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Gavel Down! Monday Night Open Thread

by: Mike Hoefer

Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 18:21:27 PM EDT
The convention is officially on!

The NH Delegation has great seats and is getting some good media attention. CBS (Not sure if it is local or national) is about to do an interview with Mary Rauh and Joanne Dowdell about what Michelle Obama needs to do to win over hesitant Democrats. Apparently Mary and Joanne were not going to tell the right story so they have moved on to find someone willing to be controversial... Grrrr TradMed.

Lots of procedural stuff right now, The Hall is slowly filling up at times it seems there is as much media as delegates.

Use this as an open thread if any of you are watching the proceedings tonight.


Update (Dean): Mike, these vids are awesome - thanks! And for those of you who (like me) want to abandon completely the tradmed coverage, in addition to checking in here you can catch a pretty decent DNC livestream here.

Mike Hoefer :: Gavel Down! Monday Night Open Thread
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Gavel Down! Monday Night Open Thread | 55 comments
We know where you are for Thursday, but where is the New Hampshire delegation for the first three nights? (0.00 / 0)

Not sure about Thrusday (0.00 / 0)
The map laura posted is Monday-Wed. I have not heard anything about Thrusday. I'm sitting next to the NH Placard.

Hope > Fear
Soooooooooo jealous. (4.00 / 4)
Jealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealous.

If my school year had started a week later I'd be there.

Oh well, next best thing is this custom-tailored BH coverage, and considering how bad I am at holding a camera, his situation is probably for the best. :)

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.

Nancy P just took the stage (0.00 / 0)
The place is packed now!

Ned Helms NH-Obama co-chair was just on the stage for a panel discussion.

Hope > Fear

Wish the network feeds were better! (0.00 / 0)
CNN is talking-headish during Pelosi...  CSPAN has a very choppy feed.  PBS has a good feed, but is talking headish during the Katrina survivor part.  

I left my laptop at work, so can't comment while watching.  

Mike I love your coverage!  And videos...

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

[ Parent ]
Maya Soetoro-Ng (0.00 / 0)
on now... You can see the family resemblance in her eyes.

Hope > Fear
Congressman Hodes and Peggo are in the house (0.00 / 0)


Hope > Fear
Jesse Jackson Jr's speech (0.00 / 0)
was awesome!  Finally something to get the crowd on it's feet and in to it.  What's the electricity like Mike?  Finally the C-SPAN coverage is smooth enough to catch people dancing to "Are you gonna come my way?"  

Forget the gavel-to-gavel coverage Mike, BHers want to know, who's dancing?  I know Paul is... who else????  

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

The entire delegation is on its feet (0.00 / 0)
Are you gonna come my way was pretty hot. The band is good.

Cnn had a young fellow with white hat... He is one of our pages... getting a lot of attention with that hat.

Hope > Fear

[ Parent ]
Haven't really watched CNN (0.00 / 0)
becase they're not showing any of the speeches, just talking heads talking...

OK, I'm going to go back in front of my TV and try to catch a little more before I hit the hay...

Will be counting on you and Laura to know what I miss tonight.

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

[ Parent ]
If you can get an internet webstream (0.00 / 0)
click on the link I put in Mike's diary

www.demconvention.com

It's a pundit-free zone.

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.

[ Parent ]
Wants me to download some software... (0.00 / 0)
maybe I'll try that tomorrow.

Switched over to FAUX just for kicks and giggles, you should see the fair and balanced reporting over there!  Hah!

But they did mention the "convention" type business going on among the delegations re: the primary system.  It's nice that they're covering that part of the story. (right?)  Just trying to be fair and balanced ;-)

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

[ Parent ]
John Kerry and Spike Lee just walked by... (0.00 / 0)
not at the same time but...

Hope > Fear
That video of Jimmy Carter (4.00 / 1)
re: Katrina reminds me of just how much material we have going forward to highlight failed Republican policies.

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.
Kennedy signs (0.00 / 0)
were meant to be "secret" till after Teddy... Caroline came out and everyone got excited...

Hope > Fear
Not Mac friendly :( (0.00 / 0)
Can't get the live vid feed from the convention.

Site tells me the following:  

"We're sorry, but the Democratic Convention video web site isn't compatible with your operating system and/or browser. Please try again on a computer with the following:

Compatible operating systems:
Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or a Mac with Tiger (OS 10.4) or Leopard (OS 10.5).

Compatible browsers:
Internet Explorer (version 6 or later), Firefox (version 2), or, if you are on a Mac, Safari (version 3.1) also works."

It's a baldfaced lie, dagnabbit.

I have a Mac with Tiger (OS 10.4) and Safari (version 3.1) and it ain't working, otherwise I wouldn't be seeing the message (duh!).

Technological discrimination!!! No wonder I'm cranky all the time.

So, I am watching Jim Lehrer instead, and checking in with Mike's vids along the way. Great job, Mike!

It's time for a change and I need a nap. Or is it the other way around?

try cpsan.org (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
whoops (0.00 / 0)
there is live coverage on
www.c-span.org
[ Parent ]
Weird. (0.00 / 0)
I'm on a Mac with Firefox, and it told me to download Silverlight, and after that, good to go, with occasional screen freezes, but mostly good.

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.
[ Parent ]
The answer: (4.00 / 1)
After I was done with all the hankies following Teddy's speech (and I mean it!), I checked the Silverlight thing, and the issue is that it will only run on Intel Macs, mine's a G4 PPC.

I did install on my XP box, and it works fine. Guess it's time for a new Mac! Oh, well. Birthday coming up! ;)

It's time for a change and I need a nap. Or is it the other way around?

[ Parent ]
I, too, am (always) on a Mac with Firefox, and I just watch it on TV. (0.00 / 0)
I know that's not an option for you, Dean, but I've given up on watching webstreams when I'm trying to observe history being made.  Too unreliable.

That said, was anybody else bothered by CNN's unnecessarily thick and distracting bottom-of-the-screen thing?  I was on that channel during the Kennedy portion, and it drove me crazy.  I switched to MSNBC as soon as I could.  Still, annoying things at the bottom, but smaller and less distracting.

As for tonight's content, I have no words.

[ Parent ]
Lessig on Coverage and the technology (4.00 / 1)
http://lessig.org/blog/2008/08...

From NPR to the networks, "coverage" means some ridiculous unprepared interview with a party has-been, while a prepared speech by someone currently significant is being given in the background. (e.g., Jim Lynch, former GOP Congressman from Iowa, speaking in the background as NPR interviews Walter Mondale. Lynch's speech was fantastic. Mondale's, well, you get the point.)

Hope > Fear

[ Parent ]
CSPAN (4.00 / 1)
doesn't do any of that, but their feed, while a few seconds ahead of everyone elses, kept getting choppy...  Don't have the MSNBC option anymore (Comcastic!)

Might try to download the software tonight.

I ended up going to bed and listening to Michelle's speech on NPR, uninterrupted. (I did however fall asleep before the end of it...)

(they also carried her brother's speech in his entirety).  

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

[ Parent ]
You can only get MSNBC with digital cable now. It's kind of like healthcare. (0.00 / 0)
So expensive because it's worth it, eh, Sununu?
[ Parent ]
But I have digital cable... (0.00 / 0)
I even have like the silver or gold package--- we get HBO and internet through them.  Really, this has gone too far!

I do like my NHPR option, I can sleep-listen.

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

[ Parent ]
Really? (0.00 / 0)
I have it too, one one TV but not the other, and I have MSNBC on the digital one.  Comcast?
[ Parent ]
Comcastic! (0.00 / 0)
Love it, we even have the converter box, dude.  Go figure.

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.
[ Parent ]
Gah! (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Jim Leach (4.00 / 1)
Not to be confused with Robin Leach, also in the political news.

I believe Jim Lynch is a Dem from Massachusetts?

[ Parent ]
Steve Lynch (4.00 / 1)
Though I could probably find a Jim Lynch, given time.
[ Parent ]
Jim Leach (4.00 / 1)
former repub congressman from Iowa,

Steven Lynch, democratic congressman from Massachusetts 9th district including my hometown.

[ Parent ]
The fighting ninth? (0.00 / 0)
Me too.

Isn't anybody on this blog from New Hampshire? :-!

[ Parent ]
For good or ill (0.00 / 0)
They cover the conventions like they cover everything else.
[ Parent ]
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (4.00 / 1)
2 seats behind me...

Hope > Fear
More secret signs being passed out... n/t (0.00 / 0)


Hope > Fear
ONE NATION! (4.00 / 1)
n/t

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.
[ Parent ]
What 'up with our pahhhty? (0.00 / 0)
Sorry--- I've been out of the loop. What's going on with the plans to get together Thursday night to watch the speech?  ManchVegas?

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.
Convention Crawl? (0.00 / 0)
With all the shindigs, it is hard to pick one.

We can meet in Manch, then make a circut. The BBad man is in.

The more the merrier. :v)

The giant finds its gait.

[ Parent ]
Hey Obama campaign: (0.00 / 0)
do whatever you have to do to get Jim Leach to come to NH to stump for Obama among the Rs and Us.

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.
Michelle signs being passed out n/t (0.00 / 0)


Hope > Fear
Michelle signs being passed out n/t (0.00 / 0)


Hope > Fear
Big gap in your coverage, Mike (4.00 / 2)
I'm not seeing anything here about the Deep Fractures and Divisions Riving the Democratic Party.

That's OK; CNN is on top of that story.

Michelle was great! (4.00 / 2)
How can she do that?  I know she's been campaigning for a year plus, but addressing the convention? I was really impressed.

Hello America (4.00 / 3)
THAT was Michelle Obama.

10!

The giant finds its gait.

Reminded me of... (0.00 / 0)
the woman I had coffee with last July.  :-)

I love that we live in NH.

Waking up on November 5th with no regrets.

[ Parent ]
Convention Day One (4.00 / 4)
I had decided to let Mike take over the reporting from the convention but after popular demand - I'm back!

The day started off with the 5 AM wake up call, I threw on my Shaheen tshirt and jeans to head down to the NHDP office. As I walked out into the hall, there was Senator Hassan heading down to work out (groan). When I arrived at the office I joined the NHDP staff, the DNCC credentials delivery staff and a police officer. Our allotment was down one and they were waiting for someone to drop off the missing credential. I gave the three Denverites our NH delegation pins and soon it was all resolved.

At 5:30 AM I was on the Mike Pomp show on Dover's WTSN and then met with the staff to make sure we had the day's scheduled, the breakfast/caucus program all set and (thanks to our members of congress Carol Shea Porter and Paul Hodes for obtaining a good number of credentials for NH folk and thanks to a number of others who were able to contribute to the number available for guests) we realized that we had enough to take care of every single NH person to attend the convention Monday night. We could not have been more excited.

I returned to my room got ready and was back down to kick off the caucus by 7 AM. Governor Chet Culver spoke, our morning sponsor, along with some rather dry issue advocates. We had a fun contest among the delegation and Chris Pappas won! We then heard from Ned Helms and Terry Shumaker about the NH Political Library's effort to support the primary and we distributed the credentials to a happy group of NH folk.

Chris, David Pierce and I left for our day's activities a little after 10. I picked up tickets for Gov. Lynch and Gov. Shaheen to an event Tuesday night and went over to the convention center for the LGBT delegate caucus, nearly every state sent a good sized delegation it was an impressive day, after the lunch caucus we went to the Stonewall Dems fundraiser at the top of a building and the view was very impressive, throughout the day I ran into many, many friends, it was terrific.

Around 3:30 we started for the Pepsi Center, getting in was extremely smooth and before I knew it I was walking onto the floor to some 70s disco music, what a great way to start the evening! I was asked a couple of days ago if conventions get to be old-hat after a while, maybe to others they do but never to me. It was a thrill to walk into that hall.

The NH delegation was already gathered and having a terrific time, at one point I took a walk through the arena to say hello to my fellow chairs and the hundreds of friends I have made over the year.

Hats off to the terrific Meg Hassan and Brady Manning - they did NH proud as our pages. I got to say hi to John Kerry, to Chuck Schumer, many congressmembers, and Spike Lee too!

The evening went well. Many times I thought of how lucky and honored I am to be here. Although there were many great times tonight, for me the emotional highlight was the Kennedy portion, from Caroline, to the video, to Teddy. Thinking back 28 years, when I was standing in Madison Square Garden experiencing Ted's most famous speech and to be here for tonight. It was hard not to get emotional.

Didn't Ned Helms do great?

I was so proud of Michelle's brother and of course Michelle, what a powerful advocate for American families.

At the end we scoured the Hall for signs to send back to NH for the Manchester City Dems ultimate convention watch party at the Puritan Conference Center Thursday night.

Ending the evening with the Firefighters was perfect. Although it felt odd to tell the waitress I wanted a "Ray Buckley" since Dave had popular drinks named after a number of us and I was a Tanqueray and tonic (my favorite).

Throughout the day my staff have been universally praised for their amazing work, I am so proud of them.

Ok, tomorrow starts in a few hours...

"How can we critique your defensive line (4.00 / 2)
when you keep scoring touchdowns?!?"

- Big media complaint after watching Caroline Kennedy, Teddy, and Michele Obama last night.  

The exhausted press (0.00 / 0)
Really, Andrea Mitchell, it would have been OK to take Monday night off. I think the other five reporters could have covered it fine. You could have come back fresh tonight, and no one would have noticed.


"Values" (4.00 / 1)
I enjoyed the nods when Michelle said "values," because of the way she was using it. She wasn't using it to mean discrimination, the way the GOP does when it says "family values." She was talking about the values embodied in the American dream, which is still powerful and still unites us: opportunity for ALL.

And thus is another GOP weapon taken away. You want values? We got values.


Closing Comment (4.00 / 2)
I'm posting quite a bit via the Zannel widget the only down slide it that some random photo post of Matthew Modine can knock a more serious post aside.

Hope you had the chance to see these closing comments.



Hope > Fear

Texting (0.00 / 0)
Mike, I texted "Mhoefer" to 58888, then decided it might be case-sensitive and texted mhoefer, but still no messages on my phone. Am I missing something? Besides a life?


[ Parent ]
I've been a bit quieter this afternoon... (0.00 / 0)
did you get a notification of the Komi Vid I just posted? about 30 minutes ago?

Hope > Fear
[ Parent ]
No (0.00 / 0)
I've got a pretty run of the mill Nokia phone, AT&T service. Maybe I'm a luddite?
[ Parent ]
PS. This is not important (0.00 / 0)
But if there's any money involved, I thought you'd want to know.
[ Parent ]
No $$ involved (0.00 / 0)
Fairly new to the service myself, it looks like you have to create an acct there to follow?

It feeds my twitter acct (mhoefer) as well so you may be able to follow from there?

Hope > Fear

[ Parent ]
Gavel Down! Monday Night Open Thread | 55 comments
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