CONVENTION BUZZ

Busy Week Coming At Obama-Rama

by Randy Barrett

Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008


The Pepsi Center could sizzle on Wednesday night with a made-for-TV jolt of electricity, and we're not talking Joe Biden. Picture a "surprise" drop-by from Barack Obama following the Democratic Party's roll call and an evening speech by crowd pleaser Bill Clinton. In 1992, Clinton lifted a bit of theater from John F. Kennedy when he strode with his family into Madison Square Garden after 11 p.m. on the convention's third night to hug delegates, shake hands, and mug for the cameras. Democratic National Committee planners in Denver say that Team Obama keeps a tight lid on his choreography, but they're hearing hints that the nominee might surprise folks the night before his big Invesco Field acceptance speech. "I've heard it from enough credible people to think it could happen," said a well-placed source.

Looking for Trouble

Denver is proudly green because of its environmentalism, but its police force was looking a little green last week in its planning for political protests. A Denver Police Department memo to officers advised them to be on the lookout for "stockpiles" of things that violent protesters might use to disrupt the convention. This includes pipes and bricks (one homeowner was questioned while using bricks for a home repair) but also bicycles, which might be used to "slow down responding emergency vehicles," an injunction that would make Denver a little less green. The most perplexing thing on the list was "maps," which "are frequently used by violent protesters to plan direct action against conventioneers." Considering the number of delegates and others who will be wandering Denver peering at (city-issued) maps, police might want to reconsider that one.

Not Invited

Nancy Watzman is not on the guest list at any convention parties this week--and that's the point. The blogger/investigative journalist with the Sunlight Foundation plans to start crashing events tonight, demanding access to scheduled soirees funded by corporate interests such as AT&T, Qwest Communications, and Eli Lilly, and dozens of Washington lobby firms. The effort, with an assist from the open-government group Public Citizen, is part of a campaign to spotlight the often unseemly two-step between elected officials and well-heeled special interests. "The average citizen can't go have cocktails and shrimp kabobs and get their senator's ear," said Public Citizen spokeswoman Gabriella Schneider. Her group is asking the public to come join Watzman on her rounds, but so far it has no takers. The crasher wants to challenge the system, but she isn't trying to get arrested this week. "It's not so much a protest thing; I'm trying to report on these parties, blog about it, and make connections," Watzman said.

History Walking

Longtimers may recognize Ted Sorensen in the convention hall on Tuesday. The famed speechwriter who helped pen John F. Kennedy's acceptance speech at the 1960 Democratic National Convention will speak to delegates that evening about the parallels between Kennedy and Barack Obama. "Two young senators, both from minority groups, both reaching out to young people with eloquent speeches," Sorensen told NJ. "It doesn't take a genius to notice all the similarities." Although Sorensen watched Kennedy give his "New Frontier" speech in 1960 as the Pacific sun set over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum -- "there we were sitting geographically at the new frontier," he noted -- the 76-year-old is not planning to stay for Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field. "I don't see much anymore," Sorensen said.

Influence-Pedaling

Can't find a taxi? No worries. The convention host committee and Humana have partnered with Bikes Belong, a nonprofit bicycling-advocacy group, to bring 1,000 bikes to Denver this week. At no cost, delegates, locals, and other convention-goers can check out a bicycle at one of seven bike kiosks in and around the downtown area starting on Monday. Helmets and water will also be available. Anyone who registers online at www.freewheelinwaytogo.com or at one of the kiosks can pick up a bike beginning at 7 a.m., and return it to a station by 10 p.m. the same day. The stations are easily identifiable by their blue tents with the letter "F" for "freewheelin" on top. The largest supply of bikes (275) is on 14th Street, between Wynkoop and Wewatta, just off the Pepsi Center site near the Invesco Field light-rail station. Another station is at the Denver Art Museum, and one is across the street from the convention center, where many delegation events will take place.

Forever Moore

Convention-goers won't see the big guy hanging out with his camera this week, but agitprop filmmaker/author Michael Moore isn't sitting out the election. On August 26, Mike's Election Guide 2008, an irreverent opus, is being published with a hefty first printing of 300,000 copies of the paperback. Grand Central Publishing in New York City tells us that Moore will do lots of media during the two conventions, including an appearance on August 29 on Larry King Live and another that's planned for Countdown with Keith Olbermann. The notably pro-Democratic book offers Barack Obama 10 presidential decrees for his first 10 days in office. They include several ideas that exhibit the range of Moore's fertile mind, such as No. 2: "Anyone who tries to make a profit from health care will be arrested"; No. 3: "Ban High Fructose Corn Syrup"; and No. 10: "Free HBO for Everyone."

Friendly Chuck Wagon

The art of freeloading at a national political convention is a tricky one -- all those pesky face controllers to get past. So here's a tip: Braun's Bar & Grill, across from the Pepsi Center on Auraria Parkway, is prime ground. The place has been taken over by Fox News, but just about anyone with credentials dangling around the neck can get in. In the red-brick room downstairs is a buffet spread for the ages: Western-style and Mediterranean cuisine served hot with a tasty choice of cold salads. And real plates and cutlery -- none of this plastic stuff. Word, it seems, is out. On a recent afternoon, Fox contributor Bill Kristol could be seen heaping his plate with sloppy joes -- but he was elbow to elbow with staff from the Pepsi Center, a member of the Denver police force, and a guy wearing a Secret Service vest. Braun's staff helpfully takes drink orders and removes your empty plate. A plus or minus, depending on your perspective, is that the place is covered wall to wall with television sets tuned to Fox News.

Seen and Heard

There will be hell to pay! A worker outfitting the Pepsi Center ready rooms noticed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's quarters measure about 5 feet by 7 feet, a fraction of the lordly 10 feet by 12 feet given to Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Plus, Pelosi's green room has a handicapped bathroom; is someone trying to send a message?... Jim Roosevelt may be co-chairman of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee, but this VIP needed special help to get through a long line at the 9th Street security entrance on Saturday. Although Roosevelt was instrumental in the decision to credential the Florida and Michigan delegations, he forgot his own credentials when he showed up at the Pepsi Center for a rehearsal on the convention floor...

Police officers have a tendency to all look the same. But pay special notice if you run across a cop named David Quinones, badge No. 86017. He's unfailingly polite, helpful -- and No. 2 in the Denver Police Department and the guy in charge of local security at the convention.... The prospect of 14 days without liquid fortification might explain why so many members of the Secret Service could be found last Thursday in Croc's, a Mexican restaurant and sports bar located not far from the Pepsi Center in LoDo--Denver's Lower Downtown neighborhood. A dozen or so agents huddled around the bar for a last night of half-priced margaritas and happy-hour beer specials before their dry spell begins. "I've had at least 10 beers today," one recently arrived said....

Alexis Simendinger, John Maggs, Kevin Friedl, Brian Friel, Marilyn Werber Serafini, Peter H. Stone, Paul Starobin, Bara Vaida and Shepard Sherbell contributed to this column.

  •  
  •