Tuesday Morning DNC Update

I talked with my mother this morning on the phone, and she said she was worried because I didn’t update here last night. So, for her benefit, here’s an update, and a recap of yesterday.

I was at the Fleet Center from about 1:00 p.m. to just after 10:00 p.m. I spent some of my time wandering around the areas my “Hall” pass allowed access to — the corridors, the media center, and the 7th floor arena seating. Anecdotal evidence suggest that other bloggers did likewise.

The convention proper was convened at 4:00 p.m., and the program from then until about 6:00 p.m. was mostly formal business: reports from various convention committees, etc. There was a break, and then things got started again at 7:00 p.m.

From that point, speakers were dolled in roughly increasing order of their Q score: Tom Menino, Al Gore, Glenn Close, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill Clinton, Patti LaBelle, interspersed with various others for colour.

For the Clinton - Clinton - LaBelle sequence I’m afraid I have to rely on the evidence provided by others: by 10:00 p.m. my mind, on only two hours sleep and starved of food and drink, was starting to shut down. Comparing the possible effects of staying until the bitter end and fighting my way home with the teeming hordes vs. sneaking out early and going to bed, I choose bed.

Heading out into the cool Boston night, I felt almost exactly as I did when I landed in Seoul in 1998 after flying for 19 hours: completely drained, and almost unable to navigate. In Seoul I had brother Steve to guide me; last night, I flew on auto-pilot. I made it down to the Quincy Adams T station, caught the shuttle to my hotel, checked in, and fell immediately to sleep.

Until I was awoken by Matt Rainnie at 8:00 a.m. Which was probably a good thing because I would still be sleeping now otherwise.

I just picked up my credentials for today here at the Westin Copley Plaza. I’m taping an interview with Matt for this afternoon’s Main Street in about 25 minutes, and then I’m going to head over to the courthouse for the hearing.

More as things develop…