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DNC on and off the street

Contributed by: Donna Feldman on 8/27/2008

Lacking a Pepsi Center pass, I took to the streets of downtown Denver to check out the DNC. Most noticeable feature now: the SWAT guys. Everywhere. On foot, on horses, on bicycles, hanging off white SUVs, lounging along the sidewalks taking photos of each other with their cell phones. They strike macho poses for tourist photos.

As one overloaded SUV cruised the Mall behind a shuttle, the bus passengers hopped off at each stop to snap photos of the SWAT guys following them. Strangely few SWAT guys at the famous Tent City protest zone. In fact few people. Some old hippies. Some young ones. Mostly deserted. But the walk there is pleasant. The giant concrete flower planters in LoDo are in spectacular bloom. Closer to the Mall, a raised stage with broadcast equipment is set up. Some Talking Heads in suits are going at it on stage, and protestors and gawkers are crowded around below, yelling things and cheering for each other.

A sign proclaims "Democratic tax plan - Punish Success, Reward Failure". Back in the thick of things, a Hummer drives by, with "Nobama" signs and someone shouting pro-Hillary slogans from a loud speaker. A young man tries, with no success, to pass out free tickets to see Ralph Nader. Finally some excitement: someone with a loudspeaker is ranting about Jesus alongside a giant black sign: "Homo Sex is a Threat to National Security". People around him are shouting, and hundreds of spectators are snapping photos. It's hard to tell if the shouters are for, or against, the Homo Sex issue. But whichever, there are 2 dozen SWAT guys watching from a few yards away, ready to pounce if necessary.

Another block, another protest. Since this one is blocking the sidewalk, I take notes: "9-11 Was An Inside Job" says the sign. People are yelling here, too. Something about "We Want Che". How would he help? A young woman nearby is trying to sell Power Naps. There's a complimentary massage with each purchase. I resist, needing iced coffee and water instead. The 9-11 people move on, followed by a very thin blond in a blue dress, waving a sign and chanting "Clean coal is an oxymoron".

It's late afternoon and the sidewalk restaurant tables are packed. Some large women stare at the remains of their cheeseburgers, fries and Cokes. Most of the tables are loaded with drink glasses in various stages of emptiness. In addition to burgers, people are eating pizza, hot dogs and - OMG - fried chicken. I thought that was banned by the politically correct DNC Food Police. Wandering towards the Pepsi Center, I encounter the security checkpoint blocks away.

My resident news reporter, who can get in, reports that the events inside are extremely on-time and extremely staged. Volunteers run up and down the floor, handing out the signs-of-the-moment - "Change we can believe in", "Michelle", "Kennedy" - and instructing people when to wave them and when to stop waving. When Obama appears on a giant screen, delegates go into swoons of cultish devotion. The creepy effect is heightened by the fact that he's on a giant screen, kind of like seeing the Wizard in Oz. Didn't his handlers realize that?

I duck into Wahoos in LoDo, mostly deserted. Where are the customers? The Rio Grande next door is full. Someone jokes that Noo Yawkahs are terrified by the "fish taco" idea. Maybe also by the posters of gnarly snowboarders. On TV, the AFL-CIO president is speaking, flanked by a few very large union members. I can't hear him, but wonder if he's complaining about health care costs for union members. Apparently Dennis Kucinich was complaining that pharmaceutical companies have taken control of drug prices. Much as Wahoo's has taken control of fish taco prices. Or Toyota has taken control of Prius prices. Or Apple has taken control of iPod prices. Or Southwest has taken control of its ticket prices. Or that lady down the mall has taken control of Power Nap prices. If you don't like the price, don't buy the product.

Back on the street, I check out one of the bike rental stations. There are 1000 bikes available, and Denver Hike and Bike is proud to display a digital sign, detailing how many people have rented bikes, how many miles they've gone and how many calories they've burned. I feel sorry for the delegates and reporters, packed into the Pepsi Center now. An evening bike ride down the Cherry Creek bike path sounds like a much nicer way to spend the evening.

But time to head north. Waiting in line at the bus station, a final DNC image: an elderly woman in line, with several tote bags and a straw hat with giant Hillary buttons, is taking photos - of the bus schedule display and the RTD ticket machines.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Donna Feldman

Louisville , CO

Donna Feldman has posted 133 stories and 1 comment since joining on 9/14/2005. Donna Feldman 's average story rating is 4.91.
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