02:50
Citizen Kate: Big Media = Tent City
Citizen Kate tries to fit in with the “Big Media” at the Democratic National Convention, but some big time reporters from The Daily Show call her bluff. What a lot of people didn’t see on CNN, CSPAN or Fox News at the Democratic National Convention is the large number of tents surrounding the Pepsi Center. These tents were set up primarily for the “big media”. I wanted to see how the other half lives, so I ventured off to the Big Media Tent City in search of free swag and to fit in. I found the Daily Show RV and thought that Jon Stewart was sleeping there. Unfortunately, they were too big time for this citizen journalist. I did find free oxygen. Why would anyone ever pay for oxygen? Shouldn’t it always be free. I spent time with a journalist form ABC News. He said that I should check out “tent city”. But he was referring to the blogger’s Big Tent. Note to self: Big media don’t always get the big perks in politics, but they do get access to the inside.
Citizen Kate begs, borrows and steals day passes to Invesco Park the day of Barack’s big acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, and she has a dream to meet Obama. I did it. I got big media passes to Invesco park. Finally, I’ve made it. Okay. So it’s just for the afternoon, but I’m sure that I’m going to meet Barack Obama. I was empowered by my yoga sharma in the Huffington Oasis of The Big Tent to attract what I need to actually make this happen. She told me breath and envision it. I can see it now. Obama and me talking. I hung out at the tunnel where he’s sure to enter. I found Tom Brokaw, Al Gore, and descendants of Martin Luther King. If only they’ll tell me where I can find Obama... Note to self: You can have a dream in politics, but without the support of others, it will go nowhere.
Citizen Kate scores tickets to watch Barack speak the final night at the Democratic National Convention, and she hunts to fulfill her dream to "find Obama". I can't believe it! Thanks to my good friends at First Data, one of the sponsors of both the Democratic and Republican Conventions, I got tickets to enjoy the inside of Invesco park. I was there earlier today scouting out all the possible locations where I might run into Barack. This is it. This is the moment that I've been waiting for. I'm going to meet Barack. I can feel it. I even ran into General Wesley Clark. And he thinks that I have what it takes...some day. Note to self: If you ask and believe, you will receive. Maybe. It seems there are a lot of "secrets" in politics.
August 28, 2008 -- Citizen Kate protests with anarchists at the Democratic National Convention and uncovers what it's like to live in a police state. I ran into a group of peaceful protesters in the park near the Denver capital at the Democratic National Convention. We are political prisoners in a police state and we need to vote for the next great leader to help change that. The protesters voiced their opinion of the candidates and the true needs of our world. I realized that politics is not about the glitz or the glamour. It's about the people. Note to self: If you don't like the choices for president, you can write in none of the above.
02:32
Exclusive Ralph Nader Interview at the DNC
August 27, 2008 -- Citizen Kate gets an exclusive DNC interview with Ralph Nader, and finds out the key to independent presidential success -- Alternative Media. On the third day of the Democratic National Convention, I had the interview that none of the other major media was capturing. I met up with Ralph Nader moments before his big speech. He informed me that the Democratic Party and the Republicans are selling out America. I like sales, but would rather pay full price for quality goods. And corporations are really buying government. I also discovered that alternative media (like me) plays a key role in helping any presidential nominee. Especially the independent guys. I guess I should really think about who I vote for. Note to self: Presidential candidates and politicians needs Alternative Media too.
02:10
Citizen Kate: The War on Keith
17 year old Keith Smith, a practicing Buddhist from Menomonee Wisconsin, had been beaten up by the RNC riot police and then released without medical attention. His story made me want to find out more. There was so little coverage of the daily protesting at the RNC, that we felt like his story needed to be told.
04:03
Citizen Kate: Stars and Stripes and Mace
Dateline - St. Paul, the Republican National Convention. I found myself in the middle of a riot - and it turns out that fashion sense was what saved me from being clobbered, although I may not have worn the right shoes. It turns out that the delegates were bussed from their hotels to fully gated area of the Invesco Center, so they had no idea of the scope of these daily protests or that kids were being beaten up. We were never sure of what for since we didn't ever see anyone do anything but react to the police. There was so little main stream media coverage of the daily protests outside the RNC that I felt an actual bit of journalistic pride for reporting this.
August 27th, 2008 - Citizen Kate discovered more unity that segragation at the Democratic National Convention after watching Hillary Clinton speak and cast her deciding vote. I can't believe it. Hillary Clinton did it. She united the party and cast her historic vote to elect Barack Obama. Note to self: We have to hug it out and come together.
Citizen Kate at the Lifetime Every Woman Counts Party for Republican Chicks. They're a go go for Sarah Palin. Cheney's party planner and scheduler tells us he's not the Darth Vader we all think he is.
August 25, 2008 - Citizen Kate discovers during an interview with Arianna Huffington and her Michelle Obama moment at the DNC that every great leading lady has her own style and failure is simply a stepping stone. My first day at the Democratic National Convention was amazing. I went to 2008 Future Frontrunner event sponsored by Lifetime, CosmoGirl and Declare Yourself. They had so many amazing female leaders from politics speaking candidly and giving direction to young women to help shape the next generation of female great leaders. I actually had the opportunity to meet up with Arianna Huffington, the founder of the Huffington Post, and truly inspirational speaker. I finished the night attending Michelle Obama's speech. The 2008 Democratic National Convention is all about female power, for today, at least. Note to self: Every female leader has her own style. Find yours and embrace it.
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