Obama’s Speech
Didn’t get to see it, but I listened on the way home from the football game. I second the thoughts of a woman interviewed in Chicago by NPR: “I forgot how much I missed having hope until it returned.”
Calling all TiVo Users
Would someone please TiVo tonight’s speech in Mile High Stadium? Can’t blog it because I’m the voice of Red Arrow Football tonight in Davison. Feel free to tune in on WLHS.
"Come on up for the rising. . . "
And Obama enters to the surprise of all in the Pepsi Center (but not the MSNBC viewers), says a few things to the faithful, and teases tomorrow night’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field (okay, Mile High Stadium). Loved hearing Springsteen’s “The Rising” – and The Boss is supposed to appear tomorrow night as well. Biden’s family, from his elderly mother to the adorable grandchildren, hit the stage with the emotional icing for tonight’s cake.
Joe Biden’s Moment
The VP candidate has the Pepsi Center eating out of his hands. Once a stuttering child, now one of the most engaging members of Congress. Loved his tribute to his mother. Like Bill Clinton said earlier tonight, Barack Obama’s “knocked it out of the park” with his first presidential decision – choosing Biden as his running mate.
Meanwhile, the MSNBC yahoos scroll the “BREAKING NEWS” that Obama will join Biden on stage for a “surpirse” appearance. Doesn’t telling us defeat the purpose?
Letting the Big Dog loose at the DNC
No live blogging tonight, just a summary of what I’ve been able to catch via radio and MSNBC. . .
Evan Byah’s speech was, in my opinion, terrible. Poorly written, less-than-stellar delivery.
Bill the Attack Dog came out and delivered the “red meat” the Democrats have hungered for. Well, at least the red meat Olbermann and MSNBC has wanted.
The “You’re SOOOO 2004″ Award goes to John Kerry, whose speech is carried live for all of ten seconds before MSNBC cuts to commercial. When they return, they play part of it with an annoying orchestral piece in the background.
Still waiting for Joe Biden, but he’s usually worth waiting for.
Ladies Night at the DNC
10:57 PM: Okay, it’s time to change channels and hear what the most important voice of this election year has to say about the convention. Yes, it’s time to turn to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
10:55 PM: Say what you want, but it’s an excellent speech. She’s hitting all the right notes. But the jumpsuit is still too friggin bright.
10:41 PM: Hillary takes the stage in a pantsuit by Sunkist. Interesting how all the “Hillary” placards have her website. And her husband is teary-eyed, mouthing “I love you, I love you.” It seems genuine. She is getting a rousing ovation from the SRO Pepsi Center.
Strong, strong opening. “The time is now, to unite as a single party, with a single purpose.” And she’s doing what the other speakers have yet to do – she takes the fight to the opponent. “No way. No how. No McCain.” There’s no doubt that she’s on board, and she’s doing her best to get her supporters to join her. But her husband has yet to make such a forceful statement. Perhaps that will come tomorrow night.
10:35 PM: Montana’s governor looks like he was a blast to listen to. If only MSNBC had let us listen. Now it’s the Hillary video intro, with a cover of “You Really Got Me” and some Lenny Kravitz. Hillary rocks! It looks less like an intro and more like a long-form campaign video. She did concede, right?
10:05 PM: Tonight’s fun moment has to be watching Rachel Maddow and Pat Buchanan AGREE on the abundance of political posturing (Warner’s run for Senate) and lack of attack.
9:53 PM: Warner picks up the High School Musical voters with “We’re all in this together.” Didn’t do the jazz hands.
9:43 PM: Governor Warner of Virginia takes the stage. Yes, Virginia, your state is important to Obama, but isn’t Michigan the key battleground this year? Why don’t we see any Michiganders in primetime? (Granholm? Speaking, but not in primetime. Kwame? Don’t even go there.) It doesn’t bode well for the future of the party in our state. McCain has Mitt Romney next week, and he’s sure to draw a number of undecided voters with his Michigan background.
Most of these speeches praise Obama but fail to take shots at McCain or Bush. It might be the high road, but it’s not terribly smart politics.
Warner: “In four months, we will actually have an administration that believes in science.” Good line. Overall, it’s a decent presentation, but nothing tonight measures up to Uncle Ted or Michelle. Hillary’s 30 minutes might be the most important of the convention.
9:24 PM: Well, I’d hoped to hear a few speeches when I turned on MSNBC a few minutes ago, but they’ve opted to let Matthews, Olberman, and Co. yammer on and give us the interview we’ve really wanted: Spike Lee. Yes, Spike even dropped the title of his best joint – “Do the Right Thing” – when talking about Hillary Clinton’s upcoming speech.
Tonight is about the women of the party and the issues that concern them most. It’s also the night to roll out the unlikely speakers: a Republican mayor from Alaska (nice gesture, dull speech) and Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania (a pro-life Democrat). “We can’t afford four more years. Four more months!”
And the crowd goes wild.
Live Blogging the Democratic National Convention
11:07 PM: That’s enough for tonight. Time to rest up for the first day of professional development. Oh, joy.
11:04 PM: What was genuine now becomes posturing and pontificating as Dems like Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. are paraded out to tell us everything we just heard. And he makes sure to tell us that Obama’s family is just like those hard working families in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. Coincidence? I think not.
10:57 PM: Olbermann – “I’m beginning to sound borderline sycophantic about this.” Tell us something we don’t know, Keith. Meanwhile, Chris Matthews is looking for Keith’s hairspray.
10:53 PM: Standing O for Michelle, and she’s played off with Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” – excellent speech. Youngest daughter Sasha is stealing the show – “Hi, Daddy! Daddy, what city are you in?”
10:40 PM: There’s nothing terribly special about Michelle Obama’s speech, but she’s engaging and authentic. There’s nothing “elite” about her. Just a hard-working American mom.
10:25 PM: Michelle Obama’s intro via video. MSNBC’s graphic is in the way of identifying any of the people who are singing her praises. We find out from her brother Craig that she’s memorized every episode of “The Brady Bunch” – if that doesn’t scream “family values,” what does?
10:14 PM: It’s a windy night in Denver. But Olbermann’s hair will not budge.
10:11 PM: Panel discussion with Rachel Maddow (so glad she’s getting her own show on MSNBC) turns into cheerleading for Countdown with Keith Olbermann by a screaming mob. This is journalism? Maddow does make a good point: John McCain’s use of noun-verb-”I was a POW” is getting old. His service to the country is to be commended, but the overuse of his time in the Hanoi Hilton is similar to Rudy Guiliani’s reliance on 9/11 in every one of his stump speeches.
10:08 PM: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (sp?), who “literally” was a member of Students for Joe Biden in college, tells Chris Matthews at least 6 times about the “historic candidacies” of Obama and Clinton.
9:45 PM: Now we know how the battle between Obama and Clinton delegates will end. Both will be nominated, and a few delegates will be able to cast their votes for Clinton before she declares Obama the official nominee.
9:43 PM: Senator Ted Kennedy left the stage a few minutes ago after a moving speech. His presence in Denver while battling brain cancer could be one of the more emotional aspects of the convention. On the other hand, the music playing him off sounded like a riff on the “Full House” theme. Probably not a great idea to play a tepid version of “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang, either.
Note: I’ll try to post while watching the week’s events in Denver and I plan to give equal time to the festivities in Minneapolis next week.
