12 DAY CONVENTION PHOTO RECAP DAY 8 of 12 - NADER ‘OPEN THE DEBATES’ RALLY, AUG 27/08

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12 DAY CONVENTION PHOTO RECAP DAY 8 of 12 - NADER ‘OPEN THE DEBATES’ RALLY, AUG 27/08, MAGNESS ARENA, DENVER U

Here is a link to the opening Press Conference I attended:

 Not a lot of DNC goers were expecting much of a turnout for this event, and while Nader Rallies had been announced just about 3 weeks prior to Denver and Minneapolis, it was a pleasant surprise to see the crowd in Denver swell to approximately 4,000 people. Mainstream media, as usual, and for the most part, were conspicuously absent — but independent media was there in droves to ensure that the even recieved proper coverage.

 Admittedly, it was also a nice change of pace from the “platitude…platitude…Obama” speechifyn’ that I was so dreadfully tired of, and that I knew I would be deluged with even more in the coming DNC Week.

1. NELLIE McKay, British Born Songwriter-Performer.

  I knew little of what to expect. She quoted Chekhov at the press conference and that was cool with me, and I had heard about her on BBC and heard snippets on BBC Overnight, but her performance was witty and intelligent, and she’s a skilled and accomplished pianest. I thought this shot framed with the roses suited her nicely. 

 Here is Nellie performing ‘Mother of Pearl’ on the Ukelele…

 2. Cindy Sheehan “Power to the People”

I cannot say that I was enamoured or thrilled to have had Cindy Sheehan be the voice of the anti-war movement these last 4 years, but seeing her speak a few times over the DNC week reveals that she has grown in rhetorical ability and political understanding. She admitted herself that she “blamed George Bush…” for the death of her son, Casey, but as you’ll see in the clip below, her understanding has broadened and I wish her the best against he entrenched House Speaker and her congressional rival Nancy Pelosi.

 Cindy Sheehan Addressing the Nader Rally

 3. Sean Penn - Endorsing no Candidate, But Advocating Civic Duty

 Having heard too many self righteous radio pundtwits belittle Penn for his “nerve” to speak about issues and his “gall” at getting involved in social justice movements, I happily grant Penn the latitude to do so as he at least puts his very real money where his very real mouth is. There are any number of Hollywood pseudo activists that make easy targets for people (i admire) like Trey Parker and Matt Stone (Team America World Police, South Park), but Penn makes the effort to see the big picture beyond his Hollywood Hills property and for that he deserves to be heard, even if you don’t necessarily agree with him.

 Sean Penn Addressing the Nader Rally - Video

 4. Ike Reilly Performs Parakeet Blues

 5. Tom Morello Performs a Lyrically Restored ‘This Land is Your Land’ by Woody Guthrie

As I may have mentioned before, I was never a Rage Against The Machine fan. As a PD of a very good campus/community station, when i recieved the first RATM disc all I could think, looking at the major label logo, was “well, you ARE the machine.” It’s only the DNC and RNC weeks that I have come around a little and give some respect to RATM for their involvement in protest actions (similar to L.A. in 2000’s DNC). But truly when I hear Tom Morello performing solo with “Flesh Shapes the Day” did I get an inkling that there was some Woody Guthrie running through his veins as ‘The Night Watchman’. By the time he kicked in with the proper version of Guthrie’s ‘This Land is Your Land’ — and declared that it should be the national anthem — i found myself with newfound respect for Tom Morello. Not to mention, it was an appropriate introduction to Ralph Nader.

Morello performing ‘This Land is Your Land”: 

 

 6. Tom Morello Introduces Ralph Nader

 Here is the video, courtesy of the VoteNader08 Youtube page, of Ralph’s Denver Appearance. You can view the whole evening proceedings by following that link, or you can make a donation to the Nader Campaign and get an autographed copy. Why not make a donation? consider it an investment in freedom:

 7. Ralph Nader - ‘Open the Debates’ Rally

 ~ Sven Eric Balabanoff

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