The DNC in Retrospect

Donovan X. Ramsey
Atlanta, GA

Democrats went to Denver to seal a deal that was made to their party during primary season but left stronger and more unified than many imagined.

The grind of the primaries, left the party scattered and at odds with each other. It turns out that more than Hillary Clinton supporters were in need of catharsis and they just may have gotten what they came for.

It would seem that those who attended the convention, and Democrats at home, got something back this week.

They certainly got back Senator Ted Kennedy as "the lion" of Congress, they got to look at the Clintons foundly again (the all important first step in getting back Hillary supporters) and the points made by Barack Obama, in his speech last night, restated their purpose.

Edward Mitchell

Atlanta, GA

Just when John McCain was surging in state and national polls, sparking jitters among Democrats nationwide, the Democratic convention may have stopped that downward slide and finally united the Party behind nominee Barack Obama.

Four days of stagecraft worthy of Steven Spielberg managed to rip McCain (happy 72nd birthday, btw!) a new one on the all-important economy, pacify Hillary backers (except for the utterly rabid ones), and inspire Democrats to once again feel like they really can win this one.

Whether or not Mac's selection of a woman as his vice president stops Obama's momentum is unclear, and at the moment irrelevant. The Democrats could not control that. What they could control was their convention, and by any barometer, it was a rousing success. The Gallup daily tracking poll now has Obama up by a sizeable eight points (49-41) and 38 million people watched Obama's speech (reportedly more than watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics).

Anthony Harris
Marietta, GA

For an event that I largely didn't care for, what I did see convinced me to be at least relatively impressed. For three days, what was expected to happen, happened. Every star of the Democratic Party toed the line and didn't betray their people, much to the chagrin of various pundits and news managers who were waiting for an extended floor fight. And, as has been previously reported 38 million people witnessed history as Barack Obama addressed America. Although that figure doesn't count those who watched the coverage on PBS or C-SPAN (as I did) or the various people who watched the convention in bars and parties across America.

But one more thing I have to mention about Obama's speech: it did more than what it needed to do. For a few segments near the end, Sen. Obama appealed to moderates. When he noted the differences in America and the need for us to unite, one must note that he was completely aware that the world was watching. While staunch Democrats may have been watching the previous three days, on that evening Obama knew he had the ear of the world. On that evening, Obama had a responsibility to uphold; to ensure that he not only energize his devotees but to do as a politician must do and win the hearts and minds of the nation. He had to convince the other nations of the world that he was ready to stand on a global stage and lead. He had to convince the moderates and even the Republicans that even in our differences, we are all part of one nation and have to work together. Republicans aren't the enemy, they just have a different view for America, a view with its own merits.

I hope all those reading this will note this and I hope my colleagues will be ready to do this all over again next week for the Republican National Convention. It'll probably be just as fun for us to be more critical next week anyway.

Yeah, yeah D-Rams. You converted me.