Flashback: August 2000 - The Democratic Convention at the Staples Center in LA. I remember it well.

That was the summer that MasterCard sued Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader and his campaign for $5 million for his TV ad. "Grilled tenderloin for fundraiser: $1,000 a plate. Campaign ads filled with half-truths: $10 million. Promises to special interest groups: over $10 billion. Finding out the truth: priceless." I loved it.

So did my son.....that was the year he turned 21 and cast his first presidential vote.......Nader, despite parental guidance. Apparently, presidential son Ron Reagan did too.

That was the convention that dropped Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez from her speaking role because she was having a fundraiser at Hugh Heffner's Playboy Mansion. That was the summer that Pat Buchanan joined the Reform Party causing former wrestler Minnesota Gov.Jesse Ventura to leave it.

That was the summer of The Shadow Conventions spearheaded by political activist Arianna Huffington that ran parallel with the main party conventions to spotlight critical issues not being addressed by either party.

That was the convention that turned into a mini riot...and not in the Nader way. After four days of flag waving and vice-presidential lip-locking, revelers began exiting the convention center only to find it in lockdown. I didn't mind the wait as much as I did the spilled hot dogs & cokes since mustard never fares well on a black suit.

Outside the gate, it was dismal. ....... no transportation; a lost Alzheimer's patient; democratic fundraiser Esther Coopersmith trying to catch a ride with former Secretary of HUD Henry Cisneros who didn't have one; VIP's looking for their drivers who weren't there; and, the only visible sign of life as we know it was an ominous black stretch limo with a body guard attached.

As luck would have it, it belonged to Lanny Davis whom I vaguely knew. After peeling away the bodyguard, I convinced him to give us a ride. Space was sparse, they drove off without me. It was only then that I noticed the streets were littered with fat black cylindrical "rubber" bullets, so added some to my repertoire of political memorabilia.

Apparently, while President Clinton was addressing the convention, orders were given to deter thousands of youths outside the convention who were listening to the popular musical band called "Rage Against the Machine", which they thought disruptive. Among the deterrents were fat black cylindrical rubber "bullets".

So, that's why I have a fat black cylindrical "rubber" bullet in my dresser. Whew. I know, "It's A Long Way To Tipperary".

So what's "give 'em hell Harry" have to do with this. Nothing, just a reminder that anything can happen in politics.

And so it will be at both conventions, beginning on July 26th in Boston with the Democrats.

What should we expect? Here are some recent headlines from the Boston Globe: NBC gives 3 hours to convention coverage; Labor protests are expected as convention nears; Ron Reagan to address Democrats at convention; Parties to end early for conventioneers (Bummer); In Boston promotion, ads are 'wicked' funny; Why are they still swooning over Clinton?; Media picking Faneuil Hall as perfect Boston backdrop; Everybody wants a piece of Democratic Convention party; Dukakis a conundrum for Kerry. Conundrum. I like that one....it's like an uninvited wedding guest.

They'll be ramping up the votes from now on. As Stevenson said during his 1956 presidential campaign when a woman called out to him, "You have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson called back, "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

Gotta go. Faneuil Hall calling.