A rare political report

I usually don't do much political meets, and when I do they are usually one off. But towards the end of February, I would attend a political convention to see what could be had. I had a few people I wanted but didn't dedicate all the time to get them all. But I did get some top wants in the time I did dedicate.

First day would be short and sweet. I arrive and I find Naomi Wolf doing a book signing. I never heard of her. But it was a free book signing. So I got a free signed book and a photo op. That doesn't happen very often. 

Then I got Steve Bannon who was cool for ops. Walk around and see a big want of mine, Lou Dobbs! He was very nice and I got a combo. Then I see Natasha Owens all dressed up getting ready for sound check. She is known for the "Trump Won" song. I got the op. Then I saw another want of mine, the MyPillow CEO Michael J Lindell. He was nice and got a combo. 

Then got ops with Sebastian Gorka, Frank Pavone, Fernando Lisboa, Tanya Posobiec, Matt Schlapp, John Fabbricatore, Jack Posobiec, and Robert Wallace Malone. Then got another good score, Tim Ballard. The movie "Sound of Freedom" is based on him. Ended the day with Vince Fusca.

Lou Dobbs

Natasha Owens

Michael J Lindell

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Autographs

Next day was a little longer and a little rougher than the previous day, but I managed to come out on top for the most part. Starts off slow with Matthew Whitaker, Vanessa Broussard, Hung Cao, Italian far right politician Manlio Messina, Richard Grenell, Tom Fitton, Forgiato Blow, Jerrod Sessler, and Dennis Mayo. 

I tried for Argentinian president Javier Milei after his speech but sadly he was mobbed so could not get him. I did get Kari Lake who was nice. So score right there. I wanted to get Vivek Ramaswamy but he snuck out. And while I didn't know it at the time I got a photo op with Santiago Abascal the leader of the Vox party in Spain! 

Then I get Margaret Byfield and Coleton Furlow. But I was disappointed the day was pretty much done and I didn't see one of my top wants, director and actor Eduardo Verastegui. He directed Sound of Freedom and also was in Mall Cop 2, among other things. But since I had time to kill before going to try for El Debarge I thought I'd look around as a final Hail Mary. While doing so I got a photo op with John Tabacco. 

Then I looked around at nearby restaurants to no avail. I met up with other photo op seekers at the restaurant/bar inside the hotel and I spotted Kari Lake but I didn't bother her. Then lo and behold entering the restaurant to eat was the man himself, Eduardo Verastegui! Wow luck like that doesn't happen too often! He was super nice and I got a combo. Also saw Patricia McCloskey and Mark McCloskey sitting down having a drink and thought why not I'll get them again. Also got a signed photo they give out. After this it was off to try for El Debarge (which will be in another report).

Kari Lake

Santiago Abascal

Eduardo Verastegui

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Autographs

First wave of 2024 meets in January

First combo endeavor of 2024 was a little rough. While I didn't come out empty handed, I didn't succeed on my primary objectives. I arrive at the hotel to try for Martin Scorsese. I have him but could use a better shot and autos. Sadly, he blanks there and also the venue where he used the garage. 

Now trying the venue on exit I needed a photo op with actress Lily Gladstone, but she was completely mean and blew everyone off as she left. Another fail. Martin garaged out and some people tried at the next spot where they failed.

It wasn't a complete waste because leaving the venue I got two actors, namely Tatanka Means and Janae Collins, making my first and second photo op of 2024.

Went to another spot where I was hoping to see Neil Patrick Harris and actress Denee Benton, but never saw them.

Tatanka Means

Janae Collins

Next up is a little more exciting. There was an event with actors Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Barry Keoghan, and Nate Mann, and producers/writers John Oloff, Gary Goetzman, and Kirk Saduski. Out of all those, I got Barry in NYC but never met the others. So there was lots of room for fresh meets. 

Start at the hotel, and as they all come back I am sadly alone. This is where I need people to distract as they enter the front door. They arrive and I had to act quick. I ask Nate and he declines. Then I ask Callum and get the op! Officially on the board as he was the #1 name I needed.

Next up I decided to go inside the event. After the event I get Anthony Boyle leaving the state and get declined by Nate. Sadly I should have left the area quicker cause they walked in another area I could have had more chances. Big screw up on my part. I only got writer Kirk Saduski. 

Then I wait outside by the vehicles. First up Barry is walked to the vehicles. I get a slight upgrade (clean shaven). Then Anthony Boyle comes out and I score a better shot than the one I just got. Both were super nice. I wait some more hoping to see Nate and the other 2 producers but it starts to rain and they take the cars to the loading dock where I have no access. I decided to call it right there rather than try again at the hotel and be blown off by Nate.

While it was not a clean sweep, I would say this was definitely a success as I got the main two I needed (Callum and Anthony) and then some.

Callum Turner

Anthony Boyle take 1

Kirk Saduski

Barry Keoghan

Anthony Boyle take 2

Next day I went for a meet and greet with LaTavia Roberson. She was an original member of Destiny's Child and on the first two albums. Now admittedly this is more of a "Pokémon" meet for me. But it was a guaranteed meet AND it was free. And after that I could go to another spot I wanted to hit up anyway. If this were a paid meet I wouldn't have done it. And if I had to wait for a chance outside a venue I wouldn't have bothered. But it was a guarantee and the price was right. 

Arrive at the meet and greet and as I pull out my 8x10s the photographer wants to take photos of me holding them. When I got up to her she was nice as can be. Got the op and when I presented my 8x10s she asks where I got them and goes "I haven't signed an autograph in a long time" as she signs and as her people film and take photos. Although for someone who was seemingly happy to sign autographs she gave a one letter autograph on one of the 8x10s. I'm not complaining just seemed a bit odd for her to do that. This marked my first autos of 2024.

She then hugged me and even kissed me on the cheek. This was shocking cause it is the first instance of a celeb kissing me at a signing. Then got some free food and free desert and left the place. Wow, it is a shame that more meets can't be this pleasant and more celebs can't be this nice. 

Off to the next spot where I hope to upgrade my Neil Patrick Harris photo op and get a photo op with actress Denee Benton. After waiting a while finally see Neil who does ops with all but refuses to sign. Then finally see Denee who nastily declines ops.

LaTavia Roberson

Neil Patrick Harris

Autographs