Thompson is the governor of Wisconsin and the man George W. Bush selected to run the platform hearings. He is also, as Adams discovered, the chairman of Amtrak, and therefore someone with a keen interest in railroad policy. Adams, who was sitting one seat away, says it didn't matter one way or the other to the Alaskan. Cathie Adams wasn't impressed by the exchange. She sounds dispirited by her experience on the platform committee generally.
Some delegates come to political conventions for the parties.
There are others, however, who come because they want to participate in running their party. These are the ones who are apt to like politics because of the ideas. The Bush campaign has tried hard to keep them under control. This year's platform hearings lasted two days, rather than the traditional four. This may be true.