Nancy Pelosi was well received. She's a very gracious lady. She began by thanking everyone from the netroots for all the thousands of roses that were sent to her following the passage of healthcare reform. She says what has been accomplished since she became Speaker is that they have "pushed open the gate". Haven’t passed through yet but the gate is open and it would have been impossible without citizen activists. She spoke about her conversation with Obama following the passage of “healthcare for all Americans”. Huh? Do we have universal care now? Anyway, she spoke to Obama and he said that he was happier that day than he was the day he was elected. Right. And she said no, because had he not been elected it would never have happened. Then she introduces a video address to Netroots Nation from Obama. Pretty cool. Obama says he knows change not happening fast enough for some, especially those at NN. But points to what has been accomplished and the film cuts to clips of Maddow reporting on many of the big legislative achievements of the past 2 years. Nice touch. Maybe he can get around to sitting for an interview with her one of these days. Good comment from Maddow, “the last time any president achieved as much in office booze was illegal”. Got a good laugh. Cut back to Obama who reminds us that change does not, and will not happen from the top down but from the bottom up. Calls us to keep the pressure on him.
Speaker Pelosi then sat with the moderator, Cheryl Contee, and answered about 10 questions on a range of legislative issues. She was good, didn’t hedge too much. But most of the answers fell into the “we’re trying hard but the Republicans are obstructing us in the Senate” format.
I’ll follow up on that later.
[Managed to connect to the wireless network. Got to meet Alan Grayson at the end of the Citizens United panel. Nice guy. Thanked him for all his work on the DISCLOSE Act. He really took the time to shake peoples hands even though he was trying to take 5 minutes to shove some food in his face before taking part in the lunch panel on building a "progressive economic vision".]
37 comments:
Commenting from the crackberry. But the software doesn't work real well when trying to post stories to blogger so I've been doing that from my laptop. Don't carry it all the time though. Esspecially since the wifi has been spotty. Didn't bring my camera so been using the BB for that too.
You met Grayson? Nice! I can see why you'd want to travel light, with all the hustling and bustling from panel to panel. Meet any famous bloggers? You going to the big party tonight?
Sorry, took the lunch break to do my shopping.
Haven't been going out of my way to meet big bloggers. They're all busy feeling important. To tell you the truth a lot of the whole thing is about the celebrity and who has access to who now. Had breakfast next to Matt Stoller and his girlfriend/wife. See Markos and Atrios around all the time. Saw Digby. The usual suspects.
Yeah, I'll go to the House of Blues thingy tonight. Early flight tomorrow. Might just stay up all night.
I just talked to Izzy, she says she's sitting on a bench by the bathrooms in the rotunda - she's going to the Harry Reid thing at 3. She's skinny w/short blond hair and a black Tshirt with a red heart on it, that says Human Toys. Some band, I guess. She'll be at the party tonite, too. She I'll email her phone number to your gmail account, and she said to text and you can find each other that way. She's not too starstruck either - says Jerome wants to go to the Grand Canyon tomorrow! Ha!
Quick, snark, Harry Reid is boring the shit outta Izzy! Halp! Halp! We're IMing on google
He's not the most exciting guy. That's for sure. Wasn't really expecting all that much.
I'm way up front on the left of the stage.
She's at the back with a laptop that just ran out of battery
Probably because it was futily trying to connect to the internet
whoops who was that coyote?
Anyhoo, she's at the table in back.
We chatted for a while, but she couldn't find a plug.
Izzy went out for a smoke...
That was cool. Dan Choi just gave his West Point ring to Harry Reid. Said it doesn't mean anything to him since his discharge. Reid said he will keep it safe and return it to Choi when the DADT repeal is signed into law. Choi jumped up on the stage and they embraced. Joan McCarter got all choked up.
That's neat. Joan's from around here, did you know? Tell her to get next year's NN to come to Seattle!!
Izzy saw Choi out by the pool, surrounded by well-wishers. She hung out with Aravosis last nite! She said she's gonna go take a nap before Franken's panel, so text her when you're done there, and maybe you can meet up later. Jerome's mad cos she won't take him to the Grand Canyon! Heh.
Cool. No celebrity hound her. ;)
Ok. I'll text her later.
It's along drive to the Grand Canyon from here.
Izzy and Joan are good friends, btw.
Jerome is friends with him, I think. She said she told Aravosis that she didn't agree with his view of Obama, and he said "I respect that." She knows I don't like the guy, and agrees he can be a dick online.
It's along drive to the Grand Canyon from here.
That's what she said...
Ok. Mission accomplished. I have met up with the infamous Izzzy! And Jerome.
You described her well.
Yay! And my guests have arrived. Artichokes it is! What shoes are Izzy wearing? The silver ones? Heehee! I wanna know how Franken did, too.
She's just wearing sandals. I must say, I'm a bit disappointed. ;)
Enjoy ur artichokes. It's off to The House of Blues for the closing party for us after Franken. He should be out soon.
I must say, if it wasn't for 2 funerals this year and a stupid fucking cruise... I'd have been there snark!! Sounds like way more fun!
Went and saw Inception, WOW! Crazy great movie, semi-difficult to follow script... one I will definitely have to see again to fully understand.
Too bad SoS. Woulda been nice to party with you. Maybe next time.
Hope things are lookin' more positive for u and ur family these days.
The Grand Canyon is about 4.5 - 5 hours away from Las Vegas, depending on the stops. Hoover Dam is on the way, usually a must stop.
Boycott AZ!! Nothing but a bunch of bigoted MF's here! They have been on the wrong end of history and need to be taught a lesson... civil rights will always win in the long run!
It would be awesome to throw back a few with some internet friends!!
Of course last time it was Lurch and then he died. But before that I did meet Matt Davis, so that was interesting.
Next time it's in Vegas I'm there for sure!
BTW, next year in Seattle would be great, flights have to be semi-cheap for me.
I don't understand why they don't just permanently have it in Vegas?
I'd be good with a fixed home in Vegas. Let's lobby it!
Here's a story. Riding the elevator up to my room today there were three young ladies with me who are also attending the NN2010. One said, "This isn't the best place for this. Everyone is drinking and gambling, it's smokey all the time and they have practically naked women dancing on pedestals in the bars".
LOL! So I have my doubts about a regular Vegas location.
Wait, I thought that was why they chose Vegas in the first place! But Izzy could tell Jerome that they have to boycott AZ, maybe he won't be so bummed!
It's why...well partly why...I'm here. These are some of the best lookin cocktail waitresses in Vegas. And those new lace outfits and thongs that they wear are hot...I mean classy.
And she says she already tried that line on him.
And seriously, I was in Harrah's yesterday and a cocktail waitress who was literally 80 years old came and asked if anyone wanted a cocktail. I kid you not. She had a big blond wig and she was wearing the same little cocktail waitresss dress as the rest of them. It was scary.
Netroots Nation 2011 is in ...
Minneapolis!
Sorry Twinky.
At Mandalay Bay for the House of Blues party. No band playing yet so I'm out and about in the casino. It seems that the new thing, snce I've seen it several places is to have very lightly clad women dancing like strippers in the middle of the gaming pits. Frankly, it's startling that it took them so long to think of it.
Oh, and I won back 110 of what I lost earlier in the trip. :)
Woohoo! Great! But dang, Minneapolis! I'm bummed. Thanks so much for the updates, snark, sounds like a great time.
Al Franken made the announcement at the end of his address. His hometown and all.
Some woman and her band playing on stage right now. Pretty good. Except the guitar player broke one of the strings on his guitar. Oops!
Aw, it's all over?? Safe trip, snark!
Snark, Hope you're home safe and sound with Mrs. snark and the snarkettes!
Woohoo! Izzy sent me the picture, she said you guys had a good time, and that you're a very nice guy. Thanks for indulging me! I'm glad you guys met up. Annnnd, she just called from the Grand Canyon. OMFG! Jerome pouted until he got his way, and she said you even said it would be fun. He was traipsing down a path and got a helicopter ride scheduled for tomorrow. Wow.
Yeah, I ran back into her and Jerome at The House of Blues party. She told me Jerome wouldn't let it go so they were going. "Men!", she said. She's nice as well. Glad I got to meet her. Quite a character.
So I wandered around the strip for a while after leaving the party and won back another $170. That put me down only about $200 gambling wise for the trip. Not too bad. Went back to my room to lay down and shower before my 7am flight. Got to the airport and found out the flight was delayed 2 hours because of mechanical probs with the plane! If I knew that I would have gone to bed at a decent hour and got some real sleep. But then I wouldn't have won back more of my money so I guess it was worthwhile.
All in all a good trip. Don't think I'll bother to make the trip to Minneapolis next year.
Maybe we can organize a Left Coaster convention for Vegas! ;)
Glad you got some of your money back, but sorry you didn't get sleep. It's a killer, I know, my sis kept me up all hours talking and watching movies. I can barely function. But yeah, MN, who cares? And if they're just a place for DC folks to schmooze, whatever. You guys are the only ones I'd wanna see anyhow. Maybe Rude Pundit, for wild sex, but that's it. Heh.
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