Sal316's insider's view of the debate. (I worked it!)

[Sal316]

Hey all. I had the experience of a lifetime yesterday. I was a volunteer at the debate here in Phoenix last night. For a political geek like me, it was better than the World Series! I'll try to hit some of the highpoints for ya.

I got to party HQ about 7:45am to get my assignment (media runner). Turns out, I was also chosen as a 'CNN Stand-in'. Which means, if you were watching in the morning, when CNN had live shots from the theater you saw me playing both Jeff Greenfield and Carol Mosley-Braun. We got to stand on stage and test microphones and play debate. Then, about 10am, Judy, Candy, and Jeff all showed up for a second run-through. They were extremely gracious and funny! Greenfield was cracking jokes to help us relax. After the run through, Judy was kind enough to pose for a group photo.

Then, it was off to lunch. While all of us volunteers were scarfing down pizza, who shows up but Gov. Napolitano! She's alot shorter than she looks on TV, but was also very gracious and posed for pictures with all who asked (me!).

After lunch, it was a cluster-fuck. CNN shorted the party about 40 credentials to get back in the building, so we were stuck outside. Not to be deterred, we were going to find a way in. While we were waiting, we got to talk with Candy Crowley, Terry McCauliffe, and Dick Gephardt! I got pictures with Candy and Dick, but just one of Terry and got to shake his hand. Gephardt was very nice and stopped to talk to us and even Candy couldn't get us credentials to get back in. We were about to give up when they needed a second set of stand-ins to tweak the lighting! Ta-dah! We were in.

Once they were done with us, we copped seats in the row blocked off for the camera (12th row) and watched the entire debate. After it was over, we got to meet all of the candidates and take pictures. The pictures I have will be developed this afternoon, but I've attached my AUTOGRAPHED PROGRAM to make you all jealous. Kerry tried to sneak away, but we caught up to him just as he was leaving the stage.

Afterwards we went to Dean's party and then to Clark's party and got to see both of them speak.

This was definitely an experience I'll never forget. I'll post more pictures when I have them. DK was very nice, Clark hung around to talk to everyone, Dean made a special trip to greet us volunteers, CMB was as gracious as she seems, Sharpton was a riot, Edwards was as humble as he appears, Gephardt was kind, Kerry kind of aloof, and Leiberman was very personable.

No matter how Judy came across during the debate, all the CNN folks were great. They talked to us, stopped for pictures, cracked jokes, and helped make standing under the lights with the cameras on much more relaxed.

[GOPisEvil]

1. You lucky duck!!!!

Man, thats like attending the Super Bowl for political junkies! :-)

[Sal316]

9. I know!

There was no way I was letting this pass without getting in!

[fob]

2. That sounds like a great time.

I do find it sad though that you say Candy, Jeff and Judy were very nice and personable and all that and then say "No matter how Judy came across during the debate, all the CNN folks were great". It seems all the more reprehensible that they were all such whores in their questioning, IMO. Is their "nice" time fake or is their "whore" time fake? Either way I was pretty well disgusted with their performance.

[VermontDem2004]

5. I liked their peformance

They asked tough questions and when the candidate wouldn't address their point they would tell the candidate. I seen so many debates when a moderator would ask what is your plan for post war iraq, slashing the deficit, etc and they would go on bashing Bush. Yes we know Bush is horrible but why do you have a better plan then the other candidates?

[Sal316]

8. The questioning time was fake.

I truly believe that. I think what they were trying to do was to get ideas out and shy away from *-bashing, which isn't so much of a bad idea. Maybe the execution sucked?

[wryter2000]

3. Wow

You'll no doubt have a picture of yourself with the President of the United States soon!

[Sal316]

12. Yup!

I'm framing the program with my photos this weekend!

It's so totally cool!

[clar]

4. Thanks for

the fabulous report. Glad you had such a great time.

[VermontDem2004]

6. I wish I was there

:evilfrown:

[Sal316]

11. Are you on the Dem email list?

The YD's call for volunteers often. If not I can send you the add'y.

[VermontDem2004]

16. No, I'm not on the list

[Sal316]

19. I'll hook ya up!

:-)

[SiouxJ]

7. Wow Sal! That's so cool!

And I'm so jealous! I wanted to go to the debate so bad!

Thanks for the behind the scenes insight!

[Sal316]

10. Hi Sue!

It was wonderful. I wish you could have been there too. You would have loved it!

[SiouxJ]

15. I'm sure I would have

but I had a rough week. Was really gonna try to make it down there but I just couldn't do it.

:hi:

[prolesunited]

13. What an AMAZING experience

that sounds like!!! I can't wait for you to post some of the pictures. That program certainly is something to treasure.

Are you just helping Dems in general in your state or have you aligned yourself with a specific candidate?

Keep up the great work! :toast:

[Sal316]

14. I help dems in the state...

...but I generally support Dean.

I gotta admit, though, that Clark and Edwards are gaining on my own internal thought poll.

[prolesunited]

22. Edwards has impressed me as well

Maybe he can get the nod for VP. I have some reservations about Clark, but I'm ABB all the way!

[MaineDem]

17. Congratulations on an excellent report

Thanks for sharing that with us.

I'm glad you had this opportunity. I gather you're a young Democrat? You give me hope. Thanks. :)

[Sal316]

18. YD... almost... I'm 30.

But I know the YD's and I'm on their listserv...it's much easier to get involved through them since they're more vocal about opportunities like this.

[bleedingheart]

20. what was your opinion of Judy's behavior during the debate

Nice program by the way!!!

[Sal316]

21. She was very curt, but I knew what she was trying to do.

She was trying to get them to push issues more than * bash. We all know * sucks, but the biggest complaint from undecideds is the lack of discussion of ideas.

The first three were * bashing fests, it's time to start spouting ideas as well. We're only, what, 3 months from the first primaries? It's time to get the message out to the (I)'s and undecideds.