From my Dem convention notebook:
Obama
- Not the greatest conventions ever, either party. Dems best by far. GOP? If only Chris Christie had eaten Delaware on stage
- Time for Biden to rush out shirtless in pirate garb swallowing a torch of fire
- Rehashed statistics, blah. Predictable anecdotes, blah. Obligatory applause lines, blah blah blah. Look, a squirrel.
- Delivery fine, but in the end poorly written speech for the circumstance, just not achieving altitude
- Now we’re talking. “Cold War mind warp.” Romney jabs saving speech
- This fact-laden straight-talkin State of Unionish speech style doesn’t play to Obama’s strength as a rhetorical song master
- Bad sign, my ADD kicking in, gone back to counting “folks” in Biden speech, up to 14 so far
- Just read thru the text, bit of a laundry list, but maybe delivery makes it sing
- Like the understated intro and walk on for prez, think this’ll work better than a big stadium show
- Obama thought bubble: Hey Mitt, didn’t see George W. Bush in your intro video
- C’mon Barack speech writers, just one little Eastwood joke, pleeeeez!
- Biden just seen chasing cars in the parking lot. Secret Service scrambling
- This just in: No more Red Bull left in convention green room. But at least Biden recycled
- This Dem convention gone so well Barack just needs to hum a few bars of Al Green and fire up Air Force One
Biden
- Biden thought bubble: I’ve talked me way onto network broadcast time — Take that, Axelrod
- Not really Voucher Care, GOP gonna outsource Medicare to Groupon.com – no health care but unlimited hotel discounts
- When this is over Joe must guest host WWE’s Monday Night Raw
- “Justice was done” – Time to launch the heat seeking missiles in his hair plugs
- Two “folks” already. 30 or some to come. Drinking game!
- Enough soft stuff Joe, time to bite the heads off a few live reptiles
- Once watched Biden on the train helping clean up somebody else’s spill in the cafe car. No kidding!
- My TV now equipped with anti-ballistic missile shield. Ready for Joe!
- Here’s hoping they let Biden be Biden tonight. Thunderdome!
- Ryan brags about hunting defenseless animals. With Biden he’ll learn what happens when they shoot back
- Wanna see Biden hit the stage in vintage Pontiac, rolled up T-shirt sleeves, and spitting tobacco chew at a Romney/Ryan poster
- John Kerry wins new show contest: “So You Want to be Secretary of State”
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57 Responses to Obama Speech Good Enough
Now on The Trail
priceless
from tail end of last thread:
KGC, I had trouble deciding whether it would be worthwhile
to throw something at Carli Fiorina if I had no chan cf hitting her, and while I was debating that Queen Meg showed her self-satisfied face, and I was overwhelmed and gave up.
I hope CA is as guaranteed as it seems, but I gotta tell everyone here who is not from CA, You have to really work at it to understand how disgusting it was to have all those
commercials everywhere. Those are two horrible horrible women.
Michelle looks like her mother..
Joe’s doing beautifully. I always loved this man.
Did someone try to say that Bill was perfect? I know I didn’t, but I take him as he is and find him just delightful, and Hillary, too. Bill might have compromised
but then, he’s no repub. Give him a break — he brought us out on top.
Ya know, actually the middle class built the 1%.
Craig — These are some of the funniest lines I’ve read about anything. You have a real gift for comedy. I’m still on a high from the first DNC night, compounded by a soaring second night with Bubba bringing it all together — so tonight was the icing on the cake. The only thing I didn’t care for was abrupt ending. I wished for at least another song because I could not get enough of watching the beautiful, happy diversity that is a crowd of dancing and singing Democrats. Trotting out the wet blanket Cardinal Dolan to intone like a Monty Python character was a disappointing end. I prefer the inclusive and lovely spirit of the Nuns on the Bus — never cared for exclusive benedictions.
I haven’t watched either convention , it’s my understanding that other than Eastwood , the word Afghanistan wasn’t said at the GOP convention ,
Did Obama ,Biden or Clinton ever mention afghanistan ?
Or the drone wars in Pakistan and Yemen ?
Or maybe that we killed thirteen more innocent civilians last sunday in Yemen ,aiming at two ‘militants’ ,Created who knows how many dedicated potential terrorist
The great orator Obama was dull as dishwater last night because after you have seen the lion at the circus who wants to see the pony show? I know Obama gets to close the convention, but The Big Dog became the Eastwood chair, the one everyone’s still talking about.
Bill Clinton rocked the joint, and Obama just mopped up the show. mqw, President Obama said he would have the USA out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Of course he said he’d close Guantanamo prison and detention center, too, and he expanded and improved the structure instead, so there’s that…
It was like a double billing show where Elton John would open and Ben Folds would close…in the political game, it had to be that way, but it seemed out of sequence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12cLXeS14kM
I thought the Democratic convention was beautifully done! I loved lots of the speeches, loved the headliners of each of the three nights. Guess I’m more easily pleased than some of you….
Me, too, harborwoman. It was beautifully executed and the speakers had a lot of different ideas to put forward. The people were so happy and laughing and so different from what I saw of the repubs, as Porgy said, they looked “afraid spmebody’s a goin’ to rob ‘em while they’re out a makin’ more.” Either that, or they’simply constipated.
15 Differences Between Democrats and Republicans. My favorite:
Very funny, Craig…read you on Huffpo…thanks for mentioning our other great Americans…squirrels and bed bugs.
We watched the convention on c-span and what a difference. I enjoyed the convention and I didn’t have to listen to any pundit tell me what my lying eyes are seeing. Thoroughly enjoyable, like a movie. I suspended my disbelief. I wish I had watched the RNC on c-span, too.
I apologize on behalf of all Californians for Meg and Scary —
My favorite moment of the convention coverage came when John King had to admit — it is going to be very hard for Mittens to win…he played fantasy politics but when he came to real numbers…it’s all over for Mittens
So glad to see Bethyboo back on the trail.
KGC…I know you are not responsible for those two. Carly’s new plastic face looks remarkably like ‘the sheep with the crazy eyes’ in her campaign commercial. Karma.
BW
hee hee
‘the sheep with the crazy eyes’ she is just a crazy lady with a lot of money…without the money people would cross the street to avoid her
I think the only way Obamarama loses is if the Republicans cheat. People here have been posting about the voter suppression issues and some progress is being made. I think Obamarama needs to get an outside group to start making a lot of noise about this issue and to make sure poll watchers are there to challenge the ids of every gooper who comes to the polls
Where is the evidence of cheating? the evidence we suppose is the basis for all the new laws
Voter suppression, voting machine irregularities and solar flares…plus the archaic electrical grid brought to you by the Koch bros. All these factors play into the hands of the dark side.
I still can’t believe Mittens was paid that much for selecting Ryan as his VP. Lyin’ Ryan will do him in.
There is no putting lipstick on the Ryan pig.
“No Exit” by Sartre, Updated: Joe, Mika, and Willie, trapped in a room for eternity.
(I think Willie will bust out somehow.)
Ryan was in California for fundraiser and Pete Wilson (is he the new leadership for the Cal GOP???) brought up Clinton’s sex scandal as part of his speech
I think when any Democrat is asked about the Clinton sex scandal — they should ask to see Mitten’s tax returns
BW -- I, too, watch on C-Span so I could see the earlier coverage and avoid the chitter-chatter.
Prez Obama didn’t give any specifics, once again. Maybe that is in order not to tip his hand before the debates, or, maybe it would just sound arrogant to some FOLKS.
Given the speeches of his wife, Prez Clinton, Granholm, etc., I’m not sure what Prez Obama would have to have done to stand out.
Biggest surprise of the evening: John Kerry has a personality! I was expecting him to drone on and on, but he delivered.
Nicest moment of the evening: Gabby Gifford & Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.
On, to the debates!!! Romney won’t be able to hold his own against Prez Obama. And Craig is soooo correct about Biden/Ryan. Paulie will not seem like someone who needs to be a heartbeat away from the OO.
@BorowitzReport: The S & P 500 just hit a 4-year high, which means Obama is the crappiest socialist in history. #DNC
I become vaguely amused every time I see one of those tanker-sized SUV’s with bald tires.
Ryan…a good Catholic, Romney a good Mormon. Unfortunately, both religions have had their problem with pedophilia…almost a culture within in some sects. So, why not go after the adulterer, Clinton? Those damn democrats ignore God’s will. It will get some of their loyal repug nuts to the polls.
Hey… I enjoyed Obama’s speech… so once again…
sue me…
here’s a portion of a comment I found on huffpo that I really liked…
People are confused. They want a ‘rah! rah! rah!’ cheerleading leading speech, but then they want policies and ideas going forward. You give them that and they want specifics. You give them specifics and they’ll bash you for being a wonk and “not firing up the base with some redmeat”.
blue…I enjoyed watching the state delegations cast their votes — something cable had on the big screen as background noise. A lot of outstanding humans and the state pride was inspiring to me.
craig, wouldn’t be surprised to see another john spelled differently instead.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/02/jon-huntsman-gop-lacks-inclusiveness-not-focused-on-real-solutions/
RR…let me know if anyone here, serves you!
I enjoyed the dem convention…better eye candy all the way around. Too bad the switch to inside…the dems had no balloons and the pugs way too many balloons. Something to be said about that!
I took LP to see Steve Vai last night so I didn’t get to (have to?) watch the prez’ speech, but my sister, bless her little repugn heart, did and texted me the following, “OK, from your totally unpolitical friend/sister … Democrats 1, republicans 0.” (She hates to admit she’s a republican, but she is, and her son in law’s father is a big muck in the AL Republican party). So how will Romney’s “Well of course I honor the troops and their service” play in the debates? I expect he’ll be talking Afghanistan, AlQaeda & China at every event between now and the October debate trying to make people forget that he forgot when he had the stage. Joe had it right this morning -- that was a staff screwup. Wait, I thought the competent businessman knows how to handle … never mind.
blue, so true. not a dry eye in the house. now, if that brave lady can make it to the stage of a convention, we can surely make an effort to vote.
BlondeW… I’m really looking forward to being served a margarita…
Craig… you are soooooooooooo funny…
Alright, get ready for the Romney/Ryan offensive. (Glad I don’t live in a swing state. Note to self, “Don’t watch channel 4 from Pittsburgh.”
Jobs numbers. Unemployment drops, but not enough new jobs created to stand and crow about. Summary from the article ‘ “The report was weak throughout.” Bad start for the post convention period.
I did like Obama’s line about being sick of saying (and us hearing), “I endorse this message.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-19473368
Want to see how a master does it.
Clintons’ prepared speech to his delivered speech.
Romney lost the election when he chose Ryan. Telling someone to go on a diet when they are worried about putting food on the table isn’t smart politics.
Not that it is going to be easy for Obama , he does have 8% unemployment and a lousy record.
Place holder time, waiting for 2016.
Jack
Jack, LOL. There’s a whole lot more green than there is pink. I don’t believe anyone would argue that Obama can hold a candle to Clinton when it comes to ad-libbing off written remarks.
guess he learned something from bill, his speech had a better, clearer argument for retirees last night than he’s tried for in the past:
tough lines and to the point “at the mercy of insurance companies” and “turning it over to Wall Street”
Jack, I’m not as certain as you that Romney lost the election by choosing Ryan. I still think that the Romney ad barrage that will start today will be compelling, even if it is almost based entirely on falsehoods. Add to that the ad barrage that will emanate from the repugn super pacs, which we know will be untrue from word one, and that choice of Ryan may not turn out to be the kiss of death you think it was. But I sure hope you are right.
pat, was the repetition inadvertent, or did he actually repeat it in his speech? I don’t have a problem with repetition (being from the Department of Redundancy Department), I just wondered if it was repeated verbatim.
oops, sorry about the earlier screwup quoting the prez. hope the last edit fixed it.
pogo, more like stupidity rather than inadvertence on my part. i think when i copied sections to isolate and emphasize the good phrases, i kept adding them back into the quote.
Oh, that’s more like it (although I tend to repeat myself more than I realize or like to admit).
Pogo
I understand that team Obama edited about a third of it out. I suspect some of those big long paragraphs was Bill putting it back in.
Jack
As I said some where “Can the Big Dawg get any more country?”
But that is what he was doing. He was the old man in diner telling stories. You can’t teach that, You have to set in that diner as a kid and just soak it up. It is cultural and Clinton may be the last of his kind. America is white bread suburbia and they don’t set around the table and tell stories.
That is why it is unfair to compare Obama to Clinton because Obama is a child of the modern suburbs.
Jack
hope i don’t mess this one up. here’s a hardball thrown by kerry:
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/
further down that fp page is a piece on putin. betcha this little quote will be made a big deal of by the goper pac ads:
for all of you who saw “biden” in my 10:28 post but now see “kerry” you are not crazy. i am. i need more coffee.
patd… that’s why even though I read this blog shortly upon getting out of bed, I wait until I’m actually awake to do my first post…
and for those that say Eastwood and Big Bill will be remembered more than the candidates themselves….
who’d you rather have them talkin’ about…
1. an aging beloved actor who pulled a silly stunt…
or 2. a former successful 2-term beloved president from your own party that also happens to be one of the most popular politicians today…
Great post, Craig. It seems to hit on all the important points that were part of an important speech (which I didn’t hear). Thanks!
“It is cultural and Clinton may be the last of his kind.”
To me, Jack that is so sad (the end of an era?). I’ve occasionally been feeling nostalgic lately — although I do love the world we’re living in now (flaws and all).
“… afghanistan ?….Or the drone…wars in Pakistan and Yemen?”
mqw,
That’s bothers me greatly too — that (it seems like, to me) no one ever mentions the wars we’re involved in now.
That nostalgia I mentioned was on my mind when I woke up this morning — what a completely different culture we were in back then (and I’m both glad and grateful to have been a part of it).
At the time we became most aware of politics, there was JFK and MLK and so many others. There were demonstrations in the streets and everywhere against the war. That war was always center stage, and we all grieved for the (seemingly unnecessary) loss of lives, but we didn’t take it lying down. There was no one that war didn’t touch.
Now, it’s hard to know what’s going on in the war zones and the wars don’t seem to be at the top of anyone’s consciousness (or conscience). IMO, our empathy for everyone involved in and suffering because of the ‘quiet wars’ we’re in now ‘has’ to feel neglected and our soldiers may be even feeling unappreciated
I think our new forms of communication must be partly responsible for this (and surely for many other problems too).
The reason I enjoy your input so much, is that (like you said) you have a good memory. Instead of just looking at what’s being said now, you’re using your common sense to analyze what’s not being said too (and why not).
(It’s striking that anyone can discuss the economy and the deficit without including the war in the equation (to me).)
Hubby has been to the VA Hospital (the big one downtown Houston) a couple times, and he’s says the site there is gruesome. What our soldiers have suffered through is devastating and not for the weak of heart.
I don’t think I could ever bear to go with him there.
If you are worried about the drone issues — you should be reading Medea Benjamin
aaaah, I’ve just realized that stuff I was feeling this morning wasn’t nostalgia. I was just pondering (Carol, you’ll understand that
.
…. there is plenty enough going on though to break one’s heart.
Killing by Remote Control
Kgc, I could never read that.
Some call it burying your head in the sand… I call it ‘self’ defense.
Presidential “cool” from NPR. Feel free to add or subtract fromt their list.
Benjamin not only writes about the drone warfare in foreign places but about the move to get local police departments to buy them…
Can you imagine Mittens with a fleet of drones --in eveyone’s bedroom checking out birthcontrol --and other things
The Climate Report -
Today it was 102F @ 3:00 P.M. in the garden .
2 days ago, it rained one inch, in 25 mins.
The water harvester, worked perfectly. Filled the entire thing that fast.
This day in history -
1936 Lubbock, Texas …….. Charles Hardin Holly was born.
He would have been 76 .
Driving home tonight NPR, ran a sappy story about what else ?
Fucking Don, Fucking Mc Clean, and his Fucking ‘American Pie” !
It’s Buddy Holly’s 76 birthday, let’s listen & talk about this 2 hit wonder instead.
Never the less, it’s 1st Friday Art Trail, …… I sally forth tonight wearing jeans I wore when we did his 50th birthday party. And my “Attack the Messenger” T-shirt.
This shirt is very ironic when I model it.
I’ll get you a picture