Camp residents have tried to help suffering locals like Thomas Diehl and his companion, Michelle Kelly.

“Right now they are trying to help us get food stamps, medical help for me and her, stuff like that,” Diehl said.

While many say they are here to protest against Republican Party policies, quite a few express disdain for the political process in general. Alex Ramos is critical of President Barack Obama as well as Mitt Romney.

“He made a lot of promises that he has not kept," he said. "He promised to bring troops back home and he sent about 30,000 more overseas. He signed off on NATO to destroy Libya.”

Many here say politics is controlled by large corporations and wealthy donors.

"We have equal criticisms of Obama, okay, we're non-partisan. We're committed to the principal of justice for everyone," Bruce Wright said. "Both parties are controlled by big money."

Protesters may have little opportunity to be heard by convention delegates. Security is tight for several blocks around the convention sight and police boats patrol adjacent waterways. Regardless of the security and the rain stirred up by Tropical Storm Isaac, the protesters say they intend to be here all week to present their view of what's wrong with the country.