For those of you who don’t follow me on twitter, I did a bit of some live-tweeting from the Campus Progress National Conference yesterday. Here’s a round-up of my thoughts from the day.
8:06 AM: Took the Red Line for the first time today and my train, of course, broke down at Dupont Circle.
8:33 AM: “Weapons of Mass Creation” by Spoken Word Artist Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai. http://twitpic.com/9oksd
8:42 AM: “The high mark would be to get our Representatives to be not just democratic, but truly progressive.”
8:47 AM: Support Obama’s plan for affordable college education:www.studentsoverbanks.org
8:55 AM: Nice shout out to the landmark of passage #ACES from Center of American Progress CEO and Pres. John Podesta.
9:01 AM: CAP is pushing for Obama to make an executive order to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Some question if he has that power.
9:15 AM: White House staff here to emphasize that Pres. Obama does support a public option. Lots of applause from the crowd.
9:20 AM: How can young people beat big spending lobbyists? Fight to elect strong candidates, don’t just lobby. “Shoe leather and organzing.”
9:46 AM: Podesta: How to work in politics – 1. Be dumb enough to keep getting up after being knocked down. 2. Have a spouse that works.
9:51 AM: Now in the climate change breakout session. Panelist include Grist reporter Kate Sheppard and Breakthrough Blogger Jesse Jenkins
10:02 AM: “Mainstream media may not be covering climate change as much as you’d like, but opponents are reaching key voters through Rush, etc.”
10:08 AM: “Phone call to Members are old school but still very effective and matter to Reps.
10:18 AM: “This shouldn’t be a wait until we grow up kind of thing. Our country needs our leadership now.”
10:57 AM: Climate Change brainstorm session talking about how to take action on a local level. http://twitpic.com/9owma
12:22 PM: Lunch session with Van Jones and Kathleen Sebelius! At least I know there is one other Kansan in this room!
1:17 PM: Seeing Joel Madden reminds me of when I saw Good Charlotte at age 12. Seeing Wilco tonight at age 19. I have come a long way.
1:26 PM: Those from Kansas know Kathleen isn’t the most dynamic speaker, but we sure are proud of her. I feel like she’s all grown up now.
2:15 PM: Phone died, but a few fav lines from Van Jones speech: “We’re relying on Obama to get it started, he’s relying on you to get it done.”
2:16 PM: “As powerful as he is as President, Obama is more powerful as a precedent for your generation.” – Van Jones
3:34 PM: Closing session at #CPNC. Nancy Pelosi and Bill Clinton on deck. Exciting but can they top Van Jones who threw out the “westside” line?
3:54 PM: John Oliver from The Daily Show in the flesh people!
4:10 PM: John Oliver’s accent makes everything that he says expotentially more funny
4:35 PM: Oliver: “The screen says ‘Wrap up. Pelosi has arrived.’ That’s the only time I’ll see that. The second time, she’s here kill you.”
4:42 PM: Say what you want about her, Nancy Pelosi deserves a serious thank you for the passage of #ACES. Girl did her Speaker of the House thing.
4:45 PM: Lots of talk on the College Cost Reduction Act, from Pelosi but nothing about the charming girl who spoke about it on Capitol Hill
4:46 PM: Pelosi: “We will pass a bill on healthcare out of the House by the August recess and it will have a public option.”
4:50 PM: Pelosi: “A lot of people don’t like to see legislation made…but I’m willing to take the heat if it means we get the bill.”
4:54 PM: Talking about the need to change the image of modern labor unions and the importance of young people and local union alliances.
5:02 PM: Well if no one else will say it, I will. That orange tie really doesn’t do much for President Clinton’s complexion.
5:11 PM: Every time I see President Clinton now I get the image of him ripping off his tie at Washington Days.
[...] Correspondent John Oliver, and President Bill Clinton. I complied my tweets from the day in a post here and comments about the conference are being added [...]