Dem Convention: What Do You Want to Hear?
Jeff Alworth
In about twelve hours, I will be headed to Denver to cover the Democratic National Convention for BlueOregon. I won't be the only BlueO writer there, but I am the one with the credential (though we may have swung one for Kari, too). As such, I feel somewhat beholden to provide you with the scintillating coverage commensurate for such an honor. And I therefore have a hunch that posts of this nature will not do:
"Whoa, I think I just saw Joe Biden. Anyway, it was some guy who looked like Biden, but I'm slightly suspicious, since he was wearing a feather boa and pink sandals. But it was certainly someone who looked like Joe Biden.
Wait ... is that Nancy Pelosi over there in the security uniform?"
So before I go, let me throw it back to you: what do you want to hear? This may well be the most heavily-packaged production in American history, so I assume you want something you can't find on CNN. Consider me your man on the ground. I'll have a still camera, a laptop, a cell phone (140 characters a whack on Twitter!), and a video cam, so documentation should be easy enough. Your wish is my desire. I will try to give you a sense of the mood, behind-the-scenes scoops, and a general sense of what these things are like ... and what else? I will go with a healthy skepticism, but also a sense that this may be a historic moment in American history. But mostly, I go with the wish to give you something interesting to read. So holler, now and during the convention. I'll try to make it interesting.
(One shame: I had put together a document of the history of conventions, and I was going to sprinkle it in throughout my coverage. Conventions weren't always PR events--once they were the moment Dems horse-traded for their nominee. But I lost the document, at least for now. I'll try to track it down, but we may have to rely on actual reportage. All the more reason I value your feedback.)
Cheers, and talk to you from Denver--
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6:00 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
I was going to go, but attached myself to the wrong project, which fell through due to the organizer's lack of well, organization. I'll go to Obama's next convention....
SO, I really want to get a sense of the scene outside...who is protesting? Who is pushing what? Is the entire town packed with Dems? Are you encountering resentments from locals?
Have a great time!
6:05 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
Jeff,
Here's a game. How many former Democratic Nominees can you find at the convention?
6:52 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
I'd like your take on party unity at the end of the week . Are the fissures as concerning as MSM play them to be or is that more for creating news coverage ? What issues, platforms, etc...seemed especially germane to Oregon. Thanks and have a blast for the rest of us.
Aug 23, '08
One thing I learned from being at the 1984 convention--if you see someone in the crowd that you have admired, walk up to them and say something like "I really liked what you said about...". I did that to newsman Bruce Morton and he said "Gee, thanks, I'd forgotten I said that". Most famous people like that approach, only met a few who didn't want to talk with an ordinary person. Meet delegates from other states--I met some really nice people from Iowa, Kansas, Montana.
Let us know what famous people you hear speak, and which ones you meet. See what unusual buttons you can find/buy from other delegations (some have unique buttons they sell to help defray expenses). Try to visit the state capitol if you have a chance. We were in Denver for a family wedding. That capitol is amazing, made out of red marble, but I prefer Oregon's capitol as more open to the public.
7:57 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
Good feedback, folks, keep it comin'. I'll definitely report back on these things.
8:01 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
Kristin,
I landed in Denver on Thursday, and the welcoming teams were already standing at the exit from airport security. We went over to talk to a few of them, and they were very friendly as you might expect since they were volunteers.
My husband and I have spent the last couple of days up in Estes Park by the Rocky Mountain National Park. Even though it's an hour and a half from Denver, the hotel manager proudly announced that she would be volunteering at the convention on Wednesday. Everyone else we've talked to is really excited about it. I think they welcome the business, too.
8:10 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
Jenny,
Thanks so much!
8:28 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
I hope you will keep us up to speed on the Oregon caucus, how the Oregon Clinton delegates handle the vote and the transition to Obama, how many of the delegation attend Merkley's speech in the afternoon, what other national bloggers think of the oregon race, the reaction to the Biden pick by the Clinton camp, and, of course, what parties you get to go to.
Aug 23, '08
Once it's in progress, I would like your analysis as to why this event is important to the average person on the street. What did you see that says "this is an essential part of democracy." Sure, for political types it's the Superbowl (which of course is only a big deal to people who care or even know about football), and brings more excitement than can be contained. But I know several not-too-political folks who didn't know that the convention will be this coming week. Two asked me why it was needed, given how much money it will cost, since everyone already knows that Obama has the nomination. Why should they care? I don't mean to ask why should they care that Obama is elected... I'm asking why should they care about the enormous and expensive theatrical performance. Your observations would be great.
8:50 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
In seconding Kristin's request about who and what's "outside," I'd particularly like your own take on the protest pen & responses to it. Are those outside complying? Anyone inside voicing criticism? (Any opportunity inside to voice criticism?)
Whatever you can glean about the politics of the proposals to reform/reduce automatic delegates & reform the nomination process.
Aug 23, '08
Chris, YES!
It is time to reform/eliminate "superdelegates". Figure out a way for elected officials and major candidates (like Merkley) to come and have credentials for the convention without having to go through the whole delegate selection convention process. Aren't those rules like a generation old?
As I understand it, the category extended from just the elected officials who didn't want to compete for delegate against people who would decide if they got re-elected next time around, to all sorts of other people who got there by virtue of their title--like Donna Brazille.
Democratic elected officials, DNC members, State Chairs, should all be automatically credentialed to the convention. But the whole "superdelegate" thing mushroomed way past what I believe was the original intention of the category. Since there was a debate this time about whether HRC's name would even be part of the roll call of states, why does it matter that they have delegate votes. Can't there be a category of automatically credentialed to the convention but not necessarily voting delegates?
One other thing: "Best speech each day" might be a good thing to look out for. Although they weren't well known back then, there were 2 Vietnam vets who spoke to the 1984 convention on veterans issues(and then Republicans tried to pretend the speeches didn't happen) named Bob Kerrey and Tom Daschle.
Aug 23, '08
This is an aside, but does anybody know what time Obama's speech will be broadcast?
9:39 p.m.
Aug 23, '08
Blake,
I searched in prep of hosting a party, but couldn't find anything specific. I'm guessing that since it's supposed to be totally over by 9, that it will be around 7...
Aug 24, '08
My greatest disappointment is a perceived lack of support by the rest of the DP. Obama is getting ripped everyday and I see no one beside him making a response. I am sure Biden will change this some, but I would expect everyone to get after the Reich. We really had the Republicans on the ropes, and we needed to keep them there. I never saw anyone defend Obama while he was on vacation and I think that is where McCain gained ground. As Randi Rhodes on Nova M commonly says, we need to win big so they cannot steal the election again. NOT THIS TIME!!! The DP should have been there for him. The DP needs to be there for him ... for us all.
Clintonistas. Everyone hears your disappointment, but Obama has been chosen. Let's talk about the issues you want rather then the candidate you cannot have. There's a better chance there will be the changes you believe in.
Jeff, I want to know that the DP machine is hitting on all cylinders and we're all facing the same way to win this election. We'll have another battle when it's time to pick a cabinet, but at that time we won't be risking victory which is what we are doing right now. Remeber its teh independents we need to woo to win, and those disenfranchised Republicans. If we're not together they won't know what we are about and join in defeating McBush. They will sign us all up for another 4 years. It's not like they didn't vote for Bush TWICE making the voting margin close enough for the Reich to steal.
THIS CANNOT BE CLOSE!!! We need to win big, to win anything at all.
Aug 24, '08
Thanks for the info, sadly a family dinner will keep me from being glued to cspan that evening.
Aug 24, '08
Jeff: Please report on the beer there. :-)
8:45 a.m.
Aug 24, '08
To get an idea of how many things are going on in Denver, check out DemConWatch's calendar of events. (This is a great blog to read about what's going on in Denver. Jeff and Kari can't cover everything.)
It's really hard to decide what to go to, since many events are overlapping or far away from each other. Though I meticulously planned my schedule for the Boston convention, it was in tatters by the end of the first day.
But maybe you can direct our intrepid blogger-on-the-ground to some of these events if you're particularly interested in something.
Aug 24, '08
I hope you can do a couple of things. Catch up with delegrations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida and find out what they think it will take to win those states. What are Obama's chances there? How can us Oregonians help them?
Also, find out if Hillary supporters believe that hearing from Caroline Kennedy about why she supported Obama over Hillary would help them come over to the other side. If not, who? What can Obama women do to help these women endorse our nominee and work for his election?
Thanks for asking and have a blast at the convention!
11:24 a.m.
Aug 24, '08
Jeff:
I'd like to know about the bloggers and delegates you meet from other states. I'd love it if you'd talk with them about their perception of Oregon politics and the state in general.
Thanks. :)
Aug 24, '08
Be sure to include web addresses when you meet other bloggers - please.
8:24 p.m.
Aug 24, '08
Jeff, Given my interest and how important I think future relations with China are, would you please, if you get the opportunity and want to, check to see how what, and how, Chinese new organizations are covering the convention. Talk with some of their reporters if you can. I think, but I am not sure, that both conventions and the election will get significant press in China. And I think there is no stronger way to send a message to China about political and human rights than our public process of selecting our leaders. I think China will be watching. Find out!
Aug 25, '08
I'd love to hear about the AT&T Blue Dog party thrown at Mile High Station, especially if there were any hints at future attacks on our civil liberties!
Aug 25, '08
Expanding on Chris#12's comment, I'd like to know how corporate and lobbyist support of convention costs effect what goes on and what does not.
Aug 25, '08
Subrosa detailed discussions that will not hit the sanitized/generalized air. Send us thought product caught on the hoof, and anything tighter than a three thousand mile high view speech.
Aug 25, '08