Have a great time!

Safe travels…sounds great. And yes: please find out everything you can about what will guarantee an honest election…monitors, machines, etc. This is a concern in many quarters, and the cheaters have learned how to do it. Thanks.

I chipped in earlier because I know you guys will be the best! Have fun.

We’re psyched — but the schedule for the convention and all the ancillary stuff that will be going on looks brutal thus far. I’ve had to add a second planning sheet to my day planner to keep track of stuff, I kid you not.

Really appreciate you chipping in — you are, as always, a peach!

Make sure to take some time and stroll along the 16th Street Mall Christy. It’s an open air Mall in downtown Denver. No vehicles allowed on 16th Street other than buses (free), police, or mail trucks (cross streets though still have traffic). All sorts of stores and restaurants.

You Digg this post here Pups!

Live blogging can’t wait!! Be safe in your travels Christy all the pups will be rooting for you and the other FireDogs who will be there!

I’ve been joking with Jane that we should do a “Trying to have Q&A with Rahm” series, because I’m sure we’re on the top of his “gotta say howdy to them” list. *g*

hope you will be able to cover some of the protests. especially how the protesters are treated in denver. wish i could be on the streets with the other anti-war protesters, but sadly it’s just not going to happen this year.

Some great microbreweries on that 16th street stretch, if memory serves.

Hope someone has a chance to ask some Democratic Congresscritters about the homosexual agenda in the 111th Congress: it’s getting lengthy. DOMA and DADT repealed, iENDA enacted, Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes passed and signed. Lots to-do for folks who’ve been demonized and left behind for eight long years of GOP rule: your LGBT friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors.

Have a wonderful time, Christy. Looking forward to your reports.

Rahm and Me?

There have been a lot of conflicting reports on how things are or are not going to work with protests and such in Denver. I don’t think we are going to really know until we get there — but that definitely goes on the list of things to find out.

Will see what I can find out on that, Teddy. It’s been tough to get specifics from anyone on all of that — of course, not having to override a Bush veto would be helpful, too…

an instant classic

Richard Land is on my tv…can’t wait.

My Left Bunion. /s

Feingold on the FISA fight.

Durbin on standing up to the GOP in the Senate (instead of caving, caving, caving).

Also, a running series on reactions from ordinary delegates to McCain’s definition of rich (”folks who make $5,000,000″). You could probably string together a really nice collection of short interviews into a very strong YouTube video.

Yay-uh—I’d pay money to see Rahm try to cope w/ Christy and Jane’s questions. In fact, I will pay some money–sending a small donation when I get home from work. Thanks for all you do, again.

what station? por favor

Feingold on the FISA fight.

In front of a giant ATT banner.

Olbermann says at the Orangerie to expect a Special Comment — on McCain.

Maybe have Al Wynn and Rahm sit down together with Howie . . .

W got 80% of Evangelical vote…..How shall we thank them. I guess they must be proud.

If you would ask anyone you interview what they will DO to remove the Bush Administration definition of torture from the laws, policies and practices of the United States, and whether they will support independent, open and thorough investigations of all those who aided and abetted the redefinition, those who put the redefinition as the law, policy and practice of the United States, and those who actually conducted the torture, I would be grateful. I would also appreciate you asking if they would support an accounting of all those held in US custody and all those renditioned since January 21, 2001.

These are big requests, I understand, but I would be grateful.

For Dan,
Heather

Thanks mucho — we really appreciate it. And we’ll try and get Rahm on camera just for you, if we can track him down…

Thanks, Christy — those are all in the platform, I believe, but I’m interested in the strategy for rolling them out next year. We certainly don’t want another Clinton stumble with the Joint Chiefs on gays in the military, but maybe if everything was packaged as an omnibus Summer LBGT Civil Rights bill, it could be moved swiftly for signature during Pride month in June 2009.

I know, in my dreams, but still.

thanks. i’m hearing some worrying reports – which was one of the reasons i wanted to be there in support.

as a hook for your interests, perhaps the national lawyer’s guild would offer a good overview and perspective? i’ve volunteered with them (in miami 2003 for the ftaa protests and nyc 2004 for the rnc) as a legal observer and think they are great. your contacts at the CCR can put you in touch with the local NLG folks, but if you are too busy, i’d be happy to track down a contact or two for you.

best of luck and i hope you have a enjoyable as well as productive trip.

Christy! I just got home from a long convention in the Denver Convention center. Believe me when I tell you to take the most comfortable, supportive and springy-soled shoes you own. The place has extra-hard concrete, and everything is 12 miles away from everything else. I am serious.

Maybe have Al Wynn and Rahm sit down together with Howie . . .

he’d be feelin’ a bit surrounded doncha think?

Pretty sure it is in the platform. But saying it and getting it done — as we all know — are totally different things. And it’s the answers on how it will get done, and what we can do to help get it done, that I’ll try to get for you.

a Quest

I know ACLU has been doing some work on this preliminarily anyway. But I’m not well-versed enough on what’s been done to tell you without checking around a bit. Will see what I can dig up. *G*

I bought some crocs that look like mary janes, so they appear to be nice little flats, but are instead comfy. And I think I might take my cushy foot flops, too. I have difficulty walking long distances without comfy shoes because of my joint issues with lupus, so I’ll stash my grown-up shoes in my purse to pull out for formal occasions and stick to the comfy ones otherwise.

I learned that lesson at YKos in Chicago — where I ended up running around barefoot half the time because I just could not stand shoes it was so huge and concrete-y. Thanks much for the heads up!

Bet he’s going to tear apart McCane for knowing he was getting a question on the Supreme Court Saturday, and not being in the cone.

Is there going to be an “opne” place where you guys will be, or credentialed events only? WOuld love to meet you, and perhaps could host a FDL get together at my house. I’m about 2 miles from Downtown Denver.

Somedays it just takes tennis/running shoes; screw the looks. I certainly have those days. Take care of the joints. ;) They have to last a long time.

That should work. I thought I had good shoes with me, but they turned out not to be enough. I ended up with my back going out from the constant impact from running around on those horrible floors. I had serious envy for the smart guy who brought a segway.

Mrs Greenspan is the wrong person at MSNBC for the McCain campaign to pick on. She’s an inside Villager, and all the lads feel very protective of her as well as admire her mad skilz.

I’m no fan of Andrea Mitchell, but I’m happy to see her used as a foil in this fight.

We’ll certainly be covering more than credentialed events. I expect the schedule to be pretty hectic, mind you.

christy you guys should make time to go to glenwood springs to recover, soaking or swimming in the hot springs mineral pool-open day and night…have different ones with different temperatures—they have ‘bubble chairs’ around the sides of the pool, put quarters in, hang there on them, with bubbles/jets all over you…heaven…or go to a hot springs cave sauna…..go west on 70. it’s the place that sent me on a quest to west virginia and virginia looking for mineral springs places. rejuvenation beyond belief..

former husband proposed there, 45 minutes of question and answers before i said yes….i know now, if you have to ask certain things, say no thank you….

good luck in denver, and eat right so you have all the energy you need!!!

Were you at Worldcon? I miss having the time to go. SIGH

When we went to Chicago for YKos, I found these adorable high heels at the 9West store in the airport, of all places. They were on major sale and looked just like a pair of Louboutins. So I bought them to tease Jane — because we are always joking about those shoes — and I wore them one of the days at the convention. Ayyyiyiyiyiyiyi. I thought my feet were going to fall off. Spent a lot of that day barefooted. High heels and concrete floors are not good juju.

Suggest you don’t running any where in Denver. You will feel the altitude. I know you will have a wonderful time and Denver is so beautiful. Hope you can get to Nancy and ask her “why not?” Will throw in some dollars to help out.

Understood – there is stuff happening all over town. I have my patio open with tons of WiFi available and close to downtown so if people need respite from the madness, hit my contact info and feel free to drop by.

Were you at Worldcon? I miss having the time to go. SIGH

Yes indeed I was. If you ever do get to an SF convention, let me know.

Honestly, I’ll likely be buried in my laptop half the time or more, and trying to run people down for follow-up the rest of the time. The speaker’s schedule is crazy all four days — what I know of it, anyway — and who knows what else will crop up between now and then, too.

Here’s hoping we dig up lots of intriguing stuff for you all…

You can’t be too comfortable

By the first paragraph I was humming “Please come to Chicago.”

But then I’m kinda oldish.

– MarkusQ

P.S. You can change the world…It’s dying to get better.

P.P.S. If you’re under fifty the chances are you have no idea what I’m babbling about. Use that google thing. If not for the sake of this song, then for your own peace of mind.

Tried to contribute but genie of the server kept throwing me out. Good luck to FDL contingent.

You guys are gonna have a ball

in denver? give kuchinich some air time, he’s earned it.

and get someone to comment on mccain’s latest plagiarism, his ‘pow cross’ yarn…and his lying to a preacher straight-faced in a church, in front of millions of witnesses.

rahm? ignore him, that’ll kill him.he and his brothers’ biggest fear? being irrelevant.

Glad you’re going and know you will represent us well.

My biggest concern—as is yours I think—is the rule of law and what the dems will do to return us to it. I have serious doubts that they really plan to do much if anything to undo the mess they may inherit.

as for shoes, I know they’re kind of pricy, but SAS makes the most cumfy shoes around. I wore them for YKos last year and they were great. Some of them even look respectable.

So who’s on the team that’s going?

Oh, and KO is covering the “cone of silence” issue.

Did you guys get Invesco tix for the acceptanc speach, or are you all going to watch it from somewhere else? I heard the Hyatt on Welton is going to have a big screen in one of the ballrooms…

the ACLU is great, but i don’t think they will have the perspective of the protesters on the street – not like the NLG. i was just suggesting the NLG as a lawyerly hook to the protesters. not at all suggesting covering the ACLU’s work wouldn’t be a great thing to do too – but that’s quite different from covering the protests and the protesters.

the ACLU defends the constitution, the NLG defends the protesters. that’s an oversimplification, but not far off othe mark, at least that has been my experience on the east coast. and i think that has been their history.

I don’t think we all have tix — but I know there is some availability. We’re sorting through logistical details and making assignments as we get fresh info.

When talking to any cocktail weenie-ists, please ask for me: Hormel or Oscar Mayer?

I gotta know the preferred choice among Those Who Know Better. Happy Trails!

Just so you guys know, on the Thursday speech, you can’t drive to and park in Invesco. You’ll need to grab a shuttle from Downtown

The gates open at 1:00 for Invesco and there is TOTALLY conflicting info about when the last shuttles are.

I had that problem and had to end up sending it snaily.

The Firedoglake Company
6312 Seven Corners Center
Suite #333
Falls Church, VA 22044

you gotta go with either Hebrew National or Nathans. The others are crap.

Me, too. Don’t know what’s wrong.

Here’s a small informational look I filmed about the Convention venue.

At the point where it shows “Auraria Campus” is the infamous “Lot A” where the protesters at Pepsi Center will be confined. Where the roller coaster is, is a park called “Elitch’s” and that’s where the Saturday media kick off party is being held. Invesco/Mile High Stadium is behind Elitch’s from the point of view that I filmed.

Sometimes one must go with the weenies one has, not the weenies one wants.

Love the vid and I am only half way through it.

if you need a care package, let me know.

The best of all are not little ones, Pearls which now that I live in the Philly area I’ve discovered are only available in the Boston area. Sadly, it would cost way too much to have them shipped on ice. So we have to settle for HN or Nathans. Not bad, but not as good.

Were you guys using paypal or visa/mastercard?

I was trying to use Visa.

Do me a favor and see if you can get an interview with Darragh Murphy when her gang of faux “Dems” tries to invade the convention.

(((RevDeb)))

thank you. Alas, my inner greenie has propelled me into the world of veggie dogs…which may be why I cant recall the last time I had one.

I wish you joy with the HN and Nathans, and hope the Pearls soon loop around your plate…

fyi, David Neiwert is two flights up.