Massachusetts

If you’re on your cell, take a second to text “DNC - Deval Patrick” to 62262, and we might get it up on the big screen at Invesco.  :-)

The latest in our series of video profiles of interesting people we run into here at the convention.  Melissa Diaz is a student at Columbia University, a former student of BMG’s own Bob, and a passionate Obama supporter who has far better access to the convention than any of us.  She has lots to say to young voters, Hispanic voters, and about her own future.  Here she is. (Read the full post about ‘Random video profile: Melissa Diaz’…)

After walking through a very, very long line (which actually moved pretty well) I’ve made my way into Invesco field.  At the moment I am blogging from a blogger area which is in the glassed-in press box way above the field.  I have an excellent view of the “Greek columns” that seem to have created such a hubbub, with Team McCain deriding the structure as “the Temple of Obama” and “the Barackopolis” (the latter is actually quite funny).  Here they are. I mean, for God’s sake.  What is the big deal?  It looks vaguely like the White House, vaguely like the Capitol, vaguely like the Supreme Court.  That, obviously, is the point. (Read the full post about ‘Live from Invesco field — here’s the alleged “Barackopolis”’…)

This morning at the Massachusetts delegation breakfast.

“Don’t blame me, I’m from Massachusetts.”

(Bumped, for glory. The notion that being really popular is somehow bad for Obama is, well, truly insane. - promoted by Charley on the MTA)

Another day, another G.O.P. talking point from the traditional media. Yesterday it was “bitter” Clinton delegates and a divided Party. Now that that has been debunked by the obvious (prime time speeches by Senator Clinton and President Clinton and the testimony of every rational Clinton delegate in Denver) it’s the danger of celebrity and the risks of Obama’s acceptance speech to 70,000 people.

Are these reporters on crack? The fact that Obama is incredibly popular is a good thing for his candidacy.

(Read the full post about ‘Journalists? or corporate media G.O.P. echo chamber?’…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― He does comedy, writes books, and mixes it up with the hottest stars in music and Hollywood. With all this, who needs swimming?
Certainly not Michael Phelps — not anymore, at least. But as a presenter at the 2008 Video Music Awards, all that fresh Olympic bling will certainly help.

The swimmer who took home a record-breaking eight gold medals from the Beijing Games joins Miley Cyrus, Scarlett Johansson, Lindsay Lohan and Ciara as presenters at the Sept. 7 VMAs telecast from Los Angeles. British comedian Russell Brand will host. (Read the full post about ‘Olympian Phelps To Be VMA Presenter’…)

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― The founder of bankrupt Death Row Records posted $19,000 bail Wednesday and promised to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on Sept. 26 on felony assault and drug charges.

Police arrested the hip hop mogul on Wednesday morning after officers say they saw him beat his girlfriend while brandishing a knife in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip. The 43-year-old Knight was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription and battery domestic violence.

Police responding to a report of a car hitting a curb near the Las Vegas Strip say they found Knight standing over his longtime girlfriend with a knife in his hand. (Read the full post about ‘‘Suge’ Knight Released From Vegas Jail’…)

MIAMI (CBS) ― Rap star DMX has pleaded out a Miami drug case and now awaits extradition to face more charges in Arizona, reports CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami.

The 37-year-old rapper and actor, whose real name is Earl Simmons, pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted marijuana and cocaine possession and was sentenced to time served. His lawyer Bradford Cohen says DMX is still in custody waiting for Arizona authorities to pick him up on drug and animal cruelty charges there.

Cohen says the rapper decided to plead guilty when he was denied bail earlier this week due to the outstanding Arizona warrant. (Read the full post about ‘Rapper DMX Pleads Guilty In Miami Drug Case’…)

HOUSTON (AP) ― A judge in Texas has ordered the father of actress and singer Hilary Duff to spend 10 days in jail for contempt of court.

Bob Duff was led away in handcuffs Wednesday during a court hearing after Judge Thomas Stansbury in Houston determined he violated an injunction against selling assets without court approval.

The Houston Chronicle reported in its online edition that Bob Duff must pay into a court repository $367,537 he earned from selling stocks last month.

Bob Duff’s attorney Robert Piro said his client would post bond and file an appeal.

Bob and Susan Duff are in the midst of a bitter divorce.

Stansbury determined Bob Duff should pay Susan $12,500 for Hilary’s birthday party, which was the subject of the hearing. (Read the full post about ‘Hilary Duff’s Dad To Spend 10 Days In Jail’…)

DENVER (AP) ― Thousands of anti-war demonstrators converged near security gates outside the Democratic National Convention hall on Wednesday, chanting slogans and seeking a meeting with the Barack Obama campaign to talk about getting U.S. troops out of Iraq.

Former Marine Jeff Key, 42, of Salt Lake City, who was acting as a spokesman for the Iraq Veterans Against the War, was escorted by police to meet with Phil Carter, head of veterans affairs for the Obama campaign.

Key said the meeting lasted about 10 minutes. The Obama campaign confirmed the meeting but would provide no details, and Carter did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Key gave Carter a copy of a letter the veterans group had sent to Obama on Monday. (Read the full post about ‘Thousands Stage Anti-War Protest After Rage Show’…)