Night 1 of the Democratic Convention Posted by: McQ
on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I caught parts of the Democratic convention last night, but unfortunately missed the main event (Michelle Obama's speech).
My wife watched it and gave her a good grade. She said she came across very effectively if the purpose of her speech was to introduce Barack Obama to the increased audience of voters now paying attention to the race. Rich Lowry also found Michelle Obama's speech effective. Jim Geraghty says it did what it was supposed to do - little or no harm.
I did catch Nancy Pelosi's opening speech. I was very glad for her when it was over - she still makes Denny Hastart look good.
And Jim Leach? Well he's not Zell Miller. And he made Pelosi look good. Jay Nordlinger provided about the only positive point that can be made about his speech:
His speech at the Democratic convention, and his support of the Democratic nominee, will make his new life at Harvard much, much easier. Much.
The tribute to Ted Kennedy was pretty much as expected. Say what you will about the old boy (and I usually have plenty to say, but now is not the appropriate time) he's a trooper.
Not everyone among the Democrats was happy with the first night. James Carville found it much too tame and a possible repeat of the 2004 convention when Democrats refrained from attacking the Republicans and George Bush (or so they claim).
"The way they planned it tonight was supposed to be sort of the personal — Michelle Obama will talk about Barack Obama personally, Ted Kennedy was a very personal, emotional speech," Carville said. "But I guarantee on the first night of the Republican Convention, you're going to hear talk about Barack Obama, commander-in-chief, tax cuts, et cetera, et cetera."
"You haven't heard about Iraq or John McCain or George W. Bush — I haven't heard any of this. We are a country that is in a borderline recession, we are an 80 percent wrong-track country. Health care, energy — I haven't heard anything about gas prices," Carville also says. "Maybe we are going to look better Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But right now, we're playing hide the message."
[...]
“If this party has a message it's done a hell of a job hiding it tonight, I promise you that," he said.
I don't know about that - isn't the message "hopey-changitude" punctuated with a Teddy Kennedy "health care is a right, not a privilege?"
Mr. Carville, perhaps it is the message which keeps getting the Dems 2nd place in the run for the Presidency and this group has finally figured that out (although they do have a 54 page platform that you can wade through if you're so inclined).
Anyway, as I heard it explained, the first night was "introduce Barack Obama" night (well other than the tribute to Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi's series of lies and exaggerations and the Jimmy Carter Katrina whine). Given what I've read and what my wife reports, Michelle Obama did an effective job there.
So, are Tuedsay and Wednesday "red meat" nights as James Carville hopes? We'll see. But if they are, there's always the danger that depending on how negative they go, that could backfire on them. While Americans will admit to problems within the country and commit to fixing them, one thing they get very tired of is the constant negativity and denigration of the country by politicians of any stripe. It's a fine line that needs to be walked, and maybe its just me, but I just don't think, for the most part, Democrats are "nuanced" enough to do that.
(although they do have a 54 page platform that you can wade through if you’re so inclined).
Have not the Democrats figured out, you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Or something like that.
I hate to disagree, but I found Mrs. Obama’s speech both whiny and preachy.
She tells us, "We are just like you." No, you are not.
She tells us, "We love America." Not when you make some of the more ridiculous comments you have made.
She tells us, "I grew up watching my father dress to go to work." Who doesn’t? Is that a qualification to be President?
"Barack’s values are American values." So? Did they think they were Bolivian values? We are electing a President, not a minister.
The problem with Obama is that he is unqualified to be President. Telling me that he was concerned about driving his daughter home from the hospital, or that he played basketball with her brother or bought her an ice cream cone on their first date does not diminish his lack of qualifications to be the Commander-in-Chief of this country. Maybe Obama is a great guy; maybe he is a wonderful father and a great husband and, if you get to know him, a really good person.
But in the end we want someone we can TRUST to be President. And Mrs. Obama’s speech - and the other Dems who spoke about Obama - says diddly squat about why a man who spent 143 days in the US Senate is qualified to be President of the most important country in the world.
Maybe because he is unqualified...and the Democrats have nothing to say to counter that.
The problem with Obama is that he is unqualified to be President. Telling me that he was concerned about driving his daughter home from the hospital, or that he played basketball with her brother or bought her an ice cream cone on their first date does not diminish his lack of qualifications to be the Commander-in-Chief of this country. Maybe Obama is a great guy; maybe he is a wonderful father and a great husband and, if you get to know him, a really good person.
No sh!t. If these are the requirements, my granddad should be nominated. Nicest guy on earth.
"The tribute to Ted Kennedy was pretty much as expected. Say what you will about the old boy (and I usually have plenty to say, but now is not the appropriate time) he’s a trooper."
Not for long.
I think we’ll never see him in public again.
This is a very good thing.
To hell with The Runt of The Kennedy Litter. Right out loud.
