Pamella Cash-Roper and Barney Smith sounded better than the politicians who spoke tonight. Hell, maybe they’d do their jobs better, too. Is a hyphenated word one or two words? Why didn’t I bold that “and”? Oh the humanity. And are there any other liberal salt of the earth songs besides “Born In the USA”? That seems to be the safe choice… every time. Just sayin’.
Ok, Dick Durbin was good. Wasn’t expecting to say that.
That is a slick tie, Obie.
Well, maybe Obama doesn’t need anyone else to fight his battles for him. I like Mavericks, and I liked Maverick the movie, but after tonight, I think I’m gonna vote for Obama. In all seriousness, I thought it was a decent speech overall — though I had my problems with it — but I was ecstatic that he went after McCain so hard. That is what conventions are for. Send out a memo next time. With a lot of crap in the middle, the DNC started well and ended well, and as long as Sasha and Malia continue to act as surrogates over the next two months, they should have a new home come January.
August 28th, 2008
Between packing, I’ve been writing the mother of all posts on my disappointment with some aspects of the Democratic Convention. To my surprise, looking around the blogs, I found that many have written the same things. Glenn Greenwald perhaps says it best. So I’ve rewritten my masterwork to make it more specific and less what everyone else has beaten me to the punch on. Unfortunately, it is no longer a masterwork.
There are a lot specific goals for a convention, but the two big ones are building up your candidate and tearing down your opponent. Bush’s disaterous presidency — and McCain’s support of it — has provided myriad talking points for Democrats on why we don’t want the other guy.
In 2004, Republicans told us John Kerry wouldn’t keep us safe as Commander-In-Chief. This time around, Barack has shown great foreign policy judgment by opposing the war in Iraq from the start, confidently explaining the need for diplomacy, recognizing the real threats to America in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and looking badass in his overseas trip. John McCain needs Joe Lieberman to help him keep Sunnis and Shiites straight, and makes dangerously bold threats to countries like Iran and Russia. The troops get it, they mobbed Obama when he went to Iraq (which thankfully, Jack Reed did mention), and veterans are donating to him over McCain at a 6-1 clip. But more than one speaker should point this out!
Are Democrats worried that Clinton women feel left out by their party? Well, many prominent women had a chance to speak, and every one of them should have mentioned that John McCain voted against the Violence Against Women Act. And Joe Biden wrote it. They should have reminded us that McCain voted against equal pay for women. And Barack Obama married Michelle. This isn’t close.
And do I even need to go into the economy? Why aren’t Democrats hammering these points? One reason might be that they left a lot of their heavy hitters at home. Russ Feingold, Al Franken and Barbara Boxer should have had their very own night and very own theme called “The Gloves are Off”. Kerry, Gore and Schweitzer were the only ones who really laid into the Republicans (with Kerry and Schweitzer achieving much better results). And us young kids have been some of Obama’s most important and viscerally engaged supporters. Beau Biden was excellent. Better than his dad. Why aren’t more young Democrats like that speaking?
To be sure, there were some good individual speeches. Most of Monday was great. Michelle has yet to be topped. Deval Patrick made me glad to think he could be our next Attorney General. The Clintons backed Obama, and Kerry was good, too (although no one saw him). But there are some very specific things about Obama which make him an exciting choice for president, and there are some excellent reasons not to vote for McCain. Those messages needed to be woven into some cohesive themes that more than one person addresses. And that didn’t happen nearly to the extent it should have. It’s up to Obama, now.
August 28th, 2008
Well, Bill Clinton should hold a clinic on how to form a cohesive narrative. Part of it is comfort level, and part of it is building on what you’ve already said, not just tossing out more platitudes.
Who spiked the punch? John Kerry started out as I had indicated he would. And then he got fired up. If he’d pulled this four years earlier we’d have a different president right now.
If I’m in for a penny, I’m in for a pound. Beau Biden, too, is a class act.
Both Biden and Kerry accidentally said Bush when they meant to say McCain. Classic.
August 27th, 2008
Thank God. After yesterday’s love fest, I was hoping and praying for a throwback to the days of awkward moments, shrill speakers and long-winded speeches at the DNC. And my party didn’t let me down. Although I did miss DK’s talk. Did he mention UFO’s?
Also, to make an incredibly un-PC statement, I heard through the grapevine that Janet Napolitano wouldn’t make the short list for VP because she was a closet lesbian. I am strongly in favor of lesbians. I am glad that we are going to see more lesbians on cable TV (see Maddow, Rachel). It would be nice to see them in the White House as well. But after seeing Napolitano’s speech tonight, I’m certainly not still in doubt as to whether she’s a lesbian or not. It’s none of my business, I know. But it’s one of those things that’s just BAM, in your face, and you can’t help but notice.
Still waiting on on Mark Warner. Not thrilled to have him as the keynote.
Update 1: I don’t know what it feels like for conservatives when they see guys like Zel Miller and Joe Lieberman endorse Republicans and speak at Republican events. Maybe they see it as a validating coup. I could really give a shit. Bush has been terrible. I think it’s surprising that few Republicans have owned up to that, but I don’t see why we should be giving cookies to those that do. Some folks really liked the substance of Jim Leach’s speech last night, and maybe some Dems were glad to see whatever Republican it was who talked for a bit today. I’m more interested in what they’re still doing with a big R on their forehead, and who are the leaders in their party that they still look up to.
Update 2: Kathleen Sebelius may have taken one too many Xanax before addressing the convention, but I like that kind of delivery. She got a lot of guff for her poor SOTU rebuttal; she was much better tonight. Mark Shields, too, seems to have a bit of a crush on her. It is possible for a speaker to be too sedate, like Sebelius, BUT I MUCH PREFER IT TO SHOUTING EVEN WHEN THERE IS A MIC RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, BOB CASEY JR! He had a good line though: McCain voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. “That’s not a maverick, that’s a sidekick.”
Update 3: If you are not watching the convention, you are probably hating these posts. Mark Warner: you are funny. More humor, fewer platitudes. Less filling. Tastes great. I like that he kept it short and sweet.
Update 4: Michelle was just interviewed by Judith Miller. She makes the point that Hillary herself has been a trooper since she conceded. I think most of the sour grapes are coming from her supporters and the man who smoked but didn’t inhale. Obviously, Hil Dog thinks she deserves this more than Barack, but she’s much more sensible about the bigger picture than the people she’s chosen to surround herself with.
Update 5: Pretty lackluster day two so far, but Deval is killin’ it. Give that man a cabinet position. And Peniel Joseph and Mark Shields are leagues ahead of the analysts on any other channel. Ok, I’m gonna stop with all the updates. Final thoughts after Hillary’s speech.
Update 6: I thought she started off a little slow, but she didn’t hold back on positive references to Obama. Classy. And I must be getting old, because I really liked the Harriet Tubman (I believe she was a woman and black) bit at the end. My big problem with what the Dems are saying so far is that they keep mentioning McCain’s “the economy is fundamentally sound” comment. Yes, it’s bad that he said that, but far more damning are his policies, which will make it much worse. In other words, if you feel you’ve gotten the shaft the last 8 years, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Say that every speech!
August 26th, 2008
Here’s a primer for the rest of the convention:
As you all know, last night’s theme was One Nation (surprisingly unaccompanied by Queen Latifah’s song, “U.N.I.T.Y.”). For some nice analysis of the night, as well as Johnny Mac’s performance on Leno, check out this. Maddow is getting her own gig, doncha know, which doubles the number of watchable shows on cable news.
Tonight is either going to be Edward Fortyhands or “Renewing America’s Promise”. Mark Warner will give the keynote speech, and Hil Dog will speak after him. Other highlights include Brian Schweitzer from Montana and Massachusetts’ own Deval Patrick.
Dennis Kucinich will be speaking too, although strangely enough, it won’t be in a primetime slot. It’s almost as if they are embarrassed of the little elven crusader.
Those of you hoping that Wednesday’s theme of “Securing America’s Future” would be brought home by a bunch of boring white guys, have I got some exciting news for you. John Kerry will be oscillating between his patented monotone and a slightly more nuanced drone he’s been perfecting. Tom Daschle will talk about how to lose an election and get outmaneuvered by senate Republicans. Harry Reid will be echoing many of those same themes, with similar barely restrained fervor.
Bill Richardson has assured us that while he may not be Wonderbread white, he will be exceptionally boring to make up the minimal difference. And did I mention Bill Clinton will be talking about what makes Bill Clinton the Democratic party so great? Joe Biden and Evan Bayh are speaking, too. Good times.
Then on Thursday, some hot shot from Illinois will be giving an encore performance of his 2004 speech in Boston. If you can’t guess what Thursday’s theme is, you’re on your own.
August 26th, 2008
I rarely use the term class act unironically, but Jimmy Carter and Caroline Kennedy are class acts in the best sense of the word. Very nice to see them at the convention. Too bad Caroline is married. Also, as an added bonus she gets an introductory song that was actually written for her. Unfortunately, that song was written by Neil Diamond, the kind of person I might un-unironically refer to as a class act.
And if you watch the convention at all, watch Mark Shields on PBS. The guy knows his history. Right off the bat he noted that Ted Kennedy ended his speech with the same phrase that he used in his 1980 convention speech. You just don’t see that shit on MSNBC. Damn, now other people are saying this too. I just don’t know my history.
Update 1: Will someone please tell Senator McCaskill that she is pronouncing the name of her state wrong?
Update 2: Michelle may have a little trouble with her pacing — leading to a few choppy sentences — but she was the best speaker of the night. And that is in no way a slight to anyone who went before her. Some were less impressed by her performance, but I thought she nailed it. I don’t know any other speakers who are so capable of conveying warmth when speaking to a million billion people. Bill Clinton biting his lip does not count.
Update 3: There are few things I enjoy more than politics, but even most political junkies acknowledge that conventions are excruciatingly boring. I remember liking Gore’s acceptance speech in 2000, but that’s about it. So that makes tonight even more impressive. Andrew Sullivan points out that maybe we nominated the wrong Obama. The Dems should just end the convention tonight while they’re ahead.
August 25th, 2008
Obama has picked the clean, articulate senator from Delaware. Lots of people I respect seem to like Biden. But to me he’s somewhat of a blowhard who supported the war, and has been in the senate long enough to pay off a 30 year lease on his house in D.C. I’m not sure this is change we can believe in, Obie.
In other words: he chose… poorly.
On the plus side, Biden is honest, he’s not Bayh, he’s not Clinton, he’s not Kaine, and he’s not a wimp.
Update: Biden did vote against the FISA compromise, which is excellent. So maybe I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about. The more I read, the less I know. On a personal note, a friend and I happened to stumble past the capitol building in Boston this primary, just as Biden was receiving an endorsement from several crusty old Italian and Irish state legislators. We stayed to watch Biden speak because there were like ten other people there, and we could watch within spitting distance of the podium. I also saw Liz Edwards speak at the Harvard Institute of Politics, and she went on for quite a bit about how Biden should have been a serious contender for the nomination, but the press didn’t give him nearly enough coverage. She picked Biden, she said, because she didn’t want it to sound like this was just sour grapes that her husband didn’t get enough attention. I wasn’t convinced, because I’m not sure why the hell Joe Biden should be our next president.
August 23rd, 2008
Obama’s VP is supposed to be announced today. Seems like it is mostly going to be Biden, and if not him, Clinton. Or it could be Kaine or Bayh. Or Sebelius. But really, I’m hopingbutnotexpecting that it’s none of the above. They might have announced the pick sooner, but they didn’t want to squash the story of McCain and his seven houses.
I’d also like to quickly push back on all this talk about how Obama is underperforming against a generic Democrat. In other words, the Democratic brand is stronger than the Obama brand. Well, obviously. I think almost any Democratic candidate would underperform against an amorphous Democrat who lacked all the downsides of having a personality and a history (and millions in attack ads highlighting them), but had the advantage of being on the right side (or slightly better side, depending on you level of cynicism) of most policy disputes. Obama brings a lot of enthusiastic supporters to the table, but he also has a lot of folks suspecting he may possibly be black and also a Muslim. Or radical lefty. Or does it matter which? And I don’t want to hear about how his low polling is a symptom of his recent flip-floppery, because while that hasn’t helped, he’s been underperforming against your average bear since before you were in diapers. I guess I’m not pushing back on this notion, so much as saying that I don’t think it is a surprise, or a phenomenon unique to Obama and no other Democrats.
Similarly, McCain is outperforming a generic Republican because right now that is about as difficult as outacting Keanu Reeves. All that qualifying out of the way, Obama really should be ahead by a lot more right now.
McCain is scheduled to announce his pick on the 29th. If not Romney, one commenter on Atrios speculated about a McCain-Lieberman ticket, sponsored by Werther’s Originals.
VP picks are probably much less significant than we think (present face-shooters excluded), but I guess I’ve been obsessing over this one as some sort of indicator as to how bold Obie is going to be. Will he choose some empty suit who promises no kind of change at all, some surprise fighter who reinvigorates the campaign, or some inbetweener, who is less than exciting but seen as a reasonable choice by the base, and we’re back where we started. As a complete sidenote, if anyone has any hobbies they’re not using, that they might like to trade for my hobby of observing the ass backwards world of politics, let me know.
August 22nd, 2008
Previously, I wondered if I had been too hard on John Edwards. A lot of my criticism was based on less-than-credible hunches that he was overly ambitious; even for a presidential hopeful, and insincere to boot. Well, I guess it was also based on his abysmal voting record, meek performance in the VP debate, and his semi-public whining about Kerry’s strategic decisions after the fact.
Maybe we shouldn’t judge a politician’s private life– and at the very least we should view his legacy as the sum of its parts, not just the scandals we’re left reading about. But Edwards cheated on his wife while she was battling cancer and then tried to qualify the cheating in a vain (every sense of the word) attempt to save his future in politics. I’m glad he’s out of a job.
In other news, Obama and Ohio Dems are hitting McCain over the DHL deal in Ohio and Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Obie’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, thinks the DHL story is a game changer. That’s how I felt when I heard about it, and it is certainly getting lots of coverage in the Ohio papers. People always seem to think Obama isn’t throwing enough punches, but it appears to me that he just likes to pick his spots.
August 9th, 2008
I really don’t think Wal-Mart has to worry that an Obama presidency would help restore unions to their former glory, but it would be great if that were the case. Also, it’s cute that they say they aren’t telling their managers how to vote at these mandatory meetings, they’re just saying Obama = unions = que terrible! In a similar bout of honesty, I don’t want to tell my reader(s?) where to shop, but I will discreetly point out that Wal-Mart hates women, children and paying their employees. Thank God they ban profane cds from their fucking outlets, though.
August 1st, 2008
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