Inside the tent

We're producing "To The Point" from Tent #4, which is about 100 yards from the Pepsi Center and 50 yards from the Daily Show bus, which showed up this morning with the Daily Show's roving correspondents inside. We're also just a couple yards from a giant air conditioner that hums a tune of madness. Fortunately, we convinced Steve the Air Conditioning Technician to turn if off for the show.

Being here is like being on a gigantic CNN set. Including the CNN grille that's open only to CNN staff and their guests.

About last night:

The Place To Be was the Friends of New Orleans shindig. Free beer and live jazz. Many big names in the mediasphere wandered through - J. Carville, D. Brazile, A. Cooper, M. Kaus, D. Corn, the woman formerly known as Wonkette, etc.

On our way to another party, sponsored by California state Sen. Alex Padilla (he was heading back today to rejoin the budget impasse), we passed the Rev. Al Sharpton. He was posing for photos. At the party, in wandered Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He passed through quickly.

But the highlight of the evening was a happenstance meeting with Charlie Wilson, who was hanging out at a National Democratic Jewish Council gathering nearby. We did a quick interview on the videophone they sent us with to Denver.