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# Reporter’s Notebook
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/reporters-notebook-20040728/
- Published: 2004-07-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:46:20.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*DNC: Burnt cheese pizza and inspiring speeches*

*By LARA BROWN Special to the Daily Press*

(Editor’s note: Politics, positioning and partying is the name of the game at the Democratic National Convention this week. Santa Monica Daily Press columnist Dr. Lara Brown is spending the week in the thick of it. Here, she’ll give readers on the Left Coast a taste of the Beantown scene).

First, let me apologize for the mistake in my Sunday report. I wrote that the Blue Dog Coalition held their event at the Roxbury. The nightclub was actually called the Roxy. While, I’m sure the three hours of sleep didn’t help much, I must admit, given that we Angelenos, happen to have nightclubs by both names in our fair city, my written report was not the first time that I did it on this trip to Beantown.

Now onto Monday... and what a day it was! The California Delegation had breakfast at the Westin Copley with special guest Howard Dean who gave an inspiring speech, imploring all of us to get more involved than we ever have before. He reminded the delegation of all that was at stake in this election and he urged us to work together to defeat President Bush. VIPs at my table (it was so big, I can’t remember all the electeds): New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, U.S. Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren and Lois Capps.

Lunch, provided by two of California’s largest companies — Disney and Southern California Edison — was a moving tribute to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. As former U.S. Senator George Mitchell remarked to the 1,000-plus crowd: “Being the eighth speaker today to comment about how wonderful a Senator, Dianne is, I feel a little like Zsa Zsa Gabor’s eighth husband on their wedding night. I know what I’m supposed to do, I’m just not sure that I can make it very interesting.” Yet, by the end of the lunch, most eyes had shed a few tears. Sen. Feinstein is a great lady who has served her city (San Francisco) and her state (California) well over her many years in public service. When she reached the podium, she asked us all to please help her with one of her signature causes — ensuring that the assault weapons ban not expire on Sept. 13, 2004.

The day’s events were eclipsed by the official DNC events at the Fleet Center. Carter, Clinton, Clinton, and Gore. Each one of their speeches was well worth the plane fare to Boston! Former President Clinton gave a masterful speech, contex-tualizing government statistics, policy decisions and political platforms. He connected people to the party and himself to the electorate. He endorsed the Kerry- Edwards ticket and he articulated the need for their leadership.

Despite the rousing rhetoric, the food at Fleet Center was really pretty bad (burnt cheese pizzas and ham calzones) and that was in the Premium Club & Banners. Most of us delegates have decided to have dinner before going to the hall from now on.

After the speeches, all of us couldn’t wait to turn some of that energy into a party. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus threw one of the hottest events of the night at a club called “Felt.” Los Lobos played on the second floor, an open martini bar was flowing on floor three, while grilled shrimp and salsa kept the first floor patrons well-fed enough to enjoy the dancing and pool-playing into the wee hours of the night. Some VIPs in attendance: The entire Congressional Hispanic Caucus. They all danced their hearts out to Los Lobos and unlike the Blue Dog Coalition, these members can actually DANCE!

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072804.pdf?ref=smdp.com)