Rum, Romanism and Rebellion

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8:59 - I’m done.

8:57 - I don’t think Obama is using a teleprompter, he’s moving around too much.

8:54 - Obama just appeared on stage. Crowd goest totally nuts. Arizona delegates look back to see Michelle’s reaction.

8:48 - Despite the emphasis on foreign policy from earlier speakers, it is only just now that Biden gets to foreign policy.

8:45 - We are now back to the Biden we are familiar with.

8:44 - 95% again!

8:40 - Interestingly, we usually think of Biden’s quips as his most powerful weapon. But here, he is talking slowly and deliberately. The man is a good story teller, and the case he makes against McCain is devastating.

8:39 - Freudian slip: Biden calls John McCain “George.” Made the point.

8:37 - A couple of people in the delegation mention Biden’s smile.

8:33 - Biden references Delaware. Its tiny delegation feverishly waves signs in the front of the hall.

8:32 - Biden on his wife: “The only one that leaves me breathless and speechless.” See, that didn’t take long.

8:29 - I can’t imagine Biden getting a reception like this a week ago.

8:27 - Michelle Obama, sitting behind us, is particularly touched by Beau’s story about his father.

8:25 - Beau resmbles Steve Carrell’s more intrepid brother.

8:24 - Psych! It’s Beau Biden, not Joe.

8:23 - Film on Biden. So, how far into Joe Biden’s speech does he reference how, eh, er, verbose he is?

8:20 - Biden’s nomination accepted by acclamation.

8:18 - Either we weren’t given the right instructions, or everybody else in the hall screwed up and raised their Joe Biden signs.

8:16 - Somebody from Delaware named Quincy Lucas is nominating Biden. I guess Richardson is not speaking after all.

8:14 - Massachusetts delegates are already holding up Biden signs. Big no-no.

8:13 - Biden signs are being handed out.

8:10 - Gallego is frustrated because we’ve got signs for Richardson, but his speech seems to have been pushed back.

8:08 - Tammy Duckworth takes the stage. She lost both her legs in a firefight in Iraq. Despite this, it didn’t stop her Republican opponent from accusing her of “cut and run” when she ran for congress a few years ago.

8:01 - Michael Dukakis is sitting in front of our delegation.

7:56 - Chet Edwards is coming up to the stage. Edwards is being touted as the next big thing.

7:54 - Bill Richardson is expected to be next.

7:53 - Hutson: “The Grand Old Party is no longer grand, it’s just old.” Why didn’t I think of that first?

7:51 - Rear Admiral John Hutson is speaking. An awful lot of scrambled eggs on the stage tonight. He admits to being a Republican, friendly boos.

7:47 - Claudia Kennedy, sometime Arizonan, is speaking.

7:43 - Kerry introduces the crowd to Charlie Payne, Obama’s uncle who was among the troops who liberated Buchenwald.

7:42 - By the way, we have the right signs now.

7:40 - I just noticed that Kerry is wearing one of those LIVESTRONG bracelets.

7:39 - Inadvertent laugh line about this election not being about how long you have been on this earth.

7:38 - Kerry: “Talk about being for it before you are against it.”

7:37 - Kerry: “Let’s compare Senator McCain to Candidate McCain.” Good.

7:34 - John Kerry speaking. A surprising number of delegates aren’t listening.

7:32 - We got handed the wrong signs. Ours say “New Leadership for a Changing World.” Oops.

7:31 - Once again, the yellow vests are trying to get people to keep them down. It’s the third day for crisakes! Figure it out people!

7:29 - Handing out “Securing America’s Future” signs. They are for John Kerry. Teresa Heinz-Kerry is sitting behind our delegation, and Massachusetts is in front of us.

7:28 - Military wife is speaking. I don’t know when Biden comes on.

7:25 - Standing ovation. Keeps going even after he leaves stage.

7:23 - “The Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief.” He’s bringing everything back to Obama. This is exactly the speech that the delegates I talked to last night wanted.

7:22 - Going back to the message of the third Bush term. “No thanks.” “Third time is not the charm.”

7:20 - Hey Bill, why blow more smoke up McCain’s ass?

7:19 - Mentions Barack Obama, hall breaks out in “Yes, We Can.”

7:18 - Could this guy loan me 1/10th of what he’s got?

7:17 - Turns to economics. “Look what the Republicans have given us…” interrupted by boos.

7:12 - Uses the selection of Joe Biden as an example of Obama’s judgement. I remember that the contrapositive of this argument was used in 1988, when Dukakis tried to use Bush’s selection of Quayle as an example of bad judgement. Didn’t take him far then, but this version of the argument may carry better.

7:10 - “Barack Obama is the man for this job.” There is not a hint of equivocation here.

7:09 - Looks like Clinton is going to also talk foreign policy.

7:08 - “Hillary will do everything she can to elect Barack Obama, that makes two of us, that makes 18 million of us.” Milks every line for maximum applause.

7:07 - The milling is over, everybody is in their seats for this.

7:06 - “That campaign created so much heat, it increased global warming.”

7:05 - Finally talking after long ovation. “I support Barack Obama.”

7:04 - Cheering just won’t stop.

7:03 - Quoth one delegate behind me “Don’t screw this up Bill; you love Obama.”

7:01 - Rep. Kendrick Meek introduces Bill Clinton. Another note, there is a controversy about seats. DNC took away some of our seats. Gallego is trying to call down the lightning to fix this.

6:59 - I’m back. Previous speakers included Iraq veterans, Rep. Pat Murphy, Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Madeline Albright. Going straight at McCain’s record on national security, military and veterans.

6:16 - Blogger break. I’m entitled.

5:41 - Jim Clyburn takes stage to a song that sounds like “No More Heroes” by the Stranglers. That can’t be right.

5:38 - Firefighters address group.

5:36 - New buzz among the delegates: Stevie Wonder is playing tommorrow!

5:28 - Waters: “John McCain doesn’t think there is a problem. Maybe because none of his seven houses are in foreclosure.”

5:27 - Rep. Maxine Waters, crowd cheers her, much more than the smattering that Louise Slaughter and the other previous ones got.

5:25 - Rep. Hilda Solis, who rocks, is speaking. I was assigned to take her shopping at the 2001 Young Democrats convention. When I turned on the radio, it was on KUAT. She said, “You think that just because I’m in congress I listen to boring music?”

5:24 - Rep. Nita Lowey is speaking. Lowey would have been New York’s candidate for Senate in 2000 had Clinton not gotten into the race.

5:23 - Rep. Rosa DeLauro continues the “Obama is better for women” line. Notes that McCain didn’t even show up to many votes on women’s issues.

5:21 - Pelosi notes that the 1908 convention was the first one with women delegates, and that this convention is majority women.

5:19 - Democratic women of US House are up on stage. I don’t see Gabby.

5:18 - Some delegates have “Pro-Israel, Pro-Obama” signs. The signs are Israeli flags with the Mogen David replaced with an Obama logo.

5:17 - Wexler talks up Obama on foreign policy. Specifics, not just a line about regaining our lost respect in the world. First time I’ve heard specifics on foreign policy this convention.

5:16 - Robert Wexler, for real fun, Google his appearance on the Daily Show.

5:13 - Richard M. Daley, who tells us what Obama did in “Chica-goe.”

5:07 - Tom Allen of Maine.

5:05 - Jeff Merkley of Oregon. “It is time to make America work for working Americans.” These candidates are tying their opponents to George Bush and John McCain.

5:03 - Gen. John Adams tapped me on the shoulder and wants me to say that “John McCain is reckless and dangerous and deserves to be in a pasture and not the White House.”

5:01 - Jean Shaheen, former governor of New Hampshire, running for Senate. Smattering of applause because Democratic activists have heard of her.

5:00 - By the way, no one in the hall listens to these speeches.

4:59 - Parade of US Senate candidates, starting with Tom Udall. These are often done so the footage can be used in advertisements.

4:56 - Charles Schumer tries to get crowd riled up with “John McCain said ‘No.’” Trouble is, folks are taking this as a good time for a bathroom break or milling the floor.

4:44 - Chants of “Obama,” band kicks in and kills it.

4:53 - Pelosi announces that Barack Obama will be the nominee of our party, and that, yes, he accepts the nomination.

4:52 - “Yes, We Can.”

4:51 - Dammit, I’m here for this. I’ve said this before, but what is most remarkable is how unimaginable even a generation ago that this party, which was the party of John C. Calhoun, Ben Tillman and George Wallace, would nominate an African-American.

4:50 - Small bit of laughter when Pelosi gavels before there is any chance for an objection.

4:49 - Gallego insists that he be on record for seconding that.

4:48 - “Yes, We Can” chant.

4:47 - Clinton moves for supsension of the rules and moves for Obama by acclamation.

4:46 - Did Clinton just move for acclamation?

4:45 - Sen. Clinton will read vote!

4:44 - New York: Clinton is spotted. Crowd goes bat guano.

4:42 - Illinois: Invokes a possible world series between White Sox and Cubs, smattering of boos, yields to New York.

4:40 - New Mexico: Home of 22 Native American tribes (we beat you Idaho!), yields to Illinois, but takes a long time to do so.

4:38 - New Jersey: 127 Obama. Crowd goes nuts.

4:37 - Illinois delegates holding up signs, can’t read them.

4:36 - New Hampshire: 30 Obama.

4:35 - Nevada: 8 Clinton, 25 Obama. (Doesn’t add to 34)

4:34 - Scrum grows around New York placard.

4:33 - Nebraska: Sen. Ben Nelson invokes William Jennings Bryan, who was nominated in Denver 100 years ago, 3 Clinton, 28 Obama.

4:30 - Montana: What is with these people wearing cowboy hats inside? Montana chair insists on giving us geography lesson, 7 Clinton, 18 Obama.

4:29 - Missouri: Mention of Harry Truman still gets applause, 6 Clinton, 82 Obama.

4:28 - Talk is that California was skipped to allow for New York to put Obama over the top.

4:27 - Mississippi: 8 Clinton, 33 Obama.

4:26 - Spontaneous “Yes, We Can.”

4:24 - Minnesota: Duluth College won the Women’s Hockey Championship (who knew?), 8 Clinton, 78 Obama. (Doesn’t add to 88).

4:23 - Michigan: 27 Clinton, 125 Obama.

4:21 - Massachusetts: Senate President mentions Pats, Celtics, Red Sox, but not Revs, 52 Clinton, 65 Obama.

4:19 - Maryland: 6 Clinton, 94 Obama.

4:18 - Maine: 8 Clinton, 24 Obama.

4:16 - Lousiana: 43 Obama, 7 Clinton, chair asks that vote get read again, they are 17 short.

4:15 - Kentucky: 24 Clinton, 36 Obama.

4:14 - Kansas: 7 Clinton, 34 Obama, no word on how Styx and Rainbow vote.

4:13 - Iowa: Iraq vet reads vote, notes that he’s wearing his combat boots, 48 Obama, 9 Clinton.

4:12 - Indiana: Overly enthusiastic candidate for Lt Governor reads vote, 10 Clinton, 75 Obama.

4:11 - Illinois: Passes. Gee.

4:10 - Gee, how will Illinois vote?

4:09 - Idaho: Lists Native American tribes that live there, “Determined to turn crimson to turquoise,” 3 Clinton, 20 Obama.

4:08 - Hawaii: Daniel Inouye reads vote, 26 Obama, 1 Clinton. (Doesn’t add to 29)

4:06 - Guam: “Where America’s Day Begins,” 4 Obama, 3 Clinton. (Doesn’t add to 9)

4:04 - Georgia: “Home of statesmen like Jimmy Carter and Sam Nunn,” but no mention of Lester Mattox, 18 Clinton, 82 Obama. (Doesn’t add up to 102)

4:02 - Florida: Goes nuts at mention that they have 211 votes, 136 Obama, 51 Clinton, 1 Abstention. Watch the press find that guy for an interview.

4:01 - District of Columbia: Pitch for statehood from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (of course), 33 Obama, 7 Clinton.

3:59 - Democrats Abroad: 2 1/2 Clinton, 8 1/2 Obama. Cameras surround New York delegation.

3:58 - Delaware: 23 Obama.

3:57 - Connecticut: 38 Obama, 21 Clinton.

3:36 - Colorado: 55 Obama, 15 Clinton.

3:55 - California: 441 member delegation sounds like a bull-roarer, passes, boos here and there.

3:43 - Arkansas: 47 Obama, crowd goes nuts.

3:53 - Arizona: Vote read by James Pedersen, surrounded by cameras, 40 Obama, 27 Clinton (this means that Clinton delegates switched)

3:51 - American Samoa: Remarks in Samoan (brings back memories of 1995), 9 Obama.

3:51 - Alaska: 3 Clinton, 15 Obama.

3:50 - Alabama: 48 Obama, 5 Clinton.

3:49 - Roll call of states. “Madame Chair, the Great and Sovereign State of…”

3:48 - Nominations closed by Nancy Pelosi. She did this before my supporters could speak up.

3:45 - Gallego (who is sitting behind me) notes that Davis was Sam Coppersmith’s classmate at Harvard. I don’t buy that. Sam, if you are reading, please comment.

3:44 - Davis paraphrases Bible: “Least of these…”

3:43 - Another second by Rep. Artur Davis. Says that this nomination gets us closer to what this nation can be.

3:42 - Wasserman-Schultz’s message pointed at women consideing McCain. Emphasizes McCain’s policies on choice, working women and education.

3:40 - Prominent Clinton backer Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz seconds Obama. Notes that the Florida delegation is fully seated.

3:39 - Ever notice how people “proudly” nominate and second?

3:39 - Mark your bingo cards, first mention of John McCain today.

3:38 - Message: White House has abandoned rural America.

3:37 - Ties in his story with Obama’s story. More emphasis on humble beginings.

3:36 - Salazar emphasizes both his humble roots and his long ancestry in this country.

3:34 - Sen. Ken Salazar seconds. Just so you know, my cowboy grandfather would never wear a hat indoors.

3:33 - Further countering the “elite” image, Wilson emphasizes his own small town roots.

3:32 - Michael Wilson, a Republican and veteran of the Iraq war, nominated Obama.

3:31 - Nominations for Barack Obama. Delegation stands up, even Clinton delegates.

3:30 - Thank God for Wikipedia. The singer spelled her name differently.

3:38 - Another second by Denise Williams Harris. Izzat the one that sang “Let’s Hear it for the Boy”?

3:27 - Clinton seconded by Jordan Aspell. He is a young delegate from Utah, but the big screen said “Colorado.” Ooops.

3:23 - Huerta was also a strong backer of Bobby Kennedy. The next time you see footage of Bobby’s last speech, you can see Huerta standing behind him. Ruben Gallego wants me to note that she also backed Michael Nowakowski.

3:21 - Hillary Rodham Clinton nominated by Dolores Huerta. That totally effin’ rocks.

3:20 - Nominating folks for president. Place is still half full.

3:11 - Remarks by Howard Dean, who loves the name of my blog.

3:09 - Meeting called to order by Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte.