Thanks to the generous folks at Prairie State Blue (Illinois' official blog at the DNC), I was able to spend some time on the floor of the Pepsi Center for about an hour last
night, before most of the evening's hullaboo began. But that's not to
say my timing wasn't solid. Just as I found my seat amid the
Illinois delegation, a procession of state politicos -- Emil Jones, Lisa
Madigan, Alexi Giannoulias, Dan Hynes -- took the stage and shared their memories of working with Barack
Obama years ago.
Josh mentioned it in his roundup from the delegate breakfast yesterday, but it's pretty surreal to see so many Illinois pols in such close proximity to one another, especially amid the infighting in Springfield. At one point, Emil Jones sauntered up to Speaker Mike Madigan -- who was sitting with his wife directly in front of me -- and briefly talked White Sox baseball. The forced cordiality is part of any business, no doubt. But in other industries, the internal disputes aren't usually aired in the media, nor do they involve the tax dollars of millions. This sets up a dynamic that's both frustrating and hilarious to watch unfold in person.
It's also interesting to see people so devoted to the Democratic Party, a feeling that isn't entirely shared by the skeptical circle of lefty writers and activists with whom I generally interact. Of course, many delegates are critical of certain stances their party takes. But the pride they have in their elected officials and the love they have for politics is written all over their faces, and it's encouraging to see. I've certainly never observed so many middle-aged women, enthused by a Congressional speaker, juke uninhibitedly to a funk band.
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