Massive DNC photo update, including our first celebrity sightings!
Straight off the bus, here's Downtown Charlotte:
Helicopters circling incessantly overhead:
Pretty big police presence downtown, but it doesn't seem much worse than Boston 2004 from what I recall:
This is why we took the bus -- driving downtown is not recommended:
Here's the convention center, where we went to pick up our press credentials and attend a blogger briefing:
These are the credentials we need to get inside and pick up our real credentials:
For some reason this says it expired two days ago, but we still got in okay:
All these people are waiting for credentials of one kind or another:
Skinner picks up our media credentials:
Woohoo!
Don't forget the NASCAR Hall of Fame:
This is the Lynx commuter train that provides a shuttle service between the convention center and the Time Warner arena:
Outside the Time Warner arena -- still quiet, convention hasn't really kicked off yet:
Inside the arena -- the convention is taking place right behind those curtains:
We visit the "Unassigned Media" area:
Celebrity sighting! The Daily Show's Samantha Bee doing an interview:
Inside the arena for the first time:
We're going to be spending plenty of time in there, so we decided to go check out the PPL. Security is pretty tight around the arena:
The CNN Election Express:
Celebrity sighting! Roland Martin and friends:
Skinner takes MSNBC's advice very literally:
MSNBC's outdoor stage:
MSNBC's tower of heroes (my name, not theirs):
At this point we were planning to visit the PPL but then we spotted VisitMyrtleBeach.com Hospitality Central, which we had already received an invitation to. We checked it out and discovered they were serving up free booze, food and wi-fi. So here we are!
More updates coming later!
Earlier posts:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021265660
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021264788
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021260689
DU DNC Journal:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/dnc2012
And one more thing: VISIT MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
= new reply since forum marked as read
This is so exciting! I look forward to all of it! I hope you guys enjoy it as much as possible!
You've found the free booze so you're off to a good start! 
Julie
buuuuuurrrruppp
It'd "make my day" to see Samantha Bee in person! She's AWESOME funny!!
You did take that picture before the free beer, right? 
And Myrtle Beach ( in the 80's , anyway!) was kick-ass.
Thanks for posting updates and pictures.
Enjoy!
loved "leaning forward“, Skinner!
How far away are protesters?
Have a blast!
Welcome to Charlotte!
Keep 'em coming!! Way to go DU!
It's like being there, too
Thank you for the pictures. And it's GREAT you can go as MEDIA YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY
Keep the inside scoop coming!
Susan is one of 9 DNC delegates from Fort Bend County. http://juanitajean.com/2012/09/02/credentialed-up/
If you see a member of the Texas delegation with an oxygen cannister who is in her sixties say hello to her for me.
Love your updates.
S for Skinner was the one to your right.
And you left out this one...
"HEY YOU! I WANNA SEE YOUR PAPERS!1!!"
you're THERE! Downtown Charlotte looks good..one place I haven't been..and Especially Good with all the DNC Activities.
Really Nice Pics..to get the feel of the place!
I hope they don't embarrass me or my city.
Have fun and make some NOISE
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Let's hear it for the Admins!
Thankyou!!!!
I saw Cory Booker today in a golf cart. Didn't see much else because I got stuck outside behind and unscheduled OWS protest and couldn't get to the Planned Parenthood rally (me and about 100 other people for PP and a few hourly workers who weren't getting paid as a result. Thanks OWS!). Pretty pissed about that. If I had been able to get in, would have heard Sandra Fluke and Booker speak. Did score a ticket for the acceptance speech on Thursday, so pretty happy about that
Envious! Have fun for all of us! We'll watch!
I'm shy and don't get that opportunity very often, lol!
I FEEL LIKE I AM THERE!!!
I'll buy that...
