Rummaging through old photos, I found a few that I took while I was covering the National Conventions for WIDR in Kalamazoo in 2004. I picked out two that seemed to summarize the experience of both for me.

The First Lady sits on a screen with me in the foreground. Look at the idealistic look in her eyes. It's just adorable!

In contrast, notice the look in my eyes. So elated, so overwhelmed at even the illusion of proximity. And yet with the slightest tinge of sly cynicism. Appropriately so; this photo was taken moments before I was escorted out of the Republican National Convention in a case of mistaken identity (here's the story) that foreshadowed my now well-documented and career-ending split with the GOP. I remember this night even more because I can't seem to find that awesome shirt I'm wearing in the photo.

This is a photo from the Democratic National Convention in Boston that I took right before the nomination of John Kerry. This gentleman's placard pretty much sums it up for me.

If you need me to explain it you'll never understand.