Des Moines School Superintendent Owes an Apology, Drake Student Deserves Praise

The other night, Drake Journalism student Holly Worthy stuck with a Des Moines School Board meeting until the bitter end. Having sat through many of these meetings in my life, let me assure you this can be a tedious, mind numbing task. But, Ms. Worthy deserves praise for something more than warming a seat in the audience when nearly everybody else went home. She knew the issues at hand and caught the Superintendent and maybe the Board playing a bit of a game. We’ll come back to Ms. Worthy in a second, but first let’s see what she discovered while many of the rest of us were watching something more interesting on TV from the comfort of home.

The School Board members, Superintendent Nancy Sebring and organizers of a proposed new charter school spent more than two hours discussing the school. They talked about a day in the life of a student at the new school, the educational innovation to be applied there, community-based learning systems, how team-based instruction would work, plans for involving parents and families, and even a plan for an entrepreneurial experiment with the Downtown Farmers Market. It is fair to say there was great interest, lots of information and in-depth discussion about the school. At the conclusion of the presentation, many audience members and parties interested in the new school left the board room with high hopes feeling they had been privy to a thorough presentation. Luckily, Ms. Worthy stayed behind to catch what happened next.

Three hours after the board meeting began the audience had dwindled to three district employees and Ms. Worthy. The meetings are televised on cable and, while there is no way to know, I am guessing there were not too many hardy souls tuned in at that point. In her routine superintendent’s report, Dr. Sebring proceeded to inform the Board and the audience, which consisted basically of Ms. Worthy, that the U.S. Department of Education had denied the district’s grant request for $478,345 for the charter school discussed earlier. The denial of these funds meant the school’s opening will be delayed at least one year.

Fortunately, Ms. Worthy wrote a story about this for thinkdsm.com. I was led to Ms. Worthy’s story, Des Moines charter school suffers setback, last week thanks to a friend’s Facebook update. Ms. Worthy and Think Magazine deserve our applause. Ms. Worthy’s reporting uncovered an unfortunate political game being playing by the Superintendent. Dr. Sebring purposely decided not to divulge the grant had been denied during the more public discussion in hopes the news would go unnoticed. That is just flat out wrong.

It is not up to Dr. Sebring or the School Board to decide when and what information is provided to taxpayers. More important, Dr. Sebring’s sitting on the grant’s denial during a discussion of the school only to reveal it when almost all of the interested parties were in their cars and on their way home is reprehensible. A public servant is not doing her job if she tries to hide the facts from the public. Dr. Sebring should have released this information during the formal discussion about the school. Dr. Sebring owes the Board and the public, especially those volunteering to establish the new school, an apology.

This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register blog entry.

My Inaugural Thoughts in 200 Words

As Barack Obama placed his hand on the Lincoln Bible, my mind was spinning. I saw not the Obamas standing at the Capitol, the dignitaries behind them, or the onlookers below.

My mind transported me to the Callanan Middle School Cafeteria on a blustery Caucus night, as Jim Bowman; Tuskegee Airman, educator, father, citizen and patriot yelled out his number in support of an African American who is becoming President today. I saw Edgar Rosa, a Roosevelt High School senior leading a cheer in an impromptu mosh pit excited about playing a role in politics even though he cannot yet vote. I was transfixed by a young woman crying tears of joy on the field in Denver as the candidate became the nominee. I heard candidate Obama invoking Dr. King to explain how “the fierce urgency of now” was what motivated him to travel this nation to build a coalition of hope.

As President Obama turned to face a nation, I saw these faces and my own reflected in his gaze. The future rests not on the shoulders of President Obama, but on the shoulders of people in every corner of our nation. The speech ends. Our time is now.

Our Moment

As a history buff, I have often wondered what it must feel like to stand at that moment in time when the world changes and to know it will never again resemble what it had been. However, since I was a child I have harbored a fear such a moment would come and I would miss it. Like stepping into the bathroom during the best part of the TV show, I would have walked away from the arena at the exact wrong time. Or worse, what if such dramatic events were recognizable only in retrospect – the heat of the moment obscuring the truth from the witnesses? I do not worry about this anymore, because I have seen history being made this year and the world is different today.

On some of the coldest days last winter, I stood in barns, school cafeterias, community centers, college campuses and park shelters to listen to those who wanted to be our next president. Hillary Clinton ignited such passion that it lit the way for us to envision a woman in the Oval Office. Barack Obama, the visionary, talked about hope and the realization of a dream painted by another great leader nearly forty years earlier. And, there was John McCain, the war hero, who reminded us that the best of America is visible and at work even at our darkest moments.

My friend Opel Simmons and I were waxing on the other night about what this election means to us, but Opel was able to put this into perspective better than I. He explained that we were members of the first post-civil rights generation and, as an African American, he was a proud beneficiary of a movement paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of countless Americans who struggled before our time. But, Opel pointed out, our children would not be American beneficiaries of the civil and women’s rights movements, they would just be Americans. Color and sex would not determine their fates and as Opel’s seven-year-old daughter pointed out, “Martin King’s dream was coming true” right before our eyes – a moment in history for us to witness.

Barack Obama’s candidacy and his election are important from a racial perspective, but if we view them only in those terms we will fail to see this moment for what it truly is. The United States faces a war on two fronts, our economy is in dire straights and many Americans are facing difficult times. But, the American people dug deep and participated in a campaign for president in a way few ever thought was possible. I attended Obama events in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, and watched the now President-elect accept his nomination in Denver under a star filled sky. In each place I sensed something more than excitement about a campaign. I sensed a people ready to again take up the mantle to fight for the American Dream and put this country back on track.

This, my friends, is our moment to see the world change and it is up to us to make it happen.

Tonight's Debate had Two Losers, Senator McCain and the Format Itself

There was no big winner at tonight’s debate. However, Senator Obama was more relaxed and did a better job of connecting with the audience. Senator McCain was tense and spent more time attacking his opponent than spelling out a vision.

While both candidates spoke about each other’s failings, Senator McCain did so more often and came across as angry on occasion. Even his failed joke about hair transplants (a poke at Senator Biden, I suppose) being an example of wasteful healthcare spending made Senator McCain look angry.

Those who participated in the Register’s online blog indicated repeatedly a desire for more substance, vision if you will, and less finger pointing. This debate did not deliver too well on the vision front. A note to both campaigns: it is time to talk more about your plans for the future and less about your opponent’s failings.

The big loser tonight was the debate format and the evening’s moderator, Tom Brokaw. The town hall format did allow for some interesting questions from the audience, but Brokaw had a difficult time keeping the candidates to the rules. Brokaw also interjected too many of his own questions and did not allow for as free an exchange as we saw in the first debate.

Senator McCain left the hall moments after the debate ended and Senator Obama stayed for an extended period of time. This leads me to wonder if Senator McCain was disappointed in his performance. Senator McCain has failed to score in the first two debates. He has only one more. He must deliver or he will continue to trail in the polls.

Spotlight will Dim on Palin

Senator Biden stayed on message and may have been at his very best, but all eyes were on Governor Palin. She refused to answer many questions and, instead, stuck to her own script. That was a good play on her part. Most important, she did not stumble and played up her outsider status.

Governor Palin had become a national punchline. She took these hits, yet came into the field house swinging. She was confident and homespun. I am not sure she attracted any new voters to the McCain campaign, but she did no harm. And, doing no harm was a win for her in this debate.

Governor Palin was light on substance, where Senator Biden was heavy. Governor Palin’s limited exposure to the American people, made this debate about her. Senator Biden delivered the performance of his life, but it will not matter as the pundits spin this. Governor Palin did not out-debate Biden, but she did not fail. In this game, she gets the biggest prize of the night and that is a dimming of the spotlight on her. This is good for team McCain.

VP Debate will be Cringefest 2008

It doesn’t matter if you back Senator McCain or Senator Obama, or if you are still sitting on the fence; tomorrow’s vice presidential debate is likely to exercise your cringe reflex.

Senator Joe Biden has bored audiences from coast to coast and has the singular ability to keep lecturing from one side of his mouth while inserting his Johnston and Murphy shoe in the other.

Governor Sarah Palin has come a long way since she was a beauty contestant even though she still seems to run the risk of getting eliminated during the verbal competition.

Like millions of Americans, I am going to tune in tomorrow night and brace myself for what is going to come out of my television’s speakers. While both of the running mates have prepared and drilled for this moment, the pressure on them must be unbelievable and they both possess an astounding ability to say the wildest things when a live microphone is placed before them.

If I were advising either the Governor or the Senator, I would tell them one thing above all else. Do not, and I repeat, do not try for the clever score or the “gotcha” moment. This debate is about survival. While it might feel great to get off a Lloyd Bentsen “You are no Jack Kennedy” line, if you try one of these and it fails, you may just end up nuking the entire campaign.

The debate format on Thursday favors short answers – 90 second answers with 2 minute follow-ups.

Senator Biden has to have short (and truthful) answers to the questions and he must not stray from the Obama platform.

Governor Palin must sound competent and knowledgeable, although she can actually use her Washington inexperience to her advantage as long as she sounds confident and thoughtful (so far, this has proven difficult for her).

Governor Palin and Senator Biden will each score points for their campaigns if they come across as trustworthy and, more than anything else, leave the stage without embarrassing themselves or their tickets.

The rest of us are in for quite a ride, let’s just hope all the cringing does cause permanent damage.


Vice Presidential Debate8 p.m. CDT, Thursday, Oct. 2.Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Topic: Domestic and foreign policyModerator: PBS' Gwen Ifill, "The NewsHour" and "Washington Week"Format: 90 second answers followed by two minutes follow-up answers.

The Debate Made Me Feel Three Inches Shorter

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama stood on the red carpeted stage at ‘Ole Miss tonight in attempt to make their cases for why each should be president.

In the end, supporters of both John McCain and Barack Obama likely were heartened.
The first forty minutes of the debate focused on the financial crisis, the economy and spending. Both candidates seemed shaky at the start and neither seemed overly willing to talk about the economy. Obama seemed to miss an opportunity to take advantage on these topics he is said to have an edge on in the polls.

The debate transitioned to the planned topic of foreign policy. McCain appeared almost irritated to have to stand on the stage and discuss these topics with Obama. In an attempt to wrap the cloak of experience tightly around him, McCain rambled at times with disconnected facts. At one point he stated the people of North Korea were three inches shorter than their neighbors to the south. He also stated he was never voted Miss Congeniality of the Senate. I think he may have forgotten that his running mate actually won that award once.

McCain’s noted humor was missing tonight and he was anything but complimentary of his opponent. Obama was a bit more diplomatic and tried to engage McCain. McCain gave a series of lectures about his experience and Obama talked more about what he would do in office. The McCain team will say that it is experience that is needed and the Obama team will say it is vision and plans.

On to the next debate.

Will Tonight's Debate Deliver?

In six hours, many Americans, my family included, will be at a high school football game or kicking off their weekend in some way. I will be turned to the great match-up of the week, the first presidential debate of the season.

Tonight, at 8:00 p.m. Central Time, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will step onto a red carpeted stage at the University of Mississippi. They will have one-liners at the ready and be prepared with clichés about hope and putting country first. The live audience and those watching from home will await the great line – the “I knew President Kennedy…and you are no Jack Kennedy,” or the “There you go again.” We will also hold our breath for the big gaffe.

I have been saying for months that this campaign has the promise to be the best of our lifetimes. On the stage at ‘ole Miss this evening, will be two very different men with diverse leadership qualities and dissimilar views about how to lead our country into the future.

I have looked forward to this moment with a, perhaps naïve and definitely geeky, anticipation that this matchup will be something more than rhetoric and petty politics. I hope that as the night’s moderator, Jim Lehrer, concludes the evening, we will be left with something more than petty thoughts of who looked better and who had the best gotcha moment.

Ok, stop your snickering. I am going to try to hold onto this high-mindedness for at least another 6 hours or so.


TONIGHT’S DEBATE
9 p.m. EDT, Friday, Sept. 26.Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Topic: Foreign policy and national securityModerator: Jim Lehrer of PBSStaging: PodiumsFormat: Broken into nine 9-minute segments. The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate 2 minutes to comment, then facilitate a discussion for the remaining 5 minutes.

Suspending the Campaign is a Stunt

Senator McCain just announced he was “suspending” his campaign on Thursday so he could return to Washington to focus on the unfolding economic crisis. He also asked that Friday’s debate be rescheduled.

I agree Washington should work quickly, yet carefully to address the financial calamity facing Wall Street and Main Street. But, suspending the campaign seems more like a stunt than an act to “put politics aside for the moment” as stated by the Senator.
This presidential campaign is our opportunity as a nation to decide how best to handle more than just the crisis of the moment, but the hundreds of others we face and the ones we will in the years to come.

Yes, Congress and the Administration need to come to an agreement as to what the government’s role will be in righting this ship. And, the presidential candidates need to help this process, not play a game of one-upmanship with a serious situation. But, something healthy actually comes from honest and open debate. I believe Senators Obama and McCain owe it to the country to have this vigorous exchange - now more than ever.

The Obama camp may decide to follow the McCain folks to Washington in hopes that doing so will make them look equally concerned and patriotic. Such a move is nothing more than theatrics.

Working to solve the financial mess and campaigning for president are not mutually exclusive. The candidates should agree to hold the debate as scheduled, but instead of focusing on foreign policy as a topic, they should address the largest economic emergency of our times.

I Vote "Present"

Today, I avoided a political debate with some of my Facebook friends by saying I was going to follow the lead of former State Senator Barack Obama and vote “present.” As much as I wanted this to be seen as intellectually bold, I know the others probably saw it as cowardly.
The argument stemmed from a blog outing a longtime advisor and Senator McCain staffer as gay. The blog went on to rationalize that the Senator’s choice of Governor Palin as his running mate somehow made this staffer’s sexual orientation a campaign issue. Whew, the blog made my head hurt.

A friend posted the article and said the “Angry Left” (whoever they are) and the “Religious Right” (all of them, I guess) were bent on getting everybody else to conform to their views and their views alone. While my friend may or may not have a point about these groups, neither group wrote the blog. It was written by a single blowhard with a satellite radio show. I was not going to wade into this mini debate with my friend, because his argument is nearly as flawed as the original blog.

I cannot defend the blogger who used the personal life of a man who has nothing to do with the McCain campaign for his own gain. However, I refuse to fall into the trap of saying the satellite radio bigmouth represents some political group. He is simply a guy who throws mud balls for a living.

The presidential campaign is like this too. One side fuses together a past vote, action or inaction of the opposition and makes an inflammatory statement how these things makes the other guy unqualified to lead. The other responds with an attack on the left or right and generally goes on to blame the media, some large group or misdeed of an entire political party to explain why the other guy is unfit to be president. The campaigns of Obama and McCain are desperate to paint a clear picture – we are the good guys and they are the bad. Listen to them and you begin to believe there is no middle ground.

Come November 4, present will not be a ballot option and I do not want it to be. The problems this country faces are real and daunting. I am frustrated the daily political discourse seems to suggest Americans need to pick a team. You are either Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, right or wrong. One side is patriotic and the other seeks to destroy the country.

Senator Obama and Senator McCain have very different views about leading this country and how they will make decisions as president. I do not remember a campaign when the candidates appeared to hold such diverse opinions about what the needs to be done and how the job should be performed. Seems to me we would all be better off by discounting the generalizations and pointless mudslinging, and engaging the candidates (and each other) on how to solve the tribulations and take advantage of the opportunities which lie in front of us.

In my last blog entry I called on the campaigns to focus on the issues. In fairness, the campaigns are feeding us what we want. Call me a coward (or maybe I am just tired), but I am going to try vote “present” when it comes to the name calling, finger pointing and “gotcha” games for the next forty some days. Maybe, if we all tried to do this the campaigns and media folks would to.

Enough about Cosmetics

It has been nearly two weeks since I left St. Paul and the national political conventions behind. Political conventions are showy affairs with lots of pomp(osity) and circumstance – they are generally light on substance. It has taken the meltdown of the economy to get the candidates and the media to focus less on the makeup choices of pigs and more on the issues separating the candidates.

During these two weeks, I have been fascinated by the national fascination with Sarah Palin. Three weeks ago hardly anyone outside of Alaska could have named that state’s governor. Her selection by Sen. McCain kicked off mini debates over coffee and water coolers all across the country about Palin’s qualifications, or lack thereof. For 14 days, it seemed the whole campaign was going to boil down to whether or not we felt comfortable allowing Sarah Palin; mother, moose hunter and maverick* to control the nuclear codes. While this is an important question, it was also an excellent political diversion by the McCain camp.

Palin helped to swell the McCain crowds. Republicans let their feminist tendencies unfurl in a gust of estrogen induced pride. Democrats tried on the cloak of self proclaimed qualification superiority. The mavericks tearfully rose to the defense of all women as if any and all questions about Governor Palin’s record were an attack on her entire gender. Change agents smirked and tried to not look worried.

Suddenly, the financial crisis and a bombing in Yemen reminded us that this race is about more than lipstick and finger pointing. Serious questions loom for our nation and it is time for us to address them. Let’s see if the candidates are able to stop lobbing insults and start demonstrating they grasp and have a plan for what needs to be done.



* These were the actual first three words of the Palin "introduction" video at the Republican Convention.

In the End

It has been a great two weeks. The Democratic and Republican Conventions had dramatic displays of patriotism, flourishes of the trivial and fleeting moments that one might actually be watching history in the making.

These events are more fluff than substance. However, it is unfair to categorize the conventions as drivel or television drama. The enormity of the crowds and the television audiences are a solid reminder to the elected and those running for office that power still comes from the people. Granted we have squandered this power from time to time, but it is there for the taking.

In years past, leaders of the civil rights movement used conventions to draft language for party platforms as a crucial step to shaping national policy. Many women plowed political ground by being delegates to conventions and proving their strength as leaders there. The modern conventions are overly choreographed, but those wishing to lead must stand on those stages and stare into the crowds and TV cameras and ask us for something valuable, a vote.

Voters are given the singular power to elect candidates to office. We can accept the responsibility to exercise this power, or we can shirk it and say that modern politics is nothing more than fluff.

I have poked fun at the ridiculous and been moved by some of the oratory delivered at the conventions over the last two weeks. Somewhere between balloon drops and the carnival atmosphere is democracy. After it all, I can report patriotism is alive and well in our country.

Red Meat

Governor Sarah Palin delivered some verbal red meat. She was confident and came onto the national stage swinging. The Republican delegates loved it.

The hall was nearly full last night in anticipation of Palin’s introductory event as the VP nominee. Diligent campaign volunteers passed out hundreds of hand painted signs around the delegations to help set the mood. The signs had a few simple themes. “Palin Power” was the most prevalent message. My personal favorites were the “Hockey Moms 4 Palin” signs being held by men. A strapping guy from Texas and a grey haired delegate from Michigan waved their “hockey mom” signs most enthusiastically.

Republicans are proud to have a woman on the ticket, but I am sure two of the night’s more popular buttons being worn at the convention would make many women’s advocates cringe. One reads “Coldest state. Hottest governor.” Another said “McCain/Palin. I am voting for the hot chick.” I have to agree, I am not sure these help women much.

Last night was a good show - light on substance, high on rhetoric to whip up the base. It is exactly how modern conventions are designed.

Jumbo-tron Baby

Former Senator Fred Thompson gave the best speech of the night last night at the Republican Convention. This is not saying too much. It’s not surprising, really, that the actor was the one who connected. His down home drawl soothed the crowd as he unraveled the story of John McCain’s life.

The all American boyhood stories, lessons learned from loving family and the maverick-from-birth traits of the nominee were laid out before the adoring crowd. It is fair to say that Senator McCain’s heroism as a POW are moving regardless how it is relayed, but let Fred Thompson bounce you on his figurative knee as he tells it and it is hard not to get goose bumps.
The one distraction from this made for TV moment was the jumbo-tron that is the backdrop to the GOP’s glossy stage. As Thompson began to speak, a large baby with very crooked teeth loomed on the screen like the Stay Puff marshmallow monster in Ghostbusters. It was not clear whether the baby was Thompson or McCain and the subsequent pictures did not give many clues. One appeared to be the Karate Kid’s Ralph Macchio smiling innocently and another was a giant child who appeared to be licking the speaker’s head.

Soon, it was obvious the pictures were from McCain’s life, but the final one was the one that confused me the most. It seemed Thompson’s speech delivery was slower than the slide show, so this one hovered much longer than the rest. As Thompson’s calming voice began to lull the audience into a trance, there stood a motionless, 25 foot John McCain with phone to his ear, looking out a window, his back turned to Fred Thompson. It was as if he too was still listening to the rhythm of southern dialect without concentrating on the content of the speech.

Tonight, all ears will be turned toward Governor Palin. I am betting there will be jumbo shots of her as a child, being Alaska’s CEO, visiting troops in Kuwait, shooting guns, being outdoorsy, and many of her as a devoted mother. I am just hoping there is at least one of her skinning a moose!

(Pictures need to be added)

A Quick Comparison

A quick comparison of the Democratic and Republican conventions:

1. Dem Convention has a stage designed to look presidential at the risk of being a little snooty with a podium that sinks into the floor and high-tech displays.

2. Rep Convention has a stage designed to be down-to-earth at the risk of looking like a high school debate competition with a spit shined floor and a single jumbo-tron screen.

3. Rep Dress Code – “I don’t care if that tie is uncomfortable, your grandmother likes it and you are going to wear it.”

4. Dem Dress Code – “Do you think I need a jacket, or is this t-shirt covered with buttons classy enough?"

5. At the Dem Convention, self-proclaimed conservatives and protesters gather outside gates before, during and after the convention. Many quote Scripture at convention goers, others show pictures of aborted fetuses and, in one case, walk around wearing a crown and a naked manikin on shoulders. All protesters of the Dems say things from “high horse” in an attempt to incite angry retorts from convention goers.

6. At the Rep Convention self-proclaimed liberals and protesters are given an assigned time and route to march through St. Paul as a single group. Mashing various groups of non-conformists, loners and frustrated extroverts together increases tension which raises the volume and the need to try to one-up the guy to the left, which leads to a rock being hurled through the underwear display window at Macy’s. All protesters of the Reps say things from “high horse” in an attempt to incite angry retorts from convention goers.

7. Rep Conventioneers chant “U S A” when they feel the spirit during convention functions, have a chip on their shoulders about “liberal” media bias with the exception of Fox News and feel going to the Rep convention shows they are more patriotic people.

8. Dem Conventioneers dance when loud music is played during convention functions, have a chip on their shoulders about Fox News and unfair media bias in general and feel going to the Dem convention shows they are more caring people.

9. Dem Convention is like a carnival – the kind with cheap side-shows and nickel/watery beer.

10. Rep Convention is like a family fun night at church – same old people from Sunday, but you can play hide and seek and there is cake!

A Little Straight Rock

Most of the Republican delegates are viewing today as the first official day of the convention and appear to be in high spirits.

The police and security presence in St. Paul seems equal to Denver, but the attitude is a bit stricter following yesterday’s unruly demonstrators who vandalized cars, broke the Macy’s window and roughed up a delegate or two. I was not in the fray when this happened, which is good for many reasons - had I been there when the police started discharging pepper spray, I probably would have wet myself.

Republican convention goers dress nicer than their Democratic counterparts. My blue blazer and open collar made me one of the better dressed last week. Before I head over tonight, I think I will put on a tie to make sure I better blend in with the GOP.
If you are looking for a lively discussion on the streets of St. Paul, mention Governor Palin’s pregnant daughter. People have strong opinions and are ready to debate. Some are offended the topic is even raised; while others passionately defend the Palin family’s handling of the matter. I have no idea whether delegates find this relevant to deciding whether or not they will vote to approve the Governor’s nomination, but I am sure the Governor’s daughter’s pregnancy (or the Governor’s handling of this personal family matter) is the most discussed topic in the Twin Cities.

I am still searching for the Republican equivalent to last week's Condomvention at the Democratic Convention. I have not found it yet, but tonight Governor Mike Huckabee and the Arkansas delegation are hosting “A Little Straight Rock” Concert. This baffles me. It would have been clever of the Arkansans to hold “A Little Rock Concert” as a play on the name of their capital city, but the word straight throws me. I may stop in. It may turn out to be many things, but I am convinced it won’t be a gay marriage rally.

GOP Rides Out the Storm

The Republican Convention is in a holding pattern as we wait and pray for the hurricane whipped Gulf Coast. The Twin Cities of Minnesota are acting as good hosts for Republicans who find themselves with a little less to do today.

Of course, this downtime leaves political geeks and gawkers ample time to speculate on the impact Mother Nature will have on the election. The 2008 Democratic and Republican Conventions were going to be different in countless ways and many people would have expended much hot air comparing and contrasting the events. (Insert your own joke about how these pontifications would add to global warming) However, the abbreviated GOP convention makes such comparisons even more difficult to make.

Last Thursday, 84,000 people packed a football stadium and some 38 million Americans tuned in to watch Senator Barack Obama give a speech. Even the McCain campaign would admit their numbers would have only been a fraction of this. The size of the viewing audiences may or may not portend anything, but now they are not even going to be considered. We will now, rightfully, look to help our countrymen in and around Louisiana. Much of the punditry agree this lack of contrast is good for McCain.

Graham's World

For a moment, I sat in a chair a few feet from the stage where Barack Obama had just given his historic acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver. The crowd was filing out and teams of workers had already started to dismantle the stage. To my left, the television punditry were gushing about the artful speech and to my right a woman wiped a small tear from her cheek. I thought about this blog and what I could share about tonight that would help you understand what it was like to be here. It was a little like 84,000 people had just participated in a seven hour group hug.

I confess I was a little like Wayne and Garth from the 1992 movie Wayne’s World last night when they get backstage passes to an Aerosmith concert. I was a tad too excited, but fortunately I lack the mullet. My credentials (and a little luck) allowed me wide access to Invesco Stadium. I was able to wander the field talking to delegates, visit the media enclave and generally gawk. Delegates and guests were giddy. I watched ABC’s Charlie Gibson toss a beach ball back and forth to delegates from Minnesota. I looked on as CBS’s Bob Schieffer and his crew danced with and while the Louisianans chanted “C B S” as Sheryl Crowe performed onstage.

As the crowd electric awaited the arrival of their nominee, I saw more than one delegate dressed as Uncle Sam (or a very decidedly Aunt Samantha, in one case). But, there was also a seriousness – no, an alertness - to this crowd that made the night unique. People were on the edge of their toes waiting to be a part of something; it was like they were all onstage. By being here, they were part of the show.

I will leave the assessment of the speech to others. The fact that I was sitting soaking up the moment as others filed out, tells me that I too got wrapped up in the moment.

I was Cool

Yesterday, I accompanied a client to a luncheon at the CNN Grill, a bar and restaurant adjacent to the Pepsi Center where the Democrats are holding most of the convention this week.
CNN has rented the facility for the duration of the convention and completely converted it for their use. The beer taps pour CNN beer. There is a giant CNN Grill neon sign on the outside of the building. Every inch of the place, including the glassware, sports the CNN logo. A pass to the CNN Grill is pure convention gold. The media and political elite flock to the place. It is the spot to be seen.

The cost to CNN must be enormous. The place has CNN neon in every corner and everybody eats and drinks free. T-shirts, hats, buttons and other freebies are handed out like it is Christmas. It is simply cool.

For a news network, the political conventions are the Super Bowl equivalent and the CNN Grill appears to be a brilliant investment. Cool and news coverage seldom go hand in hand. For this week in Denver and next in St. Paul (they are doing it there, too) the CNN Grill will be hottest ticket for political types in the country. And, for one day I was cool too.

Yes, I saw Anderson Cooper. And, as I told my wife, “I do not have any idea whether he is as hot in person as he is on TV.” Wonder if I will wear my new CNN hat when I get home.

Tread on Me

Nancy Pelosi stepped on my toes. I am not complaining. She couldn’t help it. She has to go everywhere surrounded by security and about a dozen staff members who are trying desperately to look very important. Team Pelosi does fine when there is plenty of room and they can kind of part the sea of convention goers. I was sitting in a narrow walkway which meant the pack had to go single file, a formation to which they are unaccustomed. I think the Speaker’s equilibrium may have been thrown off by the sudden sunlight and fresh air that rushed in when the group split away, causing her to wobble a bit. I can report she is a determined woman though, she never slowed.

Allow me to tell you the Iowa delegation is in fine shape. I crashed Governor Culver’s after convention party last night and they were all in high spirits. They were powering through the food at a Denver club and looking generally pleased with themselves. Senator Harkin was telling stories to a group of men in matching polo shirts. Governor Culver was beaming and greeting people by the bar. It was like a high school kegger, gone upscale.

I spent most of my day at the CNN Grill, a restaurant and bar CNN rented for the week and had transformed into the it-spot of the convention. It was great people watching. I promise a second blog about this today, but I need to get in position. I am hoping Al Sharpton will step on me today.