[vmpaul]

No specific point for this thread other than a catchall to discuss this weeks DNC. Should have another when the Republican National Convention goes next month.
_______

First, is anybody watching this? I like these things. I've watched them since I was kid.

Any opinions on the speeches?

I saw all the big ones tonight. Really liked Gore's. He had some funny one liners - "I'm concerned with all the job losses, I was the first one laid off", "I'm not bitter, in case you wondered if I spend my nights counting and re-counting sheep."

President Carter's - meh

Hillary's - meh

Clinton's was good. He seemed really relaxed. Made good points.

I think they did a nice job of stating their case without being to aggressive in attacking Bush. I think they're making a focused effort not to be too mean-spirited.

Looking forward to the Keynote speech tomorrow night. And looking forward to The Daily Show all week as well.

[zigzag]

I had pretty much the same impressions. Gore is no great orator but was gracious - you've gotta feel for a guy who had the Presidency within his grasp but lost his own state and is still in Clinton's shadow. Hillary wasn't too exciting - she's a skilled pol but one wonders if she could make it as a nominee. And Bill proved why, scandals aside, he was so popular. I didn't pay attention during Carter - never much liked the guy.

Strange that in Dukakis' own hometown, he's completely MIA. But understandable.

I'm ancient enough to remember when conventions were real battles - you didn't know going in who would be nominated, and you'd be on the edge of your seat as each state's roll was called. Hard to imagine now. Today, they're basically 4-day infomercials, but they can still be amusing.

[lil'babykitten]

I heard that Clinton laid the smackdown.

[mikellanes]

Here is Clinton's speech:
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics...mepage-big-pix

or watch here: (real player)
http://c-span.org/

[boots]

Gore isn't a great orator...but his speech last night was probably the best one I've ever heard him give. Maybe a few years lecturing in academia helped his flow an dynamics.

[DBursey]

Carter was a class act. As for Bill; what can be said, except perhaps repeal the two term limit!. He was brilliant.

[Kitschy]

I was watching ABC's coverage of the DNC. I started watching when the big networks picked up President Clinton. He's a very persuasive speaker.

An announcer on ABC made the point that between the lack of Bush bashing and the talk of a more aggressive approach to handling the war, the Democrats are going away from what they've represented over the last few months. Namely, Bush bashing and to ease out of Iraq.

If this is the case, I find it interesting that the Democrats aren't being themselves. Their delegates eat up the Bush bashing and definitely think we should take a more pacifist approach to the war. I guess they're just leaning towards the middle trying to get conservatives "on the fence" to jump over to their side.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the Republican National Convention will do the same thing. Ignore their conservative base and say things that would appeal to more liberals.

All I'm saying is, stand for what you believe no matter on what side you are. Let the American people decide based on that. Don't change opinions just to get more votes, when those people's opinions are going to be ignored once the candidate is elected.

That said, it'll be interesting to hear the conservative radio talk shows today.

[Monique]

As always Mr. Clinton speech was great.

[slow moe]

Originally posted by zigzag:
Strange that in Dukakis' own hometown, he's completely MIA. But understandable.

Old Beetle Bailey there is a Massachusetts liberal, and Massachusetts liberals who ran for President and lost, aren't welcome at a nationally televised liberal convention. That's why Old Flip Flopper had to reinvent himself over the last few weeks.

Hell, the DNC made Al Jazeera take their banner down that was hanging over their broadcast booth.

This convention is a joke. Its boring, its about not giving Republicans a reason to vote in mass. They're afraid. Ha HA

[mikellanes]

Originally posted by slow moe:
This convention is a joke. Its boring, its about not giving Republicans a reason to vote in mass. They're afraid. Ha HA

I think you are living up to your name here

[Krusty]

Thanks for the video links ...

Gore: He's getting better and better as an orator but his speeches are still typically better read than watched. I think his "Did you get what you expected ?" questions should be a central theme for the Dems this year. Good point. Even if you strongly believe in the pillars of Conservatism, has the Bush and Co. lived up to them ? There are many Republicans out there would would live up to the ideas of fiscal responsibility and strong defense who would live up to those ideals more transparently and with much more international consensus than Bush and Co -- and focus on the real threat (Al-Qaeda) instead of the fake threat (Iraq).

Clinton: Easy to see why he was elected twice. Uses a lot of really good rhetorical methods in his speeches for illustrating the points he wants to make. He really did well with the "same goals, different methods" segment. He is the epitome of a "Uniter", always prefacing his comments regarding Reps and Dems with statements like Hey here are two candidates who love their country (Bush and Kerry) but here's how there methods differ. Also, brilliant move to point out how Bush, Cheney, and he too had managed to avoid serving in Vietnam while Kerry had not only gone, but had volunteered for dangerous duty. Raising up Kerry by using that sort of polite self deprecation (that, of course, included Bush and Cheney) goes over really well.

[/IMHO]

[MindFad]

Originally posted by lil'babykitten:
I heard that Clinton laid the smackdown.

It was a great speech. (Oh, linkage above.)

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by vmpaul:
First, is anybody watching this?

Not really.

NETWORKS IN RATINGS FREEFALL AT CONVENTION, OPENING NIGHT ALL-TIME LOW:

ABCNEWS JENNINGS WITH 3.5 RATING/5 SHARE [DOWN FROM 4.5/8 IN 2000];

NBCNEWS BROKAW 3.3/5 [2000:4.8/9];

CBS DAN RATHER 3.2/5 [2000:3.8/7]

TRAIL ALL OTHER PRIME-TIME MONDAY PROGRAMMING [CBS:MIAMI RERUN ON CBS PULLS 8.6 RATING/13 SHARE]

[PacHead]

Tonight - Moore VS. O'Reilly.

That's going to be entertaining to watch.

[MindFad]

The Air America shows are aired from Boston today. Al Franken is beating up on Hannity right now. Hannity avoids everything. It's great. He's like a mini Limbaugh. Though not nearly as psychotic as Coulter.

[PacHead]

Originally posted by MindFad:
The Air America shows are aired from Boston today. Al Franken is beating up on Hannity right now. Hannity avoids everything. It's great. He's like a mini Limbaugh. Though not nearly as psychotic as Coulter.

The only problem is that the total viewership of Air America is what ?

Answer - - - - 13 liberals, probably all in San Francisco.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally posted by PacHead:
Tonight - Moore VS. O'Reilly.

That's going to be entertaining to watch.

...for all of 30 seconds, before o'really pops an artery, turns off Moore's microphone, and shouts at him to get the **** out of his studio.

[PacHead]

Originally posted by xi_hyperon:
...for all of 30 seconds, before o'really pops an artery, turns off Moore's microphone, and shouts at him to get the **** out of his studio.

That remains to be seen. I saw on TV yesterday when the two met, and that is when Moore agreed to appear.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by PacHead:
The only problem is that the total viewership of Air America is what ?

Answer - - - - 13 liberals, probably all in San Francisco.

I know you'd really love it if that were true.

Originally posted by xi_hyperon:
...for all of 30 seconds, before o'really pops an artery, turns off Moore's microphone, and shouts at him to get the **** out of his studio.

That's about it. It'll be fun to watch/listen to.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by MindFad:
The Air America shows are aired from Boston today. Al Franken is beating up on Hannity right now. Hannity avoids everything. It's great. He's like a mini Limbaugh. Though not nearly as psychotic as Coulter.

I heard part of that when I got to spend some time at the computer this morning.

They were sure talking over each other a lot. I wish it was bit more disciplined.

I'll give Hannity props for agreeing to go on the show but he really wasn't interested in getting his positions challenged by Al. That's the problem with guys like him and O'Rielly. they can make outrageous accusations and mischaracterize their opponents policies but they rarely put themselves in a position to be called on their views.

Let's hope he does it again. It'd be nice to hear a debate between two articulate and passionate advocates for their politics.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by vmpaul:
I heard part of that when I got to spend some time at the computer this morning.

They were sure talking over each other a lot. I wish it was bit more disciplined.

I'll give Hannity props for agreeing to go on the show but he really wasn't interested in getting his positions challenged by Al. That's the problem with guys like him and O'Rielly. they can make outrageous accusations and mischaracterize their opponents policies but they rarely put themselves in a position to be called on their views.

Let's hope he does it again. It'd be nice to hear a debate between two articulate and passionate advocates for their politics.

Yeah, there was really a lot of talking over each other a few times, but it wasn't too bad. I would also like to hear a debate between the two. I know Al debated Anne Coulter, but I never saw a transcript or saw/heard it.

In defense of Al, he did ask to go on Hannity's show again. Hannity said, "Yeah. Well, we'll see about that." They both laughed. I'd like to see O'Reilly go on the show, or Al on his show.

[slow moe]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
NETWORKS IN RATINGS FREEFALL AT CONVENTION, OPENING NIGHT ALL-TIME LOW:

ABCNEWS JENNINGS WITH 3.5 RATING/5 SHARE [DOWN FROM 4.5/8 IN 2000];

NBCNEWS BROKAW 3.3/5 [2000:4.8/9];

CBS DAN RATHER 3.2/5 [2000:3.8/7]

TRAIL ALL OTHER PRIME-TIME MONDAY PROGRAMMING [CBS:MIAMI RERUN ON CBS PULLS 8.6 RATING/13 SHARE]

New ABC News/Washington Post

The critical convention season begins with John Kerry losing momentum at just the hour he'd like to be gaining it: President Bush has clawed back on issues and attributes alike, reclaiming significant ground that Kerry had taken a month ago.

all this sh!t is just too ****ing halarious. Oh man.

The best Kerry could hope for is a 5 - 8 point gain in the polls after his convention, and Ha HA he's already neutralized any gain he was gonna get.... and the stinkin' convention is only one freakin' day old. pffff HAhaha

[slow moe]

Ted Kennedy just took the stage.

Yaay!!..... I'm a 27 term senator... Yaay!!!...... I got drunk one night, committed adultery, drove off a bridge, and killed a girl..... Yaaaay!!!

[doctorkeyser]

Originally posted by slow moe:
Ted Kennedy just took the stage.

Yaay!!..... I'm a 27 term senator... Yaay!!!...... I got drunk one night, committed adultery, drove off a bridge, and killed a girl..... Yaaaay!!!

Yaay!! I'm a former coke-head and alcoholic. Yaaay!!! I let Bin Laden get away because I had to go fight the Iraqi guy that daddy didn't kill because his wardick went limp at the end of Gulf War I. Yaaay!!! I've killed about 10,000 girls in Iraq so far. Yaaaaaaay!!!! Oh, and Jesus talks to me everyday and tells me what to do. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!

[zigzag]

In anticipation of his speech, here's an excellent interview with Ron Reagan Jr. given last week.

http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml...ate=07/22/2004

Like a lot of people, during the Reagan years I wrote Ron Jr. off as a lightweight. But this interview shows him to be a remarkably intelligent, measured, and articulate person.

[slow moe]

Originally posted by doctorkeyser:
Yaay!! I'm a former coke-head and alcoholic. Yaaay!!! I let Bin Laden get away because I had to go fight the Iraqi guy that daddy didn't kill because his wardick went limp at the end of Gulf War I. Yaaay!!! I've killed about 10,000 girls in Iraq so far. Yaaaaaaay!!!! Oh, and Jesus talks to me everyday and tells me what to do. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Now how come they won't let people like that up on the stage?

This convention is boring.

[doctorkeyser]

Originally posted by slow moe:
Now how come they won't let people like that up on the stage?

This convention is boring.

Just wait for the RNC. I hear they have a featured speaker who fits the whole bill.

[slow moe]

Originally posted by zigzag:
In anticipation of his speech, here's an excellent interview with Ron Reagan Jr. given last week.

http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml...ate=07/22/2004

Like a lot of people, during the Reagan years I wrote Ron Jr. off as a lightweight. But this interview shows him to be a remarkably intelligent, measured, and articulate person.

I don't know about all that, but he's an excellent dog show commentator.

[doctorkeyser]

Originally posted by slow moe:
Now how come they won't let people like that up on the stage?

This convention is boring.

Rumors are also circulating that Jesus himself will be speaking at the RNC. Details are few, but the word I'm getting says He'll be coming out to opppose gay marriage, to support the genocide of muslims (he is a jealous god, remember) and the random killing of abortion doctors, and to rub elbows with His second coming...Georgie Dubbya. Jesus will appear as part of the Nascar delegation.

[slow moe]

Originally posted by doctorkeyser:
Rumors are also circulating that Jesus himself will be speaking at the RNC. Details are few, but the word I'm getting says He'll be coming out to opppose gay marriage, to support the genocide of muslims (he is a jealous god, remember) and the random killing of abortion doctors, and to rub elbows with His second coming...Georgie Dubbya. Jesus will appear as part of the Nascar delegation.

Like I said, how come the DNC won't let people say stuff like that up on stage?

This convention is boring.

[f1000]

I can't believe the Democrats are streaming the convention using Windows Media Player,

http://mfile.akamai.com/12294/live/r...asx?bkup=35898

[tie]

Obama for President! Nice speech.

[slow moe]

Teresa Heinz,

With John Kerry as President, global climate change and other threats to the health of our planet will begin to be reversed.

heh Stew Pid.

[OldManMac]

The star of the evening; Obama Barack! A young, vibrant, guy who gets it.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by DBursey:
Carter was a class act. As for Bill; what can be said, except perhaps repeal the two term limit!. He was brilliant.

Clinton is considered to be the best public speaker in American history.

What's interesting about him is that he improv's most of the time. Even answering questions, he can still manage to give a 20 minute background on any topic.

He gives some lectures on leadership now... and allows audience members to ask questions. He'll take anything (national security limited of course), provide adequate background, as detailed as necessary, and explain it.


THe only other person remotely at his level was Reagan. But he was different. He had the ability to connect better than Clinton, but not the content. Clinton has the content over Reagan. Both have the charisma.

That's why both served 2 terms. They knew their strongpoint and used it really well. Brilliant on both their parts.

[boots]

Originally posted by KarlG:
The star of the evening; Obama Barack! A young, vibrant, guy who gets it.

Wow! He said everything I've been feeling about politics for a while. The guy is good. He's articulate and has good dynamics. Definitely will keep an eye on this one in the coming years.

[boots]

dp

[boots]

tp?

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by KarlG:
The star of the evening; Obama Barack! A young, vibrant, guy who gets it.

Unfortunately, you don't get it - Barack Obama is his name.

Maybe he'll run for President against Guiliani Rudy in 2008.

[boots]

WTF? Quadruple post? What happened? The DB hickuped...I come back and it's quadruple posted!

Sorry. (It's been a bad tech week. )

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by KarlG:
The star of the evening; Obama Barack! A young, vibrant, guy who gets it.

Definitely a very good speech by a gifted speaker.

It's amusing to hear some of the talking heads on TV already anointing this guy as a presidential candidate. How about him actually getting elected to the senate first (I know it's a slam dunk, but...), or serving a few years to see what kind of legislator he is, or maybe even hearing what his stance on the issues are before the genuflecting begins?

[DBursey]

Transcript of Barack Obama's address to DNC delegates here.

A sampling of poignant excerpts from the speech:

... When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they are going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return and to never, ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace and earn the respect of the world.

... there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
Unfortunately, you don't get it - Barack Obama is his name.

from today's paper:

In a speech that drew frequent applause, Obama, the son of a black man born in Kenya and a white woman born in Kansas, said his parents ``would give me an African name, Barack, or `blessed,' believing that in a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to success.''

Guess you live in a different America.

[voyageur]

I'm interested in what you people thought of Teresa Heinz Kerry's speech. I was very pleased she brought up several environmental issues, something that's been sorely neglected over the past four years, and glad to see her stand up for women's rights.

[lil'babykitten]

Any body know what time Edwards is speaking today? Or did I miss it?!

[scottiB]

He speaks at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

[lil'babykitten]

Originally posted by scottiB:
He speaks at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

D'oh, that's 3am here! Thanks anywho...

[tie]

Here's an interesting New Yorker piece on Obama.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/con...02fr_archive04

The climax of Barack Obama’s 1995 memoir, “Dreams from My Father,” occurs in rural Kenya when the author sits between the graves of his father and his grandfather and weeps. Obama, then in his late twenties, hardly knew his father and never met his grandfather, but in the course of writing the book he had learned their stories in devastating detail. Both were proud, ambitious men who travelled far from the Luo-speaking villages where they grew up—indeed, Obama’s grandmother still has her son’s Harvard diploma hanging in her house nearby. Their respective struggles in the world ended painfully, in bitter loneliness. Beside their graves, Obama, a middle-class American, both mourns and, for the first time, understands his African forebears.

People in Illinois seem largely unaware of Obama’s long, annealing trip into their midst, although they often remark on his unusual calm. Now forty-two and a state senator, Obama emerged, in March, from a raucous primary as the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. In a seven-person field, he received a remarkable fifty-three per cent of the vote—he even won the “collar” counties around Chicago, communities that supposedly would never support a black candidate. And everyone recalls that, as the votes were being tallied at his headquarters on Election Night, he seemed to be the least agitated person in the place.

Obama’s Republican opponent in November will be Jack Ryan, a wealthy political neophyte. The seat they are competing for is now held by a Republican, Peter Fitzgerald, who is retiring. An Obama victory thus would move the Senate Democrats, at present outnumbered fifty-one to forty-eight, one seat closer to a majority. It also would make Obama only the third African-American to serve in the Senate since Reconstruction.
...

[MindFad]

Hope Is On The Way™

[TheMosco]

Originally posted by MindFad:
Hope Is On The Way™

His speech was really good I thought. Its nice to hear an inspirational speech from someone in politics for once.

I also like how he was clear on what they were doing with the tax cut and how they were going to pay for it. Of course the republicans will try and spin in it anyway.

As the son a high school teacher that had to work a second job on the weekends for most of his life to send his three sons to school, that speech really hit home for all of us. Most of his other friends work second jobs too. And guess what? Those bush tax cuts didn't give us jack ****.