I had quite the night that night, I was at Mancinis on W. 7th in St. Paul that night and ended up down at an Irish Bar on the opposite corner from where Palin was giving her speech. I was with a friend that had some connections at Mancinis and we ended up after some drinks getting a ride down 7th street in a new Cadillac towards the RNC and I knew about the roadblocks down the street and and I had visions of Iraqi roadblocks going wrong in my head, I actually got a little nervous.  

The most surreal thing was getting out of the car where the roadblock was, having guards with M4's looking at who you are and the best description I can explain is imagine seeing a lot of people, but not hearing any one talk. No noise, nothing. They had these large black metal screens that started where the roadblock was and wen along the whole length of the sidewalk like it was some high-tension international border where there was at least 5-6 guards for every gate door.   The most oppressive place I had ever been in.......right in my own hometown.

Not the St. Paul or America I knew, or know......