Thursday 08.28.08

The big day. Obama's acceptance speech tonight. Goosebumps.

In the morning, a rare Kimberly AND Chris sighting at another breakfast discussion: the National Journal's daily convention briefing at the Tattered Cover bookstore. From left to right in the photo: Chris Matthews (of MSNBC), Joe Trippi (of the John Edwards campaign), Andrei Cherny (former Gore and Kerry speechwriter), Stanley Greenberg (co-founder with another Chris man crush James Carville of Democracy Corps.), Bill Daley (national Obama campaign co-chair), and moderator Ron Brownstein of the National Journal. A lively discussion of the recent goings-on, easily dominated by the cantankerous Chris Matthews. "Let me finish," was a common statement by the MSNBC anchor. Classic. A good time.

After, we (Kimberly and Chris) were supposed to meet at the Starz Green Room, where various films and political documentaries were shown. Hooray! An event to do together! We RSVP'd for tickets for a film dissecting Obama's spine-tingling 2004 Democratic convention speech. Chris got to the Green Room first, then the news struck via text message:

Kimberly snagged a ticket for Mile High Stadium.

It was discussed the previous day that if a ticket were to be acquired, she would give it to Chris so "he could experience the inside of the convention too". Kimberly all week had gained access to each day's events at the Pepsi Center; she had gained access to delegate- or lobbyist-only events during the day; at night she had gained access to parties or dinners hosted by various top-notch Democratic party luminaries. The crux of the matter was this: lobbying and the vast exchange of money for access sits in direct opposition to what Chris feels politics should be. Senator Obama does not and will not take lobbyist money. Chris and Kimberly frequently butt heads over the core of this matter. "This presidential candidate's platform is opposite what the lobbying cohorts are trying to accomplish." vs. "This is how the current game is played, so to push legislation through the game must be played this way until it is changed." Chris was heartbroken when a mere FIVE tickets from North Carolina were distributed for access to "Joe Q. Public" for Mile High Stadium. The chance of then receiving a ticket via lobbying efforts that run counter to one's personal political and/or ethical stance was tormenting. Chris stated that unless there were TWO tickets available to Kimberly, one for each, he would go; but not go alone. Kimberly found this mind-boggling. She wanted Chris to experince what she was fortunate to, and yet he stubbornly refuses...

The time is nigh, Chris is waiting for Kimberly at the Starz event, and Kimberly states she has one ticket. But the Starz event would have to be forfeited to go NOW directly through security at the stadium. Texts are sent back and forth arguing the matter. Chris would LOVE to go, but frankly not THIS way. Not from a lobbyist. Kimberly is even more bewildered. It is stated that as it is general admission, Chris would not in fact have to interact with the lobbyists. The ticket would just get him in and he can sit wherever he wants within the sections involved. Finally, in a bout of acquiescence, Chris says he'll take the ticket and to meet Kimberly soon to make the ticket exchange.

Moments later, all parties have been informed that the lobbying team wants to go together....and it is stated that their apprentice Kimberly is going with them. Now. Right now.

The roller coaster of emotion is complete. Bitter to confused to acceptance up to excitement and finally crash-landing back BELOW the depths of bitter.

Fine. Kimberly will go with the upper crust of the political machine. Fine.

Chris makes his way to the film instead.

Because of the timeframe between the film's ending and the squeeze to get through security at the stadium, the Obama film has been CANCELED. When it rains, it pours. Chris droops below bitter all the way down to despondency. What. The. Fuck.

As a consolation, one of the "delegate-only" Gugenheim filmings of the 30-minute 1968 documentary RFK Remembered is being shown in its place; one that we could not successfullyRSVP to as we were not delegates. This shorter film would give people plenty of time to make it to the stadium and through security. As a consolation, RFK's wife Ethel and one of their daughters Kerry are in the theater and Kerry makes a brief statement after the showing; so all is not in fact lost.

A watch party was planned at Wynkoop Brewing (with $1 off pints of Obamanator), so that is where Chris viewed the acceptance speech of (hopefully) the next president of the United States of America. Wondering if he'd be able to even hear anything, Chris was pleased when the bar dropped to "library quiet" whenever a speech was made: MLK III, Bill Richardson, Al Gore, Joe Biden, all the speeches.

A twist and turn of events, and we both were in town to witness history; albeit in strangely differing ways. Again, a different week than what we had planned....