12:00–Everyone is gone, and so am I.
10:37–The absence of anyone in the AP workspace has allowed us to watch whatever we want on the huge HD TVs that surround the workspace. This means for the last two hours all I have heard is Obama’s droning voice about ‘change’ and Palin’s pregnant daughter. I guess the fact a hurricane just struck the gulf coast is a non-issue now.
8:37–I took a lap around the Xcel with my hastily and possibly subversively acquired credential. Not much was going on. At all. Biggest priorities for me at the moment is to find a camera to better explain some unusual happenings and track down John Oliver of the Daily Show. I think my life could be considered a success if I accomplished either one tonight.
7:08–Video of riot police preparing for the onslaught of the anarchists:
6:50–A colleague here just received a text from a buddy of his that is currently at Harriet Island in St. Paul. What started as a music festival has evidently turned into a bit of a protest. His friend can see snipers on the rooftops and more police are arriving by the minute.
5:56–The convention is starting to slow down, and the news has shifted to Sarah Palin’s daughter and Gustav.
5:34–Update on the gas masks: We have a cabinet full of them, and for a very good reason. I mentioned earlier that the protesters were out in force this morning and afternoon. I also mentioned how they were ‘crushed.’ They were crushed with tear gas–and AP photographers had to be in the middle of it to capture the moment. In the moment = gas masks.
5:04–Laura Bush and Cindy McCain just finished up the final portion of the convention today, mostly driving home the need for help in the gulf states.
4:44–There is a floor pass available to us. I will do my best to get out on the floor to provide an up-close look at what is going on inside, although after today’s events it sounds like the Xcel will clear out quick.
4:05–Today the protesters were out in force. While I still have no clue what they are protesting, I’m glad to see democracy in action. Here’s to hoping I don’t get a Molotov thrown at me. According to a few of my colleagues, the protesters main accomplishment today was flipping over a garbage can on the street. They were then crushed by riot police.
