There's so much going on at these conventions every day that it'll be tough to capture all of it, but I'll do my best to give you the main storylines.
By most accounts, the first night of the DNC went well, as it was scripted to go. Tom Bevan:
It sounds like Kennedy stole the show, even compared to Michelle. The NYT:
It's good to see him up and around, for though he's a political enemy, I can't imagine the struggle of fighting brain cancer. Kudos to him, and best wishes for future health!
Anyway, if you want some excerpts of Michelle's keynote speech, go here. It's pretty standard stuff, and runs along the predicted lines of making Barack the Obamessiah look like just a normal guy from down the street. The whole point of this convention, remember, is to 'introduce' him to America. Michelle's speech is her first major appearance since her kinder-gentler makeover, and it appears to have done the trick for most people, even conservative commentators. Some examples:
Lisa Schiffren:
Rich Lowry:
Not everyone was convinced, though. Michelle Malkin was apparently unimpressed, commenting on how Michelle delivered a very professional speech while still being 'just an ordinary, civilian mom'. She links to the full text of the speech, if you're interested.
I'm certain that more positive and negative analysis of the speech will come out today, but I don't want to get too bogged down in that. There are some other details, however, that I did want to pass along. Sadly, it seems that the Obamessiah is drawing the attention of some psycho-crazies, and it appears that several people have been arrested in what is rumored to be an assassination plan. Don't get me wrong - I want Obama to fail as much as anyone else, but I would never wish assassination on him or anyone else. It's too bad this world has so many twisted, evil people in it.
Tonight is Hillary Clinton's big speech. While she is likely to stand up and give a play-nice happy-dance speech, there is no doubt about the tension that still exists between the two camps. Though they deny it means anything, a bunch of top Hillary advisers are leaving the convention before Obama's acceptance speech. There is also an underlying current of unease from a number of swing states around the country. I've seen several polls that show a significant portion of Clinton's supporters planning (not considering, but actually planning) to vote for McCain, as much as 30% in places. This includes key states like Pennsylvania. While the convention may come off without a hitch (and it appears a deal has been struck regarding Hillary's delegates, so that seems likely), the reality is that the Democrat party is anything but united behind Obama, and that could spell real trouble in November.
One last note...as preview to how an Obama presidency may handle those with opposing political views, take a look at how he handles a TV ad by an independent group that illustrates his long-time relationship with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers:
Talk about having two bad choices in November.
More updates as they occur...
There's my two cents.
By most accounts, the first night of the DNC went well, as it was scripted to go. Tom Bevan:
Ted Kennedy's appearance was the signature moment of the night, made more so by the fact he delivered a much more robust speech than anyone expected. It was the kind of poignant drama that conventions are built for.
Much was expected from Michelle Obama, and I don't think there's any question she delivered, turning in a solid speech. It appeared somewhat forced and transparent in parts - particularly when she made the reference to Hillary and the line about how much she loved her country. ... Overall, though, her speech was exactly what the moment required.
Bringing Barack in live via satellite at the end was a nice touch. Despite his flub (saying he was in St. Louis when he was really in Kansas City), the interaction between Barack, the crowd and his family helped reinforce the image of him as a likable guy, a father, and a family.
Much was expected from Michelle Obama, and I don't think there's any question she delivered, turning in a solid speech. It appeared somewhat forced and transparent in parts - particularly when she made the reference to Hillary and the line about how much she loved her country. ... Overall, though, her speech was exactly what the moment required.
Bringing Barack in live via satellite at the end was a nice touch. Despite his flub (saying he was in St. Louis when he was really in Kansas City), the interaction between Barack, the crowd and his family helped reinforce the image of him as a likable guy, a father, and a family.
It sounds like Kennedy stole the show, even compared to Michelle. The NYT:
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, struggling with brain cancer, arrived on Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in a triumphant appearance that evoked 50 years of party history as Democrats gathered to nominate Senator Barack Obama for president.
Mr. Kennedy's appearance wiped away, at least for the evening, some of the tension that continued to plague the party in the wake of the primary fight between Mr. Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Mr. Kennedy's appearance wiped away, at least for the evening, some of the tension that continued to plague the party in the wake of the primary fight between Mr. Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
It's good to see him up and around, for though he's a political enemy, I can't imagine the struggle of fighting brain cancer. Kudos to him, and best wishes for future health!
Anyway, if you want some excerpts of Michelle's keynote speech, go here. It's pretty standard stuff, and runs along the predicted lines of making Barack the Obamessiah look like just a normal guy from down the street. The whole point of this convention, remember, is to 'introduce' him to America. Michelle's speech is her first major appearance since her kinder-gentler makeover, and it appears to have done the trick for most people, even conservative commentators. Some examples:
Lisa Schiffren:
Michelle hit the ball out of the park, I could not help thinking. The speechwriter did a brilliant job, given the task at hand, which was to make a somewhat unpleasant, maybe angry woman seem like a nicer version of the mom next door — wherever you live. If one did not know all that one knows about her, her thoughts about the country, her religious choices, etc... why you'd want her to be your BFF. I would. The speech was well crafted to reassure white Americans who may be skeptical about who the Obamas are — by piling up details, starting with the Brady Bunch, dwelling on her mom and her dad, and their sacrifices, and her role as a mom, conveying values to the next generation. Showcasing her very articulate, soft-spoken brother was a great touch for family values. The Robinson family appears more together than most political families - -which perhaps made it easier for Michelle to speak about her great love for her father and her husband in a way that sounded natural and inviting.
Michelle, who is normally tough in her speeches, full of anger toward Bush and McCain, full of didactic, liberal policy points and whose humor is inside, aren't we swell stuff, would get the part after tonight's audition. She seemed intelligent, soft and feminine. There were no hard edges, much grace and the kind of generosity of spirit that marks a great lady.
The bit about how Barack showed her the difference between the world as it was and as it ought to be... and voting our dreams instead of our fears — was a nice story line to explain what, precisely, a community organizer does, and make it seem like a normal, somewhat idealistic, job choice. Do I believe that Michelle left her law firm because she wanted to help the next generation make a difference in the community? Not a chance. She was the next generation, and money was important important to her. But her job tonight was to sell a middle class narrative about herself.
She did a less good job of normalizing Barack, who remains exotic. I would be a little more impressed by her references to his working class grandparents who sacrificed to make sure he had greater opportunities than they did — if I hadn't read that while in Hawaii last week only he went to visit grandma. No kids, no Michelle.
To her credit, Michelle Obama did exactly what needed to be done tonight. She is serious enough about winning that she was willing to leave out the substance. Whatever vanity she has about her political/intellectual seriousness is less than her ambition. That is truly impressive.
Michelle, who is normally tough in her speeches, full of anger toward Bush and McCain, full of didactic, liberal policy points and whose humor is inside, aren't we swell stuff, would get the part after tonight's audition. She seemed intelligent, soft and feminine. There were no hard edges, much grace and the kind of generosity of spirit that marks a great lady.
The bit about how Barack showed her the difference between the world as it was and as it ought to be... and voting our dreams instead of our fears — was a nice story line to explain what, precisely, a community organizer does, and make it seem like a normal, somewhat idealistic, job choice. Do I believe that Michelle left her law firm because she wanted to help the next generation make a difference in the community? Not a chance. She was the next generation, and money was important important to her. But her job tonight was to sell a middle class narrative about herself.
She did a less good job of normalizing Barack, who remains exotic. I would be a little more impressed by her references to his working class grandparents who sacrificed to make sure he had greater opportunities than they did — if I hadn't read that while in Hawaii last week only he went to visit grandma. No kids, no Michelle.
To her credit, Michelle Obama did exactly what needed to be done tonight. She is serious enough about winning that she was willing to leave out the substance. Whatever vanity she has about her political/intellectual seriousness is less than her ambition. That is truly impressive.
Rich Lowry:
Michelle Obama's speech was quite effective. Here were the five keys to its successes:
1) Make Barack One of Us. She gave us an affecting portrait of her own family, like so many families in America, and then said of Barack, "even though he had this funny name, even though he'd grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine."
2) Emphasize the Working Class. Michelle's parents were working class, as she was "raised on the South Side of Chicago by a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me."
So were Barack's grandparents: "He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents, and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills just like we did."
3) Elevate Work as the Supreme Value. She told of how her father, weakened by illness, didn't give into the weakness of his body: "He just woke up a little earlier, and worked a little harder." She put work first in the litany of values she and Barack learned from their families: "Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life," etc. And she said of the people in the neighborhoods where Barack was a community organizer: "They were ready to work — they wanted to contribute." The word "work" is all over the speech.
4) Score One for the Patriarchy. Fatherhood, old-fashioned fatherhood, was a stirring theme. She talked movingly of her father: "My dad was our rock. Although he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider, our champion, our hero." And near the end, she talked of Obama as father, that figure—should he live up to his responsibilities—that is so deeply reassuring. She described him returning with her and their first daughter from the hospital, "determined to give her everything he'd struggled so hard for himself, determined to give her what he never had: the affirming embrace of a father's love."
5) Have Cute Kids. The Obama kids stole the show during Barack's brief video cameo, talking to their daddy and nicely punctuating everything that had come before.
1) Make Barack One of Us. She gave us an affecting portrait of her own family, like so many families in America, and then said of Barack, "even though he had this funny name, even though he'd grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine."
2) Emphasize the Working Class. Michelle's parents were working class, as she was "raised on the South Side of Chicago by a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me."
So were Barack's grandparents: "He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents, and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills just like we did."
3) Elevate Work as the Supreme Value. She told of how her father, weakened by illness, didn't give into the weakness of his body: "He just woke up a little earlier, and worked a little harder." She put work first in the litany of values she and Barack learned from their families: "Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life," etc. And she said of the people in the neighborhoods where Barack was a community organizer: "They were ready to work — they wanted to contribute." The word "work" is all over the speech.
4) Score One for the Patriarchy. Fatherhood, old-fashioned fatherhood, was a stirring theme. She talked movingly of her father: "My dad was our rock. Although he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider, our champion, our hero." And near the end, she talked of Obama as father, that figure—should he live up to his responsibilities—that is so deeply reassuring. She described him returning with her and their first daughter from the hospital, "determined to give her everything he'd struggled so hard for himself, determined to give her what he never had: the affirming embrace of a father's love."
5) Have Cute Kids. The Obama kids stole the show during Barack's brief video cameo, talking to their daddy and nicely punctuating everything that had come before.
Not everyone was convinced, though. Michelle Malkin was apparently unimpressed, commenting on how Michelle delivered a very professional speech while still being 'just an ordinary, civilian mom'. She links to the full text of the speech, if you're interested.
I'm certain that more positive and negative analysis of the speech will come out today, but I don't want to get too bogged down in that. There are some other details, however, that I did want to pass along. Sadly, it seems that the Obamessiah is drawing the attention of some psycho-crazies, and it appears that several people have been arrested in what is rumored to be an assassination plan. Don't get me wrong - I want Obama to fail as much as anyone else, but I would never wish assassination on him or anyone else. It's too bad this world has so many twisted, evil people in it.
Tonight is Hillary Clinton's big speech. While she is likely to stand up and give a play-nice happy-dance speech, there is no doubt about the tension that still exists between the two camps. Though they deny it means anything, a bunch of top Hillary advisers are leaving the convention before Obama's acceptance speech. There is also an underlying current of unease from a number of swing states around the country. I've seen several polls that show a significant portion of Clinton's supporters planning (not considering, but actually planning) to vote for McCain, as much as 30% in places. This includes key states like Pennsylvania. While the convention may come off without a hitch (and it appears a deal has been struck regarding Hillary's delegates, so that seems likely), the reality is that the Democrat party is anything but united behind Obama, and that could spell real trouble in November.
One last note...as preview to how an Obama presidency may handle those with opposing political views, take a look at how he handles a TV ad by an independent group that illustrates his long-time relationship with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers:
Barack Obama is striking back fiercely and swiftly to stamp out an ad that links him to a 1960s radical, eager to demonstrate a far more aggressive response to attacks than John Kerry did when faced with the 2004 "Swift Boat" campaign.
Obama not only aired a response ad to the spot linking him to William Ayers, but he sought to block stations the commercial by warning station managers and asking the Justice Department to intervene. The campaign also planned to compel advertisers to pressure stations that continue to air the anti-Obama commercial.
Since when is the squashing of free speech good for America? Of course, McCain can hardly talk on this one, having his name literally attached to legislation that directly contradicts free speech.Talk about having two bad choices in November.
More updates as they occur...
There's my two cents.
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