Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis: 8/24/08 - 8/31/08

Saturday, August 30, 2008

McHugh Pierre makes a CYA comment

McHugh Pierre said...

Thanks for the plug, but could you please pick a better picture of me! ; )
I never said McCain folks are coming to Alaska to investigate Palin and "Troopergate"! That is hilarious!

What I did say is that Obama political snoops just came up to Alaska to dig dirt on Palin and were going to be looking into the "Troopergate" allegations and anything else they can find.

Good luck running down more rumors and gossip.
Hey, McHugh, thanks for stopping by! I'm guessing you're doing so because your unguarded remarks got you in a whole lot of trouble!

You and I both know that the phone call was from the McCain folks. You and I both know that you said (yesterday) they were coming "tomorrow" not that they had already arrived. You and I both know that they are now forced to do belated vetting because they didn't do it beforehand.

You seemed to have thought as carefully about your cover-your-ass response as McCain did about his VP pick...your explanation is idiotic. How could you have said yesterday that Obama had "just sent up" folks to "dig dirt" on Palin when the announcement was just made yesterday? Also, why would the Obama Campaign need to send folks up here at all since THEY ALREADY HAVE 5 FULLY-STAFFED OFFICES (SOON TO BE 7) AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS ACROSS ALASKA! This has been the case for weeks.

Nice try, though...

Besides, the comments by Gail Phillips in the ADN betray the reality...
Former House Speaker Gail Phillips, a Republican political leader who has clashed with Palin in the past, was shocked when she heard the news Friday morning with her husband, Walt.

"I said to Walt, 'This can't be happening, because his advance team didn't come to Alaska to check her out," Phillips said.

Phillips has been active in the Ted Stevens re-election steering committee and remains in close touch with Sen. Lisa Murkowski and other party leaders, and she said nobody had heard anything about McCain's people doing research on his prospective running mate.

"We're not a very big state. People I talk to would have heard something."
Also, ABC News had an interesting story on the (lack of) vetting process for Palin:
The campaign secretly flew Palin into Dayton last night. She and McCain met privately for a couple of hours. McCain concluded she would "shake up the system" and was "a maverick," qualities he believed Lieberman would have brought to the ticket. But she also would appeal to conservatives -- which Lieberman most certainly would not have done.

After their meeting, McCain concluded he was comfortable with his choice. He notified Pawlenty this morning that he was going in a different direction.


Feel free to comment on my blog anytime, Hugh. You are always entertaining!

P.S. I have mad Google skills but seemed to have problems finding a decent picture of you. I think this one is better. However, I promise, I'll post whatever picture you send me of yourself.

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An Open Letter to Rachel Maddow--Let me help you update your Sarah Palin "Trooper-gate" info

Dear Rachel,

Congratulations on your new MSNBC Show. I cannot wait to see it. Also, I regret so much not getting the chance to see you in Denver. At the time, we were trying to get more passes (we did) for my whole team to go to see Obama at Invesco Field so I had to miss your talk. I still hold out hope that someday I'll meet you in person.

But that's not the point of this letter.

I saw you on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" and while your analysis of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin was spot-on, you obviously lacked some vital information regarding "Trooper-gate." I'd like to help you there.

I made THIS POST after attending the press conference where Mike Wooten asked the union TO RELEASE HIS RECORDS to the media. In spite of the fact this would reveal any flaws he may have in the matter, he wanted folks to know that their Governor, her family and her friends were spending a whole lot of time trying to get him fired. I also believe that (at the time) with Monegan gone and with the short-lived appointment of Chuck Kopp, he believed his job was not long for this world so what did he have to lose?

I recommend that you look at the documents closely...they are all linked in the post on the Public Safety Employees of Alaska that I linked above. You will read all of the allegations against him. I especially encourage you to read the "email" from Sarah Palin to retired Col Julia Grimes. Try to figure out which cereal box produced Sarah's Communication degree. Then read the interviews she does with the troopers, where they discover that her email was based entirely on the hearsay from her sister (the woman scorned) and Sarah knew NOTHING first-hand.

A couple of corrections to what you said last night:

1) Wooten NEVER physically hurt his wife. When she was asked in the interviews if he hit her, Mary said he did not.

2) The "taser incident"--it was stupid, it was poor judgement, it was irresponsible but having cared for 10-year-old boys before, I could see how it happened. I can imagine that, if the boy indicated that he'd just get someone else to try it on him, Wooten (who was trained on tasers) may decide to do it the safest way possible to show him what it was like. Like I said, stupid and poor judgement but not completely out of the realm of understanding...if you know 10-year-old boys.

Anyway, I hope this information helps. Rachel, if you have any questions, feel free to email me, call me, send a signal flare or any other way you can. Thanks!!!!!

P.S. Don't call Alaska Native folks "Eskimo." Most Natives aren't and those that are often don't like the term...it's a "white man" label.

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Friday, August 29, 2008

BREAKING: McCain Campaign heading to Alaska to investigate


A very reliable source overheard Republican spokesperson McHugh Pierre state TODAY that he had spoken to the McCain Campaign. They are coming to Alaska tomorrow to check out the "Troopergate" investigation.

In other words, THEY DID NOT DO SO PROPERLY AHEAD OF TIME.

So, I wonder what else they may not know...like why Bristol Palin may be holding a blanket over her abdomen in public when she's turned to the side towards the cameras?

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The Chauffeur Speaks

Let me preface this by stating that I did not vote for Barack Obama in the primary in Colorado. My personal preference had been for John Edwards, but this option was denied me by his withdrawal before the Colorado primaries. Since a family friend died years before his time due to lack of medical insurance for a preventable ailment, national health care has been my major deciding factor when voting and I felt that Hillary Clinton’s plan was better. The battle between Clinton and Obama was fierce, but I was ready to back Obama in the general election because some health care plan is better than the farce that John McCain offers.

When the tickets for Obama’s acceptance speech sold out so quickly, my wife and I were resigned to finding one of the numerous public viewing locations in Denver to watch this momentous, historical event. I was resigned to simply acting as a chauffer for Team Blue Oasis, experiencing the DNC from their perspective and not mine. Never before had American been given the opportunity to vote for an African American candidate in the general election with a major political party and I wanted to be part of it in some fashion. When I dropped off Celtic Diva and Writing Raven at the delegation breakfast, the plan was to try to obtain Writing Raven a pass so both of them could attend the speech while Monocot and I would take Morrigan with us to watch. Celtic Diva worked some incredible magic and managed to turn her one pass into five, getting the entire Team Blue Oasis in, though only Writing Raven and Morrigan were able to sit together.

What does one do when they find out that they are going to be able to take part of history? Yeah, I called my Mom… clichéd I know, but my mother and I have a close relationship and I had to tell her. I also sent a text message to numerous friends, most of which were congratulatory, if not jealous. My wife Monocot and I stuck together as much as possible, but once we entered the gates of Mile High Stadium, we had no choice but to move to completely different sections of the stadium as sections were being strictly enforced.

As I became situated in my nosebleed section directly behind the stage, giving me an excellent opportunity to view the back of the head of everyone at the podium, I was prepared to listen to the various speakers and watch history with Obama’s acceptance speech. Win or loose, America was going to have the opportunity for someone to actually live up to Martian Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, coincidently on the same day 45 years later. I had already made my logical choice for a candidate for the November election and while the speech could influence my decision, it was highly unlikely.

The people I was sitting with were nice, but they were strangers and something this large I wanted to share with friends. My wife had turned her phone off to save battery power, so I was prepared to make the best of things when I got a text message from Steven in Florida asking my opinion about Bill Richardson’s speech. With his wife in night school after finishing her day job, he wished to communicate with another adult with similar views. There was much banter between us, including some sophomoric humor that could only be truly appreciated by disciples of the wit of Monty Python.

By the time that Joe Biden hit the stage, the tone of conversation turned more serious, as we both were intrigued by the events taking place in front of us. During the video biography of Obama, Steven admitted that he was having difficulty explaining to his five year old son what was going on without crying and the full magnitude of the importance of this nomination hit me. As Steven said in his text, he is the father of a wonderful five year old boy who is a mixed race child; his father is African American and his mother is white… just like Barack Obama. On the anniversary of Emmet Till’s death 47 years earlier, the magnitude of black man with a white wife telling their son about a man who was exactly like him sunk in. I lost my logical detachment and general skepticism about all politicians and allowed my emotions to come to the forefront.

I will not reiterate the analysis that Steven provided of the speech; suffice to say that I do agree with many of the points. Not having a child of my own, I can only imagine how Steven felt, but it was enough to make me rather misty eyed also. As Obama spoke, I allowed my heart instead of just my mind to listen and I will admit that I dared to hope for a better future. As the speech went on, I could clearly envision Steven trying to explain this to his son and I started weeping due to as much as what Obama said as to what it meant for Steven’s family and millions of others just like him. Hope. Love. Perseverance. Pride. I had become so disgusted by politics in general that I did not think anyone could move me, but thanks to the magnificent speech, the honesty that was behind the words and the text messages exchanged with a friend 1,800 miles away, I was truly moved. I am not ashamed to say that my “male bonding moment” over texting left two grown men weepy eyed.

Today has reverted to politics as usual. McCain is doing his best to steal all of Obama’s thunder by announcing his Vice Presidential running mate. This will be hashed out by all the media and dissected ad nauseam. In their focus on the facts, figures and opinions of the day, they will completely overlook the hard to quantify emotional aspects of last night’s acceptance speech. How does one quantify the impact of people opening their hearts and feeling hope? The feeling was a tangible presence last night at Mile High Stadium, and I was far from the only person with red eyes from crying. Win or lose, Obama has undoubtedly inspired this generation that Yes, We Can, if only we put our minds to it.

The Danger: Losing sight of the issues in the dazzle of Sarah Palin

These were comments on my Sarah Palin/VP Candidate thread from a blogger I deeply respect, Radical Catholic Mom:

Diva,

First: This is historic. She is the second female to run for office since 1984.

Second: I worked the polls when Sarah was elected. Dems voted for her, Independents voted for her, and non-voters voted for her.

Third: Both hubby & I worked on her campaign. Last night we were Obama supporters. Now? We are going to have to REALLY decide. This is going to be very tough for us.

Fourth: Don't underestimate her or dismiss her because of whatever. That would be a mistake and not persuasive for undecideds.

8/29/2008 8:29 AM

*************************************

Radical Catholic Mom said...
Correction: VP run for office (excuse me! I sound like an idiot)

8/29/2008 8:48 AM


**************************************
Here's my reply:

CelticDiva said...

Hey, RCM...

I know that the Pro Life folks worked very hard on her campaign...my bro in law did as well.

However, don't lose sight of the issues here because our dazzling Gov. has stepped into the fray.

John McCain proved through the Georgia incident that he will be quick to commit our troops to another war whether we have the troops to spare or not.

John McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time.

The Republican Party has now yanked drilling in ANWR off the Platform, yet Sarah Palin, the champion of drilling in ANWR is now on the ticket. How much do you really think she's going to have a say in a McCain Administration?

If you honestly look at the Palin Administration...she had nothing to do with "reforming Alaska" other than expose Randy Ruedrich. All of the other "exposure of corruption" was attributable to Ray Metalfe and the FBI.


Additionally, I'd like to add that our economy is failing, health care is at critical mass, the Arctic is melting, we have a hurricane bearing down on a city that still has not gotten the gov't help it needs from the first one...none of these are issues that John McCain and Sarah Palin will fix.

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The Obama Speech--A Father's Perspective and a comment from Celtic



Below is a wonderful piece by a friend of Kaerick's with his reactions to the Obama speech. He wasn't there but he might as well have been--his reactions resounded profoundly with me, especially the reactions he had as the parent of a mixed-race child.

I learned the depths of my own feelings that morning as the "community passes" were being passed out and I learned that my 10-year-old Morrigan actually had a shot at going to Invesco Field. The tears started coming and I couldn't stop them. My vision of the speech had always been standing there and watching it side-by-side with my daughter...explaining to her the importance of the connection between MLK's "Dream" speech and what was happening before her eyes. However, I had resigned myself to the reality that despite all of my efforts, she not only could not be by my side, she could not be there at all.


Suddenly, that all changed.

We sat while members of the delegation met to try and hand out the passes fairly. Suddenly, it turned out that both Writing Raven and Morrigan were going. I kept crying...I couldn't sit with Morrigan but Raven would, another female of color like my daughter who understood well the gravity of this event because of the wise teachings of her mother and grandmother.

At Invesco, my cell phone died early because Morrigan kept texting me asking me questions and reminding me that we really were there together. I was moved to tears at many points because I realized that Morrigan was hearing the same thing...from Martin Luther King's grown children, from various folks from around the country sharing their problems and why they support Obama, from Barack Obama's amazing and overwhelming narrative...which left me breathless and beaming.


So, we post this as kind of a "Team Blue Oasis" coverage of the speech and I include my pictures and video of the beginning and end crowd reactions.


*******************************************************************
A good friend of mine in Florida who is the father of a wonderful 5 year old mixed race child shared his thoughts with me about the Obama speach that I felt were powerful and moving. I will attempt to convey my own thoughts, but his were so moving that I felt compared to share them. With his permission, here is what Steven in Florida felt about Obama's acceptance speech:

Last night, I decided to watch the Obama acceptance speech at the DNC with an open mind. I am a registered Green Party member who does not believe in preemptive war (as our actions have a very bad habit of coming back to haunt us) , is very concerned about the status and health of the planet (as we have only one), and thinks our corporate trade policy is quickly becoming a race to the bottom, and our security policy seems designed to keep everyone who disagrees away from those in power. No one talks to anyone different. Ideas are not given room to evolve.


I find it hard to fathom that with all of the wealth of planet Earth, that we have people who are poor, sick and dying because others think they need to have so much.

I find it hard to fathom that as a planetary people, we can't sit down at a table and discuss our differences like civilized people. The more I talk to those I don't agree with, the more I find we have the same end goals - we want our children smart, healthy, safe, and permitted the opportunity to go further than we do. We want our health, our safety and our opportunity to improve our lot in life.



It's not about so-called "1 world government", it's about what your mom taught you when you were 4. That everyone should be respected, no matter what they look like, or how they dress, or what they believe, as long as they aren't trying to hurt you.

Every election, I keep hoping that the candidates speak to me, whether local, state or national. Every election, I want things to be different. I want everyone to progress. The table truly is big enough. They never do. I'm either talked down to, or my issues never get addressed. I vote for candidates who speak for me. I will not cast a "strategic vote".

The recent campaign has worried me because of several things. First off, the same tactics of a campaign based on personality and personal attacks and not a real sense of what the policies of the major candidates will be. The only way you could find that was through alternate media, which provided detailed analysis of candidates, their records, their staff - really substantive analysis.

The MSM worried about what they were wearing, is america ready to elect a(n) (insert divisive typing here, such as black, old, female, etc...) candidate.

It was with cautious optimism that I turned to cspan (didn't want someone to tell me what I thought, I just wanted to watch it straight up.)


As Obama walked to the stage, something started to bubble up within me. The importance of the moment was not lost on me.

45 years ago, MLK Jr. delivered his speech on the Mall in Washington.

47 years ago, Emmett Till was murdered for interacting with a white woman.

And here we have the first American of African descent winning the nomination for president of the United States. So yes, I was very curious about what was to come.

Barack Obama got my attention right away.

"more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less."

Yes, I put in more hours and get less money. I have actually LESS money now than last year at this time.

"more have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet"

More people I know have hit points where they were literally worried about keeping their house, or are one illness or one missed check away from abject poverty, and I have direct experience with this.

"More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach.

"We are a better country than this."

Yes! I keep saying, "Why do we have poor people? Why do people die from anything other than non-preventable, untreatable disease? Why does the conversation devolve into stereotypical, racist, classist, ineducated and frankly RUDE soundbite-fest?"

So yes, I'm ready to listen.

And it continued. On issue after issue, point after point, I kept nodding my head. Not that all of it was I wanted to hear, to be sure - We could have done without clean coal, nuclear power (what are you going to do with thousands of years in half-life?) 10 years to end dependance on Middle East Oil? How about we end dependence on --all-- fossil fuels (we can give the workers in these industries to the new green jobs)?

So no, I do not agree with Barack Obama in totality. But in listening to this speech, I heard something that I had not heard in anyone for some time.

Love. Love of this country. Love of what it could possibly become, and passion for what it should be and is not now. Many of us, progressive minded folk especially, have thought we were locked out of this conversation. And I have been talking about this with my conservative friends.

(For the record, I don't believe in marching in lock-step. I -like- candidates who can think for themselves and adjust positions accordingly. Who aren't so rigid in their thinking that they can't empathize with others needs.)

In those conversations my thinking has been more along the lines of "our sense of common purpose.


"We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country."

YES! And there's more than 3 ways to do that.

"the reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals."

YES! I have had cousins shot at. Guns should NOT be easy to acquire. Period. Everyone packing everywhere does not make me feel safe. It DOESN'T.

"We can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in a hospital and to live lives free of discrimination."

YES! I have not forgotten that it was just 41 years ago that my marriage could not have happened legally. It is not fair that a healthy, loving relationship be denied because of a narrow-minded definition of what "love" is.

"passions may fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers"

YES! These are not objects. They are human beings. With families. With dreams. Are they not allowed a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Are these things only reserved for Americans? Who said we were "the chosen people"?


Obama has me believing in the 3rd option. Holding firm in some places, and compromising in others, all with the goal of elevating everyone's lot in life. Everyone. By making the choices stark. If I choose to be a bus driver, that's okay. If my ambition is to go further, then I should only be restricted by my abilities.

We are better, people. There is too much wealth for anyone to be left out. There are too many people with dreams deferred. Now maybe I am egalitarian. But I want everyone to have the best that they choose to. Our current level of consumption, industry, and corporatism cannot be sustained. It just CAN'T.

Do we not understand that everyone doesn't want 7 houses? I'm personally doing my best to hold on to ONE. I don't need millions of dollars, I just want to be able to start a business, raise my family, stay healthy and enjoy my life. It's not terribly complicated.

I started thinking these things were possible after last night's speech.

The weight of the moment reached back through my ancestry.

My son, who has mixed ancestry (as I do, just further up my family tree), wanted to know what I was doing watching TV. I explained calmly that the man on the tv had parents that looked like he did. And that today was a very important day. He asked me why. I said that I'm now proud to be able to answer many of his questions honestly. He asked me why.

I couldn't get through the answer without my voice breaking, tears rolling down my face. I did my best.

"Son, now, if you ask me if you could be President of the United States of America, I can tell you the truth in no uncertain terms. Yes. Yes you can."

When you have been told in various ways, overtly and covertly that your ideas don't matter, that you are a second class citizen and/or worthless, to see true signs of equality is heartwrenching. I can't wait for us to have multiple candidates from multiple parties across all walks of life.

What just happened is only the tiniest step. But an important one.

I can vote for love. I'm so tired of people trying to justify hate.

I've been crying off and on since watching this speech. I get it.

Feel free to respond in kind. I'd love to know your thoughts as well.

Peace be upon you, and all you care about.
-Steven

Lord help us all, Sarah Palin is the VP pick--UPDATE

UPDATE: It's official.

For all of those who need more information about Sarah and her scandals, I have written extensively on the issue. The link to those posts is HERE.

I will be doing a lot more writing on all of this but that reading should tide you over as well as the linked posts to Andrew Halcro's blog...the blog that broke a lot of these stories. Bear with me...I didn't get back from Invesco Field last night (due to transportation mismanagement, which I'll discuss later) until quite late and it's only 10:00 am Denver time (8:00 AM Alaska time). I still haven't posted on the Obama speech, which I think is rather important and I refuse to be completely sidetracked by this Republican media grab.



She's under investigation.

Her Lt. Gov is in the political fight of his life.

She said she wouldn't leave Alaska.

Selfish much?

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Invesco Field...take THAT Focus on the Family!

****UPDATE****

MORRIGAN AND RAVEN GOT COMMUNITY PASSES...WOOOO HOOOO! They are already there standing in, as Morrigan says, "The biggest line I've seen in my whole life!" The delegate busses don't come for 30 min or so and I'll be jumping off here shortly to catch one.

By the way, remember THIS? Focus on the Family prayed that it would rain on the Obama speech.



Ummmmmmm...guess not! You can't see even the hint of a cloud anywhere in the Denver sky.

If raining on Obama would infer God's wrath...what could we infer from this?

Keep checking in with my Twitter page to see what's happening!

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Today, I'm heading to the breakfast with the AK Delegation where we'll find out if a pass for Writing Raven is possible. If yes, then we'll work from that. If no, at this time I am planning NOT to bring my laptop because a) there is no power on the field b) there is no wifi or other internet access on the field c) the "blogger lounge" is with the rest of the MSM and very small and is at the tippy top of the Stadium (i.e. using a cane and hauling gear up there a no-go for me).

However, I have "Twitter" which means I'll be texting from the Stadium and my comments will show up on the right hand side of the blog in the "Twitter Update" section. I'll post and show pictures of what went on when I get back from the shindig and I'll be writing posts and analysis on everything I've seen heard and experienced during the Convention for days!

I want to thank all of you who have been following Writing Raven's and my journey this week! We've appreciated all of the feedback and support!

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Too tired to finish posting tonight...

I'll write more in the morning.

Obama in the house!!!!!!

And speaking now!!!!!!

Joe Biden





The video about Joe they are playing before his speech makes some nice connections. He talks about hating the abuse of power whether it's a parent slapping a child or a President wrongly launching a war. It talks about his family, his daily commute home from DC, losing his wife and daughter. His son got up and talked about how he'd always been there for him when they were growing up, how "the whole family" married Jill.

All I can think is not what they can say about John McCain at the Repub Convention, but how much they'll have to leave out.



Joe talks about his wife leaving him "breathless and speechless." McCain offered up his wife as a piece of meat at a biker convention.

Biden (as many have all night) talked his friendship with John McCain. However, (as has happened all night) he launched into the "McSame" policies McCain wants to continue for another four years.



The energy in the hall is amazing.

THANK GOD!!!! John Kerry talks about torture!!!!


He actually said that Obama will shut down Guantanamo Bay.

Classic..."before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself."

"Who can we trust to make America safe?"

John Kerry is stealing the show...Bill Clinton's speech was good but John Kerry is just unexpectedly great.



This theme was continued by the first 3 star women general, Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, US Army (Ret.).

I'll do a whole Veteran's post later.

Bill Clinton is speaking now



Wow...he is decimating McCain with total class.

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Woot--Melissa Ethridge!

The security guys were very nice to me.



I can't even describe to you how incredible this performance was.

I apologize for the boo boos...folks kept bumping me.

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By the way, this is how Fox News acts during the Invocation, Pledge and National Anthem



Typing and talking.



With their backs to the flag.

Nice...

(Tipped off by Dennis Zaki, who told me he saw the same thing yesterday while CNN, MSNBC and the others stood respectfully with their hands on their hearts.)

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Hillary releases the delegates

More is revealed...

The plan was for her to come up on stage right before South Carolina to release the delegates. She came onto the floor right by our delegation, but the prep took a long time and the Secret Service trapped everyone here. I stood and waited to get a good picture.

In the mean time, Chuck Schumer was also waiting for Hillary in the hallway. He saw me take the picture and smiled.



So we are waiting, packed together like cordwood, for each state to finish. When you are waiting for one specific state, you discover how many of them you forget when running through the alphabet.

Finally, she comes through...



Recognize the ear and the hair?

Anyway, thank God for the jumbotron!

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ALASKA ROLL CALL!!!!!! 15 Votes for Barack Obama, 3 Votes for Hillary Clinton






Color me surprised...I'll talk to Patti about it a little later...

DNCC--Day 3 has begun!!!!!



It's in full swing today...roll call is supposed to happen at about 4:00 PM MT which is the fun stuff. Right now, the nominating speeches are happening for Barack Obama...they already happened for Hillary Clinton.






Today, the challenge is keeping our seats. The aisles are already packed and the MSM is encroaching on our area since we are in the back. I volunteered to be bouncer and I'm trying to keep the riff raff out.

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Democratic National Convention--Day 3 Wednesday Podium Schedule


Wednesday, August 27, 2008

"SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE"
Time shown as local – Denver, Colorado MST



Hour # 1 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (LOCAL)
Call to Order
The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
State Senator from Texas
Co-Chair, Democratic National Convention

Invocation
Archbishop Demetrios
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America

Presentation of Colors
Colorado Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Franz Wedeman, Thomas Chesner, David Shuker, John Harrington

Pledge of Allegiance
Paul Bucha
Ridgefield, Connecticut recipient of the Medal of Honor for distinguished service as a commanding officer in Vietnam

National Anthem
Robert Moore
Distinguished singer from South Dakota and elected council member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Presidential Nomination Process
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Permanent Chair, Democratic National Convention

Nominating speech on behalf of Senator Hillary Clinton

Seconding speeches on behalf of Senator Hillary Clinton (2)

Nominating speech on behalf of Senator Barack Obama

Seconding speeches on behalf of Senator Barack Obama (3)

Call for Roll Call Vote
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Permanent Chair, Democratic National Convention

Roll Call Vote
Alice Travis Germond
Secretary of the Democratic National Committee

Remarks
The Honorable Charles Schumer
US Senator, New York
Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

The Honorable Tom Udall
Member of the US House of Representatives, New Mexico

The Honorable Jean Shaheen
Former Governor of New Hampshire
Candidate for US Senate

Jeff Merkley
Candidate for US Senate from the State of Oregon

Tom Allen
Candidate for the US Senate from the State of Maine

Hour # 4 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
The Honorable Richard M. Daley
Mayor of Chicago, Illinois

The Honorable Robert Wexler
Member of the US House of Representatives, Florida

Video - The Course of Our Nation
Brittany Washington
A student at Howard University in Washington, DC from Los Angeles, California

Women of the US House of Representatives
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Permanent Chair, Democratic National Convention
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Member of the US House of Representatives, Connecticut
The Honorable Nita Lowey
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
The Honorable Hilda Solis
Member of the US House of Representatives, California
The Honorable Louise Slaughter
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
The Honorable Maxine Waters
Member of the US House of Representatives, California
The Honorable Kathy Castor
Member of the US House of Representatives, Florida
The Honorable Lois Capps
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

Remarks
The Honorable Elijah Cummings
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland

Mark Docherty
Veteran and a firefighter from Sterling Heights, Michigan

The Honorable James Clyburn
Member of the US House of Representatives, South Carolina

The Honorable Manuel Diaz
Mayor of Miami, Florida

The Honorable Jay Rockefeller
US Senator, West Virginia

Live Performance
Melissa Etheridge accompanied by Phillip Sayce (guitar)
Award-winning singer/songwriter

Video - First Time Delegates: Renewing America's Promise

Remarks
The Honorable Harry Reid
US Senator, Nevada
Senate Majority Leader

CSM Michele S. Jones, US Army (Ret.)
First female command sergeant major of the US Army

The Honorable Patrick Murphy
Member of the US House of Representatives, Pennsylvania
Joined by Iraq war veterans

The Honorable Madeleine Albright
Former Secretary of State

America’s Town Hall - Economy
Moderator: The Honorable Joe Sestak
Member of the US House of Representatives, Pennsylvania
Panelists: Kathy Roth-Douquet, CSM John Estrada, Collin McMahon,
Representative Ellen Tauscher/California

Remarks
The Honorable Evan Bayh
US Senator, Indiana

Xiomara Rodriguez
Nevada delegate and retired member of the US Coast Guard

The Honorable Jack Reed
US Senator, Rhode Island

The Honorable Tom Daschle
Former US Senator and Senate Minority Leader, South Dakota

Hour # 5 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
The Honorable Bill Clinton
Former President of the United States

Beth Robinson
Stay-at-home mom from Hampton Roads, Virginia

The Honorable John Kerry
US Senator, Massachusetts

Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, US Army (Ret.)
First woman to achieve the rank of three star general in the US Army

The Honorable Bill Richardson
Governor of New Mexico

Video – Changing The Course of Our Nation
John Melvin
Iraq war veteran from DeWitt, Iowa

Veterans Video and Remarks
The Honorable Chet Edwards
Member of the US House of Representatives, Texas

Hour # 6 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
Tammy Duckworth
Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Helicopter pilot and wounded Iraq war veteran

Vice Presidential Nomination
Remarks and nominating speech
Seconding speech

Vice Presidential Nominee
The Honorable Senator Joe Biden
US Senator, Delaware

Benediction
Sister Catherine Pinkerton
Congregation of St. Joseph’s in Cleveland, Ohio

Recess
The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
State Senator from Texas
Co-Chair, Democratic National Convention

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Democratic Convention--The main speeches



Hillary Clinton



Mark Warner



Over two hours of coverage, including Michelle Obama's Speech

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Alaska Delegates and other Democrats in Denver


Last night, our own Ryan Bucholdt was honored on stage as a young delegate--the future of the Democratic Party

Patti Higgins

Lindsey Holmes, Vic Fisher and Jane Angvik

Obama fans showing their enthusiasm next to a small contigent of McCain supporters

Former Alabama Atty General, G. Douglas Jones, spoke at the Alaska Delegation Breakfast this morning. He helped to put away the bombers of the 16th Street Church back in the 1960's where four little girls were killed and gave a moving and informative reminder that not-so-long-ago, racial violence was common.

Writer and Air
America radio personality Thom Hartmann spoke and signed his new book "Cracking the Code" at Border's Books tonight. Since I missed him at the Big Tent, I got a chance to listen to him while Writing Raven was at the Pepsi Center. He discussed (among other things) the battle against economic tyranny and how the task facing Barack Obama was similar to the one that faced FDR. My friends, Kim and Erick, are on either side of him.

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9:10pm MST - Last live post for Tuesday, reaction from Gov. Knowles


Last post for the night. As a reminder, Celtic Diva and Writing Raven are switching night, and tonight Writing Raven was doing the live blogs. More details will be posted later, here and on Alaska Real.

The night truly belonged to Hillary - yet such a strong Obama message. Everybody I've talked to has been genuinly impressed with her speech, and no one is begrudging anything.




More later, but an immediate reaction from Gov. Tony Knowles (exclusive to the Team Blue Oasis!)

"It was a seamless transition from (Clinton) to Obama."

9:07pm MST - Hillary - wow.

I will post more later, but Hillary just finished, and wow! She's got many people in tears, and others - not supporters, going, "Wow - she's doing a really great job."

One of the Alaska delegates just said, "Wow. Pretty intense. Pretty amazing."

8:30pm MST - It's getting complicated down here

Standing room only!

A punishment for having such good seats, Alaska delegates are constantly doing battle for their seats.

For those that don't know, the floor plan was pretty strategic. Illinois and Delaware are front and center, and highly targeted swing states (including Alaska) are right on the floor surrounding the podium.
























The video for Hillary is playing now, and the place is starting to go pretty nuts!





8:00pm MST - Bad timing

Bummer for timing. Gov. Ted Strickland had some unfortunate timing problems.

While he was being introduced...












This is what the crowd was looking at. The Obama family and Biden coming in to sit down.

He even had to wait a minute before speaking, just to try and get the crowd's attention back.

He's got the crowd back now though!




7:37pm MST- MITT WHO??

Rumor? Dennis Zaki came by and said Mitt Romney is in the house!

He has pics, but has limited media credentials and is running around trying to get everything in that time.

He reports that Mitt was booed when he came in - and that Guiliani is reported to be in the area as well.

7:15pm MST - Fairbanks Mayor Whittaker!

The Alaskan delegation got up and started cheering as soon as they announced Mayor Whittaker.

He was very eloquent with his speech - saying that he wasn't here to say bad things about McCain, but:

"I'm a registered Republican, and I cast my vote for Barack Obama!"








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7pm MST- Knowles and McAulliffe

Governor Knowles has arrived!














Former DNC Chair Terri McAulliffe greets Alaskans. His advice for Alaska?

"Win that Senate seat!"

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