Convention Day 3

NEW UPDATES AS OF 6pm

I guess this blog is transitioning from a description of what I've done to a photo album. That's okay,though, a picture is worth a thousand words, right?

It's only 2:00 but I feel really productive. Here's the update:
Woke up today at 5:00 am to shower and get ready for the day...Boarded the 6:15 public bus with 4 Iowa students and our professor to go to the breakfast held by the Iowa Delegation. Every morning, they have a delicious buffet-style breakfast (sponsored by a donor) and do housekeeping, passing out credentials, socializing, speakers, etc. Today our (Iowa City) district's Representative Dave Loebsack sat with us and had an off-the-record breakfast. Awesome guy. I got a picture with him yesterday when I worked at the hotel, but here's one from today with the whole Iowa group. (he's in the middle with the black jacket)
I also talked to another districts Representative, Bruce Braley...but I didn't know it was him until someone said hello to him and used his name. Another easy to talk to politician, but I'm actually glad I didn't know who he was when we talked- it made it a lot easier. Here's a picture of the Iowa group with Rep. Braley (in the middle, white shirt)
During breakfast, we found out Nancy Pelosi and Dick Durbin, which was a JACKPOT! The Speaker of the House (and arguably the most powerful woman in politics) and an Illinois Senator....Didn't really make 100% sense to me what they were doing at a fairly small Iowa breakfast, but I liked it! Side note- I think Nancy Pelosi may have her eyes on the Presidency someday, because Iowa is an important starting point, and I can't think of another reason for her to appear.
But anyways, here is Dick Durbin talking-the layout of the room was odd, there were more tables behind the ones shown, then the doorway where people with cameras stood, then lots more tables and the food behind that.
And of course I asked if I could get a picture with the Senator when he was finished, and told him I'm from Lake County...Should have put on my Illinois pin before we took this!

Here are a couple pictures of Nancy Pelosi...and on the way out, I tried to get a picture but I didn't know she was going to walk so close to me that her jacket brushed up aginst me. It was neat, but I would have put the camera down and tried to smile or something if I had known.


After the breakfast ended, everyone chatted with each other for a bit. One of the delegates I was talking to asked if I had met Christie yet...I said no, and she introduced me to Christie Vilsak, wife of Tom Vilsak- the former governor of Iowa and Presidential Candidate. She talked to me about women in politics, how nervous she was when she spoke at the 2004 Dem. National Convention, and I came away with the impression of what a sincere, intelligent woman she is. I hope she someday runs for an office in Iowa. Here's a picture of us together
Then the delegate I mentioned asked if I wanted to go to a forum on healthcare, so John, Kyle, and I went with her. It was in a huge ballroom, and on the way in, the guys recognized Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. We took a QUICK picture with him because he was in a hurry,
and went into the ballroom. There were lots and lots of big, 10-person tables with posters, buttons, stickers, and pamphets on them. We stood in the back for a minute because we had walked in late, but a police officer tapped on Kyle's shoulder and whispered, "there are a bunch of empty seats up front". For whatever reason, there were many empty seats up at one of the tables in the front row, right of the stage. So we walked quietly up there, sat down, looked at the program, and could not believe who was speaking. We saw Gov. Ed Rendell (that explained why he was in such a hurry!), Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, former Senator Tom Daschle, and HILLARY CLINTON!
Here is part of the room behind me from my seat....I really have no idea how no one had taken this table yet.
My view, camera unzoomed, of the podium. This
Gov. Patrick
HILLARY walking out onstage
I snuck up a little to take this picture. It was great seeing Hillary today, right after her speech last night and because she released her delegates today. She was extremely pro-Obama, pro-Democrat, and even though health care has been her issue for years, she expressed confidence that Senator Obama will find the best solution to the crisis.

unzoomed again...great seats


So like I said, I was excited to see Nancy Pelosi because some consider her the most powerful female politician in America.....Others argue the title goes to Senator Clinton- I was fortunate enough to see them both in one morning! AND 5 Governors! AND many of Iowa's most influential politicians. To say this has been an eventful morning would be quite an understatement.