God Bless the USA

Today was so much fun!

The first part was interesting as we ran into a "Ron Paul" parade in downtown Minneapolis.

We got to go to a pretty exclusive party for the movie premier of "An American Carol," as well as a screening of it. When it comes out in October I would suggest that every one go see it. For years we have seen Hollywood's liberal side, and this movie finally shows the truth and makes some really good points, using history, current events, and humor. Michael Moore makes me so mad and gets a lot of people to believe him and I hope that all those people who are fooled by him also go see this movie. It was a David Zucker film and he showed up at the screening. During the reception time we also saw Senator Norm Coleman and a few other actors from the movie. Of course, there was also a Lee Greenwood concert at the reception. I got some looks from him during his playing as well as a hand shake and wink. He sang a new song about the USA today. It was a great song; it talked about the hardships America is facing, but also stood up for the freedoms and good life we get to live as proud Americans. Patriotism was very alive in the Minneapolis Convention Center during the day.

After the movie premier, it was time for the Delegate Welcome Party. This took place in the Civic Fest exhibit hall and included many Republican vendors, a lot of exhibits, and replicas of the White House, Air Force One, Presidential limousines and many other things. I talked to Delegates from many different states.
The One bus was at the exhibit as well, which was exciting as students from the winning University last fall.

We found out today the President Bush would definitely not make an appearance tomorrow night as planned. While this is disappointing to me, everyone is trying to ensure that the Gulf Coast knows they are not forgotten about and the rest of the country and the GOP are concerned. Michael Moore's comment about a hurricane hitting during the GOP convention... unnecessary and ridiculous.

Tomorrow will be the opening day of the convention and while it has been cut to only 2 1/2 hours, we will get to experience our first national convention!
KC

Gustav Impact Reaches Twin Cities

Despite growing up in the Minnesota, this is the first time that I recall that a hurricane has had a relatively direct impact here. As the Gulf Coast braces for the worst, convention organizers are scrambling to make decisions on how to proceed with events here. President Bush has already announced that he will be not be coming to the Convention. Some decisions are expected relatively soon.

Sunday Schedule

We just ate a big breakfast down in the hotel lobby and now we are energized for our first big day! While the convention events are still up in the air, pending hurricane Gustav, the convention excitement is still here and we have a big schedule for today. This afternoon at 4 we are going to go to a screening of David Zucker's latest movie "An American Carol." Before that we have two options: the reception for the movie with Lee Greenwood or the UK/UofL game that the Kentucky Delegation will be watching at Spikes. After that, thanks to Todd Inman's generosity and help, we all have tickets to the 2008 Delegation Welcome Party at the Minnesota Convention Center.

KC

The Twin Cities as Convention Host: A Study of Contrasts

The role of the Twin Cities (and to some extent Denver for the Democrats) as the host for the Republican National Convention offers significant contrasts from recent conventions. Both the Republican and Democrat Conventions this year have been held in smaller metropolitan areas. The Democrats held their convention in Los Angeles in 2000 and in Boston in 2004. The Republicans were in Philadelphia in 2000 and New York in 2004. In New York City, all delegations were staying within a few blocks of Times Square. Here they are scattered throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington.

The thing that is unique about the Twin Cities is that the Convention proceedings will take place in St. Paul but many of the other activities will be in downtown Minneapolis. For example, the Kentucky delegation is staying at the Hyatt Regency (the HQ hotel for the RNC) in downtown Minneapolis. The two downtowns are about 10-15 minutes apart which means that logistics will become very important for most delegations going back and forth for scheduled events. It also means that the crowds will be split between the two downtowns.

Greetings from 1,000 Lakes

Hey all, we have made it to the great cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We landed at 2:30 where we were shuttled to the Homewood Suites. We are really close to the Metro. Besides DC I have not experienced much public transportation. That was a very nice aspect of the city life. The twin cities have one of the most diverse populations I have ever seen, There is a very large Arabic, Persian, and Indian population and Im not sure what the history behind that is. There is also a very popular gay night life, as we noticed passing the club The Gay 90's. 

Tonight we hung around a reception for the Young Republicans where we met delegates and guests from everywhere including Massachusetts and Alaska. 

New concerns of Bush appearing and McCain appearing at the convention has delegates and political junkies worried around the cities.  Hopefully we will figure out the plans soon. 

More info to come.

SAN

Glad to be on the ground

Okay, so it's my turn to tell you we are here! I haven't been on a plane in a long time, so it was an interesting experience to say the least. After arriving at the airport we were shuttled to our hotel and immediately began to plan our day's agenda. Our first event is tonight with the Young Republicans and after looking up online the restaurant holding the event Kaylee and I realized we didn't bring a dressy enough outfit. But never fear.....we are right across the street from the MALL OF AMERICA. Now, I am a girl...soo....what do you expect? This is a political adventure, but who said I couldn't take a detour at the mall for a couple of hours. After journeying the four levels of massive stores, we both found what we were looking for and maybe some other things, but also the tons of people that were there made us get excited for the week ahead and all the once in a lifetime opportunities we will have to experience! Even in the mall it is evident the excitement for the convention. Signs, t-shirts, hats, bags, mugs.....you name it they had it and with a big ol' elephant stamped on the front! Yes the mall was awesome, but I have a feeling there will be plenty of other awesome things to get excited about in the coming days!
AH

John Carter: Finally!!

Finally, we are here in the Twin Cities. After months of preparation we have landed and are starting to explore the sights and sounds of the “city of lakes.” Excitement is definitely in the air, and the mood is being fueled by McCain’s VP choice. One name is on the tip of everybody’s tongue: Sarah Palin. From the first moment we set foot in the airport our senses were bombarded with convention enthusiasm. People everywhere were talking politics and finalizing their schedules for the week. During a brief exploration of the Mall of America, Shane and I ran into a Kentucky delegate from Louisville. Her anticipation was obvious, and she seemed glad to see students from her home state involved in this occasion.

The photo below is a perfect example of the general mood within the area.......

We got here!

After weeks of planning, we are finally in Minneapolis! The last days of the Democratic National Convention got me fired up and more excited about ensuring that John McCain gets elected as our next president. It's a great feeling to be here, and now knowing that Palin is the VP choice, new excitement has been added to the campaign and convention. Gov. Palin and her conservative ideals are what I was hoping for in a vice presidential candidate.

Tonight we are going to a Young Republicans event downtown Minneapolis to kick off our convention week. I can't wait for all the excitement the week will bring.



Here are pictures of our arrival at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport:

We're Here!

We have landed in the Twin Cities. The students that are here for the RNC include Shane Noem, Kaylee Carnahan, Allie Hembree, and John Carter. We will starting posting Sunday morning.

Spectacle to Behold

Last night was quite a spectacle to behold. 84,000 people all in attendance to watch Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States. I am certain that's the biggest crowd ever to attend an event in that stadium (and that should be the biggest crowd to attend an event there for a long time, considering that John Elway isn't coming back anytime soon). As usual, Sen. Obama gave a masterful speech. He gave the crowd exactly what they have come to expect from him, and they absolutely ate it up. Regardless of whether you like Sen. Obama or agree with his policies, it is undeniable that the man can deliver a speech that inspires the masses.

Ordinarily one would expect a huge bounce in the polls following this convention, and it is likely that Sen. Obama will rise a bit. However, Sen. McCain may have been able to do what seems to be the impossible and upstage the Democratic nominee. With his unprecedented congratulatory ad last night and his selection of Sarah Palin as his VP nominee, Sen. McCain has managed to alter the dynamic of this race. Short term, it was a shrewd move, as it changes the focus of the race and brings lots of media and popular attention to the upcoming Republican convention. Long term, it is a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and it is essential that she deliver a powerful speech this coming Wednesday.

This should be very interesting going forward.

Kendrick's Blog 8/29

Mystery, Alaska

On Thursday, I attended the closing night at Invesco Field at Mile High with an estimated 84,000 others.

On Friday, the GOP attempted to outdo the Democratic Party by naming Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as the vice president nominee. Palin has been governor for less than two years.

Throughout this campaign season, Senator John McCain’s entourage has claimed that Senator Barack Obama is too young and inexperienced. I wonder if they can locate “hypocritical” in Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English.

Obama included specifics in his speech and told supporters that he is ready for battle. He is clearly the champion of the people in this election because of how out of touch the Republican candidate from Arizona is.

McCain has said, “The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book.” He has also said, “I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don't expect to be a great communicator, I don't expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need.”

With 67 days remaining until Election Day, it should be interesting to see the new advertisements and attacks by both parties.

After speeches by Al Gore, Bill Richardson, and the children of Martin Luther King, Jr. among others, Obama accepted the party’s nomination. After his speech, a song from the Remember The Titans soundtrack was heard by the crowd. After Palin was named the GOP’s choice, a song from the Rudy soundtrack was played.

All the candidates need are helmets and shoulder pads because it seems they are preparing for a brawl for it all.

KB

Meredith's Blog 8/29

I'd like to first start with W.....T.....F?!?! Let's go over the qualifications...errr...characteristics that make McCain's V.P. pick a good one. First, I have to get on "the google" to look up her name...oh yes, Sarah Palin. Woman, conservative, child with down-syndrome, child, being deployed. I just can't figure out why in the world McCain would pick her. It must be because of her qualifications to lead a country. Oh wait, no that's not it at all. Ok, I'm starting to sound like a bitter democrat, which I am...but let's switch gears to an event of importance for our party and for this country.

Barack Obama did EXACTLY what he needed to do last night. For those who have a lot to say about his inability to speak in specifics, he proved you wrong last night. Emphasizing unity, change, and hope was a perfect plan for the primary elections, and he's picked the perfect time to go into specifics about his plans. Probably the most effectual moment in the speech for me, was when he emphatically and confidently expressed his readiness to debate McCain on who's more qualified to deal with the foreign affairs of this country. The ordinary people who spoke prior to Obama's entrance onto the stage were such a brilliant add to the event. Not only were these people in common bad situations caused by the current administration but several of them were lifelong Republicans converted because of the inexcusable failings of that party to provide for the people. When Obama came out, he was able to proved a hope to these problems so many Americans face. He made it clear that this election is not about him but rather that it is about the people and he explained specifically how he would turn the country around in the right direction to provide for a change that will be difficult but is completely necessary.

MM

Destiny Nabozny August 28

Everyone was very worried about whether or not we would be able to get tickets to the Barack Obama speech. We got incredibly lucky. Dr. Ardrey received 9 tickets to attend the speech; she explained that she had to sell her soul to get them, and we were basically in debt to her for the rest of our lives.
When we reached Invesco Field, we realized that the line to get in was approximately two miles away from the stadium. So, we waited for nearly two hours to get in and had to tolerate two men (one from Switzerland and one from Germany) who were from a Switzerland television station. Travis, being very nice, agreed that the men could follow us around for the day. The man with a train-size camera said "Just ignore us". Alright, I don't know about you, but when someone has a HUGE lens "all up in your grill", it isn't easy to 'ignore' it.
Regardless, the speech was utterly amazing. We were so pumped when Obama reached the stage and you could feel the crowd explode. It was an amazing time.

- DN

Destiny Nabozny August 26

On Tuesday, Meredith, Ashley, Sarah and I woke at the crack of dawn to catch the F Train downtown. We were scheduled to have breakfast with Kentucky delegates at 8.
The experience was phenomenal. A few of the speakers we heard were Howard Dean, Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo, and Bruce Lunsford. The air was filled with enthusiasm as they spoke up about how important change was. They said how they believed Barack Obama would be able to bring the change we need as a nation.
Afterward, we met many influential delegates and attempted to receive tickets to watch Hillary Clinton's speech. As a matter of fact, we did find a delegate who had tickets, but wanted to watch it in the comfort of his hotel room. Like a maniac, I asked if he had the tickets with him. He said later on while he was at a local pub, he would have them with him. Being 20-years-old, it should be obvious that we didn't meet up with him.
We met up with the men of our group shortly after I acted like a moron to the delegate I didn't know, and traveled a few blocks to a park filled with people protesting.
Fortunately for me, my friend, or rather, the man I called a sexist on Monday, was there. I couldn't help myself. I ran up to the front and began yelling into a megaphone at these judgmental "Christians". Soon after I began shouting, a man from the audience was arrested for running at the men and tackling one. The air filled with a "Let him go!" chant as SWAT members escorted the young man away.
As the excitement continued, we made our way to the Code Pink protestors and found many wonderful posters hanging in the surrounding area. So, Sarah and I "borrowed" a few as souvenirs.
The group also attended a seminar that day called Politics and the Media witch was incredibly boring and Dr. Turner scolded me for nodding off. A few minutes later, I saw him nodding off in his chair.

- DN

Thank You

It has taken the support of many individuals and organizations to help make WKU @ the National Conventions successful. Support has come in a variety of forms, but it is all very much appreciated. We would like to thank the following for their support and help: the Kentucky Democratic Party, Bob Stewart (at KDP), the Republican Party of Kentucky, Cathy Bell (at RPK), Kaylee Carnahan, Linda Rippy, Republican Party of Warren County, Todd Inman, Jim Skaggs, Tommy Adams, Patsy Sloan, Hon. Mike Buchanon, WBKO-TV, Henry Chu (at WBKO), WKCT-AM, and Alan & Cathy Palmer. Support for the program was also provided by Potter College of Arts & Letters, WKU Department of Political Science, and the Provost's Initiative for Excellence. - SJL

Candidate vs. President

I had an interesting discussion with someone who is a strong supporter of Barack Obama, not surprising of course considering that we are in Denver in the midst of the Democratic National Convention. This individual was a younger voter, which is a group that Obama has garnered a lot of support from, and expressed the belief that under Obama’s leadership “not only the nation but the entire world would be a better place.” Specifically, he argued that Obama would get us out of the war, raise taxes on the rich, provide everyone health care, and provide affordable tuition costs so people could obtain a college degree. When pressed as to how he would get this accomplished, he simply stated that Obama could get it done through the sheer force of his popularity and charisma.

This is not an uncommon conversation to find yourself in here in Denver, and it expresses a belief about Obama that many of his younger supporters share. The problem with this belief is the fact that it takes a different set of characteristics to govern that it does to win an election. Personality and charm often play very well in elections; however, I guarantee you that Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the House and Senate will not be influenced in the least by how charismatic a potential President Obama is, and they will not simply go along with the policies Obama endorses. If elected, Obama will certainly have to compromise on a number of issues, which may appear to many of his younger supporters as Obama compromising on his ideals. This could have detrimental effects, because one of the reasons so many young people support him is because they feel he is a different kind of candidate. If he ultimately becomes the same type of leader we have always had, it could cause disenchantment among many of the “new voters” who have got involved in the process this election cycle. Were he to win, it will be interesting to see if these new voters who are suddenly so enthused about politics would be able to come to terms with the differences between Obama as candidate and Obama as president.

JT

DNC Watch Party, closest thing to being there

Plenty of reasons prevent everyone that wants to go to the Pepsi from actually getting the access. For those among us with the interest and connections but not quite the access or credentials, a watch party at the Wells Fargo Theater in the Colorado Convention Center nearly fulfilled our desire to be close to the making of history. That is, in fact, the feeling in the air among the democrats and supporters teeming throughout Denver this week.

Those attending the watch party support the party and Obama passionately. As we all sat in the expansive theater featuring four screens of the footage and the stadium audio system, these supporters applauded the applause lines of the speeches and reacted to the activities broadcast before them as if they had a seat on the floor with their respective delegations. Several hundred people in attendance made the watch party a valid and emotional experience.

Democrat after progressive democrat spoke in an increasingly aggressive succession of anti-Bush and anti-McCain speeches that defined their enemy and sought to unite the party behind the goal of victory in November. Bill Clinton owned the stage from the moment he strided out to several minutes of incessant applause and waving American flags. Clinton reinforced Hillary's Tuesday night message of party unity in support of Obama. Bill Clinton indicted President Bush on failed policies and reckless leadership contrary to American values.

John Kerry spoke after Clinton last night. His language last night made me picture Kerry carrying a board with a nail sticking out of it that he used to pummel the Republican nominee. Kerry cast McCain as a flip-flopper and criticized his policy.

Joe Biden accepted the vice-presidential nomination as Obama's running mate. His acceptance speech had a different tone than the attack dogs preceeding him. Biden came off as genuine, honest, and qualified for the job. He fit the role Obama needs him to play in the general election. Biden's wife came out at the end to congratulate him, but she brought microphone. Her announcement was that a special guest was there to congratulate him on his speech as well. Seconds later, Barack Obama walked out igniting the audience in the Pepsi center and the Wells Fargo theater equally.

The feeling in the theater was electric at that moment. Cheering and applause exploded and the emotion of the moment. My impression is that this time it's different. I will, for the first time in my life, vote for a candidate instead of voting against one.

EDGE

Where Was This Kerry In '04

As I watched a monumental night for the Democratic Party that included former president Bill Clinton, former minority leader Tom Daschle, Mellissa Etheridge, many military supporters of Obama, and vice president candidate Joe Biden, I was struck by the moving and energizing speech by former presidential candidate John Kerry.
Kerry came out and sent waves through the crowd as he not only fully endorsed Barrack Obama, but also criticized John McCain and the Republican Party. Kerry seemed relaxed and charismatic on stage. This was a stark contrast to the aura he presented when he was the democratic candidate in 2004 opposing George W. Bush. Kerry found the same confidence and relaxed feeling the Al Gore found after he had lost the election in 2000. It seems funny how these two candidates were seen as stuffy and stiff during their campaigns, but managed to come out of their shells to energize their own speaking to endorse great issues and candidates.
I see that they both would have benefitted from using this more relaxed speaking approach for their campaigns, but Barrack Obama does not share their problem in his campaign. He shows confidence and great energy as he speaks and that is what has energized the Democratic Party, moderates, and the youth, which is the future of this country, to support him and turnout in record numbers.
Therefore, John Kerry, keep it up. The party can use you if you can manage to keep energy moving and realize that the future lies with Barrack Obama and the youth of the country.

TM

Morals and the Media

On Tuesday, we attended a forum on Politics and the Media. The forum showed many of us the real side of the media industry, and that is exactly what it is an industry. The media is a business and the forum showed how they look at things in the same way as a good corporation would. This is where things get fuzzy.
The media is stuck on showing the stories that they feel will garner the greatest audience. So when some scandal breaks, the media is all over it to gain an advantage on other outlets for the profits needed to sustain their business. The problem is that the media is able to dictate the stories that are covered with more extent and what stories are covered only moderately and they tend to cover a more yellow story over one that actually has implications on the political world. I feel that the media must inject a morality towards their coverage to allow for their influence on the minds of the electorate to show the important issues, not the personal garbage that manages to dominate the mainstream media.
Ratings are important for the news media, but they also garner a great responsibility to report the stories that will show the people the information needed to make an informed vote, not to feast on the private lives of the political leaders of our world.

TM

A New Hope

Often I worry about the future of this nation; whether we will ever be able to climb out of this hole we have been digging slowly since the fall of Nazi Germany. I worry about whether or not my children and future posterity will be able to live in freedom, find comfort in justice and stand for hope. Issues like the Vietnam War, the military industrial complex, the revolving door of politics, bigotry, ignorance, corruption, Iraq, terrorism, poverty, education and injustice haunt me from the shadows during those times when my mind is free to wander into “What if.” I sometimes wonder if I alone am the only one who realizes how bad it is or the need to do something about it, yet I alone am powerless. These issues are serious, they are not going away, they cannot be ignored and they must be dealt with or surely we all will fade away into the pages of history much like all the other great civilizations of Rome, Tenochtitlan and Cairo. Though I do not claim to have any answers nor do I claim to have done all I can to solve these foreboding issues, I certainly realize the need for an answer, some response, a look of concern or at the very least a blip on the radar to let those we place in positions of responsibility know something, anything, must be done.

I believe, I want to believe, I have to believe that Barack Obama is at least the first step in that response. No one man can change the world, I am not ignorant enough to entertain such ideas, however one man can get the ball rolling, get people thinking, wake us up from our Rip-Van-Winkle-esqe slumber and do something. Never before have I seen such excitement or energy surrounding one man let alone a politician. Barack is far from a panacea for all of America’s problems; he is human, makes mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. But Barack Obama carries with him the oldest and truest human value: Hope. Hope that and black man can pull himself out of the circumstances in which he finds himself, hope that America can be turned in the right direction, hope that no one again will have to ask “Is our children learning,” and hope that my generation will have the possibility to leave this nation that we love, live and die for, a little better than when we found it. There are many tough decisions ahead that will not be easy to make and will possibly be considered political suicide. Politics does not exist for its own sake, politics exists for the sake of those with the softest voice and the fewest means, yet those people are the ones with the largest capacity for hope. So ladies and gentlemen, anyone who so happened upon this humble writer’s obscure thoughts; Barack Obama, at least for me, is the hope of my generation, hope we can believe in. America is going to be alright.

Dont worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin: dont worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right!

One Love

NH

Right to Assemble and Peacefully Protest

One really interesting side element to the convention has been that of protest. The issues, style, and effects of each group's (or individual person's) protest vary greatly. Possibly the most notable though, is the amount of police involved in each occurrence. Day two, hundreds of anarchist teenagers marched through the streets of downtown Denver chanting against the "fascist government" and waving their "fuck police" signs. Directly behind them were paddy wagons, swat teams, cops on horseback, and parades of patrol cars...in the event that anything got out of hand. There were a few arrests, some tear gas used, and the crowd was basically broken up within an hour of the start. It wasn't long before the convention center was literally blocked off by a line of officers clutching their batons, straight-faced and immovable.

An extremely controversial group which seems to always draw a crowd of spectators is the extremist "Christians," condemning passers-by to hell and waving signs such as "Homo-sex is a threat to national security!," and "Abortion makes you the mother of a dead baby!" Though it's obvious these people aren't followers of Jesus Christ, they're extremely effective in getting under people's skin. They're by far the most highly protected group of protesters. The two arrests I've witnessed were of young people infuriated at these men who got a little too close and were quickly taken down by cops.

One of the most peaceful, biggest, and most well-organized protest was that of CodePink, an anti-war group which advocates liberal policy on several issues. They organized a march, brining in volunteers from the crowd, to carry signs, wear costumes, and sing songs advocating their cause.

The protesting group with which I myself had the most fun was the group of McCain supporters standing outside the Convention Center, chanting for McCain and holding signs which read "No Socialist Health Care." I approached one of the young women and asked them how they were doing today, if they had had any success. She said yes. So I told her I'd be willing to hear her argument if she'd offer it. She had nothing to say. In fact, she was so dumbfounded by my approach and curiosity, she basically froze up and pointed to another guy in the group. When I asked him, in the very same non-confrontational way, he told me he didn't want to speak to the media. Despite my pleadings and telling them I just genuinely wanted to hear their argument, I never got an answer. I told the guy who seemed to be the ring leader that he should help his fellow protesters to understand the issues if they plan on recruiting McCain supporters at the DNC.

Along with group protests, there are individuals passionately protesting their own issues. A woman outside the convention on Tuesday, held a large Hillary sign, and warned onlookers of the dangers of Obama, explaining that she'd be voting for McCain. Unlike the McCain supporters I had approached earlier, she had several arguing points to support her cause. I still think she was insane and her plan makes zero sense, but I respected that she was out there by herself, explaining her cause and answering questions of the crowd.

Protesters, while often quite silly in their approach, have made the convention experience really colorful, adding a much needed element of variance to the crowd. Seeing them makes me proud because it reminds be of the free state in which we live. Sure, there were some controversial arrests and a seemingly overdone system of security, but in most other countries, the protests never would have started at all. It's so refreshing to be reminded of the many different opinions and ideologies held in this country and it's a reminder of the kind of place we live in, where no matter how horrible our current administration may be, the public continues to freely express its mind.

MM

Obama secures nomination for president

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Much like the Beatles and Joe Cocker, Senator Barack Obama is getting by with a little help from his friends.

On Wednesday, the theme at the Democratic National Convention was “Securing America’s Future” and a number of speakers spoke of their disapproval of President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain.

CSM Michele S. Jones, the first female command sergeant major of the US Army, endorsed Obama and she was joined by congressman Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, and Rear Admiral John Hutson.

Senator Kerry’s speech was proclaimed by some as the highlight of the night. In his speech, he said, “Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain’s own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you’re against it.” He added, “So remember, when we choose a commander-in-chief this November, we are electing judgment and character, not years in the Senate or years on this earth. Time and again, Barack Obama has seen farther, thought harder, and listened better. And time and again, Barack Obama has been proven right.”

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware accepted the vice presidential nomination and his speech followed. In his speech, he said, “John voted again and again against incentives for renewable energy: solar, wind, biofuels. That's not change; that's more of the same. Millions of Americans have seen their jobs go offshore, yet John continues to support corporations that send them there. That's not change. That's more of the same. He voted 19 times against raising minimum wage for people that are struggling just to make it to the next day. That's not change. That's more of the same. And when he says to continue to spend $10 billion a month when the Iraqis have a surplus of nearly $80 billion, that's not change. That's more of the same.”

Obama surprised the Pepsi Center with a late night appearance as he joined Biden on stage. The two embraced each other as they looked to the coming months of campaigning.

Today, Obama speaks at INVESCO Field at Mile High. I hope to be there as he accepts the nomination.

KB

Democracy For America

The WKU delegation's networking efforts paid off Tuesday night when an invitation arrived in the form of a text message. The group Democracy For America hosted us after Hillary Clinton's speech for a social gathering at a local brewhouse restaurant. The group mingled with the motivated members of an organization committed to electing truly progressive Democrats.

Rep. Donna Edwards of Maryland gave the keynote address of the evening's celebration. She took the microphone and instantly captured the audience who reveled in her candidacy's story. Rep. Edwards opposed a long-time incumbent in her district. Though she was defeated in 2006, she ran again in 2008. In the primary race, she was again defeated. Earlier this summer, her incumbent stepped aside allowing her to be elected in a special election. The room erupted in applause when she proclaimed her vote against the war. Overall, the evening was an experience in the social side of the convention.

EDGE

Unite and vote for a better tomorrow

As I sit in my hotel room in Colorado, Matchbox 20’s “How Far We’ve Come “is stuck in my head as I watch the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
I do not feel the world is burning to the ground, but I do believe that we have someone to run to this election season.
Obamamania is running wild this year and for good reason. The Illinois senator is offering change and hope while Senator John McCain of Arizona is confused regarding how many houses he owns. McCain is also touting his foreign policy experience but believes Iraq borders Pakistan and also feels Czechoslovakia still exists.
A number of speakers at the Pepsi Center are attacking McCain’s policies and past decisions, and I feel the attacks are warranted.
In 1983, McCain voted against a federal holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition, he has not been an advocate of gender equality in the workplace, and he has not been an outspoken supporter of alternative energy like Barack Obama.
In her speech at the DNC, Senator Hillary Clinton said, “No way. No how. No McCain.” She added, “Well, John McCain says the economy is fundamentally sound. John McCain doesn't think that 47 million people without health insurance is a crisis. John McCain wants to privatize Social Security. And in 2008, he still thinks it's OK when women don't earn equal pay for equal work.”
Clinton was right when she said America is not big on quitting. Economic stagnation and our healthcare crisis need to be addressed by one who unites. I am not talking about President Bush’s sidekick.
Another speaker said, “If John McCain is the answer, the question must be ridiculous.”
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. No classes will be offered on the Hill that day, and I encourage eligible voters to be engaged in the political process. Request an absentee ballot if needed.
Vote for hope and change. Vote for a future worthy of our great country.


KB

Hurdles

Tonight the presumed Democratic Presidential nominee can breathe a sigh of relief. Following Mark Warner’s adequate, but neither great nor inspiring, speech, Sen. Hillary Clinton delivered a rousing oratory wherein she blasted John McCain and implored her supporters to get behind the candidacy of Barack Obama. This endorsement was absolutely essential to the Obama campaign, as recent polling data has illustrated that a significant segment of Clinton primary voters were still unsure whether they would support his candidacy, as they indicated at this point that they would either stay at home or vote for McCain on Election Day. This speech should quiet, at least temporarily, those who have criticized Sen. Clinton for her less than full support for Obama’s candidacy. For this speech to have a lasting positive effect, however, it will be critical that Sen. Clinton serves as a strong advocate for Obama on the campaign trail.

Although he successfully cleared one major hurdle Tuesday night, the Obama campaign cannot relax too much as it faces two more major hurdles on Wednesday. First, former President Bill Clinton will be giving the early speech Wednesday night. President Clinton, usually a very skillful politician, has been a loose cannon of late, as he interjected race and gender into the debate during the primary, and is rumored to feel as though the Obama campaign did not afford him the respect he felt he deserved as a former President. He has been even less supportive publicly of Obama’s candidacy than his wife has been, and a strong endorsement from him will also likely go a long way toward smoothing over the strained relationship between the Obama campaign and Clinton supporters. The second hurdle on Wednesday is the speech that will be delivered by Joe Biden, the Senator from Delaware who is Obama’s choice as VP nominee. Biden has a history of sticking his foot in his mouth for lack of a better term, and it is vital that he avoid anything like this on Wednesday. In addition, many potential voters apparently feel a bit underwhelmed by the selection of Biden, as polls indicated that Obama received no positive bounce at all following the announcement of Biden as his pick. An impressive speech by Biden can go a long way toward correcting this problem, and perhaps more importantly, set the stage for Obama to deliver at Invesco Field on Thursday night. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next 24 hours.

Mile High Hopes

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Since I have last blogged, I have experienced a lot in the Mile High City. Some fellow collegians and I met Ted Koppel, the former anchor of ABC’s Nightline. We also saw performances by poet Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, singer Randy Newman, and comedian Lee Camp. In addition, we have attended speeches by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DNC chairman Howard Dean, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Senator Barbara Boxer of California, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Kentucky politician Jonathan Miller, political strategist Donna Brazile, former United States Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Kathy Cloninger, journalists Richard Reeves and Juan Williams, and many others.

We also attended a presentation about SheShouldRun.org. The project encourages women to become leaders in politics. Visit the Web site if you know a woman who should run for public office.

Other college students and I attended a viewing of 18 in ’08, a documentary that encourages young voters to participate in the political process. After the viewing, a discussion occurred featuring filmmaker David Burstein and the newly-elected President of the College Democrats of America, Katie Naranjo of Texas.

It seems to me that the theme of this convention is not discontent with the current administration. The theme is to unite Americans behind Senator Barack Obama. The Democratic Party is pushing for a better tomorrow by encouraging better leadership. America has seen Republican leadership for the past 8 years. President George W. Bush was supposed to surround himself with the best and the brightest of the country, and we have seen the results.

Moreover, the Democratic Party continues to want to brand itself as the party of the people. It has touted itself because of its diversity. Americans were able to see a debate between the party’s candidates, and they saw a Latino, a woman, an African American male, and white male compete for the nomination. On the Republican side of the debate, progress did not seem to be as evident.

The main issues of the convention appear to be energy plans and equal pay. For more information, visit DemConvention.com

KB

Teddy's Great Return

Last night I, while unable to attend, witnessed one of the most moving speeches at a National Convention that I can remember. The schedule of events had a speech by Caroline Kennedy and a tribute to the long term Senator from Massachusetts, Edward Kennedy. In a surprise from many, against doctors orders, Ted Kennedy came a addressed the Convention to great applause of the crowd of about 20,000.

His speech rallied around his long term cause of universal health care. He came back to rhetoric he has used in years past by saying that healthcare should be a right not a privilege. The man walked strong for a man who has been recovering from a brain tumor. His voice resonated like the great speaker we remember from Conventions of the past. He really got the crowds applause as he ended by saying he would be there, in the Senate floor, as Barrack Obama takes over the Presidency in January to fight the fight he has been fighting for decades on end.

I found the speech incredibly moving as He almost brought tears to my eyes. Ted Kennedy is one of the great statesmen of our time. The man will be remembered for his long term service to our country, but I believe that this speech will go down as one of the most courageous and overall most effective speeches by a non-candidate at any Convention.

TM

It's bigger than hip-hop

Today I attended the hip-hop in politics forum at the Denver Convention Center featuring an expert panel including Michael Eric Dyson, writer and professor at Georgetown University. As a listener of “Political hip-hop,” I was greatly impressed with the forum. Dyson explained that hip-hop by nature is a vehicle for political movements and political change. The essence of true hip-hop is the struggle and frustration of an entire section of American society who feel they have been left out of American politics. These forgotten Americans have no outlet to express their dissatisfaction with the social situation in which they find themselves other than art. Hip-hop has become, in recent years, one of the most popular art forms in American society. Hip-hop has become so engrossed in society that privileged, rich, white suburbanites have adopted much of the materialistic qualities of this culture; giant rims, flat bill hats and ice. What has been lost is the true essence of hip-hop; the record companies foist these materialistic ideals onto suburbia which in turn hands over the cash and prompts the companies to promote this form of false hip-hop. This travesty is not limited solely to suburbia; it has trickled back and infected the birthplace of this beautiful art form. The obsession of possessions has found its way back to the very people who created this art to express their frustration in the first place; it has created the kind of backwards thinking that promotes expensive cars over quality education, infidelity over family values, empathy over responsibility. The record companies and their ilk have in effect created a permanent consumer class, unable to escape the desire for THINGS. But it is more than that, hip-hop is bigger than hip-hop; it is about freedom, justice, equality, responsibility and faith. Hip-hop is based on the American dream. Hip-hop has the potential to literally change the way politics is done in this nation. I for one hope it does. In the words of the great group Dead Prez

“Would you rather have a lexus, some justice, a dream or some substance?
A beamer, a necklace or freedom?”

One Love

NH

Every day we find new surprises

Everyday we find new surprises. Each day better than the last, you never know who or what is around the corner or at the next event you are attending.Tuesday morning was by far the best morning of my life. I had to wake up at 5:15 in the morning after a late night with the Kentucky Democratic Party at the ESPN Zone. A long walk to the train and then the long train ride which was so full that we had to stand up the whole time. The girls and I finally got downtown and to the Hilton Garden Inn to have breakfast with the KDP. The guys had went the day before and gave us a low down on how it was. We went and sat down with the event about to start the food was gross and the coffee terrible, but I would have not wanted to had been anywhere else at that time. Small talking to the delegates at are table trying to see if we could score some tickets to the Pepsi Center for later in the night.

Bruce Lunsford candidate for U.S. Senate graced us with his presence. Speaker of the House Jody Richards a couple of tables in front of us had also made it to the Denver area the day before. As the event started Jennifer Moore who is the Kentucky Democratic Party Chair started to speak and as I looked I sawthe Democratic Chairman and Vermont’s own Governor Howard Dean. I felt star struck which I have a habit of doing when in the presence of people that I really look up to. I quickly reached for my camera and got up from my seat to take pictures of Howard Dean. Howard Dean told us that we needed to get more people to back Obama and how historical this year was. Dean also pointed out that even with Obama in office he can’t do everything alone, that we as the party need to work the local and state candidates and make sure they get elected to start change. Dean also made the point that 24 years of McConnell is to long and it is crucial to take down the powerful McConnell. With morning politics brewing in the room the main subject for the morning was Labor Unions. A man from the Union spoke about how important Unions were and how about 75% of the union workers vote democrat.

After the great breakfast with the KDP we stayed around and talked more to the delegates, and signing up to try and get tickets to the Pepsi Center, but were unsuccessful. Overall Tuesday was one of the best mornings of my life.

ARB

Destiny's blog 8/26

On Monday, I, along with a few members of the group, attended a seminar called “Religion and Politics.” The discussion regarded the separation between church and state. However, as the presentation progressed, religion became the main discussion. The speakers consisted of Minister Adam Taylor, the first Jewish State Treasurer of Kentucky, Jonathan Miller, and many more. The basic message that the speakers were trying to get across was: regardless of the religion of others, we must reach out without using religion as an instrument to gain votes. It was said that we should look at each other as neighbors and we can disagree without being disagreeable. The group also emphasized that people are in constant discussion of cliché topics and ignoring other equally as important issues. HIV, poverty, voting and abortion were some subjects that they believed can polarize people and the rates will not change until we talk to each other.

We also had the opportunity to attend “Unconventional Women.” The women speakers were a very educated and involved group who emphasized the importance of being a strong woman. Perhaps the most interesting woman who spoke was Sheila Jones, CEO of Salamander Hospitality and America’s first black woman billionaire. She has been working for years to involve women in voting and registering. Her message was so inspiring that it made you proud to be a woman and gave hope to the crowd that if we speak out, we can make a change and be treated equal in every way.

After the events, we were heading toward the train station and ran into a protest. Although I am not one to enjoy conflict, however, I couldn’t help but to stand up for what I believe in. I could say that I was civil, but that would be a lie. After Dr. Turner and a SWAT member pulled me away from the sexist anti-Christ, we were on our way to the hotel.

I know that no matter where you go, you meet interesting people. However, in all of my travels, everyone falls short to a man that approached me on the train. He explained that his name was Nathan Zillionaire and he was mentally disabled. He said that he received four bachelor’s degrees at Duke University, and he lived in a mansion. He told us, and I quote, “I’m pretty much the smartest person in Denver.”
Needless to say, Monday was an incredibly strange but wonderful day.
-DN-

Sarah's blog 8/26

Monday a few of our group members attended a “religion and politics” forum, it was an enlightening experience. The members of the panel consisted of religious leaders, authors, and politicians. This event helped answer some pertinent questions, one being how can a Christian who is pro-choice better explain their position? Jonathan Miller of the Kentucky Delegation offered his insight, most pro-choice people don’t want abortion to get out of control. We need to find common ground with the other side. One of the panel members quoted Jeremiah 8:14 that says “Why do we sit still? Gather together and let us go into the fortified cities.” We must not sit still, religion should not be used as a tool by the political parties but rather play a part in the decisions made by an individual.
Also while at the convention my friend and I were interviewed by FOX news. I was little worried about how they would portray us; but I figured they would find actual idiots, interview and slander them.
After leaving the convention center we headed downtown where a protest was in full swing. I soon found myself in a very heated conversation with a sexist pig that told me, God looked down on me because I was a rebellious woman, and that I needed to find myself a husband and obey him. While saying a few choice words to this man, who smelled of liquor and Crisco, a SWAT team came in and broke up our good time. FOX news should have been there to interview that guy! Needless to say my first day of the convention was extremely unconventional.


ST

DNC All-Delegate Celebration

Recognizing Katrina Relief Organizations

Sunday night's grand event at the Colorado Convention Center's Korbel Ballroom brought the attention of delegates and guests to the efforts to aid the region affected by the infamous act of god. The WKU students attending the convention received the generosity of the Kentucky delegation in the form of exclusive tickets to the event. Our student delegation met many in the Kentucky delegation in the lobby of their hotel. Active members of the state delegation, current and former office holders, and guests of the delegation mingled and traded introductions the evening before the convention proper. One such delegation member, Kerry Morgan, distributed the sought after tickets to the eager WKU students and faculty. Shortly thereafter, Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo entered the building to the great excitement of the fairer half of the WKU envoy.

That night, at the Korbel Ballroom, 50 states' delegations attended for the recognition of Katrina relief. A New Orleans blues band provided the entertainment in exciting fashion. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina spoke to the attendees and was followed shortly by musician Randy Newman. The expansive ballroom then erupted in applause to the entrance of Gov. Howard Dean who then addressed the crowd.

Personally, the experience of the party exceeded all of my expectations I had once a tickets graced my hand at that moment in the hotel lobby. The ballroom itself impressed me with its volume, and the attending delegates and guests representing all states and some territories greeted me very warmly. During Gov. Dean's speech, I was questioned by a man about my age as to the name of the speaker. I was shocked that someone in that room would not know the name and face of the chairman of the Democratic party. Further dialogue with the gentleman revealed that he was a journalist from China. I believe I informed him well as to the purpose of the event; I do hope that when I said Dean leads the party that he did not confuse the political party with the open-bar party we were attending in the Korbel Ballroom.

EDGE

Democrats for Jesus

Yesterday I attended a College Democrats forum called "Faith in Politics". It was really great for me personally as I've often struggled with the conflict between being a Christian and being a liberal, especially in social policies. Not only did this discussion panel help me with that struggle, but it offered positive advice about using faith in politics without pushing the envelope of separation of church and state. They pointed out an important distinction between the way religion has been used by the conservative Right and the way it's being used by Barack Obama's campaign. For many conservatives, religion is used to divide the parties, on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. In Barack Obama's campaign faith is used to unite people within common moral values and beliefs such as ending poverty, equality of man, etc. Liberals are so often associated with sinners and it's such a relief to have met so many intelligent, politically engaged, progressive followers of Christ. I was even more proud to see our Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathon Miller, an active member in the Jewish community, was on the panel to discuss his book "Compassionate Communities" and how faith can be used to unite rather than divide the parties. I've always felt that if Jesus were here today, he'd be a liberal...and after yesterday's event, I'm glad to know so many other people think so too.

MM

Climate Change and Its Economic Consequences

Today I attended a forum on Climate Change at the College Democrats Convention. The Panel consisted of Majora Carter, an environmental activist known for the Green Collar Movement in Brooklyn, Jessy Tolkan, an organizer for powervote.org, Billy Parrish, a co-founder of the Energy Action Coalition and Clean Energy Corp, and Kal Penn, actor and activist on environmental issues working the Barrack Obama. This forum was very interesting in the fact that they seemed to go beyond the normal back and forth of the climate change issue.
The forum began by saying that we should get beyond the common debate, for today it is no longer a debate that climate change is happening and will cause harm within our own lifetime without action. I found that Majora Carter was the most profound of the panelists. She focuses on using the growing need for green solutions to slow climate change to also find a way to surge the economy and economic opportunities of the poor. The Green Collar movement feels that while we bring a new green industry into the market the government should provide training to those in need so that they can capitalize on this economic opportunity. This would allow for many more people to find a way to move out of poverty throughout the country as well as move the entire country out of this spiraling recession.
Jessy Tolkan was an extremely energized activist that is out to grow the numbers of active college students with a view towards the future of their environment. She and her cause looks to get one million college kids to get active on the cause so that the leaders of the country cannot overlook the views of this age group. She said she saw how there are many great and motivated core of college kids but the numbers lack, and that ultimately it takes large numbers for the older and more powerful leadership of the country to take their concerns seriously.
Billy Parrish is the college dropout’s dream. He dropped out of Yale to pursue environmental action full time and now is known as one of the most influential environmental activists of any age. He spoke how it is not the changing of the views and the changing of the lives of people that is most important, but rather it is the need for institutional change towards taking care of the world that the future generations will inherit. He recently began his dream of the Clean Energy Corp, which looks to create 5 million more jobs through instituting energy conservation and new energy sources.
Finally, Kal Penn, known as Kumar from Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, was able to give insight of how climate change is a threat to national security. The fact that changes in the world tend to often turn to unrest and possible instability. This can be a part of the argument that can reach to bipartisan lines.
I hope that information like this can allow for more people to understand the urgency and the helpfulness of taking action against climate change.

As far as the rest of my day, I began by having breakfast with the entire Kentucky delegation. They showed great support for us, and called for more young people to get involved as we have. It was very interesting how the group talked of the State Senate races that are in contention and need to be won in order to re-take control of the Kentucky Senate in order to get things done in Frankfort. The keynote speaker was Congressman John Yarmuth. I have loved Yarmuth since before he burst onto the national scene through defeating Anne Northrup in 2006, going back to when he was the editor of the Louisville Eccentric Observer. The breakfast is meant to be a warm-up for each day to get enthusiasm for the party leaders to look towards their goal of “putting the blue back in the Bluegrass state.”
After the environmental forum, I caught the end of the Unconventional Woman speaking. I missed Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but was able to see Donna Brazile, Clair McCaskill (Sen. MO), Amy Klobuchar (Sen. MN), and Barbra Boxer (Sen. CA) just to name a few.
It has been a great day and there is only more to come as I prepare for the convention to really begin.

TM

Democracy, riot gear and $5 Beer

Among the hustle and bustle that goes along with any political convention there are always those few moments that imbed themselves in the memory of those who witnessed them. The second and third days of our experience proved to be extensively packed with new ideas presented and shocking experiences had. Sunday, we attended more college democrat activities, however, these events seemed to possess the intellect and focus that one would originally expect out of such an organization and almost completely made up for the previous non-sense. It was outside of the convention center that the real beauty of democracy shined through like glorious rays of American freedom. Protestors marched down 16^th street yelling slogans and displaying what is truly remarkable about America, the ability to express oneself regardless of what the message is. Yesterday we saw a group of “Jesus freaks” who brazenly were adorned in flags denouncing Muslims, Mormons, women, Jews, Homosexuals and basically anyone other than them. The ignorance of their message was undeniable and really causes me to question what sort of childhood these people had, but the beauty of it all was the fact that they were there. I saw people attempt to reason with these people without violence. Although some were deeply offended by the message, the majority of people understood that the sign bearers had a right to be there. It is this ability of Americans to agreeably disagree that is often missed within the context of American politics. However it is these small glimmers of hope that show me that perhaps this country is not doomed, we are not a nation of monsters and perhaps real change Is finally upon us. Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last.

NH

Sunday Rowdy Sunday

I had some free time on my hands Sunday afternoon, as the students were participating in events at the College Democratic Convention, which is also currently taking place in Denver. I decided to take advantage of this time and explore a bit to see what the city has to offer. This was certainly a decision I am glad I made, because it allowed me to take in some of the protests that were occurring in the downtown area. A multitude of often rowdy protestors have already descended on the Convention, marching through the streets of Denver, demonstrating against President Bush, Senator McCain, torture, imperialism, and even Senator Obama policies and the policies of the Democratic Party. These protests ranged from humorous (a man dressed as an ostrich claiming that McCain had his head in the sand) to solemn (a man simply holding up a sign in honor of those who died during the Iraq War) to disgusting (a truck circling the city featuring a picture of an aborted fetus) to violent (an Iraq War protest which got out of hand and ultimately resulted in a scuffle with local law enforcement). These protests certainly demonstrate that the first amendment is alive and well here in Denver, which is certainly a positive thing for society. However, from a political perspective, the question revolves around what the implications of the protests will be for the Democratic Party. If these protests remain fairly calm in nature, the media will not pay much attention to them and the average American voter may not even be aware of them. However, if the more militant protest groups, such as "Recreate 68", have their way and the protests become reminiscent of what indeed happened in Chicago in 1968, the news media will focus heavily on these happenings, which will present the image of a fractured party to the American public. And in a race that appears at this point as though it will be very close throughout, the appearance of any dissension in the ranks could potentially be devastating to someone's electoral chances. It will be very interesting to follow these protests to see how this plays out through the rest of the week.

JT

Public transportation, my car-free convention

One of the first observations of the 2008 Democratic National Convention is Denver’s exceptional system of public transportation. Day one of our experience began with a midday arrival and a shuttle ride through the surprisingly flat city. As we approached the more metropolitan areas of the city, the Rocky Mountains became visible out the shuttle’s windows. From our hotel far outside the downtown area, a light rail system connected the WKU delegation to the bustling convention several miles away. Hybrid fuel cell busses moved many downtown passengers between the Colorado Convention Center, downtown destinations and the Pepsi Center stop at Union Station.

Denver’s public transportation efficiently serves downtown visitors who do not use cars. All of 16^th Street and its myriad of commercial outlets are all but off limits to the automobile. Horse drawn carriages and bicycle taxis replace the yellow cabs that are the staple of American cities. The city of Denver has apparently adapted its facilities of transportation to the massive influx of Democrats, journalists, spectators and protesters. Denver is a great city for someone who wishes to live car-free.

EDGE

Sarah's blog 8/24

I personally have never been to a big city, I was confined to the small town of Shelbyville Kentucky and when I arrived yesterday in Denver, Colorado I was absolutely amazed. As we flew into the airport the view of the mountains and a city that blanketed the ground below was breathtaking. I was only able to enjoy this peaceful scenery for a split second because once we got off the plane we were off and running.

Within the first hour we were on the light rail making our way downtown. I was in the midst of a culture shock when we got off the train; it was something straight out of the movies. Nothing but tall buildings lined the streets, people were playing guitars and flutes and it was if Denver was putting on a captivating show for just me. The Convention center was also in a buzz I had never seen so many young people so excited to be in one place. I am in love with this city and the hustle and bustle of every aspect.

Destiny's blog 8/24

Considering the fact that I have never flown before in my life, I was slightly petrified on the way to Colorado. However, my fears dissipated when I found myself in one of the largest airports I had ever seen with breathtaking scenery surrounding us.

To be perfectly honest, since I let myself be so afraid on the plane, I was incredibly exhausted when we arrived at the hotel. Regardless, there was no time to waste; within 20 minutes, we were out the door and on the E train heading for downtown Denver. To anyone who has never been to Denver, I want to emphasize the beauty that envelops you when you hop off the train. It is bustling with life and excitement and when we found ourselves at the Convention Center, it was no different. Students from all over the country dressed in their Sunday best seemed to crawl out of the woodwork to introduce themselves to everyone.

Needless to say, it was a very interesting and somewhat stressful day. The flight and the day seemed never ending, but just being in the city and anticipating the many things we will experience is overwhelming.

The convention experience

After an extremely early day of flying, I finally arrived in Denver, Colorado. Having never been to Denver before, I was armed only with images in my head of what a “Mile high city,” should look like but upon exiting the plane there seemed to be only flat, boring nothingness. The Drive into the city quickly changed as the Rocky Mountains slowly appeared behind a haze of clouds. But anyway, we came to Denver for the conventions, both College Dems, and Democratic National. If anyone is wondering about the state of College Democrats as an organization, I found it to be just shy of ridiculous. Yes it is an organization that has the potential to mobilize voters to the polls but what else can they really do? Yesterday we attended a portion of the elections of the national officers, more than half of which were running totally unopposed yet still required an elaborate introduction speech, an acceptance speech, and then a vote. Honestly, they could run the whole thing on Facebook or some other online medium and save everyone lots of time and effort trying to stay awake. However, the whole affair was not without a few positive notes. There were a lot of good ideas put forward by both the candidates as well as questions asked from the audience. Clearly some of the College Dems understand what is truly important in this tumultuous political age we call the present, and those students will most likely make a difference in the political or social atmosphere later on in life. For now they hide among the overwhelming swarm of mediocrity and absurdness that is par for the course in all things political.

N.H.

It is convention season

Yesterday, we landed in the Mile High City. Our delegation consists of 8 students from Western Kentucky University and a faculty adviser. We attended a national meeting of the College Democrats of America. The organization seems to lack direction, but it seems that it will unite to elect Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. The meeting was at the Colorado Convention Center, which was an ideal venue for the gathering. We met a number of students from multiple states and Washington D.C. We voted in the College Democrat election, and the new president is from Texas. Also, we roamed the city and utilized public transportation. Denver was a great choice for the convention because the residents seem to be quite welcoming, and the city is quite clean. Today, we are going to see Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and a number of other public speakers. It should be interesting, and I will keep you informed.

--KB

Ashley's blog 8/24

Day 1 Denver:

It all started to come together Saturday afternoon after we left the hotel, got on the Denver Light Rail and headed into the mile high city. We were coming in from the south side of a Denver suburb, and the first thing I noticed when arriving in Denver was Invesco Field were Democrat Presidential candidate BarackObama will give his acceptance speech Thursday and the Pepsi center were the rest of the Democratic National Convention will be held. To the left of the trains were the Rocky Mountains that were so beautiful they will take your breath away. We arrived at the Colorado Convention Center and signed in for the College Democrats of America. At the CDA we listened to other College Democrats who were running for CDA offices. The candidates for the offices had some good ideas on how to get more people involved with CDA and with the Politics. Although I felt that the CDA was slacking because our of four offices open for voting two of the candidates went unopposed. With one of those offices being for CDA President and Vice President. After hearing the speeches of the candidates we were separated into states and all sat together. Kentucky had a total of 11 students with 8 being Western Kentucky University Students. The state of Kentucky caucused over who we were going to be voting for in the CDA elections. After the elections were over some of us jetlagged from the flight came back to the hotel to hang out. I am looking forward to the week ahead, because who knows what it might bring. So far I am really enjoying Denver and can’t wait for the other activities ahead.

ARB

Travis's blog 8/24/2008

Greetings from Denver!!!!

I have arrived for this historic convention in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. I will be keeping all those back in Kentucky informed on my experience over the next six days.

In a very interesting way to begin my trip, my first encounter that spurred interest came actually at the Midway airport in Chicago. As I found a place to wait out a short layover, I saw people watching the news that Barrack Obama had chosen Veteran Senator Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential Candidate. A woman sitting nearby proclaimed “Biddin’ and Obama just sounds scary.” I was quick to tell her it is pronounced Biden. She looked puzzled, as if the name had never come across her. Then I told her he has been in the Senate for 35 years and had run for President in 1988. She seemed to not care, all she saw was some reference to Osama Bin Ladin with her pronunciation of Obama and Biden.

While this does not surprise me, as much of the electorate in this country is oblivious to politics, but this woman was sitting there looking over law books. It is sad that people can be that ignorant about events that can shape the future of not only their own life, but also the country as a whole, and possibly the world.

The conversation continued as she exclaimed that the only things that concerned her about this election, was for the country to continue to provide safety from the “Dangerous Way of Life in the Middle East” and to not allow the government to continue to take her money away.

These two points need to be addressed separately. First, the Middle East. The conception that the Middle East is a barbaric culture that is backwards and dangerous is entirely false. Over the years, many people have socially constructed the notion of Western Elitism. My issue is that while there have been a select group of Radical Extremists that have caused harm to the world; it is not a majority at all. Edward Said has documented this misconception in a great book I could recommend called Orientalism. I was introduced to this literature in Dr. Kiasatpour in his Politics of the Middle East Class (It is highly recommended).

The second issue is one that must be looked at very carefully. People that do not follow politics closely or prescribe to a personal ideology tend to end up voting with their pocket book. The average person, and one cannot blame them, tend to look at things in a very personal and short term way. So ultimately, they are looking for a quick fix to their own economic issues. Here is my problem with this, it is true that low taxes will allow for people to take more of their money home with them, but if the Federal and State governments begin to hit economic crisis, as they seem to be, programs that have helped the well being of these same people will begin to crumble and ultimately be cut. The money saved from lower taxes, cannot allow for personal funding of things such as Local Infrastructure, Affordable Child Care, Affordable Health Care with programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

This occurrence put me in the mood for the rest of my trip and I had yet to even cross the Mississippi River yet.

As far as our first day in Denver, I noticed that security is out in a big way. It appeared that there was a police officer on every corner and two on most. The city is vibrant, ready for a great convention, and also prepared to for whatever protests or riots that have been seen at Conventions of the past. However, I am an optimist, I am ready for a great and historical convention that will lead the Democratic Party to retake our country for the electorate and working people and elect Barrack Obama as the President of the United States.

TM

Meredith's Blog 8/24

Arriving yesterday was really exciting. After a long day of airports and busses, entering the enthusiastic political climate of downtown Denver was a perfect greeting. Obviously there was a lot of discussion about Obama's pick of Senator Biden for V.P., but for the most part it was just a huge display of support not only for the Obama/Biden ticket but for the Democratic Party and the notion of real change we need in this country. Upon arrival at the convention center, we attended the College Democrats of America elections. Since WKU unfortunately no longer has a CDA chapter, I was never able to be involved, and it became clear last night that it's a struggling association for the most part. There were several uncontested races, but I'll describe the one in which I found most interesting in terms of behavior of the delegations and voting. In the race for Programs Director of CDA, there were two contestants -- a sweet and charming young girl named Aartie and a more aggressive and seemingly pompous young man named Karl. In both the question and answer session and in their nomination speeches, Karl announced solid pinpointed plans to improve the association such as same-day registration and on-campus voting booths. Aartie's speech was mostly vague, explaining that she'd fight for average college values such as tuition costs and the environment, failing to provide real examples. In the end, she won in a landslide and from what I could find out, it was because most of the delegates didn't like Karl's personality. I voted for Karl despite his over-confident attitude because he told us exactly what he planned to do and those plans were things I personally support. Barack Obama's charisma and charm have helped him tremendously and allowed him to avoid or postpone actually presenting solid and specific plans to implement "change". I supported Hillary Clinton (as I supported Karl last night) despite her lack of charm, because she had plans I believed in, was clear in her policy and a take charge attitude. I often worry about the party because of the way we choose our nominees and seeing last night that CDA does it the same way was a bit discouraging. Charm usually is enough in the primaries, but I genuinely worry about Obama's ability to win a general election. All that being said, I fully back Barack Obama today and will do everything I can to get him elected in 72 days. I anticipate his speech this week at the convention, hoping he will answer the demands of Republicans and Democrats alike who support change but want to know exactly what that change means and how it will be implemented.

Students Arrive in Denver Saturday

The students and faculty participating in the WKU @ the Democratic National Convention arrive in Denver just after noon on Saturday. Upon their arrival, students will be attending the College Democrats of America Convention that is being held in conjunction with the DNC. In addition to meeting College Democrats from around the county, students will receive grassroots training and be able to listen to Democratic leaders.

WKU Students Make Final Preparations for DNC

A group of nine WKU students and one faculty member are making final preparations for their trip to the Democratic National Convention. They leave early Saturday morning and will arrive in Denver just after Noon. Students will return to campus Friday, August 29th. Students will blog daily about their experiences.

The students participating in the WKU at the Democratic National Convention program are Nils Herdelin, Ryan Edge, Travis Mills, Kendrick Bryan, Meredith Moore, Destiny Nabozny, Sarah Tindle, Ashley Bland, and Rachel Taylor. Professor Joel Turner is the faculty leader for the group.

The WKU delegation to the Republican National Convention leaves Saturday, August 30. Students Kaylee Carnahan, Shane Noem, John Carter, and Allie Hembree will travel with faculty leader Scott Lasley to the Twin Cities.

The WKU @ the National Conventions Blog will be updated daily starting August 24th. There will be occasional updates before then.