(Indecision 2008's Rob Swift reports from Denver on life on the convention floor)

While the cameras roll on the arena floor inside the Pepsi Center, chaos reigns in the hallways and tunnels. But first you have to get in. For most of us mere mortals, the experience begins by waiting in line. A very long line. (I bet Michael Douglas didn't have to wait in line.)

Forty-five minutes later, you finally approach the convention center where Radio Row smacks you in the face. Hundreds of talk show hosts, news anchors and pundits – real salt of the earth type people – chatter away into their microphones while campaign spokespeople, producers and other pundits wander around from booth to booth to be interviewed. It's enough to make you want to run screaming to the warm confines of The Daily Show's temporary headquarters at the University of Denver.

Once past the media, it's kind of like being at the Superbowl. (At least how I imagine it would be at the Superbowl.) People walk around eating hot dogs, scoping for celebrities and mulling around the concessions to find that perfect souvenir. The official concession stand was selling bumper stickers which read "Democrats are HOT – Ever hear of a nice piece of 'elephant?'" As for the celebrities, there might as well have been a red carpet for the guests streaming to and from the Pepsi Center. In addition to Douglas, I caught sight of Jamie Fox, Anne Hathaway, Steven Spielberg, Matthew McConaughey and assorted other Hollywood talent whose names I should know but do not.

The real crunch begins around 7pm each night when the prime time lineup of speakers begins. Delegates have been packed cheek to jowl on the floor and in the upper boxes and suites, jostling for a view of the stage. During Senator Clinton's speech on Tuesday, many gave up (myself included) and resigned to watch on television screens in the hall.

At one point, the Fire Marshall wouldn't let anyone in or out of the floor area (pictured below), leaving Senators and Members of Congress stuck in a sea of humanity.

But out on the floor, calmness and order reign, as speaker after speaker after speaker (honestly, there are a lot of speakers) talk about change, change and more change.

I caught up with Nancy Soderberg, a former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, here in Denver yesterday and asked her to put all this Pepsi Center craziness into perspective, mostly by asking her about the parties.

Q: Describe the convention.

Soderberg: The most important role is to nominate Barack Obama to be President of the United States But what it really is, is a reunion, a party and a celebration of Democrats.

Q: What have the parties been like?

Soderberg: It's like a descent into high school with everyone trying to figure out what the cool party is for the weekend and can you get an invitation and where people are spending their time. Every night there's a big one. Last night it was Planned Parenthood. Tonight everyone's going to Invesco Field and wondering whether Hillary Clinton is going to show up. Tomorrow it'll be the same thing. Beyond all that, there is a serious message here of change and new leadership for the country.

Q: Speaking of serious messages, you have a new book out called The Prosperity Agenda.

Soderberg: We need to make people's lives better not only at home but around the world and restore America's standing in the world. We need to get ahead of the curve and stop being an anchor so that we'll be a much safer nation. And that's Barack Obama's message as well.

So there you have it. I can't wait for the Google/Vanity Fair party on Thursday. (OMG: I wonder if Senator Obama will be there?!)

(While Michael and Dennis digest their breakfast with Jon, Rob Swift presents his boot-level overview of life in DNC-infected Denver.)

The party has only just begun in Denver for the Democratic National Convention and it is already clear that not everyone is going to be warm and fuzzy.

The police were neither over the weekend, roaming in packs that made them seem more suited for Blackwater's missions in Iraq than keeping the peace in what is, by all indications, an easygoing city playing host to conventioneers and a bunch of laid back protesters. Apparently, Denver police have not yet mastered the good humored gruffness that helps the cops and citizens of places like Manhattan and Boston ease through these kinds of exercises with only affected annoyance.

Elsewhere, near the capitol building, protesters had a none-too-warm-and-fuzzy message for Barack Obama supporters:



Denver residents have displayed a great deal of patience and good humor in the midst of all of this excitement. Vesta Dipping Grill was just about the friendliest place on earth Saturday night. Bartenders were giving out shots of Tuaca, comparing local beers on draught and generally mixing it up with the mostly out-of-state crowd. And then there's the local gentleman's club:

Back at the bar, one local shrugged and said to me, "this is good for local businesses. But you won't see me downtown this week."