Photos from DN Convention

Fireworks and the Vermont sign at Invesco Field

Fwd: more photos

 

Invesco Field - Mile High Stadium- 80,000 people!

HI, Last night....

wow, wow a thousand times wow!!

The electricity and energy in the stadium was palpable. Barack did it. The speech was powerful, moving. Then comes the confetti, fireworks and streamers... we were speechless.

Barack Obama has the answers to our country's devastating condition after 7.5 yrs of GW's playground politics.

What a part of history to be part of last night. I loved it! We all loved it.

We were about 40 feet from the podium. I was in the front row of our two rows of seats.

We had a 45 minute wait to get through security.... fireman were handing out bottles of water.... that was appreciated!

See photos.

Sherry

Tim Russerts' son Luke

HI,
AN amazing night.. wow the energy in the convention hall was electrifying.
Especially when Barack came out.
Kerry.. best speech he ever gave! Great lines re: McCain.
Bill Clinton had the crowd.... most but not all.
Biden was great..
Most people I overheard were very pleased about tonight.

Luke Russert was being interviewed near by, re: young voters and this election.

Sherry

Tuesday- hello from Denver

> Continued...

> Today we started off the morning with a pancake breakfast
> sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy.
> Also in attendence were Howard Dean, Peter Welch, Bernie Sanders,
> Al Franken , Gaye Symington and a member of the Grateful Dead
> ( sorry, I forgot his name).
>
> I had lunch with Keith's cousin's wife.. hadn't seen her for a
> few years.
> Later got to visit with her son and husband at the Pepsi Center.
>
> Senator Leahy spoke around 4 so the whole Vermont delegation was
> there, giving him a rousing welcome.
> Howard and his wife were sitting behind me. You see all the signs
> we wave.... they had staff (or volunteers) handing out different
> signs with directions when to wave them.
>
> Tonight was another amazing night of being a delegate at th e
> convention, the sights , the sounds, trying to see over th e many
> camera men/woman hanging out in front of us.
>
> Most people I talked to thought Hillary did a tremendous job...
> just what she needed to do.
>
> After the convention, we walked out through a number of people
> preaching sin and damnation and anti abortion signs.
>
> No food is allowed inside the convention center.. and food is
> expensive..$6 for a hot dog. $4 for a lemonaide.
>
> Tonight the West Virgina delegation invited the VT delegation to
> thier party.
> It was fun, good food an d great 6 piece band .. and dancing.
>
> Tomorrow am 9:30 - noon, our delegation will be helping build a
> school playground as a service project.
>
> So must get to bed!
> Sherry
> PS I did get to ride a bike yesterday at 7 am. I was the
> first person to be processed.

RE: Monday night in Denver

> HI, SO much has happened in the last two days!!!

> Monday night was absolutely magical!!!!
> WOW.. what an amazing experience. I am soooo excited to be an
> Obama delegate..... a once in a life time opportunity!!

> Caroline Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy's were poignant, and
> deeply touching.
> Many were wiping tears after Ted finished speaking.
>
> The process to get though security was strict...started 1/4 mile
> away from the front door of the pepsi center.
> It has been hotter than our sauna here. The wait line was
> short... and we got through fairly quickly.

> The excitement in the air when Michelle spoke, and her darling
> daughters and Barack on the large screen after wards... and fun.....
> dancing with friends to the Earth Wind & Fire songs.... all
> remarkable memories from last night.

> OH, and Vermont had a great position on the floor, (thanks to
> Howard Dean)- we were the front three rows on stage left.

> More later.. off to party with West Virgina.

> Sherry

Hello from Denver!!

Hello,

Denver is a beautiful city with friendly people!  I  love staying  downtown .. close to  everything.

We are on 17th  street...  the next  street over is the 16th  Street Mall. Lots of shops, restaurants,  T-shirt and  button vendors.  It has a shuttle  running every few minutes from one end to the other. Last  night shoppers were entertained by two  bagpipers at  different corners and a group of African drum musicians.

 

It has been hot and sunny. I  got early (6:30 am) to go  find the free bike rentals.... only to find they weren't  open until tomorrow.

So  tomorrow at  7 am, I am  going to  go  bike riding around town and down  by the  river.

 

Today  I  saw a bit of "Hardball with  Chris Mathews" at their outside studio.

I  couldn't hear the  program, even being in the front row,  so  returned  to the  hotel   to watch it on TV.

About 20 minutes later he was talking to  the  audience right along where I  had been  standing. OH well... they will be there all week.

 

MSNBC's "Morning Joe" starts at  4 am  at a cafe down the street. If I  wake up that early.. maybe I will walk down an d watch that live.

.

We are sharing the  hotel  with West  Virgina delegates. I met Mary  Peal, Shelby,  and Janice,  Misha, and others... an d heard some great  stories.

 

This afternoon while I  was walking back to  the hotel, I  came upon a protest  march led by Iraq Veterans Against  the War and Gold Star Families, and other groups. 

I got a Sticker ," Make Out not War" from codepink.org  marcher.

 

Tonight was a Delegate reception,"Recognizing Katrina Relief Organizations."

When  we arrived  Randy  Newman was on stage playing the piano and singing one of his new songs.

 

 Howard Dean then gave an  enthusiastic speech to  a huge crowd.

 

Menu was Gumbo, shrimp, and rice and beans.

 

Tomorrow... it really gets going! Looking  forward to  the first  night of  the convention with  Michelle Obama and  Nancy Pelosi.

 

Good night from the mile high city. I am  not used to  the time change or the altitude yet. Maybe tomorrow!

Sherry

PS on the  local news they  just  said the DNC paid one million for cement barriers around the  Pepsi Center and that  there are 750  cameras mounted all over town.

There are many groups of police,  walking, bicycling, on horseback, motorcycles and other vehicles around town.

 

 

 

 

Photos From Denver

Orange County Sends FOUR Delegates to Denver!

Our little county is making a big impression on the Vermont delegation to the DNC. We are sending a whopping 4 delegates to Denver to help elect the next President, define the party platform, and more.

The entire state gets only 23 Delegates, and we're one out of every 6.

We wish our delegation well in their travels, and hope they have a great time, they've earned it!

Preliminary Convention Schedule (from Wikipedia):

Sunday, August 24

Interfaith gathering

For the first time in history the first official event of the 2008 Democratic National Convention will be an Interfaith Gathering, which will provide an opportunity for all those in the faith community to unite around the faith and values they share as Democrats. Upon learning of this event, the Secular Coalition for America wrote to the CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee to express its concern that an interfaith gathering that excluded nontheistic Democrats would be divisive rather than unifying. The Secular Coalition offered to discuss with her ways to make the convention more inclusive.

Monday, August 25

The convention opens on this day.

The theme for the day is "One Nation".

Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak on Aug. 25. She will be introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Illinois, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are scheduled to speak.

Barack Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, also will have a role.

A tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy is also planned.

Electric Vehicle Rolling Showcase, where Colorado Obama Delegate, Nate Vanderschaaf has organized 11 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids along with their owners into an Electric vehicle display and ride & drive.

Tuesday, August 26

The theme for the day is "Renewing America's Promise".

Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas and Convention Co-Chair, along with Governors Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, and Brian Schweitzer of Montana are among those speaking on Tuesday. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and former Mayor of Denver, Secretary of Energy, and Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña will also be making speeches Tuesday. Other speakers include House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Chris Van Hollen, and Representatives Nydia Velazquez, Linda Sanchez, Tammy Baldwin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mike Honda, and Xavier Becerra.

Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner Was Chosen for the Keynote Speech Given by Obama Himself Four Years Earlier.

Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio will be speaking in primetime.

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the featured prime-time speaker.

The 2008 party platform is scheduled to be adopted on this day.

Wednesday, August 27

The theme for the day is "Securing America's Future".

Significant speakers include former President Bill Clinton and the to-be-announced Vice Presidential candidate.

The evening line up of speakers has been announced as:

• Former President Bill Clinton


• Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico


• Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware


• Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia


• Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana


• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada


• Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado


• House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn of South Carolina


• Congressman Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania


• Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida


• Former Democratic Nominee for Congress Tammy Duckworth of Illinois


• Barack Obama's Vice Presidential Nominee

The roll call is expected to be held on this day. Along with presumptive nominee Barack Obama, former opponent Hillary Clinton's name will also be placed in nomination.

Thursday, August 28

The theme for the day is "Change You Can Believe In".

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is scheduled to speak.

Barack Obama is expected to accept the nomination in a speech at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech.