Since I was a member of the "Lesser Media," the Democratic Party rather undemocratically made me re-register for my press credentials EVERY DAY at a hotel that was a good twenty minute hike from the Convention Center itself — during one of the worst HEAT WAVES in LA's history! You can kiss MY vote goodbye, you stupid Democrats!

Compounding this indignity was their Byzantine system of color-coded passes, which signified how much of the convention center you had access to. Needless to say, my lime-green pass didn't allow for too much freedom of movement, though I was shocked to learn that people with PURPLE passes (i.e.: the "untouchables") weren't allowed even to ENTER the Staples Center! All they could do was stand outside the exits with forlorn looks on their faces.

Meanwhile, the oppressive heat was even more effective than the oppressive police presence in putting the kibosh on any rowdiness that any rowdy-inclined protesters may have indulged (during the daytime, anyway). The few actual protest types I saw looked too beat even to carry their signs, let alone get a rally going for a Free Tibet — though I'm surprised the Environmentalists didn't take advantage of the weather to illustrate their argument about GLOBAL WARMING.