Denver update... saw more protesters, made it into the convention center...

[Elad]

Hey everyone... I've made my way through security and into the Pepsi Center, and I even managed to find the blogger lounge through a maze of tunnels in the basement on the Denver Nuggets practice court. I also met up with Tygrbright, so she is safe and in Denver, and will hopefully post an update soon.

I walked down the 16th street mall today, which was quite fun. Seemed like a lot of people out, not just convention-goers. There were also a lot of religious protesters. This group apparently was apparently causing enough trouble that a group of cops had to come and keep them separated from the crowds. Lots of people were shouting at the protesters.



I also ran into this curious truck on 16th st... not sure what the deal is, but hey, it's kinda cool looking!



Also saw a lot more security out and about...



Arianna Huffington was spotted outside the Big Tent, before jumping into a swank-looking ride that swung by and brisked her away.



This very cool HOPE sculpture is standing right outside the main entrance to the Pepsi Center...



Inside the main entrance...



And two crowd shots, as well as a shot of the stage with Jesse Jackson Jr. speaking.







My plan now is to go and hopefully find a seat to watch Michelle Obama speak. If I'm lucky I can find some food nearby as well. :) I'll take more pictures from inside the actual hall.

Till then!

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. The horse thing is normal for Downtown denver.... great pics and story

thanks.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Yup. The Denver Police Mounted Patrol ALWAYS patrols the 16th St Mall

Glad you got a chance to enjoy our downtown. I COULD have been downtown but the wife had a Drs appointment, and I will head downtown tomorrow.

Hawkeye-X

[intheflow]

14. The number of horses is not normal.

Normally there are 2-3 cops riding horses downtown, but they've regularly had 5-10 cops on horses accompanying cops on foot, bike, and armored vehicles, with about 50% of them in full riot gear. I actually like the horse cops, usually. They're friendly and welcome people petting the horses, it sort of feels "rural hometown-y" in a big city. But cops in riot gear on horses? Decidedly not friendly!

[Fran Kubelik]

2. Very cool! Thanks for the update!!

:bounce:

[mvd]

4. You got some great pictures there!

Enjoy!

[eshfemme]

5. LOL at the Obama in a bottle ad.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Great pics!! It must be so thrilling to be there...Thanks so much for sharing.

[pleah]

7. Really love the pics! Have fun!

:)

[myrna minx]

8. Fantastic photos! Aw...I wish i was there. But I'm stuck in the Republican hell

which is the Twin Cities.

[existentialist]

9. Thoughts on Denver and the protests

Decorum is important; the public perception of Denver is crucial.

“Nobody who was out there on the street with the demonstrators would have been naïve enough to compare them to ‘helpless Christians.” With the lone exception of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War the demonstrators in Miami were a useless mob of ignorant, chicken-shit ego-junkies whose only accomplishment was to embarrass the whole tradition of public protest. They were hopelessly disorganized, they had no real purpose in being there, and about half of them were so wasted on grass, wine and downers that they couldn’t say for sure whether they were raising hell in Miami or San Diego.”

Hunter S. Thompson. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72, Popular Library, New York, 1972, P. 382


“I’m dreaming of riots in Denver.”
Rush Limbaugh

Please do not let it come close to happening--despite the efforts of the GOP plants who will try to make it happen.

We need to be focused, businesslike, and respectful, and not play into perceptions the Democrats and liberals a brainless Yahoos.

Good luck there in Denver--I sort of wish I were there, and I'm sort of glad that I'm not.

[Dem_4_Life]

10. Great pictures. Thanks for the update. nt

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

11. Egads, Elad! You have to eat better than this. Good Job on the reports,

But eat, You need the FUEL!

[UrbScotty]

12. I hope to see you in 2012!

[mlevans]

13. The curious truck was a marketing ploy.

If you go to the Web site in question you can purchase a very patriotic-looking water bottle, stuffed with Obama buttons, stickers and other assorted stuff. Somebody's making a buck, imagine that.

[Barack_America]

15. I LOVE the "HOPE" rendition of Philly's "LOVE" landmark!

Oh man, I wish they would sell smaller versions of that, I'd love to have one.

[TexasObserver]

16. Thanks for the great pix!! I love the convention atmosphere.

I have fond memories of past conventions. This one is historic, however, and I know those who attend it will carry that wonderful memory with them always.

[Politicalboi]

17. Nice pictures

At least you could take pictures in Denver. It might not be the same next week for the Repubes.

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=slpg0