Back home in Dallas

As we were departing Denver yesterday afternoon...

We did indeed "watch history unfold" in Denver during the last week...what a convention!

Erin & I are so tired from the trip but also energized by it all -- hard to believe November 4th is just around the corner! We all have so much work to do between now & then...I hope everyone is gearing up to blockwalk, phonebank, & talk to your neighbors, friends, & family in support of the Democratic ticket, from the top to the bottom. Our time is now!

Friday was a snoozefest

I totally crashed on Friday. After four days of bad food and no sleep, the very expensive, not so great hotel room became a sanctuary. We finally roused and went to have dinner at a nice restaurant and to say goodbye to Denver. A final round of buying t-shirts and buttons, packing up all the swag and CNN non-stop. ~waves goodbye to the convention, hotel and the Mile High City~

We're off to the airport this morning and back to Dallas. It'll be good to be home.

Thank you, Chris!

A big shout-out of gratitude & THANKS to the Hon. Chris Luna, who gave me his delegate credential yesterday before having to return to Dallas for some business...thank you, Chris!!

Chris and Erin with Alabama State Rep. Patricia Todd at the LGBT luncheon on Tuesday

(I just noticed that over Chris' right shoulder is Paul Smith, the attorney who presented the oral argument on behalf of Lawrence in Lawrence v Texas before the United States Supreme Court in 2003.)

We just heard on CNN that Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech at INVESCO Field at Mile High last night was watched by 38 million viewers -- more than the Olympics Opening Ceremony, more than the finale of American Idol. It was a thrill to be there in person, a wonderful experience that I'll never forget...thank you, Chris! :)

Photos Photos Photos

LOTS of Denver 2008 photos now up at: http://www.kenneda.com/denver

Swing by & check out the many photos we've taken since Saturday, too numerous to upload here. More to come as I get them organized. Thank you, Eileen!! :)

Erin & I are still in Denver, flying back to Dallas tomorrow mid-day.

O-bam-a

I watched Obama's speech again on C-Span last night. With all of the excitement on the floor it was hard to hear every word. And believe me, I wanted to hear every word. He blew me away. He addressed all of the criticisms against him. He preempted a lot of the Rovian tactics that will be coming down the pike, he inspired the followers he has and he convinced those on the fence. His policy statements were strong and his attacks against McCain were measured and fair. It sounded like common sense, not attack-dog defensiveness. He was amazing. 

There were 80k+ in the stadium and everyone was rapt. If he can command a live crowd of that size, he can command a nation. One of the pundits said that McCain has an uphill battle. He is not running against a candidate, he is running against a movement. I've never seen such diverse elements come together behind a candidate. 

This is probably unfair but I'm going to do it anyway. Obama = 80,000 supporters McCain = 3000 for his largest gathering yet. 

Well innit that special

Still recovering from the festivities of last night and the post-convention find-a-bus game when I get an early text message this morning. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) has been tapped for McCain's VP running mate. Hmmm. Who? Wait. Did you say Quayle? She's an unknown Governor and she sounds like the church lady. Just sayin'. She's only been in office for two years, which takes the "inexperience" meme off the table. AND she is under investigation in her own state. Greaaat. I think McCain is trying to appeal to the disgruntled Hillary supporters but I give those supporters credit for supporting Hillary, not some no-name Republican just because she is a female. The folks that were Hillary or no one were either not going to vote, or vote for McCain anyway. 

This is a huge gamble for him. Hail Mary. Possible short-term gain for really questionable long-term loss. Didn't he play football? It's about the final score, not the down. Oh well. I think we can start questioning his judgment now. This is the first test of a presidential nominee. It's a bellwether as to how he makes big, tough, important decisions. So far? Meh.

WOW part three

Texas got up front seating and my best guesses are it's because of Leticia Van de Putte from San Antonio was a co-chair of the convention OR they were trying to get the larger delegations up front for media. Either way it was primo.

We could see all of the speakers w/o any trouble. Lots of celebrities walking up and down our aisle too. Patti and I both got our picture taken with Jorja Fox (Sarah from CSI) and lots of politicos.

And what speeches they were. Even the "no-name" speakers that the networks probably talked over were funny and engaging. Then we got to the heart of the matter, the business of electing a president. First Bill Richardson fired everyone up, then Al Gore spoke to environmental issues (surprise) and finally THE speech of the convention. I hope everyone watched. It was targeted, moving, inspiring and should quell any doubt this man can lead a nation.