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by jteamaz from Phoenix

Last Post 26 days, 15 hours Ago


What Are They All Doing?
Aug 28, 2008 | 2:29 PM
Category: Political
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I wondered for some time what 15,000 journalists were doing in Denver covering around 4,000 delegates, but I read an article yesterday that brought me up to speed. Here's the low-down...

7,500 aren't doing much at all, not surprising. Only a small number of reporters actually have a reason to be there. The rest are conventioneering, which means seeing old friends, eating Democratic themed menu items from pandering local restaurants, showing their press passes everywhere, looking for free stuff, and spending roughly 14% of their time trying to rustle up enough stories to justify their presence to their editors.

4,021 are smugly bad-mouthing the convention and it's participants in their story leads ("There is no reason for so many journalists to be here"). Truth-telling rebels they are, if they didn't want to be there, they wouldn't have come.

2,294 are complaining about only having perimeter press passes. There are four levels of access - perimeter, arena, hall, and floor. Perimeter passes are restricted to the parking lot, the rest can go inside. Some try to sneak in, being stopped by Dem Robot security staffers. One of the Pavilions has free Coors and swedish meatballs. There's leather chairs and flat screen televisions.

500 don't have credentials, and are trying desperately to get them. that happens in a Hampton Inn about 40 minutes away, and every morning, reporters have to come and claim theirs for the day.

340 are confused about how to find the proper press office inside the Pepsi Center, there are so many. Everyone looks vaguely depressed or aggravated, possibly because once they find their room it has no internet access, and is full of reporters for small outlets.

150 are at the CNN Grill, restricted to staffers and talk show guests.

62 are enjoying massages.

Seven of them are having their pic taken with Captain Morgan, the rum-loving pirate who was oddly credentialed into the convention.

The rest are just drunk, as they should be.....

Fine, if that's what the 15,000 journalists are doing in Denver. But where can I read about the exchange of ideas among tomorrow's leaders, the discussions on new solutions to old problems, the charting of new courses, all that meaty talk among the different layers of officials? All I'm seeing is a weird Clinton drama and a bunch of garbage copy. Clinton releases her delegates! Wow, a real shocker! Or how about: Will Bill show up for Obama's speech?  Oh, I can hardly wait. McCain's releasing a new attack ad, yawn.... I'm reading that there's an 11 year old blogger at the convention as well, that's getting into real substance. Am I talking about the same convention?
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jteamaz

Not much to say actually. Just a normal kinda guy. I drive a truck delivering groceries for a major food chain here in the valley. Try to keep educated on local and national events especially those concerning corruption and moral ineptitude by our "elected officials." Very much for protecting our freedoms and rights, always open to new ideas and discussions. I don't identify as Democrat or Republican, and don't like to be labeled as liberal or conservative. Just try to stay responsible and informed as possible.

Member Since: 4/18/2007


 

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