logo
   Web Issue 3306 November 23 2008   
spacer
Political Blogs
Political Blogs
Michael SettleClose encounters of the Barack kind
Posted by Michael Settle at 11:56pm on Mon 25 Aug 08
Finally ventured into the spaceship that is the Pepsi Center auditorium.
The flashing circle of red and blue light does give it the feel as if you're in a Steven Spielberg movie set.
The floor arena is filled with delegates sectioned off according to their respective states each with a large pole bearing their name.
After Joe Biden got the nod to be the VP nominee, his home state of Delaware has the privileged position in front of the speaker's podium.
Speakers come and speakers go but to be honest few of the delegates seem to be paying much attention as they are partying down at the front as a funk band plays a catchy medley. One woman with what appears to be a bright pink flamingo on her head is having a whale of a time, trying to play volleyball with her cavorting chums.
Occasionally, when a new speaker gets up there's a flurry of music from the resident band a la David Letterman.
Halfway up the arena is a row of illuminated TV studios all pumping out commentary and news hour after hour. There is NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox and the dear old BBC whose booth appears barely a quarter of the size of some of the others.
Large screens hang down the ceiling giving those who have a restricted view of the podium access to the speaker. But few appear to be paying any attention. The only time the partying stops is when someone declares: "Barack Obama is the change we need," and then there's whooping and cheering.
The Pepsi Center is teeming with people inside the auditorium and out. In the corridors outside there are all manner of eateries selling everything from ice cream to hot dogs to chilli burgers.
On one level there is row upon row of radio hacks interviewing anyone they can get their hands on.
Outside is media city. Apart from the TV giants which have their own dedicated buildings - CNN dominates at the entrance with a square building emblazoned with the huge slogan CNN = Politics.
Quaintly, each major TV and newspaper appears to have their own fleet of golf buggies zig-zagging across the plaza, carrying VIP anchors and editors.
Just before I finally get back to my humble spot in a tent full of writers, I stumble across a crowd of TV cameras and eager-looking delegates.
It's an earnest-looking young man talking about the economy and the environment. Hmmm, looks familiar.
Cranking my head to see what all the fuss is about, I realise he's an Obama lookalike.
Funny the reporters seem to be taking him as seriously as if he was the real McCoy. I suppose for now he'll have to do.
Share this post on: Digg | del.icio.us | Furl | reddit | NowPublic | Yahoo!
Add your comment
Your name
Your email address *
**
Security Image. Registered site users are not required to enter Security Image Information.
 
 e.g. 123-123
Your comment
Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored.
Format Text:

 
* Your email address will not be displayed
Comments are unmoderated, but you must abide by our terms of use. We will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
spacer
 
RSS
Add this channel to My Yahoo!
Add this channel to My MSN!
What is RSS?
About this blog
Bloggers
Douglas Fraser
Robbie Dinwoodie
Douglas Fraser
SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR
Torcuil Crichton
Chief UK political correspondent
Michael Settle
Matt Roper
Herald newsdesk
Recent Entries
NOVEMBER
SMTWTFS
......1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30......
More
Copyright © 2008 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved   
Sitemap :: Circulation :: Syndication :: Advertising :: About Us :: Terms of Use