Monica's tattoo

Watching the fireworks

The Speech

Barack absolutely shined last night. I thought it was the perfect mix of aggression, compassion and humor. He refuted the attacks that McCain has waged, spoke to the America people in detail about how to fix our problems and reached across the aisle all at the same time.

I was so proud to see him take back patriotism as a Democratic value. I get angry just thinking about how McCain accused Barack of not putting America first.

All in all, it was a great speech and a historic day. It was great to be there in person and at times I teared up and got emotional just thinking about how far America has come in racial equality over the last 45 years. That's not to say we're done... but every person in that stadium celebrated as brothers and sisters last night.

Monica, being on the floor, gathered up a bunch of confetti and streamers to take home. Being in the upper level, I had 3 pieces of confetti float up to me.

But the great thing about those 3 pieces of confetti are not the mementos they currently are of an historic night... but instead because they are a reminder of the mementos that they COULD be. We have LOTS and LOTS of work to do between now and November 4th in order to make sure that Obama becomes our next President and every time I look at those pieces of confetti, I will be motivated to do just that much more.

Oh, and we also need to make sure that Gov. Gregoire gets re-elected. For my kids, for your kids, for all kids. Obama and Gregoire in 2008!!!!!

-B

Monica and Delegates dancing with Governor Gregoire

Pictures before the speech

Our wonderful and amazing Governor!!


Biden


Veteran delegates Larry Estrada and Jim Cooper were asked to hold and sway these flags for Al Gore's speech and were then able to keep them.


This one is for my dad. It was taken with Stevie Wonder on stage. He is on the big screen to the right of the screen and he is on stage behind me, but you probably can't see him. Also, on the left of the screen is former Senator Rosa Franklin... who really cut a rug on our Washington State dance floor.


Congressman Jim McDermott


Fellow Delegates

Entering the stadium

Our trip into the stadium was a breeze. They had a designated National Delegate line and luckily I was able to come in with Monica. So I'd say the whole process from start to finish took about 30 minutes. They had a big security tent set up where everyone had to go through a metal detector. Also, no liquids of any kind were allowed inside.

Once inside, Monica and I split up as she went down to the floor and I made my way to the nosebleed seats. I was pleasantly surprised with my section though as it was directly behind the stage and the view was actually pretty good.

Monica was one of the first delegates to arrive so she scouted out the best seats in the Washington section and eventually decided on one.

-B

Getting to Mile High Stadium (Invesco)

So rather than brave the busy light rail, we decided to use the free bikes provided by FreeWheelin. After a quick registration process, we were on our bikes and standing on the corner of a busy downtown street looking at a confusing map and questioning our judgment. But Monica had the great idea of following a bike gondolier already heading to Invesco (bike gondolier is my term for a bicyclist with a carriage behind it, I don't know what they're really called.)

Anyways, those guys are amazing quick considering they are hauling people behind them so they were a little tough to keep up with, especially when they ran red lights and went down the wrong way on some streets. LOL But after following them most of the way, we decided we were close enough to finish the ride on our own. Big mistake. After crossing a gigantic bridge across the freeway, we found ourselves on the wrong side of a major road. The designated bike drop-off spot was a few blocks on the other side.

But eventually, we found a way across and dropped off the bikes with plenty of time to spare before the festivities started. Monica was interviewed by a Denver Post reporter looking for National Delegates who used the free bike system so we'll be keeping an eye out for an article related to that.

All in all, it was a great way to travel and after talking to the people who took the light-rail, I guarantee it was faster.

-B

Thursday AM

On Thursday morning, Monica and I decided to head into downtown Denver for a few hours before heading to Mile High stadium. So we took the light-rail in and while Monica went into the Convention Center to talk to the NEA people, I passed out buttons outside.

I had the wonderful opportunity to see a group of evangelical Christians pronouncing the evils of abortion via megaphones. I didn't mind as I support free speech until I saw the giant banner they were holding with pictures of dead babies. Yikes. I'm glad I didn't have my kids with me at the time.

Anyways, Monica had the good fortune to bump into Dennis Kucinich while inside and she talked to him for a few minutes.

After a quick lunch, we decided we needed to head over the stadium.

-B

Just got back

I apologize for the delay in getting pics from yesterday up. We just got back from Denver and I will be posting lots of stuff in the next few hours.

Needless to say, yesterday was amazing! Obama's best speech yet.

-B

Historic Day

I got my ticket to Obama's acceptance speech. Should be a fun day.

Guest passes to the other 3 days were really hard to get so unfortunately I wasn't able to get into those days. Hopefully today will make up for it.

On a side note, Monica convinced our shuttle driver to register and vote last night. He was pretty cynical about the whole process and said that while he would vote for Obama if he did vote, he didn't think his vote would matter. By the end of the ride, he took 10 Obama buttons and said he would register to vote.

-Brandon

Some Pics from Wednesday

Barack!!


Gregoire casting her vote


Gregoire 2


Jessica Alba waving to Monica


Monica and Rosario Dawson
They talked for a few minutes and Rosario knows her stuff!


Monica and Maria Teresa Peterson

Bill

Bill's knocking this speech out of the park.

Monica and I are headed to the Voto Latino party tonight so this will be the last post of the day. We will have pictures up from today by tomorrow morning. Tomorrow will be slow with updates as we will both at Invesco Field for Obama's acceptance speech.

If you are watching the convention, post a comment on how you feel it's going overall.

Brandon

Vote Over

This roll call voting is really interesting.

I was hoping they would make it all the way to Washington so our delegation could get some face time on tv. Monica was sitting directly in front of Gov. Gregoire.

But it looks like Hillary is going to end the voting by moving to suspend the roll call vote and have Obama selected by acclamation to be the official nominee.

I have to say, with her speech last night and now this show of unity, she's won my respect back.

With that said, CONGRATS TO BARACK OBAMA!!!! OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!

-B

NEA Video

Monica voting right now

Just got a call from Monica, she is minutes away from officially casting her vote for Barack Obama!!!

Brandon

Roll Call Vote

Well, today's the big day where the delegates actually vote for the Presidential nomination. It should be starting around 2pm PST.

The process involves first hearing the nomination speeches for Obama and Clinton. Then every state will have each delegate vote by handwritten signature. The Tally Committee for each state will then calculate the totals (there are about 10 tally committee members in Washington I believe.)

At that point, they will go through state by state to get the totals. The rumor is out there that they won't get through all 50 states before somebody will move to declare Obama the nominee by acclimation. But nobody knows for sure. We'll see what happens in the next couple hours.

Brandon

WA State Democrats YouTube video

Washington Women For Obama

Some Random Pics

Howard Dean at the Katrina Fundraiser


Obama Beer? :-)


Drinking Obama beer

WA State Breakfasts

The morning breakfasts so far have been great. On Monday, we had AZ Governor Janet Napolitano and Howard Dean speak. On Tuesday, it was our Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

Brandon

Buttons

I have had the best time giving away buttons down here. The Obama/Biden ones I made right before we left have definitely been the most popular as most of the vendors who are selling stuff don't even have any Obama/Biden stuff yet.

It's also been wonderful to see people's reactions when I offer them buttons, they ask how much I'm selling them for and I respond I'm just giving them away. I've met some wonderful people from all over the country (and had lots of people asking for my button business card so they can order them LOL.) It's also been fun for me to just be walking around and see people with my buttons on. Pretty cool. And one of Monica's fellow National Delegates even gave one to Chris Dodd at the Convention last night (Thanks Shanna!)

Thanks to Jody Rodgers and Joann Edmonds-Rodgers from Buttons4Obama for helping Monica and I get started on the button project. Without their help, we never would have started on this endeavor and I truly believe it makes a difference for Obama. YES WE CAN!

Brandon

Latino Luncheon

Monica and I attended the Latino Luncheon put on by the Latino Leaders Network and Mickey Ibarra. It was great. It honored Federico Peña (former Denver mayor, former US Secretary of Energy and current Obama National Co-Chair.) Governor Bill Richardson spoke along with Antonio Villaraigosa (mayor of Los Angeles.)

I have to say, Bill Richardson is really a great speaker in person. The whole luncheon was great, even though Monica and I were horribly underdressed as most people were wearing formal wear. Oops. Fortunately, we weren't completely alone in our shorts and t-shirts. One thing about the Democrats, you will always have the full range of attire at any given event... from suits to Birkenstocks.

Oh, and Eva Longoria was there. I know what you're thinking, why didn't I mention that first? He he. Monica and I both agreed that she's even more beautiful in person than on television.

Pics to follow. (Monica has the camera and video camera with her at the convention tonight)

Brandon

The Hat

Much to my chagrin, Monica went through with her plan to wear her crazy Teacher for Obama hat last night. In hindsight, it appears as though she made a wise decision. She got lots of attention from the press and got interviewed a few times by the AP. As many of you probably already know, she made a few web news-sites and newspapers. (Shown here with fellow delegate and Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart)

Here are a couple links to articles that talk about it. (Thanks Katie!)

ABC News
Comcast

Brandon

Tuesday afternoon updates (from Brandon)

Hello all, I'm taking over the blog for Monica tonight as they don't have wi-fi access inside the Pepsi Center. So bear with me as I post a few updates from last night and today. I will also give a few updates from the perspective of a guest of a delegate.

Brandon

Pictures from Monday night....

Having a laugh with Bill Richardson about my hat.

I made this hat to wear and got lots of press attention about education.
Check out this article from Yahoo and there are some pics from the Seattle Times too. The Seattle PI has the same picture but there are 100 photos in that gallery. I am on my phone, darn. The AP followed me around a lot, CNN, NBC and others so hopefully the better pictures will come out later.

Going to the Latino Luncheon with my new buddy Richardson but Brandon will be posting pictures and videos later today. I can't do anything in the convention center without an aircard.

Got a question?

I know that those of you reading might be wondering what's really going on over here!!
Post a question and we will get back to you ASAP!!

I may not always be available so Brandon will be posting for me at times. We will be in cell contact so we can communicate.

Mon

Tentative Agenda

Today....

Check in. Eat. Sleep. Find out where stuff is.

Katrina Event tonight from 6-8 with Dean Howard. (Yaow!!)

Delegates Reception tonight from 8-10.... (translation: Party)

Tomorrow...
Delegates Breakfast in the morning at 7... this is where we find out the plan for the evening session and any other Obama nomination or election happenings we need to know about.

Rocky Mountain Roundtable on Education at 9:30.

Session from 3-9: The prime-time speaker is Michelle Obama. Here's the DNC schedule for your TV viewing pleasure. I am looking forward to Michelle, Nancy Pelosi, and the NEA president, Reg Weaver.

I will be taking pictures and videos to post. The excitement is everywhere. The barricade was set up as we came off the plane to keep folks organized and the security is visible all around. The hotel is getting noisier as the hours go by. We need this excitement to keep the momentum going!

And by the way, I have been pulling for Biden for a few weeks. He's snippy and quick to answer... a perfect balance for Obama's reflective articulation and "higher ground" approach to his skeptics and attackers.

Arrived in Denver.....

We were up waaaaay too late getting ready. Brandon was making the Obama/Buttons to take with us and I was working on my hat for the convention. We held fast to our projects while Grandma and Grandpa took over with the kids and the dogs.

After only 2-3 hours of sleep, we arrived at the airport just before 5am and made our way to the gate. We met a couple national delegates from Oregon at the gate, a few delegates and elected officials from Minnesota on the shuttle ride to the hotel, and the chair of the delegation from Arizona in the elevator. Brandon's buttons are a hit. We haven't seen anything with Biden around and since yesterday's announcement came so late, he will run out of buttons very soon. I keep telling him to sell them, but he refuses.

Here's my hat. I don't know when I am going to wear it and I don't know to which events. All I know is that every year, kids are tested, tests are scored, scores are released long after the kids have gone to summer, and dollars keep getting spent. Yes, we need some gauge and standard indicators of student achievement, but the No Child Left Behind joke has shifted dollars from supporting learning to funding test writers. I am not against accountability for kids or teachers, but there has to be a Plan B. Oh.. and Plan B cannot be withdrawl of funds or voucher to another school. The community has to invest in neighborhood schools and in kids because those kids will soon be your employees, employers, tax payers, and community leaders. This is why I am here. I am not at all okay with McCain's answer given on the Faith Forum last week at Saddleback. He mentioned "choice and competition" several times in a row like if he kept saying it, then it would work. Not all families have the economic stability or mobility for choice... they count on their communities. Competition isn't fair when you don't all start on the same starting line... gimme a break. Two weeks ago, a teacher I know was asked to guess which WASL one of her students passed... she knew long before he took the test how he would do on each one. Thanks for the hat inspiration.... You know who you are.

Dem Volunteers at Work

Early in the summer, the Obama fellows hit the ground in Vancouver. They started working out of the coordinated campaign office with a fancy start.... some white walls, some chairs next to phones, and some electrical outlets. Zachary and Mallory helped me clean out the garage and bring in some things from what used to be my classroom. The Fellows got started.

We helped get the coordinated campaign office ready for the unity rally and the local candidates, the state candidates, and the Obama fellows kicked off the primary season with a barbeque before canvassing....










Here is a slide show with some pics from the unity rally at the office at the end of June and the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner... a fundraiser for CCDemocrats. Some of the money raised was distributed to local candidates.

Governor Gregoire and Congressman Baird spoke to the importance of a strong showing in the primary.

I am not going to lie, Brian Baird had to put up with some heckling and "demonstrations" during his speech from constituents who were upset with his recent votes in Washington, especially regarding the Iraq war. Cheryl Crist ran against Baird in the primary and her supporters made quite a statement around the county. All in all, the efforts to raise money and bring in volunteers have been very powerful. Volunteers have been canvassing, registering voters, phone banking, and walking local events to make sure voters are registered and informed. Grassroots... that is how this campaign works.