Recap of Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention

As you would expect from a political event of this magnitude, there wasn't much variance in message. Expect these words a lot this week: change, hope, Obama.

This is more of a celebration of Barack Obama than anything else, and you can see by the dancing in the audience. I have to say, I'm liking the wedding band that performs during commercial breaks most of all.

Michelle Obama was the real star of the night. She was pitch perfect in her delivery of a keynote address that focused on her and her husband's rise to prominence and hope for America. She was very much in tune with the audience, and I heard more than one remark from covention attendees that they were moved emotionally by her speech and a video presentation that preceeded it. Several members of the media in my immediate vicinity were openly cheering her speech. Michelle Obama has stage presence for sure.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper also spoke at the event, weaving the theme of change thoughout his speech and highlighting the Denver area's shift from a cow town to a technology center. Caroline Kennedy spoke about Obama before introducing a tribute to Massachussets Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has brain cancer. Following the presentation, he made an appearance at the podium, looking pretty well, actually.

But the streets of downtown Denver are where the flavor pops (click for larger view):

The lines for shuttle buses from downtown to Pepsi Center are long. You can expect the couple of mile trip to take around an hour. Given that it was rush hour in Denver, that wasn't too bad. The convention hired hundreds of bus drivers to shuttle people around. The driver on my bus said he was from San Diego and he was thinking of trying some Rocky Mountain oysters before he left.

Settle in for a wait
Supporters of Falun Gong are here drumming up support for their cause. Members of the Falun Gong are allegedly being oppressed by the Communist Chinese as political prisoners and killed for their organs. I didn't see many people pay the activists much attention.

Raising human rights awareness

Of course, what's a blog entry without pictures of gear for sale?
Hawking Obama's image



One publicity stunt made its way inside the convention. The campaign is Captain Morgan for President 2008. Hey, why not?
What's your position on Sunday alcohol sales?

All photos by Jim Myers/The Colorado Catholic Herald