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Democratic Convention Day 4
Author: BobR    Date: 08/28/2008 12:33:27

There have been some discussions of "where's the beef?" with regards to the campaign, Last night, Democrats got their two all beef patties, AND a little special sauce courtesy of Mellisa Ethridge. There were big names at the podium and big events at the hall.

The primary event of the evening of course was the nomination of Barack Obama as candidate for president for the Democratic Party. Due to the previous issues with Clinton supporters and - to some extent - the candidate herself, this took on the scripted feel of a movie scene. And what a scene it was!

As each state did its "great state" declaration, the tension and votes mounted, with a few states declining to cast a vote, until they got to New York. At that point, Hillary Clinton asked that the roll call vote be stopped and that Obama be declared the candidate by acclamation. It was an amazing gesture on her part to promote party unity. Her eyes seemed to tell the story that she was heartbroken, but she knew it was necessary. Kudos to her.

The other event of the evening of course was Joe Biden accepting the nomination as candidate for vice-president. He did it with his usual aplomb, and his curt "Yes" (okay - not quite as curt as during the debates, but pretty close).

The speeches were more boisterous and biting last night, which helped to amp up the energy level of the proceedings. Some highlights:

Harry Reid:
T. Boone Pickens said it right: “We can’t drill our way out of this crisis.”

But even if Doc McCain’s magic off-shore oil elixir won’t work, will it do any harm?

The answer is, we just don’t know, and neither does he. It might not ruin tourism in the Gulf or on the California coast. It might not destroy vital fisheries. It might not pollute our waterways.

Nobody really knows. But kindly old Doc McCain would like to sell it to you anyway.

John Kerry:
Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain’s own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you’re against it. [ ]

Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself.

Tammy Duckworth:
And Barack Obama will have a simple principle for homeless veterans: zero tolerance, because we are all dishonored when those who’ve worn the uniform sleep on our streets. But here’s what he won’t do: President Obama will reject John McCain’s plan to privatize the VA system. We won’t force veterans to search for medical care with nothing but a plastic card and the promise of payment. We won’t have means testing for access to the VA. Why? Because Barack Obama knows this: no one asked us where we lived or how much money we had when we enlisted, and no one should ask us that after we’ve bled for our country.

Bill Clinton's speech was highly anticipated and had generated some concern due to rumors that Mark Penn helped write it. If he did, that was not apparent (supposedly it turned out that Bill wrote the whole thing himself). Also Bill wanted to discuss economic issues, and Obama said "stick to the theme of the night". Bill seemed to have won that one. Such are the dances of diplomacy...

So anyway - some of Bill's highlights:
Most important, Barack Obama knows that America cannot be strong abroad unless we are strong at home. People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

The choice is clear. The Republicans will nominate a good man who served our country heroically and suffered terribly in Vietnam. He loves our country every bit as much as we all do. As a Senator, he has shown his independence on several issues. But on the two great questions of this election, how to rebuild the American Dream and how to restore America’s leadership in the world, he still embraces the extreme philosophy which has defined his party for more than 25 years, a philosophy we never had a real chance to see in action until 2001, when the Republicans finally gained control of both the White House and Congress. Then we saw what would happen to America if the policies they had talked about for decades were implemented.

[The Republicans] actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more. Let’s send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America: Thanks, but no thanks. In this case, the third time is not the charm.

My fellow Democrats, sixteen years ago, you gave me the profound honor to lead our party to victory and to lead our nation to a new era of peace and broadly shared prosperity.

Together, we prevailed in a campaign in which the Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be Commander-in-Chief. Sound familiar? It didn’t work in 1992, because we were on the right side of history. And it won’t work in 2008, because Barack Obama is on the right side of history.

Finally Joe Biden (introduced by a son anyone would be proud of: Bo Biden) delivered his acceptance speech and a few zingers along the way:
Since I’ve never been called a man of few words, let me say this as simply as I can: Yes. Yes, I accept your nomination to run and serve alongside our next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

Let me make this pledge to you right here and now. For every American who is trying to do the right thing, for all those people in government who are honoring their pledge to uphold the law and respect our Constitution, no longer will the eight most dreaded words in the English language be: “The vice president’s office is on the phone.”

You know, I believe the measure of a man isn’t just the road he’s traveled; it’s the choices he’s made along the way. Barack Obama could have done anything after he graduated from college. With all his talent and promise, he could have written his ticket to Wall Street. But that’s not what he chose to do. He chose to go to Chicago. The South Side...

The choice in this election is clear. These times require more than a good soldier; they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change—the change everybody knows we need....

Should we trust John McCain’s judgment when he says there can be no timelines to draw down our troops from Iraq—that we must stay indefinitely? Or should we listen to Barack Obama, who says shift responsibility to the Iraqis and set a time to bring our combat troops home?

Now, after six long years, the Bush administration and the Iraqi government are on the verge of setting a date to bring our troops home.

John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right.

Again and again, on the most important national security issues of our time, John McCain was wrong, and Barack Obama was proven right.

Biden also made an "unintentional mistake" and said "Bush" instead of "McCain" at one point, then corrected himself and called it a Freudian slip. :lol:

NOTE: All speeches from all participants on all nights can be found here, in case you need to reference them or just want to reread any of them.

All in all - it was the kind of night that conventions are supposed to be: raucous, spirited and reaffirming. So what about tonight?

At 6:00 we have tribute to MLK featuring my House Rep John Lewis and MLK III (today is the 45th anniversary of his I Have a Dream speech). Sheryl Crow, Tim Kaine, Stevie Wonder, Al Gore, and of course the big finale with Barack Obama. It's sure to be a big party. (full schedule here)

Speaking of parties, four years ago I went to a convention watching party to watch John Kerry's acceptance speech. It was a great experience, as I got to meet and hang out with other Dems in my area. I highly recommend it. You can look here for parties in your area. It's a pretty simple concept - just click on the one that looks best for you, they send you directions, and you show up (sometimes with a "covered dish"). Here in Atlanta, we might be going to the Amsterdam Bar & Café, as there will be a party there with Jim Martin (Senate challenger to Repig Saxby Chambliss).

Believe...


 

377 comments (Latest Comment: 08/29/2008 11:01:37 by trojanrabbit)
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