Last week I joined Arizona Democratic delegates and delegates from across America in Charlotte, N.C. at the DNC convention as we raised the roof off of the Time Warner Cable Arena with enthusiasm supporting President Barack Obama and officially nominating him as our candidate in November. What a 4-day ride filled with passion, excitement and energy! We’re anticipating and bracing for “The Thrill of Victory.”
My first thoughts before arriving were “Yes, I know we’ll take care of business,” and then, “Party, party!” Folks, I was a tired and worn-out brother after two days, however I would do it all over again tomorrow. I arrived Monday night, sat on my bed and said: “Wow! (This was one of those fancy memory foam beds with the sleep number dials.) Goodie’s going to be sleeping on a cloud in heaven for four nights,” only to find out all delegates needed to be downstairs at 7 a.m. to pick up credentials every morning to gain access to all caucus events and the convention. Breakfast was from 7:30 to 9 a.m. with high profile guest speakers. Charter Buses started arriving at the hotel at 9:30 a.m. taking delegates for a 25-minute ride to the downtown Convention Center to different caucuses starting at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., with the convention starting at 5 p.m.
Picture airport TSA agents, moving conveyer belts checking bags, purses etc. and metal detectors. Security was tight checking everything and everybody going into the convention. Credentials were asked for before you boarded buses, entering the convention, and upon returning to your seat in the arena after stepping out to get a snack or use the restroom. Usually the last keynote speaker speech ended around 10:45 p.m. every night, which meant each state’s delegation had to line up at certain sections around the convention center to board their designated buses. The earliest we got back to our hotel was around 12:30 — if we were lucky — where hot hors d’oeuvre and drink were waiting for us in the hotel bar lounge which meant going to bed around 2 a.m. There were many requests for 6 a.m. wake-up calls.
People, it was surreal listening to all the speakers especially the keynote speakers, including the First Lady, former President Clinton (that man’s still amazing), Vice President Joe Biden and President Obama, who was “Fired Up and Ready to Go.” However the arena erupted with joy and yes, tears, when our Gabby Giffords walked on stage. We love you, Gabby.
I met many delegates from across the country but was starting to feel like Sheriff Joe attracting TV stations asking for interviews on the convention. However I was bombarded by European camera crews from Germany, Spain, Italy and several others for interviews. I asked a reporter from a Washington, D.C. station that only feeds broadcasts to Europe why they were so interested in me; I’m a nobody. He stated there’s a great fascination in Europe with the American Cowboy, the big belt buckle, boots and big cowboy hat especially worn by a big tall African-American wearing a stars and stripes shirt. Go figure? Maybe I’ll add a trip to Europe on my bucket list (LOL).
In closing, this DNC was the biggest event of my life and I know my Mom would have been proud as her spirit was present. I have but only one regret: I never got to enjoy that heavenly bed, nor use the sleep number dial. Once I laid down glancing at that 1:45 a.m. clock, it was thoughts of that rude-awakening, dreaded 6:30 a.m. wake- up call. It was lights out, “Good Night Irene” as I closed my eyes picturing maple sausages and a big bowl of Carolina grits and butter waiting for me in four hours — “Fired Up and Ready to Go!”
John Goodie of Gilbert is a Mesa park ranger.
Cerulean posted at 11:48 am on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
“He stated there’s a great fascination in Europe with the American Cowboy, the big belt buckle, boots and big cowboy hat especially worn by a big tall African-American wearing a stars and stripes shirt. Go figure?” Sooo funny!
Once in a while I would check in on the convention through the News Hour hat cam. The ‘hat cam’ roamed the convention center and local venues striking up conversations with various people mingling about. One time the ‘hat cam’ asked a foreign correspondent “Why are you at this convention?” The foreigner said, “There is great interest in Europe about President Obama and his reelection bid.” (I am paraphrasing of course.)
Have fun in Europe.
Is Romney’s tax plan a flat tax?
mnjcpa posted at 1:36 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Unbelievable how people's perception about what they see is so distant from one another. You saw a party - I see the destruction of America.
Arizona Willie posted at 1:44 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Who knows what romney's tax plan is? He says you have to elect him to find out what it is.
The author was at the Democratic Convention.
To the best of my knowledge Romney wasn't there ... not even in an empty chair.
downtownresident posted at 6:24 am on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
If Romney should, by some cruel twist of fate, get elected, that will be the worst day in American history!
Mr. Romney is completely ignorant of normal day to day life of common people!
He thinks $250,000.00 a year is MIDDLE income. The census people say $50,000.00.
Mitt needs to quit!!!!!!!
mnjcpa posted at 10:27 am on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
Romney's right EnRaged, and why you are so seriously misinformed.
That $250k a year person is a small business owner. And by the time they finish paying all the taxes to support the 50% of the country that pay NOTHING, they're left with maybe $100-$125k a year. Finance a couple of children through overpriced education where they MIGHT come out of school with a transferable skill and half of that is sucked up again.
Then, just then maybe, that small business owner can put away enough to MAYBE approximate 25% of a pension that the labor or federal/state union pensions provide.
Your problem is you've bought in to that whole class warfare that Obama promotes. Where the small business owner is lumped in with Goldman Sachs.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
onerebel posted at 3:05 pm on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
John, I did enjoy reading your letter. You and I have personally met though your work, and I found you to be a very genuine guy. You and I do not share the same political beliefs, however that does not change the respect you have earned. With all the pulling apart of this country from the extremist would it not be great if those of us in the middle could finally get a hold of the reins?
hljmesa posted at 8:27 pm on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
Nice article John.
Thanks for sharing ! !
samkat posted at 9:03 pm on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
DTR: Can you actually say Obama is an ordinary guy with a straight face? His white grandparents got him into an exclusive prep school in Hawaii that even my children could not attend while we were stationed there. He basically has had everything handed to him by using his so called minority status so I could hardly say he is one of the everyday people who have to scratch for a living. After all, he was also quoted as saying middle income is $250,000 or less
mnjcpa posted at 8:42 am on Sun, Sep 16, 2012.
That's the issue precisely samkat with the Democratic elite. Both Obama's path were paved for them with priority entrance to ivy league schools. Or the property in NYC where Occupy Wall Street resides is privately owned by a major Obama fundraiser.
But most importantly is Wall Street banked Obama's election in 2008 - read `Bought & Paid For` to see the hypocrite that is all things known as the radical run Democrat party of today.