The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

DNC Charlotte: Warming Up

Posted on | September 5, 2012 | 27 Comments

Arriving at the Democratic National Convention, Sept. 5, 2012

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina
Ali Akbar and I drove all night to get here, and the worst part of the drive was passing through the mountains on I-77 at 4 a.m. when the fog was so thick you couldn’t see 10 feet in front of the car. We pulled into a garage in downtown Charlotte at 7 a.m. and had to wait three hours until the media credentials office opened.

It is Ali’s impression that everything here at the DNC is smaller than at the RNC. He particularly noticed open space in the corridors of the arena that, at the Republican convention, would have been rented to vendors. His Tweets:

Of course, Ali is not a Neutral Objective Journalist like me, so it’s possible that he is prejudiced, but indeed we seem to be a long way from the Hope-mania that pervaded Denver in 2008. As soon as we walked into the Time Warner Arena today, I scored my first interview:

Here’s the video of Joe Trippi:

A little more news: President Obama will do a conference call with the 40,000 or so ticket-holders who got stiffed because they moved his Thursday speech has been moved indoors. Also, the Democratic National Convention is one of the few places on the planet where anybody recognizes MSNBC anchors.

Inside the Time-WArner Cable Arena

The National Affairs Desk, 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012

 

 


Category: Fear and Loathing at the Democratic National Convention

Comments

27 Responses to “DNC Charlotte: Warming Up”

  1. smitty
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:07 pm

    Anybody looking at that sporty headwear and thinking, “I gotta get me some of that,” the link is here.
    Today I got one for Wombat. When I told her the desired size, the sales lady looked terrified. No, really, I assured her, human heads exist in size ‘pumpkin’.

  2. DNC Charlotte: Warming Up « Jackie Wellfonder – Raging Against the Rhetoric
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:18 pm

    […] at The Other McCain… Share this:EmailTwitterFacebookPrintTumblrMoreRedditLinkedInStumbleUponDiggPinterestLike […]

  3. rosalie
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:35 pm

    Looking foward to the “prejudiced” and “neutral objective” coverage.

  4. Bob Belvedere
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:43 pm

    -Glad you made it in one piece, Hunter, er, Stacy.

    -Kinda fitting that the first thing you did was go on a Trippi.

    STACY MCCAIN: ROAD MAN FOR THE LORDS OF KARMA

  5. Stogie Chomper
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:46 pm

    Lookin’ good, Stacy.

  6. Dianna Deeley
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:54 pm

    For a guy who was up all night, you don’t look too bad.

  7. Stogie Chomper
    September 5th, 2012 @ 1:58 pm

    That’s a great looking fedora. I wonder if it is a crushable, a hat that you can stuff in a suitcase without fear of ruining it (I have some). As for big heads, I wear a 73/8, which is fairly large.

  8. Wombat_socho
    September 5th, 2012 @ 2:15 pm

    I am reassured that my melon will be topped with the “finest stuff.” 🙂

  9. Dianna Deeley
    September 5th, 2012 @ 2:46 pm

    To quote Ace’s commenters: Pictures, or it didn’t happen!

  10. richard mcenroe
    September 5th, 2012 @ 2:59 pm

    He’s still got the Hawaiian shirt in his duffel.

  11. richard mcenroe
    September 5th, 2012 @ 3:12 pm

    If that’s a crushable, Stacy’s obviously taking it as a personal challenge.

  12. JeffS
    September 5th, 2012 @ 3:28 pm

    The Fedora™ is in Charlotte. The Republic is saved!

  13. Red
    September 5th, 2012 @ 3:28 pm

    Nice 😉

  14. Red
    September 5th, 2012 @ 3:32 pm

    Deep in enemy territory I see. Hope you brought your waders Stace 😉

  15. K-Bob
    September 5th, 2012 @ 3:44 pm

    All of Stacy’s hats are crushable.

    Eventually.

  16. K-Bob
    September 5th, 2012 @ 3:54 pm

    Hah, you were on the easy part of I-77. Get up North of the Statesville exit for some real fun.

  17. Fear and Loathing in Charlotte | hogewash
    September 5th, 2012 @ 4:58 pm

    […] Shoe Leather Reporter is now on the scene of the Democrats’ convention. Coverage begins here. Share this:TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. This entry […]

  18. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    September 5th, 2012 @ 6:31 pm

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-a-media-lovefest-in-charlotte/2012/09/04/574e2d10-f6d4-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_story.html Holy Moley, is this true? There are 15,000 journalists and only 5,000 delegates (with alts too) in Charlotte? Why not have the journalists fill up some of those seats?

  19. Bob Belvedere
    September 5th, 2012 @ 7:16 pm

    This is the best US site for affordable but classy fedoras and related styles:
    http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/category/mens-hats.html

  20. Bob Belvedere
    September 5th, 2012 @ 7:20 pm

    If you’re like me and have a big head [6 7/8], Hats In The Belfry usually stocks our sizes.

  21. Bob Belvedere
    September 5th, 2012 @ 7:21 pm

    For The Love Of God – NO!

  22. Mike G.
    September 5th, 2012 @ 7:56 pm

    So…explain the difference between a Fedora and a Pork Pie hat.

  23. Stogie Chomper
    September 5th, 2012 @ 8:04 pm

    Pork Pie hats (I have four and am wearing one in the picture at left) have a smaller brim and the crown is usually round.

  24. Bob Belvedere
    September 5th, 2012 @ 8:31 pm

    Quite correct.
    A fedora has a crown that’s about 4.5″ and a brim that’s at least 2.5″ deep.

  25. Jimmie
    September 5th, 2012 @ 8:48 pm

    Yes they do. That’s where I’ve gotten both my porkpies.

  26. Thus Spake Russ » Yeah, I know, target-rich environment….
    September 6th, 2012 @ 4:09 pm

    […] but I’ve got no interest this week. If you want good commentary, try Ace, Jeff, Treacher, or Stacy. Or just go see everything at […]

  27. Be Ye Not Dismayed : The Other McCain
    September 9th, 2012 @ 1:07 am

    […] brings his A-game and Obama doesn’t, the campaign might break sharply toward a GOP landslide.In our brief interview Wednesday, Joe Trippi discounted the likelihood of the debates having a major impact on the race:RSM: My […]