Live from DNC: ‘Ask Charlie Anything’
Colorado native Charlie Martin continues his Denver diary and takes questions from readers. Latest: Charlie serves as Michelle Malkin's impromptu bodyguard...
Aug. 26, 01:22 am
Finally made it home. Considering that I left downtown Denver at 9:45 for a 45 minute trip, I think you can deduce that the mass transit system is not coping at all well with the convention.
This is just a quick tease, and I don’t know whether it will show up as my last post on Monday (anyone still awake in the office?) or my first on Tuesday, but I can tell you it turned out to be a more exciting afternoon than I expected. I met Michelle Malkin, and ended up being an impromptu bodyguard while a nut case named Alex Jones (look him up yourself, I won’t dignify him with a link, even to his Wikipedia page) tried to incite his minions to assault her.
Let me be real clear: this paragon of nobility — who is about 5′ 8″ and 270 pounds — was screaming abuse in Michelle’s face while trying to incite his henchmen to physically punish her for what he felt were improper ideas. When I interposed myself, he tried shoving me around and delivered at least one blow to my back.
And yes, there is video.
It took a while, but I’ve started to get angry. Not so much at this clown trying to push me around — I don’t push around real easily, and frankly when it takes most of a day before I figure out I should be angry I mostly don’t notice when someone does try — but at this imitation of masculinity threatening a 95 pound woman and needing a mob to do it. And even more so that a dozen mounted police and a half dozen on foot didn’t interfere with it as he did so, leaving it to a couple of civilians to protect her.
We’ll see what the video shows after I cut my feet out of my poorly-chosen shoes and get some rest, but I’m going to be very curious to catch up with the Mayor tomorrow and ask him if that’s the policy he encourages the police to apply.
Oh, and this is not the “world’s most boring riot” that Michelle referred to — that was later.
And so to bed.
1:15 pm PST
So, just some quick updates. I went to the press conference with Silver Salazar, Carly Fiorina — well, I’ll just give you the list as it came in the press release:
RNC Victory Chairman Carly Fiorina, Colorado Democrats for McCain Chairman Silver Salazar, Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Penny (MN-01), Wisconsin Hillary Clinton delegate Debra Bartoshevich, and Women for Fair Politics organizer Cynthia Ruccia will host a “Citizens for McCain” press conference today during the Democratic National Convention to discuss why many Independent and Democratic voters are supporting John McCain’s positive vision for America.
It was my first press conference as press, which may not sound like that big a deal but when you get to my age the first times come less often than they used to. In any case, it was interesting; I met Silver in person after he was interviewed in Spanish by a Spanish TV net. (He seemed a little surprised that I’d understood; I was just glad I wasn’t being interviewed in Spanish.) Seems like a great guy, and I hope to catch up with him sometime again.
Also met Carly, who was pleasant but harried. I suspect that, however hysterical this seems to me, it’s got to be a thousand times worse for her.
Annoyingly, I realized that I have seen lots of Republicans so far, but haven’t talked with any Democrats. Emailed Roger and the editors for some contacts, and got a couple of good suggestions for contacts, and a request from Roger. You’ll see the outcome of those soon.
I will say the urge to answer “Wilco, Roger,” is almost irresistible.
* * *
Okay, before I bolt back to the convention, let me catch my first couple of “Ask Charlie Anything” questions.
John from Portland asks: “This may sound like an ‘I-came-to-the-car-race-to-see-a-crash’ type question but, have you seen any altercations between Hillary and Obama supports so far? Are Hillary supporters wearing Hill buttons/hats/t-shirts? I’m curious about the level of civility.”
If you’ve been watching the TV coverage, I’m sure you’ve been seeing that this is the big story today. Clearly (see below) the McCain campaign thinks this is a great idea.
I’ll tell you what I’m seeing. There are plenty of people wearing Hillary paraphernalia, and plenty of people selling stuff, including some of the traditional goofy hats. (One selling a sort of blue Hillary cheese-head; I wish I’d have gotten a picture.)
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Charlie Martin is a Colorado computer scientist and nearly-successful screenwriter who contributes to the Flares Into Darkness political blog as ‘Seneca the Younger,’ and blogs under his own name at the aggressively non-political Explorations blog.
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37 Comments
1. Fortunalee:I couldn’t help but laugh at Wolf Blitzer’s reaction to the tornado and his tremulous reporting that there was nothing to worry about. He didn’t believe a word he was saying, and he was scared spitless!
Aug 25, 2008 - 3:45 am 2. rawdawgbuffalo:well it should be interesting, i mean 2 nights of the Clinton klan and folk from MICH and FLA
Aug 25, 2008 - 6:22 am 3. rebecca:so…are there enough bathrooms out there?
Aug 25, 2008 - 6:40 am 4. They’re heeeear | Explorations:[...] day of of my PJM Convention [...]
Aug 25, 2008 - 7:05 am 5. Chuck Pelto:TO: Charlie (Colorado)
RE: Silver
He showed up at the Pueblo County Republican Party Central Committee meeting last month. Wanted to get together a bunch of fellow Democrats to be on a float in the State Fair parade. The group would hold up a banner stating, Democrats for McCain.
From his speaking, he struck me as intelligent, articulate and not one to ‘follow-the-crowd’. But I’d expect that of military vets.
Additionally, he was there with other Democrats and former Democrats, the latter had recently changed their registration from Democrat to Republican. Obama was the reason they all stated for their presence.
The implication is that the Democrats have swung entirely too far to the ‘Progressive’ side of the Left.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Progressive is a one-word oxymoron.]
P.S. Have fun at the convention. Be sure to have your camcorder capable cell phone handy. You might get some interesting shots….one form or another….
P.P.S. Be careful, compadre.
Aug 25, 2008 - 7:57 am 6. Charlie (Colorado):Chuck, thanks. We’ve got a whole video crew here, there should be plenty of amusing antics. I think you’re entirely right on Silver’s position: I think he’s a Jack Kennedy Democrat. That is, pro-defense, more or less pro-business, patriotic, socially conservative. (Okay, Jack was only socially conservative outwardly, but you know what I mean.) The thing about that is that someone who really believes what Jack Kennedy believed — as opposed to Jackie, and Teddy, and Sorenson’s carefully-crafted “Camelot” mythology — would be a Republican today, and maybe a touch to the right of McCain.
Aug 25, 2008 - 8:08 am 7. Chuck Pelto:TO: rebecca
RE: Enough Toilets?
If there aren’t, whoever needs to go can invoke the new Colorado State Statute, signed last May by Governor Ritter, allowing them to go into any public toilet facility they want.
See THIS…..
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. Hmmmm….
….Charlie….
…what was I saying about keeping the camcorder cell phone handy?
Aug 25, 2008 - 8:31 am 8. Bill Perron:How many Democrats does it take to put in a light bulb? ….. None, they are not interested in ever seeing the light !
Aug 25, 2008 - 8:38 am 9. Jen in VA:Chuck, I just read the post you linked to about the “non-gender-specific” restroom regulations. Dear Lord in Heaven. What’s happened to my state?!?
Sincerely,
former-resident-but-still-native-Coloradan Jen
Aug 25, 2008 - 9:21 am 10. Chuck Pelto:TO: Jen in VA
RE: Wha Happ’nd
The Democrats took over the legislature AND the governor’s mansion.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 25, 2008 - 9:42 am 11. heather:P.S. That’s not the worst of it. But, that’s a different topic for a different venue, and relates to SCOTUS Reynolds v. Simms (1964).
In cruising Blogdom, I have come across your remarks for years, Charlie (Colorado). Congratulations on your gig!
I’ve been concerned that I won’t know what’s going on at the Dem Convention, but PajamasMedia will be all I need, apart from YouTube videos showing someone hitting someone else with a chair…
Aug 25, 2008 - 9:57 am 12. Bruce E. Hayden:There actually are tornadoes in Denver, no matter how rare. Somewhere in the early 1990s, I was working at I-25 and Colorado, and all the guys in the office watched one come through about a mile south. We were on the 11th floor with full length plate glass windows. All the women, of course, were in the basement. But mostly the mountains protect the front range, with I-25 seeming to be the cut-off.
Spent most of my life in CO. Born in Denver, and raised in the western suburbs. So, I am somewhat missing the spectacle going on right now.
Good luck.
Aug 25, 2008 - 11:30 am 13. Chuck Pelto:TO: Bruce E. Hayden
RE: [OT] Tornadoes
Saw one myself, to the southeast of Inverness when I was working for USWest in their USWest Direct headquarters.
Looked out the office window from the 6th floor and saw it form and kick up a schlew of dust and said [in a loud voice], “Tornado on the ground! Southeast! Two miles!” Heads came up out of ‘prairie-dog town’ and swiveled to look out the windows.
It didn’t last more than one minute before it dissipated.
Denver’s a screwy place, weather-wise. You can have all four seasons in 12 hours. Heck. One of the worst snow storms occurred on the last day of Summer, for cry’n out loud.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 25, 2008 - 1:11 pm 14. David Thomson:[If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes. -- Colorado Front Range weather axiom.]
I hope that you continuously ask the Democrats about drilling for more oil. This is the question that they would like to avoid. Thankfully, though, it probably won’t get you kicked out of the convention.
Aug 25, 2008 - 1:37 pm 15. Chuck Pelto:TO: All
RE: Hey!
Can we call the Democratic ticket….
Obama bin Biden?
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 25, 2008 - 6:17 pm 16. M. Simon:[A pun is the lowest form of humor -- when you don't think of it first. -- Oscar Levant]
Chuck,
Wrong Oscar, It was Wilde.
However, Levant when asked by Johnny Carson, “What do you think about pornography?” Levant replied, “It helps.”
Aug 26, 2008 - 3:51 am 17. David Thomson:“Obama bin Biden?”
Here is a better joke:
What do Obama and Osama have in common?
Both of them have terrorist friends who bombed the Pentagon.
Alas, this joke will get Charlie kicked out of the convention—even though it is literally true!
Aug 26, 2008 - 4:55 am 18. Chuck Pelto:TO: M. Simon
RE: Quote Attribution
Thanks for the correction.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 26, 2008 - 7:15 am 19. Chuck Pelto:TO: Charlie (Colorado)
RE: What….
“Charlie (Colorado) got an elbow in the kidney.” — Stephen Green
….did I warn you about? Ya hooligan, ya.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 26, 2008 - 7:19 am 20. Charlie (Colorado):P.S. Next time, wear a baggie outer garment and a biker’s kidney belt.
P.S. Next time, wear a baggie outer garment and a biker’s kidney belt.
I apparently didn’t need one — it was right after blindsiding me that Alex started shrieking about not touching him. My kidney region was apparently harder than his elbow.
Do catch the video: absent the clown shouting “Kill Michelle Malkin” it would have been pretty funny, in the “leather lunged castrato needs a mob to threaten 95 pound woman” sort of way.
Aug 26, 2008 - 7:44 am 21. NukemHill:Good on ya for watching over Michelle. Though I don’t always agree with her, her’s is a voice worth hearing. The fact that she’s getting the reaction she is from the Left indicates she’s hitting her targets.
Aug 26, 2008 - 8:25 am 22. CR:I watched several videos, Alex Jones was exposing Michelle Malkin for the war criminal that she is, advocating for FEMA camps and child torture on FOX news. This is the issue not anything else. Please be aware people, COINTELPRO will try blur the issue here and in other forums. In the video, the guy with the goofy hat was a provocateur.
Aug 26, 2008 - 8:40 am 23. Charlie (Colorado):I watched several videos, Alex Jones was exposing Michelle Malkin for the war criminal that she is, advocating for FEMA camps and child torture on FOX news. This is the issue not anything else. Please be aware people, COINTELPRO will try blur the issue here and in other forums. In the video, the guy with the goofy hat was a provocateur.
CR, honey, I don’t care who was the provocateur; Alex was the one with the mob, and I’m the one who was assaulted by Alex. And Michelle is a 95 pound woman who he couldn’t even get up the courage to assult directly without a mob of supporters to help. That is not the way we do things here.
So, not to be too subtle about it, bugger off.
Aug 26, 2008 - 9:06 am 24. rocketeer:CR – Are you nuts or do you really believe the drivel you just wrote? Do you know what a war criminal is? FEMA camps and child torture? You are the perfect example of why no-one takes you people seriously. You just throw out the names and expect everyone to wet themselves because of it. If you disagree with Michelle, that’s fine, you’re entitled to, but to advocate physically harming her because of it is inexcusable, and that’s where the left crosses the line.
Aug 26, 2008 - 9:06 am 25. Charlie (Colorado):It is amusing to hear someone rant about COINTELPRO again, though. Another 60’s flashback.
Aug 26, 2008 - 10:40 am 26. George Seaton:Just hoping Charley Martin’s “bodyguarding” of Michelle Malkin was an act of chivalry, rather than an affirmation of her particular skewed view of the world. She and Alex Jones are both, ahem, nutcases of the first order. Thank you, Charley, for interposing your hulk between the wee lass and the crazies. But, of course, your smile into the camera belied the potential seriousness of the encounter. But, then, the event was the levitation of the U.S. Mint which, in itself, probably begs a likening to the theater of the absurd, i.e. National Political Conventions.
Aug 26, 2008 - 11:08 am 27. Charlie (Colorado):George, I like Michelle personally quite a lot. That doesn’t keep me from yelling at the TV sometimes when she’s on. But nobody should be doing that in a civilized place. Or even Denver duiring the Convention.
Aug 26, 2008 - 11:32 am 28. nick:the GOP put up such bad candidates
is why DEMs took state house and governor.
i dont hide like you cowardly GOP
Aug 26, 2008 - 12:00 pm 29. Charlie (Colorado):my email is nwerle@yahoo.com
Nick, I don’t disagree with you about the election, but why do you think I’m hiding? You know my real name and my blogs.
Aug 26, 2008 - 12:12 pm 30. Pajamas Media » Live From the DNC: Eyewitness to Mayhem (Day 2):[...] Read Day 1 of Charlie’s diary here. [...]
Aug 26, 2008 - 12:57 pm 31. Chuck Pelto:TO: Charlie (Colorado)
RE: Is That You…
…in the black, red and white t-shirt? Couldn’t make out what it said.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 26, 2008 - 1:05 pm 32. Chuck Pelto:P.S. No wonder we have so much fun in discussions, we look like twins separated at birth. Including the beard.
TO: nick
RE: Cowardly?
“i dont hide like you cowardly GOP” — nick
Click on my name, buckie.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Aug 26, 2008 - 1:10 pm 33. Deranged Man Boobage | Democrat=Socialist:P.S. How much time have YOU done in the infantry? Airborne? Ranger? Or gutless wonder?
[...] UPDATE: The Darth Vadar t-shirt wearing hero that kept the “man boobed freak” at bay. Charlie Martin [...]
Aug 26, 2008 - 6:52 pm 34. Javelin:Wow, Wolf was hyping a tornado, while Charlie singlehandedly fought off a bloodthirsty crowd. Such drama.
Aug 26, 2008 - 11:15 pm 35. odrady:Charlie-
Call Mike Rosen about the Malkin story; he’s buddy-buddy with Hickenlooper
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:42 am 36. theropingeffect:Video footage suggests otherwise. Are you the guy in the green shirt shouting “Kill Michelle Malkin”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-DoxqvqjxM
Aug 28, 2008 - 4:10 am 37. david:you ate all the pies, you ate all the pies!
Sep 4, 2008 - 1:13 am