DNC, Day 4 open thread

That's right, you heard the Blogmother right, I'm live blogging the DNC events tonight while my fellow bloggers are out partying it up at Obama acceptance speech watch parties across the state. If you have pictures from the watch party where you are, please send one or two to the Blogmother at juliewrites at yahoo dot com, and she promises to try to include them in the slide show that will run later this evening.

In case you'd like to take a look at the full schedule for tonight's event, the DNC website is the place to be. And, the McCain campaign released this ad congratulating Senator Obama this afternoon, if you haven't seen it you'll be hearing about (if not seeing it on every network) tonight.

I hope you will all join me tonight with your comments, observations and general enthusiasm for this historic event.

Update (3:01 p.m. MST): CSPAN is reporting things might be slow getting going tonight as the wait time to get into Mile High Stadium (er...Invesco Field) is over an hour right now. Also, our boys over at 43rd State Blues are saying the wait for trains is holding up their arrival at the field.

3:27 p.m. (MST): Yeah, I'm no Julie, so you'll have to get used to my style. Just throwing this out there--the band currently on stage inside Invesco is the Yonder Mountain String Band (together since 1998) and they aren't bad at all. Check them out on their website and at MySpace.

4:15 p.m. (MST): CNN has Gov. Schweitzer on. His advice to Barack Obama tonight? "Bring those beautiful daughters out!" (And, I could see Idaho delegate Matt Kopydlowski talking on his cell phone behind the interview.)

4:44 p.m. (MST): I think they may actually be a little ahead of schedule. Governor Dean has taken the stage and is giving credit where credit is due--the 50 state strategy. "Today our party knows that power grows from the grassroots up."

Following Governor Dean will be a video and special tribute by Congressman John Lewis (D-Georgia) and the children of the late Dr. King.

4:57 p.m. (MST): Congressman Lewis has taken the stage, speaking of the day Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I have a dream speech" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Lewis, referring to Dr. King as "a son of America, a citizen of the world, a peaceful warrior," says we have the power to make the dream a reality. "We still have a dream...the road to victory will not be easy...but with the nomination of Senator Barack Obama tonight...we are making a down payment on the realization of that dream."

Man, I love John Lewis.

"Yes, we've come a long way, but we have a distance to go. Yes, we've come a long way, but we must march again...we must march as we've never marched before to elect the next President of the United States, Barack Obama."

I can't help but wish Rosa Parks were alive to see this; Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and every last civil rights leader. They are the true victors of this night.

Now Rev. Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, has taken the stage: "Tonight freedom rings from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado, tonight freedom rings."

Update (5:18 p.m. MST): I'm taking a break until Governor Kaine takes the stage, both to enjoy the music segment coming up and to grab some dinner. When I return around the 6 o'clock hour there will be a new thread to catch the remainder of the evening. Yes, I planned this knowing I'd have much to say about Rep. Lewis and Dr. King's children.

In case you missed Rep. John Lewis in the 5 o'clock hour, here's his speech via PoliticsTV.com and I'll add a link to the text once it becomes available as well as the text from the DNC. If you've never seen or read his speech from that historic August day in Washington, D.C. as chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, go read that too! My favorite excerpt from Rep. Lewis' speech today:

"For those of us who stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or who in the years that followed may have lost hope, this moment is a testament to the power and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. It is a testament to the ability of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. It is a testament to the promise of America."

Also, if you missed the MLK tribute video played after Rep. Lewis and before the two King children, here it is. See you in an hour!

Comments

[Julie in Boise]

Tara, thanks so much for doing this. We have a long night ahead of us ,so don't feel you have to blog for six hours!

[Tara Rowe]

I have absolutely nothing else to do!! ;)

[Sisyphus]

What the...? They're not at the field yet? Frickin atrios is there. Some major beech slapping coming their way.

Can you imagine trying to herd d2?

[Tara Rowe]

I can't imagine trying to herd either of them!

[Julie in Boise]

Just got word from Jill of New West that she just now made it in and it's a madhouse. I'm glad there are hours and hours left until the main event.

[Julie in Boise]

You know, that's a pretty classy ad from McCain. (He may be assuming a little too much by figuring everyone will know what he means by referencing "this historic day.")

Thanks for the link.

[Tara Rowe]

Once they hear what I'm assuming will be a moving speech by Congressman John Lewis tonight, they'll understand what "historic day" means. They'll understand the importance of this day--the importance of Dr. King.

[Julie in Boise]

Tara, thanks for blogging John Lewis. I missed that; I'll have to get the video later.

I wound up needing to take my laptop to the Basque Center so we can try and play video that Serephin is editing at this moment. So I'll try to chime in now and then.