BlueOregon: Headed to Denver
blueoregon admin
Four years ago, BlueOregon was barely just a couple weeks old when we first blogged the Democratic Convention. Anne Martens, Jesse Cornett, and Lew Frederick brought you regular posts from the floor (see our July 2004 archives - look for July 26-29.)
Even then, Barack Obama electrified the crowd - and we dedicated an entire thread just to his speech.
Four years later, and we're going further. Two of our regulars are delegates - Andrew Simon and Paulie Brading. And BlueOregon's the official credentialed blog for Oregon - with editors Jeff Alworth and Kari Chisholm on the scene. We'll be bringing you regular coverage every day.
But we're going one step further. A number of our regular readers - including Mac Prichard, Jefferson Smith, Rep. Larry Galizio, Moses Ross, and DNC Committeewoman Jenny Greenleaf - will join Kari, Jeff, and Andrew in "micro-blogging" the week. Using Twitter.com, they'll be posting short reactions and observations from their cellphones. As always, you can join in the conversation in the comments.
We're already firing away on all cylinders. On the jump...
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9:40 p.m.
Aug 22, '08
Minor tech note: The times displayed are Greenwich Mean Time. Working on getting those switched over to Pacific Time.
9:52 p.m.
Aug 22, '08
Man, wish my Cricket phone could do twitter... I wonder if it's a Cricket thing or because of the phone I have. I'll be so glad when I can upgrade phones.
9:54 p.m.
Aug 22, '08
If you can text, you can twitter. (And, hopefully, with some sort of unlimited or nearly-unlimited texting plan.)
10:18 p.m.
Aug 22, '08
Nope, you get an error back saying that Cricket isn't participating in it. Same error I got when I tried to sign up for text updates through the Obama camp.
Too bad, since I have unlimited texts in and out.
10:25 p.m.
Aug 22, '08
Aha.... sounds like they're blocking all broadcast text messaging. Kinda puts the lie to "unlimited texts".
11:04 p.m.
Aug 22, '08
It apparently has to do with the fact that you can only send to 10 digit numbers - which means signing up for the Obama emails, verifying twitter, etc. can't be done. Once I upgrade phones I can since I'll have finally be able to use the mobile web that comes with my package.
You can definitely get broadcast text messaging, as long as the number you message to sign up is a 10 digit number.
Aug 22, '08
I met a hooker at a Republican Convention who made me twitter. Twice.
Aug 23, '08
Can someone clarify if all these people outside of the two delegates and the "official credentialed blog of Oregon" (what a sad commentary on the promise of the web for keeping the electorate informed that is) will actually be on the convention floor, and their status other than wannabes?
By the way, I'd like to hear someone with a little more genuine wisdom and maturity give us some insights and reasonable hope what we should be looking for in this convention as the strategy that is going to turn this around:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/
Does anyone actually believe the pap about this hidden army of voters Obama is mobilizing that none of the pollsters or media can seem to find? They may represent an uncounted blue point in our wildest dreams. But look closely at the pattern and consider the likelihood there is a missing three or four points in the red states on that map to tip enough of those states blue to make the difference. (I personally don't believe VA is even as close as they show since it has gone decisively red in the last four elections.)
The charlatans at Pollster. com show the same map, they just happen to have ALL red states in the "tossup" column because of their amateurish and bogus argument about "trend estimates" they base primarily just on Rasmussen polls with some Survey USA polls. This is laughable on it's face to professional statisticians, and one just has to look at their own presentation to get a hint of why that might be: Does anybody really believe Obama has winning "big Mo" in ND, OH, VA, FL as their trend estimates imply? Particularly when you consider that these trend estimates combined with the national trend estimates necessarily imply he is significantly losing momentum in Blue states.
Right now, both maps actually say we are not in good shape and the typical convention bounce can't add up to enough to turn this around. Biden can't bring in VA like Kaine might have, and although he has what it takes to go negative on McCain, how does that play with what Obama said were going to be his main theme of "not politics as usual" that appeals to the new voters BO types claim he is bringing in? We need a lot more clear-headed honesty and commitment to our real values in our Party than what we've have seen on display here and nationally over the last two decades.
By the way for readers who actually care about politics and the soul of our Party rather than the shallow venality of BO, you might find the post on that site from several days earlier is interesting as you contemplate how Kari, Jeff, Carla (and the other frequent commenters ) cynically rail against negative campaigning, but fill their pages with some of the most amateurish negative campaigning out there:
Negative Ads Work http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Pres/Maps/Aug20.html
11:06 a.m.
Aug 23, '08
Kari and Jeff, I arrive into Denver on Sunday at noon. Let me know if you guys want to finally let me buy you a drink Sunday evening. I'm at a journalist's briefing on Monday then fly out Tuesday AM.
Drop me an email and I can pick it up on my phone. I'll see if my employer will let me twitter from the forum. Stan Greenberg is the headliner.
hey, if you two are "journalists" you should be there!
Aug 23, '08
Today the National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) and the Oregon Chapter of Healthcare United announced that Oregon nurses Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE and Mara Kieval BSN, RN will be featured guests in a rally at the Democratic National Convention in support of healthcare reform. The rally will be held on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 and is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm in Sunken Gardens Park on 8th Avenue and Speer. The event will be followed by a march to the Pepsi Center, the location of the convention.
Hoping you all stop by and say hello.
9:58 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
TO asked a great question: Can someone clarify if all these people outside of the two delegates and the "official credentialed blog of Oregon" (what a sad commentary on the promise of the web for keeping the electorate informed that is) will actually be on the convention floor, and their status other than wannabes?
Sorry if that wasn't clear.
Mac Prichard, Jefferson Smith, Rep. Larry Galizio, Moses Ross, and DNC Committeewoman Jenny Greenleaf are ALL delegates. (Jenny is a superdelegate.)
In addition, Andrew Simon is a delegate (and BlueOregon regular contributor.)
Jeff and I are not delegates, but participating as bloggers. Willie Smith is not a delegate - but is the campaign manager for Congressman Earl Blumenauer, and is embedded with the state delegation. And Carla Axtman, the BlueOregon Fellow, will be adding her reactions while sitting in Oregon watching the coverage.
And rest assured, this is NOT going to be the entire sum of our coverage.
1:10 a.m.
Aug 24, '08
I plan on being at the speech watching party out here in east Mult County. I'm hoping that either I can get my phone verified for Twitter before the big speech or that where we'll be they will have internet access.
Aug 24, '08
As Willie Smith's mom, I say, "All of you blogging and twittering? from Denver, keep it going." I love to be able to get the feel of the Convention and the excitement of Oregonians working to make sure we get "The Senator", (my grandsons name for Mr. Obama) and Bidden elected. GO BLUE OREGON!!!!
Aug 24, '08
Jenni, If Carlino's doesn't have internet, no worries. I'll have my laptop and my aircard with me for anyone who wants to blog/surf/watch online that evening.
Mel
1:18 p.m.
Aug 24, '08
For what it's worth, Lupita is also blogging about the convention at the Washington County party website, www.washcodems.org.
6:41 p.m.
Aug 24, '08
That's right! I forgot about your aircard. Perfect. I figured it would be interesting to be able to blog throughout the night with pics of people, what thoughts were, etc. We could even then allow people to go in and type in their thoughts about the speech.
Aug 25, '08
Well its about 5 am in Denver and I am a bit too excited to sleep. Typing lightly here and hoping not to wake the sleeping fam.
I started blogging about our trip on the Oregon South website last night. You can access it by clicking my name or at the following link your can cut and paste and bookmark: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/MedfordOregonforBarackObama
Aug 25, '08
While the twittering clowns are doing what they can to spread the hype about "change" and "a big tent", really for their own benefit and just they can feel they are part of something, while criticizing Democrats with integrity who see right through them, people might find this audio entertaining and enlightening as they consider Obama's vote on FISA:
AT&T Throws Party to Support Dems Who Voted to Grant Telecoms Immunity for Illegal Domestic Wiretapping http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/25/at_t_throws_party_to_support
Amy Goodman and a blogger from Fire Dog Lake provide interesting radio actualities from outside last night's party and Glenn Greenwald provides analysis.
Aug 25, '08
Ed Schultz complaining on his radio show about lack of food vendors in the convention hall--any truth to that?
3:58 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
wow...daryl hannah didn't she use to be famous or something?
8:12 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
Denver Partiers : Michelle Obama was spot on. What a great asset. High, broad appeal and that's not always a bad thing . What were your impressions of the speech ?
On a more concerning note, Huffington Post is reporting that the Aurora CO Police Dept will be holding a press conference tomorrow afternoon concerning the arrest of 2 men with 2 rifles and meth. There was some unconfirmed concern that they may had interrupted an attack on Sen. Obama. What are you hearing ? Is it on the local news ?
8:44 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
Link to one of the reports:
http://chicagoist.com/2008/08/25/plot_to_assassinate_obama_unravels.php
9:03 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
I'm so happy to see Willie Smith's Mom on Blueoregon!
Aug 25, '08
http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/assisination.plot.obama.2.802827.html and Washington Post's THE TRAIL both have something about it.
10:06 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
Where's everyone? I was looking forward to some Twitter comments about the speeches tonight.
10:20 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
Jenni, I was wondering the same thing. I'm guessing they're too busy going to parties. Be nice if they'd share some thoughts on how it was tonight from their perspective rather than hearing about it on NPR.
10:34 p.m.
Aug 25, '08
I'm watching the re-showing of today's convention on CSPAN2. We just finished hearing from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and there was a break. They showed the area for Oregon, and there was only 2 people up there. I was hoping to see everyone! LOL
2:53 p.m.
Aug 26, '08
Kari,
What happened to leftyblogs? It's AWOL.
Aug 26, '08
Am I the only one who thinks that Twitter is completely uninformative and ridiculous? Give me some in-depth content, please!
10:20 p.m.
Aug 26, '08
Grumpy I agree. Bad coverage, boo!
Aug 27, '08
grumpy --- your point about "The Emperor is Naked" is spot on.
Twitter has reached the status of being the ultimate absurd Web 2.0 joke ("get a million users, sell ads"). Twitter so many compulsive users who have nothing to say and just have a uncontrollable need to be in constant touch with their tiny small social circle in this curiously exhibitionistic way, that they can't keep up.
Yet neither Twitter nor anyone in the business can figure out how to monetize that access to an audience to a level that is even sufficient to underwrite their actual costs. Not enough space to run ads in 140 characters. Versions based on sending a photo or 5-second video suffer from pretty much the same problem.
8:39 a.m.
Aug 27, '08
Grumpy: I agree too, and I'm one of the twitterers. There's not much you can say in 140 characters.
Should we stop? I've been trying to just twitter the best lines from the speakers I see. Apparently, I don't watch enough TV, because I just don't seem to recognize the celebrities:-).
I blogged the heck out of 2004, but that meant I also carried my laptop everywhere and got no sleep. It's a lot more comfortable lugging an iPhone around, but I can't write anything substantive with my thumbs. Jeff's had a couple good posts; I do hope we see more!
12:48 p.m.
Aug 27, '08
It'd be nice to seem some photos of our delegation and hear about the parties you guys are attending. We all have access to the speeches on the floor through our radios and TVs, what else is going on?
1:11 a.m.
Aug 28, '08
What happened to leftyblogs? It's AWOL.
It's back now. As usual, when leave town, the servers take over the house, invite their friends over, get drunk, and puke all over the place.
1:14 a.m.
Aug 28, '08
As for Twitter... well, this was a big ol' experiment. I think it kinda works, if you read it all -- no single comment is worth reading, but the flow of stuff seems to add some richness.
That said, there's a bunch of us - and we're all just seeing bits and pieces of everything that's going on.
It's been my working assumption that folks did NOT want to hear about parties. Maybe I was wrong. Or maybe, Katy, you should have come down, too! Didn't think I had to beg... :)
9:08 a.m.
Aug 28, '08
Haha, maybe you're right. I think twitter makes it a little too difficult to get the big picture?
9:30 p.m.
Aug 28, '08
maybe a podcast next time?
1:39 a.m.
Aug 29, '08
I did enjoy the Twitter feed, as it was kind of like reading statuses on Facebook.
My problem was that when I was available to read them, nothing was there, and when I was gone, it filled up and I missed a lot.
I like hearing about what people are seeing from their seats, what's going on, etc. I don't so much need quotes or anything, since it's on tv, but reactions and such are great (even if it is just saying your favorite part was when he said "blah blah blah").
It was a pretty good experiment. And it was fun reading them.
Wish I could have gone. I'd planned to blog the entire thing. I'd have probably done some with the laptop (even if it meant "live blogging" into Word and posting it later like I did at Rebooting Democracy) and some via paper (like I did at the Oregon Summit).
9:21 a.m.
Aug 29, '08
Can you imagine the Biden/Palin debate?
5:01 p.m.
Aug 30, '08