Want to know the most American I've ever felt? When Hillary released her votes and Nancy Pelosi moved for a vote to make Barack Obama the nominee, and the arena full of citizens erupted into applause and song, moving as one mass of humanity inspired by the sheer force of democracy. It doesn't matter who you're voting for at that point; when you're in the arena, it just matters that you're all voting, and you're proud as hell of that right.
The Pepsi Center tonight was filled with citizens, celebrities, and elected officials packed in together and who are all equal come election day. The deafening roar that greeted Bill Clinton's speech (I overheard this afterward: "Did you hear Bill speak?" "I sure did. He's one-a the best presidents we ever had." Priceless.), then the Spielberg-directed video, John Kerry, the surprisingly touching intro of Joe Biden by his son Beau, culminating in the the firm clear message from vice presidential candidate Biden. When he said, "John McCain is my friend. We've traveled the world together . . . but I profoundly disagree with the direction John wants to take this country, from Afghanistan to Iraq," finishing with, "This is America's time!" the air in the arena was an odd combination of festival and gravity. Excitement over what could be, and the importance and weight of that task. The speech climaxed strongly and left the crowd ready for tomorrow.
THEN! Obama came out onstage!!! What did you make of the surprise? The speeches?
Duccio Del Duca
Meltin Pot
Erickson Beamon
i thought Bill, Biden and Kerry rocked it tonight. I was extremely pleased with all the speeches. I think Bill's might have been my favorite of the night.
I watched the state roll call and was also extremely moved. Democracy is a beautiful thing.
1I had a feeling that Obama would show up, I knew he was in town and more roads were closed surrounding the Pepsi center tonight than the other nights. Not that that means much, but there was definitely more security around. Super busy. Great speeches.
I hope you girls are having fun here!
2Just one word GREAT!!!! John Kerry was wonderful, wish he could have done that four years ago.
3Joe Biden's speech had me completely sucked in, and I don't support Obama or McCain! That man can give a heck of a speech!!
4I agree Ruck, he sounded great. And his wife Jill kinda looks like Helen Hunt's big sister
5I loved when Beau Biden said that he, his father, and his brother marries Jill. I thought that was so sweet.
6Did anybody else see Obama kiss Biden's wife on the mouth? Whoa.
7Yeah, I saw that! Looked like a misfire to me. I bet he takes some ribbing from Biden on that.
8How awkward! Haha. Michelle looked confused.
9I was really happy with all of the speeches. They made so many good points, my head is spinning now!
Citizen, thank you SO MUCH for sharing your personalized experience. I can't imagine being one of those people in there! There are so many of them! Talking about civic duty! Moved by the love of their country. How...American! Wow, I wish I was there!
10Isn't he supposed to wait until he gets into the oval office to begin filandering?
11Well, UnDave he is considered the progressive candidate. Maybe he'll want to get a head start.
12I saw that too Michelin...whoopsies!!!
13
14That's definitely a change!
My only criticism of the convention so far is that, although they've been attacking the Republicans, I feel like they are holding back. The have to pull some more punches. So far everything has been catch phrases. The Republicans certainly aren't going to hold back next week. Heck, McCain's camp is already running attack ads once every half hour on CNN. Democrats need to fight harder or they are going to lose.
UnDave, As a conservative, I'd be interested in your opinion. Do you think the Democrats are being tough enough?
15And Mich too of course.
16Kastarte, I think they're doing it to keep in line with Obama's promised clean, positive campaign. But honestly, I do think a lot of the focus has been on Republican bashing.
17I agree that they are holding back and I don't know why.
18I don't know. I just get this feeling that next week is going to get ugly and the Dems will look like kittens in comparison. Maybe it is just an irrational fear and I just need to take a break from politics for a while?
19I thought Kerry was great. Did you watch his speech kastarte?
20As I watch yet another "attack" ad on McCain by the Obama camp, I can say that I am tired of the same attack. It's like Obama is stuck on the Bush 3rd term. McCain isn't Bush lite, or and waterd down version of Bush. Let's come up with a new attack, because you've overplayed this one.
21I'm thinking they are holding back because they don't have any ammo. The long primary gave McCain plenty of ammunition on whomever won the nomination. I would have to say the ugliness of the Hillary camp towards Obama is going to bite him on the @ss.
22"I have known and been friends with John McCain for almost 22 years. But every day now I learn something new about candidate McCain. To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician, I say, let's compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain.
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. And what's more, Senator McCain, who once railed against the smears of Karl Rove when he was the target, has morphed into candidate McCain who is using the same "Rove" tactics and the same "Rove" staff to repeat the same old politics of fear and smear. Well, not this year, not this time. The Rove-McCain tactics are old and outworn, and America will reject them in 2008." - John Kerry
23I picked the wrong time to go take shower. Heard Kerry's speech on my way home from work then watched Biden and was moved by both of them. It is a very exciting and nerve wracking time
24I did see Kerry's speech, lili. I thought it was sweet how he paid homage to Obama's uncle who served in WW II.
Kerry did not hold back as much as other speakers did. I especially enjoyed this part:
"I have known and been friends with John McCain for almost 22 years. But every day now I learn something new about candidate McCain. To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician, I say, let's compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain.
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. And what's more, Senator McCain, who once railed against the smears of Karl Rove when he was the target, has morphed into candidate McCain who is using the same "Rove" tactics and the same "Rove" staff to repeat the same old politics of fear and smear. Well, not this year, not this time. The Rove-McCain tactics are old and outworn, and America will reject them in 2008."
But like UnDave I think the "Bush's third term" argument is getting old. Is this the best we can do?
25"So who can we trust to keep America safe? When Barack Obama promised to honor the best traditions of both parties and talk to our enemies, John McCain scoffed. George Bush called it "the soft comfort of appeasement." But today, Bush's diplomats are doing exactly what Obama said: talking with Iran."- John Kerry
"So who can we trust to keep America safe? When we called for a timetable to make Iraqis stand up for Iraq and bring our heroes home, John McCain called it "cut and run." But today, even President Bush has seen the light. He and Prime Minister Maliki agree on - guess what? - a timetable."- John Kerry
I loved Kerry's speech. It was full of substance. His speech gave a clear comparison between Obama and McCain.
26lol we posted the same section.
27I don't thinks it's old if it's the truth.
28My prediction is in a couple days, we will hear over and over about Obama's "present" votes in the IL senate which made it appear that he was ducking a tough issue. That is going to get old very fast as well, but it is a BIG problem for Obama in the coming months.
29"lol we posted the same section."
I started smiling when I saw it. I wish Kerry had been this confident in 2004.
30UnDave, Even though she has made great strides towards unity, I believe the democrats will blame her if they don't win in November. Which is sad because I don't know what more she can do to show support. No matter what she does, however, she can't erase the drama of the primary season. It went on for too long and too much ammo was given by both sides.
31It may be the truth but is it no longer an effective argument with McCain gaining in the polls?
32I would argue about the "timetable" in Iraq. Bush and McCain have never been opposed to it, but they weren't going to do anything until the Iraqi government was ready. They Iraqi government now feels they are ready to assume control, and we are talking about how we can safely and responsibly hand over the reigns. Kerry is making a huge spin on that.
33I have been hearing a lot of punches being made. All of the speeches have warned of the dire consequences of having McCain in office.
They compare Bush to McCain because when it comes down to fiscal matters, McCain will keep the Bush tax cuts (that he used to oppose).
When it comes to things like Social Security, McCain is just like Bush pushing for privatization. When it comes to things like Iran, McCain wants to saber rattle like Bush.
When it comes to Iraq, McCain drags his feet on a timetable even slower than Bush. When it comes to Afghanistan, McCain denied its importance just like Bush.
When it comes to Energy, McCain wants to support offshore drilling, just like Bush.
There are a lot of similarities on major issues!
34I have to disagree with you on that Dave.
35"Bush and McCain have never been opposed to it,"
WHAAAAAAT??????
Are you kidding?
36They won't even call it a "timetable" now...it is a "general time horizon"!!!!!!!!!
They have made the biggest stink about "no timetable"!
Woops. Lilblu said that much better than I did. Sorry if I was rude, Undave.
37And you are welcome to. The problem is there's the truth, and there's the spin (by both sides). The spin rarely models the truth. IMO, there's been a lot of talks about the withdrawal of the troops long before those talks became public. It is what it is. The politicians are going to spin it to their benefit.
38They were never opposed to getting the troops out of Iraq. Can we agree with that?
39What can we do to promote citizensugar unity? I miss some of the team red people who don't post her as often anymore.
Although it is probably impossible not to offend or argue when discussing politics.
40"Time Horizon", I know it shouldn't have surprised me, but it did. That one is just pathetic.
41Haha, but "horizon" sounds so hopeful! I know how you Democrats like "Hope"
42I'll be MIA most of next week. I can't comment on what I don't watch. I don't think my stomach can take much of the republican convention.
43I think both sides get too defensive, and don't spend enough time arguing the finer points of the differences in philosophies, and fall into personal attacks as a form of defense. I've been guilty of it, but I try hard not to. It isn't a lot of fun. It's impossible to regulate what is said, but I think it would be helpful when we see personal attacks by either side, the members/teammates call that person on it, that way it doesn't come down to a he said/she said argument. Does that make sense?
44We have hope. We can't stand bs and that's what a "time horizon" is.
45Again you're welcome to think that way. It's bs just like national healthcare without raising taxes is bs. In the end, we'll see who's more believable.
46I liked this part of Kerry's speech:
"How insulting to suggest that those who question the mission, question the troops. How pathetic to suggest that those who question a failed policy doubt America itself. How desperate to tell the son of a single mother who chose community service over money and privilege that he doesn't put America first."
I have been so let down by McCain's attacks on Obama's patriotism when his life story really speaks of a person devoted to pubic service. Also I have been frustrated with the "Republican" punditry* that has for years suggested that if you didn't think the war was a good idea that you some how don't support the troops.
*I put Republicans in quotes because I know they don't represent the view points of all Republicans.
47Unfortunately, I'm off for the weekend. Have a great labor day, and I'll be back Sunday night or Monday.
Go Team Red
48I think that is wise. I think calling out members of our own "teams" when they attack is the way to go, too. Politics is divisive by nature, but we don't necessarily have to gang up on each other you know.
I know I've gotten defensive on occasion when I felt I was being attacked or insulted and my retaliation just ended up escalating the altercation to the point of ridiculousness. It would probably just be better to let that nonsense slide instead of letting it get to me. I can try to be a bigger person.
49Kastarte, I'm not sure people will be eager to point out that somebody they agree with is making personal attacks or getting rude. It's a nice idea, though...
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.