the number of people that came to see Obama was large but the RNC was the most viewed Convention ever.

Dear French guy, the word phobia means fear of. The Republican stance against homosexuality comes from moral beliefs and upbringing not fear.

As for calling the protester a true patriot and the cop paranoid and pathetic, please.

Great Balance. You Get It.

"...the world doesn't vote for president. It really doesn't matter what they think."

Oh dear. And there, ladies and gents, is a big problem in our collective world.

Amazing photos - and for this interested Brit - well balanced set of images from both conventions (do the independents have conventions?)

It is going to be an interesting 60 days running up to the US election.

http://www.mattrutherford.com

I love the one sided view of you liberals out there. First off yes there were about the same number of people at each convention. Secondly to the one who said about the code pink girl being silenced with hand over mouth, as far as I am concerned they should all be shot. The republicans in this country have far more class then you democrats. Case in point why would anyone show up at the convention and pose as someone there to see it only to try and do their dumbass protest. Did you at any point see republicans doing that at the democratic convention? Did you see any kind of protests like you did from you retarded liberals? The answer is no. You have no class and I hate to tell you but you are not the majority in this country. You are so cocky about this man you obviously think is like jesus christ. I do not in any way shape or form believe you will win this election. You all claim you are anti war and violence but yet you are some of the most violent people for protesting there is. You are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. Oh and I really love the comment on the non whites cleaning up after the republican convention. Boy if that wasnt done on purpose. Why no pictures of the democratic one being cleaned? I suppose you think only the whites cleaned up after that one. I cant stand you people and I will be laughing in november.

#11, perhaps you should keep up with the news. There were protests outside the DNC.

Scary !
Rock stars or politics ?

Is Cindy McCain from another planet?

(Love all the Big Pictures BTW)

+1 for Lullaby

no more politics left in this country...

a bit defensive christy, don't you think? Is it really necessary for you to judge an entire group of people? being closed minded is dangerous.

Good job, the pics look great!

I am struck by the contrast between the previous post (Iraq) and this one. The two faces of "Democracy in action". Balloons and confettit? Rubble and mass graves? Is that all we get?

Those are Palin's legs, not hose. Remember, the woman lives in Alaska.

Excellent photo's of one of the most interesting campains...

Cindy McCain is like Barbie ...WE SHOULD BE VERY AFRAID!!!!

Photo #25: So they DID let minorities into the Republican Convention. *whew*

Did anyone else notice that McCain is not wearing a flag pin on his lapel? I wonder why he hates America so much ;-)

@80, I get the joke but the difference is that McCain did not go on TV and say he would refuse to wear a flag pin. Then of course Obama flip flopped...

@those protesting the Code Pink lady getting taken out. You have free speech so rent your own building for a Code Pink convention. You'd have me escorted out of your house too. I was in NYC for the 2004 GOP convention and was a counter protester. There were 200 of us and 200,000 of them and the 'peace' people still felt the need to attack us.

Thanks always for putting these up Big Picture. Incredible blog!

Wow, what a great democracy! You can choose between a rich man that studied in Harvard and another rich religious fanatic man. Both of them have received lots of money of the most important corporation (petrol, weapon industry, banks, insurances...) for their campaigns. It doesn't matter who you vote for... The winner is always the same: the economic power. And you are so stupid that you think you can choose. Democracy in your mouth sounds corrupted. Greetings from Switzerland!

82 has it, our votes mean nothing.

I think we should be asking ourselves: "Which crowd looks like they're willing to work with others in order to move ahead?'

Democracy is for everyone in America; not just the people we happen to like or agree with. They still teach that in school, but I know it isn't supported at home very often. Parents, what do you teach your children as they listen to you talk about politics? Do you teach them to hate those with whom you disagree, or do you teach them to listen? Teach by example. That is the most patriotic thing one can do next to voting.

Thanks for these patriotic photos!

"True patriots" wear "Hipster Batman" outfits, that is what makes them so patriotic.

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1195

Not to detract from the quality of these shots, but I definitely expected to see more coverage of the protests out of this blog. I know people in the St. Paul area and there were about as many protesters as there were republicans that week.

twh: Sure, there probably was a similar kind of racial contrast in the cleaners of the DNC convention. But then it's not the Democratic party that's all gung-ho about illegal immigration, is it?

Nice little bit of Republican hypocrisy right there.

does anyone else think the pic of the "workers cleaning up after the RNC" is a bit ironic?

Please do one now on Ron Paul's "Rally For The Republic", where approximately 20,000 American Patriots in Minneapolis, and millions more around the country participated in order to pledge their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Sacred Honor to the principles of our own "St. Paul" in our ongoing efforts to restore the United States' Constitution, and bring Liberty back to America.

Do you find it interesting that the Ron Paul supporters are still crazy over him. He has said himself that he will not race as an independant. So all the fuss is for naught.

javga post 57

I don't know about you, but if any of my neighbors were elected as President we would become a third world country for sure! :)

Side note: These are great pics, comment on the art, take the political and family bashes to a political forum where they belong. Can't we even get along and be nice looking at pictures?

#90 I not only find your remarks truly offensive, but shameful as well. Perhaps this is hard for you to understand, but Ron Paul was the only TRUE American running on the 2008 ticket. Why the mainstream press chose to do their best to marginalize, censor, and publicly disparage him is a question that truly needs to be addressed.

But just to be fair, since I believe it is highly unlikely to see a Big Picture blog entry to this effect (and I do not really fault Alan Taylor for this) I think it is appropriate to point out here that on September 02, a "Rally for the Republic" was held in Minneapolis, where Congressman Ron Paul delivered a speech about defining our country's place in history to a sold-out crowd of about 20,000 dedicated supporters. He was introduced by former Representative Barry Goldwater, Jr.

Held in the Target Center in Minneapolis while the Republican National Convention was taking place in St. Paul, this rally served as an official kickoff to the newly formed "Campaign for Liberty", aimed at restoring Freedom in America.

The official CSPAN coverage of this speech, with Goldwater's introduction, is available online at the following link:

http://www.tinyurl.com/RP-09-02-08

Since the two annointed candidates seem obviously unwilling, or unable, to address any REAL issues facing our country in this current election cycle, but continue to offer only the same tired and empty rhetoric, I think it is extremely important that Dr. Paul's speech at this rally should be viewed by every American citizen who truly cares about the destructive path upon which our "leaders" have been steadily taking us.

Great pictures for a great time in this country. History is being made and we are a part of it.

For those who wish to criticize Americans and our process, we're glad you live in France or Switzerland or Germany or .... We are a sovereign nation--that means we don't really care what you think because it's not about you.

Hurray for America! Hurray for all its many people with all their views of which we may freely share our thoughts and these outstanding photographs.

Come on!!! No protesters in Denver????? Just more one sided reporting.

"Left vs Right" is nothing more than a divisive puppet show.

Both McCain and Obama are on the same team. They are both enemies of the Constitution and American liberty. They are both warmongers. As members of the Counsel on Foreign Relations, they are both pushing the elitist globalist agenda. Both of them seek to bankrupt and destroy America through endless wars and wasteful programs, eventually establish the "North American Union", and verichip all citizens. Why do you think Ron Paul has been so consistently marginalized but Obama is covered constantly by FAUX News?

Voting for either one of those two clowns will render the same damned result - the end of America as we have always known and loved her, along with the reduction of the greater mass of our citizenry to the level of corporate slavery.

Voting for any candidate, simply because the media ~tells~ you that they are the only "viable" or "electable" candidate is the worst of all possible ways to waste a vote. By doing so, you are not voting your conscience; you are not voting for what you think is best for our country; you are simply doing as you are told . . . by people who have, time and again, been shown up to be proven, and habitual, LIARS.

I think that the BIG secret may be that Ron Paul actually won all of the primaries, but the true data has been disappeared.

It would also not surprise me to hear that Ron Paul or members of his family had been threatened in some diabolical way to force him to drop out of the "official" race.

Why? Because Ron Paul can mop the floor with *any* candidate in an open debate, and has done so on numerous occasions.

However, his correct positions on the constitution and the general state of America merely anger and irritate the powerful few who seek to destroy America for their own twisted and selfish ends.

If this country wanted any REAL "change" at all; change that is actually *good* for America; change that would improve our economy and allow us the chance to repair the great damage that has already been done to our country and its once greatly loved and respected reputation in the world, they would have worked together to recognise and overcome the fraud and corruption that is readily apparent in both the mainstream media, and the electoral process itself and DEMANDED that the republican ticket nominate RON PAUL as their candidate.

As far as all true Americans are concerned:

Ron Paul IS the President.

No fake election necessary.

SPREAD THE MESSAGE!!!

What awesome class, experience and knowledge the McCain-Palin will bring to America. Only one choice now. McCain-Palin ticket all the way to the white house.

Wasted money? It was spent in those communities, hardly a waste.

As an independant (libertarian leaning) thinker, I find it amusing and self defeating the comments I am hearing from either side.... Over PICTURES!!
Here is some words of advice from someone who will decide this election:
Hey you on the right.... Try not to put God in so many of you comments (not necessarially referring to just the comments posted here). God has nothing to do with the election.
Hey you on the left.... Stop being so mean and vile with your comments, it only makes you look bad (or like some kid in grade school). Also... comments about what they are wearing? WHO CARES??

Great pictures. Still waiting for a viable candidate.

These photographs are most impressive and I appreciate the quality of both candidates and their families ----- I feel as thought the country is in very good shape to have nominees of the stature.

Nice. Fantastic, I work with policy into the Brazil & me rapture with these conventions!

I just can't wait for the US election to occur so i don't have to read 'Obama vs. McCain' cheer leading comments anymore...

It's really annoying to read them all the time (specially when you're not emotionally involved in the dispute).

Great photos by the way! ;)

go mccain