When "the bug" and I decided to attend YearlyKos way back last February, we honestly had no idea it would become what it did.  The Democratic event of the year.  At that time it was an event being held on the West Coast....finally....and a great place to promote and discuss General Wes and WesPAC.  I've always felt those on the left of the spectrum were in need of our (Clarkies) attention and that we need them to come with us.  So.....that is what our mission was.  Of course, when Wes decided to attend it was without a doubt the cherry on top.  As we all know, once they are in his presence they are hooked.

As the workshops (and there were some terrific ones) took shape and the speakers were lined up we could see this was going the be HUGE.  But huge in that it was uniting the netroots with the powers that be in the party.  In my view, neither side can succeed alone in what we absolutely must do.  We need each other.  We must bring it together for the common good and for the good of this country.  YK was the beginning and I for one am grateful to Markos for that.

Thursday

"the bug" and I wanted to do some catching up so we eased into the convention gently.  We registered and cased the joint, decided to do a little sightseeing along The Strip then attend the kickoff event with Markos' speech that evening.  Between the monorail, taxis and our own four feet we made our way down The Strip passing out donjo's cards and leaving them in the most strategic places.  We oohed and awwed, made our wagers on who would win the Superbowl this year (no...no World Series wager....just couldn't get a feel on that one and knew it darn well wouldn't be the M's), did some shopping and made our way back to the Riviera.  Let me say....nothing is as close as it looks on maps or otherwise.  Whew!

While we were resting up a bit for the evening, ICB called about the tickets for Wes' event at the Hard Rock Casino.  We dashed down and found ICB, Holly and her precious Mark.  Erick showed up with the tickets and gave us all a batch to hand out at the evening event.

Markos' speech was terrific.  He did speak about bringing the netroots and the establishment of the party together and how we need to put some of our one issue thought aside and pull together on what we agree on (which I have heard Wes discuss).  I was pleased about this.  Afterwards we began handing out the tickets for General Wes' party.  The reaction was positive.  So excited was I about handing them out and that not one person turned them down, when I met back up with the others, I had forgotten to keep one for myself.  LOL!  Good thing ICB had me covered.

"the bug" and I set out for a taxi to the Hard Rock.  OMG!  The line was so long....we just knew we'd be late or miss the whole thing entirely.  A loooong stretch limo was parked at the curb and they said they could take 10 or 11 of us for 55 bucks.  "the bug", myself and 9 others said "we're in".  One of the others was McJoan from Kos.  We talked about Wes, handed out donjo's cards and all had a big laugh about being seen arriving by some of the less friendly press and being referred to as "limosine liberals" in the papers tomorrow.  Ha!  While we waited in line for the elevator at the Hard Rock.....we handed out the rest of the donjo cards we had on us.

My modus operandi at these types of affairs is to watch from the "back row".  You can learn an awful lot by observing from the back.....and I like it that way.  Talked to lots of people there and asked them what they thought after meeting General Wes and even helped explain some of Wes' positions on issues as best I could, exchanged some emails and directed everyone I talked to here to CCN.  The response was extremely positive.  Intrigued was the word which came to mind.  The Kossacks were intrigued by our General.  I thought Wes had left.  While talking to a gentleman who was interested in Wes' thoughts on the Space Program...NASA and stuff....which I thought interesting....never heard that one before....go figure, we turned around and there was General Wes.  He and I exchanged a warm handshake, a light greeting and he thanked me for wearing his (ICB's) button.  Simple....spontaneous.....perfect.

Friday

Attended some of the science panel (exhausted), but something came up I needed to attend to.  Rats!  But did get to see and hear all of Wes.  He was superb!  Was back for Barbara Boxer's speech.  She is a pistol.  Love her!  I must say, here at this point, the people who stand to ask a question and launch into these diatribes, blah, blah, blah, make me nuts.  Just ask the bloody question, I say.  Bab's isn't too fond of it either and asked them not to and pushed them along.  Bravo!  She really does get up on a little box too behind the podium when she speaks.  Haha.  She's priceless.

OK...the Warner party....etc.  I heard (as I was computerless down there) there was quite a bit of discussion about this on all the blogs and elsewhere...so here's my take.

I found the Warner participation, as a whole, to be curious and somewhat offensive.  It wasn't the one thing, but all of them put together.  First off when we registered and received our nifty YearlyKos bags, attached was the ticket for the Warner affair.  It was about 10 inches long and 3 inches wide laminated with his pic at the top and in lovely script the invitation to the "gala reception" to be worn around our necks to the affair.  The word ostentatious came to mind.  Also, why is this attached to the Kos bag?  Well, I have to say....I wasn't going to go.  Wasn't interested in being wined and dined by....well...you get the picture.  Turned me off.  After some discussion it was Holly who talked me into it.

"the bug" and I set out for the Stratosphere early to check out this place we'd seen from our respective hotel rooms the past two days.  Carried a bag this one time, as I wasn't wearing that ticket around my neck any longer than I had to.  Couldn't fold the damn thing and stick it in my pocket.  Harumph.

The Stratosphere is a lot like the Space Needle.  I think I even remember when they built it they made it a hundred or so feet higher so it would be the tallest structure west of the Mississippi or something like that.  We had a bite to eat at a little place called Roxy's in the casino.  It was like a Johnny Rocket's but with a DJ playing 50's and 60's tunes with waiters and waitresses who sang requests.  Lots of young folks there having a ball.  Really a rockin place.  Had a great time and the best meal I'd had since I'd been there.

Up the tower we headed.  All the staff had t-shirts with the host's pic - same one as on the invitation - and YearlyKos 2006, etc. written on them.  Black.  A little bit of security - send your bag through - walk through - no biggie.

The observation deck was pretty much like the Space Needle.  Not as big around it didn't seem, but the same concept.  Breathtaking view of the city.  Found out later from ICB you could go up to an outside observation deck.  Damn!  Wish I'd have know.  Would have felt good to get up above all the traffic, people and buildings for some air even if for just a little while.....oh well.  Anyhoo....as you've probably heard by now...there were different types of food stations from sushi to mashed taters, open bars, champagne dischared from ice sculptures (some even looked like computers), music (The Blues Brothers and Elvis that I remember).  We visited with our fellow Clarkies, Eric Massa and others.  Had some big laughs with ICB and Holly's Mark, as you can imagine what those were about.  Ha!  ;)  Had one of those champagne drinks....why not?  Never saw the host himself or the other's reaction to him.  He didn't address the crowd or make his way to where I was so....well....them's the breaks, I guess.

Was this buying votes or a thank you to the netroots?  You know....I just don't know.  That, I suppose, will be up to each and every Kossack who attended and their own concience.  For myself, I'm not easily bought.  Nor am I fooled by pretentiousness or impressed with opulence of star power.  I'll go with the thank you for the netroots.  The other would have been lost on me anyway.  There was lots of cool stuff there, tho, gotta admit it.

Saturday

 "the bug" and I attended the FDL breakfast.  Rode up the elevator with "Reddhead" and found she was just a couple doors down from me.  She really does have a beautiful head of red hair and is a neat lady.  Met Pachachutec (learned how to pronounce it) when we arrived.  Was a quick breakfast, tho, cuz off to see Howie.

Howard Dean is quite adorable.  I'd never thought that before.  Had been a long time since I'd seen him make a speech.  Between his telling it straight and his boyish full of the dickens demeanor it was easy to see how he electrified and motivated all those young folks.  He had that on Saturday, albeit a bit more polished, and for the first time I felt really good about him being head of the DNC.  Oh....one more thing.....Howie says he has a team at the DNC who reads and monitors the blogs.  Woohoo!  Fantastic!

Next up...more workshops.  I didn't go into all the ones we attended as there were so many and they kinda jumbled together at times.  Those who want to read about them can find them in many places, I'm sure.  Besides, I'm already prattling on here way more than I usually care to do.

While we ("the bug", ICB and I) were attending the Foriegn Policy workshop...with Arianna on the panel....<rolling eyes> and a very good young man (sorry forgot his name) who had worked in intelligence at DOD...the t-shirts....the same ones we saw the night before.....the black ones.....were being set on every chair.  wth?  Now we're really beginning to wonder about this Warner thing.  People wandering around finding their size.  Hey, it's a fact...most people will take anything if it's free.  <rolling eyes again>  But, isn't this partly what we were here to change?  The big money buying their way along just because they can?  I dunno.  Then came the campaign video...then came the campaign speech.  "the bug" really nailed it when she said he wasn't speaking to us.  Not to this crowd.  Never gave it a thought we already "get it" and he should have been speaking to the netroots rather than a canned speech.  Needlesstosay, with heads exploding and hair on fire we managed a graceful exit before the speech was concluded.  What can I say...there is no there there for me.  Certainly, this was not why I attended YK...and all of this put together bothered me quite a bit.

Then came Harry Reid.   Harry and I go way back.  I love Harry.  I've watched him on the Senate floor for so many years.  One thing I'll never forget about Harry was when he filibustered by reading the book he wrote about the little town of Searchlight, NV.  Where he grew up.  Don't remember what he was filibustering but I was baking cookies and it was a hoot!  Doing good is in Harry's heart and soul.....and he is tough....as nails.  Don't ever be mistaken about that.

He made a quiet Senate floor type speech and thanked the netroots profusely for all we do and have done.  Told us we needed to keep it up...especially the rapid response to what Wes calls the "mean machine".  Harry told us he would be introducing legislation requiring the administration to be forthcoming on ALL the intel on Iran.  Not going to let what happened with Iraq happen again.  Right on Harry!  After the speech I was thinking what a beating Harry has taken.  From the right and left, the media and many in that very same room.  Well, it must have showed when Harry made his way to the back of the room shaking hands.  When he took my hand I said, "Thank you, Harry".  Guess it was the way I said it cuz he looked at me for a long while and pulled me to him for a big hug.  Hey....what can I say....I love Harry.  :)

When all was done "the bug" and I hooked up with ICB and spent a little time partaking in the things casinos have to offer...but just a teensie sampling.....before we said our goodbyes.  Always hard to say goodbye to Clarkies.

After the WesPAC event on Thursday we continued to speak to others about our General and hand out donjo's cards.  Having Wes there made out mission all the easier.  Those who were able to be in his presence got "it".  Those who didn't got the ripple effect.  In my view, it was an excellent decision for Wes to attend.

Back home now on our hill and it feels good.  Way up here in the bleacher seats....er.....the nosebleed section.....to observe and continue our work as so many asked us to do.....just where I like it.