So I was here last night for all the festivities - we had a general lemming-gathering of Democrats - what an oddly-dressed bunch we can be. I was lucky enough to "know someone who knows someone", so I was introduced to Al Gore before his speech. He looks good!
Last night was very interesting - we had speeches from our two Senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, that got the crowd going. The night was billed as honoring Norm Dicks, the Congressman from Bremerton (I'm a bad reporter; I forget what CD he's in), so there were quite a few stories about him.
Al got up and gave an incredible (and incredibly long) speech. It turns out Al's really funny! I recognized the stories - he's been telling some of these jokes for the last two or three years, but he's got great timing and deliver, so it was a knee-slapper. He talked for a while about Norm Dicks and their time working together in the Senate, and then he got to the meat we were all waiting for: Bush. He talked about the moral vacuum in the White House, the failed foreign policy, and violations of civil rights. He talked about being supportive of the invasion of Afghanistan and standing behind our commander in chief after 9/11, and then reminded us that all these things we'd supported were based on lies, because Bush had intended to go into Iraq all along. He had the crowd going for the entire hour that he spoke, so while it was a long speech, it didn't feel too long.
Today, there are over 1,000 delegates and all the requisite candidate speeches in the hall. Outside, campaigns and other groups have booths set up to sell all their t-shirts, buttons, etc. The DFA crowd has a great table, and scored some of the old banners from the campaign, so it gave me a nostalgic twinge to see the "Jobs for America" banner hanging between two trees, and the memories flooded back when Flat Howard showed up! Kucinich delegates are all over the place, handing out flyers to support peace platform planks, planks about corporate evil-ness (I confess I haven't really read these, since I'm not a believer in corporate evil-ness).
Natch, Kerry blue is all over the place, and Greg Rodriguez, the King County Chair (and long-time Dean supporter) is giving a speech on behalf of Kerry. Greg switched over to Kerry to show unity, and I think they're making him sort of a poster boy as the die-hard Deaniac who is fully on board. Whatever works, I suppose, but it kills me seeing him speak for Kerry.
Chris Gregoire, one of our gube candidates, entered with a marching band and dozens of supporters carrying signs, and CONFETTI CANNONS. Chris has a thing with going waaaaay over the top in sign wars and visibility. She gave her stump speech (Chris isn't an inspiring speaker), talked about choice and labor and said she sees America as a place where a milkman's daughter can be governor of the state of Washington (sound familiar, Edwards fans?). When she was done, her supporters filed out with the marching band and marched past the Ron Sims parade which was just getting ready to go in. A minor shouting skirmish broke out, but all went well, no one got too heated, and the Sims folks went in and make a big hoorah about their guy. Sims is our other Gube candidate, and unlike Chris Gregoire, is able to talk about gay marriage and taxes. This is an interesting race that is getting more interesting, but ultimately I'm sure Chris will be our nominee. We'll miss Ron though - he's an incredible speaker, and gets the crowd into a righteous frenzy when he gets going!
Only real excitement so far today: One Sims supporter apparently started causing some kind of trouble, and was asked to leave by the Sheraton. He decided he didn't want to leave, so he laid down in the courtyard, in front of a vendor's table. They finally had 5 police officers come chat with him, and after showing him their badges and identifying their chain of command, they asked him politely to leave. Of course, he refused, so he got carried out to the sidewalk where they laid him down and continued the conversation out away from the main convention space. I have to say, I watched 15 minutes of this, and they were being patient, polite and friendly. Listening to him, though, you can see why sometimes these guys snap.
So that's my report for now. I'm going to watch the platform arguments this afternoon, which should provide some interesting drama, and I'll try to keep you guys posted.