“This is Not a Time for Politics or Celebration; it is a Time For Us to Come Together as Americans and Assist the Residents of the Gulf States”

*Please note that the RNC chose not to credential The Miami Student (I was baffled…) However, because I am here with a non-profit, I ended up with their credentials today. (Lucky Me!)

The contrast between Denver and St. Paul has been telling… last Sunday as I worked with my non-profit in downtown Denver, Obama and DNC “shwag” was unavoidable. It was in your face and Denver was Obama crazy. This Sunday, as I explored St. Paul I saw a couple guys in McCain hats, an Al Franken bumper sticker, and a lonely anti-war protester. Apparently I missed the action...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/30/MNQJ12LPN1.DTL
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hksHDv1i55R2qYI6dkmMm10uxZ0AD92TISL80

In St. Paul, MSNBC which runs its shows live (i.e. Morning Joe) has a very nice set up right outside the Xcel Center next to a nice fountain. Other than that there are no interest groups out in force (yet), no McCain/RNC merchandise booths sprawled across the city. No people trying to hand me dumb free stuff, no one trying to sign me up to vote, not even an anti-choice truck in sight… this feels very very different.

I overheard one member of the press say, “This place is dead, I don’t know where anything is.” My co-workers (some of whom got credentialed) had to travel all the way to The Convention Center (Minneapolis) to pick up credentials to get into the Xcel Center (St. Paul)… this whole twin cities thing is proving to be much less convenient then Denver (and Denver was a hot mess.) When we drove into Minneapolis I was happy to find people. There were some cute restaurants and outside BBQ’s and soul food (none of which had to do with the RNC.) So we finally get to the Convention Center and there are all these people walking around in yellow (buttercup yellow) shirts it kind of reminded me of baby chickens. Many of these volunteers were older adults who also wear buttons that say "Thanks for Coming!" It wasn't until I strolled into the Convention Center that I spotted a few nondescript red polos.

I happened to stumble into a delegate party and what I found was the exact opposite of the DNC scene. Firstly, we were among a handful of young people there. Instead of the celebrities they had jazz/bluegrass and family bands playing. Everything was organized inside with individual booths and vendors lined up in rows. There were beauty queens walking around, most notably... my personal favorite (Miss Texas!) There was also a booth called "Operation Gratitude" where we could write letters to our troops (which I did) and I felt really grateful that they had that there... you could also send them care packages. There was the usual barrage of anti-liberal pins, shirts, bumper stickers... but there was some especially creative "shwag" such as golf balls with Dem's' faces on them... the "flip flop Dem rocking chair"... and so much more.


There were tons of pro-christian, anti-gay, anti-choice, anti drug "stuff" and also some pretty cute elephant "wee- publican" bibs for infants. There was also a guest appearance by President Lincoln. I should also mention the museum-like feel of this "civic fest" for delegates. They had a replica of the white house and a place where you could pretend that you were being sworn into office. They had part of an air force one and they had collections of political women's dresses including many first ladies' inauguration dresses. It was pretty neat to see these pieces of history even though the eveny was certainly demographically challenged. In all fairness... there may very well have been similar delegate parties in Denver, but I had credentials there and therefore, less interest in wandering into fancy parties!

We found out yesterday that President Bush (possibly the Presidential Nominee himself) and many others will not be joining us at the RNC due to the Hurricane that is expected to hit New Orleans today.

This is the talk of the town... organizations like "ONE" aren't sure if they will be holding their party and everything seems to be "playing it by ear" now. Some people think it's for the best, it's the right thing to do: being there this time for the evacuees and making sure people understand the severity of the storm warnings and that their government does care about what happens to them. This is the GOP's attempt to not make the same "mistake" twice. As we all know the GOP bore the brunt of the blame for the aftermath of Katrina... So, the question is: Is there a political downfall for important party leaders (like our President) not showing up to the convention?

Maybe it shows the party’s extreme confidence (we don’t need a huge showy convention to win this election)… or maybe they are protecting their own self-interest (looking for a few good TV clips to release to the public.) I think it’s hard to say. Regardless, there is a general feeling of apathy and lack of passion for the convention in the twin cities. Even the traffic police are mean… (in Denver they were generally helpful and friendly.) Perhaps this will pass and the spirit of the RNC will pick up… I HOPE and think it will since Gustav has already hit. Anyway they had Laura Bush and Cindy McCain speak for what seemed like 15 minutes and they REALLY, REALLY lucked out that Bush and Cheney won't have to speak... it seems like no one wanted them here and everyone thinks that it is a good idea to distance the new GOP leadership from the Bushies. (Although I did run into Karl Rove in the hallway...)

I want to quickly interject my personal view here: I don't think our leadership has another option at this point. Republicans and the media are all talking about how it's important to not look like they are celebrating, partying and ignoring a very grave situation. I think it's important for our leaders to lead! AND obviously their complete focus needs to be on helping Americans evacuate and prepare for what is sure to be another devastating situation. So I know people are bummed out and don't feel a personal connection with the hurricane victims... but if our homes were in danger... especially after we had just begun to rebuild our lives again... I'm sure we would have a different view. I hope we can keep all the victims of natural disasters in our thoughts and prayers. It is essential that the federal government is totally engaged.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/30/MNQJ12LPN1.DTL

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hksHDv1i55R2qYI6dkmMm10uxZ0AD92TISL80


http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/27718564.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/01/america/NA-POL-US-Elections.php

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/31/rnc.gustav/index.htmlhttp://www.gopconvention2008.com/

John McCain 2008 and 2008 Republican National Convention Announce Changes to Convention Program and Hurricane Response Efforts Monday's Convention Program Will Only Include Required Proceedings, McCain Campaign Takes Steps to Aid Affected Delegations

Important information for delegates - click here

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - At the recommendation of Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican National Convention announced substantial changes to the convention's program and actions being taken to help with Hurricane Gustav relief efforts. On Monday, all program activities beyond the official business that must be conducted in accordance with party rules will be cancelled. Among the other actions announced today are the formation of the Affected States Working Group, the establishment of an Affected States Information Center, and the chartering of a DC-9 to transport affected delegates. Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain 2008, announced that the upcoming Republican National Nominating Convention is making serious revisions to the convention program and surrounding activities. Davis said, "We are deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of the residents of the Gulf State region. Our top priority is to assist those who will be affected by Hurricane Gustav. This is not a time for politics or celebration; it is a time for us to come together as Americans and assist the residents of the Gulf States." Davis also discussed what the changes in the program will mean for the nomination process. "In order for the Republican Party to officially exist and for Senator McCain to qualify for the ballot, we are - by law - required to conduct specific official business. At this point, our program on Monday has been scaled back and will only include what party rules governing the nomination of our candidates for president and vice president require. We will perform the official business as required. In addition, we have set aside time to make delegates and Americans watching our proceedings at home aware of what they can do to assist in relief efforts designed to help those who will be affected by Hurricane Gustav." Davis concluded: "At some point between Monday and Thursday evening, we will convene once again to complete the activities needed to qualify Senator McCain and Governor Palin for the ballot in all 50 states. Beyond that, all we can say is that we will monitor what is happening and make decisions about other convention business as details become available." Chairman of the Republican National Committee Robert M. "Mike" Duncan added, "The safety and well-being of the people of the Gulf States remains our top concern. We are doing everything we can on the ground in Minneapolis-Saint Paul to ensure that the delegations affected by this storm have the resources and information that they need. As Senator McCain said this morning, we must redirect our attention and efforts. We will act as Americans - not Republicans - to help our fellow citizens in need." This morning, at the request of Governor Barbour (R-Miss.), Sen. McCain attended a briefing with the governor about the state's storm preparation efforts. The briefing was held at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency offices in Pearl, Miss. Following the briefing, Sen. McCain, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and Mrs. Cindy McCain toured the emergency management center. The convention is in continuous communication with all delegates, speakers, and program participants. All parties understand that the schedule for the convention will be dictated by the conditions on the ground in the Gulf States and are, therefore, subject to change. The campaign and the convention's first priority is the safety and security of those living in the areas where the hurricane will make landfall. The McCain campaign has also taken several additional steps to assist delegates from the Gulf States, including the formation of an Affected States Working Group, the chartering of a DC-9 to transport affected delegates, and the establishment of an Affected States Information Center.

The Affected States Working Group
The Affected States Working Group is comprised of a group of representatives from each of the states in Hurricane Gustav's path. The group will ensure that all affected delegates have information and assistance in real time. The Affected States Working Group is led by all five state party chairs from the affected area along with other delegation officials. The purpose of the group will be to regularly brief their delegates and convention planners, provide access to timely information and assistance, and give input on appropriate steps that can be taken from Minnesota. The state party chairs released the following joint statement: "We appreciate the thoughts and prayers of everyone around the country as we prepare for this dangerous storm. We are here in Minnesota for the necessary job of nominating our choice for president and vice president, but obviously our focus is on our families and friends back at home. We are in constant communication with our governors and elected officials and feel confident that they are taking the appropriate and necessary steps to prepare. The purpose of this group is to discuss ways that we can come together to provide information and support for our delegates here in Minneapolis." The group is made up of nine leaders from the region and is chaired by the following individuals:

Roger Villare, Louisiana State Chair
Tina Benkiser, Texas State Chair
Brad White, Mississippi State Chair
Mike Hubbard, Alabama State Chair
Jim Greer, Florida State Chair

Air Transportation Provided to Delegates
Also announced today were transportation arrangements for delegates from states affected by Hurricane Gustav. The McCain 2008 campaign has chartered a DC-9 that will transport delegates that wish to return to home to their states. The DC-9 will leave Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport today and will fly to Jackson, Mississippi. All transportation costs will be covered by the McCain 2008 campaign. "As we all watch and prepare for Gustav to make landfall, it is important that the convention make it as easy as possible for delegates to be where they are needed most - with their families and local agencies in their home states. We are grateful to Senator McCain for making this resource available to the delegates from the Gulf States," Maria Cino, President and CEO of the Republican National Convention 2008, said today.

Affected States Information Center
The convention has established an Affected States Information Center, which will be fully staffed and located inside the Xcel Energy Center. The center will remain open during the Xcel Energy Center's operating hours and will serve as a central location where delegates can get news about the hurricane, weather reports, and information about rescue relief organizations; access to computers and phones; and the resources they need to address their situations back home. Delegates can go to the center and get information. There will also be contacts in the center that can contact Gulf State governors, if needed.

Republican Party Rules
The convention program has been altered in response to the situation developing in the Gulf States region. However, the convention will still take place. According to party rules, it is necessary for the convention to proceed in order to ensure that the party is able to place its candidates' names on the ballot in November. On November 9, 2007, pursuant to the rules adopted at the 2004 National Republican Convention, the party issued the call for its convention. The call requires that the convention meet on Sept. 1, 2008. The session must be convened no earlier than 9 a.m. and no later than 7 p.m. Under the current party rules, this is the only method by which the party may select a candidate for President and Vice President.

The Morning After...

Disclaimer: I left my hotel at 4:30am and I am now blogging from the airport… so I apologize for the jumbled entry...

For more "coherent" info... http://www.demconvention.com/?gclid=CIfSnNCUs5UCFQoNGgodhky3QA


Change

The word "change' has forever been changed for me. In fact, I have consumed so much political propaganda this week that every time I hear that word or see that word, I have an instinctual eyeroll and feel a slight wave of nausea coming on. The term is so overused that it has lost all meaning for me. I am immune to "change." I am happy to report that in Obama's speech, he only used "the word" 6 times (I counted).

Maybe I'm just worn out and bitter... The following is a passage from an article in The Wall Street Journal (not linkable) that I thought was quite amusing:

"Credential shortages plagued the Democratic Convention this year. Normally, the party learns its nominee earlier in the year and doles out the best hotel rooms and event passes to the biggest party donors. But this year, the primary fight between Sens. Obama and Clinton wasn't resolved until June. According to party finance officials, shortly after it became clear that the Super Tuesday primary in February wouldn't resolve the race, the two candidates were offered a deal. The loser would get roughly 450 event credentials and about 200 prime hotel rooms. In normal years, the runner-up largely gets stiffed on perks. As a result, some Clinton supporters got a passel of convention perks this year, even if they didn't donate to the party. That left the party with fewer perks to distribute to those who arrived late, such as backers of vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden. Amarilis Osorio and her husband, Claudio, a Miami Beach, Fla., entrepreneur, decided at the last minute to attend the convention. The couple held a fund-raiser at their house earlier this month with Sen. Obama's wife, Michelle, and raised $400,000. "We had to fly commercial -- a private jet was too expensive," said Ms. Osorio. "And our hotel room is dreadful." Mr. Korge handed over two hall passes and two others known as Lexus passes, which gave the bearer access to a high-end restaurant within the convention arena. For hoi polloi, arena food consists largely of hot dogs and pizza. "I'll see what I can do about the hotel room," Mr. Korge said. He later found the couple a room at the luxury Brown Palace Hotel.
"We're trying to help out people we think are going to belly up for Obama in the next couple of weeks," Mr. Korge said. "We need to treat them good." Messrs. Korge and Heckler worked with Benjamin Pollara, who managed Sen. Clinton's money operation in Florida, and Jared Moskowitz, a Florida delegate and vice mayor of Parkland, a town outside of Miami. Every day, the men contributed all the credentials they rustled up into a common pot before drawing up a distribution list. One recent morning, Mr. Heckler's preliminary list looked daunting: The group had about six free credentials against a list of 18 donors who needed help.
The team spread out into the Brown Palace lobby, which was mobbed by politicos, many involved in similar pursuits. Mr. Moskowitz's phone chirped with a call from a donor. "Hey, if I get you three hall passes and two Lexus passes, can I get a floor pass?" Mr. Heckler shook his head. "Bad deal," he said. Throughout the day, the men worked toward their goal, scoring passes in twos and threes. The next morning came a jubilant email from Mr. Pollara. From a day that started with just six credentials, "we got 47 people into the convention yesterday -- our key donors, elected officials and political contacts."

By Christopher Cooper at christopher.cooper@wsj.com

There were a ton of celebrities: John Legend, Kanye West, George Lucas, Tyra Banks... plus the stars who performed, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder...

(certainly they didn't have any trouble with getting floor passes)

Delegates, Super Delegates, Super Duper Delegates, and Why On Earth Do We Need Them? Interview with Miami University’s very own Dr. Donald Daiker, Professor Emeritus Department of English who is a delegate for Obama from OHIO

Don told me that being a delegate meant a great deal to him and that this was the first democratic convention he's attended. He has been to all the sessions and has had the opportunity to see his heroes (people like Nancy Pelosi) in person.

He believes this convention has driven home a central issue-- that this country is going to move in a new direction and embrace change. McCain, who is more of the same, voted with Bush 90% of the time.

There were a number of emotional moments for Don, one of them was Hillary Clinton's speech on Tuesday night. He had flirted with the idea of supporting Hillary before he chose Barack as his candidate but said he had never admired her more. Her speech was intelligent and compassionate. Don felt her commitment to democratic values and to working class families was clear and strong.

I asked Don why we needed Super Delegates. You may have noticed that I think super delegates are a bit silly and confusing but Don made some good points. He thinks Super Delegates are a good idea. Perhaps there are more then are truly needed but they make it possible for more important/experienced political figures in the party to be represented and to play a role at the convention. The Super Delegates bring knowledge and experience that Don admits that he and others may lack. These delegates also offer a balance and their inclusion is more likely to motivate them to work hard.

Don believes that his experiences in Oxford, Columbus and now Denver, reveal that Miami University students will see a level of activity on the ticket that they've never seen before. He believes that the campaign will be more organized and the Miami's Campus should be prepared for a kind of intensity it's never seen before. The Obama campaign is run from the bottom up and those at "the bottom" will be campaigning hard. There is a lot of room for participation from young people and we welcome them!

http://www.demconvention.com/how-to-become-a-delegate/

http://www.demconvention.com/caucus-meetings/

Obama's Speech... I encourage you to read it for yourselves. It's not posted yet (Hillary's speech is) but when they post it, you'll be able to find it at http://www.barackobama.com/

Like him or hate him, he's a great public speaker. The stadium was filled with CHANGE signs (my favorite) and instead of the traditional balloon drop, red, white and blue confetti was blasted onto the field. And of course, there were fireworks. Obama claims to be a candidate that rises above the divides of political parties, but I find it extremely difficult to talk about him or his speech without being partisan. After watching Obama's speech, the reactions from people I know were across the board. Some thought it was inspirational, presidential, and even brilliant. Others felt that it was unfocused and only said more of the same. (Democrats this week have made it clear that being "the same" is very bad!) Some felt this was a lost opportunity to get specific, to talk about something new and do it in a fresh way. However, since I work in communications, I know that nothing is more effective than repeating your message over, and over, and over….

So... I'm sorry for the short post... but the plane is taking off!!

"Candidate McCain Would Vote Against the Immigration Bill that Senator McCain Wrote!"

Credential Hell…

Why hasn’t the DNCC gone electronic yet? Each morning thousands of journalists, media personnel, allied organizations, delegates, vendors, volunteers and “special guests” (people who gave a lot of money) line up at different locations all around downtown Denver. The emails I received, the website, and phone conversations I had all gave out conflicting information about when, where and how to pick up your credentials. On Sunday it’s one place, on Monday another… the pick up times are inconsistent and the rooms where the credentials are being held are laughably small. So you have a bunch of hot, irritated people (most of which are on deadlines) crammed into a hotel hallway waiting for them to “please I’ll do anything if you just call organization J-M!” When you finally get to the “J-M” desk there is one middle aged women taking her time riffling through stacks of paper… “oh, I think this is it… no… wait one minute...what’s the name of your organization again?” Then, you finally have your credential and you’re thinking, “Great! Glad that’s over.” So, you walk through downtown towards what you hope is the Pepsi Center not to be confused with the Convention Center... when you get as close at you possibly can (which is not close) to the Pepsi Center, after trying to figure out how to navigate all the closed roads and roadblocks, you get to stand in another line that must be almost a mile long. (If you don’t like waiting in unbearably long lines, the conventions are not for you!) After you get through security you walk into the perimeter where CNN has its special CNN VIP Grill and other big media outlets have staffers driving their Journalists around in golf carts. When you finally enter the arena (during the day) there are signs for things like radio row Radio Row. Mostly media and delegates are at the Pepsi Center during the day… its not until about 4:00pm when it becomes super chaotic. When you enter for the speeches at night… you show your credential to about 15 people and they say things like, “I think that you’re supposed to go over there.” So, as you can imagine there are a lot of confused people walking around!

I can’t wait to see what getting into INVESCO Field on Thursday night is like!!What I find to be especially ridiculous about the “credential issue” is when I returned to the hotel on Monday and Tuesday night and turned on CNN I could see plenty of empty seats in the crowd! WHY? So many people who had “Perimeter” or “Arena” passes were not allowed into those empty seats because they didn’t have “Hall” passes (very high school, right?) Tonight, it was so packed that the fire marshalls had to shut down entrance to the hall. The only empty seats could be found in the private suites boxes... just because they can, right? But seriously, it makes no sense and people who have come all the way from who knows where are denied the chance to support their party. They were probably just holding those seats for more important people… Well the people who were “important enough” had the opportunity tonight to see:

Wednesday, August 27: Securing America’s Future
"Barack Obama offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy to make our country more secure and advance our interests in the world. Wednesday night’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack’s vision of making America stronger and safer."
The headline prime-time speaker on Wednesday will be Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Joe Biden.
Featured speakers will include: Former President Bill Clinton; former Senator Tom Daschle; Governor Bill Richardson and Senators Evan Bayh, John Kerry and Jay Rockefeller. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Convention home state Senator Ken Salazar, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, and Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future – veterans, active duty military and their families.

Highlights:

Former President Bill Clinton, almost wasn't given an opportunity to begin his speech there was so much cheering and chanting. It was truly incredible... people couldn't control themselves! His speech was dynamic and well recieved. People really really love Bill. His message was in support of Barack Obama and that Obama's America will use "diplomacy first and military force as a last resort." BUT... he believe that "when [Obama] can't convert adversaries into partners, [Obama] will stand up to them." Then there was some more, "people will always be more impressed by the power of our example than the example of our power," followed by the usual "yes we can" chanting. Bill said of a McCain presidency, "Thanks, but no thanks" and "the third time is not a charm." He spoke about his own campaign and how the republicans then said the he was too young and inexperienced to be president. He said that Obama was on the right side of history and that "America must always be a place called hope." (gag) There was also a lot of talk about the Bush administration destroying our economy while reminding people how much "better" our economy was when Bill was in office... must I go on?


Sen. John Kerry, spoke about using our values to shut down institutions like Gitmo and to stop tourtue (big theme tonight). The United States of America should not tourtue now and not ever was his message. He also threw in an "energy revolution begins now." My favorite thing that he said was when he spoke about the difference between "Candidate McCain" and "Senator McCain." He pointed out that candidate McCain would vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote and then said "are you kidding me folks?" He said that before McCain debates Barack Obama, "he should finish the debate with himself."

I should also mention that there was a large focus on honoring our troops and there was a beautifully done video... that was pretty emotional (aka I was balling)...

Me and Stan Greenberg (Miami Grad & Famous Dem Pollster)

JOE BIDEN “Joe is the salt of the earth.” In his tribute video had a clear message: Joe Biden preservers and is always there for his family. He has the necessary foreign policy experience to make Obama’s ticket successful. Joe gave what started off as the standard party speech and morphed into something that felt a bit more genuine. For Biden, America’s future is “about whether or not you can look your child in the eye and say we’re going to be alright.” He believes that Obama will hold Russia accountable for its actions and help Georgia rebuild. He also reminded us that Obama wanted to send more troops to Afghanistan and did not believe we had “won” there. He supports Obama’s Iran policy which was explained simply as “we must talk and make clear to Iran that they must change.” He said Obama wants to shift responsibility to the Iraqi’s and create a time table to bring our troops home. (Something we have heard over and over… and actually it looks like Bush and Malaki may actually agree on some sort of time table in the near future…) Biden said, “remember when the world used to trust us?” (Must have been before my time)… “When Barack Obama is President they will trust us again.” I think herein lies the problem with politicians… they make all these promises… if only it were that simple! Biden also said that Obama will give college students $4,000 in exchange for community service... (really??) Even if this somehow is possible, let's face it... we went to Miami University and $4,000 seems like a joke at this point. (P.S. I have recently discovered that college loans don't magically disappear after you graduate like I "hoped" they would.) Something that I believe is tangible, that has nothing to do with foreign policy, is that Biden promises Obama will continue to work until there is equal pay for women. I deeply respect Biden because he wrote The Violence Against Women Act in 1994. Democrat or Republican... it was an important step in victim advocacy.

Some Joe Articles

Obama says Joe Biden is ready to be president

Meet Joe Biden

Biden Tears Up In Front of Home State

Obama's choice of Biden raises stakes for McCain

There was even a surprise guest at the end of the night BARACK OBAMA... ahhhh! Surprise! So the night ended with generations of family on stage and it was actually quite nice to see and very very smart.


Hmm... Frank Luntz... enough said.

-Sarah Marcu 07'

"In Four Months We Will Have an Administration that Actually Believes in Science!"

Some thoughts after deliriously blogging at Midnight last night…Maybe it was silly of me to expect anything different, but I am realizing that the Democratic National Convention is just a huge pep-rally. The speakers (for the most part) are vibrant, passionate and animated. The Pepsi Center is filled with democratic cheerleaders. In my “introduction blog” I said that I would report Obama’s and the Democratic Party’s stance on issues related to young people and Ohioans, but let’s be honest here… no one is talking specifics. Many general broad statements are made. In almost every speech you can find the “everyone deserves healthcare” war cry but no explanations on how that will exactly be implemented. Now, I know we can all do Google searches or go directly to Barack Obama’s website: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/ or http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/ for extensive information on his platform on healthcare and education but why aren’t the politicians here talking about these things specifically? Are we not trusted to understand these “complex” issues? Maybe it’s simply that people don’t care… which is probably true in many situations… but here you have thousands of people waiting for opportunities to cheer… the Obama campaign must be afraid to stir up controversy.

Watch Michelle Obama’s Speech: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/michelle

I am in a very unique situation here at the conventions (non-profit worker by day, journalist by night). I know it sounds glamorous… But I am lucky to be here with European co-workers who have a fascinating perspective. I wanted to share with you the experience I’ve had with them. Two German co-workers of mine sat next to me during the nightly speeches. They were completely blown away by the whole convention experience. They said that after something like this, it was hard not to fall in love with America. They said that this was “unbelievable” and that “you would never see anything like this in Switzerland or Germany.” The most interesting of all of their observations was this: “THERE IS SO MUCH EMOTION WITH SO FEW FACTS!” I guess that’s not quite what I expected them to say… I thought of course, these are politicians and this is just what politicians do. But I take all of this excitement for granted. They went on to explain that campaigns in Germany are not “openly” sponsored by entities such as Pepsi or Microsoft. Politicians in Germany would not wave around flags or talk about how proud they are to be German. In Germany, there is a huge emphasis on balanced coverage in the public sector. They thought that the partisanship of certain media outlets (Fox, CNN) made the political sphere more interesting and exciting. One of my co-workers said that political speeches in Germany were weighed down with facts and figures, that people were easily bored and that here the speeches are so much more interesting. They were also amazed by Obama’s celebrity status and said “we don’t have celebrities like you do in America… our Paris Hilton is an MTV host,” and that the way Obama is represented would make Germans nervous.

Tuesday Night’s Festivities… The Cult-like Chanting Continues...

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise

Highlights:

The Democratic party is really trying to paint McCain as four more years of Bush. There were thousands of signs that read: "McCain More Of The Same."

http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act-2007
Lily Ledbetter, retired Goodyear Tire worker whose sex discrimination complaint was rejected by the supreme court and sparked legislation to overturn that decision, spoke about equal pay for equal work and the necessity of equal rights.

During her speech I couldn't help but think of the "abortion trucks" that have been driving around Denver all weekend with incredibly disturbing "shock value" pictures and a large "God Have Mercy on Us!" plastered across them. This is a very sensitive issue that involves very passionate people and I won't go into "choice" politics... but I will say that it reminded me of how important family planning and education are (interpret at your own risk) and how far women in America have come because of our democracy... and also how far we have to go...

Gov. Mark Warner (VA) was the keynote speaker tonight and while he had a few strong quotes, I found him rather disappointing. He began by talking about how the "race for the future is on" and how important energy policy is... the funny thing about politicians talking about energy independence is that they throw a lot of fancy terms around and some sketchy figures but have no tangible plan. All people have to say is wind power and electric cars and people are happy. Moral of the story: it's good enough just to talk about energy independence. Near the end of his speech, and actually what I found to be his strongest statement was his declaration that "in four months we will have an administration that actually believes in science!"

OH-IO Gov. Ted Strickland, spoke about Ohio and America's great loss of Stephanie Tubbs Jones and asked us to join him in celebrating her life. She was finally given the respect (that I personally think) she deserves. With all of the election coverage, her tragic death was barley covered at lease where I live in D.C.

Strickland followed the others in making fun of McCain and Bush. He said that after Bill Clinton, "George W. Bush came into office on 3rd base and then he stole 2nd!" Strickland believes that Obama will "make college affordable" and he said that"there's more than hope in these ideas, there's jobs." Obama will "bring our jobs back and bring our troops home."

Sen. Hillary Clinton, had the final word tonight and threw her support to Obama. (People here are still nervous that her delegates may not do the same) Now that Clinton is no longer a threat, everyone loves her. She said, "whether you voted for me or Barack, the time to unite is now as a single party with a single purpose." She gave a very regal and typically strong "Hillary Speech." The arena was packed with Hillary signs and supporters.

As I left the Pespsi Center tonight... I thought about my writing classes in college where professors would critique students, encouraging them to show and not tell...

-Sarah Marcus 07'

"Barack Obama is Right and John McCain is Wrong."

Some of my favorite headlines leading up to the DNC included: Workers gear up to battle the seedy underbelly of the DNC, City flubs DNC money deadline, and Denver's homeless get free haircuts to look good for Obama and his Democrats. Despite extreme disorganization, various hate groups and the fact that the homeless definitely did NOT get haircuts the DNC has been pretty amazing so far.

On Saturday night I attended the Media Party where the DNCC rented out Elitch Gardens/Six Flags. "Media" or anyone with important friends could ride rollercoasters, eat, drink for free and play games. Journalists carried bags of huge stuffed animals out of the park as an elaborate fire works show officially ended the night. It felt like a movie.


Denver is star struck and Obama has nothing short of celebrity status which is interesting because tonight Obama was painted as a "regular guy" who worked hard and as a result the American Dream has come true! The more Obama is painted as average the more he is regarded as "the one" who will change America.



Some highlights from tonight include Rep. Nancy Pelosi who passionately stated that "John McCain has the experience of being wrong... John McCain is wrong." As she continued, the crowd began to chant along, "Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong." I want to mention that I had a very similar experience at Obama's victory speech in Iowa. I was there working and happened to get front and center for his speech. What stood out to me the most about that night was the chanting.... thousands and thousands of people chanting. It very much felt like a mob mentality and made me feel a bit nervous. At moments I had that experience tonight, but it was certainly a different crowd than Iowa... what does it mean for one person to be able to mobilize people in such a way?

There was an appearance by Former President Jimmy Carter, who didn't actually speak but did a lap around the stage after they played a video about him helping hurricane Katrina victims, which I found to be very interesting. It is undeniable that Jimmy Carter's foundation has done many amazing things in the human rights arena, but this is also a man who met with Hamas leaders (a internationally recognized terrorist group) and he had nothing to say about Obama and foreign policy?

Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. gave a passionate speech full of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. references, in support for Obama. This was an important move for him, in an effort to distance himself from his father, in light of the recent comments of his Rev. Jesse Jackson which were (to say the least) not very supportive of Obama. After Rep. Jackson Jr. spoke, the Pespi Center turned into a very large (and awkward) dance party which seemed to go on for a very long time...



Another important highlight was the tribute video to Senator Ted Kennedy. The crowd was extremely emotional and became even more so when the senator came out and gave an inspiring speech, pledging to be there in January when Barack Obama takes office. His main issues were health care and that "young Americans must never be committed to a mistake," an allusion to the Iraq war.

And then.... drumroll... a REPUBLICAN spoke! Yep. Former Rep. Jim Leach spoke out for Obama and while he stated his respect and admiration for the tradition of his own party he went on to champion democratic issues, criticizing Bush for trying to "finance a war with tax cuts." He spoke of the value of bipartisanship and said that "country comes before party."

Michelle Obama was the big news tonight. It was about personal stories; how she went off to college and then came back to help her community. This night was very much about her and HER service. They really made an effort to separate her from Barack and show that she had many accomplishments in her own right. She is another success story, an example of America's "independent woman," but not too independent! She is still a loving mother and wife and even tells funny stories that poke fun at Barack about his name in an attempt to humanize them. They very much appear to be the "perfect" family. She threw in a shout out to Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden but her entire speech can pretty much be summed up by "America is a place where you can make it if you try." (Didn't Sly and the Family Stone come up with that?)



The emphasis tonight was on FAMILY. Senator Claire McCaskill's children introduced her and many stories about working families and their "American stories" were told. Siblings of the Obama's spoke and at the very end, after Michelle's speech, Barack was live streamed into the Pepsi Center so that the world could catch another glimpse of him interacting lovingly with his family while sitting on the couch with a different family who were apparently hosting him from the evening in Kansas City. It was hard not to fall in love with the Obama's. The "perfect" ending to a Monday night.

More convention fun tomorrow...

Sarah Marcus 07'

Off to the 2008 Presidential Conventions...

I can't believe it's already time for the conventions...

Let me introduce myself: I graduated from Miami in May of 2007 with a Major in Creative Writing and a Minor in Middle East and Islamic Studies. I was President of Miami Students for Israel and competed in Model Arab League. I spent the summer before my senior year at Miami in Dubai, U.A.E. at the American University as a William Jefferson Clinton Scholar. I have been incredibly lucky to have travelled twice to the Middle East (the first time to Israel as a Bronfman Fellow, the second to Dubai) because it has given me a broad perspective on the effects of American foreign policy domestically and internationally. After being in a place ruled by a royal family (no freedom of speech), I came back to the States with an entirely new gratitude that I lived in a democracy... something I had previously taken for granted. So, as the conventions crept closer, I couldn't resist the opportunity to be a part of this incredibly important and historic election! And what better media outlet to write for then your college newspaper?

After I graduated, I moved to Washington, D.C. and took a job with an international non-profit which focuses on working with the Media on Middle East issues. My organization is non-partisan and as a credentialed member of the Press for the Miami Student, I am writing from a non-partisan perspective. I do not rate nor endorse any party or candidate. I will post daily about my impressions of the political processes taking place in Denver and St. Paul as well as issues affecting young people and what it really means to be a delegate, a super delegate... a super duper delegate (okay, those don't really exist)...

*Please note that I (The Miami Student) was denied credentials by the Republican National Convention due to the"overwhelming interest in covering our convention." There's always the live stream of the convention on their website... However, I will still be traveling to St. Paul and will continue to blog as one of the thousands of people who will show up without credentials, simply to be a part of this imperative event.

In case YOU are interested in watching the live stream or for more convention information, the official websites for each convention are:

http://www.demconvention.com/
http://www.gopconvention2008.com/

Why should YOU even care about this election? (a few things off the top of my head)

-The Iraq War, Afghanistan, Georgia and Russia, Darfur, Lebanon...
-Gas Prices
-Alternative Energy and Offshore Drilling
-The Housing Market
-Social Issues (abuse, women's health, family planning, abortion, gay marriage, school prayer)
-Paying for Higher Education, Scholarships, Federal Funds
-The Fall of the Dollar
-Homeland Security, Terrorism
-The possibility of a Nuclear Iran/ arms race
-The Israeli-Palestinian peace process
-China and India as an economic threat?

The list is endless and overwhelming and it is my hope that my involvement at the conventions will further my/our understanding of this truly amazing system. I am thrilled to be just a small part of our incredible democratic process.

So... I'm off to Denver and the next time you'll hear from me will be my first convention post on 8/25/08. Here are Monday's headlines http://www.demconvention.com/schedule/:

Monday, August 25 – One Nation

Barack Obama’s story is an American story that reflects a life of struggle, opportunity and responsibility like those faced by Americans everyday. The opening night of the Convention will highlight Barack’s life story, his commitment to change, and the voices of Americans who are calling for a new direction for this country.

Monday’s headline prime-time speaker will be Michelle Obama.

Other Monday night speakers include:Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri; Barack Obama’s sister Maya Soetero-Ng and Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama’s older brother; Jerry Kellman, mentor and long-time friend of Barack Obama; Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.; former Indiana Representative Lee Hamilton; Tom Balanoff, President of Illinois SEIU; Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America; NEA President Reg Weaver; AFT President Randi Weingarten; Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; State Comptroller Dan Hynes; Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis; Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle; and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
*Monday night will also feature a tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

-Sarah Marcus 07'

DNC

Alumnae Sarah Marcus is headed to Denver, Colo. to attend the Democratic National Convention. She will cover the event as a credentialed Miami Student reporter on this blog.