There may or may not be any connection to these topics but...
Yesterday was thee 8th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment; tomorrow, the 45th Anniversary of MLK's "I Have A Dream." Today? LBJ's 100th birthday.
LBJ's presidency was terrible on many fronts. Yet, without the Voting Right Acts, blacks Americans would not possess political equality in the north and the south. I have been reading Nixonland in spare time (hah!). In many, usually forgotten, aspects, the North was not too much better than the South; Chicago was a nightmare.
Without the VRA in 1965 there would be a different nominee in 2008.
Pillars? Pillars will be the backdrop, connecting to vision of the Athenian democracy and the Lincoln Memorial. There is some criticism from the chattering class or the Cheetos Brigade. It must be terrible to hate symbols of democracy over aesthetics...
Overall, the convention is calm. No too mush Partisan ad hominems in the Zell Miller category. (See Part I, II, III; The "duel)."
We know that the Republicans will rely on ad hominems as they can rely on nothing else. With a strategy of inoculation, which is what former President Clinton is doing, and a more positive campaign, highlighting responsibility and actual difference, the Obama campaign will be making a well reasoned argument to the American public. Now, what is your view of the American public?
President Bill Clinton's speech was much better than Senator Hillary Clinton's. Sharp images of difference, sharp images of praise; discussed torture, subtlety; delivered with authority, though I doubt his conviction because of past comments.
Man MSNBC sucks. And I just saw the Hillary "Jilted" Ad, which really makes no sense because Bidden attacked Obama in the same way. Oh...I Forgot.
Just waiting for Bidden....
And Senator Kerry... if you are going to use the figure of correctio, you need to go, "The Bush...No, I'm sorry, I always make that mistake. The McCain..." Read Cicero, jackass. Oh, and you beating up on torture now? Four years ago it may have helped. But, when it is safe...
Okay, I take my criticisms back. Kerry does well with the McCain is "For it before he is against it" line and then hits McCain on the Rove tactics. That's cathartic. And, by the way, if you want to know, I did not write this speech even as I suggested the theme.
I do think this is one of the best speeches of the convention so far. Kerry may not have the best delivery, as years in the Senate will do that, but he delivers a forceful blow against McCain's "good moral character." Everything that McCain stood for, Kerry argues it is long gone. This is well done and it could only come from Kerry.
It is a good day for redemption...
And to have Claudia Kennedy speak, the first and only Three Star General. This is a coup d'état, especially because of the politicization of the military.
Torture is in almost every speech tonight. This is a big turn on the moral values debate.
Finally, Debbie Wasserman Schultz delivered an excellent nomination address for Senator Obama. I do not know if she had another opportunity to speak, but If not, that was a shame.
Finally, Finally. Whoop!!! Chet Edwards.
Biden accepted the nomination. What a surprise....
1 comment:
Still absorbing it all. But a couple of quickies:
1)Kerry's reference to "length of time on this Earth" was both poingant and funny, all the moreso because he didn't belabor it.
2)Say what you want about him, but Biden's story really is gripping. Harrogate didn't know about it until Obama told it last Saturday. And, his speech was excellent.
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