Corn Dogs and Convention News
TUESDAY - 9:00 AM: One of the more surreal aspects of being at a national convention is that, while you are in the middle of everything, you have absolutely no idea what's going on. You have no time to read the newspaper (except for the Times-Herald, which everyone here reads obsessively) or watch the news. So, for example, President Clinton could come by the Pennsylvania delegation's breakfast and say something really newsworthy, but if you are in the back loading up on corn-dogs, you'll miss it entirely.
The result is that rumors become an extremely valuable currency. All day long you hear tons of rumors, some more credible than others. Just at breakfast this morning I've heard that Bruce Springsteen was playing before Obama speaks Thursday night; that Obama is going to parachute onto the stage, and that Celine Dion has promised never to sing again if Barack wins the election (actually, that may just be wishful thinking). I even started a rumor about me having lots of hair which seems to be spreading like wildfire. I can't wait to get back from the convention to read about what actually happened here.
TUESDAY - Midnight: I am currently at Invesco Field. This is where Obama is giving his acceptance speech Thursday and I am at a reception for a bunch of delegates from big states. The convention floor was very exciting tonight. Senator Bob Casey spoke, as did Governor Rendell. The best speaker prior to Hillary was Governor Schweitzer from Montana. Apparently people wear their shoelaces as ties in Big Sky Country, and they like their politicians to have a healthy dose of ADD. Governor Schweitzer was full of aphorisms, like "Voting for John McCain is like putting your second goat on the griddle." I'm not actually sure what that means, but the Montana delegation ate it up.
Hillary was the best I'd ever seen her. You can draw your own conclusions, but I will tell you that even the die-hards, with the 20 Hillary buttons on their shirts and the permanent "Hillary Rules" facial tattoo were standing on their feet when she said "No Way, No How, No McCain".
If I had written Hillary's speech I would have added a few words about the United States Supreme Court is hanging on the heartbeat of one 88 year-old Justice. John McCain has promised to appoint more justices like Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court. If he does that, everything from reproductive freedom, to basic civil rights and civil liberties, to the minimum wage and social security are at grave risk. But thinking about this made me too depressed and I had to go get me another corn dog.
At the after-party, Hillary and President Clinton showed up with Chelsea, Governor Rendell and some others. I told Chelsea my story of how Katie Couric refused to take a picture with me, and Chelsea laughed. And then I asked Chelsea if I could take a picture with her and she said "absolutely not", and then went to pose with a guy in a Viking hat. Bill and Hillary made very gracious remarks and worked the crowd for a long time.
After being rebuffed in my effort to get pictures with Chelsea, Hillary, Bill, and a college bowling team from Akron, I went out of the sky-box into the seats over-looking the stadium. They were building the stage that Barack will use to give his acceptance speech. There is a long runway out onto a small circle-like podium at the 50 yard line - Senator Obama will speak from a small island in the middle of what will be an ocean of humanity.
The visual reminded me that so much of what we do in life we do alone, even when there are lots of people around. What if he trips? What if he walks too far and plummets into the crowd? (Unlikely I know, but maybe he has night vision problems). What if he's off getting a corn dog and misses the whole thing?
Tonight, Biden and President Clinton...
The result is that rumors become an extremely valuable currency. All day long you hear tons of rumors, some more credible than others. Just at breakfast this morning I've heard that Bruce Springsteen was playing before Obama speaks Thursday night; that Obama is going to parachute onto the stage, and that Celine Dion has promised never to sing again if Barack wins the election (actually, that may just be wishful thinking). I even started a rumor about me having lots of hair which seems to be spreading like wildfire. I can't wait to get back from the convention to read about what actually happened here.
TUESDAY - Midnight: I am currently at Invesco Field. This is where Obama is giving his acceptance speech Thursday and I am at a reception for a bunch of delegates from big states. The convention floor was very exciting tonight. Senator Bob Casey spoke, as did Governor Rendell. The best speaker prior to Hillary was Governor Schweitzer from Montana. Apparently people wear their shoelaces as ties in Big Sky Country, and they like their politicians to have a healthy dose of ADD. Governor Schweitzer was full of aphorisms, like "Voting for John McCain is like putting your second goat on the griddle." I'm not actually sure what that means, but the Montana delegation ate it up.
Hillary was the best I'd ever seen her. You can draw your own conclusions, but I will tell you that even the die-hards, with the 20 Hillary buttons on their shirts and the permanent "Hillary Rules" facial tattoo were standing on their feet when she said "No Way, No How, No McCain".
If I had written Hillary's speech I would have added a few words about the United States Supreme Court is hanging on the heartbeat of one 88 year-old Justice. John McCain has promised to appoint more justices like Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court. If he does that, everything from reproductive freedom, to basic civil rights and civil liberties, to the minimum wage and social security are at grave risk. But thinking about this made me too depressed and I had to go get me another corn dog.
At the after-party, Hillary and President Clinton showed up with Chelsea, Governor Rendell and some others. I told Chelsea my story of how Katie Couric refused to take a picture with me, and Chelsea laughed. And then I asked Chelsea if I could take a picture with her and she said "absolutely not", and then went to pose with a guy in a Viking hat. Bill and Hillary made very gracious remarks and worked the crowd for a long time.
After being rebuffed in my effort to get pictures with Chelsea, Hillary, Bill, and a college bowling team from Akron, I went out of the sky-box into the seats over-looking the stadium. They were building the stage that Barack will use to give his acceptance speech. There is a long runway out onto a small circle-like podium at the 50 yard line - Senator Obama will speak from a small island in the middle of what will be an ocean of humanity.
The visual reminded me that so much of what we do in life we do alone, even when there are lots of people around. What if he trips? What if he walks too far and plummets into the crowd? (Unlikely I know, but maybe he has night vision problems). What if he's off getting a corn dog and misses the whole thing?
Tonight, Biden and President Clinton...
posted by DNC blogger at
12:32 PM
2 Comments:
Daylin, they just don't love you like we do :<} here is the worst joke heard yet about elections:
An email from Ireland to all of their brethren in the States..a point to ponder despite your political affiliation:
"We, in Ireland, cant figure out why you people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States.
on one side, you had a pants wearing female lawyer, married to another lawyer who can't seem to keep his pants on, who just lost a heated prmiary against another lawyer, who goes to the wrong church, who is married to yet another lawyer, who doesn't even like the country her husband wants to run!
Now..on the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate "Mc" terminology, married to a good looking younger whoman who owns a beer distributorship".
What in heaven's name are e ya lads thinkin over in the colonies???
Daylin,
I hope you "Wrapped that Rascal", and check to make sure that it was a female this time.
Post a Comment
<< Home