.@jontalton No. This is a failure of planning. Flat out incompetence
— Jim Brunner (@Jim_Brunner) August 29, 2012
Bus staging area total disaster outside RNC – no guidance, crowds left to fend… Needs more regulation!
— Jim Brunner (@Jim_Brunner) August 29, 2012
@michellemalkin buses are horrible! More "if you build it they will come" than anything. #GOP2012 #RNC pic.twitter.com/gfZ6kaA
— Jessica T♥ Healy (@jessicatiahrt) August 29, 2012
Reports surfaced earlier today that many RNC delegates trying to get to the convention to raise their voices about the #RNCpowergrab were stuck on buses and missed the votes. Disgruntled attendees, including both media and activists, continued to grumble about their transportation woes through the night.
RNC goofs, then late bus loops for hour with Florida delegation http://t.co/X1ZX0swl via @TB_Times
— Sally L. Phillips (@FLDem2012) August 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/erikj03/status/240673776830930944
RNC blocking Virginia & Rhode Island delegates from exiting bus & entering secure area. #RNCpowergrab #RNC #rnc2012
— Gene Hilton (@GeneHiltonPhoto) August 28, 2012
'Let us out!' #Florida delegation stuck on a bus! #RNC2012 http://t.co/IDMFTv6w via @TB_Times @Politics_TBTimes
— Ron Brackett (@rontimes) August 29, 2012
From the Tampa Bay Times:
Security personnel stop the bus carrying the Florida delegation from entering the security zone around the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Tuesday. After the bus circles for almost an hour, the angry delegates arrive too late for the start of Republican National Convention speeches.
…
Delegates were to board buses at noon to head from the Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort in Palm Harbor to the Tampa Bay Times Forum 30 miles away.
That did not happen, however, because delegates were told the Republican National Committee forgot to send the buses…
The buses finally showed up about 12:30. After an hour’s bus ride, one bus of delegates arrived in downtown Tampa with a half-hour to spare.
But at that point, for reasons unknown, the bus driver took a wrong turn.
…
At 2:08 p.m., though the delegates likely did not know this, the RNC emailed a statement to the Tampa Bay Times.
“The buses arrived and transported delegates — although we acknowledge there are always a lot of moving parts on the first full day of activities. We expect our transportation system to become more efficient in the days ahead.”
Back on the bus, rather than turn toward the Times Forum, Davis again turned the bus away, stirring what was getting close to panic among the passengers…
It was 2:15 p.m. now, the convention was under way, and the delegation from Florida was brooding.
As the bus did another loop, a couple of delegates pounded the windows when they spotted pedestrians.
“Let us out of here!” they shouted.
“The driver must be a Democrat,” said another.
https://twitter.com/cebsilver/status/240513429322993664
RNC shuttle bus service from #GOP2012 convention is a major FAIL – still on bus one hour after leaving convention center!
— Mark (@DCMark1) August 29, 2012
By nearly 1 a.m. Eastern, the problem still had not been resolved:
the nightmare continues… Shoulda cabbed it “@SCrass7: Vetter than Katrina? RT @KatrinaPierson: Bus organization at #rnc2012 #epicFail”
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) August 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/bryan_miller/status/240667641516273665
Still waiting to get off bus 1 to re board buses to Hotel. Loooong night. #rnc2012
— Lora Cox (@lorajcox) August 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/drewharwell/status/240654336101842944
In bus hell after convention… IDIOTS designed the transportation plan for #Tampa2012 #rnc2012 #romneyryan2012
— BJ Van Gundy ✝️?????? (@bjvangundy) August 29, 2012
Still on the #RNC2012 bus from hell. It's moving.
— Area Man (@lheal) August 29, 2012
I think I have been on thia #RNC2012 bus longer than the Romneys have been married.
— Area Man (@lheal) August 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/bryan_miller/status/240671457074614272
#RNC2012 bus plan: Drive 30 mins from convention hall to stadium. Idle in road 20 mins. Then, in theory, board bus to hotel. #triplefacepalm
— Kyle Wingfield (@kbwingfield) August 29, 2012
I can only assume heckofajob Brownie designed this bus evacuation plan. #RNC2012 #RNC2012busses
— Charlie Harper (@CharlieBHarper) August 29, 2012
Bus hell: The RNC built it.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member