A friend of mine texted me recently, simply stating "This is the Best Pep Rally Ever". Michelle Obama and the Kids showed the Party and whoever else was watching that African American people and families are like, and have the same "values", as everybody else. The Obama kids are cute as a button and Mrs. Obama is not, as vanity fair joked, Angela Davis II. Senator Ted Kennedy left his hospital bed to tell us that it's time for hope. It's time for a new generation to take over. Then there was my favorite first day highlight. Rep. Dennis Kucinich was the first speech I saw that really hit the utter failures that have been in charge since 2001, Old School Populist Style!
And then... Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke. As anyone who reads my little rants knows, I have been no fan of the former candidate for the nomination, but this week she did what needed to be done. She fully thanked her supporters, talked of her historic (and it was) campaign, implored her supporters to join her in getting Barack Obama elected as President of the United States of America, and gave a solid "No way, No how, No mccain!" repudiation of mccain/bush policy. She challenged her supporters. "I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me?... Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?" Well said Senator!
The next day brought out more Big Guns. First there was Senator, and Vietnam Veteran (that seems to be So important these days), John Kerry. Senator Kerry called the befuddled and angry one on the differences between senator mccain and candidate mccain. He argued that it was Obama's "judgement and character" that we could trust to "Keep America Safe", not johnny POW who has been wrong "again and again and again". The Democratic Party's Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden spoke about the American Dream. Senator Biden slammed "his friend" mccain's record and policy on taxes, energy, and foreign policy, sharing instances of when "john mccain was wrong. Barack Obama was right". But the biggest dog at the convention so far... the man that I've gone from defending, to being disgustingly disappointed in, to now remembering how it feels to have an intelligent, articulate, and charismatic Commander-in-Chief, President William Jefferson Clinton spoke on Wednesday night. And Damn was he good. His was the best case for Barack Obama as President of the United States that I have heard yet. Even conservative republican/obama supporter Andrew Sullivan liked it.
Tonight the Official Democratic Party Candidate for President of the United States, Senator Barack Obama will speak, after being introduced by Al Gore, to 75,000 people at Mile High Stadium. Reports say the speech will not be about economic issues and not a lot of "high rhetoric". Here's to Hoping Barack doesn't keep the rhetoric too low.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the DNC, though I suggest you check out the speeches for yourself:
He has a remarkable ability to inspire people, to raise our hopes and rally us to high purpose. He has the intelligence and curiosity every successful President needs. His policies on the economy, taxes, health care and energy are far superior to the Republican alternatives. He has shown a clear grasp of our foreign policy and national security challenges, and a firm commitment to repair our badly strained military. His family heritage and life experiences have given him a unique capacity to lead our increasingly diverse nation and to restore our leadership in an ever more interdependent world. The long, hard primary tested and strengthened him. And in his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park.
Most important, Barack Obama knows that America cannot be strong abroad unless we are strong at home. People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.
President Bill Clinton
"There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination -- not merely victory for our party, but renewal for our nation."
Senator Edward Kennedy
Michelle Obama
We need leaders once again who can tap into that special blend of American confidence and optimism that has enabled generations before us to meet our toughest challenges. Leaders who can help us show ourselves and the world that with our ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit, there are no limits to what is possible in America.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
"Wake up, America. This is not a call for you to take a new direction from right to left. This is call for you to go from down to up. Up with the rights of workers. Up with wages. Up with fair trade. Up with creating millions of good paying jobs, rebuilding our bridges, ports and water systems. Up with creating millions of sustainable energy jobs to lower the cost of energy, lower carbon emissions and protect the environment."
Representative Dennis Kucinich (Really a Must Watch!)
"Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. 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."
Senator John Kerry
Senator John Kerry
Let me make this pledge to you right here and now. For every American who is trying to do the right thing, for all those people in government who are honoring their pledge to uphold the law and respect our Constitution, no longer will the eight most dreaded words in the English language be: "The vice president's office is on the phone."
Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden
Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden