How do you top last night?

But for now, I'm sitting in my hotel room, trying to contain my mounting excitement about tonight. When Barack came on stage last night - which was a total surprise to us on the floor, whatever you who could listen to media knew about it in advance - I thought it was absolutely stunning, but in the back of my head I was wondering, how does he top THIS? Well, I'm sure he will find a way.  

Tuesday on the floor:

Kucinch was the surprise of the day - throwing out the red meat like no speaker had up to that point. I don't know how a presuadable Republican or an Independent might have heard it, but for us, it was telling it like it is, and what we love to hear. We were on our feet and cheering, for the first of amny times. "Trillions for an unnecessary war, paid for by borrowed money. ... If there were an Olympics for mismanagement, this Administration would take the gold."

Barbara Boxer: "In the US Senate, 60 is the new 50" What a line!

Mary Landrieu: "In the three years since Katrina, the Federal government showed up not just late, but completely unprepared."

Debbie Stabenow: "Barack Obama will put American owrkers first. Let's elect Barack Obama, and get America working again."

Maria Cantwell: "We know it is time for a President who will make energy independence a priority."

Ed Rendell: "Exxon Mobil just announced the largest quarterly profit in the history of the world. John McCain does not believe in alternative energy, and will not make it a part of his program. The only thing he will recycle is the same failed policies of the Bush Administration."

Robin Golden, from Grand Rapids, UAW member: "All the members of my local will be unemployed. I'm losing not just my job, but my union family. I've worked hard for my entire life. ... I want a President who works for the middle class."

Federico Pena: "America is on a liquid leash. ... We must take back our own energy destiny."

Robert Casey Jr.: "McCain votes with Bush over 90% of the time. That's not a maverick - that's a sidekick! Now they're asking for four more years. How about four more months?"

Mark Warner: "In just four months we will have an Administration that actually believes in science!"

Mark Warner's keynote was not one of the better speeches of the evening. It was adequate and workmanlike, but then consider what he was up against, being followed by Hillary.

Some of the lines become a little over-used from our point of view on the floor, too obviously talking points, or sound bites. Perhaps they seem the same if you are listening to all the speeches on C-SPAN. We have to realize that we are not the target audience, but rather the casual viewer who tunes in for a speech or two.

Then there was Hillary. What can I say - she knocked it out of the park. It was a perfect speech. You all heard it, and I have nothing further to add.

But I have to say - I am in the middle of the fishbowl, not seeing or reading much news, but from what I gather the mainstream media have played up the PUMA (Party Unity my Ass) angle, of discontented Hillary loyalists ready to desert in droves. At least until the roll call yesterday afternoon. Of course, media like to play up conflict, it makes for drama and sells newspapers.

Let me tell you this - they have had to look very hard for those few remaining unreconciled Hillaryites. I've talked with a bunch of Hillary delegates, both within the Michigan delegation and without, and have yet to talk with a single one.

This party is unified. There is no doubt of that. We are fired up and ready to go!

OK - that was just catching up with Tuesday (sigh).

The other thing that was interesting from Tuesday - guess who I walked through security with? Mitt Romney! Yes, the Mittster graced us with his presence - why, I have no idea.

All through Tuesday's session, I sat next to Carl Levin and his wife. I got to talk with him abot this blog, and invite him to post here when he gets a chance.

The party afterward was at the Tavern Uptown, hosted by Gov. Granholm. I got a great button from Liberal Lucy, which has gotten a lot of comment since - "Ask me how many houses I own." - with the McCain logo on top. Fun stuff!
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Wed. delegation breakfast:

Buzz Thomas: "25% of houses in my neighborhood are foreclosed. There is a penalty for selling a house for less than the outstanding mortgage balance - the IRS treats the difference between the sale price and the mortgage balance as INCOME - and taxes it - even though you do not actually have those dollars. Debbie Stabenow is working hard to fix this issue."

Joel Ferguson: "Debbie (Stabenow) got her start in politics with me - I was running for mayor of Lansing, she was carrying her first child, and she was in charge of my yard signs!"
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Wed. on the floor:

Harry Reid: "The last 100 years have been a toxoc mix of oil and war. There is an answer - but only if someone has the vision to lead us out of these troubled waters. We have been offered snake-oil as a remedy forthese problems, and our question should be, is it safe and effective?"

Command Sgt Major Michele Jones: "I have 25 years as a non-commissioned officer in the greatest army in the world. Senator Obama understands the threats we face, and cares for the troops who will be under his command."

Rep. Murphy, PA: "We've had a President who rushed to have soldiers in front of a photo-op, but abandons them in Walter Reed."

OK, out of time, and not done with writing about last night, let alone posting pictures, sound clips, or video. Sigh. Will try to add more later, but it may have to wait till I get home, realistically. There is no room for a laptop on the floor, even if I could get a signal.

One last quip - "The GOP has run out of ideas. It used to be the Grand Old Party, now it's just ... old."