Update from the most important person inside the pepsi center this week that's also named Andrew Carbaugh

So, I've been inside the pepsi center checking peoples credentials, and generally annoying people with my presence. With a crowd full of politicians and journalists comes an utter abundance of people thoroughly and deeply convinced they are more important than they actually are. Hence, they assume they have the right into all levels of the convention when, in fact, they do not. I heard some awesome stories about why they should be let in, including: "I'm a congressional aid", "I have a press pass", "My kids are inside i need to find them", "I'm with the secret service", "I have a press pass", "I got dressed up in this really nice suit to watch the speeches not stand outside, are you fucking serious?", "I have a press pass", "I have an amputated leg but they won't give me handicapped seating", "Who the hell are you? I have a press pass and I need to get in to write my story for the Chicago Tribune they gave me this pass to watch the speech I've already been down on the floor taking pictures and now you get to not let me in because you have a red t-shirt that says DNC on it?" "I have a press pass", "I'm Roland Martin I work with CNN", etc. (btw, I let the amputee, and Roland Martin, in, but not the guy who pretended to be a Chicago Tribune reporter (he didn't even have a camera))

Don't get me wrong, the job is slightly stressful but it also guarantees I get to see everything happen, so it's fantastic. I'm in no way not enjoying my experience. So far at the convention the highlights for me have been Ted Kennedy (nearly cried watching it), Michelle Obama, Dennis Kucinich, Schweitzer from Montana, Hilary, Bill Clinton, and John Kerry. This may be biased because of my Montana connections, but Schweitzer impressed me about as much as anybody, partially because I didn't really have high expectations, but it was really exciting to watch because it was so surprising. The convention was buzzing about Schweitzer's speech through today. Watching the delegations do the official nominating of Obama was also fun.

Disappointments have been few, but I found Tom Warner and Joe Biden both a little bit disappointing. Tom Warner didn't captivate me at all, the content of his speech was good but it was in no way inspiring. My expectations were probably too high since there was no way he would live up to Obama's precedent from four years ago, but he just didn't seem like that great of a speaker for the keynote. Biden's speech was also good, I was just a little sad he never seemed to really get excited and going during his speech. I know Biden's capable of getting on a roll in speeches and getting intense, and I wanted to see that tonight. It was a good speech, but I was not at all in awe listening to it (like I hope I will be tomorrow) and I didn't leave it with the sense that Biden was passionately ready for this race to get him and Obama into the white house.

In my humble estimation the convention thus far has been a resounding success for the democrats. Hilary could have done better I thought with uniting the party but Bill did such a great job tonight I think they've done all they can do to get Hilary-supporters on board, and dissension talk seems to be lessening. The one main criticism from the media thus far had been that they weren't bashing Bush or McCain enough, and needed to get meaner, but I think Bill and especially Kerry helped take care of that criticism tonight.

Tomorrow should be amazing. I'm extremely excited to see Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Richardson, and Al Gore. There's also some guy like running for office or something speaking last. Don't know if I'll stay for that since it's going to be a long day. Might leave early.