DU at the DNC: Thursday afternoon update!

[EarlG]

Last edited Sat Nov 3, 2012, 02:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting today but we were just enjoying lunch at the Black Finn, hosted by our friends at VisitMyrtleBeach.com. That's right -- after a brief dalliance with the UN yesterday, we're now firmly back in the Myrtle Beach camp.

And THEN, we spotted the Foo Fighters soundchecking in the background on MSNBC, so we rushed back over to the Arena and got here JUST IN TIME to see them packing up. Doh.

Anyway, on with the show. After filing our final Wednesday update last night, we left the Arena at around 12:45am and stopped by the MSNBC stage once more. By the time we got there they had just wrapped up their last show of the night, but we snuck around the back and ran into none other than Chris Matthews, who was hanging out chatting to fans.



And then...



He signed my hat! Awesome.



We also met Darrell Hammond:



And David Corn, who, by the way, is familiar with DU and appreciates that you all post his stuff here.



On to Thursday morning. The first thing we decided to do today was stop by the Google building on our way to pick up credentials:



It was pretty interesting, but a little surreal for the early morning.



So we moved on to the Convention Center and got our Thursday credentials. Note they say "Bowl Press Stand" -- obviously the organizers were expecting tonight's show to take place at the Stadium:



We decided to head down into the bowels of the Convention Center, where the "real" media is hanging out.



The place was HUGE.





That's Jonathan Capehart in the background:

















I don't know who Tim is, but he had a hell of a big sign:



My bad, it's Time:





They were giving these goodie bags away to journos, I guess this is where they dumped all the extra ones:





Next, we decided to go check out the Arena again, to see if we could scope out some good seats for the big speech tonight. On the way we ran into this lady with a great self-made dress:



Then we ran into DUer handmade34, who is working at the DNC. Great to see her!



And this guy with an exceedingly magnificent mustache.



The calm before the storm inside the Arena:





... and that's it for this update. A word of warning, we're not sure how good our Internet connection is going to be when this place is packed to the rafters later today -- we've already had some problems connecting to the Arena wifi -- so you may have to wait until after the speeches for our final update.

In the meantime, check out all our earlier pictures in the DU DNC 2012 Journal!

[Ohio Joe]

1. Cool stuff...

Keep the pics coming!

[calimary]

2. Just LOVING this, guys! Love your soliloquy about Tim!

[Gregorian]

3. Thrilling!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Wow, you two are really hob-nobbing with the big names!

Your posts never fail to bring a smile to my face. It's amazing that you're there, and sending us all these great pictures!

Thank you!

Keep on keepin' on!

[RedStateLiberal]

5. You guys rock!

Thanks so much for posting these updates. So cool to see the pics and get a behind-the-scenes feel for the convention.

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks again for your terrific updates, and give my regards to Tim!

[Arkansas Granny]

7. *SIGH* I wish we were there!

[skeewee08]

8. Really appreciate all the updates EarlG & Skinner

you guys ROCK!!!!!

[pinboy3niner]

9. Thanks for the update and great pics!

Cool that you ran into handmade34 there. Did you find what you were looking for at Google?

P.S. - Give my regards to Tim.

[Kali]

10. Geraldo in rose-colored glasses?

[Corgigal]

11. Love looking at the photos

I was suppose to be going tonight. Got my bus ticket but I understand about the weather and a bit bummed out but it's not personal. Just got off a phone call from the Obama team with President Obama and they know who we are and going to stay in touch to get us to other venues (as the President said with closer seats) when he's appearing close to our home towns. They are treating us right by the way , forget those right wing talking points.

So keep on filing these photos, and I wish I was there but will be in spirit.

[Scuba]

12. Woo hoo!!!

[Hutzpa]

13. Hey EarlG

next time you see this guy;



ask him why is it that Fox News is so aloof with the facts?

[Heather MC]

40. How did he get that close and resist the urge to hit him in the face with a chair

ha ha Kidding, still a alittle bitter about the Travon Wearing a Hoodie Comment

[Hutzpa]

41. Me too

lol.. Clint Eastwood got the empty chair, oh snap! ha ha

[Heather MC]

43. I sure Imaginary Obama will gladly stand up and let him use that chair

[KoKo]

51. You Guys do know you are EXPOSING the CONVENTION...MEDIA ROAD TRIP

Your Snark....reminds me of the old "Media Whores" website ...many years ago.

You guys are finding all the ones available to photo op with....it's cool and fun....but, I realize the incredible "snark and cynicism" that seems to be behind all these photos with the minimal dialogue.

I feel you are signalling something....and it's that..."it's ALL A GAME!"

But...at least you got "FREE FOOD...VISIT MYRTLE BEACH!" and some FREE BEER...at that Other Place...so all is well.

[Cleita]

14. The Huffingpost draperies are so Arianna.

Looks like you are meeting and making a lot of new friends.

[Spazito]

15. Wow, best pic yet (they are all great but...) is the one with handmade34!

WTG handmade34 and a big THANK YOU for the work you are doing at the Convention.

I am loving these threads from you guys, it brings the sense of excitement, enthusiasm and positive vibes home to DU. THANK YOU!

[cynatnite]

16. Great stuff as usual, guys! Thanks! n/t

[mzmolly]

17. Very cool to see how the convention was set up,

in addition to all the other pics.

Thanks once again for reporting from the Convention.

[MadrasT]

18. Awesome!

Love all this behind the scenes stuff!



Wish I could be there too!

[BumRushDaShow]

19. WTG and this is hilarious!!!

Tweety should have signed the hat "Tweety"!!

And YAY for David Corn!!! And you let that Fox newsy Geraldo touch you. Brave.

These are some great pics guys!!!!!

[flamingdem]

20. Great pics!

Thanks for the insider perspective, + tweety!

[gkhouston]

21. Okay, who wants to be that Skinner's last shot, of the near-empty arena, will end up in freeperville

as a photo allegedly taken while the President is giving his speech tonight?

[SunSeeker]

22. Tweety's signature on your DNC hat. Woohoo!

[LoisB]

23. FANTASTIC!!!

[freshwest]

24. OMG! And you got to see the Foo Fighters! Hope to hear them later. Greatest pix yet! Thnx!

[TBF]

25. Nice shirt EarlG - way to represent! nt

[Generic Other]

26. Stunning coverage of the convention EarlG

Really really you outdid yourselves!

[Auntie Bush]

27. I love that great hand made Obama dress...very clever.

Hope to catch handmade34 on DU and thank her for all her work.

[glinda]

28. High Five for Handmade34!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot!

[Hubert Flottz]

29. Groovy Guys!

Have you run into Joe LIEberman yet?(check the toilets)

[HappyMe]

30. k&r

[graywarrior]

31. Fantabulous!

[nclib]

32. Love, love, love

your postings!

[JoeyT]

33. Thank goodness it wasn't cold.

If y'all had walked up to Geraldo wearing hoodies who knows what he might have done.

[OneGrassRoot]

34. K&R with gratitude! n/t

[Kurovski]

35. Yeah, yeah, yeah...when's the streaking gonna start?!

[Caeser67]

36. You should have worn a

hoodie when you were with geraldo (small G on purpose).

[GreenPartyVoter]

37. Good work, guys!!

[av8rdave]

38. Awesome...other than the pic with Jerry Rivers

[trailmonkee]

39. I love the picture of the guy in the squirrel costume...

[shireen]

42. the media area was really interesting

thanks for those photos. I'm really enjoying them.

[sabrina 1]

44. Looks like Geraldo is trying to get back on the 'right' side.

Great photos, and glad you found out who Tim was.

[DevonRex]

45. Uh, you missed the Mighty Foo AND Geraldo touched you?

[turtlerescue1]

46. Ahhhhh thankyou!

The two of you gave Dimension to this Convention for a whole bunch of us.

You seem to be getting pretty attached to a few places, is it the beer?

Still you'll be fried and ready to come "home".

Once more THANKYOU!

[WillyT]

47. K & R !!!

[renate]

48. a little aside about Darrell Hammond

I spotted his autobiography at the library and picked it up on a whim--I was gobsmacked. He was really, and admirably, honest and open and it took a lot of courage to write it.

I loved him on SNL and thought it would be a funny book but oh, my gosh, what that guy has endured in his life is hard to even imagine. How he managed to be funny for a living... well, I won't spoil the book, I'll simply recommend it. Just don't read it when you're in the mood for a giggle.

On a lighter note, I'm envious of your Chris Matthews autograph. I've always gotten a kick out of him and his enthusiasm, even when he made me want to scream, but he's been especially awesome lately.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

49. I met Darrell Hammond a few times...

He grew up in Melbourne, FL (my hometown). My boss went to HS with him. During breaks from SNL, he would come to his home in Melbourne Beach. He shopped at the Wild Oats/Whole Foods I worked at. Super nice guy. The first time he came in, a lot of employees (me included) around him and were talking with him. He was really cool. Said he was in a hurry, but still took the time to say hi, and do a photo with the a few employees in front of the store.

[ellisonz]

50. The Google building looks awesome!

Enjoy the speech!

[MADem]

52. WONDERFUL report! I hope you enjoyed the speeches tonight!!

I'm watching Obama--he's smokin'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DrewFlorida]

53. Getting cozy with Fox's Geraldo?

I don't get it, Geraldo Rivera? Really? Where's his damn hoodie?

[Arugula Latte]

54. Geraldo is literally looking at the world through rose-colored glasses.

[SaveAmerica]

55. Did you get to HuffPo Oasis? We tried to go into Black Finn, told no JUST FOR VIP's

Ha Ha!! Ya'll are VIPS! SaveAmerica; Notsomuch!

[Skittles]

56. OMG DAVID CORN!!!!

[leveymg]

57. Rec #101. Awesomeness.

Still can't get over that lady in the dress.

[dixiegrrrrl]

58. You let Geraldo touch you?????

Man, that is going above and beyond the call......