Mitch Perry
Day One of the #DemsinPhilly was something of a hot mess — sometimes chaotic, but ultimately rewarding. But enough of what went on with me before or after entering the Wells Fargo Center yesterday afternoon.
The highlight was Michelle Obama‘s address, described by some pundits as one of the finest in recent vintage, and certainly the most memorable from any First Lady that I can think of.
Cory Booker was also strong, though I agree with David Axelrod‘s helpful criticism that if he can modulate it a bit, it can be even more effective.
The session started somewhat shockingly, with any official on stage (including the first black woman to manage a DNC, Ohio’s Marcia Fudge) getting loudly booed for mentioning anything regarding the woman who this convention is ultimately about, Hillary Clinton.
It was stunning, actually. It was so bad Bernie Sanders issued a statement telling his supporters to pipe down, not that they take their orders from him. Far from it.
Last night was Bernie’s night, what with fellow progressives like Elizabeth Warren, Raul Grijalva, Keith Ellison and Jeff Berkley getting key speaking spots. But will it satisfy the Sanders delegates? That remains the question today about how this convention goes forward, where the emphasis will now really be on Mrs. Clinton.
There are some logistic problems here, folks. I don’t want to make an issue out of it today, so I won’t. Some of it can’t be helped. Seriously, the weather here in the afternoon could melt an egg on the sidewalk. So as I wandered around for a bus — well, let me just say I was grateful to follow some Sanders supporters who decided the hell with waiting for the bus to come to their hotel, and marched over to the subway at City Hall. And why not? It’s cool as hell down underneath (for the most part), and the Broad Street line takes you right to the arena. Where this is a bit of a walk to the arena.
When I left the arena last night (before Sanders had hit the stage), I was pummeled by a hard rain which thoroughly soaked my clothes (it hasn’t been that many hours since that happened as I write this morning).
There was so much happening yesterday it seems like it was days ago that there was the jeering of Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the Florida delegation meeting , which was truly extraordinary yesterday morning.
Florida Democratic icon Bob Graham followed up shortly after the DWS debacle, and gave her a little love, for what it was worth.
Harry Cohen says a great Hillary Clinton speech Thursday night can woo some Bernie Sanders supporters. After being in the hall last night, I’m not so sure.
Might there be a happy reunion between David Jolly and the National Republican Congressional Committee?
