An Absolutely Historic and Moving Speech...!!!
That was the most remarkable speech I have ever had the honor of hearing... It left me speechless for the most part.
Now I finally understand how my parents generation felt, listening in real time to the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy.
This Democratic nomination cycle has been a contest among giants, and the nominee -- Barack Hussein Obama -- emerged tonight as a giant among the last two giants standing at the end of that contest, himself and the illustrious and luminous Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Tonight, knowing how high the stakes were and how great the expectations were, I was anxious and afraid in addition to being excited, because I could not see how Barack could deliver the type of speech the pundits were saying he needed to: his own variant of "I'll be with you 'til the last dog dies." And then he did that and so much more.
In a week in which I've been alternately moved to my feet and moved to tears in my own living-room, clapping and whooping by Hillary, by the Big Dawg -- Bill Clinton, by John Kerry in an uncharacteristic but absolutely brilliant fire-and-brimstone mode, how could I expect that the best really was yet to be? A speech that no less a political commentator than David Gergen described as a "symphony"! And that is an apt description, for Obama's speech varied just as a maestro's symphony does between crescendos and quiet, restive pacing, intimate moments and grand moments. As a political speech...? It is what I've wanted as a proud Democrat since I was a youngster...someone to take the fight to the Republicans, proudly, unashamedly, with poise and finesse and detail and class. Someone who would own patriotism and the flag, and social issues, and national security, and say, no, you will not define what these issues are or who we Democrats are anymore!!!
In short, sweet beautiful poetry, Obama introduced himself to the middle class and explained how he is one of them, and how McCain has forgotten who he is. Obama gave the details of the roadmap for change. And best of all, in the backdrop of a symphony, the eloquence of a maestro, and the simplicity of a Lincoln, he took the fight to McCain and basically said, "Bring it..."
Now I finally understand how my parents generation felt, listening in real time to the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy.
This Democratic nomination cycle has been a contest among giants, and the nominee -- Barack Hussein Obama -- emerged tonight as a giant among the last two giants standing at the end of that contest, himself and the illustrious and luminous Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Tonight, knowing how high the stakes were and how great the expectations were, I was anxious and afraid in addition to being excited, because I could not see how Barack could deliver the type of speech the pundits were saying he needed to: his own variant of "I'll be with you 'til the last dog dies." And then he did that and so much more.
In a week in which I've been alternately moved to my feet and moved to tears in my own living-room, clapping and whooping by Hillary, by the Big Dawg -- Bill Clinton, by John Kerry in an uncharacteristic but absolutely brilliant fire-and-brimstone mode, how could I expect that the best really was yet to be? A speech that no less a political commentator than David Gergen described as a "symphony"! And that is an apt description, for Obama's speech varied just as a maestro's symphony does between crescendos and quiet, restive pacing, intimate moments and grand moments. As a political speech...? It is what I've wanted as a proud Democrat since I was a youngster...someone to take the fight to the Republicans, proudly, unashamedly, with poise and finesse and detail and class. Someone who would own patriotism and the flag, and social issues, and national security, and say, no, you will not define what these issues are or who we Democrats are anymore!!!
In short, sweet beautiful poetry, Obama introduced himself to the middle class and explained how he is one of them, and how McCain has forgotten who he is. Obama gave the details of the roadmap for change. And best of all, in the backdrop of a symphony, the eloquence of a maestro, and the simplicity of a Lincoln, he took the fight to McCain and basically said, "Bring it..."
Obama Nominated By Acclamation, Accepts Nomination (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/27/obama-nominated-by-a...
Obama Nominated By Acclamation, Accepts Nomination (VIDEO)
Huffington Post | August 27, 2008 04:49 PM
Hillary Clinton moved to suspend the roll call vote and nominate Barack Obama by acclamation. The motion was passed, and Nancy Pelosi formally extended the nomination to Obama. Obama accepted the nomination, becoming the first African-American to represent a major party for president.
[WATCH]
Obama Nominated By Acclamation, Accepts Nomination (VIDEO)
Huffington Post | August 27, 2008 04:49 PM
Hillary Clinton moved to suspend the roll call vote and nominate Barack Obama by acclamation. The motion was passed, and Nancy Pelosi formally extended the nomination to Obama. Obama accepted the nomination, becoming the first African-American to represent a major party for president.
[WATCH]
Help Set Out the Welcome Mat for Conservatives!
OurFuture.org
Dear Stacey,
Help Put this Ad on the Air!
Next week, we’re going into the lion’s den to air a new TV ad for conservatives swarming to the Republican National Convention. Titled “Thanks for the Memories”, the ad broadcasts unforgettable moments from conservatives’ last eight years in power -- memories they now wish the country would forget. Please check out the new ad, and contribute $10 to help us get it on the air. http://www.ga3.org/03/tv_ad_fundraiser/nj1Niw6KqT6gS??qpsourc... GO» http://www.ga3.org/03/tv_ad_fundraiser/nj1Niw6KqT6gS??qpsourc...
A few short days from now, conservatives will swagger into the Republican National Convention in Minnesota with one main goal: sweep the conservative disasters of the last eight years under the rug.
They’re banking on a week of free media coverage to regurgitate their revisionist history, shift blame for America’s struggles to progressives, and pitch themselves -- miraculously -- as “best qualified” to fill the hole they’ve dug for eight straight years.
We’ve got a strategy to stop their shoveling, and we need your help to make it happen.
Please contribute $10 to greet conservatives next week -- and Americans watching across the country -- with our new “Thanks for the Memories” TV ad. http://www.ga3.org/03/tv_ad_fundraiser/nj1Niw6KqT6gS??qpsourc...
We’ve secured a generous dollar-for-dollar matching gift! It will double the impact of every dollar you contribute, and get this ad out to twice as many people.
The ad will air first on the hotel room TV screens of all conservative conventioneers and media members, and in hotel lobbies and bars, throughout Minneapolis - St. Paul. As convention-goers arrive in Minnesota, and America turns its eyes to watch, the ad will confront them with unforgettable memories from conservatives’ eight years in power. It will play back the disasters that many Americans continue to live with -- memories that conservatives now wish the country would forget.
If we can raise $20,000, we’ll saturate the airwaves with this ad right inside the lion’s den, and attract the media attention that can help take it across the country.
That’s why your help is critical. Please contribute $10 today, double the impact of your gift, and help launch our “Thanks for the Memories” TV ad for a nationwide audience. http://www.ga3.org/03/tv_ad_fundraiser/nj1Niw6KqT6gS??qpsourc...
In just a few days, the conservative noise machine will kick into high gear. To stay “fair and balanced”, the mainstream media will report their spin with little, if any, critical commentary. With your help, though, we’ll be there to make sure the other side of the story gets seen too.
It’s up to us to get this message through next week: Conservatism can’t fix our problems... Conservatism is the problem.
Click here to make a donation – double your gift – and air our new ad, http://www.ga3.org/03/tv_ad_fundraiser/nj1Niw6KqT6gS??qpsourc... and let’s give the country a chance to thank conservatives for 8 years of unforgettable memories!
Thanks to you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Ian Mishalove, Director Online Communications
Campaign for America’s Future
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend! http://ga3.org/join-forward.html?domain=caf&r=j1Niw6KqT6gS
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Don't Buy Big Oil's Lies and Don't Finance Big Oil's Land Grab
Did you know that oil companies are already sitting on 68 million acres of leases that they aren't even drilling? Which kind of makes you wonder: Why are Big Oil and its allies suddenly desperate to get their hands on the last few places that are still protected -- our natural treasures, wildlife refuges, and pristine coastlines? They wouldn't use the concerns caused by high gas prices as an excuse to grab it ALL, would they?
Big Oil and its allies would like you to think that more drilling will ease your pain at the pump, but that's not the truth.
The bottom line is this: More oil drilling will not lower gas prices or create energy independence - it will only make the world's richest oil companies richer.
Check out our map showing how much of our country Big Oil already has. http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=z-ukla7T4VazvDmhZVY1Ow..
Average Americans are being squeezed by high energy prices, and the oil companies are taking advantage to push their long-term drilling agenda. They have been spreading a map full of lies though the Internet.
Help us counter their propaganda -- pass this map and the truth along to your friends and ask them to pass it along too.
Sincerely,
Greg Haegele
Director of Conservation
Sierra Club
85 Second St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tell Some Friends About This Page! http://www.sierraclub.org/tellafriend/central.asp?tafurl=http...
Download this map as a pdf http://www.sierraclub.org/bigoil/downloads/ThreeMaps2008-08-1...
Maps are based on 2008 data from the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service http://www.mms.gov/5%2Dyear/PDFs/ocs_status_map_8e.pdf and 2004 EWG analysis of BLM land and minerals records http://www.ewg.org/oil_and_gas/maps/index.php?maptype=Lease_S... .
Wes Clark | Heading to Denver
Dear Stacey,
I'm in Munich right now, but I can't tell you how ready I am to head to Denver and join my fellow Democrats.
The Democratic Party is ready to lead and address the many challenges ahead, and Barack Obama is the leader we need for our country and to help humanity meet today's global challenges.
We're a party loaded with talent. Like many of you, I've been thrilled by the speeches at the Democratic National Convention so far. Hillary Clinton was great last night. Her strength, her character, her call for unity. Her speech just proves once again that she is a great American and has many years of distinguished public service ahead of her.
And what an inspiration Ted Kennedy was, as was Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker of the House. Brian Schweitzer, the history-making Governor of Montana and Mark Warner, a business executive, distinguished former Governor and soon-to-be a remarkable U.S. Senator.
Tonight, I'm looking forward to catching the speeches of our honored former President Bill Clinton and our vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden. We are so fortunate that these two outstanding men are Democrats.
And then there's tomorrow. Our Party is so fortunate at this time in history to be nominating Barack Obama. After Michelle's incredibly warm and personal speech on Monday, any American can see the strength of character in their family. It's clear that when the Obamas become first family, they'll definitely bring change to America.
I can't wait to hear Senator Obama's words in person. He's warned us not to expect that he can duplicate the electricity from his memorable speech in 2004, but I think he's just being wise to play down expectations. He has proven to be a remarkable human being with incredible judgment, an outstanding sense of direction, and unmatched communication skills. I fully expect to be inspired, as I was in 2004.
I'm proud to be a Democrat, and I'm proud to ask you to pull together with me. It's time to help elect our candidates to every office. From mayors to governors, from state legislators to Congress. And especially to come together behind Barack Obama.
Barack is going to be the leader of a great team of Democrats in this election campaign. And he's going to become a great American President.
I believe he has the skills and resolve to strengthen America's security, rebuild America's economy, and restore Americans' faith in the future.
Our challenge is clear. We must win in November.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
http://www.ga4.org/01/wespac/nGpwJsn9qr-Fp?
Paid for by WesPAC -- Securing America's Future. Contributions and gifts made to WesPAC are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Tell your friends and family about WesPAC -- Securing America's Future! http://ga4.org/join-forward.html?domain=wespac&r=GpwJsn9qr-Fp
Tell-a-friend!
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Can He Be a Working-Class Hero?
Can He Be a Working-Class Hero?
By Harold Meyerson
Wednesday, August 27, 2008; Page A13
DENVER -- Barack Obama has the problem from hell.
The very voters he needs to win this election, the white working class that has been descending into post-industrial post-prosperity for a couple of decades and the past eight years in particular, are angry. American finance and corporations have abandoned them for cheaper climes, and they blame the elites of both parties for their woes. Obama's challenge is to become a tribune for some of that anger without looking like an angry black man.
Obama's Road to the Convention
In the days leading up to his speech at the Democratic National Convention, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama campaigns across the country, stopping in Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Montana.
One of the keenest students of these all-important swing voters is Stan Greenberg, Bill Clinton's pollster in 1992 and the acknowledged authority on Michigan's Macomb County, a white working-class suburb of Detroit. In the mid-'80s, Greenberg began polling and doing focus groups in Macomb, a bastion of autoworkers that had delivered huge majorities for John Kennedy in 1960 -- and for Ronald Reagan in 1984. He found that Macomb residents believed the Democratic Party was interested in helping only African Americans, including their neighbors in Detroit, whom they regarded with fear and loathing. Greenberg helped Clinton reorient the Democratic message to be more class-based, a key element in Clinton's '92 victory.
With Barack Obama heading the Democratic ticket and plainly having trouble with working-class whites, Greenberg returned to Macomb in July for a new generation of polling and focus groups. Macomb's memories of Detroit's racial convulsions in the '60s and '70s have faded somewhat, he found, but race is still a key hurdle for many residents. Their economic anxiety has skyrocketed -- understandably enough, with the auto industry in shambles and not much coming along to take its place. Indeed, their No. 1 concern in Greenberg's survey (undertaken for the Democracy Corps) is the offshoring of jobs, with rising gas, food and health-care costs running a close second. Their ideal presidential candidate, Greenberg says, would be an "outsider, middle-class" senator who expresses their anger at their betrayal by America's economic and political elites.
And he wouldn't be black, either.
In Greenberg's survey of Macomb, Obama is trailing John McCain by 7 percentage points, which in fact means that he's doing better at this point of the campaign than John Kerry and Al Gore were doing four and eight years ago. But perhaps the most striking finding is the high level of support for Ralph Nader, who plainly offers some Macombers -- at least, before they have to actually vote -- an outlet for their anger, and a third way between McCain's standard-issue Republicanism and Obama's blackness. Eight percent of all Macomb voters surveyed back Nader, which includes 11 percent of Macomb's working-class Democrats and 12 percent of its white union members. Only 47 percent of Macomb's white union members back Obama.
The union leaders gathered here are painfully aware of the challenge they face in persuading their white members to vote for Obama. To that end, the leaders of all the major unions -- those from the AFL-CIO and its breakaway rival federation, Change to Win -- came together at a rally at the Denver Convention Center on Sunday to unveil the most massive and sophisticated electoral campaign that labor has ever waged. In aggregate, it looks as though the unions will spend $300 million to $400 million by November, with the lion's share of their focus on persuading white members to vote for Obama out of their own economic interest.
The unions will rely heavily on one-on-one meetings that shop stewards and local leaders hold with their members. "We'll have to fight with our own members on this," public employee union President Jerry McEntee, who also chairs the AFL-CIO's political committee, said at Sunday's rally. "We've got to say to our Appalachian members who say they can't vote for him, he's black -- we gotta tell them that's [expletive]!"
Clearly, that's not quite the message we'll hear from Obama himself. But in his acceptance speech tomorrow night, Obama will have to figure out a way to be Greenberg's outsider, middle-class senator; to show that he is in touch with workers' indignation at being abandoned -- without coming off as too indignant himself. In Greenberg's polling, Macomb voters made clear that they didn't equate Obama with Jesse Jackson. But Greenberg's focus groups found a good deal of wariness as to whether Obama would be a president for all Americans, or just blacks and college kids.
This is hardly Obama's only challenge, but it's a crucial one. He surely needs to talk about his work organizing on behalf of displaced steelworkers in Chicago. And in case the depth of Obama's challenge isn't clear yet, Greenberg has one more factoid to vex Democrats: The second choice of the Nader voters in his survey is John McCain. Something for Barack Obama to think about as he prepares to address the nation.
meyersonh@washpost.com
Read more from Harold Meyerson at washingtonpost.com's new opinion blog, PostPartisan.
Don't Let Them Swift Boat Obama on Choice
http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=jS8DJ0TUFgHYHl1vf...
Greetings from Denver, Stacey,
As my speech to the Democratic National Convention reflects http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=5tK_N8ubKeTy19OD4... , I believe the future of choice depends on electing Barack Obama as our next pro-choice president.
The “take away” is this: It’s not what we do here that will decide whether Obama or McCain wins. It’s what you do every day between now and the election.
I need every one of you to do all you can financially to help us defeat anti-choice John McCain. So please give as much as you can now to help make sure America elects a pro-choice president in November! http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=-sUTR4LQ7Wni3UGgS...
The other “take away” is that our opponents are ready to play dirty. CNN recently reported that an anti-choice group calling themselves “The Real Truth About Obama, Inc.”, is trying to “Swift Boat” Barack Obama by running false ads “in key states during the ‘electioneering communication’ blackout period 60 days before the general election.”1 This is the very time period in which our unique MCFL status allows NARAL Pro-Choice America to expressly advocate for the defeat of John McCain! Donate today, so we can stop these dirty Karl Rove-like tactics! http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=iwJ9FjtB9Rt7Q9ALH...
Americans deserve to know the truth before they vote. You can help get the truth to them. It takes $10.85 to educate one pro-choice voter.
Your contribution right now -- can help us reach one more pro-choice voter, or five, or ten! So give as much as you can to help us reach as many as we can and protect choice at every level. http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=rNq3uSMCtY7LcGfgy...
If McCain is elected, we will face four more years of destructive, hypocritical, Bush-style, anti-choice attacks on women’s reproductive rights. It is within YOUR power to help us -- it only takes $10.85 to educate one more pro-choice voter!
One, five, ten more voters -- your gift makes a profound difference. It’s time for choice we can believe in, and the time is now! Donate today! http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=VDiwhKi0Ol3pEPAcZ...
Sincerely,
Nancy Keenan, President
NARAL Pro-Choice America
P.S. Our polling confirms we can win - but we need your help to educate pro-choice Republican and Independent women voters about McCain’s true record even as anti-choice fringe groups are disseminating misinformation about Barack Obama. Donate today! http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=8_oaMGrhMNfzIRRLO...
1(“Group Trying to Attack Obama on Abortion,” CNN.com, August 17, 2008 http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/17/group-trying-... http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=xqAHjBCFBJ190f1uS...
Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, http://www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Tell your friends http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=Rsc4NfJRc8DzSk7FI... about the Choice Action Network.
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for the Choice Action Network. http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=oslFMlNwTRW_7fV1K...
Hillary's Best Line: Were You In It For Me?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/hillarys-best-line-w...
Cenk Uygur
Hillary's Best Line: Were You In It For Me?
Posted August 27, 2008 | 04:12 AM (EST)
This was a night with a lot of great lines. Even Bob Casey, Jr. who is not known as a rhetorical wiz had a couple of zingers. The four more months chant http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/27/casey-shakes-convent... was terrific. And his line that McCain isn't a maverick, he's Bush sidekick
was also really well done.
I was expecting to be annoyed at how little Mark Warner went after Republicans, but instead I thought he laid out a good case for how Democrats offer every person a real shot at the American Dream. He showed that the Democratic Party wants you to succeed, wants you to be rich -- which is important and a message you hardly hear from Democrats (you often hear that they want you to do better, but aspiring for real wealth has not been a Democratic staple and it is in fact the real American Dream).
Deval Patrick borrowed from Barney Frank effectively when he talked about government being an extension of the American people and how that is what we choose to do together. His line about having a stake in one another was great. It gave a sense of a community sticking together, which is what lies at the core of the Democratic Party.
But despite all of this, Hillary Clinton stole the night. I have been a vocal critic of Hillary Clinton throughout the primaries and a skeptic of her intentions to unconditionally support the Democratic candidate. But she put all those doubts to rest tonight. She delivered. It was an A+ speech.
The Twin Cities line about McCain and Bush being like twins was genuinely funny. And now every time they mention the Twin Cities during the Republican convention I'm going to think of Bush and McCain as twins.
I am embarrassed to admit that the Harriet Tubman story actually gave me a chill down my spine (at least it wasn't up my leg). I loved it. I think everyone in the building loved it.
But the best line in the speech was buried in the middle. Addressing her supporters, she said, "Were you in it for me?"
What a great and poignant question. Did you really think this was all about me and not about the issues? Don't you remember that this was all about getting the people who need help the assistance that they desperately need? Did you forget that we started down this road because we wanted to provide Americans with a hope for a better future? That we wanted to make sure the rules weren't stacked against them? Did you think this was all about me?
That is the winning line. That's the one that showed me that she genuinely did her best to actually convince her followers that they had to support Barack Obama. That's not a half-hearted effort. That's a line designed to win people over to her argument not over to her personally. Ironically, that's exactly what it did for me though. At the end of this long, contentious battle, Senator Clinton won me over when she was finally not trying to win me over.
Watch Live Coverage of the Convention Here http://www.theyoungturks.com/
For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page http://www.huffingtonpost.com/politics/ , our Democratic Convention Big News Page http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/democratic-convention , and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed http://twitter.com/huffpost , live from Denver.
Cenk Uygur
Hillary's Best Line: Were You In It For Me?
Posted August 27, 2008 | 04:12 AM (EST)
This was a night with a lot of great lines. Even Bob Casey, Jr. who is not known as a rhetorical wiz had a couple of zingers. The four more months chant http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/27/casey-shakes-convent... was terrific. And his line that McCain isn't a maverick, he's Bush sidekick
was also really well done.
I was expecting to be annoyed at how little Mark Warner went after Republicans, but instead I thought he laid out a good case for how Democrats offer every person a real shot at the American Dream. He showed that the Democratic Party wants you to succeed, wants you to be rich -- which is important and a message you hardly hear from Democrats (you often hear that they want you to do better, but aspiring for real wealth has not been a Democratic staple and it is in fact the real American Dream).
Deval Patrick borrowed from Barney Frank effectively when he talked about government being an extension of the American people and how that is what we choose to do together. His line about having a stake in one another was great. It gave a sense of a community sticking together, which is what lies at the core of the Democratic Party.
But despite all of this, Hillary Clinton stole the night. I have been a vocal critic of Hillary Clinton throughout the primaries and a skeptic of her intentions to unconditionally support the Democratic candidate. But she put all those doubts to rest tonight. She delivered. It was an A+ speech.
The Twin Cities line about McCain and Bush being like twins was genuinely funny. And now every time they mention the Twin Cities during the Republican convention I'm going to think of Bush and McCain as twins.
I am embarrassed to admit that the Harriet Tubman story actually gave me a chill down my spine (at least it wasn't up my leg). I loved it. I think everyone in the building loved it.
But the best line in the speech was buried in the middle. Addressing her supporters, she said, "Were you in it for me?"
What a great and poignant question. Did you really think this was all about me and not about the issues? Don't you remember that this was all about getting the people who need help the assistance that they desperately need? Did you forget that we started down this road because we wanted to provide Americans with a hope for a better future? That we wanted to make sure the rules weren't stacked against them? Did you think this was all about me?
That is the winning line. That's the one that showed me that she genuinely did her best to actually convince her followers that they had to support Barack Obama. That's not a half-hearted effort. That's a line designed to win people over to her argument not over to her personally. Ironically, that's exactly what it did for me though. At the end of this long, contentious battle, Senator Clinton won me over when she was finally not trying to win me over.
Watch Live Coverage of the Convention Here http://www.theyoungturks.com/
For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page http://www.huffingtonpost.com/politics/ , our Democratic Convention Big News Page http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/democratic-convention , and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed http://twitter.com/huffpost , live from Denver.
Hillary's Show Stopper
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/hillarys-show-stop...
Taylor Marsh
Hillary's Show Stopper
Posted August 27, 2008 | 10:26 AM (EST)
by Taylor Marsh http://www.taylormarsh.com/
Standing on center stage, Hillary Clinton was as relaxed, composed and so completely in her element, all notions of the media concocted dramafest disappeared. All rumors about how she wanted to sabotage Barack evaporated. She was so good the primary battle Barack and she waged seemed to completely recede in the rear view mirror.
The talking heads doubted she'd do it.
The Hillary haters doubted she would do it.
The anti Clintonites doubted she could do it.
But boy did she do it.
When she started speaking, the energy in the hall just kept on rising until you thought the roof would blow clean off.
"Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose," Mrs. Clinton said, beaming as the convention hall burst into applause. "And you haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership."
She added, "No way, no how, no McCain."
Last night, I had the best seat in the house, as the photo above illustrates. In between interviews, and thanks to NBC, and Al Jazeera English.
Contrary to the clamor be that the Clintons are finished, Hillary delivered a speech of overwhelming power by someone in the full grips of her strength to an audience that returned her emotion, enthusiasm and passion for a woman who has changed the course of presidential politics forever. Not only are there 18 million cracks in the commander in chief ceiling, she's got her name on every single one of them.
So, let every commentator, writer and blogger who finds a crevice in which to slither forth and spew a doubting word on what Hillary said and meant, or should have done, last night finally be called by their proper name: sorcerers. Spiteful vipers who dare to find a toxic blend amidst an open heart and full throated generosity at a time when our country needed just a leader like Hillary to make a new path where the last footsteps have been taken down a road that has ended in the dirt.
Only Hillary Clinton could unite the party behind Barack Obama. She did it last night.
Oh, there will be those few stragglers consigned to crying in their spring soup long soured. But after Hillary's emphatic plea, no one will care about their grievances, gripes or groans, because we've been called on a mission bigger than ourselves, for country, with a single purpose.
Yes, Hillary remains my champion.
She is a woman who made me so proud that last night her words flew past my ears, reached into my heart and got stuck in my throat.
Hillary Clinton's power rises, not falls, reaching new heights through what she offered through her voice last night, and is accompanied with 18 million voters standing beside her as we ready the next journey on this incredible historic ride we've been on for so long now. Electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the highest offices in this land and restore the country's name and legacy that has been sullied over the last 8 years.
To all you who doubted, let me finally shout I told you so. I knew she would. I never doubted she could. Hillary Clinton is not just some politician, even though so many want to drag her down to their mediocrity. She is a leader. I will follow her anywhere.
Taylor Marsh is a political analyst who's been seen on CNN and MSNBC, talk radio personality, and author. She'll be twittering the convention all week.
For more Huffington Post coverage of the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.
Taylor Marsh
Hillary's Show Stopper
Posted August 27, 2008 | 10:26 AM (EST)
by Taylor Marsh http://www.taylormarsh.com/
Standing on center stage, Hillary Clinton was as relaxed, composed and so completely in her element, all notions of the media concocted dramafest disappeared. All rumors about how she wanted to sabotage Barack evaporated. She was so good the primary battle Barack and she waged seemed to completely recede in the rear view mirror.
The talking heads doubted she'd do it.
The Hillary haters doubted she would do it.
The anti Clintonites doubted she could do it.
But boy did she do it.
When she started speaking, the energy in the hall just kept on rising until you thought the roof would blow clean off.
"Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose," Mrs. Clinton said, beaming as the convention hall burst into applause. "And you haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership."
She added, "No way, no how, no McCain."
Last night, I had the best seat in the house, as the photo above illustrates. In between interviews, and thanks to NBC, and Al Jazeera English.
Contrary to the clamor be that the Clintons are finished, Hillary delivered a speech of overwhelming power by someone in the full grips of her strength to an audience that returned her emotion, enthusiasm and passion for a woman who has changed the course of presidential politics forever. Not only are there 18 million cracks in the commander in chief ceiling, she's got her name on every single one of them.
So, let every commentator, writer and blogger who finds a crevice in which to slither forth and spew a doubting word on what Hillary said and meant, or should have done, last night finally be called by their proper name: sorcerers. Spiteful vipers who dare to find a toxic blend amidst an open heart and full throated generosity at a time when our country needed just a leader like Hillary to make a new path where the last footsteps have been taken down a road that has ended in the dirt.
Only Hillary Clinton could unite the party behind Barack Obama. She did it last night.
Oh, there will be those few stragglers consigned to crying in their spring soup long soured. But after Hillary's emphatic plea, no one will care about their grievances, gripes or groans, because we've been called on a mission bigger than ourselves, for country, with a single purpose.
Yes, Hillary remains my champion.
She is a woman who made me so proud that last night her words flew past my ears, reached into my heart and got stuck in my throat.
Hillary Clinton's power rises, not falls, reaching new heights through what she offered through her voice last night, and is accompanied with 18 million voters standing beside her as we ready the next journey on this incredible historic ride we've been on for so long now. Electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the highest offices in this land and restore the country's name and legacy that has been sullied over the last 8 years.
To all you who doubted, let me finally shout I told you so. I knew she would. I never doubted she could. Hillary Clinton is not just some politician, even though so many want to drag her down to their mediocrity. She is a leader. I will follow her anywhere.
Taylor Marsh is a political analyst who's been seen on CNN and MSNBC, talk radio personality, and author. She'll be twittering the convention all week.
For more Huffington Post coverage of the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.
Hillary the Admonisher
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nora-ephron/hillary-the-admonis...
Nora Ephron
Hillary the Admonisher
Posted August 27, 2008 | 12:18 PM (EST)
My favorite part of Hillary Clinton's speech last night was when she admonished her followers not to put their affection for her over the issues. When she reminded them that what's at stake is far more crucial than their loyalty to her. When she reproved them for thinking for even a moment that her historic thrilling campaign was more important than the real campaign to defeat the Republicans.
Where any of her followers could have gotten the idea doesn't seem to have crossed her mind. The fish stinks from the head down. The Clintons' narcissism (and yes, I know, it's an overused term but if there was ever a moment for it in our national life, this is it) perfumed every bit of Hillary's campaign, and it leaked down to her contributors and followers. "Were you in it for me?" was her funniest line of the night.
In this morning's Times there's a piece about the Hillraisers, the people who raised over $300,000 for Hillary, many of whom are apparently bitter and angry that they were not given rooms in the Denver Ritz-Carlton, as the early Obama fundraisers were. They are so mad, according to the Times, that some of them are flying home today and deliberately missing Obama's speech on Thursday. (If you're not nice to me I'm just going to take my private plane and go home.) These are people who, may I remind you, were thinking about their Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions, who were dreaming of Ambassadorships, who were on the verge of looking at houses in Georgetown. They're miserable. They lost. They were wrong. They're worth millions, or in some cases, billions, and they're not used to being wrong, much less to paying a price for being wrong, and they can't stand it. There's an expression for this -- narcissistic mortification -- and you can smell it all the way from Denver.
My other favorite thing about Hillary's speech is that she wrapped herself up in Seneca Falls, and my God Harriet Tubman, even Harriet Tubman, and yet somehow she never once referred to Roe vs. Wade. She never once mentioned choice. She never once said the truth, which is that any Hillary supporter who doesn't understand that this issue alone is the reason to vote for Obama has no business pretending to be a Democrat. I realize that sounds as if I'm admonishing her, but I caught the admonishment bug last night and this blog is an attempt to shake it off.
Nora Ephron
Hillary the Admonisher
Posted August 27, 2008 | 12:18 PM (EST)
My favorite part of Hillary Clinton's speech last night was when she admonished her followers not to put their affection for her over the issues. When she reminded them that what's at stake is far more crucial than their loyalty to her. When she reproved them for thinking for even a moment that her historic thrilling campaign was more important than the real campaign to defeat the Republicans.
Where any of her followers could have gotten the idea doesn't seem to have crossed her mind. The fish stinks from the head down. The Clintons' narcissism (and yes, I know, it's an overused term but if there was ever a moment for it in our national life, this is it) perfumed every bit of Hillary's campaign, and it leaked down to her contributors and followers. "Were you in it for me?" was her funniest line of the night.
In this morning's Times there's a piece about the Hillraisers, the people who raised over $300,000 for Hillary, many of whom are apparently bitter and angry that they were not given rooms in the Denver Ritz-Carlton, as the early Obama fundraisers were. They are so mad, according to the Times, that some of them are flying home today and deliberately missing Obama's speech on Thursday. (If you're not nice to me I'm just going to take my private plane and go home.) These are people who, may I remind you, were thinking about their Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions, who were dreaming of Ambassadorships, who were on the verge of looking at houses in Georgetown. They're miserable. They lost. They were wrong. They're worth millions, or in some cases, billions, and they're not used to being wrong, much less to paying a price for being wrong, and they can't stand it. There's an expression for this -- narcissistic mortification -- and you can smell it all the way from Denver.
My other favorite thing about Hillary's speech is that she wrapped herself up in Seneca Falls, and my God Harriet Tubman, even Harriet Tubman, and yet somehow she never once referred to Roe vs. Wade. She never once mentioned choice. She never once said the truth, which is that any Hillary supporter who doesn't understand that this issue alone is the reason to vote for Obama has no business pretending to be a Democrat. I realize that sounds as if I'm admonishing her, but I caught the admonishment bug last night and this blog is an attempt to shake it off.
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