Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech
[Guest post by DRJ]
This is an open thread on Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Obama’s speech is scheduled to begin in an hour. Here is a link to the complete Thursday schedule that concludes with a performance by Stevie Wonder, former Vice President Al Gore’s speech, a performance by Michael McDonald, and then Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.
That sounds pretty entertaining.
NOTE @ 5:32 PM PST: The Politico has posted these excerpts from the text of Obama’s speech.
– DRJ
Should be quite an evening.
I always enjoy seeing celebrities speaking and Obama is no exception.
Comment by h2u — 8/28/2008 @ 5:05 pm
Everyone yell Freebird.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 5:09 pm
It’s great that they’re planning on some quiet nap time between Wonder and McDonald. After a long day like that, and before B.O.’s acceptance speech, people need some shuteye.
Comment by Apogee — 8/28/2008 @ 5:15 pm
We get algore tonight? Holy jeebus! This is going to be great!
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:22 pm
I hope I get a tingle up my leg!
btw, 7 - 8 p.m. sounds cheerful:
American Voices Program (aka How George Bush Personally Stuck it to Me)
Roy Gross – Michigan Teamster car transport driver affected by decline in car manufacturing
Monica Early – New to campaigning, this Akron mother & grandmother is an Obama volunteer
Janet Lynn Monacco – Struggling small business owner from Melbourne, FL with health issues
Teresa Asenap – Albuquerque, New Mexico public school worker concerned about economy
Pamela Cash-Roper – Unemployed nurse and lifelong Republican from North Carolina
Barney Smith – Marion, Indiana plant worker - lost job of 30 yrs when plant moved to China
Comment by Dana — 8/28/2008 @ 5:22 pm
Olberman just called Baracky the smartest man in any room.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:23 pm
ATTENTION! The Oprah just arrived at Invesco Field!
Comment by Dana — 8/28/2008 @ 5:25 pm
Dana - Was that the Dems misery pimpage lineup?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:26 pm
I wonder who gets to sit in the indoor suites?
Comment by DRJ — 8/28/2008 @ 5:37 pm
Stevie Wonder - More talent in the split-ends of his cornrows than everyone else there has in their entire bodies combined.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 5:37 pm
Don’t let the juice run out on Bambi’ s teleprompter. “It’s great to be in St. Louis tonight! “
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 5:38 pm
JD wrote: Olberman just called Baracky the smartest man in any room.
David Petraeus’ brain could melt Obama’s like butter — and judging from Obama’s performance when questioning Petraeus in the Senate hearings, they were melted.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/28/2008 @ 5:38 pm
Olbermann is the smartest man in any pay toilet.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 5:40 pm
Michael McDonald?! I only wish Fred “Rerun” Berry were still with us to bootleg that performance.
Sorry, I find the opening game of the 4-game Phillies-Cubs series much more compelling than listening to the Prophet speak to his multitudes.
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 5:41 pm
Dana wrote: ATTENTION! The Oprah just arrived at Invesco Field!
Oh, crap! Can the stadium fit both their egos inside without a giant shoehorn manipulated by a the Goodyear blimp?
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/28/2008 @ 5:41 pm
Okay, this is like dress up in mommy’s closet. Obama is a stooge, not a contender.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 5:42 pm
The folks on MSNBC are absolutely over the top tonite. They are going to wear out their kneepads with algore and Baracky reading tonite. It is a wiser idea to let Stevie Wonder drive your Harley than to let Baracky in the White House.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:42 pm
JD #8, yep, its on the DNC schedule linked above. Those people simply cannot throw a party with throwing accusatory guilt and misery. It dovetails nicely with the self-entitlement stuff.
Comment by Dana — 8/28/2008 @ 5:42 pm
Heh heh heh heh Karl Rove just said “69.”
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 5:42 pm
How did algore get tonite and not Bill Clinton?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:44 pm
“Pamela Cash-Roper – Unemployed nurse and lifelong Republican from North Carolina”
Why am I unconvinced that someone with a hyphenated sur-name is a “life long” Republican?
Comment by Another Drew — 8/28/2008 @ 5:45 pm
I was hoping to see a fisking of President Clinton’s speech last night.
I was trying to keep track of the lies but they came so fast.
Likewise John fn Kerry. Did they actually use him as the attack dog against McCain, his prefered 2004 VP pick?
I’m going to endeaver to roast Al Gore, because that is my specialty.
The biggest difference between McCain and Bush - McCain is a counter puncher, whereas Bush dropped into the rope-a-dope, getting himself and our party needlessly and undeservedly hammered by the Dem syncophant press.
What a refreshing change to have a candidate who speaks up for himself.
Comment by papertiger — 8/28/2008 @ 5:45 pm
21. Plus if you’re a nurse, there is literally not one plausible excuse for being unemployed. My RN friend said he can walk into any medical facility in the entire country, announce in the lobby, “I’m an RN!” and the department heads will practically brawl each other to reach him with a contract on the spot.
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 5:50 pm
GLOBAL WARMING !!!!!!!! FASCISTS. SELECTED NOT ELECTED !!!!! CLIMATE CRISIS !!!!!: WEATHER !!!!!! algore is a bad caricature of a once respectable human. CHANGE !!!!!! HOPE !!!!!!! Why is this election close? Because those racists are scared of Baracky !!!! CLIMATE CHANGE !!!!!!!
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:50 pm
Algore is as crazy as an out-house rat.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/28/2008 @ 5:51 pm
Where were Clinton/Gore on ratifying Kyoto? Didn’t it fail in the Senate 97-0 under their stewardship?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:52 pm
Are there any attractive people there ?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 5:55 pm
Maybe Pamela is one of those “lifelong” Republicans the media and democrats are fond of turning up for occasions such as this, who upon further research turn out to actually be democrat operatives.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 5:55 pm
Are there any attractive people there ?
JD - I couldn’t make the event JD, I was sending a kid off to college.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 5:57 pm
Algore -
opportunity for change; bitter; race [surprise!]; no Bush 3rd term [parrot]; he’s rushing a little bit; forces of the status quo;
climate crisis [does he think this is about him?]; polar ice cap completely disappear; “climate refugees”; sea levels rising [lie];
end dependence on carbon-based fuels [100%?]; yes we can [parrot]; oil industry owns the GOP; special interests; hopiness & changiness;
economy wrecked; pro-choice justices; embrace change; comparing Obama to Lincoln [NO SHAME];
Lincoln was a great orator [w/o a teleprompter]; I think he just said Barack was born a poor black child;
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 5:59 pm
I think that was Al Gore’s audition for a Cabinet position.
Comment by DRJ — 8/28/2008 @ 6:00 pm
algore is comparing Baracky to Lincoln. I just hurled.
Baracky is beyond partisanship? Leadership experience?
What a pompous arrogant douchenozzle. Chrissy said algore was too noble in accepting the Supreme Court decision.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:03 pm
The Barackopolis in Invesco Field looks pretty stupid.
Is it my imagination or is Al Gore’s speech skills getting even more stilted? Wooden Al is going for the effect of a Corian countertop of dull.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 6:05 pm
JD @ #26…
Actually, I think the Senate voted 97-0 in a resolution telling the WH don’t even think about sending that piece of garbage up here for consideration. And, that might have even been before the meeting in Kyoto?
It would seem that they were quite unimpressed about any good coming out of Kyoto.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/28/2008 @ 6:05 pm
JD, Clinton never presented Kyoto to the Senate for ratification because the 97 to 0 vote in the Senate was a resolution by the Senate that it would not approve a treaty that did not treat all nations equally under the provisions ( which Kyoto did not, exempting among others, China, as a “developing nation” ).
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 6:06 pm
Is McDonald doing a lip-sinc of a Ray Charles outtake?
Comment by Ropelight — 8/28/2008 @ 6:08 pm
DRJ - algore in charge of the EPA?
daleyrocks - You would increase the IQ and attractiveness by just showing up.
Didn’t algore know that Baracky stopped the oceans from rising?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:08 pm
Peniel Joseph of Brandeis University, on the panel of commentators for PBS, just said (I’m not kidding!): “Hillary supporters came to Jesus, so to speak, and are going to vote for Obama”.
In-Fucking-credible!!!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:10 pm
#33 - SPQR
Is it my imagination or is Al Gore’s speech skills getting even more stilted?
– I thought he was delibereately rushing the entire time, in order to avoid seeming too stilted.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:12 pm
AD and SPQR - Thanks, racists.
algore sure did not show much leadership when he had the chance, huh?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:12 pm
Ike’s granddaughter. He was, next to Reagan, the best POTUS of the 20th century (IMHO).
I forgive her.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:14 pm
He wouldn’t…
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/28/2008 @ 6:16 pm
I guess I missed him. Slimy scam artist.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 6:16 pm
Considering that the nation is in a healthcare crisis due to a lack of qualified nurses, I can’t help but wonder if there is a reason she is unemployed…
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/28/2008 @ 6:18 pm
Trotting out a line of libby generals -
no Bush 3rd term [General Parrot]; Obama grasps complex threats; Obama has the patriotism and capacity to inspire people to serve [LMFAO];
leadership matters [duh!]
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:22 pm
Unemployed nurse is an oxymoron.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 6:24 pm
Olberfuckface really is a piece of work. Here comes some more misery pimping.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:25 pm
Biden - do his teeth have their own Secret Service protection?
protecting the unprotected; middle class middle class middle class;
here come the sob stories; tune up the violins & resin the bows
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:27 pm
Pretty hilarious given how much Biden has done to protect credit card companies from the middle class.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 6:28 pm
I think that Baracky going before McCain will not work out so well for Baracky.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:29 pm
Every Sunday in the Phoenix paper (Arizona Republic) there are THREE PAGES worth of classified ads for nurses.
Can’t find a job? Fucking move to where the jobs are!!!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:30 pm
You folks really need to listen to Olberassface and Crissy. Their full throated support, to borrow a Rachel Maddow phrase, is icky.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:31 pm
I wonder where Rev. Wright is tonight?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:33 pm
Like WGN …
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 6:37 pm
I will do this …. I will cut … I will end … I will eliminate …. I will …. Teh One has already stopped the oceans from rising, everything else should be simple.
I love it. Oil and Natural Gas industry advertising at the Dem convention.
Olberfluffer declared the speech dramatic, compelling, and historic, 30 minutes before it starts.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:38 pm
full throated or deep throated?
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 6:39 pm
The Byrd-Hagel Resolution was vote against Kyoto-like restrictions and it only passed by 95 to 0, not 97.
Comment by ROA — 8/28/2008 @ 6:41 pm
How can they claim that Baracky is a post-partisan post-racial candidate?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:42 pm
Olbermann - wet spot near zipper.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 6:42 pm
These people seem to think that the ability to give a speech equals the ability to lead a country. If that is the case, James Earl Jones should be President.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:44 pm
Why did Barney Smith’s company move to China? Could it be because corporate taxes are too high? The company probably moved to make more money by paying less taxes. So this guy is supposed to make Obama look good?? Doesn’t make sense to me?????
Comment by Joe Emanuele — 8/28/2008 @ 6:45 pm
59. After that cartoon “boi-oi-oi-oi-nnnnggg!!!” sound.
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 6:46 pm
JD - These people seem to think that the ability to give a speech equals the ability to lead a country.
Spot on.
McCain’s ‘celebrity’ ad sure nailed it.
Comment by Apogee — 8/28/2008 @ 6:48 pm
Baracky voted with John McCain 90 percent of the time.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:49 pm
Ask a Democrat if Obama is qualified, and all you get is tap dance and double talk. If pressed to answer the question, they attack Bush, press again and they get snippy.
They know Obama isn’t qualified, but will not say so. Same as with the surge, it never happened.
This is the “reality based community” in full view. NB.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/28/2008 @ 6:51 pm
After . . . AFTER the dust-up over being compared to Britney, he has her people build his stage?
No shame.
Pure arrogance.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 6:51 pm
Bubba and Hillary said he’s not. Good thing Ol’ man McCain has a few soundbites up his sleeve.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 6:56 pm
Please let a thundercloud come rolling across the Rockies.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:57 pm
On a serious note, I hope Obama leaves Michelle for Keith. The care, the sweet kisses, the warm loving hugs at the end of the day.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 6:59 pm
This comparison to Lincoln makes me hurl in the back of my mouth every time. Dick Durbin is a lying crapweasel.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 6:59 pm
A Democrat complaining about the over-reaching hand of government?! How did he say that and his head not assplode?
Si se puede beeyotches !!!!!!
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:01 pm
Dick Durbin -
people couldn’t pronounce Bambi’s name; comparing him to Lincoln; unity & change [parrot]; American life sucks; Bush ripped up the Constitution;
yes we can [sieg heil!]
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 7:02 pm
Someone should ask Dickie the Hack if he still thinks our soldiers are committing atrocities at GITMO. Just like Murtha, being a Dem congressman means never having to say you’re sorry.
Comment by Dmac — 8/28/2008 @ 7:03 pm
Durbin is despicable and is yet another Democrat whose credibility was destroyed years ago.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 7:03 pm
Ask a Democrat if Obama is qualified,
thet will say he was born in the United States and meets the age requirements of the office. Case closed.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:12 pm
They cannot even make it through the video without lying.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:13 pm
with great humility ?!
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:15 pm
I will grant that the spectacle is something to behold and I won’t deny the man his accomplishment in reaching this stage of his life and career. With that said, I dread the thought of him becoming President.
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 7:16 pm
I just read through the text of this windbag’s speech, what a load of insipid nonsense.
Obama’s crowd probably lost the election this week, with this completely mediocre convention performance.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 7:17 pm
Couldn’t say it any better, so I’ll just link it.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 7:17 pm
“Durbin is despicable and is yet another Democrat whose credibility was destroyed years ago.”
Yeah, but he keeps winning elections here, the sheeple have no other viable options, since the GOP’s a shell of a party these days. Ask not why The Messiah was never vetted here, he had no effective opposition.
Comment by Dmac — 8/28/2008 @ 7:19 pm
Start off with lies about jobs, houses and the economy. Nice.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:20 pm
BTW, I don’t think the typical independent voter cares a whit about these things, despite what the pundits keep insisting - it’s all propaganda, and despite the putting of lipstick on the pig, it’s still a pig to most voters.
Comment by Dmac — 8/28/2008 @ 7:21 pm
If Obama is so concerned about jobs, why is he an open borders immigration supporter?
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:28 pm
He really just sounds like every other politician tonite.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:29 pm
Gallup, 6% jump for this week. It’s better to have BHo first, and now gone.
Up 6: 48 to 42
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 7:30 pm
Obama - Why did those steel plants close? Why don’t you explain that?
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:30 pm
I just started watching it online. This is NOT the great oratory presentation that most are used to seeing from him. He’s rushing through the text at places — a sign of nervousness. He doesn’t have the cadence that he’s had in the past. I think its because the speech — the parts I’ve heard so far — is too wordy. That’s what happens when you get away from the “hopey and changey” platitudes that lend themselves to fancy sounding rhetoric.
Comment by WLS — 8/28/2008 @ 7:30 pm
His delivery is conversational, and not oratorical. Very different from the speeches that brought him so much acclaim.
Comment by WLS — 8/28/2008 @ 7:33 pm
Do people really believe this shit??!!
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 7:38 pm
Congressional healthcare coverage! Yearrgh!!!!
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:38 pm
If Bush ripped up the constitution so badly, why didn’t the Democrats impeach him?
Comment by ROA — 8/28/2008 @ 7:39 pm
This Baracky, he is brazen in his lies.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:40 pm
ROA, probably because he did not rip up the Constitution a tiny fraction of the amount that Democratic Presidents did in the 20th Century.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 7:40 pm
WLS, its just mediocre speech writing to boot.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 7:40 pm
He’s going to cut programs that don’t work? Fat chance if they’re outside the defense department.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:40 pm
Now, on foreign policy. Baracky is rewriting history in front of everyone.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:42 pm
He wants to restore the Jimmy Carter legacy?
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:45 pm
Olberfluffer has to have passed out in a sweaty jism-covered heap.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:45 pm
Uh oh. He wants to set the Obama rules for what McCain can say.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:47 pm
99. I’m thinking with a belt around his neck attached to a doorknob in a pile of 8×10 glossy Obama photos.
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 7:48 pm
I keep waiting for “i am the way, the light, and the hope”.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:48 pm
That’s all they got, daleyrocks. The Obama campaign’s only hope for election is to thug it up against their critics like Stanley Kurtz, and others.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 7:49 pm
JD (6:44)
He would be if weren’t for all the racists!!!eleventy-one!
Comment by Lord Nazh — 8/28/2008 @ 7:49 pm
Abortion, the Second Amendment, and Gay Marriage each get pithy little soundbites, and about 15 seconds each.
Wow.
Comment by WLS — 8/28/2008 @ 7:50 pm
WLS, still above his paygrade evidently.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 7:50 pm
JD - The election is about you. Obama just said so.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:52 pm
Oh he said “the change we need.” He said it so quickly it sounded like he said “the change weenie.”
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 7:53 pm
If I believed that what he was claiming was true I’d be very impressed. He sounds VERY mainstream. Unfortunately what he’s saying doesn’t coincide with reality
Comment by Dr T — 8/28/2008 @ 7:53 pm
It is not about Baracky ?!?!?!? I, I, I, I, I, I, I, but it is not about you? Holy Jeebus. What “new” ideas does he bring?
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:53 pm
Any Dem politician could have read this speech from a teleprompter. Its simply pablum for the left wingers — “An army of new teachers”, “Make those insurance companies pay your bills,” blah blah blah.
Comment by WLS — 8/28/2008 @ 7:54 pm
“our culture is the envy of the world”
yeah right
Comment by Dr T — 8/28/2008 @ 7:54 pm
daleyrocks - If it is about me, Baracky has a lot of work to do.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:55 pm
wow he’s connecting himself to every important event in the past 2 centuries. It really is the second coming the fulfillment of hope
Comment by Dr T — 8/28/2008 @ 7:56 pm
This was not even in his Top 10.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 7:57 pm
I wonder how many people will listen to the words and not the delivery
Comment by Dr T — 8/28/2008 @ 7:59 pm
BAMBI -
that introductory film will replace PhatAzz Ho’s-12 as Olbermanque’s new monkey-spank video.
shmoozing Hillary voters; Obama-ma-ma-belle™; this is a defining moment; America is in the toilet [parroting the parrots];
failed policies of Bush [desperately linking Bush & McCain]; compassion; Katrina;
the entire decade has sucked; eight (years) is enough [cute]; tacit respect for McCain before sticking in the knife; slamming Phil Gramm;
outright lie about McCain’s tax plan; sieg heil!; economy that honors the dignity of work; [fawning sycophants];
desperately trying to pull granny out from under the bus; spend spend spend spend spend spend spend spend; opportunity; the ‘collective’;
promising to finally be specific [followed by the same old talking points]; robin hood tax plan; no mor mid-east oil in 10 years [riiiiight!];
McCain responsible for oil addiction; ‘help’ auto companies re-tool for fuel-efficient cars; 5 million green-collar jobs; education for all;
he will pay teachers more [nationalized schools?]; UHC [sieg heil!]; equal pay 4 equal work [maybe Hillary did get the nomination];
no MLK reference yet - saving the ‘card’ for the finale; individual responsibility [lip service]; NOW he’s willing to debate McCain;
Obama bin Biden vs. Osama bin Laden [It's on! LOL]; McCain’s ‘ideas’ are old; I’ll be a good Commander in Chief; tough diplomacy [yeah, right!];
– Olbermaniac has probably blown his load for the year; possibly for the remainder of the decade.
claiming to take the high road; he’s a uniter, not a divider [I've heard that somewhere before]; the GOP is trying to scare you;
[smacking his lips - all that $$$ and he can't get a glass of water?]; it’s all about you [and your worship of me]; changeiness & hopiness;
unwitting acknowledgement of Operation Chaos [
]; NOW he says America is a great country; trots out MLK; and PLAYS THE CARD;
and implies that the GOP will cause race progreess to regress; — and Olbie busts his 2nd nut.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 7:59 pm
JD - I think it might be about me too, he was kind of looking off in the distance when he said it, although I gotta admit I wasn’t feeling it.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 7:59 pm
I’m sure Sullivan et. al. are already in competition to craft the biggest text based orgasm ever blown over this overall pretty pedestrian speech. Cue Oriam and lovey to come in with their pleas for Obama’s detractors to just surrender our souls ASAP and concede the election.
Comment by Michael Jack Klompus Schmidt — 8/28/2008 @ 8:00 pm
abc is humping his leg.
Comment by Dr T — 8/28/2008 @ 8:01 pm
Charlie Wrangel is licking Obama’s shoes.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/28/2008 @ 8:02 pm
He was, as a matter of fact.
Comment by Steverino — 8/28/2008 @ 8:06 pm
Keith and Crissy want to take it higher. Big fight ensues.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 8:06 pm
Yawn.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 8:08 pm
Mathews and Olberfluffer are beside themselves. Olbie is beclowning himself. And Mathews is close behind. Pelosi is wearing her pajamas.
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 8:10 pm
Anyone know what percentage of the time that Baracky voted with McCain? At least when he bothered to vote …
Comment by JD — 8/28/2008 @ 8:12 pm
I think that the Marion, IN plant was an RCA picture tube plant owned by Thomson SA of France. It closed in 2004 due to a decline for picture tubes because of the increasing market share for projection, LCD, and plasma sets, and the closing of American TV factories.
Comment by Hazy — 8/28/2008 @ 8:21 pm
#126 - JD
Anyone know what percentage of the time that Baracky voted with McCain? At least when he bothered to vote …
– Votes through Feb 27, 2008:
http://demo.excelsis.com/clinton-obama-mccain-vote-comparison.html
– As you can see by the address, Hillary’s votes are shown as well.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 8:30 pm
JD -
If you scroll down to 05/02/2006 you will see an amendment to a Katrina relief bill that was proposed by Obama and voted YES on by all three of them. . . .
It’s a conspiracy! They’re all in on it!!!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 8:35 pm
The Hill reports many in the media were visibly cheering Obama’s speech.
Comment by DRJ — 8/28/2008 @ 8:36 pm
You sure have been a whiny bunch, lately.
Comment by Leviticus — 8/28/2008 @ 9:01 pm
Not you, DRJ. You’ve largely abstained from the right-wing counter-circle-jerk that has taken place over the course of the Dems convention.
Comment by Leviticus — 8/28/2008 @ 9:03 pm
Leviticus, are you back in school this semester?
Comment by DRJ — 8/28/2008 @ 9:11 pm
#126 - JD
Anyone know what percentage of the time that Baracky voted with McCain? At least when he bothered to vote
That’s nothing - can someone help me out with what George Bush’s voting record in the Senate was? (apparently he voted with McCain a lot . . .)
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 9:19 pm
Barack Obama was phenomenal. One of the greatest speeches of his political career. It was great. This man could be the next President of this country. What a great President he would make! Great night. Bravo.
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 9:24 pm
#134 - Anon
What? Are you daring to question the Messiah on his knowledge of how Bush would have voted if he were McCain voting in the Senate? But has not President Bush held daily press conferences where he spells out “I support these bills, I oppose those bills”?
No?
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 9:28 pm
Obama’s British cheerleader hath spake!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 9:30 pm
Pettish as usual. Very predictable, you guys.
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 9:39 pm
Interesting thing about Icy Truth’s link is to compare votes when Hillary and Barack voted differently ( ie., less likely to be a party line vote ), and see who McCain then voted with.
It is pretty hilarious then how often the answer is that when Hillary and Barack disagreed, McCain voted with Barack quite a bit.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 9:49 pm
#131
Leviticus, not sure what you’d expect. American politics takes sides. Your side must agree that the coverage of Obama has been selective, careful, heavily edited, delicately crafted and just about as sunny as one can be when hiding the facts and distorting the truth. Of course he will be called out on it, as he should be.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 9:49 pm
Love2008, come on, say what you will - you’re gonna complain about predictability?
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 9:50 pm
#141
Care to speak in English?
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 9:55 pm
Love2008
predictably . . . being complained about by you - kinda ironic
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 9:56 pm
predictability . . . oh screw it
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 9:57 pm
I smell some victory in this old stale room eh Love2008?
Obama is going to be difficult to top.
Comment by Oiram — 8/28/2008 @ 10:03 pm
See - like that, Oiram, you liked the speech too! I could have never guessed that!
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 10:04 pm
#144
Don’t you think the Democrats did well this week? Do you have any positive thing to say about their convention? Did Obama do well in his speech? Were you impressed in any way tonight? What do you think?
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 10:04 pm
And you hated it Anon…….. go figure :/
Comment by Oiram — 8/28/2008 @ 10:06 pm
I thought Obama-ma-ma-belle™ looked fetching.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/28/2008 @ 10:08 pm
#145
Yes Oiram. This will be a very tough act to beat for the Reps. Obama has set the standard too high. We will see how they do, going forward. Yes. I smell victory in the air, my friend!
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 10:12 pm
Do you have any positive thing to say about their convention?
Sure, I thought Bill Clinton’s speech last night was very good.
Don’t you think the Democrats did well this week?
We’ll start seeing tomorrow - if the Gallup Poll was an outlier, then no. If it wasn’t, then they got their bounce, though (if it’s only what was in the Gallup Poll) it was less than what a lot of people were predicting.
Did Obama do well in his speech? Were you impressed in any way tonight? What do you think?
I realize this is a bit of a cop-out, but my official opinion was “eh.” It was a bunch of platitudes, though I’m sure it served to rev up the base. It didn’t do anything for me. It just seemed like a normal campaign speech and the pundits were touting specifics in this, but it just seemed like stuff I’ve heard a thousand times before.
The problem is I also think it’s stuff a lot of the public has heard many times before. The good part about having a convention is that it gives you free publicity on your own terms, but Obama has had that for months (during which time I also think he’s given some better speeches).
But, whether I’m right or wrong will show up in the polls…so, we’ll see.
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 10:17 pm
And you hated it Anon…….. go figure :/
I didn’t hate it - again, though (and I realize you’re somewhat kidding here - I think), I’m not the one who complained about anything being predictable.
Comment by Anon — 8/28/2008 @ 10:19 pm
#151
Fair enough.
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 10:22 pm
Actually, love2008, I thought that the Obama people did a mediocre job of organizing the convention, and that’s not spin based on my ideological differences.
In the core work of organizing a convention, the Obama people failed to coordinate any sort of themes among the speakers, failed to control the news cycle ( it was all about the Clintons until the last evening ) and for all the buildup, Obama’s acceptance speech was far from his best work in the opinion of anyone with any more objectivity than Keith Olbermann. Unimpressive speech writing too.
I’m actually more confident of McCain’s chances this evening than I’ve been in a long time and if it turns out that Obama loses the general election, this week will be marked as the week that he lost it.
Comment by SPQR — 8/28/2008 @ 10:23 pm
#154
Good for you, SPQR.
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 10:36 pm
love2008,
The Democratic Convention and especially tonight was a beautiful image. It reminded me of The West Wing and The American President rolled into one. I liked the visual images and the pageantry as well as the Obamas and the Bidens.
The problem is there’s nothing of substance to any of what happened this week. It was superficial, something that’s unfortunately all-too-common in American society.
Do you know anything more about Obama’s positions than you knew before this week? What I heard is Obama stands for everything good, fair and wise and he promises Americans can have it all if we elect him. But it’s simply not possible for everyone to have all the money they want, all the health care they want, and all the government benefits they want and expect someone else to pay for it.
I have no idea what most Americans think about Obama as a candidate. I like to think most Americans realize we can’t give everyone more value than they produce and expect it will work. I like to think Americans won’t vote for a Party that tells people they have a right to more than they earn because that Party has declared war on capitalism. I like to think Americans realize the content of a candidate’s policy matters more than how he says it.
But we’re a blessed society where people have the luxury of being able to focus on superficial things that make them feel good. Sometimes people have to learn lessons the hard way, and maybe this is the year Americans will learn — and not for the first time — that we can’t get something for nothing.
Comment by DRJ — 8/28/2008 @ 10:39 pm
DRJ - Beautiful comment. You are the master.
Leviticus - Your description of the commenters at Patterico as a “whiny bunch” seems (at least to me) to be beneath the level of debate or comment that you usually put forth.
Let me give you my two cents.
I, for one, am no giant fan of McCain, and have problems with some of his ideas and policies. I’m also not a big fan of the conventions, as I have never in my life seen anyone get up on that stage and say “You know what? We’ve got the wrong attitude about this and it’s partially our fault. Here are my ideas. They won’t be popular with my donors, and I might not have as much power afterwards, but what works is more important than appearances.”
That’s not going to happen, because the level of scripting and adherence to the political agenda at both of these rallies makes the 2003 news conferences of the Iraqi Minister of Information seem positively off the cuff. I don’t see how anyone in their right mind can watch what transpired tonight and equate it with change. The one commonality of everyone on that podium is that they are financially involved with the government. With the media in the tank, no one is left to question the role or effectiveness of government in this big equation. We have a group of government employees and dependents, and their cheering section.
I am dismayed at what seems to be the absolute abandonment by many many citizens of skepticism regarding our political process. On one hand you have excruciatingly low approval ratings for Congress and the President, and on the other, voters seem to continue to buy the same empty promises. This is especially disconcerting given that every voter (and media outlet) has the capacity for research and communication unthinkable even 15 years ago. Mixed with what I can only describe as an adherence to a cult of personality by many otherwise thinking individuals, my ‘hope’ for the outcome of this process is dim, at best, as the sales pitch seems to be choosing someone to ‘fix’ things.
Anyone really questioning the status-quo will never get within shouting distance of that microphone.
Comment by Apogee — 8/28/2008 @ 10:53 pm
Oiram
Already in these anti-Bush times, the DNC should’ve been leading by 15%. So no, he hasn’t been difficult to top at all. Outside of the post-convention bump, he’s still far behind. This, in an anti-Bush year. A year for voters to air their dissatisfaction and confront turmaoil.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 8/28/2008 @ 11:06 pm
#156
DRJ.
It wasn’t really much about any new thing Obama said. Both candidates have pretty much said every thing they will say. We know where both stand on almost all the issues. So I wasn’t really looking for any new stuff. The thing that made it unique was that Obama showed a side of him people have not seen much of. A side most democrats wanted to see more of. The tough, commanding, ready-to-take-a-heat side. He did not pull any punches in his attack on John McCain and the Rep. party. He did not play defensive tonight. He went on the offensive. He has put to rest the concern whether he could fight. Tonight he drew the battle line and kind of laid down the gauntlet for McCain. He seems ready for the heat ahead. That’s the excitement about tonights speech. Now we see Obama: the Fighter. He was not afraid to thread into territories most Democrats dread to take. He was more of “Bring it on!” I liked that.
It is this fighting image that might decide the outcome of this race, for him. No more “Mr Nice Guy”.
Comment by love2008 — 8/28/2008 @ 11:06 pm
#157 Apogee
Are you voting, and who will you be voting for?
You don’t have to answer either of those questions, btw, but it would help in understanding if you think voting even makes any difference at all? Do you think this country would be the same now as it would be, if let’s say Gore had gotten two terms?
Do you think voting is a complete waste of time?
When you speak of the status quo, who are you speaking about?
Comment by Peter — 8/28/2008 @ 11:15 pm
In a throw away line, Olbermann said that Lincoln lost his House seat because of his opposition to the Mexican-American War. I don’t think that this is true. As I understand it, the Whigs had a tendency to highly value turnover in its office holders and that Lincoln was never expected to run for reelection. Indeed, there were a number of people vying in the primary even before Lincoln made it back to Illinois from Washington.
Anyone know any different?
Comment by Fritz — 8/28/2008 @ 11:37 pm
159, Lovey, I won’t believe that Obamassiah is going to take the heat until he takes the heat of hard questions with hard follow up on things like Ayers, Wright, Rezko, his lack of real, tangible accomplishments, and his campaign’s penchant for censorship of critics.
Comment by PCD — 8/29/2008 @ 7:23 am
Fritz - You have to forgive Slobberman. He was all covered in love spunk, and cannot be held responsible for any made up facts.
Comment by JD — 8/29/2008 @ 7:40 am
“He has put to rest the concern whether he could fight.”
If that means that he intends to use every lawyerly trick in the book in order to shut down legitimate free speech on the public airwaves, then wow, he’s quite the tough guy. Wonder how’d he handle Russia next time - “see you in court!”
“He was more of “Bring it on!” I liked that.”
More like “mommy, make it stop, the bad men are saying true things about me!” Yep, that’s quite a line in the sand your desperado is drawing - a line made of milksop.
Comment by Dmac — 8/29/2008 @ 7:49 am
#161
In the same vein, McCain should explain his relationship with people like Liddy and some of those questionable lobbyists that surround and support him. While he is at it, he should explain to us how he intends to govern with that bad temper of his. Temperance. That’s what we need now. Not tough talk without action and grandstanding. Temperance, judgment and common sense.
As for Wright, he has broken ties with him and left the church.
As for Ayers, clouds without rain.
As for Rezco, Obama has not been connected nor convicted of any wrong doing. If there was, you guys would have brought it out by now.
As for tangible accomplishments, go to his web site or read any of his books. How much experience do you need to be President? How do you measure it? By years of experience or by judgment and temperance? Hmm? No one is more experienced than the sitting President. How has that helped him so far?
As for his penchant for censorship of critics, it his right to stop anyone who deliberately involves in character assassination. If they have real proof that can expose Obama as a terrorist sympathizer, I would welcome that. But if it is just another smear tactic, he has the right to stop it. Or are you saying a man has no right to defend himself?
Comment by love2008 — 8/29/2008 @ 8:05 am
In a word, no.
It is not OUR job to sell Sen. Obama to ourselves. If you support him, it is YOUR job to persuade us.
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/29/2008 @ 8:15 am
Judgement and temperment are the new metrics.
We all know that Baracky has bad judgment, just look at the number of people that he used to know that are not the people he once knew, and have been tossed under the back of the bus.
Comment by JD — 8/29/2008 @ 8:19 am
164, lovey, you are lame. You demand perfection from the GOP while demanding NO SCRUTINY and TOTAL FORGIVENESS of the Donkeys. Try being a hack to someone else.
Oh, you have no answers, but are you smart enough to recognize that we see that in you?
Comment by PCD — 8/29/2008 @ 8:25 am
So the fever swamp loons who adulate Obama will tell us that it is right and just that candidate obama urge the Justice Dept. to go after people who exercise free speech in bringing up questions about O’s associations? What would he then do as POTUS, with Justice under his thumb, to silence any dissent? The arrogant prick Braky Hussein has made it a habit his whole political career to use the algore2000 technique to send out teams of lawyers to sue people to get them off ballots, to get judges to open sealed divorce records.
It seems that the Obama mantra to people who don’t bow down and kiss his ass is to tell them to just SHUT THE F*CK UP ALREADY!!! At every level- swamping phone banks to preemptively silence Stanely Kurtz and calling him a liar without ever answering the questions about the ayers-obama relationship, threatening tv and radio stations with boycotts and possible loss of licenses, etc. I’m glad Fox relented and decided to show the ad that is on point.
Comment by madmax333 — 8/29/2008 @ 8:31 am
love2008 (8:05 am)
In the same vein, McCain should explain his relationship with people like Liddy and some of those questionable lobbyists that surround and support him.
– Tell ya what. You gather up all of McCain’s unrepentant anti-American unpatriotic flag-desecrating criminal terrorist buddies . . . and then we’ll ask him.
While he is at it, he should explain to us how he intends to govern with that bad temper of his. Temperance. That’s what we need now. Not tough talk without action and grandstanding. Temperance, judgment and common sense.
– 1) Do you really believe that McCain will be all tough talk and no action? 2) All presidents have type “A” personalities; they would never run for the office if they didn’t. GROW UP! They get mad and they don’t tolerate stalling whining spineless types. Ya know what you do with the names of those that have complained about McCain being mean to them in the Senate? Write them all down — and then make sure that you never vote for one of them to be POTUS.
As for Wright, he has broken ties with him and left the church.
– Breaking ties does not erase a 20-year association, and the attendant question of what does Obama really believe, no matter how much you wish it would.
As for Ayers, clouds without rain.
– It’s already drizzling.
As for Rezco [sic], Obama has not been connected nor convicted of any wrong doing [sic]. If there was, you guys would have brought it out by now.
– 1) Thanks for the update that Obama hasn’t been convicted. 2) The only reason that you brought it up is because Obama has been connected to Rezko’s wrongdoing.
As for tangible accomplishments, go to his web site or read any of his books.
– Of which candidate are you speaking?
How much experience do you need to be President?
– More than ‘none’.
How do you measure it? By years of experience or by judgment and temperance?
– Along with years of experience comes years of measurable recorded results.
No one is more experienced than the sitting President. How has that helped him so far?
– Better than you would ever admit.
As for his penchant for censorship of critics, it his right to stop anyone who deliberately involves in character assassination.
– Really. They’ve changed the rules for public figures, have they? The Enquirer and all of the other tabloids are about to publish their final issues?
If they have real proof that can expose Obama as a terrorist sympathizer, I would welcome that. But if it is just another smear tactic, he has the right to stop it. Or are you saying a man has no right to defend himself?
– Defending himself, which he did with his counter ad, and suppression of free speech are two very different things.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 9:20 am
“Leviticus, are you back in school this semester?”
- DRJ
Not at UNM (where classes started last week). I’m going to D.C. for a semester to intern for a member of the NM Congressional delegation. I’m taking 12 credit hours while there, so I’m still technically a full time student, but I’m not “back in school” until January…
Apogee:
A couple of things - first of all, I hate conventions, for the same reasons you just described. Absolutely nothing was said, for all the millions of dollars spent.
However, it annoys me to have a bunch of conservative commenters come to these threads and spend hundreds of comments making blowjob jokes. It’s whiny, for lack of a better word. You could count the number of thoughtful comments in this thread on two hands.
Yes, Keith Olbermann is a sycophantic moron. Sustained. Drop it, already.
Second of all, I am totally skeptical of our entire political process - in fact, I spent a whole semester brainstorming an alternative system with a bunch of fellow poli sci students.
Comment by Leviticus — 8/29/2008 @ 9:33 am
Yes, Keith Olbermann is a sycophantic moron. Sustained. Drop it, already.
– We will . . . as soon as he drops out of the public eye.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 10:03 am
Leviticus said:
Second of all, I am totally skeptical of our entire political process - in fact, I spent a whole semester brainstorming an alternative system with a bunch of fellow poli sci students.
Poli-Sci students are always engaging in these mental-masturbation sessions. All they’ve been able to come up with is Socialism, Communism, and Fascism.
And, if you are skeptical now, I hate to think how disillusioned you will be after your internship.
Remember, there are only two things in America with lower approval ratings than GWB: the Media, and CONGRESS!
Good Luck.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 10:14 am
“Poli-Sci students are always engaging in these mental-masturbation sessions. All they’ve been able to come up with is Socialism, Communism, and Fascism.”
- Another Drew
I can understand how “thinking” might be considered “mental masturbation” to the likes of you - you who eschew the very concept - but what we “came up with” (after doing some research on the topic) was a Closed Party List Ballot, like the Israelis use. Not Socialism, Communism, or Facism, as far as I can tell, but what do I know - I’m just a poli sci mental masturbator, right?
This is why the site’s been pissing me off lately, Apogee.
Comment by Leviticus — 8/29/2008 @ 10:22 am
And what, pray tell, are the details of your “Closed Party List Ballot”?
Just hit the high-sports that differentiate it from the various methods of voting in the U.S. today.
And, how does the structure of the Israeli government compare to the Federal Republic that we operate under?
You want me to think, give me something to ponder.
BTW, my upper-division work was in PoliSci; in an age long ago, and a world far away, I’m afraid.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 10:28 am
Plus, if you wish to communicate directly, email me at:
d e e k a y at o u t d r s dot n e t.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 10:30 am
Did anything happen at the Dem Convention last night? I got boored and went to bed early. Once Obama started talking, I just dozed off.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 10:40 am
Yes. The emporer received his coronation . . .
and was discovered to have no clothes about an hour later.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 10:50 am
Leviticus - Earlier in life I had a few friends go off to D.C. (on the stagecoach) to volunteer in various capacities for Senators and Congressmen.
To a person, all of them (rational, honest individuals) returned with descriptions of the experience that were laced with the kind of disgust normally associated with those forced to watch autopsies as part of a DUI conviction.
You’re a smart kid. Be careful. And don’t forget to stop by a sausage making factory on the way back to NM. It’ll cheer you up, remove some of the nausea, and help with the PPSD (post political stress disorder).
Peter - Our current political process, AFAIC, has been reduced to a Farrelly Brothers movie - ‘Dumb or Dumber’. In keeping with this movie theme, I’m convinced that our recent elections are the impetus for the ‘SAW’ films, as voting audiences could identify with characters on the screen that had the choice of cutting off a hand or a foot.
Do you think this country would be the same now as it would be, if let’s say Gore had gotten two terms?
Define same. Would we be lying in a smoldering pit? No, unlike many leftists, I don’t attempt to portray the election of the ‘opposite’ party as armageddon. The joke is on those who do, as they continually have to move the goalposts to the next administration. “OOOh, now it’s going to be destroyed, even though we spent eight years screaming that it was already ruined!”
I do think, however, that elections do matter, and that the results are not immediate. For example, one could easily argue that Carter’s failure to deal with what was arguably an act of war by Iran in 1979 is partially responsible for the problems that we have with Iran now (and possibly Bin Laden). Additionally, I had solidly Democratic friends approach me on September 14th, 2001 and confide that “Gore would be negotiating with them right now”. Whether that’s true or not is something we’ll never know, but the sentiment didn’t come from the right.
Do you think voting is a complete waste of time? No. It’s one of the only things you can do to really affect change. That being said, it’s not all you have to do. Leviticus is doing the right thing. Taking time at a point in his life to examine the process more closely, become more educated, and hopefully be able to recognize the “situation on the ground” in D.C., to borrow a phrase.
We can’t elect Daddy, and we shouldn’t be looking for that option. Too many people decide on a philosophy or an alliance, then spend their lives defending it by twisting their mind inside-out, rather than examine why they think the way they do, and make adjustments in their opinions so as to organize their thinking with the emphasis on consistency, not an emotional reward.
Comment by Apogee — 8/29/2008 @ 6:21 pm
Leviticus - One more thing. it annoys me to have a bunch of conservative commenters come to these threads and spend hundreds of comments making blowjob jokes.
It would annoy me too, if I wasn’t laughing so hard. I never pretended to be completely mature.
Comment by Apogee — 8/29/2008 @ 6:26 pm
“And what, pray tell, are the details of your “Closed Party List Ballot”?”
- Another Drew
Parties collect X signatures to earn a spot on a uniform national ballot. Come election day, voters cast a single vote for the party of their choice. Seats in the House are divided proportionally, based on the percentage of the popular vote each party has secured.
No more electoral districts (which, in a two-party system, are an inherently flawed concept).
Election of Senators reverts to state legislatures.
Comment by Leviticus — 8/30/2008 @ 10:05 am