Monday Night DNCC Wrap-up: Random Scenes From the Convention Floor (and Hall)

The spectacle of the Democratic National Committee Convention is fully appreciated only when stepping outside the televised podium events that millions watch from their living rooms.  Its true status as an "event" that draws media outlets from all over the world comes largely from the eclectic collection of political figures, media celebrities, behind the scenes players and assorted partisans who jam their way past one another through barely passable concourse walkways and convention floor paths.

It's in working one's way through those scenarios --which are not a part of the televised program-- that a DNCC attendee gets the full effect.  So, for better or worse, here are a few of the little vignettes, oddities and happenstances that luck allowed Fired Up contributors to witness while trolling the Pepsi Center on Monday evening...

The MO-VA Connection-- While pushing his way through a crushing throng of conventiongoers on the convention floor during Sen. McCaskill's speech, I ran face to face into Virginia Governor (and former veep shortlister) Tim Kaine, a Missouri native and graduate of KC's Rockhurst.  Noticing I recognized him, he gave a smile and I said "Hi Governor, I'm a proud Missourian."  To which he promptly retorted, with great satisfaction, "Go Mizzou."    --JM

Faux reporters everywhere-- Away from the floor and on the concourse, St. Louis City Democratic Chair Brian Wahby, in full seersucker convention regalia, happened across the Daily Show's correspondent Rob Riggle.  Riggle quickly engaged Wahby in a bit of man on the street stand-up interview, in classic Daily Show style.  Wahby, for his part, did yeoman's work in playing up the DNCC's "greenest convention ever" shtick.  Be sure to tune in to Comedy Central on Tuesday for what'll be must see TV, at least for StL Dems.    --SN

What's that guy doing here?-- Just inside one of the main Pepsi Center entrances this afternoon, GOP pollster and partial architect of Newt Gingrich's 1990's political messaging program Frank Luntz tottered in and accosted a DNCC staffer with a "congressional relations" (ahem) armband about credentials.  When the liaison asked Luntz for contact information, he reprehensible little man hollered to the young woman, apparently his assistant, who was following behind and implored her to act by yelling, simply, "business cards!" in a tone and at a volume plainly inappropriate to its use.  Not sure if Luntz got his desired credential, but he did get a Digiornio ("it's not delivery, it's Digiorno!") pizza, which I saw him eating while he was strolling the concourse by himself later on.    --SN

As seen on TV-- Got to chat in the hallway for a few moments with noted Democratic attorney and election recount expert Jack Young, from whom I had the good fortune of learning a bit while I was a law student.  The thing I most felt the need to catch up with him on was what he thought of his portrayal in the recent HBO movie "Recount."  He said he thought his portrayal was pretty good, but that they slipped up by making Warren Christopher seem to much like, well, a certain bodily orifice.  Not entirely fair in his view.    --JM

Funny Man/future Elected Official meets Elected Official/Funny Man-- Exiting the Pepsi Center at evening's end, Missouri House Minority Leader Paul Levota traded a few brief, friendly barbs with Minnesota Senate candidate and comedic genius Al Franken.  A fitting meeting, as Levota has quite the comic timing himself, based on reports from roasts of outgoing House Dems in recent years.    --JM

A good time was had by all.  Except Frank Luntz.