Ever been to a Democratic convention?

[Shanty Oilish]

How was it?

[RichM]

1. Yes. I went to Atlantic City in 1964. It was pretty thrilling.

I was a teenager; there were all sorts of celebrities walking around on the Boardwalk right outside Convention Hall. I saw Paul Newman, Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul & Mary), from just a few feet away. I saw all the big shots, like Humphrey & Johnson, inside the Hall on the stage. There was a dramatic prayer & moment of silence for JFK, who had been slain about 9 months earlier. One of the Kennedy family women was there, too -- I can't remember which one. Maybe Ethel? But for a teenager, this was all thrilling stuff.

Outside the Hall was the Boardwalk and beach; atop one of the piers jutting out into the ocean was a huge billboard on which the Republicans had put up a huge image of Goldwater with the caption, "In your heart, you know he's right." Some graffiti had been added just underneath that; it said -- "Yes, FAR right!"

[polmaven]

2. Not to a National Convention

but I am a delegate to the Massachusetts state convention every year. Parts are a lot of fun, some other parts can be mind numbingly boring.

When the speaker is Ted, it is wonderful...the man still, after all these years, has the ability to whip a crowd of Democrats into a frenzy when he speaks!

Being in a room filled with 5,000 people who all think basically the same way you do can be very invigorating.

I am certainly going to do my level best to be at the Fleet Center in Boston next July, though! I can't wait.

[dofus]

3. Closest I've come

is a county convention (Colorado, 1988). My current goal in life is to go to a Democratic convention.

I've been invited to go to the nominating convention in Michigan next year to see a relative who's on the supreme court of the state be re-nominated. That should be interesting.

[jburton]

4. A state one, yes

Texas convention summer of last year.

Mostly a blast! If you are on certain committees (platform comes to mind) it can be very tedious. But most people that are on such committees are there because they love it. So, whatever mows your lawn.

Just think of being around thousands of people who take their politics like you do.

Also, the usual suspects protesting outside: holding pictures of "dead babies", the world coming to an end, etc.

The only bad thing was logistical. I got one of the official hotels for the convention, but I had to take a shuttle to get to it. The wait for these was insane. Looking back I woulda coughed up the extra money to stay closer.

[bleedingheart]

5. never but the chair of my county committee

wants me to run as a delegate ...I just may