Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator and executive producer of Gilmore Girls, and her husband, writer-producer Daniel Palladino, are guest-blogging the Democratic National Convention for PopWatch, so check back for frequent updates over the next few days….
Our first impression of Denver: It’s Reno, but bigger.
People are still arriving: women in smart business outfits, men in power suits, all with phones glued to their ears. Credentials are being handed out, shuttles are pulling up bound for the Pepsi Center, America’s business is being served. But that’s the surface….Look underneath and you discover that the Mile High City has become a repository for the largest collection of nutballs on either side of the Mississippi.
Feverish nutballs. All with something to sell. And all fueled on too much caffeine, high altitude, and knowing self-righteousness.
The Hillary supporters are out in force: loud, adamant, and for some reason, uniformly sun-damaged. Their complaints are consistent but confusing. From what we gather, they think democracy was seriously upended during the primary (nothing new), they are already upset about the floor vote that has not yet happened (they’re mad at the future!), and they are very mad at Howard Dean. (They should be mad at their sign-making department.)
And they really, really want to be on TV. That’s the ultimate fuel — the quest for 15 on-air minutes.
We caught up with the Hillary ladies at the outdoor MSNBC broadcastbooth (we say ladies, but there was one guy in the group, and onecross-dresser/transgender person.) They grimaced. They chanted. Theysign-waved. Just before Chris Matthews’ live broadcast was to start, adefenseless network underling was tasked to ask the Hillary people tomove their immense (and weirdly stained) Hillary sign out of Chris’shot. Poor kid — spittle flew as he was shouted down. One of Hillary’solder defenders elbowed her way up to the sign (they’re not shy aboutusing elbows, these Hillary supporters). She was a dead ringer for the woman on YouTubewho referred to Barack Obama as an "inadequate black male." She told the underling shewas not moving. For anyone. For any reason. He made a couple morefeeble attempts to nudge them along, then gave up, outnumbered,outmatched, outspittled.
And if Barack Obama really wanted to rub shoulders with the true,weird America, he should take a Secret Service-less stroll downDenver’s 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian-only street lined with chain stores,older mom-and-pop shops, and this week at least, freaks of every kindmanning booths of all varieties. Every cause, and every possiblesouvenir item you can possibly stick Obama’s face on, is on display. Agroup of Christians monopolizes one corner, displaying signs way moreprofessional looking than those of Hillary’s supporters. One advertisesthe specifics of sin: "Porn Magazines," "Birth Control," et cetera, andincludes the category "Jesus Mocking." The last, we assume, is pointeddirectly at Hamlet 2’s Steve Coogan’s performance of "Rock Me Sexy Jesus." We’re guessing.
Written with Amy Sherman-Palladino. The Palladinos are donors of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Comments (1-30) of 44 Add your comment
As a native Coloradoan, I’m very interested in what the outsider’s view of Denver will be this week. We are already an eclectic collection of people (read: nutballs), the extra nutballs that traveled here are really adding to the mix!
Yay Denver! The 16th Street Mall freaks (but not the hawkers) are always there. Usually they’re a little more diluted by the business crowd. The only thing we have in common with Reno is that we’re both west of the Mississippi. You need to dig a little deeper Ms. Palladino
I always marvel at the people – of any political party – that actually have the time and freedom to travel to the convention cities and demonstrate.
I mean, if you are a member of the party and are actually invited and attend the convention, that’s one thing.
I don’t think I can justify taking off from work to go talk the streets of Denver (as nice as Denver may be) railing against Howard Dean – or anything else for that matter.
Sorry, I meant walk not talk. Apparently I was typing ahead of myself…
I know it’s taboo to say, but I personally think disenfranchised Hillary voters are upset that a black man has stolen their opportunity to have a female president. Justified? I don’t know, but I do know that only the Democrats could screw up an election year that was basically a freebie for them after the last 8 years of Republican tyranny.
Joe, let’s hope they don’t screw it up…
Democrats have always been their own worst enemy!
The DNC and the Obama Chicago thugs get the credit for screwing this convention up because they are so afraid of an fair, open roll call vote (because maybe they don’t really have the votes and might become a victom of democracy!!)
Never before has a roll call vote been treated as “unusual” – only when the strongest woman to ever compete for the position is in the race.
Joe… I hate to say it, but you’re right. I was 12 when Bill Clinton started office and have been a huge Hilary supporter ever since. I was ecstatic about the idea of having a female president, because before Obama showed up, SHE was the poster child for Change. I like Obama, and I’ll definitely vote for him come November… but yeah, it stings that he kind of came out of nowhere and essentially stole the primary right out from under her largely due to media frenzy (and…clear bias.) Yes, I’m a little bitter… but the important thing now is that the Dems win!
Meanwhile, the DNC was served yesterday on the (very quiet) lawsuit in Philadelphia which claims that Obama isn’t constitutionally qualified – he’s never been vetted (either by DNC or the press) so lots of questions about his citizenship, whether he ever registered with selective service, was he actually born in Kenya in circumstances which wouldn’t qualify him as a natural born citizen? We’ll hear more from the Republicans after he’s nominated — what a mess!
Forget the DNC, where is the Sherman-Palladino fan club meeting up in Denver?
Those fanatic Hillary supporters are nuts. They are like kids pouting in a corner because another kid stole their toy. I like Hil but these people should be ashamed of themselves, and Hil needs to tear them a new one and distance herself from these freaks!
All this is well and good but what’s shakin’ with a Gilmore Girls movie? Or reunion? Or somethin’?
Also, I’m not trying to turn this into a political argument, but I don’t understand how some Clinton supporters who truly believe in her causes think that by voting for McCain, it’ll be easier for Clinton to gain ground on those causes. Clinton believes in pro-choice. McCain has affirmed he certainly does not. So to me, if they either do vote for McCain or sit home, it is out of bitterness and bruised feelings, and not for the good of the country.
Wow, write a column about the campaign and the nutjobs come out to comment. Any moron can file a lawsuit. I can go sue McCain quietly in court and say he isn’t eligible because he was born in Canada and that does not make it true. Moron.
I wouldn’t want to turn it into a political discussion either, but my posts always get deleted on CNN’s political blogs. So I pose this question:
What is the point – either by the Hillary or McCain supporters – of purposely mixing up Obama and Osama? What is the point of making a big deal about Barack’s middle name being Husein?
Why do they do this? Do they really think that we are stupid enough to think, “Oh yeah. His first name is similar to Osama. He MUST be a terrorist!” Do they really think that equating him to Muslims (albiet notorious ones) will make us think he is unworthy of the office?
Even if he were Muslim (which he’s not), is there something somewhere that says he cannot be POTUS on those grounds? Sorry, I thought this was a free country.
My apologies. I will get off of my soapbox now.
“they’re mad at the future!” – ha! I love that. As a woman who wanted a woman president, I think the crazed Hilary supporters have got to let it go. Obama is a great choice, and this proves Dems don’t know how to win. If the “Hilarites” think messing with the convention or voting for McCain will send a message, they’re insane. The only message they’re sending now is one of hate and stupidity.
I personally want a button or a t-shirt that sports the phrase “Jesus Mocking”.
I am absolutely disgusted with the Clintons and their so-called supporters, so much so that I will not watch either Clinton’s convention speech this week. They all need to get over themselves. The primaries are over, and all of this ego-driven crud is just muddying the waters and helping the Republicans. Ugh!!
Oh, but I had to love the irony on CNN last night — one section of speeches was called “Voices of America”, with everyday citizens speaking to the convention. CNN (whose coverage was terrible and I ended turning to PBS) did not give any coverage to the “Voices of America” but talked over them. Irony! It’s everywhere!
I agree with Fletch’s post, it’s interesting the people who take time to travel to the conventions. We have to ask — are they impassioned fans of democracy in action — or nutballs? Are people who can take a week off to parade up and down in a Hillary mask representative of America? Or should we re-name Superdelegates Superfreaks?
Fletch wrote:
“is there something somewhere that says [Obama] cannot be POTUS… ? Sorry, I thought this was a free country.”
Yes there is. He may not be a citizen. And what’s worse he is in no hurry to prove that he is!
We need to see an original HOSPITAL birth record to disprove reports he was born in Kenya or Canada.
See http://tinyurl.com/Prove-UR-US-OK for the issue
Tamara, if that’s not just a bunch of neo-con generated drivel, then it’s a valid point.
But the people that I am referring to post things like:
“Barack Osama – I mean, Obama”
“Barack HUSSEIN Obama”
I was basically asking if the posters really take us to be that stupid. It’s pointless, it’s annoying, and making those distiction look – dare I say – racists.
Forgot my “s” on distinction. Apologies…
Oh please, Tamara, Barack Obama was born in Honolulu. The state of Hawaii has issued a certficate of birth to him – just like they would for any other citizen born in Hawaii. There is no conspiracy here. John McCain was born in Panama. Maybe he’s not really eligible to be president?
funny how they can’t stop bashing hillary. calm down, you won, obama got the nomination. and sadly mccain will be president.
Tamara. Please do us all a favor and go post on one of the crazy, nut job, right wing boards that actually believe the garbage you wrote. If you don’t like Obama’s politics, FINE, but do NOT post that riculous conspiracy theory BS. Don’t you think if Obama had been born outside the states, that would have been caught by now? You think the Clinton’s wouldn’t have caught that? Or the McCain camp? Please go read something that wasn’t bankrolled by Rupert Murdoch and vote on an actual issue.
Moron.
Oh, and as a follow up to Tamara’s idiocy, here is a link that will take you to “Fight the Smears” complete with a copy of Barack’s birth certificate.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/birthcert
Lets all hope Tamara doesn’t breed!
Jon, I’m afraid it is the Hilary supporters that need to calm down. No one that backed Obama is marching the streets of Denver calling for Hilary’s or Dean’s head.
Hilary may have a few sane supporters but they are far outnumbered by the nuts who have seized on Hilary as some sort of velvet Madonna backlit by Christmas lights. Their convention strategy is to ride that Hilary Train straight into the side of a mountain. I saw a Clinton supporter wearing a t-shirt that declared “Barak Obama Made Me Eat Carbs,” and another waving a sign that said “My Husband Won’t Sleep With Me Because I Voted For Hilary.” One Hilary supporter told Larry King that Obama had her abducted by aliens but Hilary saved her at the last moment with her golden lasso of truth. Hilary supporters are blaming Obama for their corns, their bad hair days and for making their gauchos ride up on the inside thighs when they walk. It’s like Obama took them out for tapas and dancing and then said he’d called but never did, and now they all have a chance to confront him for standing them up, because they deserved at least a phone call and to know if it was something they did.
And thanks for clearing that whole thing up for me, Emily. I have to admit to being caught off guard myself.