John McCain's Acceptance Speech

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.

The Main Event

Tonight is the night that many people have patiently waited for. Tonight, in Denver, Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party's nomination for the President of the United States.

I never thought that I'd see the day. Born only 21 years ago, even I couldn't have imagined a day where the country and a united political party would gather around someone that looked like me. My parent generation and the one that preceeded would echo the same sentiments. We've been waiting for a while but this is the moment.

Our country has been gripped, since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, in an effort to roll back the incredible opportunity and life-giving social policies of the 1960's. The two-term administration of George W. Bush has represented a pitiful valley in the landscape of societal improvement. People have died, been tortured, lost homes, and hope in those eight years. Progressives have been waiting for a while but the moment is here.

After days of masterful political presentation and tradition, the main event is ready to take stage. At 10:00pm, Barack Obama has the honor and responsibilty of seizing this moment in time and to see to it that all this waiting was not in vain. His speech is the last piece in a complicated puzzle whose resolution, his presidency is resting on.

Obama's star was launched in 2004 with a powerful speech that reminded Americans of the audacity of hope. Now is the time to seal the deal with a promise of change, a fiery look at the alternative, and a sound plan. I wish Senator Obama the best of luck tonight. This is the time. This is the place and. May he seize the day.

What does Barack Obama's acceptance of the nomination mean to you? Do you think that the speech he gives has any bearing on the race?

Joe Biden Is Articulate And Clean: Why He's The VP That We Need

The DNC kicked off with moving speeches and great efforts toward unity by wonderful speakers. On Monday night, Senator Ted Kennedy stood as an example to remind Democrats what the Party once stood for. Then Michelle Obama delivered a powerful account of her and Barack's very American stories. On the second night, the mantle was upon Hillary Clinton to gather her supporters around the causes that she's been fighting for, through most of her adult life, despite her defeat in the primaries. All of these tasks were critical to the rebuilding and reunification of the Democratic Party but nothing can unite more than a rousing half-time speech by a bulldog coach. Enter: Joe Biden.

Pundits, political operatives, and news outlets had been warning of the Kerry curse in this election and during the convention. Four years ago, while being "swiftboated," Senator and Presidential Hopeful, John Kerry failed to remind his supporters that they were not only voting for him but against the policies of the Bush administration. After eight years of Republican domination, it was a mistake that the Dem's couldn't afford to make again so Biden's task was simple: build up Obama and point out the shortcomings of the Bush administration. Joe Biden was chosen as VP to counter John McCain's "straight-talk express" with what I like to call the "real-talk express." So? While Obama delivers the hope, Biden articulates the rally call of the progressive masses, "John McCain was wrong!"

That night, Biden echoed the sentiments of a war-weary nation in saying, “Our country is less secure and more isolated than at any time in recent history. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has dug us into a very deep hole, with very few friends to help us climb out." He brought the lofty Dem's down to earth with a simple bit of wisdom that his mother gave to him as a boy. After being beat-up, she said, "bloody the other guy's nose so you can walk down the street again." That was the message that the Democrats needed going into a general election. We can be positive and stick to the issues but politics is a full contact sport.

Months ago, joe Biden came under fire for referring to Barack Obama as "articulate" and "clean." In his brash and bumbling way, it was a compliment. After seeing his performance tonight on behalf of Obama, I will return the favor. Joe Biden, you are one articulate dude and that suit was clean!

Hillary Clinton at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

Quick Hits: 8.25.08: Day 1 of the DNC Convention

1) John Legend and the rainbow coalition was inspiring.

2) Some of the outfits in that crowd deserved more camera time. Like the multiflag cowboy hat.

3) I heard Donna Brazile's voice but why wasn't my boo on camera more?

4) What was up with all the Earth, Wind, & Fire playing in the background? Were they trying to invoke an electric slide?

5) Jesse Jackson Jr. almost pulled off an Obama moment from the 2004 Convention. Almost.

6) Ken Burns did his thing on that Kennedy documentary. Uncle Teddy is my Senator too! When he said that "young Americans in uniforms will never again be committed to a mistake," he reminded us that he is a liberal champion and the last of a dying breed.

7) I raise my Stan flag proudly for Claire McCaskil. If you can count on any Barack Obama surrogate to act a fool, it's her.

8) CNN must really think they have THE BEST political team on television; so good that they thought it was OK to talk over Nancy Pelosi. My tip for tomorrow: watch PBS. They don't even have commercials.

9) Michelle Obama's mother is the new Morgan Freeman. Period.

10) And shouldn't we all be so lucky as to have a wife like Michelle Obama. Her speech hit all the major points. She reintroduced her husband, said the words "I'm proud to be an American," and gave Hillary a shout-out. What more could you ask for?

Bonus) I'm on Team Mailia. That talkative one however...

Michelle Obama’s Speech at the DNC