Democratic Convention Open Thread!!
So I'm pretty swamped today, but had a chance to check in on MSNBC's convention coverage. Twice.
First time? Joe Scarborough interviewed a self-described "black dude" preacher who was gravely concerned about Obama's ability to appeal to blue color -- wait, make that 'collar'! -- voters. He quoted Pat Buchanan about Obama bringing too much of the 'faculty lounge' with him, and I turned off the TV.
Second time? Nora O'Donnell interviewed a McCain surrogate who announced that it was a generally held notion among pundits that the Obama campaign was playing dirty and engaging in personal attacks. Oh. And John McCain was apparently a POW. I turned off the TV a second time.
I thought the conventions were supposed to be an uninterrupted commercial for the party's nominee? If nothing else, I was hoping for a brief respite from the day to day battles that drive me crazy. I guess that was expecting a bit more than was realistic. Damn librul media.
However, there's still that prime time hour to look forward to. Tonight, believe it or not, has some genuine interest that has nothing to do with either Clinton. Michelle Obama will offer her Meet America speech. And more importantly, it is rumored that Teddy Kennedy will be in the house. Which will be one of the emotional high points of the week.
Enjoy!
--
"How is the world ruled, and how do wars start? Diplomats tell lies to journalists and then believe what they read." -- Karl Kraus, 1909
--
"How is the world ruled, and how do wars start? Diplomats tell lies to journalists and then believe what they read." -- Karl Kraus, 1909
--
To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
- Harley's blog
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I blame it all on the Internet
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)LOL! thanks for posting that
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| parent )because of Hurricane Gustav?
I also remember members of Dr. Dobson's "Focus on the Family" were urged to "pray for rain" to ruin tonights event in Denver. Looks like the rain may come elsewhere.
--Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.
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)to the convention because of Gustav. As some wag somewhere pointed out, what's he going to do, stand in front of the levees to stem the tide of the storm himself?
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| parent )Wow, that was quite a spectacle. And all of it clearly necessary, so I can see why the DNC had no choice but to take all that corporate "big money" despite how much Obama rails against all that special interest influence and how much Obama represents "a new kind of politics".
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)I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )and re-tool Detroit to make fuel efficient cars here in America.
--Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.
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)Whoa, Nellie.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent )lol. That explains why my genitals are glowing. Darn, I thought I was turning into some kind of superhero with very special powers.
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| parent )There was always a great moment in Muhammad Ali's fights, that round where he stopped counter-punching, and started to lead. Pow, pow, pow. And his opponent was suddenly flat on his back.
Tonight, thus far? Obama's not counter-punching anymore.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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)The media will dream up some new bogus narrative ("Obama vs Hillary supporters" anyone?) to pimp the horserace.
I think you're right in one regard, though - as long as Obama can keep his supporters electrified and motivated with shows like last night, he's got an excellent chance. I'm just going to assume the media's formulation of the state of the race is nonsense from now on.
--Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President. - Bruce Springsteen
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| parent )While on hold with a credit card company, I ran into this rancid little amuse bouche from redstate, which I hereby title, "The Hardy Boys go to Art History Class by way of Wikipedia"
Have a look:
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/28/the-dncs-obameion-a...
Their scholarly use of the greek alphabet gives it some real gravitas.
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)There has been a lotta breathless pimping from Team McCain about the absolutely amazing and buzz-worthy ad that Senator McCain is launching during Obama's speech tonight. Setting aside the simple fact that very few people will see it, the ad is surprising, if only becuz McCain has taken the time to stop calling his opponent a treasonous arugula-eating celebrity to congratulate him on a historic accomplishment.
Which is nice. As far as it goes. Which, I'm guessing, will be approximately ten minutes after Obama's speech concludes.
Here's the ad:
Also? This stuff is never offered without motive. I'm guessing the McCain pollsters are looking at some negative reactions to all the smears, they've watched the Dem convention and noted the relative paucity of same, they know what's coming in the Twin Cities....and figured they might as well take a brief shot while they have it.
Then they'll go back to waiting for Bird Dog and others to try to turn Bill Ayers into a human Swift Boat. And believe me. They're counting on it.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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)it was a pretty damn good ad. And to take a break from the general partisan discourse, I salute Obama for what he achieved. It is truly historic.
--"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead." -- Paris Hilton
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| parent )I salute Obama for what he achieved
I don't salute Obama for what he achieved, any more than I salute any nominee in any election. Granted, he achieved it at an early age (and somehow with very little experience), but my salute goes primarily to Dr. King and to the other civil rights leaders whose efforts decades ago made Obama's nomination possible, and secondarily to the Democratic Party, Democratic voters (well, other than the ones who voted for Obama largely because of the color of his skin), and the American people as a whole for changing their attitudes toward race enough for Obama's nomination to be possible. And if Obama is smart, tonight he will make that distinction: the triumph of his nomination with regard to race and racism is not, for the most part, his accomplishment, and not primariliy to his credit, but rather is the accomplishment others and primarily to the credit of others. And what we should celebrate is not that a black man has won the nomination per se, but that a black man being nominated proves that it's possible.
[edit]
By the way, McCain mentions "this historic day". Wonder how long it will be before someone points out (fairly enough) that McCain opposed making Dr. King's birthday a national holiday.
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| parent )John McCain didn't have national holidays for five long years while he was in captivity. His opposition to the holiday, long after most such opposition had ended, is none of your business.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )that exact reply is written on an index card pinned to a cork board somewhere over at Maverick HQ.
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| parent )That is pretty brilliant, even if all that Machiavellian motives you mentioned are true. Perhaps even more so.
--“I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
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| parent )As far as it goes. Tho' I'm betting the only people who see it will see it on the cable news shows running it now. The problem is the possible disconnect with reality. I say 'possible' because I don't know what's coming in the Twin Cities. But I find it hard to believe that the tone of the GOP convention won't be somewhat more negative than the Dems. And I find it similarly hard to believe that McCain won't resume the negative attacks that helped him close the polling gap between the two campaigns. Then there's McCain's rapidly fraying temper -- this tantrum is getting some ink -- that will probably continue to erupt.
In other words, if the ad doesn't comport with reality, does it convince viewers that the attack ads are similarly out of snyc?
Having said all that, yes, it's a good idea. McCain needs to remind people of the man he used to be. Even if he isn't that guy anymore. Or, btw, never was in the first place.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )or if you just want to watch the convention and not the bobbleheads, Dish Networks is broadcasting a non-interrupted, HD feed of the entire day. I'm guessing no commentators, no annoying graphics covering up half the screen, just the raw convention floor :)
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)Now this is funny:
Energy independence doesn't seem to be a major theme in the Gasolina video. So what is the song about? The word "gasolina" is Puerto Rican slang for, er, ejaculate. ("She loves gasoline... Gimme more gasoline!")
Daddy Yankee is famous for creative double entendres. Maybe McCain can be too.
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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)Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.
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| parent )is just really into bukkake.
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| parent )I have no idea what you mean, but suspect profanity/obscenity lurking somewhere, even in a simple anime reference.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent ). . .in the lab of a bored mad scientist*
"Hello? You want me to do WHAT? Combine the DNA of a dinosaur and a male porn star? Brilliant! You start digging up the amber, I'll get Northridge on the line!"
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| parent )The mind boggles...
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent )How many of you think that if Obama wins and the Democrats make decisive gains in Congress, the health bill that arrives on President Obama's desk will actually be Hillary's plan?
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)isn't that the way government is supposed to work?
--GW Bush, leading contender for worst President ever.
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| parent )I just think it's funny that while they battled over essentially legislative policy proposals, the one who didn't get the nomination is the one who'll be sponsoring the bills.
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| parent )It was painful to watch -- like Nancy Pelosi on a bad day. Tonight's speech, then, seemed like it came from a completely different person: a warm feminist and activist who really cares about making our lives better. Powerful and moving delivery today.
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)Obama knows full well that Bill Clinton is right behind him all the way--he can feel it right between the shoulder blades.
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)How long is Bill's nose now, and is there a chart comparing it to the Olympic high-jump record?
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent ). . .he's using it to conduct a limbo contest in Jamaica. While sitting in Denver.
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| parent )Hillary's speech was exactly what the convention needed, so good that it will force her husband to get his head out of his hinder and join the party. Democratic, party, of course.
She did exactly what was required. A truly clutch performance.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )Howard Wolfson just shanked Mark Warner on FOX for refusing to follow the "all McCain bashing, all the time" format. He must think HRC has *some* kind of future that he can stay latched onto like a remora, or he wouldn't go out of his way to make an enemy of a rising political star like Warner.
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)Wolf Blitzer just interviewed Rudy "9/11" Giuliani from the Convention floor. Chris Dodd better be allowed to go to the RNC and get interviewed by Wolfie.
The media coverage on this convention really really really really sucks. The convention should be an historic moment, but instead I just can't wait for it to end. Disgusting.
--But she's a queen, and such are queens
that your laughter is sucked in their brains. -D. Bowie
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)Didn't his support tank after a scandal and then he basically ran away from the primary w. his tail between his legs?
Does he poll well or something? Why was he invited?
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| parent )...…to console the eyewitnesses to all the carnage.
[ducking]
--“I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
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| parent )he's looking for Mrs. Giuliani #4.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )But is it just me, or does it look like team Clinton is saying one thing and doing "Clinton '12" at the same time?
--“I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
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)http://blogs.tampabay.com/bizarre/2008/08/man-reacts-nega.html
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)There's a front page byline on CNN, "Ferris Bueller actors dissapointed in dems", like wtf? Was this Broderick or someone even more low rent? Why's their opinion on the front of cnn?
When's the last time McCain had a remotely negative headline? The dems, during their convention, are looking at about 50% negative from a glance on cnn.com. Any guesses for republicans? What're the odds we'll see "Republicans still have not addressed the fact that everyone hates Bush" on a daily basis?
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)Second, MSNBC falls prey to some of the same instincts, but Chuck Todd and Brian Williams et al are a good way to get thru the day. The pimping of the Clinton story will continue until Bill finishes his speech on Wednesday. After that? I doubt anyone will still be talking about it. And I expect Hillary to hit a home run tonight.
The complainers, led by Carville of course, seemed unhappy that the Dems didn't spend the night ripping McCain's face off. But the first goal was to bring the party together. I can't imagine a better one-two punch than Teddy and Michelle Obama. And that's no small thing. If Obama equals McCain's percentage in party support? (And he's not at the moment.) He wins the election. Full stop. So while there will be some red meat coming, bringing the party together was the more important place to start.
But hey. The GOP is leading off with the two least popular politicians in America. I would think CNN and others will find something to talk about.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )Ask courageous questions. Do not be satisfied with superficial answers. Be open to wonder and at the same time subject all claims to knowledge, without exception, to intense skeptical scrutiny. Be aware of human fallibility. Cherish your species and your
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)Just saw this Billboard on the way from the airport to downtown St. Paul:
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)when Craig Robinson stood before all and said, "Go Beavers!"
I thought Michelle's speech was moving. And historical. Her brother did a fine job as well.
--"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead." -- Paris Hilton
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)The Caltech mascot is a beaver, and their women's athletic teams are known as (I kid you not) the Lady Beavers.
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent )I feel like I'm in the jr. high boys locker room...or a david Zucker film, which is sort of the same thing.
Said as a former Lady Beaver...
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| parent )It was even cruder than you think.
when Craig Robinson stood before all and said, "Go Beavers!"
he was telling all the Hillary supporters to leave.
But on a serious note, re: your positive comments about the speeches, it's nice to see someone from across the aisle say nice stuff about speeches by folks on the other side. (not because it's nice to say nice stuff, but because it's indicative that partisanship didn't prevent one from seeing something positive nor from acknowledging it, and proactively at that).
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| parent )As a resident of the Beaver State (there's even one on the back of the flag) and all the other various Beaver Creeks, towns, and my own University (Go Beavs!) the "beaver" jokes get old. Beaver talk is not crude, out here...now any mention of ducks..that's downight filthy!
I was quite pleased he did that... :).
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| parent )- Login or register to post comments
| parent )F-for all media I have seen... To much talking head time... C- For the speaker ... not a good speech...
B- Caroline ... Not fabulous but athentic for one who has shunned the spot light for most of her life...
A For Teddy love him or Hate him fight brain cancer and giving a speech after radiation and chemo... Plus his legislative accomplishments are pretty amazing...
B for Michelle Obamas brother ... He does not give many speeches and he did above average...
A For Michelle She gave on of the better speeches I have seem at a convention only out done by her husband four years ago... She seemed human and I connected...
C+ for the event so far.. of course this could be in part the media's F coverage ... The lack of Red meat so far is apparent. They have failed to define the opposition IMHO...
Still Dems IMHO do not do negative as well as the GOP...
Best take down of the night was Maddow calling McCain out on throwing the POW meme around to answer any unwanted or negative questions... Pointing out four different times he has used that tactic... She has not used Billmon's Bloody shirt meme... It was pretty brutal.... http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/25/203034/648/538/575094
Here is the maddow take down....
--Ask courageous questions. Do not be satisfied with superficial answers. Be open to wonder and at the same time subject all claims to knowledge, without exception, to intense skeptical scrutiny. Be aware of human fallibility. Cherish your species and your
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)I agree with Maddow on that point. It's darn silly how McCain is using his POW experience as a crutch for unrelated matters.
Also, if McCain was to use it to mitigate the "how many houses" flub, the smarter approach (and who knows -- maybe the way it was scripted for him, if he just forgot the script) would have been to say:
"Look, if they are trying to get the American people to think that I can't relate to adversity, Americans are smart and they know how ridiculous that is. During my career in the military, I surely didn't live in luxury. And during my 5 1/2 years in captivity in Vietnam I didn't have a house, I didn't have a kitchen table or even a bed. I slept on dirt or concrete. And I lived through all that for the sake of my fellow Americans. So yes, now I'm a millionaire. So is Barack Obama. But I sure as heck know what it's like to live many years through tough times in tough conditions."
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| parent )It's not fair.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )It's the only way I can ensure that I'm universally hated.
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| parent )Who planned it to start right after the Olympics? NBC says they got the largest audience ever in the history of etc. and lots of people are just TVed out. Some thing with the Biden announcement; Gallup so far sees at best a single-digit bounce for the selection, second only to the effect of the Cheney selection. Again, really bad timing IMO.
Do you think the HRC schism is being exaggerated by the press? It's really hard to tell from the few insiders who've been interviewed because everyone has an agenda. I thought she'd been bought off with campaign loan repayments in return for no static at the convention, and presumed she could persuade her idiot husband to go along.
How full is Gitmo on the Platte? And your favorite protest group name: "Re-Create '68" or "Tent State University"?
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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)The Olympics screwed up the usual convention timing. But hey, it's not a whole lot better for the Republicans, some might say worse.
Senator McCain's big speech is running against the opening game of the NFL season, the Giants and the Redskins. Gee, I dunno. McCain, Football, McCain, Football...
As for the reporting of the schism, Chuck Todd thinks it's what happens when reporters get bored. Love Chuck Todd.
Go Giants!
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )I tried to watch, but there was a football game on, and life is short, so the football game won out. The Republicans are ever worse off because next week they'll be up against college football games that actually count.
--"That Sam-I-am! That Sam-I-am! I do not like that Sam-I-am!"- Dr. Seuss
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| parent )"TVed out". From now on I'm just going to have to assume that you don't understand the American public.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )I restrict use of the tube to objective politics (rare as it is - mostly foreign cable feeds), financial stuff, and sports. And I watched 2-3 hours of the Olympics every night, so it simply isn't safe for a while to exceed the dosimeter reading w/r/t brain-warping rays emitted by the thing.
That said, I will watch whatever coverage remains of the convention, plus videos of the key speeches. I always think conventions are worth watching, no matter how canned the content usually is. I stopped watching Ted Koppel permanently when he blew off coverage of the Republican convention in '03.
Good on Teddy Kennedy for making it there. It almost doesn't matter what he actually said; it's a sign of life-long, maybe even life-shortening party and ideological commitment from the guy that physically must have involved a painful effort. I hope the symbolism and memory of that doesn't get lost and forgotten in all the Hillary-Schmillary nonsense the media can't seem to let go of.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent )Just spent the last week and a half in and around Munich for a shoot. Saw about 30 minutes of Olympics coverage (in German) while there.
So I probably spent more time watching the convention last night than I would have. I had PBS on and it is revolting to hear David Brooks blather and stammer about how no one knows who Obama is. You'd think a guy like him with credentials and airtime would spend some time finding out what Obama is and explaining it, rather than commenting on the horse race and how people's views need to be shaped by symbolism and buzz. So I turned the sound down during the 'commentary'
Overall, I think Pelosi was bad, the Kennedys were OK and Michele Obama did as good a job as she could have, and maybe even a little better than that. She's not a perfect orator, but the whole point was to make her likable, so that dumbasses like David Brooks can get paid to tell us that we understand her, and know who she is.
Maybe I'm TV'd out now...
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| parent )It's ironic that I get the most comprehensive world news from Deutsche Welle on cable whenever it shows up (the feed is via Canada's CBC, so it is affected by beaver season). Point taken re PBS but that's par for Brooks.
Michelle Obama's only goal - to establish that she's reasonable, rather than a pissed-off Donna Brazile type - was accomplished. (I like Brazile's sense of humor and think she could be one of the few Clintonistas who kept her principles after vacating the White House, but the privileged-yet-still-angry black woman stereotype doesn't sell with many voters.)
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent )The man's a living and breathing DNC.
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)IMO that may have been the high point of the convention. Not so much what he said, but just being there as a reminder to the faithful that the party has more important priorities than driving a wooden stake through Hillary Clinton's heart.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent )She's got my vote.
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)I thought her delivery was awful. Flat and affectless, no rhythm or energy at all.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )A genuine smile + down-to-earth delivery.
To me her speaking charm lies in the absence of phony affectations.
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| parent )as a person, but as a public speaker. For example, I'm watching Michelle Obama's brother speak right now, and he's a far better public speaker. He knows when to pause, how to stress certain words and syllables, just how to keep the presentation interesting independent of the content.
Michelle Obama is up now, she is obviously experienced at public speaking as well.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )Not saying a lot of importance, but an excellent delivery in what she does say.....
BTW, what is it with "Iowa" and Democrats? Every time a speaker mentions "Iowa" in any context, the whole place erupts!
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| parent )I was half-watching, half-working, but I think she was fantastic. With the qualification that I was listening with only one ear and one eye, I'll say that her speech itself and her delivery were both excellent, and she looked really beautiful.
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| parent )she was a pretty good public speaker when I saw her give a speech a few months ago, but she has really improved. Very well done.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )He's so in the bag for Obama. His cohort Mika wants to be an Obama Girl or his press secretary. So far, I can't tell which.
Buchanan saying something colorful is irrelevant. He's paid to say stuff like "Biden was a Senator when Obama was in kneepants in Indonesia," which is kind of funny and entertaining but adds nothing to the discussion. Clearly, Buchanan subscribes to the David Letterman theory that "pants" is a funny word and should be used as much as possible to get cheap laughs. Actually, I kinda like that theory myself.
You may be disappointed about the coverage, Harley, but I'm glad it isn't one uninterrupted block of Democratic talking points. The GOP conventions were never covered that way, so just consider it balanced reporting! If all else fails, but you could try C-SPAN, if you can stay awake long enough.
--"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead." -- Paris Hilton
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)Just heard that Mitt and Rudy are on their way to Denver. Geesh. Any way to stop them at the airport?
I get that folks don't necessarily like the four night commercial aspect of it. But why not give each party, Dem and GOP, a chance to offer their message without having to fight people over it? One man's talking points are another man's beliefs -- I'd be content to let both sides prove the difference to me.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )Wouldn't mind some fact checking, rather than personality analysis.
Too much to ask, of course.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )I don't think I heard a putative fact all evening.
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| parent ).
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )But the rest of us are emotion-laden human beings over here and we want to hear about Michelle Obama's love for her children!
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| parent )it can always be perfected"?
Jesse Jackson Jr. should fire his speech writer.
C'mon Ds! You can do better than this!
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)Who let this bozo onto the stage?
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| parent )during 'the-mic's-on-and-i-just-said-i-wanted-to-chop-Obama's-nuts-off' gate.
And he helped run a good campaign.
But there was some pretty brainless parts to an otherwise decent speech.
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| parent )The former Clinton delegate who made herself part of the new McCain ad explaining why she was voting for McCain held a press conference in Denver today. Cuz they wanted to trot out this brilliant example of a discerning woman who felt ill-treated by the meanies in the Obama campaign.
She was asked by a reporter how she could reconcile a vote for McCain with his position on Roe V. Wade. To which she replied, "But John McCain supports Roe v. Wade."
Oops. Looks like Obama has lost the Truly Stupid Clinton voters. I'm assuming, however, the rest will come along in time.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )It's impossible to underestimate the intelligence of the votin' population.
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| parent )Cindy McCain to visit distressed Georgia
--GW Bush, leading contender for worst President ever.
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| parent )And I make that mistake every four years. Sadly.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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| parent )Here.
--To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard
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)I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )which I really wanted to hear. If I never see Wolf Blitzer's scruffy mug again it will be too soon.
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)and she was awful. So some good w. the bad.
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| parent )nt
--Ask courageous questions. Do not be satisfied with superficial answers. Be open to wonder and at the same time subject all claims to knowledge, without exception, to intense skeptical scrutiny. Be aware of human fallibility. Cherish your species and your
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| parent )IIJM, or is there unintended irony in their showing a tag claiming "unfiltered" and "uninterrupted" coverage: even as they are ignoring Nancy Pelosi's speech with talking-head babble with Gov. Tim Kaine?
Even
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| parent )Shouldn't this be "blue collar voters"? Or does Sen. Obama have perceived problems with yet another demographic? (Presumably, quite a small one, though)
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)Now we see what it's really all about with you. You're racially prejudiced against the the 'Blue Men' mime group.
But I notice you don't comment on mimes in whiteface...
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| parent )... these guys?
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent ). . .he obviously means these guys. Everyone knows that Oa is a swing state.
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| parent )But they either want me to use Silverlight, (not a chance, I don't use Internet Explorer) or the Movie Networks' plugin, which isn't Firefox 3.0.1 compatible.
Idiots.
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)The Democratic policies on copyright are typically very anti-consumer.
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| parent )presumably because all the movie, music and studio types who support them want a perpetual monopoly on their crap in return. Anyone not familiar with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act should bone up on it if they want to know about the theft of freedom of entertainment consumers at the behest of studios that couldn't produce a genuine musician if their lives depended on it. It is now a crime to fiddle with the anti-copy software or algorithms encoded into stuff that you buy, in your own home, on the computer that you own.
Lucky for us, Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher (a Dem BTW) is punching back, and his efforts are pissing off all the right people. I'm sending some moolah to his reelection campaign with a note telling him why, and hope other people here get on board with this and support the guy. Never mind the loudmouths like Henry Waxman who claim they're defending consumers; Boucher is actually doing it, and with little fanfare.
Not to mention software patents. I'm looking to the EC to blow that one up, and maybe the copyright monopolies, too. jut like they're truncheoning Microsoft over its efforts to kill open source software by adopting O/S standards themselves. But hey, what's a little 1.39 billion euro fine to someone like Steve Ballmer? Eat it, a-hole.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent ).
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent )Their lawyers haven't been doing very well. I guess they need more money to hire better ones?
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| parent )over their attempt to monopolize Linux? That one ended well for us.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent )those were IBM's and Novell's lawyers.
The EFF's recent high profile cases are those against the MPAA & RIAA (in the form of aid to people sued), and against AT&T, with the Bush administration trying to block the AT&T lawsuit.
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| parent )I won't touch it because it came with a requirement that I go through a validation process to prove I'm using XP that I paid for instead of a counterfeit copy. I am, but f*ck them and that fat megalomaniac dog turd Ballmer. If they want to play patty-cake with the Chicoms and turn in dissidents so they can sell their sorry-a$$ed software there, let them deal with the tens of millions of Chinese who make their livings from counterfeiting.
Not that I feel strongly about MS or anything; I just hope everyone at the top there except Paul Allen burns in Hell for eternity under gas jets set to "carbonize" for what they've done and tried to do.
--In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
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| parent )...to what most of us would say regarding Microsoft.
If I were smarter I'd abandon even XP and go Unix.
To avoid Vista is why I recently rebuilt my machine rather than buy a new one, which I can afford.
Traveller
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| parent )At least the chunes are pretty good, Earth Wind and Fire.
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| parent )Im in ur computer, deleting ur files.
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent )I am watching my Zone Alarm, just in case you come a-calling.
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| parent )