Goldy

Gov. Chris Gregoire stopped by the Big Tent in Denver on Wednesday to check out the “organized chaos” and take substantive questions from the bloggers.  Well, not from me of course, because I lack the credibility to talk substantively, but the other bloggers, they got the Governor into some pretty good conversations.  Check it out.

And be sure to check out Daily Kos, where Joan has posted her own conversation with the Governor.

The view from the WA delegation at Invesco Field

I’m sitting in the Denver airport waiting for my flight back, and once again struggling to obtain a reliable Internet connection, so rather than compose a lengthy post, I thought I’d just pass on a few brief notes and observation.

The Invesco Field Experience
Throughout the week folks have been asking me what it’s like to attend the DNCC, and I’ve consistently replied that while it’s an amazing experience, I kinda feel like I’m missing the convention.  Accustomed to viewing these made for television events on an actual TV, I’ve felt a bit out of the loop, and totally out of touch with how the average American experienced the convention… and that after all is the experience that really counts. Attending a convention is like a attending a football game:  it’s exciting, sure, but you don’t see the game nearly as well as you do at home on TV.

Well, the football analogy kinda holds up for the unprecedented event last night at Invesco Field, where 80,000 screaming fans packed in to watch Barack Obama give his acceptance speech.  It was like attending a Super Bowl or World Series game, only instead of a game it was about something that truly matters.  There was an open area between the WA and MA delegations, behind a camera platform, which was quickly transformed into a dance floor where singing and swaying gave way to tearful hugs and back again all night long, as joyful delegates celebrated history in the making.

John McCain could spontaneously burst into flames during his acceptance speech, and I doubt it would make for a more memorable political moment.

The Long and Winding Road
There was a certain irrefutable logic to moving Thursday night’s events to Invesco Field a setting that could visually and aurally convey the unprecedented grassroots support Obama has garnered… but logical as it may have been, the DNC clearly fell down on the logistics of moving 80,000 people in and out of a highly secured location.

On Thursday morning I received an email instructing me to pick up a media shuttle at 7th and Auroria, a several block walk through the midday Denver sun from the Pepsi Center, and about a mile from the “Big Tent” where we bloggers were hanging out, but when I got there, all I found was an amorphous snaking line about three miles long, and a handful of uninformed and unhelpful police officers.  No signs, no guides, no volunteers… nothing.  Just tens of thousands of people—delegates, press and guests alike—attempting to make their way into the stadium and a brief moment of American history.

A TV cameraman told that the shuttle buses were back near the entrance to the Pepsi Center, and sure enough, a 10 minute wait in line, a ten minute bus ride, and 10 minutes through security, and I was on the field.  Meanwhile, Darryl, Andrew and Garlin, who lacked the requisite press credentials slogged two and a half hours in the late afternoon heat before finally passing through security.

Egress was hardly any  better, as thousands of delegates and guests where channeled into narrow passages toward a chaotic parking lot where we were left to own own devices to find a shuttle bus to our final destination.  Oregon legislative candidate Jefferson Smith finally took charge of the Shuttle 7 contigent, his Oregon Bus Project experience paying off for the weary masses.  Democracy in action.

Annie Wagner is a Coward
When FOX News lying blowhard Sean Hannity showed up on the field, I shot a couple pictures, but none of them did him justice.  So I asked Annie Wagner (Defense Daily) to stand behind him and give him bunny ears as I snapped another shot.  She demurely declined, saying “I’m afraid of Hannity.”

Well, Annie may be a coward, but at least she’s a good tipper:

No, thank you, Annie.  And enjoy law school.

Jenny Durkan is No Coward
Throughout the convention the hotel where we stayed housed the delegations from Washington, Oregon, Arizona and FOX News.  Well, last night after the convention State Dem committee woman Jenny Durkan managed to corner Karl Rove in a hall and tell him “You’re not welcome here!”  Rove protested, asking if she ran the hotel, excusing his presence (and its unmistakable stink of evil) by pointing out that he was a paying guest, to which Durkan responded, “Well whatever they’re charging you, it isn’t enough to pay for the damage you’ve done to America.”

You gotta love Jenny.  (And love the fact that she’s on our side.)

Time to board the plane… more tidbits later.

Sarah Palin…? I think McCain would have been better off picking Michael Palin.

McCain has bet his entire campaign on his Veep pick. And the odds don’t look good.

In October of 1988 I met a cute redhead at a party in Hell’s Kitchen.  She was prim and proper and looked for all the world like the perfect Republican… except for the big “Mike Dukakis” button on her lapel.  It was this irresistible contrast the sparked me to strike up a conversation, and it was that conversation that ultimately led to this:

Tonight at the Invesco Field I had the opportunity to sit down next to Gov. Dukakis, shake his hand, show him that picture of my daughter, and personally thank him for the campaign that made her possible.  As overwhelmingly emotional as the entire night has been, that was undoubtedly my personal highlight.

I’m on the field at Invesco field, but have no power, no Internet, and an overwhelmed cell phone network that keeps dropping in and out, but I’ll post as best I can… which possibly might be not at all. We’ll see.

FYI, as a sure thing for Obama, Washington did not get a great location–way in the back, audience left. But at least it’s not as bad blood red state Wyoming, sitting right behind us.

Oh to be a swing state.

Ever wonder how FOX News host Megyn Kelly, the highest paid news anchor on television (if you’re comparing dollars earned per syllables spoken), manages to provide such insightful commentary?  Clearly, it’s the endless hours of preparation.

For example, even while the crowd around her loudly cheered Sen. Joe Biden following his vice presidential acceptance speech, Kelly never lost her focus or concentration.  What a dedicated professional.

I don’t know if the TV cameras caught it, but I couldn’t help notice Michelle Obama wiping the tears from her eyes during Beau Biden’s moving introduction of his dad.

The delegates here may love Hillary Clinton, but her husband Bill just got the biggest reception of the convention. By far.

A couple of western governors stopped by the Big Tent today to chat with the bloggers, and not surprisingly, I managed to get in the first question with both them.  Above is an unedited clip of Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana, who appears on the verge of breaking out into superstar status after his incredibly well received speech last night.

Coming up later, a video interview with our very own Gov. Chris Gregoire of Washington.

UPDATE [Lee]: From the Daily Show last night…

The media didn’t get the drama they wanted (a floor battle, or at least some loud whining), but they got some drama nonetheless, as Hillary Clinton entered the hall to ask on behalf of the New York delegation, that Barack Obama be nominated by acclamation on a voice vote.  And surprise… he was.

I’m guessing it was pretty compelling TV.

That is, assuming Washington gets a chance to cast its votes, which given past history, I can’t imagine we’ll get to the W’s… especially after Arkansas voted unanimously for Obama.  (Well, technically, WA already did cast its votes, 68-26 with 4 absent, but they probably won’t get the chance to announce it.  That’s kinda the point.)

Not much of a floor fight, is it?

UPDATE:
FYI, Clinton released her delegates this morning, so the cynical amongst you will say that the fix is in.  Or, you know, it might be described as a display of Democratic unity.  But that’s not a very compelling story, is it?  So lets just stick with the former.

UPDATE, UPDATE:

Standing in line outside the Pepsi Center, I finally learn the deep, dark truth about politics.  Gosh was I naive.  (And Jesus am I unashamed of my crappy videography.)