Pictures That Tell a Thousand Words: Day One of the 2007 California Democratic Convention

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

First appearance of a funny hat and political button wearing delegate

By Frank D. Russo

It is hard to describe in words all the comings and goings at the California Democratic Convention.

There is the formal side, the endless meetings of the Resolutions Committee as they grind through over 120 proposals to winnow them to a dozen for floor consideration, the press conferences, the dozens of caucus meetings, the workshops, and what you can see from the agenda of the convention.

But it is what is taking place in the hallways and other parts of the massive San Diego convention hall—the conversations, the hugs of Democrats who haven’t seen each other for a long time, the new acquaintances, the exchange of ideas as first time delegates mingle with the perennial convention goers-- that often go unnoticed and unreported. It can be argued that this is even more important than the formal superstructure of these three days and essential to what will be playing out through the next set of elections and beyond. Through the zaniness, the baroque grandeur, and the overstated appearances one sees tothe sometimes the little gestures and words one hears while wandering about, there is a kinetic kind of energy that only the Democratic party has when it is on the ascendance.

As we prepare for the Presidential candidates appearances, here are a few more pictures that capture a bit of yesterday.