Where the Elephants Roam

With only one day (praise Jesus!) left in the convention, I guess I should post some pictures of our RNC workspace.

They really rolled out the red ($360) carpet for us here.

This time, instead of working in a freezing tent, we're in a freezing gymnasium. Also, the overhead lights have gone from non-existent, to interrogation-bright. I believe I've lost all sense of time.

Here's a handy map of the Xcel Center complex. It's not handy at all because the complex is actually more of a giant maze and not one of the 4,000 volunteers wondering around here have any idea where anything is.

A view of a another gymnasium-type workspace adjacent to ours. The random car down there is some sort of promotional thing. The journalists walking by it can barely afford bikes, so I'm not sure it was the most brilliant marketing strategy.

The convention floor. This is the view from the press stand.

Tomorrow, all of these balloons will fall on John McCain's head.

And, finally: proof that I'm actually here (and that St. Paul is windy).

The Fourth Estate

And now, an exclusive look at our glamourous Denver convention workspace:


This is our very organized filing area. It's quite dark and cave-like at night. The DNC's overhead lighting scheme is lacking in the tents. One of our correspondents scored a Michelle banner from the convention floor.

Workspace dividers, not uniters. (Also note the trash bins. The DNC is pushing everyone to sort their trash. They've actually got people stationed in front of them during the day. Earlier, a nice volunteer and I had a lengthy discussion on which bin my Starbucks cup should go in.)

And, finally: the fortress of solitude. That cube on the left is our competitor's workspace. They threw down some major cash for the walls. We'll have them in Minneapolis, so they can suck it.