Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

OPEN THREAD + Liveblog: Evening 3 inside the hall

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Jack Reed: Let's see what we're missing … A muddled message, so far. Is this about responsibility? Jack Reed's responsiblity? Oh … Obama shares these values.

There is a general lack of clarity and specificity in these speeches so far. Very little to rope people in. I'm not saying it's easy to do. Sometimes the liines that resonate in the individual's mind, or on the page, somehow don't sing in the arena. But these politicians only do this every four years. We just gotta get it right. And we're not.

We need help from the cleanup hitters. Bill is set to swing for the fences. Good. He's introduced by the cherubic Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), who is due to inherit the earth any day now … He looks comfortable up there.

Bill enters … looking tall, svelte … taking an extra moment to wave to the crowd. Crowd won't. shut. up. It's got to be hard to leave this kind of thing behind, when you're out of office.

“I'm here to support Barack Obama … and secondly, I'm here to warm you up for Joe Biden.”

Now he's still talking about Hillary. I suppose he's entitled … but it's not what we need. Really not. This moment is not for the people in the building, it's for the folks watching at home.

Bill's a versatile speaker: Sometimes it's the blunderbuss, sometimes it's the scalpel. So far, it's the scalpel.

“People all over the world have been more impressed by the power of our example, than the example of our power.” A reversable raincoat of rhetoric.

Clinton is getting into economic matters and health care. This is the tough stuff. And is he the only damn Democrat who can talk like this? That just can't possibly be true. It's good to have one, though.

This is the scalpel: Cleaving “good” John McCain (war hero, occasional maverick) from “bad” John McCain (troglodyte economics, endless war). This has the focus and specificity everyone else has been missing. And Bill says it like it matters. And it does.

Bill got the job done — he made the distinctions clear, he made the distinctions matter. He put away whatever fears of an Obama presidency might exist by comparing Obama to himself. 

Kerry's got a tough act to follow. “This time we're going to win.” “We do know what a Bush — McCain administration would look like.” A Freudian slip indeed.

“Depleting the strength of our bipartisan foreign policy.” Hell. No. That will not do. We've seen what their foreign policy does, and theirs endangers America. Their ideas suck, and there's no room for that. Why should we have a Democratic party that wants bipartisanship for its own sake?

“The United States does not torture — not now, not ever.”

Difference between Senator McCain and Candidate McCain. Great distinction. “Before he agrees to debate Barack Obama, he should end the debate with himself.” WOWF!

“Who can we trust to keep America safe?” BAARARARRAAARRAARACK OOOOBOBOBAABBABAABABABMMMMAAAA …. Excellent, on point, simple and true.

Wow, Obama's uncle Charlie Payne is here. Fantastic.

Kerry rails against the phony, vicious, and divisive patriot-baiting that the GOP will doubtless indulge in. I don't know if that appeal works. I think the better case is that the GOP hurts and endangers America, eight ways from Sunday. Just say it. Say it again. Say it because it's true.

Still, damn good work from Kerry. A friend of mine, a Kerry supporter in '04, admitted, “He's given 7 of the 10 worst speeches I've ever heard in my life.” But he can nail it, too. And this was the latter.

Man, the Texas delegation is making a HELLACIOUS noise for Chet Edwards. I guess they like that guy. Talking earnestly about veterans. Again, “that's the change we need.” (What Madison Avenue genius came up with that slop? I'm gonna get Axelrod on the phone … )

All speakers should know that lists (“Barack Obama will do x, y, and then z”) are tedious and dry. Avoid.

But the emphasis on veterans is well-placed, persistent and sincere. I appreciate it.

Now an extremely tough video by Steven Spielberg, detailing the immense sacrifices by those in the military, vets and families. It draws parallels between WWII vets and Iraq and Afghanistan vets. The crowd is quiet and absorbed. Spielberg knows the power of silence in his work.

Tammy Duckworth: “We need more than a borrowed flightsuit”. Mentions the GI bill — HELLO! Everyone should know that Obama voted for it, and won, and McCain voted against it. Doing otherwise is political malpractice.

Video for Joe Biden — small town feel. Nice family profile. Transitions to Obama talking about his legislative record — Violence Against Women act. “When you see the abuse of power, you've got to speak.” I love the simplicity and clarity of the way he talks. That's why he's the VP pick.

Beau Biden: One of his earliest memories is being in the hospital with his Dad by his side. He is speaking from the heart, and therefore avoids cliche. He doesn't need to make it up. He doesn't need “inspiration”, because he remembers what it is to be vulnerable. “Be there for my Dad, as he was for me. Be there for Barack Obama, because the country needs him.”

There's a phrase that's been rattling around my mind all week: “moral imagination.” Joe Biden possesses that, and it's very precious in politics. One must know and feel what impact your policies may have on people. Maybe there's another word for it: Compassion.

“John McCain has been wrong, and Barack Obama has been right.” Say it!

In the other thread, some folks have pointed out some Biden verbal slips. Look, Joe Biden is the Ryan Howard of speaking — lotta whiffs, lotta dingers. That's what we're getting. And you know what? I dig the long ball.

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Comments

  1. I’m mostly on the internet now, reading stuff, rather than listening. Hubby keeps streaming speeches he missed (Kucinich, and Gov. Patrick, he was sleepy last night with a cold).

  2. …let me take this chance to say I’m thoroughly enjoying this travelog of the DNC convention from the BMG delegation. It’s exceeded my high expectations. Tremendous.  

  3. I really appreciate all the photos you guys post of our delegation.  More please!  I don’t see many funny hats up there.  Somebody get a big lobster to put on Arthur Powell’s head!  

  4. Frankly, Bayh managed to out-do Warner’s keynote.  Now, that’s not a high bar, IMHO, but I actually thought Bayh did a fair job.

  6. Senator McCain vs Candidate McCain – nice comparisons. He’s doing good. “Talk about being for it before being against it!” Nice zinger.

  8. Is really hitting the theme about security.

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    p>Finally actually seeing a theme in tonight’s speakers (Go Madeline Albright!)

  10. our candidates find their rhetorical bravery AFTER they run for office and lose???

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    p>LOL

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    p>But he’s doing great here.

  12. Four years ago, you gave me the honor of fighting our fight.

    I was proud to stand with you then, and I am proud to stand with you now, to help elect Barack Obama as President of the United States. In 2004 we came so close to victory. We are even closer now and let me tell you ? this time we?re going to win.

    Today, the call for change is more powerful than ever ? and with more seats in Congress, with more seats in Congress, with more people with more passion engaged in our politics, and with a President Obama, we stand on the brink of the greatest opportunity of our generation to move this country forward.

    The stakes could not be higher because we do know what a McCain Administration would look like.

    Just like the past. Just like George Bush; and this country can?t afford a third Bush term.

    Just think: John McCain voted with George Bush 90% of the time ? 90% of George Bush is just more than we can take.

    Never in modern history has an administration squandered American power so recklessly.

    Never has strategy been so replaced by ideology ? never has extremism so crowded out common sense and fundamental American values. Never has short-term partisan politics so depleted the strength of America?s bipartisan foreign policy.

    George Bush, with John McCain at his side, promised to spread freedom, but delivered the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    They misread the threat and misled the country. Instead of freedom, it?s Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and dictators everywhere that are on the march. North Korea can build more bombs, and Iran is defiantly chasing one.

    Our mission is to restore America?s influence and position in the world. We must use all the weapons in our arsenal ? above all, our values.

    President Obama and Vice President Biden will shut down Guantanamo, respect the Constitution and make clear once and for all, the United States of America does not torture, not now, not ever.

    We must listen and lead by example because even as a nation as powerful as the United States needs some friends in this world. We need a leader who understands all our security challenges: not just bombs and guns, but global warming, global terror and global AIDS. And Barack Obama understands there is no way for America to be secure until we create clean energy here at home ? not with a little more oil in 10, 20 or 30 years, but with an energy revolution starting right now!

    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 called irresponsible.

    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.

    So remember ? when we choose a commander-in-chief this November, we are electing judgment and character, not years in the Senate or years on this earth. Time and again, Barack Obama has seen farther, thought harder, and listened better ? and time and time again, Barack Obama has been proven right.

    John McCain stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier just three months after 9/11 and proclaimed: ?Next up, Baghdad!?

    Barack Obama had the judgment to see ?an occupation of undetermined length, undetermined cost, and undetermined consequences? that would ?only fan the flames of the Middle East.?

    Well, guess what? Mission Accomplished!

    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 false comfort of appeasement.? But today, Bush?s diplomats are doing exactly what Obama said: talking with Iran.

    So who can we trust to keep America safe?

    When democracy rolled out of Russia and the tanks rolled into Georgia, we saw John McCain respond immediately with the outdated thinking of the cold war. Barack Obama responded like a true friend of Georgia and a statesman of the 21st Century.

    So who can we trust to keep America safe?

    When Democrats 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!

    So who can we trust to keep America safe?

    The McCain Bush republicans have been wrong again, and again, and again. And they know they will lose on the issues.

    So, the candidate who once promised a campaign of ideas, not insults, now has nothing left but personal attacks.

    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?

    No one can question Barack Obama?s patriotism. Like all of us, he was taught what it means to be an American by his family. His grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line in World War II. His grandfather who marched in Patton?s Army. And his great uncle who enlisted in the Army right out of high school at the height of the war, and on a spring day in 1945, he helped liberate one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Barack Obama?s uncle is here with us tonight. Please join me in saluting this American hero, Charlie Payne. Charlie, your nephew, Barack Obama, will end this politics of distortion and division. He will be a president who seek, not to perfect the lies of swiftboating, but to end them once and for all.

    This election is a chance for America to tell the merchants of fear and division: You don?t decide who love this country.

    You don?t decide who is a patriot.

    You don?t decide whose service counts and whose doesn?t.

    Four years ago I said ? and I say it again tonight ? that flag doesn?t belong to any ideology. It doesn?t belong to any political party. It is an enduring symbol of our nation and it belongs to all the American people.

    After all, patriotism is not love of power; or some cheap trick to win votes ? patriotism is love of country.

    Years ago when we protected a war, people would weigh in against us saying: ?My country right or wrong.? Our answer?

    Absolutely, my country right or wrong. When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right.

    Sometimes loving your country demands you must tell the truth to power. This is one of those times, and Barack Obama is telling those truths.

    In closing, let me say, I will always remember how we stood together in 2004 ? not just in a campaign, but for a cause.

    Now again, we stand together in the ranks, ready to fight.

    The choice is clear, our cause is just, and now is our time to make Barack Obama the next President of the United States of America.

    Thank you.

  13. Worst. Speech. Ever.

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    p>Seriously, tell me someone else saw how bad that thing? I had to turn of C-SPAN because it was hurting my ears.  

      • our minds have a way of making us forget the most painful memories. Rockefeller’s speech was one of them…

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        p>I swear, it was as if he missed the past 6 years or something.  

  14. …after Bill Clinton finished, while the crowd was still applauding, the band played (Robert Palmer’s) Addicted To Love.  How does that happen at an event so carefully scripted and staged as this?

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