Three years ago tonight ... ok, not exactly tonight, but the last Sunday in August, 2005, I sat on the old back deck in my recliner, riveted to the television, flipping between FOX, CNN, and MSNBC.
Which is exactly what I did tonight: sit on the new deck, riveted to the television, flipping between FOX, CNN, and MSNBC.
(Man I miss that deck. Screened in? check. Covered roof on not one, but two levels? check. Couch, recliner, television, hammock, coffee table, and countless other seating devices on upper level? check. Hot tub on lower level? check. Kind of sad when the greatest deck you'll ever have, you attain when you're in your mid to late 20s. Actually what am I saying, that's gotta be every kid's dream ...)
Anyways, the reason for my attention focus? Simple. The great city of New Orleans faced imminent danger from Hurricane Katrina in the morning.
In the last 15 years, we have witnessed destruction in this country. We have seen the Northridge quake in Los Angeles. The attack in Oklahoma City. The fall of the Twin Towers. And closer to home, the destruction of Greensburg by a tornado.
But nothing, nothing, like what unfolded that fateful Monday morning, as Katrina came ashore ... then turned its wrath directly on New Orleans, raising Lake Pontchartrain to uncontrollable levels ... and ultimately the collapse of the 17th Street and Canal Street levees that unleashed arguably the single most destructive and altering week in American history since either 9/11 or Pearl Harbor.
I don't really have a point, other than to say, I hope God spares this great city this time. The current models at 10:20pm the night before, have the hurricane heading west of Lake Pontchartrain, west of the areas hardest hit three years ago. In the great tradition of that great city, here's raising a glass to hoping for the best, to believing that the rebuilt levees will hold, that the pumps will work, that somehow, someway, the progress and rebuilding won't be set back by even one uplifted board.
And, since all I've written about lately being politics, here's two more raised glasses to the incredibly classy gesture not only of John McCain, to give away the one night of the convention, which was devoted to the hard core conservative base of the party he still needs to wrap up, given up in the name of national unity in a time of crisis ... but also to the smart, informed decision by Barack Obama and the DNC to suspend the "war room" and any campaigning until the RNC resumes normal operations.
Some things actually matter more than Convention Week(s). (Wow, did I just type that? I missed my first Chiefs game in years to watch a freaking speech, and I just admitted something is bigger than the Convention(s)?!?! Wow.)
Anyways, that thing? The safety of a great American city. Its refreshing to see both candidacies grasp it, and place the greater good of the country over a 1 or 2 point potential "bounce" from night one. Especially when Zogby has McCain up two, and CNN has Obama up one. Its why I am perfectly calm regarding this election cycle. The worst case scenario is what? Status quo with McCain, an exciting new direction with Obama? Two decent people who won't disgrace the office seeking to leave their mark on the nation. Refreshing. Inspiring. Yeah, it'll get negative, it already has ... but at least this cycle, we've got two guys who get it when it comes to what really counts.
Which just continues to make my decision on who to back more and more difficult to reach ...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
barry speaks. steve listens. and ...
First of all, let me say, I entered this speech completely undecided. Biden really, really swayed me last night to stay true to the party, to set aside my PUMA issues and vote blue in November.
And anyone who feels pride, joy, amazement at the honor we have of being citizens of the United States of America ... last night, you had to feel great. John McCain, in what I thought was a truly classy, incredible gesture, put it best in an ad he ran last night. "Congratulations. Job well done".
For the first time, last night, the idea that anyone in America can become President, became a reality. The dream ... became a reality. Just a truly incredible, inspiring, jaw-dropping awesome moment when Obama took the podium.
Having said that ... did he win my vote? Let's see ...
"With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for President of the United States." Arguably the single most historic moment in American political history, and its how he opens the speech. I stood and applauded right along with the 84,000 plus at fake mile high. Again, regardless of your leanings, regardless of your thoughts on Senator Obama, this was beyond a historic moment. Hillary may have cracked the glass ceiling, but Obama took a freaking jack hammer and destroyed it last night. What an amazing, wonderful, awe-inspiring nation we live in.
The shout out to Hillary was nice. Too bad nobody from Team Clinton was in the house to hear it.
I stood and applauded for nearly 30 seconds at the Ted Kennedy line. My feeling on Ted Kennedy is this: you know all is right, good and decent in this world when he's in the Senate. He's a comfort blanket. Just like having Rush on the radio is a comfort blanket. As long as the two blowhards are out there, you know our democracy works. To think of a Senate without Ted Kennedy ... well, let's just not think of it and move on.
I also, and probably because after the Clinton years, you just never expect to see it, but the genuine love and respect Barry has for Michelle and his kids. Its not a partnership, its a relationship. Just awesome to see.
"For 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women ... found the courage to keep it alive. We meet at one of those defining moments tonight". Yes. Yes we do.
"America, we are better than these last 8 years! We are a better country than this!" Amen Senator. A freaking men.
"We are better ... than a government that sits on its hands, while a major American city drowns before our eyes". Amen Senator. A freaking men. (Here's hoping we don't see a replay early next week ...)
"We are here because we love this country too much to let the next 4 years look like the last 8". Amen.
"On November 4th, we must stand up and say 8 is Enough!" Great line.
Crowd picks up on it. "8 is enough! 8 is enough!"
"Let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction. And for that we owe him our gratitude and respect". I kind of hit on this on my review of Biden's speech ... but I like how Obama is going about this. Acknowledge the elephant in the room. McCain is a hero, in every sense of the word. Pay him tribute, honor his service, but point out that it isn't McCain that's the problem, its his stand on the issues of our time. Obama is doing this very, very well so far. In my never humble opinion.
I loved his example of the Michigan auto workers who showed up even after they knew the plant was closing. As someone who's been through "corporate downsizing" not once, not twice, but three times in 10 years... we aren't whiners. We're Americans who deserve better. A little thing called "dignity". "respect". "common sense". Amen Senator. A freaking men.
"I don't believe Senator McCain doesn't care about what is going on in the lives of ordinary Americans. I just believe he doesn't know." Great line.
"In Washington they call this the ownership society, but what it really means is, you're on your own". Another great line. Leads into a tremendously effective rant about modern corporate America.
"Its time for them to own their failure". Amen Senator. We didn't own the White House the last 8 years. The Supreme Court the last 8 years. The House, the Senate for the first 6 years of the decade. Republicans did. If you don't like where this nation is at, you know who to take your frustration out on. And it ain't the donkeys.
(note: I never thought I'd ever type or say the line "don't take your frustrations out on the donkeys". (bob dylan voice) oh the times, they are a'changin ...)
Great point about how the actual living wage has decreased in the 8 years under Bush. Thank you lack of a national energy policy. Seriously, that's impeachable on its own. You own every effing branch of the effing government for the first 6 years you're on the job, and you STILL don't have a freaking energy policy to get us off Middle Eastern oil? That's just criminal. (campaign slogan voice) Stupid. Retarded. Bush.
"An economy that honors the dignity of work". Haven't seen that since the 1990s. Nowadays, the harder you work ... the faster you get downsized. Because corporate profits, after all, are all that matter. If that stock goes up $.02 a share because you lay off 1,000 workers to "save costs" and "reposition the company", hey, that's good!!!
"Ours is a policy that says government cannot solve all our problems, but that it should do what we cannot do for ourselves". Amen. My views on government exactly.
"Our government should work for us, not against us, it should help us, not hurt us ... that's the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves but that we also rise or fall as one nation." Amen Senator. Amen.
At this point, we are nearly 20 minutes in ... and we still have zero idea what his "change" is. He's done a great job of speaking on a level that average Americans (like me) can understand. He's delivered the sweeping thoughts and pleasantries that we know he can say. But again, where's the substance? Where's the beef?
"I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas". There's some beef. And Amen! Amen! Why the hell hasn't this been done already?
"I will cut taxes for 95% of all working families". How? There's no specifics given, there's no reason to believe this. At some point, you can't cut taxes anymore on the "working class". Especially since the top 1% of wage earners currently pay 52% of the taxes!
"Now is the time to understand that drilling is a stop gap solution, not a long term solution". Wrong Senator. Dead wrong. Its incredible to me that my party can be so wrong on THE issue of this election. Its truly mind boggling, the ignorance of the Democratic establishment, on this issue. The only way to get off of foreign oil, is to find our own. Which means drill. And if anyone honestly believes that oil companies, who know their time as profitable ventures is very limited and thus have to maximize every cent of profit while they can, if anyone honestly believes it is going to take them "10 years" to bring new pipelines and facilities online and pumping, they're nuts. I doubt it would take even 3. When Bush symbolically lifted the federal ban on drilling, a ban his daddy enacted by the way, since that moment, gas is down almost $.40 / gallon. Just saying we MIGHT drill dropped gas $.40. Imagine the plummet if we, you know, actually put into action what we say.
Promises $150 billion over 10 years to alternative fuels. Utterly pointless. $15 billion / year isn't going to solve the problem.
Promises high pay and more support for teachers. That's nice. Too bad he gave zero, zip, nada in terms of words to revoking No Child Left Behind. If anything he seemed to indicate he'd keep NCLB in place.
"If you commit to serving your community or our country, we will make sure you can afford a college education". Uuh, don't we already commit to that via the GI Bill?
On to health care. This point I completely agree with, allowing the American public to buy into the federal employee plan. It will continue to require the person to pay, while forcing private insurance companies to get in line and actually compete for their customers. Competition always drives costs down. Of course, he stole this idea from Hillary, but hey, why bother at this point.
Great line about how he wants his daughters to have the exact same opportunities as someone else's sons.
"Many of these plans will cost money". No sh*t. Claims he's laid out how he'll pay for every dime. Uuh, ok. I'm not buying it, but ok.
"We cannot meet 21st century challenges with a 20th century bureaucracy". Agreed.
"We must admit that meeting America's promise will require more than just money ... yes, government must lead, but each of us must do our part". OK. So what exactly is it that you want us to do, Senator? Specifics! Give us some damned specifics!
"We must admit that programs alone cannot replace parents! That government cannot turn off the television and make kids do their homework! That fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children!" Whoa, this guy is the liberal in this election?!?!
"Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility, that's the essense of America's promise". Amen Senator. Amen.
"John McCain says he'll follow bin Ladin to the gates of hell. But he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives". Great line. Entirely untrue; McCain is not the one leading our military efforts the last 8 years. But still, great line.
"We are the party of Roosevelt, of Kennedy. So don't tell me Democrats won't keep this country safe!" We're also the party of Carter and Dukakis. Anyone ready to see Barry driving a tank in a campaign ad? Or a pic of Barry in a sweater saying that our best days are behind us? I swear, sometimes this party drives me to drink. (sometimes?!?!)
"As commander in chief, I will never hesitate to keep this country safe. But I will only commit our troops into combat with a clear, defined mission ..." Uuh, Senator? Our troops in Iraq were given a clear, defined mission when that war started. Its not a clear, defined mission that screwed us. It was lack of a clear, defined leadership.
Promises to negotiate with those that hate us. Yeah, ask Neville Chamberlain how well that approach works.
"So that America is once again that last, best hope for all those that yearn for freedom". Uuh, Senator? What do you mean by "once again"?
"Let us agree that patriotism has no party". Amen. A freaking men, Senator.
"They have not served a red America, or a blue America, they have served the UNITED States of America". Great line.
USA chant going. So f*ck off Republicans! At least some of us Dems are patriotic! We just choose to embrace reality rather than whatever (system of a down voice) "lies from the tablecloth" Bush is feeding us.
I wanted to get this part verbatim, because I thought this was his best moment last night, at the 35 minute mark for about the next 2, 2 1/2 minutes. Just ... this was the clearest, most focused, cohesive argument made last night to elect Obama, the next 5 paragraphs:
"We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the 2nd Amendment while keeping AK47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian sisters and brothers deserve the right to visit the person they love in the hospital, and to live lives free from discrimination. Passions may fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child, or when an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.
"This too is part of America's promise, the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in a common effort. I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life, is just a Trojan horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that's to be expected.
"Because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from. You make a big election about small things. And you know what? Its worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government.
"Because when Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, you think its best to stop hoping, to settle for what you already know. I get it. I realize that I'm not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree. And I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
"But I stand before you tonight, because all across America, something is stirring. What the naysayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. Its about you! (huge applause) Its about you! For 18 long months, you have stood up, one by one and said enough to the politics of the past! You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result! You have shown what history teaches us, that at defining moments in history like this one, that change doesn't come from Washington, it comes to Washington! (huge applause)"
Just ... very well laid out. Great, great oratory argument here. And he follows it up with another great section of his speech:
"You know, this nation has more wealth than any nation on earth. But that's not what makes us rich. This nation has the greatest military the world has ever known. But that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
"Instead, it is that American spirit, that American promise, that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain, that makes us set aside our differences, that makes us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, that better place around the bend. That promise is our greatest inheritance."
Amen, Senator. A freaking men.
And with that, he was pretty much done. The confetti fell, the fireworks were launched, (thankfully) no CNN staffers were dropping f bombs on the air like during Kerry's convention ... and to the general election we go.
And I am still undecided.
I wanted substance. I wanted "red meat". I wanted to know exactly what Senator Obama will do. I wanted action plans, I wanted details, I wanted something to show me exactly what the Senator means by "change".
I didn't get it. We didn't get it. And I think its a mistake.
He's got 67 days to make his case to the public at large.
Good luck.
And anyone who feels pride, joy, amazement at the honor we have of being citizens of the United States of America ... last night, you had to feel great. John McCain, in what I thought was a truly classy, incredible gesture, put it best in an ad he ran last night. "Congratulations. Job well done".
For the first time, last night, the idea that anyone in America can become President, became a reality. The dream ... became a reality. Just a truly incredible, inspiring, jaw-dropping awesome moment when Obama took the podium.
Having said that ... did he win my vote? Let's see ...
"With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for President of the United States." Arguably the single most historic moment in American political history, and its how he opens the speech. I stood and applauded right along with the 84,000 plus at fake mile high. Again, regardless of your leanings, regardless of your thoughts on Senator Obama, this was beyond a historic moment. Hillary may have cracked the glass ceiling, but Obama took a freaking jack hammer and destroyed it last night. What an amazing, wonderful, awe-inspiring nation we live in.
The shout out to Hillary was nice. Too bad nobody from Team Clinton was in the house to hear it.
I stood and applauded for nearly 30 seconds at the Ted Kennedy line. My feeling on Ted Kennedy is this: you know all is right, good and decent in this world when he's in the Senate. He's a comfort blanket. Just like having Rush on the radio is a comfort blanket. As long as the two blowhards are out there, you know our democracy works. To think of a Senate without Ted Kennedy ... well, let's just not think of it and move on.
I also, and probably because after the Clinton years, you just never expect to see it, but the genuine love and respect Barry has for Michelle and his kids. Its not a partnership, its a relationship. Just awesome to see.
"For 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women ... found the courage to keep it alive. We meet at one of those defining moments tonight". Yes. Yes we do.
"America, we are better than these last 8 years! We are a better country than this!" Amen Senator. A freaking men.
"We are better ... than a government that sits on its hands, while a major American city drowns before our eyes". Amen Senator. A freaking men. (Here's hoping we don't see a replay early next week ...)
"We are here because we love this country too much to let the next 4 years look like the last 8". Amen.
"On November 4th, we must stand up and say 8 is Enough!" Great line.
Crowd picks up on it. "8 is enough! 8 is enough!"
"Let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction. And for that we owe him our gratitude and respect". I kind of hit on this on my review of Biden's speech ... but I like how Obama is going about this. Acknowledge the elephant in the room. McCain is a hero, in every sense of the word. Pay him tribute, honor his service, but point out that it isn't McCain that's the problem, its his stand on the issues of our time. Obama is doing this very, very well so far. In my never humble opinion.
I loved his example of the Michigan auto workers who showed up even after they knew the plant was closing. As someone who's been through "corporate downsizing" not once, not twice, but three times in 10 years... we aren't whiners. We're Americans who deserve better. A little thing called "dignity". "respect". "common sense". Amen Senator. A freaking men.
"I don't believe Senator McCain doesn't care about what is going on in the lives of ordinary Americans. I just believe he doesn't know." Great line.
"In Washington they call this the ownership society, but what it really means is, you're on your own". Another great line. Leads into a tremendously effective rant about modern corporate America.
"Its time for them to own their failure". Amen Senator. We didn't own the White House the last 8 years. The Supreme Court the last 8 years. The House, the Senate for the first 6 years of the decade. Republicans did. If you don't like where this nation is at, you know who to take your frustration out on. And it ain't the donkeys.
(note: I never thought I'd ever type or say the line "don't take your frustrations out on the donkeys". (bob dylan voice) oh the times, they are a'changin ...)
Great point about how the actual living wage has decreased in the 8 years under Bush. Thank you lack of a national energy policy. Seriously, that's impeachable on its own. You own every effing branch of the effing government for the first 6 years you're on the job, and you STILL don't have a freaking energy policy to get us off Middle Eastern oil? That's just criminal. (campaign slogan voice) Stupid. Retarded. Bush.
"An economy that honors the dignity of work". Haven't seen that since the 1990s. Nowadays, the harder you work ... the faster you get downsized. Because corporate profits, after all, are all that matter. If that stock goes up $.02 a share because you lay off 1,000 workers to "save costs" and "reposition the company", hey, that's good!!!
"Ours is a policy that says government cannot solve all our problems, but that it should do what we cannot do for ourselves". Amen. My views on government exactly.
"Our government should work for us, not against us, it should help us, not hurt us ... that's the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves but that we also rise or fall as one nation." Amen Senator. Amen.
At this point, we are nearly 20 minutes in ... and we still have zero idea what his "change" is. He's done a great job of speaking on a level that average Americans (like me) can understand. He's delivered the sweeping thoughts and pleasantries that we know he can say. But again, where's the substance? Where's the beef?
"I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas". There's some beef. And Amen! Amen! Why the hell hasn't this been done already?
"I will cut taxes for 95% of all working families". How? There's no specifics given, there's no reason to believe this. At some point, you can't cut taxes anymore on the "working class". Especially since the top 1% of wage earners currently pay 52% of the taxes!
"Now is the time to understand that drilling is a stop gap solution, not a long term solution". Wrong Senator. Dead wrong. Its incredible to me that my party can be so wrong on THE issue of this election. Its truly mind boggling, the ignorance of the Democratic establishment, on this issue. The only way to get off of foreign oil, is to find our own. Which means drill. And if anyone honestly believes that oil companies, who know their time as profitable ventures is very limited and thus have to maximize every cent of profit while they can, if anyone honestly believes it is going to take them "10 years" to bring new pipelines and facilities online and pumping, they're nuts. I doubt it would take even 3. When Bush symbolically lifted the federal ban on drilling, a ban his daddy enacted by the way, since that moment, gas is down almost $.40 / gallon. Just saying we MIGHT drill dropped gas $.40. Imagine the plummet if we, you know, actually put into action what we say.
Promises $150 billion over 10 years to alternative fuels. Utterly pointless. $15 billion / year isn't going to solve the problem.
Promises high pay and more support for teachers. That's nice. Too bad he gave zero, zip, nada in terms of words to revoking No Child Left Behind. If anything he seemed to indicate he'd keep NCLB in place.
"If you commit to serving your community or our country, we will make sure you can afford a college education". Uuh, don't we already commit to that via the GI Bill?
On to health care. This point I completely agree with, allowing the American public to buy into the federal employee plan. It will continue to require the person to pay, while forcing private insurance companies to get in line and actually compete for their customers. Competition always drives costs down. Of course, he stole this idea from Hillary, but hey, why bother at this point.
Great line about how he wants his daughters to have the exact same opportunities as someone else's sons.
"Many of these plans will cost money". No sh*t. Claims he's laid out how he'll pay for every dime. Uuh, ok. I'm not buying it, but ok.
"We cannot meet 21st century challenges with a 20th century bureaucracy". Agreed.
"We must admit that meeting America's promise will require more than just money ... yes, government must lead, but each of us must do our part". OK. So what exactly is it that you want us to do, Senator? Specifics! Give us some damned specifics!
"We must admit that programs alone cannot replace parents! That government cannot turn off the television and make kids do their homework! That fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children!" Whoa, this guy is the liberal in this election?!?!
"Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility, that's the essense of America's promise". Amen Senator. Amen.
"John McCain says he'll follow bin Ladin to the gates of hell. But he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives". Great line. Entirely untrue; McCain is not the one leading our military efforts the last 8 years. But still, great line.
"We are the party of Roosevelt, of Kennedy. So don't tell me Democrats won't keep this country safe!" We're also the party of Carter and Dukakis. Anyone ready to see Barry driving a tank in a campaign ad? Or a pic of Barry in a sweater saying that our best days are behind us? I swear, sometimes this party drives me to drink. (sometimes?!?!)
"As commander in chief, I will never hesitate to keep this country safe. But I will only commit our troops into combat with a clear, defined mission ..." Uuh, Senator? Our troops in Iraq were given a clear, defined mission when that war started. Its not a clear, defined mission that screwed us. It was lack of a clear, defined leadership.
Promises to negotiate with those that hate us. Yeah, ask Neville Chamberlain how well that approach works.
"So that America is once again that last, best hope for all those that yearn for freedom". Uuh, Senator? What do you mean by "once again"?
"Let us agree that patriotism has no party". Amen. A freaking men, Senator.
"They have not served a red America, or a blue America, they have served the UNITED States of America". Great line.
USA chant going. So f*ck off Republicans! At least some of us Dems are patriotic! We just choose to embrace reality rather than whatever (system of a down voice) "lies from the tablecloth" Bush is feeding us.
I wanted to get this part verbatim, because I thought this was his best moment last night, at the 35 minute mark for about the next 2, 2 1/2 minutes. Just ... this was the clearest, most focused, cohesive argument made last night to elect Obama, the next 5 paragraphs:
"We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the 2nd Amendment while keeping AK47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian sisters and brothers deserve the right to visit the person they love in the hospital, and to live lives free from discrimination. Passions may fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child, or when an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.
"This too is part of America's promise, the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in a common effort. I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life, is just a Trojan horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that's to be expected.
"Because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from. You make a big election about small things. And you know what? Its worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government.
"Because when Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, you think its best to stop hoping, to settle for what you already know. I get it. I realize that I'm not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree. And I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
"But I stand before you tonight, because all across America, something is stirring. What the naysayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. Its about you! (huge applause) Its about you! For 18 long months, you have stood up, one by one and said enough to the politics of the past! You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result! You have shown what history teaches us, that at defining moments in history like this one, that change doesn't come from Washington, it comes to Washington! (huge applause)"
Just ... very well laid out. Great, great oratory argument here. And he follows it up with another great section of his speech:
"You know, this nation has more wealth than any nation on earth. But that's not what makes us rich. This nation has the greatest military the world has ever known. But that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
"Instead, it is that American spirit, that American promise, that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain, that makes us set aside our differences, that makes us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, that better place around the bend. That promise is our greatest inheritance."
Amen, Senator. A freaking men.
And with that, he was pretty much done. The confetti fell, the fireworks were launched, (thankfully) no CNN staffers were dropping f bombs on the air like during Kerry's convention ... and to the general election we go.
And I am still undecided.
I wanted substance. I wanted "red meat". I wanted to know exactly what Senator Obama will do. I wanted action plans, I wanted details, I wanted something to show me exactly what the Senator means by "change".
I didn't get it. We didn't get it. And I think its a mistake.
He's got 67 days to make his case to the public at large.
Good luck.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
the dnc: day four ... live blog
Well here we are. No matter what you think of the ticket, of the nomination process, there is no denying, tonight is a historical night.
A non-white male atop a national party ticket.
Incredible.
I intend to go at this for a little while tonight, but I will not blog Obama's speech, I intend to watch that in its entirety, uninterrupted, and will post my reactions either later tonight or (more likely) tomorrow morning.
Here we go.
7:23pm: Governor Richardson just finished. The man who should be coming off a two term Presidency is up next apparently.
Wow, fake mile high is jammed packed. I think it would be so incredible to be there tonight. Again, regardless of your opinions of Senator Obama, what a historic, nation-altering moment this is. For the first time, ANYONE truly can become President. Just awe inspiring.
(I'm still undecided, for those keeping score at home. Biden really, really had me in last night. But that's the problem with this Convention. Each speaker who has effectively spoken on voting for Obama ... is 25 times more qualified than him for the job. Yup, its my party).
Yikes, Dick Durbin is introducing Obama. Not a Dick Durbin fan. Then again, if Hillary was the nominee, that likely means Chucky Schumer would be introducing her. And I hate Chucky Schumer, the man who caused IndyMac to fail overnight by inciting a needless, criminal in nature panic on the bank.
Music stops. Must mean Gore is up.
Nope, its Stevie Wonder! And Take 6! This has potential.
This is ok. Its actually pretty decent, but compared to Melissa Etheridge last night, and the incredible John Legend performance on Monday, its missing something.
I gotta say, the stage looks immaculate. I thought, based on the coverage and preliminary pics, that it would come off as too much ... but it works. Whoever came up with this, smart designer. It actually looks really similar to the RNC stage from 2004. Except with blue instead of red carpet. Because blue rocks.
Yes! "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered!" Awesome.
The scene is really, really neat. The stadium is just about filled up, American flags waving everywhere. Team Obama nailed this ... so far.
That was wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
And of course, we follow it up, and kill the positive vibe ... with a sob story. Yup, its my party.
Here's Al!
(steve applauding!)
He looks good.
Applause still going, both at fake mile high and in a computer room in south KC.
"Its not a guarantee, its only an opportunity". Good line.
If Gore had spoken like this more often in 2000, he'd be a two term incumbent.
"The same policies? All over again? Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous". Great line.
Its got to be killing Al Gore right now. He is 2,500,000,000,000 times more qualified for this than Obama is.
I agree, Biden did give a great speech last night. Although apparently only Al and I think that.
"I know something about close elections ..." Sadly, we all do.
"The forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents". Good line.
I might be nuts ... ok, I am nuts ... but I swear, Al's wearing the same freaking outfit he wore 8 years ago when he accepted the nomination. I might need to rewatch that speech for a confirmation.
And he's wandering off on the fight against global warming. Or pardon me, the "climate crisis". Really, if "climate crisis" means its 95 and sunny in KC in November, is that a bad thing? (I say no).
"This administration, and the special interests that control it lock, stock, and barrel after barrel after barrel ..." Another good line.
50 years from now, we as a nation will view Bush v Gore with the disgust and embarrassment that we view Dred Scott and Plessy v Ferguson. Hell, I already view Bush v Gore with the disgust I view Dred Scott and Plessy v Ferguson with.
"When as many as 3 Supreme Court justices could be appointed in the first term of the next President ..." Wow. That's the single strongest argument I've heard yet in favor of Obama. And it took 4 days to deliver it.
"He (Obama) represents a clean break from the politics of partisanship and division". Uuh, no he doesn't Al. He is partisanship and division, according to his Senate voting record.
"There are times in the history of our nation when the very fate of our nation depends on rising up to face the challenge in front of us". True.
Comparing Obama's experience to Lincoln's. Very, very effective. (Obama has more experience, actually).
I'd forgotten Lincoln opposed the Mexican War on moral grounds (a war fought entirely for one reason, to acquire territory to expand slavery). I should have remembered that, I do have a US History minor with an emphasis in the Civil War era.
Of course, noone will mention the dirty little secret that the Emancipation Proclamation is the single greatest political document in American history, in that it actually freed 0 slaves. Lincoln was a genius.
Michelle won't be nearly as great a First Lady as Tipper would have been.
Obama scheduled to speak at 9:15. Seems late, actually. Gore went for 50 something minutes in his acceptance. Clinton went over an hour in each of his. Kerry pushed an hour last year.
The scene when you go to the side camera, after a huge applause line, is just jaw dropping inspiring. It makes you want to rush to your local military recruiter, its that pro America. Its just ... awesome. The overhead, not so much, but the side from the base of the podium, just incredible. Great, great job by Team Obama so far setting this thing up.
Now, can he deliver? Remember Barry, KISS. Keep is simple, stupid. Speak to the guy in flyover country sitting on his couch drinking a Coors Light.
Its nice to see a full house at fake mile high not dressed in bright orange.
Wow, there has to be more than 80k there. This place is jammed packed. Just incredible to see.
(And yes, I'd have paid the $1000 price to get a scalped ticket if I was there. This is arguably the most historic day in American political history since ... uuh ... its been a while.)
Alternating English and Spanish "Yes We Can!" chants. Neat.
Si Se Puede! Yes We Can! The true genius, greatness of America. "E Plurubus Unum". Out of many, one.
Crowd cheering for some rason, but I can't figure it out. Looks like a keyboard going up?
Beach balls flying in the delegates section. As a College World Series fan that drives up for at least a couple days every year, I can sum that up in two words. Freaking awesome!
We got multiple keyboards going up. Michael McDonald your performer! And somebody named Ray Chu? Ray Choo?
Doing "America the Beautiful". This should kick ass.
He's going for the Ray Charles version. And he's nailing it. This is just awesome. Sometimes, I am proud to be a Democrat.
Not just a youtube! moment, its a "when the hell is ITunes making this available" performance. Absolutely amazing. Yay America!!! (kazoo voice) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tribute to Retired Generals up next apparently. Dick Durbin at the top of the hour. Senator Obama at 9:15. My liver waves the white flag of surrender somewhere in there I'm sure.
The "Reverend Jackson" is in the house! And Reverend Al was on MSNBC a couple hours ago. I want to once again register my official outrage that Reverend Al was not given a speaking slot at this convention. Let us resolve, not just as Democrats, but as people who love fun, to NEVER again deny Reverend Al a speaking slot. At any party's convention.
(I'm guessing he still wants his 40 acre and a mule).
Ike's daughter talking. Pardon me, Eisenhower's granddaughter. Wait, wasn't Ike a Republican?
No female speakers or performers have worn pearls yet tonight in the part that I've watched. (tony bruno voice) that's an outrage. Although in Sheryl Crow's case, she can wear any damned thing she wants. My God, to be mid 40s and look like that ... (beavis and butthead voice) uuh, hey baby. I'm single ...
So she's in the tank for Barry too. Nice.
Seriously, there is not an empty seat in the house. Except at the very, very top behind the podium. And I'm guessing those will be filled in by speech time, I hear the security to get in today was nuts.
How the hell are this many military folks Democrats? If you listen to Rush, Hannity and other conservative pundits, we Democrats hate the military and want to lose the war on terror? (The lesson, as always: you give anyone a microphone, they'll make an ass out of themselves. Even if, in Rush's case at least, I usually laugh right along with him at the asses in my party ...)
Hey, we got a Wes Clark sighting! Yet another former candidate more qualified for the Presidency than Barry ...
Uh oh, this guy just said "let me tell you how I made it to mile high". It ain't mile high no more, pal. The Real Mile High bit the dust 8 years ago.
And yes, despite the fact that I capitalize nothing affilitated with the denver broncos football operation, I will capitalize Real Mile High. Greatest home field advantage ever. The freaking stadium shook from noise and people stomping. Their fans abused visiting fans. That's the NFL baybee! Real Mile High had my respect. Other than that and barrel man, I hate everything about denver. I won't capitalize barrel man, but any guy who shows up for 40 plus years in nothing but a freaking barrel, also has my respect. Even if he supports the "enemy".
Oh my God. Here is what follows America's heroes. "America's Voices Program". I will simply type the description of each speaker:
* Michigan teamster car transport driver affected by decline in car manufacturing.
* New to campaigning, this Akron mother and grandmother is an Obama volunteer.
* Struggling small business owner in Melbourne, FL, with health issues.
* Albuquerque, NM public school worker concerned about economy.
And there's 4 more of those. I might slit my wrists before they're done.
Joe Biden on stage! He effing rocked last night, in Steve's opinion!
His wife is such a MILF.
I think Biden's hit the sauce tonight. Or as Gregg's old neighbor at Arrowhead used to put it, he's "on his medicine".
Either the glare is awful on stage ... or Biden is visibly struggling to keep his eyes open.
I love Joe Biden. Anyone who pokes fun not once, but twice, at "Dingy" Harry Reid in his brief remarks, I love.
Oh Christ, we lead off with the Teamster. Michael Strahan tooth gap. He looks familiar. I'm guessing he was in "Roger and Me".
The Bush administration has nothing to do with Detroit's downfall sir. The incompetence of GM, as so visibly and forcefully exposed in "Roger and Me", and the utter incompetence of Ford, as exposed daily in the Detroit Lions, that's why Detroit had its downfall. Bush might be incompetent, and I might not care much for him ... but you can't fault him for your own companies stupidity.
Glenne Headly look-alike. Going off about the Muslim email against Obama. I agree with her on this, its ridiculous the depths religious right quacks will go to, to see "their guy" elected. (Only the joke's on them; they don't have a friend in this race. (kurt warner voice) Thank you Jesus!!!!!!! Nothing puts a smile on my face like seeing the religious right tore a new a-hole ...)
Ohio ... is a state Barry lost by 10 plus to HRC after Super Tuesday. The definition of insanity is nominating a man who lost by double digits to a candidate with NO shot to win the nomination at that point. (steve bashing head on desk in frustration ...)
We need President Hillary Rodham Clinton lady.
"I don't tell this story to get sympathy ..." Sure you don't. Here's a thought lady: if you can't make it in your current job ... find a new one! Jesus, how tough is it to understand that? If you're failing in your current position ... find a new one!
(My God, I sound more like a Republican every day. Hang on ... yup, I still favor equal gay rights in every aspect of the word "equal". So I'm still a Dem. Whew.)
OK, that's it for night four. I will post my thoughts on Obama's speech once I compose them. I'll also probably post my recap on the DNC itself.
And yes ... for the two rabid fans out there ... I will live blog the RNC as well. All four nights, not sure. But at least a couple of them.
I leave this live blog still on the fence. As I posted earlier today, Barry needs to not only lay out specifics tonight ... he needs to come off as an average joe. If he tries to perpetuate this Messiah crap the right wing has assigned to him ... as my relatives would say, fuhgedaboudit.
A non-white male atop a national party ticket.
Incredible.
I intend to go at this for a little while tonight, but I will not blog Obama's speech, I intend to watch that in its entirety, uninterrupted, and will post my reactions either later tonight or (more likely) tomorrow morning.
Here we go.
7:23pm: Governor Richardson just finished. The man who should be coming off a two term Presidency is up next apparently.
Wow, fake mile high is jammed packed. I think it would be so incredible to be there tonight. Again, regardless of your opinions of Senator Obama, what a historic, nation-altering moment this is. For the first time, ANYONE truly can become President. Just awe inspiring.
(I'm still undecided, for those keeping score at home. Biden really, really had me in last night. But that's the problem with this Convention. Each speaker who has effectively spoken on voting for Obama ... is 25 times more qualified than him for the job. Yup, its my party).
Yikes, Dick Durbin is introducing Obama. Not a Dick Durbin fan. Then again, if Hillary was the nominee, that likely means Chucky Schumer would be introducing her. And I hate Chucky Schumer, the man who caused IndyMac to fail overnight by inciting a needless, criminal in nature panic on the bank.
Music stops. Must mean Gore is up.
Nope, its Stevie Wonder! And Take 6! This has potential.
This is ok. Its actually pretty decent, but compared to Melissa Etheridge last night, and the incredible John Legend performance on Monday, its missing something.
I gotta say, the stage looks immaculate. I thought, based on the coverage and preliminary pics, that it would come off as too much ... but it works. Whoever came up with this, smart designer. It actually looks really similar to the RNC stage from 2004. Except with blue instead of red carpet. Because blue rocks.
Yes! "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered!" Awesome.
The scene is really, really neat. The stadium is just about filled up, American flags waving everywhere. Team Obama nailed this ... so far.
That was wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
And of course, we follow it up, and kill the positive vibe ... with a sob story. Yup, its my party.
Here's Al!
(steve applauding!)
He looks good.
Applause still going, both at fake mile high and in a computer room in south KC.
"Its not a guarantee, its only an opportunity". Good line.
If Gore had spoken like this more often in 2000, he'd be a two term incumbent.
"The same policies? All over again? Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous". Great line.
Its got to be killing Al Gore right now. He is 2,500,000,000,000 times more qualified for this than Obama is.
I agree, Biden did give a great speech last night. Although apparently only Al and I think that.
"I know something about close elections ..." Sadly, we all do.
"The forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents". Good line.
I might be nuts ... ok, I am nuts ... but I swear, Al's wearing the same freaking outfit he wore 8 years ago when he accepted the nomination. I might need to rewatch that speech for a confirmation.
And he's wandering off on the fight against global warming. Or pardon me, the "climate crisis". Really, if "climate crisis" means its 95 and sunny in KC in November, is that a bad thing? (I say no).
"This administration, and the special interests that control it lock, stock, and barrel after barrel after barrel ..." Another good line.
50 years from now, we as a nation will view Bush v Gore with the disgust and embarrassment that we view Dred Scott and Plessy v Ferguson. Hell, I already view Bush v Gore with the disgust I view Dred Scott and Plessy v Ferguson with.
"When as many as 3 Supreme Court justices could be appointed in the first term of the next President ..." Wow. That's the single strongest argument I've heard yet in favor of Obama. And it took 4 days to deliver it.
"He (Obama) represents a clean break from the politics of partisanship and division". Uuh, no he doesn't Al. He is partisanship and division, according to his Senate voting record.
"There are times in the history of our nation when the very fate of our nation depends on rising up to face the challenge in front of us". True.
Comparing Obama's experience to Lincoln's. Very, very effective. (Obama has more experience, actually).
I'd forgotten Lincoln opposed the Mexican War on moral grounds (a war fought entirely for one reason, to acquire territory to expand slavery). I should have remembered that, I do have a US History minor with an emphasis in the Civil War era.
Of course, noone will mention the dirty little secret that the Emancipation Proclamation is the single greatest political document in American history, in that it actually freed 0 slaves. Lincoln was a genius.
Michelle won't be nearly as great a First Lady as Tipper would have been.
Obama scheduled to speak at 9:15. Seems late, actually. Gore went for 50 something minutes in his acceptance. Clinton went over an hour in each of his. Kerry pushed an hour last year.
The scene when you go to the side camera, after a huge applause line, is just jaw dropping inspiring. It makes you want to rush to your local military recruiter, its that pro America. Its just ... awesome. The overhead, not so much, but the side from the base of the podium, just incredible. Great, great job by Team Obama so far setting this thing up.
Now, can he deliver? Remember Barry, KISS. Keep is simple, stupid. Speak to the guy in flyover country sitting on his couch drinking a Coors Light.
Its nice to see a full house at fake mile high not dressed in bright orange.
Wow, there has to be more than 80k there. This place is jammed packed. Just incredible to see.
(And yes, I'd have paid the $1000 price to get a scalped ticket if I was there. This is arguably the most historic day in American political history since ... uuh ... its been a while.)
Alternating English and Spanish "Yes We Can!" chants. Neat.
Si Se Puede! Yes We Can! The true genius, greatness of America. "E Plurubus Unum". Out of many, one.
Crowd cheering for some rason, but I can't figure it out. Looks like a keyboard going up?
Beach balls flying in the delegates section. As a College World Series fan that drives up for at least a couple days every year, I can sum that up in two words. Freaking awesome!
We got multiple keyboards going up. Michael McDonald your performer! And somebody named Ray Chu? Ray Choo?
Doing "America the Beautiful". This should kick ass.
He's going for the Ray Charles version. And he's nailing it. This is just awesome. Sometimes, I am proud to be a Democrat.
Not just a youtube! moment, its a "when the hell is ITunes making this available" performance. Absolutely amazing. Yay America!!! (kazoo voice) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tribute to Retired Generals up next apparently. Dick Durbin at the top of the hour. Senator Obama at 9:15. My liver waves the white flag of surrender somewhere in there I'm sure.
The "Reverend Jackson" is in the house! And Reverend Al was on MSNBC a couple hours ago. I want to once again register my official outrage that Reverend Al was not given a speaking slot at this convention. Let us resolve, not just as Democrats, but as people who love fun, to NEVER again deny Reverend Al a speaking slot. At any party's convention.
(I'm guessing he still wants his 40 acre and a mule).
Ike's daughter talking. Pardon me, Eisenhower's granddaughter. Wait, wasn't Ike a Republican?
No female speakers or performers have worn pearls yet tonight in the part that I've watched. (tony bruno voice) that's an outrage. Although in Sheryl Crow's case, she can wear any damned thing she wants. My God, to be mid 40s and look like that ... (beavis and butthead voice) uuh, hey baby. I'm single ...
So she's in the tank for Barry too. Nice.
Seriously, there is not an empty seat in the house. Except at the very, very top behind the podium. And I'm guessing those will be filled in by speech time, I hear the security to get in today was nuts.
How the hell are this many military folks Democrats? If you listen to Rush, Hannity and other conservative pundits, we Democrats hate the military and want to lose the war on terror? (The lesson, as always: you give anyone a microphone, they'll make an ass out of themselves. Even if, in Rush's case at least, I usually laugh right along with him at the asses in my party ...)
Hey, we got a Wes Clark sighting! Yet another former candidate more qualified for the Presidency than Barry ...
Uh oh, this guy just said "let me tell you how I made it to mile high". It ain't mile high no more, pal. The Real Mile High bit the dust 8 years ago.
And yes, despite the fact that I capitalize nothing affilitated with the denver broncos football operation, I will capitalize Real Mile High. Greatest home field advantage ever. The freaking stadium shook from noise and people stomping. Their fans abused visiting fans. That's the NFL baybee! Real Mile High had my respect. Other than that and barrel man, I hate everything about denver. I won't capitalize barrel man, but any guy who shows up for 40 plus years in nothing but a freaking barrel, also has my respect. Even if he supports the "enemy".
Oh my God. Here is what follows America's heroes. "America's Voices Program". I will simply type the description of each speaker:
* Michigan teamster car transport driver affected by decline in car manufacturing.
* New to campaigning, this Akron mother and grandmother is an Obama volunteer.
* Struggling small business owner in Melbourne, FL, with health issues.
* Albuquerque, NM public school worker concerned about economy.
And there's 4 more of those. I might slit my wrists before they're done.
Joe Biden on stage! He effing rocked last night, in Steve's opinion!
His wife is such a MILF.
I think Biden's hit the sauce tonight. Or as Gregg's old neighbor at Arrowhead used to put it, he's "on his medicine".
Either the glare is awful on stage ... or Biden is visibly struggling to keep his eyes open.
I love Joe Biden. Anyone who pokes fun not once, but twice, at "Dingy" Harry Reid in his brief remarks, I love.
Oh Christ, we lead off with the Teamster. Michael Strahan tooth gap. He looks familiar. I'm guessing he was in "Roger and Me".
The Bush administration has nothing to do with Detroit's downfall sir. The incompetence of GM, as so visibly and forcefully exposed in "Roger and Me", and the utter incompetence of Ford, as exposed daily in the Detroit Lions, that's why Detroit had its downfall. Bush might be incompetent, and I might not care much for him ... but you can't fault him for your own companies stupidity.
Glenne Headly look-alike. Going off about the Muslim email against Obama. I agree with her on this, its ridiculous the depths religious right quacks will go to, to see "their guy" elected. (Only the joke's on them; they don't have a friend in this race. (kurt warner voice) Thank you Jesus!!!!!!! Nothing puts a smile on my face like seeing the religious right tore a new a-hole ...)
Ohio ... is a state Barry lost by 10 plus to HRC after Super Tuesday. The definition of insanity is nominating a man who lost by double digits to a candidate with NO shot to win the nomination at that point. (steve bashing head on desk in frustration ...)
We need President Hillary Rodham Clinton lady.
"I don't tell this story to get sympathy ..." Sure you don't. Here's a thought lady: if you can't make it in your current job ... find a new one! Jesus, how tough is it to understand that? If you're failing in your current position ... find a new one!
(My God, I sound more like a Republican every day. Hang on ... yup, I still favor equal gay rights in every aspect of the word "equal". So I'm still a Dem. Whew.)
OK, that's it for night four. I will post my thoughts on Obama's speech once I compose them. I'll also probably post my recap on the DNC itself.
And yes ... for the two rabid fans out there ... I will live blog the RNC as well. All four nights, not sure. But at least a couple of them.
I leave this live blog still on the fence. As I posted earlier today, Barry needs to not only lay out specifics tonight ... he needs to come off as an average joe. If he tries to perpetuate this Messiah crap the right wing has assigned to him ... as my relatives would say, fuhgedaboudit.
biden rocked. can barry do the same?
Joe Biden was tremendous last night, I thought. I must have stood and applauded at least 10 times. What a tremendous grand slam of a speech. He was on point. He was funny. He was hard hitting. He was inspiring. It was just wonderful to listen to. My favorite moments from Biden's acceptance speech, and there are a lot of them, which you can easily view here: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/08/28/sot.dnc.biden.entire.cnn
* the opening praise of his son. "You know you've become a success when your son or daughter turns out better than you are. I'm a success. I'm a hell of a success". You can definitely see the love, the respect, he has for his family. No matter what you think of the ticket, and I'm still unsold ... at least we've got two decent, honorable parents who geniunely love their kids on it.
* the praise of his family, and his upbringing. In stark contrast to Barry, who seems to be doing everything possible to avoid talking about his upbringing, including throwing grandma under the bus as a racist in the primaries. But especially the praise and honor towards his mom. Just wonderful to see. I love seeing public figures genuinely showing respect to their true mentors, the 'rents. I loved the line about how "I used to stutter, and mom just said Joey, its because you're so bright you can't get the words out quickly enough". You could tell there's a lot of love, of respect, of geniune bond, in the Biden family. Very enjoyable to witness.
* "failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable". As someone that has experienced his fair share of failure, granted mostly self inflicted but still ... those words ring very true with me.
* the "freudian slip" referencing the election of George ... I mean, John McCain.
* "we do not have to accept the situation, we have the power to change it". Amen Senator. Amen.
* the praise for McCain. I can't hit on this enough. You can have strong disagreements with someone in their politics and still be friends, still have tremendous respect and admiration for someone. You can honor someone for their service, and yet disagree with their stand on the issues. John McCain is a true American hero. Noone can dispute this. If you do dispute it, you should live in the Hanoi Hilton for 5 years of torture, of pure hell on earth. But McCain is wrong on certain issues. Again, good for Senator Biden to stress this difference. Too bad Republicans couldn't do this 4 years ago when another American hero was seeking the White House.
* "any country that outteaches us today, will out compete us tomorrow". Great perspective.
* hitting home the lack of progress in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and against al Quada. Its ridiculous that we're almost 7 years after 9/11 and haven't found and killed bin Ladin.
* "our greatest Presidents ... all challenged us to embrace change."
* "Millions of Americans have been knocked down. This is the time we get up, together!" Yes, a good number of us have been knocked down this year. And the only way to get back up is to rise together.
Like I said, I loved Biden's speech last night. He came across as a guy you'd love to have a beer with, shoot the sh*t with at the local bar down the street. One of us. The total opposite of the package we are being sold of Barry.
Which brings me to tonight. And the problem Obama's got.
Which is that he's not Biden.
I think Obama is in the same spot right now, that Gore was in in 2000. He has two major tasks he has to accomplish tonight. The same two tasks Gore had to pull off 8 years ago.
First, he has to deliver an unquestioned grand slam speech. He has to lay out exactly what the change he is seeking is. Details to go with the lofty ideals. He has to provide some substance. Anyone can promise change. We need to hear what the change he seeks is. We need to know what current policies he'd overhaul, what current procedures he'd tear up and start over with. There must be substance, I cannot stress that enough. I am still an "undecided" voter. His speech tonight has to be addressed to the 10% of the electorate that fall into my category.
He's not going to change Republican's minds tonight. Write them off. You're not winning the conservative base. He also isn't going to change any Democrat's minds tonight. Write them off. The liberal base isn't going to abandon you. He has to move solidly, strongly, into the middle tonight, and leave no doubt about where he stands on the pertinent issues of the day.
Gore did this better than any candidate I've ever seen in 2000. Barry has to match Gore's 2000 speech tonight, in terms of providing details, substance, actual policy items.
But the real challenge Barack faces tonight, is connecting with his audience. To set aside the Messiah image, the "I am your salvation" message, and simply be "one of us". Because that's who Americans tend to elect. "One of us".
Someone who doesn't appear power hungry. Someone who you know is doing this, is running, because he wants to, not because he thinks its his destiny. Someone who won't lose any sleep over losing.
This is where Gore failed in 2000.
Gore, of course, everyone thought was too wooden, too rehearsed, too driven. Too boring. He overcame that (somewhat) with the kiss of Tipper on stage, with his fiery, on point, energized acceptance speech. But he never completely overcame it. Think "lockbox". Ultimately, it probably helped cost him the election. And the persistent recount certainly didn't help his view among people, it only confirmed their view of him.
We re-elected Bush because, let's face it, Kerry is a stuck up liberal who thinks he's better and smarter than everyone else in the room. He couldn't, and can't, connect with middle America. Ditto his arrogant running mate, "the Breck Girl", John Edwards. Bush, on the other hand, he is "one of us". He is a guy you'd have a beer with. He is a guy who has "experienced life". He's not perfect. He's f*cked up, he's admitted it, and used his past to make his life into something amazing. Its admirable actually. Americans connect with that. We've always connected with that.
Just like with Clinton in 1992. Bush Senior? Not gonna do it. Not gonna connect. Washington insider through and through. Clinton? One of us. He'd definitely have a beer with us at the local bar, and probably try to take the cute blonde on the barstool next to him home for a night of fun. Just like we do. Its why most of America still embraces him, despite the far right's attempt to turn Lewinsky giving him oral sex into a moral outrage. Because most of America not only doesn't care, we kind of think its cool to have an intern on call to pleasure you when you feel like it. And America still embraces Bill, despite all the baggage. As you witnessed last night. Because we all have baggage. We've all f*cked up, learned from it, and tried to get better. Just like Clinton. Its why he won twice. Its why he'd be running for a 5th term right now if there weren't term limits.
Reagan? Talk about "one of us". I never understood why the commentators couldn't grasp why the entire nation mourned his passing. Reagan WAS average America. I am anything but a conservative, but I took the day of his funeral off just to watch the coverage, to in some small way pay my respect, my regards, to the man that WAS America. He looked into the face of evil in our time and told it to "tear down this wall". He didn't dwell on the negatives that we all know exist, he instead chose to focus on the potential for greatness we all have. Reagan was "us". He was the embodiment of all that is great and wonderful and inspiring about this country.
Tonight, Obama has to connect with middle America. He has to come off the high horse, drop the rhetoric, and just be Barry. Don't lawyer up the speech, don't attempt to speak to a book club in San Francisco. Speak to me. Little ol' Steve, sitting on his couch, enjoying a Coors Light. Speak as if you were sitting next to me, trying to spark up a friendship. That's what America wants to hear, I think. Barack Obama, average joe.
I hope he not only delivers a great speech, but does connect with America on a personal level tonight. This country needs, desperately needs, two decent options for President. We need to know, for the first time in a long time, that there is no really "wrong" choice. McCain, I'm comfortable with, as most people are. We know, at worst, we get the status quo with John McCain. And we know he won't do anything to make us regret our choice. He's not going to throw his country under the bus for political gain. Obama? Still not sure about. Tonight, he has to begin to put the doubts to rest.
I wish him well. I'll be watching, "on the couch, enjoying a Coors Light". Here's hoping Barry's speech makes it seem like he'll be dropping by to shoot the sh*t over a frosty cold one when he's done.
(And yes, this means I am missing a Chiefs home game for the first time in a long time. Some things are more important than meaningless preseason football. Like electing a President ...)
* the opening praise of his son. "You know you've become a success when your son or daughter turns out better than you are. I'm a success. I'm a hell of a success". You can definitely see the love, the respect, he has for his family. No matter what you think of the ticket, and I'm still unsold ... at least we've got two decent, honorable parents who geniunely love their kids on it.
* the praise of his family, and his upbringing. In stark contrast to Barry, who seems to be doing everything possible to avoid talking about his upbringing, including throwing grandma under the bus as a racist in the primaries. But especially the praise and honor towards his mom. Just wonderful to see. I love seeing public figures genuinely showing respect to their true mentors, the 'rents. I loved the line about how "I used to stutter, and mom just said Joey, its because you're so bright you can't get the words out quickly enough". You could tell there's a lot of love, of respect, of geniune bond, in the Biden family. Very enjoyable to witness.
* "failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable". As someone that has experienced his fair share of failure, granted mostly self inflicted but still ... those words ring very true with me.
* the "freudian slip" referencing the election of George ... I mean, John McCain.
* "we do not have to accept the situation, we have the power to change it". Amen Senator. Amen.
* the praise for McCain. I can't hit on this enough. You can have strong disagreements with someone in their politics and still be friends, still have tremendous respect and admiration for someone. You can honor someone for their service, and yet disagree with their stand on the issues. John McCain is a true American hero. Noone can dispute this. If you do dispute it, you should live in the Hanoi Hilton for 5 years of torture, of pure hell on earth. But McCain is wrong on certain issues. Again, good for Senator Biden to stress this difference. Too bad Republicans couldn't do this 4 years ago when another American hero was seeking the White House.
* "any country that outteaches us today, will out compete us tomorrow". Great perspective.
* hitting home the lack of progress in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and against al Quada. Its ridiculous that we're almost 7 years after 9/11 and haven't found and killed bin Ladin.
* "our greatest Presidents ... all challenged us to embrace change."
* "Millions of Americans have been knocked down. This is the time we get up, together!" Yes, a good number of us have been knocked down this year. And the only way to get back up is to rise together.
Like I said, I loved Biden's speech last night. He came across as a guy you'd love to have a beer with, shoot the sh*t with at the local bar down the street. One of us. The total opposite of the package we are being sold of Barry.
Which brings me to tonight. And the problem Obama's got.
Which is that he's not Biden.
I think Obama is in the same spot right now, that Gore was in in 2000. He has two major tasks he has to accomplish tonight. The same two tasks Gore had to pull off 8 years ago.
First, he has to deliver an unquestioned grand slam speech. He has to lay out exactly what the change he is seeking is. Details to go with the lofty ideals. He has to provide some substance. Anyone can promise change. We need to hear what the change he seeks is. We need to know what current policies he'd overhaul, what current procedures he'd tear up and start over with. There must be substance, I cannot stress that enough. I am still an "undecided" voter. His speech tonight has to be addressed to the 10% of the electorate that fall into my category.
He's not going to change Republican's minds tonight. Write them off. You're not winning the conservative base. He also isn't going to change any Democrat's minds tonight. Write them off. The liberal base isn't going to abandon you. He has to move solidly, strongly, into the middle tonight, and leave no doubt about where he stands on the pertinent issues of the day.
Gore did this better than any candidate I've ever seen in 2000. Barry has to match Gore's 2000 speech tonight, in terms of providing details, substance, actual policy items.
But the real challenge Barack faces tonight, is connecting with his audience. To set aside the Messiah image, the "I am your salvation" message, and simply be "one of us". Because that's who Americans tend to elect. "One of us".
Someone who doesn't appear power hungry. Someone who you know is doing this, is running, because he wants to, not because he thinks its his destiny. Someone who won't lose any sleep over losing.
This is where Gore failed in 2000.
Gore, of course, everyone thought was too wooden, too rehearsed, too driven. Too boring. He overcame that (somewhat) with the kiss of Tipper on stage, with his fiery, on point, energized acceptance speech. But he never completely overcame it. Think "lockbox". Ultimately, it probably helped cost him the election. And the persistent recount certainly didn't help his view among people, it only confirmed their view of him.
We re-elected Bush because, let's face it, Kerry is a stuck up liberal who thinks he's better and smarter than everyone else in the room. He couldn't, and can't, connect with middle America. Ditto his arrogant running mate, "the Breck Girl", John Edwards. Bush, on the other hand, he is "one of us". He is a guy you'd have a beer with. He is a guy who has "experienced life". He's not perfect. He's f*cked up, he's admitted it, and used his past to make his life into something amazing. Its admirable actually. Americans connect with that. We've always connected with that.
Just like with Clinton in 1992. Bush Senior? Not gonna do it. Not gonna connect. Washington insider through and through. Clinton? One of us. He'd definitely have a beer with us at the local bar, and probably try to take the cute blonde on the barstool next to him home for a night of fun. Just like we do. Its why most of America still embraces him, despite the far right's attempt to turn Lewinsky giving him oral sex into a moral outrage. Because most of America not only doesn't care, we kind of think its cool to have an intern on call to pleasure you when you feel like it. And America still embraces Bill, despite all the baggage. As you witnessed last night. Because we all have baggage. We've all f*cked up, learned from it, and tried to get better. Just like Clinton. Its why he won twice. Its why he'd be running for a 5th term right now if there weren't term limits.
Reagan? Talk about "one of us". I never understood why the commentators couldn't grasp why the entire nation mourned his passing. Reagan WAS average America. I am anything but a conservative, but I took the day of his funeral off just to watch the coverage, to in some small way pay my respect, my regards, to the man that WAS America. He looked into the face of evil in our time and told it to "tear down this wall". He didn't dwell on the negatives that we all know exist, he instead chose to focus on the potential for greatness we all have. Reagan was "us". He was the embodiment of all that is great and wonderful and inspiring about this country.
Tonight, Obama has to connect with middle America. He has to come off the high horse, drop the rhetoric, and just be Barry. Don't lawyer up the speech, don't attempt to speak to a book club in San Francisco. Speak to me. Little ol' Steve, sitting on his couch, enjoying a Coors Light. Speak as if you were sitting next to me, trying to spark up a friendship. That's what America wants to hear, I think. Barack Obama, average joe.
I hope he not only delivers a great speech, but does connect with America on a personal level tonight. This country needs, desperately needs, two decent options for President. We need to know, for the first time in a long time, that there is no really "wrong" choice. McCain, I'm comfortable with, as most people are. We know, at worst, we get the status quo with John McCain. And we know he won't do anything to make us regret our choice. He's not going to throw his country under the bus for political gain. Obama? Still not sure about. Tonight, he has to begin to put the doubts to rest.
I wish him well. I'll be watching, "on the couch, enjoying a Coors Light". Here's hoping Barry's speech makes it seem like he'll be dropping by to shoot the sh*t over a frosty cold one when he's done.
(And yes, this means I am missing a Chiefs home game for the first time in a long time. Some things are more important than meaningless preseason football. Like electing a President ...)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
the dnc: day three ... live blog
Well, I'm here. Soldiering on for day three.
And if Barry treats Senator Clinton and her delegates, supporters, and voters with anything less than the ultimate respect, I might come unhinged today.
CNN reporting Hillary has released the delegates and will step in to stop the roll call "at some point". See, this is why we're screwed in November. Barry didn't win the popular vote. A full roll call vote would reveal that he didn't get enough pledged delegates to get the nod either. It had to come through the supers, who he no doubt bought off. But to allow a full roll call vote, would reveal that. Hence, we have to "cut it off".
Which begs me to ask: what the hell happened to the party of "every vote counts"? What the hell happened to the party that believed he (or she) that got the most votes, won? Have we really lost that in the last 8 years as well? And for what? To nominate a completely unelectable tool who has failed to heed some well-regarded advice? "Better a man keep silent and let people wonder if he is a fool, than open his mouth and confirm it".
I am really, really not looking forward to this. But I'm here. Soldering on.
(It beats working).
We have a Clinton delegate walking out! On FOX right now! He refuses to cast a vote for Obama!
"I'm an American first, my party comes second. If there is a conflict between my country and my party, I will vote for who I believe is the best candidate this fall."
My God, its like listening to myself. I like this guy.
"I know where I'm going to go, but I can't go on record at this point, in this place." Again, my kind of guy. Michael somebody. I'd vote for him.
(brent musburger voice) CSPAN is looking live! at the Pepsi Center.
Barry's plane has landed. Apparently that is news worthy.
The delegates in their seats look thrilled to be there.
The keynotes tonight:
Bill Clinton at 8. John Effing Kerry at 8:30. Joe Biden at 9:30. Here's hoping Biden doesn't break down in tears again addressing the floor.
We're already 5 minutes behind schedule. So far your music has been "Get Ready" and now "Dancin' in the Streets". Let's just get this debacle underway already.
Scary looking delegate from American Samoa "dancin' in the street". Or at least the aisle.
Here we go! Tonight's theme? "Securing America's Future". Like anyone expects Barry to be able to do that, when he can't even secure his own convention from the lady he supposedly beat.
Our opening speaker? You guessed it. Wearing pearls. She's going off about Ma Richards' speech in Atlanta in '88. That's the first convention I remember watching. Man I'm old.
"The Honorable Howard Dean" takes the podium.
The mic isn't working. Great. "I'd like to call this a Mickey Mouse operation ..."
He's submitting motions to honor the people who made the convention possible. Let's just get on with it already.
Whoa. We have an invocation at these things?!?! Never mind. Having seen the guy, it makes sense. He looks like a Muslim cleric.
Archbishop Demetrios.
CSPAN showing a row of delegates, and half of them are on the phone during the prayer. Oh yeah, its my party.
Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars presenting the colors. Paul Bucha, a Vietnam war veteran, leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Whoa, we still do that? At a Democratic convention?!?! Sweet! See we're not all America haters!
Robert Moore, council member for the Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, doing the anthem. He's actually quite good.
Forgot to mention, since I figure the next 60, 90 minutes are going to make me vomit anyways, the libation of choice right now is the smuggled bottle of El Presidente brandy. So if you hear a lot of hurling sounds in south KC tonight, just know, its me. (The last time I tasted the stuff ... I puked all night, and I was so hammered that I not only kept toasting Jason's Chiefs coat, I put my keys in the freezer for "safe keeping". College. I miss it.)
Here we go. Speaker Pelosi. I like her outfit, a lot. Pale blue top, white pants, and oh yeah. Pearls.
"Presidential Nominating Process".
Hillary's nomination up first. Huge applause on the floor. Delores Huerta to make the nominating speech. She's from the United Farm Workers Union. See, the kind of useless trivia you don't just get anywhere.
Both nominations will be historic. Hence my desire to witness this live today. For the first time, a non-white male will be at the top of a Presidential ticket. (carlito voice) that's cool.
Is it Hispanic, or Latino? I'm confused.
"And now, Mrs. Chairman, on behalf of all women, on behalf of all working families, I have the great honor to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton ..." So she's officially in it. Too bad not to win it.
Jordan Apollo Pazell, a 20, maybe 21 year old from Copperton, Utah, seconding the nomination. He's the "third youngest delegate" here. Thank God I'm not the only dude who backs Hillary.
I so should have been a delegate. I could do this job.
"I am proud to be one of 18 million Democrats to stand for Hillary Clinton". So am I Jordan. So am I.
Denise Williams Harris from Syracuse NY to third the nomination.
And now, Barry's turn. As Speaker Pelosi returns to the platform.
Seriously, her outfit kicks ass. Very, very nice.
A louder ovation for Obama. Disappointing. I guess.
Michael Wilson, an Air Force veteran from Florida who served in Iraq, to officially nominate Obama. And he's a registered Republican. Again, (go west voice) I am the king of (useless trivia) ...
"A president who has the judgment to use war not as a last resort ..." Uuh, that's gotta be a gaffe.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct honor as a Iraq war veteran, and as a proud member of this great democracy, to nominate the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!"
Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado to second the nomination.
The roll call is projected to begin around 4:55pm.
The plan for tonight's blog is to go through the end of the roll call, then pick back up in the 7pm hour. I will go through at least Clinton's speech, maybe Kerry's. As a PUMA Democrat, I am still "undecided", so I would like to see Biden's speech uninterrupted. Since, you know, if "we" win this thing, Biden is the brains of the operation.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida to third the nomination. She was the co-chair of Hillary's campaign. Judas!
Another nominating speech. This one from Rep. Artur Davis, who represents Birmingham, Tuscaloosa ... and Selma. Symbolism over substance. Yup, that's Obama.
The nominations are done. "We will now proceed to the roll call of the states ..." Alabama is up first. I think.
All votes taken earlier today will be collected and counted. Regardless of when the roll call ends. So Obama will not be a unanimous candidate?
Alabama casts 48 for Obama, 5 for Clinton.
Alaska casts 15 for Obama, 3 for Clinton.
American Samoa all 9 for Obama.
72 Obama, 8 Clinton, 0 others through 3 states, territories, and the District.
Arizona casts 40 for Obama, 27 for Clinton.
Arkansas casts 47 for Obama, 0 for Clinton. They "heded the call for unity".
California up next.
Barbara Boxer reading California's vote.
California passes. Figures. HRC won California easily. Colorado up next.
Allegedly at some point Hillary will show up and stop this.
Colorado goes 55 for Obama, 15 for Clinton.
Connecticut: 38 Obama, 21 Clinton. Is she gonna carry a state? She might have if California hadn't passed?
Delaware goes 23-0 for Obama.
Democrats abroad 8 1/2 votes for Obama, 2 1/2 for Clinton. OK, who's the deuche who couldn't pick a side?
DC Statehood! (clap clap clap clap clap!) DC Statehood! (clap clap clap clap clap!)
The District casts 33 for Obama, 7 for Hillary.
How did a resident of the District die in the Revolutionary War?!?! What was Ms. Holmes Norton smoking to make that claim.
Florida up next. 136 Obama, 51 Clinton, 1 abstention.
452.5 Obama, 131.5 Clinton, 1 abstention. Time to pull the plug?
Georgia ... Georgia ... the whole day through ... just an old sweet song ... Georgia on my mind ...
Georgia: 82 for Obama, 18 for Clinton.
Guam: 4 for Obama, 3 for Clinton.
Hawaii: 26 for Obama, 1 for Clinton.
594.5 Barry, 153.5 HRC, 1 abstention.
Idaho: 20 for Obama, 3 for Clinton.
Illinois passes. Probably to put Obama over the top later on.
Indiana: 75 for Obama, 6 for Clinton.
Iowa: 48 Obama, 9 Clinton.
Kansas: 34 Obama, 6 Clinton.
Kentucky: 36 Obama, 24 Clinton.
Louisiana: 43 Obama, 7 Clinton.
820.5 B Hussein, 208.5 H Rodham, 1 A ?.
Maine: 24 Obama, 8 Clinton.
Maryland: 94 Obama, 6 Clinton.
Massachusetts: 65 Obama, 52 Clinton.
Michigan: 125 Obama, 27 Clinton.
1128.5 BHO, 301.5 HRC, 1 A??.
Minnesota: 78 Obama, 8 Clinton.
Mississippi: 33 Obama, 8 Clinton.
Missouri: 82 Obama, 6 Clinton.
Montana: 18 Obama, 7 Clinton.
Nebraska: 28 Obama, 3 Clinton.
Obama up 1367.5 to 333.5, with 1 abstention.
Nevada: 25 Obama, 8 Clinton.
New Hampshire: all 30 for Obama, "heeding the call of unity".
New Jersey: all 127 for Obama, again "heeding the call of unity".
I still want to be a "Corzine Crony".
Now we'll see about "unity". New York up next.
1549.5 Barry, 341.5 Hillary, 1 "screw it, I'm out".
Oops. Forgot about New Mexico. They're actually next.
New Mexico yields to Illinois. (brian griffin voice) what the hell? Illinois can't put him over the top yet ...
Illinois is up. They yield to New York.
I'm guessing this was a pre-worked deal with New Mexico, thinking this is where Barry's be put over?
New York "on the clock".
Hillary on the floor. Approaching the mic.
Green pant suit. And pearls. (steve smiling broadly). If this is how the dream ends, at least its in pearls.
I think Schumer just smacked HRC on the ass.
And she's thrown in the towel. (steve upset voice) boo!
The Titanic just hit the iceberg. And there aren't enough life boats. (thomas andrews voice) not enough by half ...
I cannot imagine the pain Senator Clinton is feeling. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
I'm disgusted. I'm hacked.
I now need to focus, listen to Sen. Biden, Sen. Obama, and wade through next week's crapfest to determine who I'm voting for.
(sounds like a good time to go mow the yard ...)
I'll be back before Bill takes the stage at 8pm CT. Until then, remember: (col. hannibal smith voice) its always darkest just before it goes pitch black.
-------------------
7pm: and I'm back.
As someone whose cousin served in Iraq and came back a staunch opponent of the war ... solid opening video.
Melissa Etheridge to the stage! I still have her National Anthem performance from the 2000 DNC somewhere ...
This starts really solidly. "God Bless America". "The Times, They Are a Changin'" Not that me and about 5 drunk friends sat around on Float Trip '08 singing this song ...
She's gotta be the hottest lesbian in the business.
John Lennon! "Give Peace a Chance"! All we are sayin' ... is give peace a chance ... holy crap I'm channeling back to my childhood here ...
I love how they have the Declaration of Independence on the backdrop.
"Born in the USA". Slowed down. Nice.
The floor is more energized right now than they've been for 99.99% of this convention.
Is it too late to nominate Melissa Etheridge? It is? Crud. (florida evans voice) damn damn damn!
Absolutely amazing. Woo! (fist pump)! Yay!
Oh no. Dingy Harry Reid up next. The single most incompetent Senate Majority Leader since ... uuh ... uuh ... I'm thinking here ... ok, I have no clue. He's that useless.
He looks like Herbert from "Family Guy". And yes, you know exactly what I'm comparing him to.
This is just awful. He's blaming oil for all of our problems. Uuh Harry? If your party would simply let us drill, we wouldn't have a foreign oil dependency issue! If you'd let us drill in ANWR 6 years ago, we'd have that oil already flowing into our pipelines NOW! You mother f*cking idiot! We are in the energy crisis we are in because you and your party did NOTHING in the 1990s to develop an alternative energy solution, and because your party has stood in the way of EVERY attempt to drill our way out of this! Because we CAN drill our way out of this! Just f*cking shut up, go away, and for the love of Jesus Christ himself, give us a Senate Majority Leader who isn't dumber than a 5th Grader!!!
(I told you I was coming unhinged tonight).
Since when are Democrats committed to "hard work"? Aren't we the party of welfare, Medicare, government handouts, and tax the rich to feed the poor?
(Good God, I might have to change party affiliation at this rate ...)
Nobody on the floor is listening to this crock of sh*t. The side noise is almost as loud as Dingy Harry's speech.
He has a wedding ring?!?! Someone is voluntarily sleeping with this man?!?! And I get to sleep with two dogs tonight? (literally dogs?) That's it, Adult Friend Finder here I come ...
Wow. He just challenged Gloria Craven for "worst convention speech ever".
"Higher and Higher" by Spencer Davis! Not as awesome as the Rita Coolidge version, but I'll take it.
This chick could definitely kick my ass.
She is wearing ... you guessed it. Pearls. I love pearl necklaces. (ka boom boom ching).
How the hell does a community organizer from Chicago understand the need of veterans and active reservists?
Zero tolerance for homeless vets, that's a good policy. Too bad its completely unrealistic.
Obama doesn't "understand the threats we face". He doesn't even have the cajones to put Hillary in her place for Christ's sake! And he let Bill write his own speech tonight rather than vet the speech out! The man ... James Carville put it best: "if Hillary lent him one of hers, they'd each have one".
I'll agree with God Bless Mrs. Obama. I thought Mr. Obama was God, if you listen to him and the media, he is the "Messiah" after all.
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. Another veterans tribute from a party that's trying to lose the war in Iraq. Priceless.
138 degrees?!?! My kind of day!
God bless every one of you on stage right now. And I do mean that. You have a considerably larger pair than I could ever imagine having. Thank you, for your service to this nation. For your service to this planet. Thank you, and God bless you, and God keep you safe.
Yes, it is time for a commander in chief who knows what leadership means. Unfortunately, that man is the presumptive Republican nominee.
Wonder if Bill will bring up that he "loathes the military" in his speech in 30 minutes.
It is ridiculous that we haven't gotten bin ladin yet. I'll agree with that. We ended the Holocaust faster than this.
Madame Albright up next. This should be a snoozer.
Some females should never, never, never have face lifts. Madame Albright is one of them.
Diamond earrings. But they could pass as pearls. Still acceptable.
I have no idea what she just said. Something about striking a blow against a blow.
Madame Albright says we rely on Biden to keep the country secure. Yet another reason why we blew this nomination. When the Veep is more qualified than the nominee ...
The man who should have been veep next, Senator Bayh, a man I tremendously respect. This one might be tough. This ticket should be Clinton-Bayh.
He's on fire early on.
Can someone tell me why this guy isn't on our ticket?
A Dem who gets it on Middle East policy?!?! Again, why is he not on the ticket?!?!
Bayh: "Now John McCain, he's not a bad man" No he's not. Which is why, barring two great speeches from Biden and Obama, he's got my vote.
Bayh is confident, he's on point, he's focused, and we have yet to hear a single "uum". Why is this guy NOT on the ticket?!?!
Bush didn't divide the nation, the Supreme Court did. Come on Evan, you're better than this.
Solid, solid speech by Senator Bayh.
Now, Jack Reed of Rhode Island. (steve heads for the 'loo ...)
What the hell is "al quader"?
This speech is going nowhere fast.
President Clinton in 10 minutes.
"Puff" Daschle!!!
Is he wearing pink glasses?
Why would anyone want to be like a dude wearing pink glasses?
ok, ok, they're "red". But still. You gotta question them.
I hate Bush with a passion ... but I trust his judgment and leadership at this point over Obama.
sorry, Dusty called.
I effing LOVE Fleetwood Mac! Don't Stop (Thinkin' Bout Tomorrow!!!)
President! Clinton!!!!
Here we go!!!!
(steve applauding!)
as is the convention floor.
We're at 45 straight seconds of applause and counting.
Make that a minute.
Michelle looks miserable applauding for Bill.
He's reading off the page. Not the teleprompter. THIS could get REALLY interesting ...
He's on board. This one is going to be one for the ages. I'm done blogging for now. I want to hear this live.
8:26pm: amazing. Just ... amazing.
I'm done for the night. I'll be back tomorrow for night four. Hopefully, between that incredible speech, Sen. Kerry, Gov. Richardson, and Sen. Biden, I am convinced to embrace the ticket by then ...
And if Barry treats Senator Clinton and her delegates, supporters, and voters with anything less than the ultimate respect, I might come unhinged today.
CNN reporting Hillary has released the delegates and will step in to stop the roll call "at some point". See, this is why we're screwed in November. Barry didn't win the popular vote. A full roll call vote would reveal that he didn't get enough pledged delegates to get the nod either. It had to come through the supers, who he no doubt bought off. But to allow a full roll call vote, would reveal that. Hence, we have to "cut it off".
Which begs me to ask: what the hell happened to the party of "every vote counts"? What the hell happened to the party that believed he (or she) that got the most votes, won? Have we really lost that in the last 8 years as well? And for what? To nominate a completely unelectable tool who has failed to heed some well-regarded advice? "Better a man keep silent and let people wonder if he is a fool, than open his mouth and confirm it".
I am really, really not looking forward to this. But I'm here. Soldering on.
(It beats working).
We have a Clinton delegate walking out! On FOX right now! He refuses to cast a vote for Obama!
"I'm an American first, my party comes second. If there is a conflict between my country and my party, I will vote for who I believe is the best candidate this fall."
My God, its like listening to myself. I like this guy.
"I know where I'm going to go, but I can't go on record at this point, in this place." Again, my kind of guy. Michael somebody. I'd vote for him.
(brent musburger voice) CSPAN is looking live! at the Pepsi Center.
Barry's plane has landed. Apparently that is news worthy.
The delegates in their seats look thrilled to be there.
The keynotes tonight:
Bill Clinton at 8. John Effing Kerry at 8:30. Joe Biden at 9:30. Here's hoping Biden doesn't break down in tears again addressing the floor.
We're already 5 minutes behind schedule. So far your music has been "Get Ready" and now "Dancin' in the Streets". Let's just get this debacle underway already.
Scary looking delegate from American Samoa "dancin' in the street". Or at least the aisle.
Here we go! Tonight's theme? "Securing America's Future". Like anyone expects Barry to be able to do that, when he can't even secure his own convention from the lady he supposedly beat.
Our opening speaker? You guessed it. Wearing pearls. She's going off about Ma Richards' speech in Atlanta in '88. That's the first convention I remember watching. Man I'm old.
"The Honorable Howard Dean" takes the podium.
The mic isn't working. Great. "I'd like to call this a Mickey Mouse operation ..."
He's submitting motions to honor the people who made the convention possible. Let's just get on with it already.
Whoa. We have an invocation at these things?!?! Never mind. Having seen the guy, it makes sense. He looks like a Muslim cleric.
Archbishop Demetrios.
CSPAN showing a row of delegates, and half of them are on the phone during the prayer. Oh yeah, its my party.
Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars presenting the colors. Paul Bucha, a Vietnam war veteran, leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Whoa, we still do that? At a Democratic convention?!?! Sweet! See we're not all America haters!
Robert Moore, council member for the Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, doing the anthem. He's actually quite good.
Forgot to mention, since I figure the next 60, 90 minutes are going to make me vomit anyways, the libation of choice right now is the smuggled bottle of El Presidente brandy. So if you hear a lot of hurling sounds in south KC tonight, just know, its me. (The last time I tasted the stuff ... I puked all night, and I was so hammered that I not only kept toasting Jason's Chiefs coat, I put my keys in the freezer for "safe keeping". College. I miss it.)
Here we go. Speaker Pelosi. I like her outfit, a lot. Pale blue top, white pants, and oh yeah. Pearls.
"Presidential Nominating Process".
Hillary's nomination up first. Huge applause on the floor. Delores Huerta to make the nominating speech. She's from the United Farm Workers Union. See, the kind of useless trivia you don't just get anywhere.
Both nominations will be historic. Hence my desire to witness this live today. For the first time, a non-white male will be at the top of a Presidential ticket. (carlito voice) that's cool.
Is it Hispanic, or Latino? I'm confused.
"And now, Mrs. Chairman, on behalf of all women, on behalf of all working families, I have the great honor to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton ..." So she's officially in it. Too bad not to win it.
Jordan Apollo Pazell, a 20, maybe 21 year old from Copperton, Utah, seconding the nomination. He's the "third youngest delegate" here. Thank God I'm not the only dude who backs Hillary.
I so should have been a delegate. I could do this job.
"I am proud to be one of 18 million Democrats to stand for Hillary Clinton". So am I Jordan. So am I.
Denise Williams Harris from Syracuse NY to third the nomination.
And now, Barry's turn. As Speaker Pelosi returns to the platform.
Seriously, her outfit kicks ass. Very, very nice.
A louder ovation for Obama. Disappointing. I guess.
Michael Wilson, an Air Force veteran from Florida who served in Iraq, to officially nominate Obama. And he's a registered Republican. Again, (go west voice) I am the king of (useless trivia) ...
"A president who has the judgment to use war not as a last resort ..." Uuh, that's gotta be a gaffe.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct honor as a Iraq war veteran, and as a proud member of this great democracy, to nominate the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!"
Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado to second the nomination.
The roll call is projected to begin around 4:55pm.
The plan for tonight's blog is to go through the end of the roll call, then pick back up in the 7pm hour. I will go through at least Clinton's speech, maybe Kerry's. As a PUMA Democrat, I am still "undecided", so I would like to see Biden's speech uninterrupted. Since, you know, if "we" win this thing, Biden is the brains of the operation.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida to third the nomination. She was the co-chair of Hillary's campaign. Judas!
Another nominating speech. This one from Rep. Artur Davis, who represents Birmingham, Tuscaloosa ... and Selma. Symbolism over substance. Yup, that's Obama.
The nominations are done. "We will now proceed to the roll call of the states ..." Alabama is up first. I think.
All votes taken earlier today will be collected and counted. Regardless of when the roll call ends. So Obama will not be a unanimous candidate?
Alabama casts 48 for Obama, 5 for Clinton.
Alaska casts 15 for Obama, 3 for Clinton.
American Samoa all 9 for Obama.
72 Obama, 8 Clinton, 0 others through 3 states, territories, and the District.
Arizona casts 40 for Obama, 27 for Clinton.
Arkansas casts 47 for Obama, 0 for Clinton. They "heded the call for unity".
California up next.
Barbara Boxer reading California's vote.
California passes. Figures. HRC won California easily. Colorado up next.
Allegedly at some point Hillary will show up and stop this.
Colorado goes 55 for Obama, 15 for Clinton.
Connecticut: 38 Obama, 21 Clinton. Is she gonna carry a state? She might have if California hadn't passed?
Delaware goes 23-0 for Obama.
Democrats abroad 8 1/2 votes for Obama, 2 1/2 for Clinton. OK, who's the deuche who couldn't pick a side?
DC Statehood! (clap clap clap clap clap!) DC Statehood! (clap clap clap clap clap!)
The District casts 33 for Obama, 7 for Hillary.
How did a resident of the District die in the Revolutionary War?!?! What was Ms. Holmes Norton smoking to make that claim.
Florida up next. 136 Obama, 51 Clinton, 1 abstention.
452.5 Obama, 131.5 Clinton, 1 abstention. Time to pull the plug?
Georgia ... Georgia ... the whole day through ... just an old sweet song ... Georgia on my mind ...
Georgia: 82 for Obama, 18 for Clinton.
Guam: 4 for Obama, 3 for Clinton.
Hawaii: 26 for Obama, 1 for Clinton.
594.5 Barry, 153.5 HRC, 1 abstention.
Idaho: 20 for Obama, 3 for Clinton.
Illinois passes. Probably to put Obama over the top later on.
Indiana: 75 for Obama, 6 for Clinton.
Iowa: 48 Obama, 9 Clinton.
Kansas: 34 Obama, 6 Clinton.
Kentucky: 36 Obama, 24 Clinton.
Louisiana: 43 Obama, 7 Clinton.
820.5 B Hussein, 208.5 H Rodham, 1 A ?.
Maine: 24 Obama, 8 Clinton.
Maryland: 94 Obama, 6 Clinton.
Massachusetts: 65 Obama, 52 Clinton.
Michigan: 125 Obama, 27 Clinton.
1128.5 BHO, 301.5 HRC, 1 A??.
Minnesota: 78 Obama, 8 Clinton.
Mississippi: 33 Obama, 8 Clinton.
Missouri: 82 Obama, 6 Clinton.
Montana: 18 Obama, 7 Clinton.
Nebraska: 28 Obama, 3 Clinton.
Obama up 1367.5 to 333.5, with 1 abstention.
Nevada: 25 Obama, 8 Clinton.
New Hampshire: all 30 for Obama, "heeding the call of unity".
New Jersey: all 127 for Obama, again "heeding the call of unity".
I still want to be a "Corzine Crony".
Now we'll see about "unity". New York up next.
1549.5 Barry, 341.5 Hillary, 1 "screw it, I'm out".
Oops. Forgot about New Mexico. They're actually next.
New Mexico yields to Illinois. (brian griffin voice) what the hell? Illinois can't put him over the top yet ...
Illinois is up. They yield to New York.
I'm guessing this was a pre-worked deal with New Mexico, thinking this is where Barry's be put over?
New York "on the clock".
Hillary on the floor. Approaching the mic.
Green pant suit. And pearls. (steve smiling broadly). If this is how the dream ends, at least its in pearls.
I think Schumer just smacked HRC on the ass.
And she's thrown in the towel. (steve upset voice) boo!
The Titanic just hit the iceberg. And there aren't enough life boats. (thomas andrews voice) not enough by half ...
I cannot imagine the pain Senator Clinton is feeling. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
I'm disgusted. I'm hacked.
I now need to focus, listen to Sen. Biden, Sen. Obama, and wade through next week's crapfest to determine who I'm voting for.
(sounds like a good time to go mow the yard ...)
I'll be back before Bill takes the stage at 8pm CT. Until then, remember: (col. hannibal smith voice) its always darkest just before it goes pitch black.
-------------------
7pm: and I'm back.
As someone whose cousin served in Iraq and came back a staunch opponent of the war ... solid opening video.
Melissa Etheridge to the stage! I still have her National Anthem performance from the 2000 DNC somewhere ...
This starts really solidly. "God Bless America". "The Times, They Are a Changin'" Not that me and about 5 drunk friends sat around on Float Trip '08 singing this song ...
She's gotta be the hottest lesbian in the business.
John Lennon! "Give Peace a Chance"! All we are sayin' ... is give peace a chance ... holy crap I'm channeling back to my childhood here ...
I love how they have the Declaration of Independence on the backdrop.
"Born in the USA". Slowed down. Nice.
The floor is more energized right now than they've been for 99.99% of this convention.
Is it too late to nominate Melissa Etheridge? It is? Crud. (florida evans voice) damn damn damn!
Absolutely amazing. Woo! (fist pump)! Yay!
Oh no. Dingy Harry Reid up next. The single most incompetent Senate Majority Leader since ... uuh ... uuh ... I'm thinking here ... ok, I have no clue. He's that useless.
He looks like Herbert from "Family Guy". And yes, you know exactly what I'm comparing him to.
This is just awful. He's blaming oil for all of our problems. Uuh Harry? If your party would simply let us drill, we wouldn't have a foreign oil dependency issue! If you'd let us drill in ANWR 6 years ago, we'd have that oil already flowing into our pipelines NOW! You mother f*cking idiot! We are in the energy crisis we are in because you and your party did NOTHING in the 1990s to develop an alternative energy solution, and because your party has stood in the way of EVERY attempt to drill our way out of this! Because we CAN drill our way out of this! Just f*cking shut up, go away, and for the love of Jesus Christ himself, give us a Senate Majority Leader who isn't dumber than a 5th Grader!!!
(I told you I was coming unhinged tonight).
Since when are Democrats committed to "hard work"? Aren't we the party of welfare, Medicare, government handouts, and tax the rich to feed the poor?
(Good God, I might have to change party affiliation at this rate ...)
Nobody on the floor is listening to this crock of sh*t. The side noise is almost as loud as Dingy Harry's speech.
He has a wedding ring?!?! Someone is voluntarily sleeping with this man?!?! And I get to sleep with two dogs tonight? (literally dogs?) That's it, Adult Friend Finder here I come ...
Wow. He just challenged Gloria Craven for "worst convention speech ever".
"Higher and Higher" by Spencer Davis! Not as awesome as the Rita Coolidge version, but I'll take it.
This chick could definitely kick my ass.
She is wearing ... you guessed it. Pearls. I love pearl necklaces. (ka boom boom ching).
How the hell does a community organizer from Chicago understand the need of veterans and active reservists?
Zero tolerance for homeless vets, that's a good policy. Too bad its completely unrealistic.
Obama doesn't "understand the threats we face". He doesn't even have the cajones to put Hillary in her place for Christ's sake! And he let Bill write his own speech tonight rather than vet the speech out! The man ... James Carville put it best: "if Hillary lent him one of hers, they'd each have one".
I'll agree with God Bless Mrs. Obama. I thought Mr. Obama was God, if you listen to him and the media, he is the "Messiah" after all.
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. Another veterans tribute from a party that's trying to lose the war in Iraq. Priceless.
138 degrees?!?! My kind of day!
God bless every one of you on stage right now. And I do mean that. You have a considerably larger pair than I could ever imagine having. Thank you, for your service to this nation. For your service to this planet. Thank you, and God bless you, and God keep you safe.
Yes, it is time for a commander in chief who knows what leadership means. Unfortunately, that man is the presumptive Republican nominee.
Wonder if Bill will bring up that he "loathes the military" in his speech in 30 minutes.
It is ridiculous that we haven't gotten bin ladin yet. I'll agree with that. We ended the Holocaust faster than this.
Madame Albright up next. This should be a snoozer.
Some females should never, never, never have face lifts. Madame Albright is one of them.
Diamond earrings. But they could pass as pearls. Still acceptable.
I have no idea what she just said. Something about striking a blow against a blow.
Madame Albright says we rely on Biden to keep the country secure. Yet another reason why we blew this nomination. When the Veep is more qualified than the nominee ...
The man who should have been veep next, Senator Bayh, a man I tremendously respect. This one might be tough. This ticket should be Clinton-Bayh.
He's on fire early on.
Can someone tell me why this guy isn't on our ticket?
A Dem who gets it on Middle East policy?!?! Again, why is he not on the ticket?!?!
Bayh: "Now John McCain, he's not a bad man" No he's not. Which is why, barring two great speeches from Biden and Obama, he's got my vote.
Bayh is confident, he's on point, he's focused, and we have yet to hear a single "uum". Why is this guy NOT on the ticket?!?!
Bush didn't divide the nation, the Supreme Court did. Come on Evan, you're better than this.
Solid, solid speech by Senator Bayh.
Now, Jack Reed of Rhode Island. (steve heads for the 'loo ...)
What the hell is "al quader"?
This speech is going nowhere fast.
President Clinton in 10 minutes.
"Puff" Daschle!!!
Is he wearing pink glasses?
Why would anyone want to be like a dude wearing pink glasses?
ok, ok, they're "red". But still. You gotta question them.
I hate Bush with a passion ... but I trust his judgment and leadership at this point over Obama.
sorry, Dusty called.
I effing LOVE Fleetwood Mac! Don't Stop (Thinkin' Bout Tomorrow!!!)
President! Clinton!!!!
Here we go!!!!
(steve applauding!)
as is the convention floor.
We're at 45 straight seconds of applause and counting.
Make that a minute.
Michelle looks miserable applauding for Bill.
He's reading off the page. Not the teleprompter. THIS could get REALLY interesting ...
He's on board. This one is going to be one for the ages. I'm done blogging for now. I want to hear this live.
8:26pm: amazing. Just ... amazing.
I'm done for the night. I'll be back tomorrow for night four. Hopefully, between that incredible speech, Sen. Kerry, Gov. Richardson, and Sen. Biden, I am convinced to embrace the ticket by then ...
no way, no how, no ...
My initial reactions to Senator Clinton's incredible speech last night:
Uplifting. Unifying.
Utterly ridiculous.
Look it, anyone who watched her last night now knows, beyond the shadow of any reasonable doubt, that she should be atop the ticket, not Barry. She showed more guts, more spine, more balls, in one line last night ("no way, no how, no McCain") than Barry has shown in 18 months.
She was coherent, she was persuasive. She had a clear focus, vision, purpose. She looked ... Presidential.
When was the last time Barry could say that?
I sat there watching this last night, and there were 4 things that immediately came to mind:
1. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? If I was the nominee, I don't care how close the vote was, I don't care how pissed off her backers were, this is what I tell her. "You get Monday. You can do any damned thing you want on Monday, but that's all you get. And remember: if I lose this thing because your supporters don't get in line, you're finished in the party. I know it. You know it. So you'd better take advantage of my generous offer of giving you a night."
2. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? Monday is your throw away night. Tuesday is about showcasing the rising stars of the party, like Obama four years ago. Wednesday is about your veep, Thursday is about your nominee.
3. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? You realize that by the time Biden takes the stage tonight, we will have not only had 2 straight days of the Clintons, the team he beat in the primary process ... we won't have seen or heard from Barry at the Convention in 2 days! What the hell? The only presence Barry has made was via a video shot after Michelle's speech, and even then he screwed up, calling KC "St Louis".
4. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? No matter what she said last night it was a losing situation for him. If she had done what I wanted, and gone for the steal of the nomination ... she implodes the party and throws the convention into chaos. (Something already happening anyways). If she delivers a home run endorsement, like she did ... it only reinforces the fact that us Democrats nominated a freaking idiot with no shot of victory in November.
I hope you witnessed last night. You witnessed the final last gasp of a dead, dying party. Last night was Leo and Kate running out from the holding room after hooking up on "Titanic", right before the ship hit the iceberg. The Democratic Party is the ship. Barry is the iceberg.
We're doomed.
* I intend to be live at 4pm today for the roll call vote. The "senseless optimist" in me continues to hold out hope that Hillary's speech last night inspired the PUMAs in the audience to hold firm and demand a full, fair floor vote. The "senseless optimist" in me continues to hold out hope that Bill convinced Hillary to say "screw it, go for it" last night. But there's only one way to find out. 4pm CT today.
* Other "highlights" of tonight's scheduled presentation, titled "Securing America's Future":
Chuck Schumer will address the Convention after the roll call vote. Always good for a laugh or three.
"The Honorable Richard M. Daley" kicks off the 6pm hour. Not that he isn't bought and paid for.
Melissa Etheridge performs around 6:30. Should be solid.
"Dingy" Harry Reid follows her. Sen. Bayh, who should have been the Veep pick, follows Reid.
President Clinton goes at 8pm. This should be entertaining, if nothing else.
John "Effing" Kerry follows Bill.
Bill Richardson, another man more qualified for the White House than our presumptive nominee, follows John "Effing" Kerry. Who, in case you forgot, served in Vietnam.
Veep nominee Joe Biden closes the night down.
All in all, should be a fun night.
Uplifting. Unifying.
Utterly ridiculous.
Look it, anyone who watched her last night now knows, beyond the shadow of any reasonable doubt, that she should be atop the ticket, not Barry. She showed more guts, more spine, more balls, in one line last night ("no way, no how, no McCain") than Barry has shown in 18 months.
She was coherent, she was persuasive. She had a clear focus, vision, purpose. She looked ... Presidential.
When was the last time Barry could say that?
I sat there watching this last night, and there were 4 things that immediately came to mind:
1. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? If I was the nominee, I don't care how close the vote was, I don't care how pissed off her backers were, this is what I tell her. "You get Monday. You can do any damned thing you want on Monday, but that's all you get. And remember: if I lose this thing because your supporters don't get in line, you're finished in the party. I know it. You know it. So you'd better take advantage of my generous offer of giving you a night."
2. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? Monday is your throw away night. Tuesday is about showcasing the rising stars of the party, like Obama four years ago. Wednesday is about your veep, Thursday is about your nominee.
3. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? You realize that by the time Biden takes the stage tonight, we will have not only had 2 straight days of the Clintons, the team he beat in the primary process ... we won't have seen or heard from Barry at the Convention in 2 days! What the hell? The only presence Barry has made was via a video shot after Michelle's speech, and even then he screwed up, calling KC "St Louis".
4. What was Barry thinking to cede Tuesday to her? No matter what she said last night it was a losing situation for him. If she had done what I wanted, and gone for the steal of the nomination ... she implodes the party and throws the convention into chaos. (Something already happening anyways). If she delivers a home run endorsement, like she did ... it only reinforces the fact that us Democrats nominated a freaking idiot with no shot of victory in November.
I hope you witnessed last night. You witnessed the final last gasp of a dead, dying party. Last night was Leo and Kate running out from the holding room after hooking up on "Titanic", right before the ship hit the iceberg. The Democratic Party is the ship. Barry is the iceberg.
We're doomed.
* I intend to be live at 4pm today for the roll call vote. The "senseless optimist" in me continues to hold out hope that Hillary's speech last night inspired the PUMAs in the audience to hold firm and demand a full, fair floor vote. The "senseless optimist" in me continues to hold out hope that Bill convinced Hillary to say "screw it, go for it" last night. But there's only one way to find out. 4pm CT today.
* Other "highlights" of tonight's scheduled presentation, titled "Securing America's Future":
Chuck Schumer will address the Convention after the roll call vote. Always good for a laugh or three.
"The Honorable Richard M. Daley" kicks off the 6pm hour. Not that he isn't bought and paid for.
Melissa Etheridge performs around 6:30. Should be solid.
"Dingy" Harry Reid follows her. Sen. Bayh, who should have been the Veep pick, follows Reid.
President Clinton goes at 8pm. This should be entertaining, if nothing else.
John "Effing" Kerry follows Bill.
Bill Richardson, another man more qualified for the White House than our presumptive nominee, follows John "Effing" Kerry. Who, in case you forgot, served in Vietnam.
Veep nominee Joe Biden closes the night down.
All in all, should be a fun night.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
the dnc: day two ... live blog
First, a few thoughts from last night:
1. I thought Michelle did a very, very good job last night. I know a lot of pundits are saying "ah, it was ok". I thought it was a great effort on her part. Besides, unlike Teresa Heinz Kerry four years ago, at least you could understand Michelle.
2. I thought the (apparently) unplanned kid interaction with Senator Obama was awesome. That was really cool. Even if Barry is too stupid to figure out that Kansas City is not (nelly voice) the 'lou.
3. Claire McCaskill underwhelmed me. I like Senator McCaskill. She's one of the few high profile Democrats anymore than I have complete respect for. But man, there was just something missing last night.
4. Seriously, youtube! the John Legend performance. Its that freaking good.
5. All that said, I'm still on the PUMA bandwagon. But I'm open minded.
I plan on going for a while, but I doubt I'll live blog Hillary tonight. I'd prefer to watch that speech unimpeded, then react. Of course, I say that now, I might change my mind later.
OK, let's get going:
6:07pm: West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is up. I'm guessing he won't be addressing how badly he botched the Rich Rodriguez debacle.
"Take me home, country roads, to the place, I belong! West Virginia!"
And he's out after botching his closing.
HRC speaking on video!
And she's in pearls. I'm telling you, pearls. Rock star accessory.
She's introducting Sen. Mikulsky, arguably the scariest looking chick I've ever laid eyes on.
Oh my God, she's introducing a "checklist for change". Sounds like a good time to grab a Coors Light.
Apparently all the female Democratic Senators are introducting a check. I'm not going to recap all this, other than Mary Landrieu is back to looking good.
"Fast" Eddie Rendell is up next. Come on Ed! Lay into the media again! Please! Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!
One thing I've noticed so far: at almost every other convention, every speech is "we need to elect (president) and (vice president) this November!" So far at the DNC, the Biden mentions are few and far between, its always "elect Barack Obama", never "elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden". Guess the speakers are as unimpressed with the selection as the population at large was.
The song playing right now is "sisters are doing it for themselves". Why bother, the joke writes itself.
"Fast" Eddie!!!
Looking dapper tonight.
He's chosen to focus on energy. Pointing out how ridiculous the prices have gotten under Bush / Cheney.
Finally, someone from our side attacking John McCain. God forbid anyone cloaked in blue grow a pair.
(My favorite quote ever, from James Carville: "If Hillary lent him (Obama) one of hers, they'd each have one". Why we're headed for a landslide defeat 101 ...)
This speech is going nowhere. Pull the plug Ed. Pull the plug.
A couple Rep's up next, then the President of the AFL-CIO. Yes, this speech is so bad that I am reading tonight's lineup rather than pay attention.
Really, this speech is so bad, his national ambitions are done.
Even the floor has lost interest, you can hear side conversations everywhere.
What the hell is a "green collar" job?
He just botched "California". This is awful.
I really think he's drunk.
And he's done.
I'm taking a quick break to warm something up to eat. Tammy Baldwin (Wis) and Xavier Becerra (Calif) up next.
And I'm back.
Becerra had a funny opening line. "Any Democrats in the house? (applause) Are we ready to get to work? (applause)" Uuh, sure.
I gotta tell you, the rest of the night's lineup leading into Hillary looks awful. I might not make it out of hour one.
In the next hour, we have two labor leaders, 3 unemployed speakers (seriously, that's what their bio at demconvention.com says), the incompetent Steny Hoyer, the irritating Rahm Emanuel, and another economic town hall panel.
So ... we're done for now. I might come back later when the program picks up.
7:14pm: (randy quaid in "independence day" voice) hello boys! I'm back!
Steny Hoyer at the podium. He just laid 9/11 on Bush's lap, and follows up by saying that Bush is a man "who called Americans not to serve, but to shop". Wow, not even I'll stoop that low.
I think Steny's hit the sauce as well. He's slurring some words here. Although in his defense, if I was a delegate, I'd be blowing a .26 right now.
"free us from the tyranny of foreign oil". Come on. We'd be "free" if you and your incompetent House leadership cronies would let us drill.
This guy is p*ssed. Not sure why, but he is freaking angry. Maybe he got cut off an hour before taking the podium.
The floor has once again lost interest. Its amazing, every time these guys and gals start praising Obama, the side conversation noise picks up dramatically.
(Its not too late Dems. We can steal this nomination tomorrow! Yes we can!)
"When dawn breaks on January 21st, we will begin the long, tough job before us ..." Uuh Steny? The inaugural is January 20th. (dan dierdorf voice) nice try.
Whoa, according to the schedule, Steny went out of order by not one, but two speakers. Glug glug.
Oh my God, this current chick, Pauline Beck, a California home care worker ... is reading her speech off a piece of paper. No teleprompter. No eye contact. This is ... this is awful. I mean, this is MANDATORY youtube! viewing. Pauline Beck Democratic Convention.
The floor is getting restless. And noisy.
Seriously, we gave this chick a speaking spot? And didn't give one to Reverend Al?!?!
You can barely hear her over the floor at this point. I'm guessing they're pulling a College World Series here and hitting the beach ball around.
"and next November he will be our President". Only if he wins in THIS November Pauline.
"What a Feeling" by Irene Cara our interlude music.
Wow, a Suzie Orman look alike. Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of some union in Chicago.
If its possible, this woman is worse than Pauline. She's rushing her speech so fast that I can't keep up. The floor, once again, recognizes crap when it sees it as the background noise picks back up.
Governor Napolitano of Arizona up next, then the highlight of this hour, the economic round table panel headed up by "Left. Liberal. Granholm".
"9 out of 10 workers have no union". Probably a good thing.
And she's done. Let's keep the ball rolling.
Napolitano had a great crack at McCain about all the Arizona politicans who run for President and lose.
Another great one liner at McCain regarding his economic understanding. Finally, someone at the podium tonight who gets in some quality cheap shots. Where the hell was this last night? Or more to the point, where the hell was this 4 years ago, ripping your opponent at your convention?
I like this chick. I'd vote for her. Hell, can we draft her to replace Barry? Or at least Biden?
Two words: pearl earrings. Again, its the pearls. I'm telling you. Golden.
Why are people from Pennsylvania and Indiana writing the governor of Arizona about their problems? Why not hit up "Fast" Eddie or Evan Bayh for help?
This is the quietest the floor has been in at least 15 minutes.
Solid effort from the Governor. I'd like to say she has a bright future in the party, but lately we tend to only hype the dumbest and most ignorant among us. Hence our presumptive nominee.
Another Barry speech video. Hillary put it best: "John McCain has years of experience to qualify him (for the Presidency); Barack Obama has a speech."
And its Town Hall Meeting time! Left! Liberal! Granholm!
And Granholm is lookin' good! Lovely light blue blazer, black shirt and pants, and the glasses like I wear.
Plus ... you guessed it ... pearls! Both on the neck and in the ear! (you can insert your own joke here).
I have no plans to actually blog this panel. Although one of the panel members names is Amy Christensen. I used to work with a nice, smart, liberal girl by that name at "steve's employer from november 29, 1999 to march 17, 2006".
I'll be back in 10. Maybe. Actually, I will be, Governor Sebelius is up at 8pm.
7:47pm: we're back. Panel still going. Governor Granholm has a horrid mole growing on her cheek. Reminds me of that scene in "Uncle Buck", where John Candy is meeting with the kids principal. "Uncle Wart. That's what they call me, Old Wart Russell".
A Republican mayor from Alaska up next, then (and I'm literally transcribing the description here) a "laid off North Carolina textile worker with huge medical bills", then some energy person. This could get ugly.
The mayor is getting boos for his intro. As well he should. He keeps going off about how he's an "American first". Well hell, we all are. But we're Democrats second.
He just claimed we would get "sound judgment" from Barack Obama. This is a man who couldn't pick a Veep until the last second, can't think on his feet, can't distinguish between KC and STL, ceded 1/2 of his convention to a lady he beat, and is well on his way to blowing an absolute stone-cold-lead-pipe-lock victory. But yeah, "sound judgment", I'm feeling it.
The floor ain't buying it either. I'm guessing the beach ball is flying around again.
I'm guessing Fairbanks, Alaska won't be re-electing this guy.
And now our unemployed textile mill worker with huge medical bills.
Wow. Just ... when you think "white trailer trash", you got it. Gloria Craven.
I'm not sure what's darker, her glasses or her teeth. This is scary.
The floor is not buying this either. I feel bad for Governor Sebelius. How the hell do you regain the floor's attention after trainwrecks like this?
Whoa, this chick is married?!?! Oh my God, I feel so depressed. I ... I so need to find someone. (steve signing up for adult friend finder ...)
They're now living on her husband's Social Security.
On the other hand ... (steve sighing in somewhat disgust) you guessed it. She's wearing pearls.
"I know I can't stand another 4 more years of George W. Bush". You don't have to! He's done in less than 150 days!
We have a front runner for "worst convention speech ever". That was hideous. I'm guessing demconvention.com does not post it tomorrow.
Energy chick up, then Governor Sebelius. I'm going to refill the Coors Light while this lady speaks.
Or maybe not. "I've worn a tool belt, I've gotten my hands dirty ..." (beavis and butthead voice) huh huh huh. huh huh huh. that's cool.
Uh oh. After a quick check of all available sources, I'm down to:
* 1 Coors Light can
* 2 Coors Light bottles
* 1/3 bottle of Captain Morgan Parrot Bay
* bottle of shiraz
* bottle of champagne (for Hillary's speech)
Quick way of saying ... it's gonna be a photo finish tonight ...
Its 8:01. We're only a minute behind schedule. Not bad.
Kansas Governor up next.
Governor Sebelius!!!
Looking awesome tonight, bright red suit. And you guessed it, miniature pearls.
I'd forgotten Barry's mother was from my home state.
I'd vote for her. Oh wait, I already have twice. Again, is it too late to draft her to replace Barry? Or at least Biden?
Wow, this is not going well. You can see it in her eyes too, she knows she's struggling. I'm going with "bottle of chardonnay for happy hour for 200, alex".
The floor getting restless. As am I. And I like Governor Sebelius. A lot.
This is so dull I'm almost ready to flip to Hannity and Colmes.
Wow, crowd shot. Nobody is paying attention to this. Other than me, I guess.
Like "Fast" Eddie ... she just destroyed any major national ambitions with this dud. Although she'd be a solid fit heading the EPA if Obama wins.
Wow, that's 6 minutes of my life I won't get back.
"America"!!! Playing Neil Diamond's "America"!!!
"On the boats and on the planes! They comin' to America!"
Federico Pena, former mayor of denver, at the podium now. I believe he also was in the Clinton administration.
OK, that's it for the live blog for now at least. I want to watch Hillary's speech unimpeded ... and there's nobody between now and Chelsea's introduction worth listening to. So, that's it for day two.
I will post my thoughts on HRC's efforts later, either tonight or tomorrow morning. Not sure if a DNC Day Three blog will happen or not, depends on if I go to Trivia Night at Hooters or not. And if HRC's efforts are so solid that the adults in the room have no choice but to step in and take the keys of the nomination away from Barry ...
1. I thought Michelle did a very, very good job last night. I know a lot of pundits are saying "ah, it was ok". I thought it was a great effort on her part. Besides, unlike Teresa Heinz Kerry four years ago, at least you could understand Michelle.
2. I thought the (apparently) unplanned kid interaction with Senator Obama was awesome. That was really cool. Even if Barry is too stupid to figure out that Kansas City is not (nelly voice) the 'lou.
3. Claire McCaskill underwhelmed me. I like Senator McCaskill. She's one of the few high profile Democrats anymore than I have complete respect for. But man, there was just something missing last night.
4. Seriously, youtube! the John Legend performance. Its that freaking good.
5. All that said, I'm still on the PUMA bandwagon. But I'm open minded.
I plan on going for a while, but I doubt I'll live blog Hillary tonight. I'd prefer to watch that speech unimpeded, then react. Of course, I say that now, I might change my mind later.
OK, let's get going:
6:07pm: West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is up. I'm guessing he won't be addressing how badly he botched the Rich Rodriguez debacle.
"Take me home, country roads, to the place, I belong! West Virginia!"
And he's out after botching his closing.
HRC speaking on video!
And she's in pearls. I'm telling you, pearls. Rock star accessory.
She's introducting Sen. Mikulsky, arguably the scariest looking chick I've ever laid eyes on.
Oh my God, she's introducing a "checklist for change". Sounds like a good time to grab a Coors Light.
Apparently all the female Democratic Senators are introducting a check. I'm not going to recap all this, other than Mary Landrieu is back to looking good.
"Fast" Eddie Rendell is up next. Come on Ed! Lay into the media again! Please! Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!
One thing I've noticed so far: at almost every other convention, every speech is "we need to elect (president) and (vice president) this November!" So far at the DNC, the Biden mentions are few and far between, its always "elect Barack Obama", never "elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden". Guess the speakers are as unimpressed with the selection as the population at large was.
The song playing right now is "sisters are doing it for themselves". Why bother, the joke writes itself.
"Fast" Eddie!!!
Looking dapper tonight.
He's chosen to focus on energy. Pointing out how ridiculous the prices have gotten under Bush / Cheney.
Finally, someone from our side attacking John McCain. God forbid anyone cloaked in blue grow a pair.
(My favorite quote ever, from James Carville: "If Hillary lent him (Obama) one of hers, they'd each have one". Why we're headed for a landslide defeat 101 ...)
This speech is going nowhere. Pull the plug Ed. Pull the plug.
A couple Rep's up next, then the President of the AFL-CIO. Yes, this speech is so bad that I am reading tonight's lineup rather than pay attention.
Really, this speech is so bad, his national ambitions are done.
Even the floor has lost interest, you can hear side conversations everywhere.
What the hell is a "green collar" job?
He just botched "California". This is awful.
I really think he's drunk.
And he's done.
I'm taking a quick break to warm something up to eat. Tammy Baldwin (Wis) and Xavier Becerra (Calif) up next.
And I'm back.
Becerra had a funny opening line. "Any Democrats in the house? (applause) Are we ready to get to work? (applause)" Uuh, sure.
I gotta tell you, the rest of the night's lineup leading into Hillary looks awful. I might not make it out of hour one.
In the next hour, we have two labor leaders, 3 unemployed speakers (seriously, that's what their bio at demconvention.com says), the incompetent Steny Hoyer, the irritating Rahm Emanuel, and another economic town hall panel.
So ... we're done for now. I might come back later when the program picks up.
7:14pm: (randy quaid in "independence day" voice) hello boys! I'm back!
Steny Hoyer at the podium. He just laid 9/11 on Bush's lap, and follows up by saying that Bush is a man "who called Americans not to serve, but to shop". Wow, not even I'll stoop that low.
I think Steny's hit the sauce as well. He's slurring some words here. Although in his defense, if I was a delegate, I'd be blowing a .26 right now.
"free us from the tyranny of foreign oil". Come on. We'd be "free" if you and your incompetent House leadership cronies would let us drill.
This guy is p*ssed. Not sure why, but he is freaking angry. Maybe he got cut off an hour before taking the podium.
The floor has once again lost interest. Its amazing, every time these guys and gals start praising Obama, the side conversation noise picks up dramatically.
(Its not too late Dems. We can steal this nomination tomorrow! Yes we can!)
"When dawn breaks on January 21st, we will begin the long, tough job before us ..." Uuh Steny? The inaugural is January 20th. (dan dierdorf voice) nice try.
Whoa, according to the schedule, Steny went out of order by not one, but two speakers. Glug glug.
Oh my God, this current chick, Pauline Beck, a California home care worker ... is reading her speech off a piece of paper. No teleprompter. No eye contact. This is ... this is awful. I mean, this is MANDATORY youtube! viewing. Pauline Beck Democratic Convention.
The floor is getting restless. And noisy.
Seriously, we gave this chick a speaking spot? And didn't give one to Reverend Al?!?!
You can barely hear her over the floor at this point. I'm guessing they're pulling a College World Series here and hitting the beach ball around.
"and next November he will be our President". Only if he wins in THIS November Pauline.
"What a Feeling" by Irene Cara our interlude music.
Wow, a Suzie Orman look alike. Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of some union in Chicago.
If its possible, this woman is worse than Pauline. She's rushing her speech so fast that I can't keep up. The floor, once again, recognizes crap when it sees it as the background noise picks back up.
Governor Napolitano of Arizona up next, then the highlight of this hour, the economic round table panel headed up by "Left. Liberal. Granholm".
"9 out of 10 workers have no union". Probably a good thing.
And she's done. Let's keep the ball rolling.
Napolitano had a great crack at McCain about all the Arizona politicans who run for President and lose.
Another great one liner at McCain regarding his economic understanding. Finally, someone at the podium tonight who gets in some quality cheap shots. Where the hell was this last night? Or more to the point, where the hell was this 4 years ago, ripping your opponent at your convention?
I like this chick. I'd vote for her. Hell, can we draft her to replace Barry? Or at least Biden?
Two words: pearl earrings. Again, its the pearls. I'm telling you. Golden.
Why are people from Pennsylvania and Indiana writing the governor of Arizona about their problems? Why not hit up "Fast" Eddie or Evan Bayh for help?
This is the quietest the floor has been in at least 15 minutes.
Solid effort from the Governor. I'd like to say she has a bright future in the party, but lately we tend to only hype the dumbest and most ignorant among us. Hence our presumptive nominee.
Another Barry speech video. Hillary put it best: "John McCain has years of experience to qualify him (for the Presidency); Barack Obama has a speech."
And its Town Hall Meeting time! Left! Liberal! Granholm!
And Granholm is lookin' good! Lovely light blue blazer, black shirt and pants, and the glasses like I wear.
Plus ... you guessed it ... pearls! Both on the neck and in the ear! (you can insert your own joke here).
I have no plans to actually blog this panel. Although one of the panel members names is Amy Christensen. I used to work with a nice, smart, liberal girl by that name at "steve's employer from november 29, 1999 to march 17, 2006".
I'll be back in 10. Maybe. Actually, I will be, Governor Sebelius is up at 8pm.
7:47pm: we're back. Panel still going. Governor Granholm has a horrid mole growing on her cheek. Reminds me of that scene in "Uncle Buck", where John Candy is meeting with the kids principal. "Uncle Wart. That's what they call me, Old Wart Russell".
A Republican mayor from Alaska up next, then (and I'm literally transcribing the description here) a "laid off North Carolina textile worker with huge medical bills", then some energy person. This could get ugly.
The mayor is getting boos for his intro. As well he should. He keeps going off about how he's an "American first". Well hell, we all are. But we're Democrats second.
He just claimed we would get "sound judgment" from Barack Obama. This is a man who couldn't pick a Veep until the last second, can't think on his feet, can't distinguish between KC and STL, ceded 1/2 of his convention to a lady he beat, and is well on his way to blowing an absolute stone-cold-lead-pipe-lock victory. But yeah, "sound judgment", I'm feeling it.
The floor ain't buying it either. I'm guessing the beach ball is flying around again.
I'm guessing Fairbanks, Alaska won't be re-electing this guy.
And now our unemployed textile mill worker with huge medical bills.
Wow. Just ... when you think "white trailer trash", you got it. Gloria Craven.
I'm not sure what's darker, her glasses or her teeth. This is scary.
The floor is not buying this either. I feel bad for Governor Sebelius. How the hell do you regain the floor's attention after trainwrecks like this?
Whoa, this chick is married?!?! Oh my God, I feel so depressed. I ... I so need to find someone. (steve signing up for adult friend finder ...)
They're now living on her husband's Social Security.
On the other hand ... (steve sighing in somewhat disgust) you guessed it. She's wearing pearls.
"I know I can't stand another 4 more years of George W. Bush". You don't have to! He's done in less than 150 days!
We have a front runner for "worst convention speech ever". That was hideous. I'm guessing demconvention.com does not post it tomorrow.
Energy chick up, then Governor Sebelius. I'm going to refill the Coors Light while this lady speaks.
Or maybe not. "I've worn a tool belt, I've gotten my hands dirty ..." (beavis and butthead voice) huh huh huh. huh huh huh. that's cool.
Uh oh. After a quick check of all available sources, I'm down to:
* 1 Coors Light can
* 2 Coors Light bottles
* 1/3 bottle of Captain Morgan Parrot Bay
* bottle of shiraz
* bottle of champagne (for Hillary's speech)
Quick way of saying ... it's gonna be a photo finish tonight ...
Its 8:01. We're only a minute behind schedule. Not bad.
Kansas Governor up next.
Governor Sebelius!!!
Looking awesome tonight, bright red suit. And you guessed it, miniature pearls.
I'd forgotten Barry's mother was from my home state.
I'd vote for her. Oh wait, I already have twice. Again, is it too late to draft her to replace Barry? Or at least Biden?
Wow, this is not going well. You can see it in her eyes too, she knows she's struggling. I'm going with "bottle of chardonnay for happy hour for 200, alex".
The floor getting restless. As am I. And I like Governor Sebelius. A lot.
This is so dull I'm almost ready to flip to Hannity and Colmes.
Wow, crowd shot. Nobody is paying attention to this. Other than me, I guess.
Like "Fast" Eddie ... she just destroyed any major national ambitions with this dud. Although she'd be a solid fit heading the EPA if Obama wins.
Wow, that's 6 minutes of my life I won't get back.
"America"!!! Playing Neil Diamond's "America"!!!
"On the boats and on the planes! They comin' to America!"
Federico Pena, former mayor of denver, at the podium now. I believe he also was in the Clinton administration.
OK, that's it for the live blog for now at least. I want to watch Hillary's speech unimpeded ... and there's nobody between now and Chelsea's introduction worth listening to. So, that's it for day two.
I will post my thoughts on HRC's efforts later, either tonight or tomorrow morning. Not sure if a DNC Day Three blog will happen or not, depends on if I go to Trivia Night at Hooters or not. And if HRC's efforts are so solid that the adults in the room have no choice but to step in and take the keys of the nomination away from Barry ...
Monday, August 25, 2008
the dnc: day one ... live blog
I know, I know ... I'm 2 hours and 20 minutes late to cover everything, but trust me, you haven't missed much.
I admit this up front: this one is gonna be tough. As a PUMA Hillary supporter, I'm struggling, seriously struggling, to get on board with this unqualified moron of a candidate we've put at the top of the ticket. Maybe the lineup tonight will help to sway me.
(Probably not).
Here we go ...
6:21pm: Randi Weingarten, your President of the American Federation of Teachers, is ranting about how "our aging population depends on today's generation growing the economy". Uuh, yeah. That's why I got my college degree, to fund your Social Security account.
Sob stories about "empty stomachs, untreated ailments, and life experiences that can shake you to your core". What the hell does readin', writin', and 'rhythmatic have to do with ANY of that?
She can't say "children". It comes out as "chidrun".
She should have worn pearls, she wouldn't look as, uuh, threatening.
And she's done. Thoroughly forgettable 5 minutes. Probably good; most speeches at the DNC are anything but "forgettable".
Next up, Sen. Klobuchar from Minnesota.
She needs a tan.
She's going off about ethics reform. Barry's a politican from Illinois! Ethics pretty much don't exist in that situation.
She says Barack Obama has started to change Washington. Huh? How? What the hell has he done to bring change to Washington? He hasn't passed a single piece of legislation in 3 years and counting that he brought to the floor.
"Its time to elect a President that America can trust". I keep coming back to that whole "politician from Illinois" thing ...
And she's done. Another forgettable 5 minutes.
Kennedy tribute projected at 8:15CT according to CSPAN.
Side note: the music in between speakers has been awesome. The last song before this one was a live version of "Fantasy" by Earth Wind and Fire. Now we're onto "Dance to the Music". Few things funnier than watching crazy Dem delegates dance in the aisles.
Next up, according to the schedule, is John Legend and some kids choir. Should be good.
Replay of Obama's speech at the '04 DNC that ... well, is pretty much his only qualification for running for President. He can speak well.
Wow. This is really, really good. And its not a kids choir, its the Agape Choir from the International Spirit Center in Culver, CA. And I sh*t you not, it looks like Chikizie is on the top riser.
Yup, that HAS to be Chikizie. Nice!
Wow. Absolutely phenomenal. (steve standing and applauding)
Who'd have thunk my first fist pump and woo! of the night would be for a musical performance.
Next up according to the schedule: an America's Town Hall on the economy, moderated by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Sounds like a good time to hit the wine cooler.
Wow, more Earth Wind and Fire. Sweet! Freaking sweet!
Actually, schedule update, Speaker Pelosi is next, then the town hall, then the "Reverend Jackson"'s son.
Missouri's own Claire McCaskill kicks off prime time at 9. Kansas' own Kathleen Sebelius closes us down tonight.
Quick Steve rant: I get why the "Reverend Jackson" wasn't invited to speak. Something about "cut his nuts off". But how the hell can you have a DNC without Reverend Al? How am I supposed to find out if he got his 40 acre and a mule he was pleading for 4 years ago? Why Barry? We have to sit through the NARAL President, the NEA chief, and the state comptroller from Illinois, but we can't carve out 5 minutes for the most dynamite, electric speaker we've got? That's an outrage.
(Unless we're saving him for Thursday. If that's the case, I'm good with it).
Still on Earth Wind and Fire. Not sure if anyone is between Speaker Pelosi at 7 and the end of this song or not ... so, might as well visit the 'loo. Back in a few.
Yes! "September"! I am literally standing in front of the couch right now, dancing and singing along. I look like a delegate. Well, other than I'm doing this in a pair of shorts and not much else. So I still look like a delegate. Sweet!
"Say that you remember / Dancin' in September / Never was a cloudy day!!!" Jesus, this rocks! Woo! Earth! Wind! and f*cking Fire!!!
(and here I thought the Kennedy tribute would be the highlight of my Monday).
Alicia Keys' "No One" up next. Best cd I bought last year. Some 14 year old chick is just nailing this with the house band. God I love the DNC. Yet another reason why our convention kicks ass: better music.
I'm guessing we have noone speaking until 7. That's 13 minutes from now. Which means 13 minutes where we don't trot out some crazy dude that makes me look sane and rational.
(steve applauding this smart, reasoned decision).
Really, this 14 year old girl is solid. This is not an easy song to cover. Hope she goes out for "Idol" in the next couple years. If she does, you heard it here first, (randy jackson voice) she's in it to win it!
We're onto "Respect". Not a song I would have chosen, given the complete lack of it shown to the candidate that actually garnered the most votes in the run-up to the convention. (PUMA! PUMA! PUMA!)
(for those new to this, PUMA is a pro-Hillary organization that, if she fails to steal this thing in the roll call floor vote on Wednesday, is committed to voting for McCain. I am still officially undecided ... but anytime an organization is founded and its acronym stands for "Party Unity My Ass", I'll throw some support behind it).
Let's throw out some random shoutouts here. For the Chiefs fans visiting this, give www.bobgretz.com a read. Best Chiefs site out there right now, run by everyone's favorite former sideline reporter, Bob Gretz himself.
Guess the updated schedule was wrong. No Pelosi. Here comes the town hall forum.
Note: I am watching this on CSPAN. I doubt I will flip to any other networks because I prefer my convention coverage unfiltered. Just so you know.
I thought Sherrod Brown was black. Whoops. White as can be.
3 of these 4 "panelist" have absolutely nothing to do with "economic policy". Laura D'Andrea Tyson does, as Clinton's first economic leader. But they've also got Gore's educational advisor, some health care clinic person from Lincoln, Nebraska, and an author on heatlh care. I smell "universal care is the answer" being pushed hard these next 10, 15 minutes.
Wow, Ms. Tyson looks exactly like Donna Shalala. That sucks. I always thought Ms. Tyson was by far the hottest chick in the Clinton administration growing up. Now? Of course I'd still tap it. But man, nowhere near as hot as 1993, 1994.
"He won't retreat from current standards and accountability (in education)". So does that mean Obama will keep No Child Left Behind, arguably the single worst legacy of the Bush Administration? A bill so wretched that many of our nation's finest, long tenured teachers (like my mommy), quit rather than keep trying to meet impossible federal standards? Surely he doesn't mean that.
And here's the health insurance question. Told you this was a plant.
Can't afford a $20 copay?!?! Do you know what I would give for an insurance plan that OFFERED me a copay?!?! My insurance doesn't kick in one effing penny until I spend my deductable of $2400 / year! And these people are b*tching about coming up with $20 for a copay?!?! Please! Come work at "company Steve works for" and see what sh*tty ass health insurance really is!
"50% of bankruptcies in the United States are caused by people who can't pay their health insurance bills". Uuh, somehow I doubt that. Maybe their "health bills because they don't have insurance", but why argue at this point.
Note: I do agree with the Obama plan to allow anyone to buy into the federal employees plan, provided they pay the federal rate. As a child raised on the federal employees health plan, yeah, its pretty solid. And spare me the "it will bankrupt the system" crap. The private health insurers will have to reform their cost structure to stay alive in the field. It'll balance out. Choice is the answer. In this case, giving you the choice to buy into the government plan.
Whew, that's over.
Oh no. Flashback to Speaker Pelosi becoming Speaker. Madame Speaker ... speaking on behalf of the left, we elected you into that position to do two things. (1) defund the war. (2) Impeach Bush for lying about Mission Accomplished. You not only have done neither, you haven't even considered doing either. I hope you lose in November.
And here comes Madame Speaker.
Wow, she looks good tonight. Nice white pant suit, "Dusty's ex"'s cropped haircut, nice tan, and pearls. I'm telling you, you can never go wrong with pearls.
Our first real tribute to Hillary. No need to acknowledge she actually, you know, got more votes, but still, that's nice.
And the floor begins! "Hillary! Hillary!"
Wow, no applause at all for the "one nation ... under God" line that was clearly designed to generate applause. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love the DNC. Nothing but lunacy.
(In case you forgot, the last time Joe Biden was at the podium, he was literally booed off the stage for quoting the Bible. Now, he's our Veep nominee. Yup, its my party).
Pelosi is "very proud of the Democrats in Congress". WTF?!?! You've done nothing!
She just said "we helped rebuild the Gulf Coast". I think the Lower 9th Ward has an issue with that statement.
Woo, a minimum wage increase, that's a highlight.
We're less than an hour from Senator Kennedy's tribute.
(And yes, I bought champagne for the tribute. This should be entertaining).
"Because of them (veterans), America is the land of the free, and the home of the? (peter griffin voice) whopper?"
Pelosi just mispronounced Obama's name.
I love how nobody is using his full name.
Whoa, major, MAJOR f*ck up! She just said "Republicans say Barack Obama has no experien --" Then stops and starts over. Uuh, Speaker? The Republicans are right on this one.
Shout out to Teddy for his only vote since March.
Punch line of the speech: "John McCain is Wrong!" Not quite (al gore voice) "Its Time for Him to Go!" that brought the '92 DNC to its feet, but hey, its only Monday, its a start.
"America needs a President who knows that health care is a right, and not a privilege". Well no sh*t. What we need is a President who understands that health INSURANCE needs to be a right, not a privilege.
"America needs a President who will responsibly end the war in Iraq". Uuh, didn't Bush's negotiators do that earlier this week, by negotiating a deal that said we'd be out by 1/1/12?
What 5 year old is going to pop out from under a table at the Olive Garden and say "Barack Obama! I must be dreaming!" Jesus, Pelosi, if you're gonna tell a story, here's a thought ... have a point! Or at least be semi-believable when you tell it.
"Barack Obama's values are enduring American values". Tell that to his brother living on $1 a month in Kenya. Or to the poor innocent children who died needlessly after botched abortions because of his refusal to back a bill that passed the Senate 98-0.
If Barack Obama is "a 21st Century Patriot who sees beyond the years", I'd rather go back to the Clinton / Gore era. Oh wait, I did want to go back to the Clinton / Gore era, that's why I back Hillary. PUMA! PUMA! PUMA!
Behind the scenes video looking at the work a pledged delegate puts in. Pretty cool, actually. I so want to be a delegate to this thing in 2012.
"Pascagoula Run" by Buffett introduces the New Orleans tribute! Parrot Heads represent!
"Well its time to see the world! Time to kiss a girl! Time to cross that wild meridian! Grab your bag and take a chance! Time to learn a Cajun dance! Boy you're gonna see the mornin' sun ... on the Pascagoula Run! (da da da da da!)"
Love that song.
Former President Carter up next after he pimps his involvement in rebuilding the Gulf Coast.
Here's ("barry gibb talk show host" voice) J J J J J Jimmy Carter! P P P P P Peanut Farmer!
"Georgia on my Mind" playing. Dusty would love that.
So would Dixie Carter.
Wow, Rosalyn Carter looks good for pushing 80. Good to see good people still looking like they're in good health.
Ditto for the former President.
So apparently ("barry gibb talk show host" voice) J J J J J Jimmy Carter! P P P P P Peanut farmer! isn't speaking?!?! WTF?!?! We have two living Presidents, and one of them gets nothing more than a meet and greet with the current Speaker of the House? What a whiz in the face of a man of honor, integrity, and all around decency. And you can't say that about many people in my party. Jimmy Carter is a decent, honorable person. Gullible, flawed, but honorable. And he doesn't get a word in at the podium. Outrageous.
Obama's half sister at the podium now. I'm guessing by her outfit she can afford better than a 6x9 shack on $1 / month.
Good point raised earlier: how many freaking relatives does Barry have? He's making Bill Clinton's family look absolutely normal.
I'm not going to even attempt to figure out how to pronounce her name. Its Maya (yes, I get that part) Soetoro-Ng. What the hell is a "Ng", a symbol for one of the elements on the periodic table of the elements?
(a quick high level search says no, that is not an element).
(Side note: how the hell am I still sober enough to do this? I'm 3 Coors Lights and a bottle of shiraz in ... and I'm still truckin'! And I've got the champagne on ice for Senator Kennedy's (probably) final appearance at a DNC. The answer, as always: tolerance. level. I freaking rule at that, as Float Trip 08 determined).
Scary woman with a flower wreath around her neck in the delegate audience.
Barry's sister seems nice, educated, articulate. What was it Joe Biden said, an "articulate African American, nicely dressed"? Remind me again why we put either of these tools on our ticket?
Short, sweet, and to the point. She's out.
30 minutes to Senator Edward M. Kennedy ... unless they've built this much room in to allow him to speak. Because the only thing left between him is the "Reverend Jackson's" kid.
Rev. Jackson's kid opens with a lie, about this being the "first Convention to take place within site of a mountaintop". The 1908 DNC was in the spot tonight's is.
What the hell exactly is a "community organizer"?
Jackson Jr. blasting HRC backers.
Calls Illinois "America". Uuh, no, its "Illinois".
What the hell is the button young Jesse is wearing? I can't make it out. Let me head into the main room and see if I can make it out in HD ...
Apparently CSPAN isn't available in HD. So I have no clue what button he's wearing it. But its circular and red.
"We rise and fall together as one people ..." Straight plagarized from "Lean on Me". Nice job, Jess.
Shout out to daddy. I do wonder what the "Reverend Jackson" is up to tonight. 7 1/2 inches with his mistress?
(ka boom boom ching)
(I kid, I kid ... 8 1/2 inches. He is black. My God, this is tanking fast ...)
Continuing the adult theme, the delegate they just showed, I swear, looked like Mr. Marcus. So we're up to 10 1/2?
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz now playing, apparently the "Reverend Jackson's" kid is done. 6 minutes, not too shabby.
(ka boom boom ching).
There are two small speakers scheduled next, some folks from Indiana who "hosted Obama for lunch", and the President of some union in Chicago. And we're still 25 minutes from Caroline Kennedy introducing Ted. I smell a final address to the faithful being built into tonight ...
At least I hope that's what I smell. Because that would be better than if (dwayne johnson voice) I can smellllllllllllll ... what the Rock ... is cooking!
(I miss that picture hanging in the '23330 kitchen.)
Diane Keaton looking chick trying to dance to Lenny Kravitz. (steve reaching for the wine glass ...)
Wow, there's still 2 plus hours to go?!?! This might end early. Just sayin'. I can't go another 2 plus hours. But I'm at least making it to Kennedy's tribute. That's only 15 minutes away now.
Just showed Biden and his wife shaking hands with the "Honorable" Howard Dean. Biden's wife ... perfectly acceptable. Biden ... perfectly acceptable. Too bad I'm not ready to say the same about Barry or his wife ...
Spike Lee in da house! Fo shizzle!
Its 8:02CT.
We're going to "build a house at each convention site" for a wounded veteran. How about we, I don't know, ask our incompetent Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to pass legislation to actually HELP these veterans, as opposed to relying on pity and charity to do the trick?
Good God, what a nice house he's getting! I'm in a nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath with a half finished basement ... and it could fit in like 1/3 of this joint going up!
(speaking of joints going up ... dammit, Dusty took it with him. Boo!)
Mike and Sheryl Fisher up next. They "hosted Barack Obama".
Sheryl looks scared.
Uuh, Barry lost Indiana there, Fishers. Like he lost every meaningful contest after Super Tuesday. And like he's going to lose in November at this rate.
This guy has no business speaking in prime time. He's clearly nervous, and intimidated. Seems nice, seems decent, but he's obviously out of his league.
Barack has "a good sense of humor". Well hell's bells. So do I, but nobody wants to see me win the Presidency.
That was mercifully quick. 1:30 at most.
Next up, Tom Balanoff, some Union President from Illinois. He looks like a union president.
Note: I'm going to skip this speech to pop open the champagne for Senator Kennedy, so if this is the 2nd coming of Obama's speech in 2004, sorry, I won't recap it.
John Kerry takes his seat in the Massachusetts delegation.
"Oye Como Va" playing now. Some dude in a Woody Woodpecker hat that CSPAN is focused in on. Awesome.
Caroline Kennedy in :10.
"Sweet Caroline"!
HUGE ovation. Hu-yuge!!!
Kennedy signs everywhere.
I might cry.
Huge applause for Ted's name being mentioned.
Wow, she looks so much like JFK in the face.
The convention for the first time is ready to explode.
Caroline looks like a natural at the podium.
"In our family, he's known as Uncle Teddy". In mine too!
Maria Shriver in the house.
I haven't stopped clapping for 3 minutes, other than to type.
Wow, she makes Teddy sound as great as the new KY Intrigue.
(ka boom boom ching).
The floor starting to explode.
"He has a special relationship with each of us". We'll let that one go. "The best cookies and the best laughs are always found at Uncle Teddy's". Again, let it go.
I'm almost scared to see how he will look, Caroline is in near tears describing him.
Ken Burns directed this tribute. Hope its solid.
Wow. I mean. Wow. Amazing. Just ... you have to youtube! the tribute. Just ... wow.
Visible signs of a stroke of aneurysm, left arm pretty much useless, left side of hair gone. Who cares. He's speaking.
(steve applauding wildly).
This floor is going ape sh*t. As am I.
Kennedy! Kennedy! Kennedy!
Teddy at 50% reading a teleprompter is better than 95% of folks at 100% doing it. Just awesome. Another youtube! moment.
His left hand is heavily bandaged.
Biden standing and applauding.
"We are told that Barack Obama believes too much in an America of high principle and high endeavor, but when John Kennedy said we should go to the moon, nobody said he was thinking too far or too much". Amen! A effing men!
My God, he's almost switched me to a D vote.
This is beyond an uplifting speech. This is incredible.
(steve wildly applauding).
"Still the One" by Orleans. Great choice.
EVERY DNC heavyweight at the podium.
Maria Shriver in tears. (as am I).
How do you top that?!?!
With "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.
And with that, I'm OUT for night one. Still to come tonight ... Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. Potential First Lady Michelle Obama. And Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
I pledge to be back tomorrow, for the night that somehow has to end the obvious unity tonight promoted, as Sen. Clinton, Gov. Kaine, and countless others take the stage. Until then ... ("linda richman in coffee talk" voice) I'll give you a topic ... Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island, discuss ...
I admit this up front: this one is gonna be tough. As a PUMA Hillary supporter, I'm struggling, seriously struggling, to get on board with this unqualified moron of a candidate we've put at the top of the ticket. Maybe the lineup tonight will help to sway me.
(Probably not).
Here we go ...
6:21pm: Randi Weingarten, your President of the American Federation of Teachers, is ranting about how "our aging population depends on today's generation growing the economy". Uuh, yeah. That's why I got my college degree, to fund your Social Security account.
Sob stories about "empty stomachs, untreated ailments, and life experiences that can shake you to your core". What the hell does readin', writin', and 'rhythmatic have to do with ANY of that?
She can't say "children". It comes out as "chidrun".
She should have worn pearls, she wouldn't look as, uuh, threatening.
And she's done. Thoroughly forgettable 5 minutes. Probably good; most speeches at the DNC are anything but "forgettable".
Next up, Sen. Klobuchar from Minnesota.
She needs a tan.
She's going off about ethics reform. Barry's a politican from Illinois! Ethics pretty much don't exist in that situation.
She says Barack Obama has started to change Washington. Huh? How? What the hell has he done to bring change to Washington? He hasn't passed a single piece of legislation in 3 years and counting that he brought to the floor.
"Its time to elect a President that America can trust". I keep coming back to that whole "politician from Illinois" thing ...
And she's done. Another forgettable 5 minutes.
Kennedy tribute projected at 8:15CT according to CSPAN.
Side note: the music in between speakers has been awesome. The last song before this one was a live version of "Fantasy" by Earth Wind and Fire. Now we're onto "Dance to the Music". Few things funnier than watching crazy Dem delegates dance in the aisles.
Next up, according to the schedule, is John Legend and some kids choir. Should be good.
Replay of Obama's speech at the '04 DNC that ... well, is pretty much his only qualification for running for President. He can speak well.
Wow. This is really, really good. And its not a kids choir, its the Agape Choir from the International Spirit Center in Culver, CA. And I sh*t you not, it looks like Chikizie is on the top riser.
Yup, that HAS to be Chikizie. Nice!
Wow. Absolutely phenomenal. (steve standing and applauding)
Who'd have thunk my first fist pump and woo! of the night would be for a musical performance.
Next up according to the schedule: an America's Town Hall on the economy, moderated by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Sounds like a good time to hit the wine cooler.
Wow, more Earth Wind and Fire. Sweet! Freaking sweet!
Actually, schedule update, Speaker Pelosi is next, then the town hall, then the "Reverend Jackson"'s son.
Missouri's own Claire McCaskill kicks off prime time at 9. Kansas' own Kathleen Sebelius closes us down tonight.
Quick Steve rant: I get why the "Reverend Jackson" wasn't invited to speak. Something about "cut his nuts off". But how the hell can you have a DNC without Reverend Al? How am I supposed to find out if he got his 40 acre and a mule he was pleading for 4 years ago? Why Barry? We have to sit through the NARAL President, the NEA chief, and the state comptroller from Illinois, but we can't carve out 5 minutes for the most dynamite, electric speaker we've got? That's an outrage.
(Unless we're saving him for Thursday. If that's the case, I'm good with it).
Still on Earth Wind and Fire. Not sure if anyone is between Speaker Pelosi at 7 and the end of this song or not ... so, might as well visit the 'loo. Back in a few.
Yes! "September"! I am literally standing in front of the couch right now, dancing and singing along. I look like a delegate. Well, other than I'm doing this in a pair of shorts and not much else. So I still look like a delegate. Sweet!
"Say that you remember / Dancin' in September / Never was a cloudy day!!!" Jesus, this rocks! Woo! Earth! Wind! and f*cking Fire!!!
(and here I thought the Kennedy tribute would be the highlight of my Monday).
Alicia Keys' "No One" up next. Best cd I bought last year. Some 14 year old chick is just nailing this with the house band. God I love the DNC. Yet another reason why our convention kicks ass: better music.
I'm guessing we have noone speaking until 7. That's 13 minutes from now. Which means 13 minutes where we don't trot out some crazy dude that makes me look sane and rational.
(steve applauding this smart, reasoned decision).
Really, this 14 year old girl is solid. This is not an easy song to cover. Hope she goes out for "Idol" in the next couple years. If she does, you heard it here first, (randy jackson voice) she's in it to win it!
We're onto "Respect". Not a song I would have chosen, given the complete lack of it shown to the candidate that actually garnered the most votes in the run-up to the convention. (PUMA! PUMA! PUMA!)
(for those new to this, PUMA is a pro-Hillary organization that, if she fails to steal this thing in the roll call floor vote on Wednesday, is committed to voting for McCain. I am still officially undecided ... but anytime an organization is founded and its acronym stands for "Party Unity My Ass", I'll throw some support behind it).
Let's throw out some random shoutouts here. For the Chiefs fans visiting this, give www.bobgretz.com a read. Best Chiefs site out there right now, run by everyone's favorite former sideline reporter, Bob Gretz himself.
Guess the updated schedule was wrong. No Pelosi. Here comes the town hall forum.
Note: I am watching this on CSPAN. I doubt I will flip to any other networks because I prefer my convention coverage unfiltered. Just so you know.
I thought Sherrod Brown was black. Whoops. White as can be.
3 of these 4 "panelist" have absolutely nothing to do with "economic policy". Laura D'Andrea Tyson does, as Clinton's first economic leader. But they've also got Gore's educational advisor, some health care clinic person from Lincoln, Nebraska, and an author on heatlh care. I smell "universal care is the answer" being pushed hard these next 10, 15 minutes.
Wow, Ms. Tyson looks exactly like Donna Shalala. That sucks. I always thought Ms. Tyson was by far the hottest chick in the Clinton administration growing up. Now? Of course I'd still tap it. But man, nowhere near as hot as 1993, 1994.
"He won't retreat from current standards and accountability (in education)". So does that mean Obama will keep No Child Left Behind, arguably the single worst legacy of the Bush Administration? A bill so wretched that many of our nation's finest, long tenured teachers (like my mommy), quit rather than keep trying to meet impossible federal standards? Surely he doesn't mean that.
And here's the health insurance question. Told you this was a plant.
Can't afford a $20 copay?!?! Do you know what I would give for an insurance plan that OFFERED me a copay?!?! My insurance doesn't kick in one effing penny until I spend my deductable of $2400 / year! And these people are b*tching about coming up with $20 for a copay?!?! Please! Come work at "company Steve works for" and see what sh*tty ass health insurance really is!
"50% of bankruptcies in the United States are caused by people who can't pay their health insurance bills". Uuh, somehow I doubt that. Maybe their "health bills because they don't have insurance", but why argue at this point.
Note: I do agree with the Obama plan to allow anyone to buy into the federal employees plan, provided they pay the federal rate. As a child raised on the federal employees health plan, yeah, its pretty solid. And spare me the "it will bankrupt the system" crap. The private health insurers will have to reform their cost structure to stay alive in the field. It'll balance out. Choice is the answer. In this case, giving you the choice to buy into the government plan.
Whew, that's over.
Oh no. Flashback to Speaker Pelosi becoming Speaker. Madame Speaker ... speaking on behalf of the left, we elected you into that position to do two things. (1) defund the war. (2) Impeach Bush for lying about Mission Accomplished. You not only have done neither, you haven't even considered doing either. I hope you lose in November.
And here comes Madame Speaker.
Wow, she looks good tonight. Nice white pant suit, "Dusty's ex"'s cropped haircut, nice tan, and pearls. I'm telling you, you can never go wrong with pearls.
Our first real tribute to Hillary. No need to acknowledge she actually, you know, got more votes, but still, that's nice.
And the floor begins! "Hillary! Hillary!"
Wow, no applause at all for the "one nation ... under God" line that was clearly designed to generate applause. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love the DNC. Nothing but lunacy.
(In case you forgot, the last time Joe Biden was at the podium, he was literally booed off the stage for quoting the Bible. Now, he's our Veep nominee. Yup, its my party).
Pelosi is "very proud of the Democrats in Congress". WTF?!?! You've done nothing!
She just said "we helped rebuild the Gulf Coast". I think the Lower 9th Ward has an issue with that statement.
Woo, a minimum wage increase, that's a highlight.
We're less than an hour from Senator Kennedy's tribute.
(And yes, I bought champagne for the tribute. This should be entertaining).
"Because of them (veterans), America is the land of the free, and the home of the? (peter griffin voice) whopper?"
Pelosi just mispronounced Obama's name.
I love how nobody is using his full name.
Whoa, major, MAJOR f*ck up! She just said "Republicans say Barack Obama has no experien --" Then stops and starts over. Uuh, Speaker? The Republicans are right on this one.
Shout out to Teddy for his only vote since March.
Punch line of the speech: "John McCain is Wrong!" Not quite (al gore voice) "Its Time for Him to Go!" that brought the '92 DNC to its feet, but hey, its only Monday, its a start.
"America needs a President who knows that health care is a right, and not a privilege". Well no sh*t. What we need is a President who understands that health INSURANCE needs to be a right, not a privilege.
"America needs a President who will responsibly end the war in Iraq". Uuh, didn't Bush's negotiators do that earlier this week, by negotiating a deal that said we'd be out by 1/1/12?
What 5 year old is going to pop out from under a table at the Olive Garden and say "Barack Obama! I must be dreaming!" Jesus, Pelosi, if you're gonna tell a story, here's a thought ... have a point! Or at least be semi-believable when you tell it.
"Barack Obama's values are enduring American values". Tell that to his brother living on $1 a month in Kenya. Or to the poor innocent children who died needlessly after botched abortions because of his refusal to back a bill that passed the Senate 98-0.
If Barack Obama is "a 21st Century Patriot who sees beyond the years", I'd rather go back to the Clinton / Gore era. Oh wait, I did want to go back to the Clinton / Gore era, that's why I back Hillary. PUMA! PUMA! PUMA!
Behind the scenes video looking at the work a pledged delegate puts in. Pretty cool, actually. I so want to be a delegate to this thing in 2012.
"Pascagoula Run" by Buffett introduces the New Orleans tribute! Parrot Heads represent!
"Well its time to see the world! Time to kiss a girl! Time to cross that wild meridian! Grab your bag and take a chance! Time to learn a Cajun dance! Boy you're gonna see the mornin' sun ... on the Pascagoula Run! (da da da da da!)"
Love that song.
Former President Carter up next after he pimps his involvement in rebuilding the Gulf Coast.
Here's ("barry gibb talk show host" voice) J J J J J Jimmy Carter! P P P P P Peanut Farmer!
"Georgia on my Mind" playing. Dusty would love that.
So would Dixie Carter.
Wow, Rosalyn Carter looks good for pushing 80. Good to see good people still looking like they're in good health.
Ditto for the former President.
So apparently ("barry gibb talk show host" voice) J J J J J Jimmy Carter! P P P P P Peanut farmer! isn't speaking?!?! WTF?!?! We have two living Presidents, and one of them gets nothing more than a meet and greet with the current Speaker of the House? What a whiz in the face of a man of honor, integrity, and all around decency. And you can't say that about many people in my party. Jimmy Carter is a decent, honorable person. Gullible, flawed, but honorable. And he doesn't get a word in at the podium. Outrageous.
Obama's half sister at the podium now. I'm guessing by her outfit she can afford better than a 6x9 shack on $1 / month.
Good point raised earlier: how many freaking relatives does Barry have? He's making Bill Clinton's family look absolutely normal.
I'm not going to even attempt to figure out how to pronounce her name. Its Maya (yes, I get that part) Soetoro-Ng. What the hell is a "Ng", a symbol for one of the elements on the periodic table of the elements?
(a quick high level search says no, that is not an element).
(Side note: how the hell am I still sober enough to do this? I'm 3 Coors Lights and a bottle of shiraz in ... and I'm still truckin'! And I've got the champagne on ice for Senator Kennedy's (probably) final appearance at a DNC. The answer, as always: tolerance. level. I freaking rule at that, as Float Trip 08 determined).
Scary woman with a flower wreath around her neck in the delegate audience.
Barry's sister seems nice, educated, articulate. What was it Joe Biden said, an "articulate African American, nicely dressed"? Remind me again why we put either of these tools on our ticket?
Short, sweet, and to the point. She's out.
30 minutes to Senator Edward M. Kennedy ... unless they've built this much room in to allow him to speak. Because the only thing left between him is the "Reverend Jackson's" kid.
Rev. Jackson's kid opens with a lie, about this being the "first Convention to take place within site of a mountaintop". The 1908 DNC was in the spot tonight's is.
What the hell exactly is a "community organizer"?
Jackson Jr. blasting HRC backers.
Calls Illinois "America". Uuh, no, its "Illinois".
What the hell is the button young Jesse is wearing? I can't make it out. Let me head into the main room and see if I can make it out in HD ...
Apparently CSPAN isn't available in HD. So I have no clue what button he's wearing it. But its circular and red.
"We rise and fall together as one people ..." Straight plagarized from "Lean on Me". Nice job, Jess.
Shout out to daddy. I do wonder what the "Reverend Jackson" is up to tonight. 7 1/2 inches with his mistress?
(ka boom boom ching)
(I kid, I kid ... 8 1/2 inches. He is black. My God, this is tanking fast ...)
Continuing the adult theme, the delegate they just showed, I swear, looked like Mr. Marcus. So we're up to 10 1/2?
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz now playing, apparently the "Reverend Jackson's" kid is done. 6 minutes, not too shabby.
(ka boom boom ching).
There are two small speakers scheduled next, some folks from Indiana who "hosted Obama for lunch", and the President of some union in Chicago. And we're still 25 minutes from Caroline Kennedy introducing Ted. I smell a final address to the faithful being built into tonight ...
At least I hope that's what I smell. Because that would be better than if (dwayne johnson voice) I can smellllllllllllll ... what the Rock ... is cooking!
(I miss that picture hanging in the '23330 kitchen.)
Diane Keaton looking chick trying to dance to Lenny Kravitz. (steve reaching for the wine glass ...)
Wow, there's still 2 plus hours to go?!?! This might end early. Just sayin'. I can't go another 2 plus hours. But I'm at least making it to Kennedy's tribute. That's only 15 minutes away now.
Just showed Biden and his wife shaking hands with the "Honorable" Howard Dean. Biden's wife ... perfectly acceptable. Biden ... perfectly acceptable. Too bad I'm not ready to say the same about Barry or his wife ...
Spike Lee in da house! Fo shizzle!
Its 8:02CT.
We're going to "build a house at each convention site" for a wounded veteran. How about we, I don't know, ask our incompetent Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to pass legislation to actually HELP these veterans, as opposed to relying on pity and charity to do the trick?
Good God, what a nice house he's getting! I'm in a nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath with a half finished basement ... and it could fit in like 1/3 of this joint going up!
(speaking of joints going up ... dammit, Dusty took it with him. Boo!)
Mike and Sheryl Fisher up next. They "hosted Barack Obama".
Sheryl looks scared.
Uuh, Barry lost Indiana there, Fishers. Like he lost every meaningful contest after Super Tuesday. And like he's going to lose in November at this rate.
This guy has no business speaking in prime time. He's clearly nervous, and intimidated. Seems nice, seems decent, but he's obviously out of his league.
Barack has "a good sense of humor". Well hell's bells. So do I, but nobody wants to see me win the Presidency.
That was mercifully quick. 1:30 at most.
Next up, Tom Balanoff, some Union President from Illinois. He looks like a union president.
Note: I'm going to skip this speech to pop open the champagne for Senator Kennedy, so if this is the 2nd coming of Obama's speech in 2004, sorry, I won't recap it.
John Kerry takes his seat in the Massachusetts delegation.
"Oye Como Va" playing now. Some dude in a Woody Woodpecker hat that CSPAN is focused in on. Awesome.
Caroline Kennedy in :10.
"Sweet Caroline"!
HUGE ovation. Hu-yuge!!!
Kennedy signs everywhere.
I might cry.
Huge applause for Ted's name being mentioned.
Wow, she looks so much like JFK in the face.
The convention for the first time is ready to explode.
Caroline looks like a natural at the podium.
"In our family, he's known as Uncle Teddy". In mine too!
Maria Shriver in the house.
I haven't stopped clapping for 3 minutes, other than to type.
Wow, she makes Teddy sound as great as the new KY Intrigue.
(ka boom boom ching).
The floor starting to explode.
"He has a special relationship with each of us". We'll let that one go. "The best cookies and the best laughs are always found at Uncle Teddy's". Again, let it go.
I'm almost scared to see how he will look, Caroline is in near tears describing him.
Ken Burns directed this tribute. Hope its solid.
Wow. I mean. Wow. Amazing. Just ... you have to youtube! the tribute. Just ... wow.
Visible signs of a stroke of aneurysm, left arm pretty much useless, left side of hair gone. Who cares. He's speaking.
(steve applauding wildly).
This floor is going ape sh*t. As am I.
Kennedy! Kennedy! Kennedy!
Teddy at 50% reading a teleprompter is better than 95% of folks at 100% doing it. Just awesome. Another youtube! moment.
His left hand is heavily bandaged.
Biden standing and applauding.
"We are told that Barack Obama believes too much in an America of high principle and high endeavor, but when John Kennedy said we should go to the moon, nobody said he was thinking too far or too much". Amen! A effing men!
My God, he's almost switched me to a D vote.
This is beyond an uplifting speech. This is incredible.
(steve wildly applauding).
"Still the One" by Orleans. Great choice.
EVERY DNC heavyweight at the podium.
Maria Shriver in tears. (as am I).
How do you top that?!?!
With "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.
And with that, I'm OUT for night one. Still to come tonight ... Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. Potential First Lady Michelle Obama. And Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
I pledge to be back tomorrow, for the night that somehow has to end the obvious unity tonight promoted, as Sen. Clinton, Gov. Kaine, and countless others take the stage. Until then ... ("linda richman in coffee talk" voice) I'll give you a topic ... Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island, discuss ...
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