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Nightly Headline Speakers Announced for Democratic Convention

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:40:17 PM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention (all tags)
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The Democratic National Convention Committee today released the final keynote speaker's list for the four nights of the convention:

Monday: Michelle Obama
Tuesday: Hillary Clinton
Wednesday: the Vice Presidential Candidate
Thursday: Barack Obama

Former President Bill Clinton will also speak on Wednesday night.

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    Nightly Headline Speakers Announced for Democratic Convention | 182 comments (182 topical)
    If I watch the convention at all, it will be to (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:45:50 PM EST
    hear The Clintons only...should be interesting.

    I have the very same plan.... (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:34:44 PM EST
    Clinton's only. Chelsea, Hillary, and Bill. Then, if they put Hillary's name into nomination and have a full roll call vote, I might watch that.

    I enjoy every event that appropriately cheers the Clinton family members.


    Parent

    Is Chelsea speaking too? (5.00 / 0) (#54)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:41:21 PM EST
    I'm only tivoing the Clinton nights.  That way I can ff through any stupidity.  I will be well-practiced from 2 weeks of ff'ing through the Olympics mushiness.  Before the Obama fans start castigating me, really, trust me, it's for the best for everyone concerned.

    Parent
    She's doing the introduction (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:28:35 PM EST
    of her mom.

    I think Tuesday night is going to be the biggest night of the whole thing. We'll hear a speech that was written from the heart, and speaks to the people of the country.

    My personal guess is that Bill's will respond to the many accusations that his speeches are always found somewhere between the lines of what he said. I'm guessing he will be giving the media more than they can chew on for the little time allowed after the broadcast. :)


    Parent

    Isn't Tuesday night Ladie's Night? (none / 0) (#115)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:32:28 PM EST
    Will be nice to see Chelsea intro her mom. Hope Hillary's mom will be there also. Even just for a walk on and photo op. It's really huge when you think about it. Three generations :)

    Parent
    Yes, the 88th anniversary (5.00 / 5) (#143)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:29:05 PM EST
    of the day that a new, young legislator in Tennessee changed his mind and became his own man despite the incredible corruption and pressure of the brewers and other liquor interests even kidnapping state legislators to try to prevent the last required ratifications of the 19th Amendment.

    He cast the voted needed because he opened a note from his mother, who told him to be a good boy and do what Mrs. Catt told him to do -- Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, the leader of the national suffragists then, a native of my state, the first to ratify more than a year before.  And what she and others had gone through in between, state by state, is just an incredible story -- although still not as incredible as all that had gone before in the "century of struggle."

    So suffrage was won by one vote in one state on August 26, 1920.  Just as the bill finally passed the Senate, after being turned down before, by only two votes more than were needed -- because some Senators came from their sickbeds, and one even came from his wife's deathbed.  She told him to go vote for suffrage, too.  By the time he got back from Washington, it was for her funeral.

    That's why I don't miss going to the polls, no matter the weather.  I do it to thank those guys.  

    Oh, and the young legislator from Tennesee?  He was run out of office and never served again.  So I figure that I really owe him, because his story always reminds me that every vote matters.

    And Carrie Chapman Catt?  She renamed the suffrage organization founded by Cady Stanton, Anthony, and Stone when men first put gender into the Constitution.  Catt renamed their organization the name that it still has today: the League of Women Voters.

    You other LWV'ers know that.  But it's a story that I love, because Gerry Ferraro and I share that day, Women's Equality Day, as our birthday!

    Parent

    Our local news just did a segment on Mr. Burns (5.00 / 1) (#151)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:40:22 PM EST
    last night. He was from a no red light town about five miles from where I grew up. I went to school with his descendants. He planned on voting no until he got his mom's note just before voting.

    Parent
    Oh, that would be an interesting (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:50:20 PM EST
    bit.  Do you have the name of the station?  I can check its website to see.

    If you don't have a historical marker for him already, I hope it's on the way.  Whataguy.

    Parent

    It was on wbir. Their website is wbir.com. (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:54:20 PM EST
    It was a segment called "In the Heartland" I think. It was a reenactment and really interesting.

    Parent
    The only have the videos from today forward. (5.00 / 1) (#166)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:03:07 PM EST
    That's silly. If I run across it, I'll link it for you.

    Parent
    That would be great. I'll keep (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:09:53 PM EST
    checking, too.  But in case I forget. . . .

    And then you will be an honorary co-teacher of my course.  The students really appreciate brief video breaks.  (Well, they'd like longer ones, I'm sure, but I figure that they're not paying college tuition to watch hours of tv, as my kids seemed to do too much in K-12.)  And for the few great guys who take the course, I like to show that there were a few great guys in women's history, too. And that all they have to do, like Harry, is listen to their mothers.:-)

    Parent

    Actually (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by Steve M on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:45:17 PM EST
    wasn't the vote itself on August 18?

    I ask only because that date is my darling daughter's birthday and I think it's kinda special :)

    Parent

    Yep, sorry, we typed at the same time (5.00 / 1) (#158)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:48:40 PM EST
    and now I have a bond with your daughter.

    I already like her mom a lot, from the reports on her that we get from her dad. :-)

    Parent

    Aw! (none / 0) (#191)
    by Steve M on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:53:44 PM EST
    You are too nice.  Her mom is, indeed, pretty darn special.

    Incidentally, I am going to be visiting the Cream City next week, to try and settle a case.  Good weather is not mandatory, but to the extent you have any input into the subject, it sure would be appreciated :)

    Parent

    Ah, it's lovely and almost autumnal (none / 0) (#197)
    by Cream City on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:12:05 AM EST
    now, after a humid heat wave.  So no doubt, it being what our weather does here, it will be different next week.  You will have missed the best weather ever for the world's best state fair, or at least the one with the world's best cream puffs.  And our fave, food on a stick.

    But will you be here on the 14th and for a few days then?  Don't miss the world's largest Irish music festival -- Irish Fest is fantastic.  Held at the Summerfest grounds on our gorgeous lakefront.  It is just a fantastic fest and such fun to see the musicians from the loveliest isle there is getting to jam here, as they never find themselves in one place there or elsewhere, they say.  And if you're still there at the end of it, don't miss the massive jam session called The Scattering -- nor the March of the Bodhrans from every direction of the grounds to get to the stage.  I'll be marching and banging my bodhran, as ever -- after being there every day, if I can, for the great gathering of the clans including mine. :-)

    And when heading there, don't miss the gorgeous Calatrava addition to the Saarinen art museum.  The Calatrava's flying wings flap twice a day, if the winds allow -- usually at 6 p.m. for the best time, the best view of the Greatest Lake.  Even better view is from the lake, though, if your business will be getting you together with anyone with a sailboat.  Seems like every third one of us has a sailboat, when you see the marina.  

    I'll stop filling bandwidth now, but do let me know if I can give you more info to have a great time in our pretty city at such a fun time.  Of course, any time of the year, we specialize in an amazing range of ethnic restaurants.  And fantastic fish fries, and I happen to be a well-fed expert on 'em all.  But lucky you, if you're here for IrishFest, you'll get to enjoy the annual crosscultural oddity that cracks me up the most at one of the food stands: Mother Machree's Strudel Stand.  Mwokee Go Bragh!

    Parent

    Uh, one cs: August 26 (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:47:31 PM EST
    I meant to say, was the day that the final ratification document got to D.C. and was accepted and official.  Tennessee voted more than a week before.  Btw, other states got their documents to D.C. sooner.  So I suspect that some of the good ol' boys in Tennessee decided to take their time . . . while women around the country waited and waited to see if they all could vote that fall.  (Because, of course, most already voted before then -- but not in some states still.  And even then, not all women could vote in 1920, because some refused to ratify or accept the 19th Amendment, so suffragists had to take it all the way to the Supreme Court . . . which took its time but finally decided it in time for the 1924 election.)

    Parent
    Interesting (none / 0) (#179)
    by MichaelGale on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:29:12 PM EST
    Thanks

    I have an undergraduate minor in Women's Studies  and I found I knew nothing about women and the suffrage movement. I didn't know that they were so abused by legislators, judges, the law particularly.

    I did a research paper and what I found was astounding. There were attempts at  public humiliation, news articles that spoke of the female gender as primitive; about women's brains and the size, about their ability to learn, about their morality and of course much tied to motherhood and wifedom. I didn't know any of what I researched and I was furious.

    My guess is there are many women that do not know the history, the treatment and degradation they experienced and just how brave these women were.
     

    Parent

    Thanks for all this info :) (none / 0) (#184)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:36:25 PM EST
    And below also!

    Parent
    If they do not (5.00 / 1) (#132)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:13:42 PM EST
    do this...

    ("Then, if they put Hillary's name into nomination and have a full roll call vote...")

    it will be just too depressing to watch... except for the Clintons. Maybe I'll read transcripts that I can pick up and put down at will later.

    Parent

    Why is (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:46:40 PM EST
    Michelle Obama speaking at all?

    I'm just asking, because I don't remember this happening before.

    I think they always speak. (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:51:00 PM EST


    Parent
    The spouses? I don't remember that (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:54:57 PM EST
    Did Teresa Heinz speak?  Kitty Dukakis?

    Sorry, but aside from being Barack's wife, Michelle Obama is pretty much a Democratic Party nonentity.  Not an elected official, not a member of the DNC, certainly not a Dem superstar like Al Gore, not a big fundraiser.

    Bizarre.

    Parent

    Teresa did (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:56:22 PM EST
    Here's the video.

    Parent
    You don't remember that weird speech by (none / 0) (#134)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:17:16 PM EST
    By Theresa Heinz?  She sounded like she was talking to people in Europe.  It was very strange.  

    Parent
    I do remember that (none / 0) (#138)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:26:33 PM EST
    the Fox Noise Machine told me that it did and repeated it over and over again until it became conventional wisdom that many became convinced was true. But I don't remember thinking that when I was listening to her speech.

    Parent
    You don't remember (none / 0) (#169)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:09:19 PM EST
    All the different European languages and the end of the speech in French?  Maybe it was just me who found it an odd way to address American voters, and I am a Francophile who speaks French!  

    Parent
    I do remember (none / 0) (#199)
    by weltec2 on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:44:24 AM EST
    but what your saying has nothing to do with it IMO. It doesn't make it French or odd.

    Parent
    I agree with you (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by JavaCityPal on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 01:37:00 AM EST
    For the pride in diversity this country has, Teresa Heinz Kerry made a very appropriate statement with her ability to communicate beyond just the english speaking voters.


    Parent
    Who's they? (none / 0) (#4)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:52:13 PM EST
    The candidates' wives?

    I don't think so.

    Parent

    Yes. In 2004. Theresa Kerry and Elizabeth (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:56:07 PM EST
    Edwards (and Cate) all spoke. I've even seen Laura Bush at the Republican one.

    2004 speakers

    Parent

    Lynn Cheney spoke too (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:58:08 PM EST
    Weds. night in NY, same link

    Parent
    Eff the republicans. (5.00 / 0) (#19)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:03:57 PM EST
    It didn't work for Kerry.

    I so don't like where this campaign is going.


    Parent

    Why so angry? (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by DemForever on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:07:31 PM EST


    Parent
    WARNING (5.00 / 0) (#37)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:23:52 PM EST
    DemForever's link below takes you to a very unrelated site to the discussion.

    Resist the temptation. It's insulting to pie.


    Parent

    Thanks. (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:26:46 PM EST
    But I have this lovely little bar which tells me the address. It was pretty easy to figure out his meaning from there.

    :)

    What a stupid little man.

    Parent

    Good... (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:32:15 PM EST
    no one needs to waste their time following that rude link.

    I don't have the little bar that tells.

    Parent

    Is this psychic friend mind meld, a psycho-caca (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Ellie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:44:24 PM EST
    ... rehabilitation session or did somone call the emotion police again?

    If this is helpful to your research, what tends to p!ss ME off is when any questions or criticism about Obama's words and actions, or those of his inside circle

    (a) get pathologized rather than answered, disputed or refuted
    (b) CORRECTED for emotional expression and/or
    (c) dismissed for being "wrong" in that regard

    I tend to regard the service of Anger Clean Up In Aisle 2397489 of the Inner Netz as more irritating than someone expressing anger or any other emotion in a post.

    Parent

    Why? (none / 0) (#25)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:11:17 PM EST
    I don't like dirty tricks.

    I don't like Karl Rove.

    I don't like you.

    Parent

    Silly nest.... (none / 0) (#39)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:25:57 PM EST
    Beware of DemForever's Link. Explanation either above or below depending on where this falls in the thread...I'm never sure where comments will land.


    Parent
    DemForever (none / 0) (#89)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:07:52 PM EST
    is not a dem, is my guess.

    Ever or forever.

    An embarrassed republican, more like it.  I can't believe the positions some posters have on different blogs.

    Yikes!

    Parent

    Always have been, always will be (1.00 / 0) (#129)
    by DemForever on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:57:36 PM EST
    I'll be voting for, and contributing to, the Dem ticket, how about you?

    Parent
    And the Bush daughters and Kerry daughters (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:01:26 PM EST
    I only recall all this because I have The Daily Show dvd set of the 2004 election and I was just watching them again last week. The Daily Show was how I got all my news back then. Steven Colbert and Ed Helms were still corespondents back then.  Good times!

    Parent
    Family members often introduce candidates (none / 0) (#69)
    by Ellie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:50:26 PM EST
    I remember the Bush Twits all too well (unfortunately).

    Parent
    I don't care about the wives. (5.00 / 0) (#21)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:06:42 PM EST
    It continues to cover for the lack of substance in either campaign.

    Pitiful.

    Parent

    Who's Cate? n/t (none / 0) (#28)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:15:28 PM EST


    Parent
    John Edwards' oldest child (none / 0) (#34)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:20:30 PM EST
    Cate is, I think, 25 and a law student.

    Parent
    John & Elizabeth Edwards' daughter. (none / 0) (#35)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:20:53 PM EST
    My link above shows many speakers. They just aren't all in prime time. I think she introduced her mother but I'm not positive.

    Parent
    She did (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:24:33 PM EST
    and Elizabeth introduced John.

    Parent
    Cate Edwards (none / 0) (#36)
    by mogal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:23:37 PM EST


    Parent
    Of course the wives speak (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by brodie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:00:31 PM EST
    Tipper made some remarks and then introduced hubby Al in 2000, followed by The Kiss, if you'll recall.

    I'm sure that Hillary spoke at the 92 and 96 convos.

    I seem to recall Olympia Dukakis speaking at the 88 get together, but I can't be sure.  Kitty might have, but she also was not the type who sought the limelight.

    People want to get to know the family or the spouse of the nominee (and VP), especially in this information-saturated age, and particularly this season as we bring forward our historic candidate.  It's going to be a first for many viewers to hear from the spouses at greater length, and it will be a refreshing break from the steady stream of pols stepping up to the mic.

    Parent

    As a keynote speaker? (none / 0) (#26)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:13:27 PM EST


    Parent
    I think there's only one Keynote (none / 0) (#73)
    by brodie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:53:18 PM EST
    Speaker per convention, usually Monday night.

    Michelle and the others listed so far are Headline Speakers only.

    Don't know if they've announced who the Keynoter is going to be.

    Parent

    The Obama campaign (5.00 / 0) (#102)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:19:44 PM EST
    is referring to 'keynotes' on every night and Michelle is the one for Monday. It's weird.

    I can't remember any candidate's spouse, who didn't hold their own office, speaking at length at a convention. It's odd, to say the least.

    Parent

    The official convo site (none / 0) (#125)
    by brodie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:48:01 PM EST
    refers to these speakers only as Headliners.  Looks like the main and one and only Keynoter is yet to be announced.

    As for spouses speaking at length, see 2004, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

    And we gave it only mixed reviews here at Campaign Central.  Yes she showed her intelligence and mentioned her varied and impressive background.  But she did go on about it -- almost as if she was running for office herself.  

    And there was a slight defiant tone to her remarks -- not necessarily the sort of attitude someone like the somewhat moody THK might have wanted to display.  


    Parent

    You mean other (none / 0) (#174)
    by flyerhawk on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:17:52 PM EST
    than the last wife of the Democratic nominee?

    Parent
    Maybe they just wanted to deliver another (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:46:50 PM EST
    slap in the face to Hillary, who in my estimation
    should get top billing IMO, but that's just me.

    Parent
    Teresa Heinz Kerry (none / 0) (#6)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:55:27 PM EST
    spoke in 2004. I remember because of the Taily Show's coverage of it. She spoke like 2098423 different languages.  

    Parent
    I'll never forget that speech (none / 0) (#137)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:24:07 PM EST
    Because I thought she must surely still be a republican because that weird, European, speech, sure wasn't aimed at American voters. (It was also the first time I thought she might have a drinking or drug problem. Poor thing.)   I began to feel sorry for Kerry.  I also wondered why he had married his strange, republican, woman.  I KNOW that we won't have to worry about Michelle doing anything like that.  

    Parent
    Theresa Heinz Kerry Spoke (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:56:49 PM EST
    Tuesday night in Boston.

    Laura Bush spoke at the Republican convention in 2004.

    Google is your friend.

    Parent

    Well, it made a huge (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:59:06 PM EST
    impression, obviously.

    And as a job interview, it obviously hasn't worked.

    Parent

    Oh. Laura Bush. (none / 0) (#15)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:00:41 PM EST
    What a sad legacy for her.

    Parent
    Laura on Larry King Live: (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:45:48 PM EST
    "Many parts of Iraq are stable now but of course what we see on television is the one bombing a day that discourages everybody."

    To which John Stewart replies: "That one pesky explosion that we see on television. It's so discouraging to see that on TV. But Laura you do realize that it's not just happening IN the TV, right?"

    Parent

    Interesting, since I posted below the (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:02:36 PM EST
    list of 'Notable Speakers' from Wikipedia.

    Was Heinz a keynote speaker?  Doesn't seem so.

    Laura Bush was the First Lady of the United States at the time she spoke.

    Wikipedia is your friend.

    Parent

    Thank you. (none / 0) (#23)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:08:22 PM EST
    Was Heinz a keynote speaker?  Doesn't seem so.

    Of course, she wasn't.

    Who's filling in for Jeralyn tonight?

    Parent

    If Heinz was not a keynote (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:16:10 PM EST
    then why is Michelle Obama?

    What does she have to share besides her observations frm being Brack's wife and why in the world do I care?

    Parent

    There's an error in Jeralyn's wording (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by brodie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:02:48 PM EST
    of the speakers.  When you go to the official site she provides, the speakers mentioned are listed only as Headline Speakers, and are not the (one) Keynote Speaker.

    Parent
    thanks for the clarification! n/t (none / 0) (#113)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:29:38 PM EST


    Parent
    I wonder if Obama (none / 0) (#128)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:54:24 PM EST
    will make himself keynote speaker.

    Parent
    Where is Bill? (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Stellaaa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:56:28 PM EST


    Weds. night (none / 0) (#11)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:57:16 PM EST
    just not the keynote speaker, that's the as yet unnamed VP candidate.

    Parent
    If a full agenda/program is published (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:18:01 PM EST
    to the bloggers, will you share? :)

    I plan to watch it on C-Span this time. Not interested in another word of analysis from the network talking heads.

    Parent

    Excellent idea - (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:48:13 PM EST
    and thanks for reminding me of that option...I could not bear to have to listen to all the bloviating of the networks - especially after 2 weeks of non-stop Olympic blather.  Love the events, can interpret the scores for myself, don't need the endless critique.

    Parent
    I guess HRC will be speaking 2 (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by nulee on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:04:51 PM EST
    nights in a row?! no?  Seriously, I have this feeling BO knows he is sunk without her on the ticket, or as EJ Dionne apparently put it today on Sunday talk - what's this guy doing on vacation, letting HRC campaign with only a 200 delegate spread??  Wouldn't take much to make her the nominee....

    Hillary (5.00 / 4) (#94)
    by Miri on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:12:22 PM EST
    Please no, I don't want to see Hillary as VP pick.

    It would be too painful watching her take second place next to a less qualified man.

    Really, I don't mind seeing Hillary play second banana to Bill. I wouldn't have minded if she played second place to Gore, another brilliant mind. But to see her play second fiddle to a less qualified man would be too painful.

    Just say no Hillary.

    Parent

    Obama's vacation (none / 0) (#139)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:26:59 PM EST
    I wondered about the vacation too, especially when I learned today that it is not a family vacation.  I hope that his grandma isn't ill or something.  Other than that, I cannot imagine why he's taking a vacation alone in Hawaii.  

    Parent
    He's not alone. (none / 0) (#145)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:31:17 PM EST
    It's a family vacation.  He just went to see his grandmother alone.  About that, see earlier threads -- and, she said modestly, my comment that I hope helps to see it as nothing odd.

    Parent
    Platform Issues (5.00 / 5) (#32)
    by mmc9431 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:19:28 PM EST
    Michelle speaking is fine but I don't think she should be the key note speaker of the night. She hasn't campaigned on any particular issue that she can call her's. I would rather of a had  Gore talking about the energy issues that face the country and how the Democratic laesership is going to confront it. We have more than enough vague change and hope speeches. It's time to present the country with solutions.

    This may be a bit OT but (5.00 / 3) (#50)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:36:42 PM EST
    Al Gore, aside from the endorsement of Obama in MI in June(?) has seemed rather absent from the whole campaign.

    He gave a speech somewhere about 6 weeks ago on the environment where he spoke about working with either of the two, Obama or McCain on environmental issues.  I remembered because his statement was so neutral regarding one or the other.  I can't give a link bc when I went to Google it again, I couldn't find it (Al gives a LOT of speeches).

    Maybe he will speak but just not be a keynote speaker.

    Parent

    Al Gore (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by Miri on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:15:10 PM EST
    Nothing suprising about Al Gore keeping a low profile.

    1. An Obama defeat would make Al Gore one of the frontrunners for the 2012 nomination.

    2. Gore knows it will take bipartisan support to solve global warming. He wants to stay on good terms with President McCain.


    Parent
    From the Ap (5.00 / 5) (#42)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:31:12 PM EST
    more info if anyone wants to read

    The campaign said Obama's wife, Michelle, is slated to headline the opening night on Aug. 25. The high-profile appearance at the kickoff is a chance for the potential first lady, who has been attacked by critics, to get more positive exposure. She can also help explain her husband to voters in the most personal terms.

    "As the person who knows him best, Michelle will talk about the Barack Obama she knows and loves, the values that drive him, and why she believes he'll be an extraordinary president," said Michelle Obama's chief of staff, Stephanie Cutter.

    Lordy, we're STILL getting to know this guy?! Not sure I want to hear about the "values that drive him" as I've had enough of his judgments on others.

    It's (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:40:19 PM EST
    Michelle's job to bring around the female wing of the democratic party.

    :)

    Parent

    too bad it's not working (5.00 / 2) (#149)
    by lmv on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:34:09 PM EST
    I honestly don't know any woman who likes MO.  Really.  And, we're her target group - educated, middle class, working moms.  

    I'm not trying to be mean.  (God forbid.  Isn't our country downright mean enough?  - yes, snark)  I'm just saying that I don't know anyone in her target audience who's going to be open to her speech.  

    It's not that she's outspoken or went to Harvard or any of the other excuses the campaign uses.  (I refuse to dignify their accusation that we think she's "uppity".)  No, she's just so negative.  I come away feeling worse about my life after listening to her.  

    This is a dumb idead and more proof that the Obama campaign is tone deaf with respect to Hillary's supporters.

    BTW, I know pie was being funny.  

    Parent

    Hey, she appeared (none / 0) (#110)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:27:38 PM EST
    on The view and did a fist bump with... someone... a blond woman I think. -:

    Parent
    Brilliant (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:46:12 PM EST
    Like we can expect an unbiased explanation of any candidate from their wife.

    Laura thinks George is a fantastic president, man, father, husband, person...and that he's smart. Many votes don't share her opinion.

    Parent

    Perhpas this is the Obama (5.00 / 0) (#71)
    by tree on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:52:50 PM EST
    campaign's way to contrast the recent revelations about Edwards with "Obama, the faithful husband"?

    Parent
    Her speech belongs (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by mmc9431 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:06:25 PM EST
    As an intro on Obama's night if that's really what they putting her up there to do. Talk about sucking the air out of the convention before it even gets a chance to get going.. We need a cheer leader to energize the convention. Someone that can articulate the goals of the Party, not the wonders and faith of Obama.

    Parent
    Good Point (none / 0) (#95)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:12:56 PM EST
    WHO is the person lined up to introduce Obama?

    Parent
    Rev Wright or Joe Lieberman (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by mmc9431 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:18:52 PM EST
    Both were his mentors! I'd even watch it for that.

    Parent
    Caroline Kennedy (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:22:11 PM EST
    What do you bet? He is really hoping for a continuation of that odd, off-the-wall image that he is somehow the reincarnation of JFK.

    Parent
    I bet the taped message Teddy made (none / 0) (#106)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:23:04 PM EST
    for the convention was an Obama introduction.

    Parent
    Heh, except the reports were (none / 0) (#116)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:33:30 PM EST
    that was only a 5 minute tape. Obama will want much more than 5 minutes of lead-in.


    Parent
    Oh, please, no. (none / 0) (#108)
    by tree on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:24:49 PM EST


    Parent
    I'd only watch if the two of them (5.00 / 0) (#105)
    by tree on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:22:41 PM EST
    were on the dais together. Then they could be followed by Alice Palmer.

    Parent
    Cult of Personality ? (5.00 / 0) (#107)
    by Nike on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:24:18 PM EST
    It would a nice if having Michelle take center stage and keynote was a substantive thing, a sign of a true equality and partnership. Perhaps even a corrective to the sexism that so many of us have seen in the primaries. Michelle--or at least her handlers--have however repeatly modelled her as a kind of updated Jackie O model, pearls and look and all. She certainly has seemed committed to a subordinate, rather than substantive, role.  

    To my mind, then, this feels like another, albeit perhaps more personal, more warm and familial vein, version of the same old cult of personality that has dominated this campaign.

    I sometimes get the sense that we are watching one of those house shopping episodes on HGTV.

    Parent

    Yuck. I'd rather have 30 mins of mic silence ... (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by Ellie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:47:31 PM EST
    ... out of respect for the death of women's progress within the Democratic Party.

    This will also give Madam President, traveling back from the future, time at the podium to deliver a warning about how bigotry led us down the path to perdition.

    She probably won't devote much time to mentioning how honored she was to be mentioned way back when Obama's daughters were little, and some answer to a Trivial Pursuit question said it would be women's "time" to be treated as serious contenders for the office.

    And won't she be grateful she didn't have to step aside so some less qualified, less talented jackwad could be swipecarded into an office he didn't earn and didn't deserve.

    OR the silence. Either's preferable to Michele Obama.

    Parent

    GAG (5.00 / 1) (#142)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:29:03 PM EST
    Why do we have to get to know him  through his wife?  I'd like to know him, through him and learn more about Michelle through Michelle.  Why does she have to be a prop for him?  

    Parent
    Actually, she did. (5.00 / 1) (#196)
    by LatinoVoter on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:10:12 AM EST
    Michelle Obama takes a shot at Hillary Clinton.

    Though in fairness and in light of recent revelations maybe the person who couldn't run the White House because they couldn't run their own house was John Edwards.

    </snark>

    Parent

    any speech can be soundbited (none / 0) (#156)
    by sancho on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:47:37 PM EST
    out of context. and will be if possible.

    Parent
    Teresa Heinz also has quite a history (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:31:55 PM EST
    independent of John Kerry.  Wikipedia.

    A couple of things I didn't know, like her work on the environment (including attending the Earth Summit in 1992 as part of a State Dept delegation) and receiving the Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism.

    This was funny:

    She is said to have been encouraged to run for her husband's Heinz vacant Senate seat after his death. However, Heinz declined and also refused to endorse Republican Rick Santorum's bid for the seat. She publicly denounced him as the "antithesis" of her late husband, and later calling him "Forrest Gump with attitude."


    I enjoyed her much more than her husband. (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:44:38 PM EST
    Forrest Gump with attitude! Great quote.

    Parent
    I loved Teresa (5.00 / 4) (#66)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:48:30 PM EST
    But I always tend to like the wives better than their husbands.

    Remember when she told a reporter to "shove it"?

    Parent

    Teresa Heinz (5.00 / 8) (#62)
    by mogal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:46:22 PM EST
     has a great sense of humor.  Just before the last convention she was interviewed by a prominent MSM guy.  He asked her if it wasn't unusual for a 62 year old woman to be called sexy by her husband.  

    She replied, "I don't know, how many 62 year old women have you asked?"

    The look on the face of the interviewer was priceless.

    Parent

    I really like her (5.00 / 3) (#77)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:56:04 PM EST
    and her quick wit on her feet.

    Parent
    Hah! Got mine a couple hours ago ;) (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:33:00 PM EST
    Personally, I found it a bit odd. Still playing to the youngsters it seems.

    So, the announcement will be made (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:40:27 PM EST
    via text message to all his fans?

    Clever, but not unexpected. He is hiding away on vacation (any reporters try to catch a shot of him and/or his family yet?), will release his VP choice while Hillary is the one doing the campaigns real work while the analysts are busily reporting she got dissed.

    Nice.


    Parent

    If that was his intent, then it isn't clever (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by tree on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:48:44 PM EST
    at all. You don't play the media for suckers unless you really don't care about how they will react. Obama is totally dependent on keeping his media darling status if he wants to win.

    Parent
    Perhaps your use of the (5.00 / 0) (#74)
    by tree on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:55:14 PM EST
    word comeuppance was poorly chosen then.

    Parent
    Well, they were all sulky and petulant when (none / 0) (#75)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:55:23 PM EST
    he loaded them onto the campaign plane and then ditched them to go talk to Clinton.  Although that didn't stop the love affair, true.

    Parent
    Somehow, I think the media know (none / 0) (#186)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:38:45 PM EST
    about the text message plan.  It's in the NYT.

    Parent
    Oh thank gawd Teh One went with txt-msg'ing (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by Ellie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:08:37 PM EST
    ... instead of the overhead shot of the VP's name being spelled out by the US Synchronized Swim team, to strains of Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now coming off the poolside squawk boxes.

    Cause THAT would have been tacky.

    Parent

    Hey, wait a minute, maybe you've (5.00 / 2) (#99)
    by tree on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:17:05 PM EST
    got an idea there.

      My idea would be to get Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Howard Dean, Tom Daschle and Donna Brazile rigged up  so they could float above the assembled masses, like the Chinese muses from the Olympics opening ceremonies.

    Parent

    No way (none / 0) (#57)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:44:07 PM EST
    Text messaging his VP pick, seriously?

    Parent
    No, not serious (none / 0) (#82)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:01:41 PM EST


    Parent
    It's a risk, isn't it? (5.00 / 0) (#55)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:42:03 PM EST
    Putting Michelle Obama out there on Night One, when what she says - given some of the less-than-judicious things she has said throughout this campaign - could introduce an unnecessarily jarring note to the "festivities?"

    On the other hand, if you believe that a potential First Lady should exhibit something other than Stepford Wife-like support, and reveal some separate strength of her own, maybe the Michelle Obama keynote address makes some sense.

    You know, a year ago, I would have said that the Democratic Convention was going to be an exuberant, energized and tension-free four days; now I am thinking there will be a lot of clenched jaws, a lot of tongues being bitten to avoid saying something really nasty, a worrisome level of tension wondering if they can get through the convention without "incident."

    My first thought (ok second) was (5.00 / 0) (#64)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:47:22 PM EST
    to wonder whose speech will be more heavily scripted ahead of time by the DNC/Obama campaign, Michelle's, Bill's or Hillary's?

    Parent
    Yes, you can bet they will be carefully (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:58:31 PM EST
    reviewed.

    But, the Clintons are masters at extemporaneous speeches, so they can say whatever they want if their submissions are too heavily censored.


    Parent

    Maybe Bill wil introduce (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:02:51 PM EST
    Hillary's VP choice, lol!~

    Parent
    Or, maybe he just (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:09:26 PM EST
    should if Obama gets too much criticism for the person he really does pick.


    Parent
    I've had that thought (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:35:52 PM EST
    He'd never do it, but wouldn't that rock the house?

    Then he could say 'Oops, sorry for my inartful phrasing.'

    Parent

    It would be historical AND hysterical (none / 0) (#136)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:21:22 PM EST
    He should just have Robin Williams write his speech and give the talking heads a true run for their money....

    Parent
    Bill's speech will the highlight of the week (5.00 / 0) (#146)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:31:17 PM EST
    I can't wait to hear what he has to say!  

    Parent
    it will outshine Obama (5.00 / 0) (#152)
    by lmv on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:44:08 PM EST
    That's why Obama didn't want Bill to speak.  Look at the buzz online already.  Everyone's excited about hearing from Bill and Hill.  

    Add to that the "Obama fatigue" mentioned in one poll and the Ivesco speech is shaping up to be anti-climactic.  

    I could be wrong and BO could knock it out of the park.  But there's the risk that his speech, no matter how great, won't get the same viewership he'd hoped for.

    Parent

    Maybe, but I don't see how (5.00 / 0) (#181)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:33:48 PM EST
    He's too scripted and doesn't have the deep down passion coming through. And after all the pageantry of the Olympics, this will be the next "big" stadium event. His loyal followers will think it was hit outta the park, but everyone else? He may just hit "big event" overload. After all, he had more people in Germany, eh?

    Parent
    I don't think it is an issue of outshing (2.00 / 0) (#183)
    by samtaylor2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:35:39 PM EST
    What makes the dems so strong right now is that there are 3 leaders which can galvanize millions of people.  They all 3 shine really bright.

    Parent
    No they don't. (5.00 / 0) (#185)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:38:31 PM EST
    If they did, the party wouldn't be split and there wouldn't be so much Clinton hate. And that's not saying the third is the only one shining. Depends on an individual's perspective.

    Parent
    Good Luck to Obama if he thinks (5.00 / 0) (#161)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:52:46 PM EST
    He can control what Bill Clinton says!

    Parent
    If Hillary's name is not entered (5.00 / 0) (#154)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:45:58 PM EST
    for nomination, I don't care if Zell Miller gives the opening speech. Seriously.

    Parent
    Michelle Obama (4.25 / 4) (#86)
    by lilburro on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:05:21 PM EST
    will probably be great.  It'll be nice to see her doing her own thing, saying what she wants, without the media interfering.  

    Of course the First Lady should exhibit more than Stepford Wife-like qualities.  

    Michelle will make a mark I think.  She's brilliant too.  

    Parent

    i'm sure she will write every word (none / 0) (#160)
    by sancho on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:50:22 PM EST
    herself.

    Parent
    Extremely unlikely as (5.00 / 0) (#175)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:18:49 PM EST
    none of them write their own speeches.  They all have speechwriters.  There's not enough time to write all the speeches they have to give themselves.

    Btw, no one is saying she is incapable of writing a speech herself.  But given that they seem to have shipped Michelle off home and boxed her up, I very much doubt she'll be allowed to write or even edit any of it herself.  Maybe add a few grammar corrections.

    The Obama campaign is overall highly scripted to begin with.

    Parent

    Hahahaha (none / 0) (#162)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:53:41 PM EST
    Obama's not stupid.  That speech will be gone over, and over, and over.  

    Parent
    Speakers (5.00 / 0) (#76)
    by Miri on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:55:35 PM EST
    I really don't understand the hype about the convention speakers.

    Looking back at the past conventions, the speakers get all jumbled up in my mind. It is always the same, for both parties. Speakers praise the party and the nominee, trash the opposition party. By election day nobody remembers the conventions or what was said at the conventions.

    Remember Obama's "world tour"? It was advertised as the biggest hoopla on earth. It seems like ages ego even though it happened only a few weeks ago. The hype building up to the world tour went on and on for weeks. It was quickly forgotten as soon as it was over.

    It is the same with the conventions. Hype building up for weeks leading up to them. And then forgotten within days.

    This time it will be forgotten even faster because right after the Democratic convention we are going to have the Republican convention.

    These things (none / 0) (#189)
    by RalphB on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:48:32 PM EST
    including the "marvy world tour" are substance free buffoonery.  That's why they're immediately forgettable.  Very few people will remember a thing that occurred.

    Parent
    Speakers at the top of my list (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:42:11 PM EST
    to throw things at as I boo them off the stage: Nancy Pelosi, Donna Brazile, John Edwards... hmmm, who else.

    No (5.00 / 0) (#130)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:02:40 PM EST
    Throwing things is not nice. But there are people who should not be part of our Democratic leadership.

    Parent
    No chance on Edwards (none / 0) (#126)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:49:14 PM EST
    since he and Elizabeth won't even be at the convention.  (from the Obama campaign, or BO himself, I think, on an earlier thread).

    Parent
    Good news. (none / 0) (#131)
    by weltec2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:03:39 PM EST
    Thanks.

    Parent
    Obama said it in Hawaii (none / 0) (#164)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:54:33 PM EST


    Parent
    Don't you all find it extraordinary (5.00 / 4) (#133)
    by fctchekr on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:16:17 PM EST
    that the berated Clinton dynasty that BO wanted to eradicate from the planet are now presenting at the Convention? It's exactly what many of us projected way back, that the party was more split than anyone would let on. I personally find it reaffirming that I didn't depend on their fake headlines to tell me which way the news was blowing.  

    The only saving grace will be Bill announcing Hillary. It will be the election.....

    Bill (5.00 / 1) (#140)
    by Miri on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:28:48 PM EST
    He will be announcing Hillary.

    He will be announcing Hillary 2012.

    It will all be in code words of course. But there is no doubt in my mind Clintons have 2012 in mind.

    I am looking forward to 2012. So many great candidates running; Gore, Hillary, Warner, Webb......

    I also look forward to seeing the current crowd discredited, Dean, Pelosi, The One, Brazile........marginalized and posting diaries in Daily Kos.

    Parent

    They've got 4 years (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by blogtopus on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:33:46 PM EST
    to oust the hooligans. I hope they get started the day after the election, armed with the loss of an 'unbeatable' candidate.

    Parent
    Well Dean alrady seems pretty marginalized (5.00 / 1) (#176)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:21:30 PM EST
    on his bus tour of the U.S., combined with the DNC move to Chicago.  Requests for just about any information of the DNC are referred to the Obama campaign.

    I hope Dean is enjoying the bus ride.  Truly.

    Parent

    Too much of a cheap gimmick (5.00 / 0) (#150)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:36:40 PM EST
    Please note that the text message only said he would announce before the convention, via text message.  BFD, it could well be the day before the convention.

    Back to Michelle for a minute (5.00 / 2) (#171)
    by ChrisO on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:13:22 PM EST
    I think it's amusing how Obama supporters insist that criticism of Michelle should be off limits because "she's not the candidate." It seems to me if you're a headline speaker at the convention, your role is a little more than dutiful wife. I guess just like discussions of race, discussions of Michelle are only allowable when the Obama campaign says they are.

    If the VP pick (5.00 / 1) (#173)
    by Bluesage on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:15:30 PM EST
    Will have to speak after Bill Clinton on Wednesday night I can't imagine anyone would want that job or could pull that off except for Hillary.  I think this whole convention is going to be a nail biter.

    Michelle (3.25 / 4) (#88)
    by Miri on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:07:26 PM EST
    Doesn't she have like a 21% favorable?

    It is another chance for the republicans to remind voters that she hated her country until her husband won a primary.

    And another chance to remind Hillary supporters that Michelle would not promise to vote for Hillary if Hillary became the nominee. Michelle said she would "have to think about it".

    Well Michelle, a lot of us have thought about it and we are voting for McCain.

    I was wondering if that wouldn't drive up (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:39:20 PM EST
    the ratings for her part of the speech, actually.  I mean, people watching to see if she says anything about not being proud to be an American, or anything about Hillary at all, or how trying it is to economize on ballet lessons.

    She's not going to say anything remotely along those lines in her speech.  I bet they don't even let her write a line of it or even edit it herself, it will be so sanitizedly scripted by others.  (not that I approve of that but I'd be amazed otherwise).

    Parent

    I doubt her speech is going to change (none / 0) (#198)
    by JavaCityPal on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:24:21 AM EST
    anything. She put her real self out to the public over and over again, and the media replayed everything as much as they could. People either do or don't like who they saw.

    I won't watch her speech. Conventions are exciting, but the dry spots exist, and for me those dry spots are the speeches given by people I don't believe, trust or like.

    Parent

    Not sure if I should laugh or cry (5.00 / 2) (#135)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:19:28 PM EST
    Michelle has had 40-some years to become who she is with the beliefs she has, and more than 20 having those thoughts confirmed and given more vivid exaggeration by her friend and pastor. You think it only takes a couple of months for that to mature?

    Shouldn't she already be mature?

    To be perfectly honest, I don't believe her words were the product of immaturity.


    Parent

    Maturity in this case (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by blogtopus on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:30:31 PM EST
    Is the ability to hide your true self properly. It takes a short time to fix the outside; it's the inside that takes years, if its even possible, to change.

    The real challenge is to hold this veneer when under pressure; Obama has yet to pass that challenge, as you may recall, and hell, even Bill hasn't passed with flying colors.

    Hillary, of course, has come out of the worst gauntlet, shining like a new dime.

    Parent

    In this case, it would be (none / 0) (#190)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:51:05 PM EST
    polish, or acting.

    Parent
    She's really changed in a few months? (5.00 / 0) (#147)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:33:13 PM EST
    Sorry, I am not buying it and neither will the voters.  

    Parent
    How would anyone know if she has (none / 0) (#127)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:54:09 PM EST
    matured; they have had her on ice.  

    Parent
    Speakers (none / 0) (#14)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:00:09 PM EST
    Here's the 2004 speaker list:

    Obama, Edwards, Kerry Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former Vice-President and 2000 Presidential nominee Al Gore, New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. Ron Reagan, son of Republican President Ronald Reagan, also spoke.

    Here's 2000:
    Representative Harold Ford, Jr. of Tennessee. (Ford, who at 30 was at the time the youngest member of Congress, directed his speech towards younger voters), President Bill Clinton, Senator Bill Bradley, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Senators Christopher Dodd and Ted Kennedy, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.  Also, actor Tommy Lee Jones (Gore's roommate in college), put the Vice President's name into nomination.

    Keynote? (none / 0) (#18)
    by Democratic Cat on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:03:18 PM EST
    Isn't there usually a keynote address for the whole convention? Anyone know who that is?

    I didn't realize Sebelius was convention (none / 0) (#24)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:09:05 PM EST
    co-chair.

    Wow. (none / 0) (#30)
    by pie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:17:59 PM EST
    How old are you?

    Have a pleasant evening (none / 0) (#33)
    by DemForever on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:20:06 PM EST


    Parent
    Is it just me? (none / 0) (#167)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:04:34 PM EST
    Or does the last week in August seem like a bad week to schedule a convention?  Everyone I know will be on vacation because it's the last week of the summer and it ends in a three day weekend.  Who's going to be watching the convention?  

    That's what I thought (5.00 / 0) (#178)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:28:55 PM EST
    For TV ratings, it's got to be the deadest week of the year, outside of Christmas to New Year's week.

    I guess that's why they're putting all the fans at Invesco to work busily texting all their MySpace pals, because no one will be watching.

    Parent

    Heh, I just realized it's also (none / 0) (#177)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:27:39 PM EST
    the last time the Yanks and Sox meet in the old stadium during regular season and perhaps, forever. I've got a request in for tickets :p

    Parent
    i'll actually be in Hawaii that week (none / 0) (#182)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:34:04 PM EST
    The whole week. I'm debating whether to switch out my phone so I don't have internet access.


    Parent
    Depemding on what Island you are on (none / 0) (#188)
    by samtaylor2 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:40:28 PM EST
    It won't matter.  I have found that verizon works the best on Kauai and Maui (can't speak towards the other islands).  My dad lives on Kauai so I have spent a fair amount of time there (with different carriers)

    Parent
    kauai! (none / 0) (#192)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:53:53 PM EST
    I have AT&T, so I probably won't get much.

    I've heard amazing things about Kauai! I'm excited. Any tips?

    I'll be so tempted to be checking into politics land but I think I really need a week off.

    Parent

    Nightly Headline Speakers Announced for Democratic Convention | 182 comments (182 topical)