6:24 P.M. Getting a late start here, but I have some pictures to make up for it. Folks are just now starting to head in to dinner, but there has been plenty of action in the meantime. Turnout looks to be strong (this was an hour ago, there are many more now):
I didn’t make the rally, but I did come across a strange and bizarre sight – wtf are Ron Paul protesters doing here?
With lame chants like “Hit-ler-y!” and “Ron Paul can solve it all!”, I’m tempted to take back everything nice I’ve ever said about the guy. I mean really. The Hillary folks were across the street…
I ran across some notables from Cobb (Congressman Buddy Darden and Guy Drexinger) as well as Scott Holcomb:
Number 17 (or wherever he ranked on the list) was seen in a familiar position…
Obviously Shelby had better people to talk to, i.e. ones that a young person might actually have something in common with – I wonder how he’s doing?
Page and Earnie Broadwell had a nice little chat, I’m sure…
In non-photographic news, Senate candidate Maggie Martinez looked very forlorn in a room full of party insiders (update, I guess she was just taking a break, she’s working the main rom now), but at least she wasn’t handing out signs for Rick Wrong. The Hillary table I’m sitting by seems to have a lot more people at it than the Obama table next to it, incidentally.
Got to get this saved so I can get some food. The cash bars are notably absent, at least in the foyer. Vincent Fort seems to have gotten over Edwards’ departure from the race, he is here as well; betcha he goes with Obama now.
7:13 P.M. Updates first – Thurbert Baker is doing the “greeting”. We’ve been invoked and pledged and such. In case you’re wondering what attendance is like, it’s HUGE compared to last year. The room is enormous and I have no doubt that the overflow seating areas will be full by the time we’re done here.
Anyone who came here last year will immediately realize that this year’s event is in a different league – seating is much more interesting…
Sanford Bishop has just introduced Charles Rangel to introduce our congressional delegation. The beverage lines have been long enough to make you a teetotaller:
Chairwoman Kidd has got to be pleased with the way things are looking!
7:26 P.M. Shirley Franklin has taken the podium to introduce some more officials. Various other friends have been sighted here…
…as well as a “friend” or two.
Food is here, finallly caught up on my photos so I am going to eat and snap some more while Chairwoman Kidd is on stage here.
7:59 P.M. We’re getting to one of the best parts of the night – Michael Thurmond is just finishing introducing Charles Rangel, who will introduce JOHN LEWIS!!! I got them both finishing up dinner, two great Democrats at one table…
In between now and immediately prior, which was Max Cleland (in a minute), Calvin Smyre took the stage…
DuBose (edit – DUH that’s not DuBose, damn it! Sorry Senator Adelman!) had some words too, and then he went back to eating.
Herb Butler is here, but sadly he isn’t doing so well – he’s being pushed around on a wheelchair, but I challenge anyone to push himself as far as he does. GO Herb!
The East Cobbers apparently didn’t get their tables this year! The YD’s know all about that…
My boy is on stage now, be back 🙂
8:12 P.M. The rally seating is filling up fast! I wish they could have given Saint John something other than the glass peach, but so be it…
Winfred Dukes just proved the difference between him and good old John. I don’t think I have to elaborate. Here’s Senator Cleland from earlier…
We all know what’s eventually coming next 😀
8:36 P.M. It’s HILLARY time!! The first real thing Hillary is saying is really being gracious to John Edwards and bringing his rhetoric to us.
To take a line from John McCain, it looks like the sound system has been tampered with by the RNC ;-P But just look at the Hillary groupie enthusiasm…
There are a smattering of Obama signs scattered about to be sure, but Hillary is giving a strong and good speech and everyone still here is cheering quite heartily! I did see people heading out before Senator Clinton got here, which I just can’t understand – if Obama had come here, I sure as hell wouldn’t have passed up the chance to hear him speak just because I’m not voting for him.
8:43 P.M. “How many of you know someone who is uninsured?” Yeah, that’s what I thought, lots and lots of hands. The number of cameras operated by the press and ordinary folks is quite impressive… I hope I see this speech on YouTube and see the sound bites!
8:52 P.M. “I think when a person signs up to serve our country, our country signs up to serve them.” We’re in the heart of the speech here, and of course it’s Iraq, and I think it’s going well, although I don’t know how many undecided folks we have here. Juliana, are you listening? How can you still be dating when you come to hear such a great speech, and the opposing candidate doesn’t find it worth the time to appear to respond? 🙂 She’s making a good case for people to look past all that alleged divisiveness she brings, gotta say, though, that maybe Bill should lay off it too. Her message is coming through loud and clear, possibly because the speakers are RIGHT FREAKING HERE ;-P
9:05 P.M. We’re done! Actually, I think some people are technically supposed to say a few more things, but of course no one is real interested in hanging around any more. Last picture from a great speech, and a great GREAT JJ dinner…
Hillary’s song was “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”, but I think we saw plenty, and it rocked in the house!
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