Denver, Day Three

It's hard to say anything. It was history and we were there.

The day started off with a great surprise--Theo showed up at our condo with credentials which got us into better seats than the parental ones (we became "honored guests" rather than "special guests"). He'd found us inside the arena and given us an upgrade yesterday but this way we didn't have to stand in line. Our seats weren't quite as good--the place was really filling up by the time we arrived and the section we were in yesterday was already full--but they were still excellent. The things hanging around our necks in the pictures are credentials, which include the pass for the day, the ID ones that define us as parents, the access card for the CNN grille and an extra for the "Club Level" which we never needed but Theo said might be demanded if security changed.

Watching/listening to the roll call was very exciting--it was clear that something was going on with the New York delegation but it was still amazing to hear Hillary call for the acclamation--followed by a "vote" that was just a roar of the crowd. I think Jean is wrong about the convention being an unhealthy way to run a democracy--the primaries are the right way to decide this. And it certainly is good theater.

As on the day before, many of the "minor" speakers were excellent--Harry Reid, for example, did a soft spoken but very impressive commentary on the way in which the oil companies have owned national policy for a long time. He harked back to Carter's vision, which was nice because the Carters were in a section right next to us.

I can't say much about Bill Clinton's speech--except that it was moving and amazing to be there. It was brilliant theater and brilliant politics.

And the nice detail of the day was an encounter on the shuttle bus with a pleasant young man who turned out to be the Associated Press bureau chief. He charmed us both by claiming to remember my father's name "from the archives" and by saying positive things about the way press logistics have been run. We went back to the CNN Grille for drinks and food--the bartender even recognized us (we had chatted pleasantly and tipped well yesterday). That's Roger with a dog we found inside.

I am going to have to pass on today--I get migraines in the sun and couldn't tolerate a whole afternoon in the stadium--but Roger is set to go so there should be good pictures tomorrow. I'll watch on TV, which has some advantages. I don't envy Theo the work that has gone on all night to move operations over to the football field. Our AP friend complained about how costly the switch was for them.