Democratic Convention

[Daniel]

So- I'm watching (God Bless Me!) the Democratic Convention- speeches and all. Oh....it's slow going...I have to say. Nancy Pelosi has spoken et al. Inquiring minds (this inquiring mind anyway) want to know: what do you make of the whole thing? Are you tuning in? Watching? And if so, what do you make of the Convention?

You know, it used to be that a Convention was a time (and this is pre- TV) when choosing a candidate happened in real time, that is, at the convention itself. Nowaways, the event amounts to a coronation. A sign of the time perhaps? Of course, we won't be going back to be bad old days, will we? LOL That said, it would be nice to have some true excitement. And this evening may prove - or so I have heard- to have some. And that is the presence of the arch-liberal Edward Kennedy- who may give the rally cry for change. And he- more than anyone at the moment- may understand the poignancy of change.

Are you watching?

[Rick336]

I've also been watching the Democratic Convention. Nancy Pelosi's speech was generic and not too moving. I like Pelosi but she's not a great speechmaker.

However, Ted Kennedy gave a very moving speech and got the delegates onto their feet waving signs and cheering.

I liked it when Kennedy said tonight:

"There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination. Not merely a victory for our party but renewal for our nation. And this November, the torch will be passed to a new generation of Americans. So with Barack Obama, and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The hope rises again and the dream lives on."

I think as the week progresses there will be even more energy and excitement among the delegates with the climax on Thursday night when Obama makes his acceptance speech.

This country is starving for change after eight years of Bush and I think Obama is the right man for the job.

Rick

[Eugene]

Are you tuning in? Watching?

Nope. I voted for Hillary Clinton. The Democrats can't count on my vote for anybody else. I wanted to vote for McCain in 2000, so I guess I'll get to do so 8 years later.

[u-dog]

You can't wait to live through 4 more years of Republicans pissing all over the constitution in the name of God? You are eager for four more years of Don't ask Don't tell? You are looking forward to four more years of playing "Climate Change Chicken"? You enjoy the spectacle of the President of the United States playing whore to the oil industry? You are willing to wait an additional four years for progress on civil rights for GLBT folks? You are eagerly anticipating another term of body bags coming home in secret from Iraq?

Or do you just want punish the other democrats who didn't vote for your candidate? I supported Barack from the beginning, but if Hilary had won the primary battle her name would now be all over the back of my car and on the sign in front of my house. If a turnip had won the democratic nomination, its picture would be on the bumper of my car because this country CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION.

yikes.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Eugene

Nope. I voted for Hillary Clinton. The Democrats can't count on my vote for anybody else. I wanted to vote for McCain in 2000, so I guess I'll get to do so 8 years later.

I voted for Clinton myself. Thought- and still think- she was a good candidate. Too bad she didn't win. But as they say, that is how the cookie crumbles.

Eugene- you say you are going to vote for McCain. I guess that surprises me. Are you aware that he supports writing discrimination into the the Arizona Constitution?

Re last night: I thought Senator Kennedy gave a very rousing speech. His support for health care for everyone is unwavering. And I admire that. That his own health in danger at the moment only made his appearance more important. I've had a close friend die of the very same brain cancer: it's nothing to sniff at, believe me. A very aggressive and nasty business. I may not be able to vote for him. But he has my prayers.

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by Eugene

Nope. I voted for Hillary Clinton. The Democrats can't count on my vote for anybody else. I wanted to vote for McCain in 2000, so I guess I'll get to do so 8 years later.

One of McCain's requirements for a VP is that s/he be anti-gay. He said so himself.

Originally Posted by John McCain

I think it’s a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice. We just have a–albeit strong–but just it’s a disagreement. And I think Ridge is a great example of that. Far moreso than Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, pro, you know, a number of other issues.

http://blog.mattalgren.com/2008/08/j...r-the-highway/

[dsdrane]

Yep...Dash and I have been watching, albeit via live feed on our computer as we don't have cable. It's incredibly refreshing to watch it all with no Chris Matthews, et al., yammering on, explaining it all for us. If you're interested, check it out here.

Maybe it was the gin, but, honestly, I was a blubbering mess when Ted Kennedy was speaking. Lord, I love that man!

I also thought Michelle managed to do exactly what she needed to do: debunk the Angela Davis stereotype. It always annoys me when intelligent, strong women have to soften themselves to be palatable to the masses (remember Hillary and her cookies), but, here, the end justifies the means. And better still, she didn't have to be disingenuous to do it.

And the girls were adorable! That's got to play well in Peoria.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by dsdrane

Maybe it was the gin, but, honestly, I was a blubbering mess when Ted Kennedy was speaking. Lord, I love that man!

Here's what Kennedy went through in order to attend the Convention and speak.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/us...ennedy.html?hp

Determined to Give Speech, Kennedy Left Hospital Bed

By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: August 26, 2008
DENVER — Senator Edward M. Kennedy had just left a hospital bed here when he delivered his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, after suffering a debilitating bout of kidney stones Sunday upon arriving in town, aides said.

Mr. Kennedy’s aides described a harrowing 48-hour period in which it appeared that Mr. Kennedy would not be able to give the convention speech. In June, he had told family members when he left the Duke University Medical Center, where he was operated on for brain cancer, that he was intent on giving the speech.

The man certainly is determined! Wow!

[pnggrad79]

I was still in the closet 4 years ago when Bush was elected and I am ashamed to admit I voted for that idiot. Not anymore. You couldn't pay me enough money to vote for him or anyone like him (McCain). I wasn't necessarily a Clinton fan, I didn't like her husband. And I thought and still think gays and lesbians have the best chance to win partial civil rights with Obama in office. I guess we will see if he lives up to his promise to us... But they all lie, so what can I say. Like I said, Obama is the best chance we have for any kind of marriage recognition and civil rights in this backward country.

[u-dog]

Hilary really knocked it out of the park!! WooHoo!! You go girl!

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by u-dog

Hilary really knocked it out of the park!! WooHoo!! You go girl!

I agree. Hillary's speech was awesome, that's for sure. But I expect Obama's speech on Thursday night to bring the house down. He really knows how to move a crowd.

Rick

[nmwolfboy]

We're watching it in our household. Thank God for Cspan, since it spares us having to listen to the blowhard commentators & pundits. And we actually get to hear all the speeches given on the floor, if we choose, instead of only the parts that cable news wants to showcase.

Highlight speeches for me thus far: Michelle Obama, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and Brian Schweitzer (what a pep rally leader he is!)

Is anyone going to an Obama watch party Thurday evening? Wes & i likely will attend one down in the village.

Pax,
scott

[u-dog]

Some of the pundits are saying that Hillary's speech fell short last night because it was too much about Hillary and not enough about Obama. As an Obama supporter from the beginning I DISAGREE with this assessment and here's why:

Hillary's main audience was HER supporters and her job was to communicate her AUTHENTIC support for Obama and to encourage them to follow her there. If her supporters had seen her speech as a party-line, "Rah-Rah for Obama" speech it would have failed. They would have seen her as "just doing her job" for the party. To be effective she HAD to talk about herself and her aspirations for the country and she had to talk about her supporters and THEIR aspirations for the nation and then put Obama forward as the best vehicle for those aspirations.

I think she did all that extremely effectively. What do you all think?

[Matt Algren]

I can't stand Hillary Clinton's delivery.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

I can't stand Hillary Clinton's delivery.

It seemed, by far, the most exciting speech all night.

Loved the orange pantsuit too. Loved the way she wove stories about real Americans into her pitch to supporters to back Obama. Of course, it was a shrewd move too. If he loses, she has placed herself in the running in 2012.

What I don't understand is the animus that is directed towards her. Mind you Matt, I'm not saying you have any. But it reminds me that many do. And I wonder why that is: Clinton just seems to rub some the wrong way. People seem to either love her or hate her.

But you know what? As a senator in NY, she's done a good job, convincing even the staunches critics in her bid for a second term. She went the distance in getting out to every county and meeting with folks in real time. I simply wish her campaign for President had been handled better: I think she had some hubris about winning- and underestimated her rival. A lesson learned? I hope so.

[nmwolfboy]

Originally Posted by u-dog

I think she did all that extremely effectively. What do you all think?

I think she was superb. If she had consistently presented herself like that during the primary, I might have voted for her over Senator Obama. And in the interest of full disclosure, neither Clinton nor Obama were my first or second choices, at least not until Kucinich and Edwards dropped out.

I'm looking forward to tonight's speech from President Clinton.

-scott

[dsdrane]

I thought she was fantastic. And, as much as I love Joe Biden -- and I do -- her speech last night made me even more disappointed that the dream ticket didn't materialize.

Obama is indebted to her, like, forever.

After Hillary, my next favorite speech, hands down, was Brian Schweitzer's. What a fun guy!

[BruceChris]

And, among the minorities that she specifically mentioned needing to be included in our national conversation was the Gay Community. She raised a small cheer from the audience as she mentioned us.

Edit: And Bill also mentioned us, favorably.

I predict that hell will freeze over more than once before John McCain says anything like that.

Namaste', Bruce Chris

[Eugene]

Eugene- you say you are going to vote for McCain. I guess that surprises me. Are you aware that he supports writing discrimination into the the Arizona Constitution?

You mean, I suppose, that he is opposed to gay marriage? So are a lot of Democrats.

I would only be disturbed if he opposed my right to gainful employment because I am gay.

I voted only on the abortion issue when I was a young, conservative Baptist. Now that I'm a middle-aged, moderate homosexual, I have decided NOT to do that on the issue of gay rights. There are far more pressing things -- like keeping the American debt economy from collapsing (and taking the Western world down with it). Not sure that either candidate has the know-how to do that.

[nmwolfboy]

Originally Posted by Eugene

I would only be disturbed if he opposed my right to gainful employment because I am gay.

Are you aware that John McCain cast a deciding vote against the Employment Non-discrimination Act (ENDA) which would have provided protection for LGBT people against job discrimination?

Pax,
scott

McCain's opposition to ENDA: Washington Post, Oct. 1, 2007
McCain's deciding vote against ENDA: Vote #281, Sept. 10, 1996