OK, here's the real deal:
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Convention DVDs
Friday, September 14, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
They Also Serve...
but the extent of their standing & waiting was when they were looking for someone else to help.
I'm talking about the Convention Volunteers, without whom I would not have had nearly as enjoyable a DNC experience.
I badly miscalculated how far apart the various venues were in Charlotte and returned to the hotel after the first night exhausted and in pain. I figured I'd take it easy Wednesday and just recuperate until the gavel at 5:00. By 2:00 that afternoon I was frantic - I wasn't "bouncing back" and I sure wasn't gonna miss that evening's session! A member of my delegation suggested to me that I try to get a wheelchair at the arena - so I gritted my teeth and caught the bus from my hotel to the arena.
When we disembarked at the arena stop, a volunteer noticed my difficulty getting off the bus and called for a wheelchair before I could even ask for one. The volunteer wheeled me to the first security checkpoint, then when I got through security, put me on a golf-cart-like shuttle to the actual arena entrance, where I got into another wheelchair and we were off!
The arena was packed with folks milling around outside the seating area. Jacqui, my driver, first tried to seat me with the AL delegation but there was no room. So back into the crowd we went. She asked me "Are you keeping the chair?" and I replied that I didn't know I could. She said yes, all I had to do was leave my driver's license and I could sit in the chair for the proceedings, then someone would return and pick me up. So bless her, she maneuvered expertly to another set of exit doors and to the table where I filled out a really basic form, handed over my drivers license, and got in return a card so I could contact them if I needed to be picked up before we'd planned:
Back into the mass of folks we went. More about where I ended up & the rest of the evening in my Wednesday Night post.
Sure enough, right after President Clinton finished speaking, there was Jacqui at my shoulder, asking if I was ready to leave and then expertly navigating to Guest Services so we could retrieve my license. When we got to the line for the elevator, I thanked her profusely and handed her some Mardi Gras beads as a token from a south Alabama fan!
Wednesday evening had gone so well, I really didn't expect any problem on Thursday. And despite the tighter security, and more folks trying to get into the arena, there were glitches but no real problems. I encountered a hiccup at the arena entrance, where I asked to rent a chair and walked into a conversation between a volunteer coordinator and another delegate. The coordinator was explaining that under the arena rules as explained to them after the previous evening, the volunteers could wheel us to our seat location, drop us off, and then come back and get us. If we wanted to rent the chair for the evening, we were on our own as far as getting in and out of the arena. He was very pleasant, very apologetic, but was standing his ground despite significant pushback from the other delegate. She was escalating her complaint when an empty wheelchair arrived. I quickly cancelled my rental in favor of a ride to my seat, reasoning I had handled the arena seats on Tuesday and as this was the last night of the convention, I could do it again. So off we went.
As we got off the elevator, here came my new friend Jacqui. First she was telling the volunteer helping me that she'd helped me the night before, next thing I knew she'd taken me over! Asked me if I wanted to keep the chair again, and when I started explaining what I'd been told, told me we'd just see about that! The upshot was she took me to a great spot on the rail below the CNN booth and left me in the chair - came back after the confetti dropped!
So from me and on behalf of the countless other delegates who were recipients of your warm and gracious help, THANK YOU, Convention Volunteers. Speaking only for myself, I literally don't know what I'd have done without you.
I badly miscalculated how far apart the various venues were in Charlotte and returned to the hotel after the first night exhausted and in pain. I figured I'd take it easy Wednesday and just recuperate until the gavel at 5:00. By 2:00 that afternoon I was frantic - I wasn't "bouncing back" and I sure wasn't gonna miss that evening's session! A member of my delegation suggested to me that I try to get a wheelchair at the arena - so I gritted my teeth and caught the bus from my hotel to the arena.
When we disembarked at the arena stop, a volunteer noticed my difficulty getting off the bus and called for a wheelchair before I could even ask for one. The volunteer wheeled me to the first security checkpoint, then when I got through security, put me on a golf-cart-like shuttle to the actual arena entrance, where I got into another wheelchair and we were off!
 |
| Read more about the volunteers here: http://bit.ly/NjkjnO |
The arena was packed with folks milling around outside the seating area. Jacqui, my driver, first tried to seat me with the AL delegation but there was no room. So back into the crowd we went. She asked me "Are you keeping the chair?" and I replied that I didn't know I could. She said yes, all I had to do was leave my driver's license and I could sit in the chair for the proceedings, then someone would return and pick me up. So bless her, she maneuvered expertly to another set of exit doors and to the table where I filled out a really basic form, handed over my drivers license, and got in return a card so I could contact them if I needed to be picked up before we'd planned:
Back into the mass of folks we went. More about where I ended up & the rest of the evening in my Wednesday Night post.
Sure enough, right after President Clinton finished speaking, there was Jacqui at my shoulder, asking if I was ready to leave and then expertly navigating to Guest Services so we could retrieve my license. When we got to the line for the elevator, I thanked her profusely and handed her some Mardi Gras beads as a token from a south Alabama fan!
Wednesday evening had gone so well, I really didn't expect any problem on Thursday. And despite the tighter security, and more folks trying to get into the arena, there were glitches but no real problems. I encountered a hiccup at the arena entrance, where I asked to rent a chair and walked into a conversation between a volunteer coordinator and another delegate. The coordinator was explaining that under the arena rules as explained to them after the previous evening, the volunteers could wheel us to our seat location, drop us off, and then come back and get us. If we wanted to rent the chair for the evening, we were on our own as far as getting in and out of the arena. He was very pleasant, very apologetic, but was standing his ground despite significant pushback from the other delegate. She was escalating her complaint when an empty wheelchair arrived. I quickly cancelled my rental in favor of a ride to my seat, reasoning I had handled the arena seats on Tuesday and as this was the last night of the convention, I could do it again. So off we went.
As we got off the elevator, here came my new friend Jacqui. First she was telling the volunteer helping me that she'd helped me the night before, next thing I knew she'd taken me over! Asked me if I wanted to keep the chair again, and when I started explaining what I'd been told, told me we'd just see about that! The upshot was she took me to a great spot on the rail below the CNN booth and left me in the chair - came back after the confetti dropped!
So from me and on behalf of the countless other delegates who were recipients of your warm and gracious help, THANK YOU, Convention Volunteers. Speaking only for myself, I literally don't know what I'd have done without you.
The Most Under-reported Speech
on Thursday, because folks were focusing on John Kerry, and Biden, and our President.
Rep. John Lewis's speech was not long, but he made every word count. He spoke quietly and forcefully, telling the story of being one of the members of the first group of Freedom Riders and he and 2 others were savagely beaten at a bus station in Rock Hill SC. In Lewis's own words:
Referring to the recent Republican efforts to suppress the vote:
Watch it. It's well worth the 7 minutes it takes.
* The pre-speech transcript has him saying "This man and I don’t want to go back; we want to move forward" but when he delivered the speech Rep. Lewis said "This man and I don’t want to go back; we don't want to go back" and truthfully, I think it was more powerful.
A few years ago, a man from Rock Hill, inspired by President Obama’s election, decided to come forward. He came to my office in Washington and said, ‘I am one of the people who beat you. I want to apologize. Will you forgive me?’ I said, ‘I accept your apology.’ He started crying. He gave me a hug. I hugged him back, and we both started crying. This man and I don’t want to go back; we don't want to go back.*
Referring to the recent Republican efforts to suppress the vote:
I’ve seen this before. I’ve lived this before. Too many people struggled, suffered and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.
Watch it. It's well worth the 7 minutes it takes.
* The pre-speech transcript has him saying "This man and I don’t want to go back; we want to move forward" but when he delivered the speech Rep. Lewis said "This man and I don’t want to go back; we don't want to go back" and truthfully, I think it was more powerful.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Home again, home again
I got in VERY late Thursday night/Friday morning and then traveled all day yesterday - I promise more updates in the next few days but for now THANK YOU for making it possible for me to be there.
When we signed our names as delegates on Tuesday night, a fellow member of the delegation reminded me that I was voting on behalf of 30,000 Alabamians. I am so grateful for your trust and support!
When we signed our names as delegates on Tuesday night, a fellow member of the delegation reminded me that I was voting on behalf of 30,000 Alabamians. I am so grateful for your trust and support!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Gabby Giffords just led us in the Pledge. The reaction of the whole arena was amazing ~ standing ovation & chants of "Gab-bee, Gab-bee". Yes I cried.
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(This was, for me, probably the most moving moment of the week. I got choked up all over again just trying to tell someone about it yesterday)
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This mobile text message is brought to you by AT&T
(This was, for me, probably the most moving moment of the week. I got choked up all over again just trying to tell someone about it yesterday)
Wednesday Night Recap
What a night - what incredible speakers - Cecile Richards, Sandra Fluke, Richard Trumka, the 3 former Bain employees, Elizabeth Warren and of course Bill Clinton. Video and analysis are available from many places and you've either seen them or can go look them up!
Behind the scenes stuff: I took a shuttle bus from the delegation hotel to the arena. Yesterday there was a police officer on every bus who checked to make sure you had on a valid delegate credential. On the ride over, the officer explained why. The buses are "swept" every day by the Secret Service. By controlling access to them, it helps to ensure security. An example: same trip, leaving the hotels, a delegate asked to get off so she could walk back to the hotel as she'd forgotten something. As soon as she got off the bus, the officer got up, checked in & around her seat, including overhead bins. He apologized for his paranoia but explained that it made him nervous when someone got on the bus, stayed for a few minutes, and then wanted off. I think everyone on the bus applauded him for being paranoid!
My vantage point last night was much improved - I was in a wheelchair and when the volunteers couldn't park me with the AL delegation, they took me to the next open wheelchair spot - which happened to be right behind American Samoa. If you remember yesterday's seating chart, I was on the rail in back of section 112. I could have thrown something & hit the podium. I had a bird's eye view of backstage (unfortunately the exit side, so I was as surprised as anyone by President Obama!) I could even read the teleprompter, so I knew where those extra 2000 words were inserted by former President Clinton!
The one downside to my new place was the CODEPINK protester shown below:
This took place during Steny Hoyer's speech and yes, I was thinking "where is security?" The delegates in front of me started loudly cheering Hoyer so the protest was not distracting to everyone else.
Great, great night and I know tonight will be even better!
Behind the scenes stuff: I took a shuttle bus from the delegation hotel to the arena. Yesterday there was a police officer on every bus who checked to make sure you had on a valid delegate credential. On the ride over, the officer explained why. The buses are "swept" every day by the Secret Service. By controlling access to them, it helps to ensure security. An example: same trip, leaving the hotels, a delegate asked to get off so she could walk back to the hotel as she'd forgotten something. As soon as she got off the bus, the officer got up, checked in & around her seat, including overhead bins. He apologized for his paranoia but explained that it made him nervous when someone got on the bus, stayed for a few minutes, and then wanted off. I think everyone on the bus applauded him for being paranoid!
My vantage point last night was much improved - I was in a wheelchair and when the volunteers couldn't park me with the AL delegation, they took me to the next open wheelchair spot - which happened to be right behind American Samoa. If you remember yesterday's seating chart, I was on the rail in back of section 112. I could have thrown something & hit the podium. I had a bird's eye view of backstage (unfortunately the exit side, so I was as surprised as anyone by President Obama!) I could even read the teleprompter, so I knew where those extra 2000 words were inserted by former President Clinton!
The one downside to my new place was the CODEPINK protester shown below:
This took place during Steny Hoyer's speech and yes, I was thinking "where is security?" The delegates in front of me started loudly cheering Hoyer so the protest was not distracting to everyone else.
Great, great night and I know tonight will be even better!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Storytelling
Someone got the message that the Democrats need to tell more stories. Last night was full of them, but this one really seemed to hit home with many, many delegates.
from Cafemom.com:
from Cafemom.com:
Neither a politican or a candidate, the regular American mom of a toddler with congenital heart disease spoke to convention-goers and the nation about how Obama's healthcare reforms had secured her child the treatment she needs to live. Hearing that Linh and her family have to live in fear that Mitt Romney would repeal health care reform is nothing short of heartwrenching.(it didn't hurt that Linh brought her husband and both daughters on stage with her, either)
BREAKING: Obama's Acceptance Moved Indoors
from WWAY in Charlotte:
The Democratic National Convention Committee announced this morning that the president's acceptance speech scheduled for Thursday night at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium will move indoors because of the threat of severe weather.
"We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely, and several reports predict thunderstorms in the area, therefore we have decided to move Thursday's proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests," DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan said in a news release.
Where Is the AL Delegation?
To give you some idea, a news guy did a story last night from our seats on "What Does It Mean When You Have the Worst Seats in the Arena" - his theory is that you're evidently a totally blue state, like NY, or a totally red state, like AL
Seriously, here's the arena seating chart:
Seriously, here's the arena seating chart:
All the speakers are on the stage, on the right side of the layout. Now, look at the other end of the arena. See section 102? See the 2 unmarked blocks of seats beneath it? The top one (right above section 101) is Alabama, the bottom one is New York.
WOW
Did Michelle Obama hit it out of the park last night or what?
If you went to bed early, you missed an incredible speech. One bit of convention floor trivia - as you've undoubtedly figured out, the sign waving is not exactly spontaneous - folks come and hand out those flags and placards. Mostly all is civilized, folks who want signs get them, folks who don't just pass them along. When they started distributing the "We Love Michelle" signs, though, I thought there were going to be fist fights. EVERYONE wanted one of those. Luckily they had a bunch and there was no violence :). Here's the video of her amazing speech. It's long but worth it!
Kennedy Video Tribute
This is the video you're evidently not supposed to see because it shows Mitt's positions BEFORE he shook the Etch-a-Sketch. It's also a wonderful short history of the legacy Teddy Kennedy left us. And yes, they showed it during the convention last night.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Party On
A sentiment that was repeated by one of our breakfast speakers, Freddie Rubio of Alabama, who reminded us that Ann Romney told the Puerto Rican delegation at the RNC "You people really know how to party". As a native Puerto Rican, Rubio said this morning "I'd rather party with the Democrats!"
I'm Here!
Doesn't quite feel real...
We came through torrential rains and an accident or two (no, we weren't directly involved, but it sure did slow us down) once we hit Greenville. So glad to finally get here, now to rest up to handle the excitement of the next 3 days!
These were in the welcome packet at the hotel:
We came through torrential rains and an accident or two (no, we weren't directly involved, but it sure did slow us down) once we hit Greenville. So glad to finally get here, now to rest up to handle the excitement of the next 3 days!
These were in the welcome packet at the hotel:
Sunday, September 2, 2012
A good beginning...
I finally finished my packing this morning -
and none too soon as we got on the road not long after (only about 45 minutes later than we planned - hey, that's virtually on time for us!)
Uneventful drive to Birmingham, then we continued up I-65 towards Huntsville - and found our old friend Isaac, no longer a hurricane but appearing as a thunderstorm (that we later found out had embedded tornadoes).
When the sky finally lightened a little, we saw this awesome double rainbow!
And to top it off, when we went to grab a bite to eat, our waiter gave us a Labor Day coupon for a free entree. Now if the rest of this trip works out as well (and I know it will exceed my wildest dreams!)
Uneventful drive to Birmingham, then we continued up I-65 towards Huntsville - and found our old friend Isaac, no longer a hurricane but appearing as a thunderstorm (that we later found out had embedded tornadoes).
And to top it off, when we went to grab a bite to eat, our waiter gave us a Labor Day coupon for a free entree. Now if the rest of this trip works out as well (and I know it will exceed my wildest dreams!)
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