First, I am not claiming to be unbiased in my reporting on the Democratic National Convention in Denver. While I will report on some of the speeches and activities taking place there, I will also be offering my opinions about them as well. I will do my best to separate the two such that anyone reading my posts will be able to differentiate the two. But I'm not perfect, so please bear with me. If I get it wrong, feel free to tell me. The only thing I ask is that anyone doing so be polite. Invective/expletive laden comments will be ignored and deleted. Period.
Second, I will not be covering every minute of the convention. I have a life that requires me to go out and earn a living in order to pay a mortgage, bills, and web hosting fees, as well as a family that requires my attention, including helping my son get ready to enter high school in a couple of days. Get used to it.
With those caveats in mind, Let's get started.
Note: Newer entries are at the bottom.
I have no doubt we'll see exactly the same thing for the Republican convention as well.
I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't brought up by just about every speaker. I have little doubt the convention delegates will soon tire of it as well.
"Alright already! We know he was raised by a single mom! Give it a rest, willya?"
My question about the last part: How will he prevent that? Will we see a return of the Smoot-Hawley Tarriff Act? Will he abrogate NAFTA?
He brought up one of his favorite subjects, universal health care, something he's championed for decades. He reminded us about the triumphs of his brother JFK, and pointed out that an American flag still stands on the moon, one of JFK's legacies. He also made mention about Obama's promise to not get our armed forces involved "in a mistake."
He echoed some of Obama's sentiments, saying we are the United States.
There was little he said that surprised me, though I have to comment upon his next to the last statement.
It must be great to be prescient, knowing in advance what will and won't be a mistake. I didn't realize this was one of Obama's talents. It usually only in hindsight we see what actions were mistakes, and which were not.
My first impression? She's a much better speaker than either Teddy Kennedy or her husband.
She mentioned Barack's being brought up by a single mother, and by his grandparents. I knew that was inevitable. But it didn't sound cheesy like it did when brought up the speakers preceding her. At least not the first time she mentioned it. She delved into Barack's history and the work he did leading up to his decision to run for President, working to make him sound almost Lincolnesque.
She did manage to work in some praise for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, though only in passing.
She also managed to create entire classes of victims, implying nothing good can come from working hard unless Obama makes it happen. Does she mean to say that unless Obama is elected that we'll see the breadlines return like those seen during the Great Depression? It sounded like it to me.
She did manage to wrap up her speech on the right note, trying to link all the various groups supporting Obama's run for the White House.
Second, I will not be covering every minute of the convention. I have a life that requires me to go out and earn a living in order to pay a mortgage, bills, and web hosting fees, as well as a family that requires my attention, including helping my son get ready to enter high school in a couple of days. Get used to it.
With those caveats in mind, Let's get started.
Note: Newer entries are at the bottom.
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A report on this evening's ABC News Tonight brings up one of the paradoxes of the Convention: Obama has promised he will not take money from Washington lobbyists, yet it is many of those lobbyists and the corporations/industries they represent paying for much of the convention costs. As the report states, it is a loophole in the law that allows corporations and their lobbyists to donate money to a nominee.I have no doubt we'll see exactly the same thing for the Republican convention as well.
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Why is it that just about everyone making a speech about Barack Obama at this point (7:30PM EDT) focus so much on the fact that he was raised by a single mother? Is this supposed to give him some kind of street cred?I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't brought up by just about every speaker. I have little doubt the convention delegates will soon tire of it as well.
"Alright already! We know he was raised by a single mom! Give it a rest, willya?"
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There's lots of mid to late 1970's R&B music filling interludes between speakers. Aretha Franklin, War, and Earth, Wind & Fire, just a name few of the covers being performed. I've got nothing against R&B, being a fan from way back. I only hope they aren't sending a message that Obama wants to take us back to those days. You know, the days of Jimmuh Carter, high unemployment, deep recession, oil embargos, and hostage crises.***************
During one of the early Q&A sessions, it seems all the answers started the same way: "We won't do it like Bush did. Obama will do it better." And then the answers would address the specific question. One of the most common questions dealt with health care and the answer was always some variation of universal health care funded by the government. Questions about jobs drew answers about trade and how Obama would make sure no more jobs would go overseas.My question about the last part: How will he prevent that? Will we see a return of the Smoot-Hawley Tarriff Act? Will he abrogate NAFTA?
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Senator Ted Kennedy spoke a few moments ago (around 10 PM EDT), showing little ill effect from his brain tumor and treatments. He hasn't lost his oratorical touch, bringing the delegates to their feet, cheering "Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!"He brought up one of his favorite subjects, universal health care, something he's championed for decades. He reminded us about the triumphs of his brother JFK, and pointed out that an American flag still stands on the moon, one of JFK's legacies. He also made mention about Obama's promise to not get our armed forces involved "in a mistake."
He echoed some of Obama's sentiments, saying we are the United States.
There was little he said that surprised me, though I have to comment upon his next to the last statement.
It must be great to be prescient, knowing in advance what will and won't be a mistake. I didn't realize this was one of Obama's talents. It usually only in hindsight we see what actions were mistakes, and which were not.
***************
After showing a film about Michelle Obama made by the DNC, narrated by her mother, and an introduction by her brother, she made her keynote speech to the delegates on this, the opening night of the convention.My first impression? She's a much better speaker than either Teddy Kennedy or her husband.
She mentioned Barack's being brought up by a single mother, and by his grandparents. I knew that was inevitable. But it didn't sound cheesy like it did when brought up the speakers preceding her. At least not the first time she mentioned it. She delved into Barack's history and the work he did leading up to his decision to run for President, working to make him sound almost Lincolnesque.
She did manage to work in some praise for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, though only in passing.
She also managed to create entire classes of victims, implying nothing good can come from working hard unless Obama makes it happen. Does she mean to say that unless Obama is elected that we'll see the breadlines return like those seen during the Great Depression? It sounded like it to me.
She did manage to wrap up her speech on the right note, trying to link all the various groups supporting Obama's run for the White House.
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