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In the blogger's lounge - and Joe Biden's speech

August 28, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

I spent a couple of hours in the Blogger's Lounge at the Pepsi Center tonight. I never managed to get in to see my state delegation (sigh). It was another security mess this evening. I also twisted my ankle on an uneven stretch of pavement, but thankfully, I can still walk. I hate to think what I'll feel like in the AM.

You can see Bill Clinton's speech here. So do you think it was a convincing performance in support of Obama? When the nominee took the stage and called out Bill, the former president looked like he had agita, as if he was still thinking to himself "I should be up there with Hillary." By contrast, Hillary seemed comfortable and enjoying herself.

Joe Biden was nominated tonight, and he delivered an awkward, clunky, yet oddly  moving speech. He went off-script a lot (I received a copy of the speech as prepared, and as delivered, it was, well, he probably could use a speechwriter's touch, lol.

House Blend for the House Blend, Pam interviewed by everybody, Autumn gets a scoop

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

Day three of the Democratic National Convention began with Autumn and Pam joining me and my sister* Karri for breakfast at a restaurant down the block from the Big Tent. We were quite impressed with the coffee...

 

We left Pam at the Big Tent, for she had to give her presentation on being a straight ally.  Autumn had a number of transgender activists she wanted to interview and I hustled along to be her videographer.  It was a little weird that of all the panels a scheduling conflict would keep me away from, it was the one on being a straight ally.

The event Autumn and I attended was the LGBT Caucus.  San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom took the podium just literally minutes after learning of the death of Del Martin.  He was visibly shaken and took a couple of minutes to compose himself.  The room fell silent, but as Mayor Newsom spoke, he expressed the feeling of many that it was a blessing that Del was able to finally marry her partner of 5+ decades.

The Night of My Life

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I've been a die-hard Hillary Clinton supporter since day one. This was supposed to be her year and I believed. So last night was very emotional for me, but the story of how I got to the floor for her speech is nearly as good as her speech.

I scored a floor credential from Marti Abernathey. She is an Obama delegate and was not interested in seeing the speech. She knew I was and in the interest of unity and friendship, she gave me her credential for the night - but that left a good friend who is also a Hillary supporter (whom I won't name, but most Indiana folks will know) without a floor pass.

I was determined to get her onto the floor and the comedy of errors that ensued almost cost me seeing the speech. We tried to find our friend a floor pass, but it just wasn't panning out. So, my friend and real Indiana Clinton delegate Lori, and I cooked up a scheme to take Lori to the floor and then I would take Lori's pass back out to our friend and bring her back with me. It was a great plan, but the execution was less than flawless.

Remembering Del Martin

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

I walked into the convention hall today, on my way to the LGBT Caucus (and on my way to pick up a credential to get me into the Pepsi Center today), when I saw San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome. After what he did in San Francisco, and what came of it on the California Supreme Court, I couldn't just pass him by. (It didn't hurt that he was taller and more handsome in person than he is in his pictures.) I had to stop and thank him.

I told him, I was just on my way to the LGBT caucus and that just wanted to stop and thank him. To which he responded "Thank you!" One of his aides overheard me say where I was going, and invited me to walk with them since they were going to the LGBT caucus too.

And then we stepped into the hall, and heard the announcement that Del Martin just passed away. She died quietly, surrounded by her family and friends. There was a gasp, and a moment of stunned silence.

Video: Michelle Obama at the LGBT delegate luncheon

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

Here is the future First Lady's speech (Blend coverage of yesterday's event is here; it was hat tipped by the Obama blog). Michelle Obama spoke yesterday in a surprise visit to the lunch for LGBT delegates hosted by Rep. Barney Frank, with Rep.