"Get Out Of Denver, Baby" - Democratic Underground

Hissyspit

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Sat Aug-30-08 09:25 PM
Original message

"Get Out Of Denver, Baby"

Edited on Sat Aug-30-08 09:39 PM by Hissyspit

It was easy for me to get out of Denver, but I hope everyone who needs to is able to get out of the Gulf Coast/New Orleans area as quickly and safely.

Developments in the news, such as Gustav, reactions to the developments, as well as to the convention activities, were picked up on-the-run by the DUers in Denver this week even more so, I found, than in our regular lives. So, too, analysis of the coverage of all of this, was picked up by popping into various websites on my laptop via provided wifi or my card whenever possible or by spying the websites on the laptops of those sitting next to me (interesting to see what other bloggers look at), by listening to the radio in the DU rental van (Christopher Hitchens on NPR's 'Talk of the Nation': "When I speak to my friends in Iraq, they...," Elad's immediate response: "Christopher Hitchens has friends?") or by picking up word of mouth - all of this was part of the Denver convention experience and a part of the perception of what was going on hour to hour as this country moves toward the 2008 presidential election vote. I learned about McCain's Palin veep choice from glancing at a laptop screen somewhere, and it actually may have been the LA Times guy when he was checking Drudge (yeah...) - "Alaska Governor's Sister Arrives By SUV" - and had it confirmed from television as I rushed through the Denver airport early Friday morning.

And only then did I get a chance to see a graphic presenting the predicted track of Gustav. (Ironically, Mayor Nagin of New Orleans was one of my "celebrity sightings" at the convention.) The value of having a Democratic Underground to check on to get a sense of the alternative "cut-through-the-bullshit" point of view and to gain access to information otherwise ignored or supressed by MSM was emphatically reinforced by all of this.

I have major blisters on my feet, have hemorrhoids thanks to from sitting on the plane and in the stadium where I refused to move for about six or seven hours in fear of losing my sweet seat location (not even to pee), and have been running on major sleep deficit and adrenaline for several days...

And I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

The flight out, no, not a chase by law enforcement due to a drug deal as in depicted in Seger's 1974 song, just an early morning taxi ride with an Ethiopian American who has lived in the U.S. for the past 5 years to Jeppesson Terminal, at 6:15 a.m., and then a ride on a 757, was, even at that early morning hour, communal due to the population fellow convention goers, everyone wearing a button or t-shirt, or carrying a DNC bag. The Seger song immediately became my soundtrack as I grabbed my boarding pass and, dragging the carry-on that now weighed much more, full of souvenirs and swag, than it did when I arrived, rushed past a woman who said something along the lines of "he wanted to know how we were going to get out of Denver."

Go, get out of Denver, baby. Go, go, get out of Denver, baby.
Go, get out of Denver, baby. Go, go.
'Cause you look just like a commie and you might just be a member, baby.
Get out of Denver.

- Bob Seger "Get Out Of Denver"

Not a bad earworm, actually. Here's a few more pictures, a few more memories for you to view, including some from the Denver DU meet-up (apologies to those not shown, you know it was a bit hectic and the lighting was low), again presented in reverse chronlogical order as an overview of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

As another DUer posted today, I would ask that everyone please not get complacent. It has been bad these past 8 years and it can get worse. Carry the spirit of the past week into the first week of November, because we have no choice but to have an Obama presidency. There is no other option at this point for the future of the Bill of Rights, true American values and the lives of Americans to come. Be well, Gulf Coast DUers.

You could hear a pin drop in the print press area and in the blogger press area as the introduction video for Sen. Obama was presented.

Obama gestures as he begins his acceptance speech. "With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States."

Cheering Obama on.

Waving the big flag during Obama's speech.

Monica Early: A life-long Republican, after I received an anti-Obama smear email, I became an Obama supporter.

Al Gore heads to the podium to speak to the country and his fellow Democrats. "We would not be showing contempt for the Constitution; we'd be protecting the rights of every American regardless of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. And we would not be denying the climate crisis; we'd be solving it."

"Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them, the same policies all over again.

Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous."

Wonder in the stadium.

The generals and admirals arrive to proclaim support for a President Barack Obama.

Dr. Dean on the screen, Thursday in Mile-High Stadium...

The night before, about 25-30 DUers and friends showed up to share food, drink and conversation at Racine's Restaurant as we watched Sen. Biden's speech.