Denver Dispatch: August 27, 2008
There are thousands of stories happening in this city right now.
I was at the Pepsi Center last night, way up high, sitting with folks from New York, Montana, Illinois, Missouri, Massachusetts. I've been on buses with folks from Colorado, California, Washington D.C. I've visited with the Alabama and New York delegations. And I've attended events with folks from Pennsylvania and Arizona.
What's the overriding message? That our country really does need to change course, on issue after issue after issue.
As I said above, every single attendee at this Convention has his or her own story, by which I mean different priorities and positions and backgrounds. Those "Unity" signs throughout Pepsi Center last night may have been referring to the Obama/Clinton discussion, but this Convention is digging much deeper than that
Gov Patrick spoke about his background and our economic needs, and the whole crowd cheered. Gov. Schweitzer spoke passionately about energy issues, and the whole crowd cheered. Rep. Nydia Velazquez delivered her closing remarks in Spanish, and the whole crowd cheered.
It's impossible to attend every event here - even if I had a complete calendar of them. And if I interviewed 100 people, I would probably end up with 120 opinions. But if you're wondering what the big "takeaway" should be, consider this: everyone here wants to improve the country's quality of life, and believes that our government can facilitate that, on any number of issues. It's on their faces, on their t-shirts and buttons, in their writings, and through their actions. They're all, in their own way, progressive activists.
Til later,
Claire
PS- It's also time for a major shout-out to all of the volunteers who are working so, so hard this week! Thanks for everything!