Bars across Milwaukee filled to the brim for Republican convention watch parties

At the Republican convention in Milwaukee this week, watch parties are a common feature, giving delegates and other attendees the opportunity to see the speeches over drinks.

On Tuesday night, across the street from the convention venue Fiserv Forum, where some of the country's top Republicans were giving their speeches, the pub Drink Wisconsinbly hosted a convention watch party.

Gregory Rice, a delegate from Rhode Island, sitting at the bar with his father, told The New Arab that he decided to watch the speeches at the bar because Fiserv was crowded with bad food. As the evening's speeches got under way, he said that so far he hasn't been impressed and was hoping for more originality.

"What I'm noticing as a delegate from Rhode Island is that the majority of the speeches are very cookie cutter, peanut butter and jelly and are not showing any originality or unique qualities," he told TNA.

What brought him into the Republican Party after being politically unaffiliated through university, was when Donald Trump began campaigning using unfiltered straightforward language, unlike conventional politicians.

"They're reading off of a teleprompter, and they seem afraid to make mistakes and are somewhat nervous out there, and I think the point of this event is to excite people, to maybe let your hair down a little bit, and maybe be just a little more relaxed knowing you're around like-minded folks, and I'm seeing the opposite," he said, pointing to a speech earlier in the day by Reince Priebus, former chair of the Republican National Committee, that he said put him to sleep.

On the other hand, he said, one sign of excitement he has noticed is that "Whenever someone says Trump, the crowd goes crazy. So, that's the key word. If you're having a bad speech, you say Donald Trump, and everybody claps." He added that he thinks Trump likes it when people step outside the box, if it benefits him, and so far he hasn't seen that. 

As former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy began his speech and said that anyone coming into the US illegally should be sent back to where they came from, the bar erupted in applause. "Now, that's what I'm talking about by stepping outside the box," he said.

Having a drink at the same row of seats was Charles Potter, an alternate delegate from New York state. So far, he's been pleased with the diversity of the speeches and the unity of the party following Saturday's assassination attempt on former President Trump while he was campaigning in Pennsylvania.

So far, one of his favourite speeches was from rapper and internet personality Amber Rose, who spoke about unity and how she became a Trump supporter.

He said he has also been impressed with the diversity of the elected officials sharing their stories, including Tim Scott and Byron Donalds, who have come from disadvantaged backgrounds and risen to elected office.

"I've been on this diversity plane for a long time. Strong Republican women, strong Republican Latinos, strong Republican African Americans," he told TNA. "Wide diversity. I think once that happens, it's a home run." 

Just outside the bar, across from the arena where the speeches were being given, dozens of people were sitting at picnic benches watching the speeches on big-screen TVs.

Michael O'Neil, an honorary delegate from New Jersey, told TNA that he has been pleased with the energy of the speeches.

"They're full of energy, they're unifying for the Republican Party, which is definitely needed. This party is now Trump's party. So, the old establishment Republicans are pretty much dying out," he told TNA. 

"Trump is helping the forgotten men and women of this country, something I believe the establishment has long forgotten," he said as he elaborated on what he meant by Trump's party.

He described both parties are being an "uniparty" that don't represent the American people, particularly when it comes to money in politics.

"I think there's too much money in politics. I think the politicians on both sides are beholden to special interests, to billionaires. It's all about the money," he said. 

As for the speeches, he was particularly moved by the one given by the Teamsters union's general president Sean O'Brien, who spoke about the importance of workers' rights (the Teamsters hasn't yet endorsed a candidate).

"I remember a time when we could have a nice debate across party lines," he said. "We can't do that any more."