Entries from August 2008 ↓

I found this place during Hurricane Katrina and it beats anything you are going to find on CNN. If you want to know what is really going on in a disaster zone, you go to the local AM news station. I listened to WWL. I thought it was 1380, but it is 870. You can listen online. It beats ANYTHING you will find on CNN. Listen to the coverage live on WWL.com.
In addition, the forums at nola.com are also good. If this Gustav turns west, my family gets hit….AGAIN! Nothing like a natural disaster to force you to see what is important.

If you find another good source, but it in the comments.

John McCain is poised to select Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin to be his Vice Presidential running mate. This was a game changer. McCain is taking all of the oxygen out of the newsrooms this morning.

McCain is doing what Obama supporters should have done this week in Denver at the Democratic National Convention. The Republicans are doing what Republicans do… whatever it takes to win the White House. Its cynically pitting the hopes and aspirations of Black folks against those of White women who vote… here is an FYI, White women voters outnumber us! Continue reading →

CNN is airing the funeral of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. You can watch it here.

I was the only Black blogger and possibly the only person with a press pass issued by the Democratic National Convention Committee that was at the tribute to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black and the first woman to make a serious run for the presidency. The reception was thrown by the White House Project and the Denver Press Agency building. There were photographers and reporters there, but I think they were local.

It was a really nice reception. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke from the 11th Congressional District in New York. She represents a large portion of Shirley Chisholm’s district.

I didn’t know who she was when I asked her for her picture. I saw a Black woman and said “can I take your picture?”

She was nice about it.

I have tons more photos and video. Including some with the Black woman who produced “Unbossed and Unbought” , Congresswoman Debra Lee, and women who knew Shirley Chisholm.

The reception was from 2 to 4, they opened INVESCO field at 1:00PM and there were all these dooms day predictions saying that if you didn’t get there right at 1;00PM you would not get a seat or would have to wait in long lines. So while people were waiting in the hot blazing sun at INVESCO field, I was enjoying myself along with these sisters.

From my earlier post about my time at Invesco Field, you will know that by getting there “late” I avoided the crowds and ended up with a fabulous view of the stage.

More later when I get to the airport. I was really moved by the Shirley Chisholm tribute.This time I am ditching the airport shuttle to nowhere. Thanks to your support of this venture and the fact that my food was basically free all week, I am taking a town car to the airport. I feel so special!

Here are some of the photos I took on my camera phone on the field at Invesco Field. I was there as a credentialed blogger covering the Democratic national Convention in Denver, CO.

I had to enter to win a lottery in order to get one of these seats in the press box during the Barack Obama speech. This was the  view of the working conditions in the press box. That is Chris Rabb from Afronetizen in the middle.

So I put my name in for the lottery for the press box, but I figured I wouldn’t get it so I went in search of the unaffiliated media filing center, a windowless workspace with tv monitors.

I figured that I would have to watch the speech from there so I thought I would go get a rotating floor pass that would give me the option to be on the field for 30 minutes. Shawn P. Williams from the Dallas South Blog was with me. After searching for a while, we found the press seating in the stands, but it was directly behind the stage with no view. Shawn popped a squat and I decided to go get a hot dog and try to get a rotating floor pass. Now mind you I walked around INVESCO field TWICE trying to find the elusive unaffiliated media lounge and the mythical special bloggers table.

After many questions to volunteers who knew nothing I finally got a lead an headed to level 0 under the stands right where I started my original journey. I looked and I looked and then I thought I found it, but when I said I was looking or the blogging table, they looked at me quizzically and then one suggested I go over to section 27.

As I am walking to find section 27, Shepard Smith from Fox News and I ended up on a collission course when he abruptly changed directions and I stepped out of his way to which he said “I wasn’t gonna bump into you.” He is as funny in person as he is on TV. He was the first television personality to actually speak to another person in the hall. All the rest were guarded by security and acted as if they would turn to stone if you looked them directly in the eye. In the media areas you bassically saw the complete cast of characters from television news, broadcast and cable-Anderson Cooper, Anne Curry, Harry Smith, George Stephanopolis, Donna Brazile, Roland Whatshisname, Charlie Rose, Wolf Blitzer, etc., etc,

So anyway, I go looking fr section 27 and this blogger’s desk they say exists. On the way there I run into Aaron Meyers the online outreach director for the DNC and leap for joy because someone will finally be able to tell me where to go after walking around in circles for an hour. He is with this other guy who is a DNCC Staffer, but I don’t know his name. Anyway, I explain that I had been to the fourth floor press box, the seats behind the podium and the unaffiliated press filing center and I just need him to tell me where to go to get the rotating floor pass. The other guy ended up giving me a floor pass. A permanent one so that I could stay on the field the whole night.

So I went from this to this to this . That’s right I ended up down on the field with the delegates and the MSM.

I was on the field during Stevie Wonder’s set and when the stadium broke out dancing, this sister on the camera stand started jamming on the camera stand. I was standing there because security would not let me through because some VIP was rolling through. There is more after the jump. Continue reading →

Join us on the podcast at blogtalkradio.com/blackwomen. 646-478-4750. Gina is on the field after Obama’s speech.

Barbara B. Allen marched with Shirley Chisholm in Brooklyn NY. Chisholm was a teacher at the time. Barbara collected names on petition for Chisholms Presidential run.

Pamela Brown’s grandfather was Raymond Cannon. Shirley Chisholm helped Pam’s grandfather run for office in Brooklyn. “She was in everything.” Pam knew Chisholm when she was a child

Here is video of Donna Brazile speaking at the Black Caucus at the Democratic National Convention.

Today I will be heading into downtown Denver, pickingup my press credential. Then I will be going to a Shirley Chisholm tribute being thrown by the White House Project. Then I will be catching a cab to the media shuttle pick up and heading to INVESCO Field.

I am predicting an absolute ZOO. If you followed me on Twitter last night you would have read about the trials and tribulations in getting out bus out of the Pepsi Center parking lot. The folks running transportation have been consistently confused all week. Well anyway. We have to shuttle to Invesco from Pepsi.

Attorneymom from Character Corner and Carmen D from All About Race have agreed to help me out so that I can leave the laptop at home and blog from my phone. Carmen will be posting the video and photos from my phone. Attorneymom will be hosting the Black Women’s Roubdtable Podcast tonight at 10:30 CST. that’s 11:30 EST. You can call in to ask questions at 646-478-4750.

Plus if you will notice, I have added the ability to audio blog using utterz. I will be calling in throughout the evening with audio updates. I will still be posting and maybe even liveblogging on the phone, but mainly today. I am going to have a good time. Whatever happens happens.

The NBRA purchased billboards all over Denver saying that Martin Luther King was a Republican. I just got this email from Frances Rice Chair of the National Black Republican Association. Oh the accolytes are going to LUUUUV this one!

Forty-five years ago, on August 28, 1963, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was a Republican and embraced the traditional values that made this country great delivered his inspirational civil rights “I Have a Dream” speech.

Today, Senator Barack Obama, with the most liberal voting record in the US Senate, is delivering his political acceptance speech, in an apparent attempt to assume for himself the mantle of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Dr. King did not embrace the type of secularist agenda promoted by Obama and the Democratic Party of today, which includes fostering dependency on welfare that breaks up families, supporting same-sex marriage and partial-birth abortion, and banning God from the public square.

Obama is no MLK!

Click here to read “A Covenant With Life: Reclaiming MLK’s Legacy”, in which MLK’s niece, Dr. Alveda C. King, affirms that her uncle Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican.

Click here to watch a video of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican

Click here for a map of the locations of MLK Was A Republican billboards in Denver, Colorado.

Click here for more information about the National Black Republican Association

So accolytes, what are your thoughts.