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Democrats ‘r us: The Sunshine Blog packed a few aloha shirts, some slippahs and a reporter’s notebook and and headed to Chicago this week to soak up the political rays at the Democratic National Convention. All The Blog can say is … there’s a whole ‘nuther view than you’re seeing on TV and social media.

Like this.

If gaining access to the DNC was meant to be a test of press patience and stamina, many members of the media were still struggling to get a passing grade on Monday. 

On Sunday, many of The Blog’s reporter friends — who had been advised to pick up their credentials Sunday to avoid additional security measures — ditched their cars in a McDonald’s parking lot on the outskirts of the perimeter for McCormick Place, the convention center where meetings were happening during the day, after hitting unexpected road closures in every direction.

“This is a cluster.”

“No, this is a cluster %$^&#.”

The Blog is always on the lookout for a decent quote.

Staffers handing out press credentials on Sunday couldn’t be sure the instructions they were giving out were even accurate. Or would be the same on Monday.

Media access is only allowed through a hotel entrance. No wait, two hotel entrances. No wait, now it will be allowed where the delegates come through as well. Didn’t RSVP for the press briefing? Don’t expect to get in. Making your way to the convention on public transit? Don’t expect any signage on where to go — posted directions outside secured perimeter are not allowed for security reasons. 

At the first media briefing Monday, which started more than 30 minutes late, the plea was for patience and grace: “I think we all are going in different directions.” 

Swag central: One of the most popular areas of McCormick Place in between caucus meetings on Monday was the official DNC merchandise store, where a long line snaked in between the T-shirt racks and bins full of campaign swag.

There were plenty of “Madam President” shirts sporting Harris’ face, along with buttons for every demographic one could imagine, from “people that believe in science for Harris” to “hillbillies for Harris” and “influencers for Harris.”

Perusing the pop-up shop though The Blog had to wonder what kind of a curveball the last-minute change in candidate threw to the DNC’s merchandising team, and how many “Biden 2024” shirts might be boxed up in a warehouse somewhere. Or perhaps the shop always would have carried Joe Biden T-shirts and children’s hats of a donkey sporting the president’s trademark aviator sunglasses no matter who the nominee was.

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder: On a lighter note, Gov. Josh Green told the Utah delegates at a unity breakfast Monday how he is a Jew from Pittsburgh married to a Mormon from Hawaii, a line he uses a lot back home. Green invited the Utahns to attend the Friends of Maui concert later Monday before the evening program began at the United Center.

“Come and have a beverage,” Green said, who then quickly added, “Although I know you guys don’t drink a lot in Utah.”

The line cracked the room up. By wide acknowledgment, libations have been flowing freely in the several nights leading up to the convention’s opening.

And indeed, some Hawaii delegates and invited guests (not just Mormons from Utah) did make it to the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance where the Friends of Maui benefit concert featured ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. He regaled The Blog and the rest of the intimate audience with versions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hawaii Ponoi.” Other performers and halau were also featured.

The concert raised money to hep Maui recover from the wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023.

And, of course, what political concert gathering would be complete without remarks from Hawaii’s leading politicos. That would be the aforementioned Gov. Josh Green and U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz.

“I am so appreciative of everybody being here and all the folks that have contributed to this effort, because Maui is not done healing,” Schatz (sincerely) told the small crowd. “It is going to be a very, very long road.”

May the aloha spirit be with you: But by Monday evening, things were perhaps not so mellow.

The Blog witnessed throngs of convention-goers abandoning buses in the middle of the street as they tried to find their way on foot into the United Center after getting stuck on shuttles at a standstill for nearly an hour.

Rumor had it that protests were blocking traffic, but police attempting vainly to control pedestrian traffic on Jackson Boulevard said there had been no protests on this side of the building and they had no idea what was causing the chaos. There was no real line, more a throng of 10 people across and several blocks long trying to jostle their way into the building. 

Joe Biden is still a draw, it seems.