Star gazing at the convention

(AP Photo)

My first Blog was about the substance of the first night of the convention. But conventions are more than just a lot of speeches. Seeing old friends and colleagues is also a big reason to come. While the convention is conducting logistical business or during some of the more boring speeches, everyone lurks about the halls of the center with nothing to do but star gaze (Not to cast dispersions against any of last night's speakers).

While I was out star gazing, I bumped into many old friends from Congress including, John Lewis from Georgia (One of the original civil rights workers who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King and still bears the scars on his head from the police batons from Selma, Alabama); Rep John Spratt, Chairman of the Budget Committee; Former Vice President Walter Mondale; and I even spoke for a minute with the next vice President and my old skiing friend Senator Joe Biden. Also, Harry Smith, the news correspondent from Good Morning America came by the Utah Delegation and stayed around to chat and joke for 15 to 20 minutes. Of course everyone wanted a photo with him. He was amazed that there were so many Democrats in Utah. We explained that all of the Democrats in Utah were here at the Convention. More later