Hillary Clinton evokes unity, the fight ahead
By Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 26, 2008 at 11:03 a.m.
Rodolfo Gonzalez © Special to The Rocky
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, addresses the crowd at the Pepsi Center.
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- SLIDE SHOW: DNC today - Aug. 26, 2008
- SLIDE SHOW: Protests and demonstrations - Aug. 26, 2008
- SLIDE SHOW: DNC day 2 - August 26, 2008
- SLIDE SHOW: Hillary speaks at the DNC - August 26, 2008
- VIDEO: Hillary Clinton supporters rally
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- VIDEO The Democratic delegates of South Carolina unite behind Barack Obama
Democrats opened fire Tuesday on Republican John McCain even as an in-house battle of wills and egos dominated the second day of the party's convention.
The rollicking day saw old-fashioned back-room politics, as presumed nominee Barack Obama worked to settle the terms of Hillary Clinton's surrender, and modern-day electoral warfare, as speakers lined up to shoot at McCain and link him to President Bush.
And it saw intrigue. Would Clinton strike just the right note in her prime-time speech to pull together a party fractured by the long and sometimes bare-knuckled fight for the nomination?
At 8:42 p.m., after a rock 'n' roll video tribute peppered with images of her and Obama and an introduction from her daughter, Chelsea, Clinton stepped onto the blue carpeted stage to thunderous applause.
Then she did her best to put the hard feelings to rest.
"I'm here tonight as a proud mother, as a proud Democrat, as a proud senator from New York, a proud American and a proud supporter of Barack Obama," she began. "My friends, it is time to take back the country we love.
"And whether you voted for me, or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose."
Standing in the high tech stage erected inside the Pepsi Center, and wearing an orange jumpsuit that might have been designed to match the hometown Broncos, she invoked a sports cliche to drive home the point.
"We are on the same team, and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines," Clinton said. "This is a fight for the future, and it is a fight we must win together. I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family and fighting for women's rights here at home and around the world, to see another Republican in the White House squander our promise of a country that really fulfills the hopes of our people."
Looking relaxed and confident, Clinton smiled often. She even coined what could become a new slogan for the party when she said slowly, deliberately, "No way ... no how ... no McCain."
As she spoke, television cameras cut to images of former President Bill Clinton, watching from a luxury box in a corner of the arena, his hands pressed to his chin, emotion etched on his face.
Security tightens
The high drama wrapped up a second day of the convention that looked at lot like the first.
The 16th Street Mall pulsated with delegates and hangers-on, and protesters went through the motions in Civic Center and other parts of downtown. And an effort by anarchists to block access to the Pepsi Center fizzled in the middle of the afternoon as police officers pushed back a small group of demonstrators.
The sharpest exchange of the day may have come when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking at a Union Station press conference, clashed with a group of McCain supporters chanting, "Drill here, drill now."
"Right here? You want to drill right here?" Pelosi asked. "Can we drill your brain?"
As evening arrived — and Clinton's speech loomed — the security checkpoints outside the Pepsi Center were choked with people trying to get inside.
In the convention hall, the Democrats bored in on McCain a day after they barely mentioned the presumptive Republican nominee — or President Bush.
Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner relied on soaring images in his keynote address — the same talk that launched Obama onto the national stage four years ago.
"I believe from the bottom of my heart with the right vision, the right leadership and the energy and creativity of the American people, there is no nation that we can't out-hustle or out-compete, and no American need be left out or left behind," Warner said. "Yes, the race for the future is on, and it won't be won if only some Americans are in the running. It won't be won with yesterday's ideas and ... divisions. And it won't be won with a president who is stuck in the past."
Attacks on GOP begin
Others were more blunt in their attacks on McCain and Bush.
"We can't afford another Republican administration," said fiery U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. "Wake up, America. The insurance companies took over health care. Wake up, America. The pharmaceutical companies took over drug pricing.
"Wake up, America. The speculators took over Wall Street. Wake up, America. They want to take your Social Security. Wake up, America."
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano unloaded on her state's senior senator.
"Just as I am proud of Arizona, I like to be positive about my fellow Arizonans," she said. "So I wanted to say something positive about Sen. McCain. When I heard him say the economy is not an issue, he understands as well as he should, my problem was solved. Because I can say to you tonight, positively, that John McCain is right. He doesn't understand the economy as well as he should."
But it was the bolo-tied Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer who brought the Pepsi Center crowd to its feet.
"Even leaders in the oil industry know that Sen. McCain has it wrong," Schweitzer said. "We simply can't drill our way to energy independence, even if you drilled in all of John McCain's backyards, including the ones he can't even remember.
"That single-answer proposition is a dry well."
Republicans did not suffer in silence.
"Barack Obama is a charming and fine person, but he's not ready to be the president of the United States of America," said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential McCain running mate who arrived in Denver to work for the GOP campaign.
But it was the Clinton-Obama drama that played out in the news media and the back rooms of the campaign through the day and into the evening.
Clinton and Obama representatives worked behind closed doors to negotiate an agreement on today's vote that will formally hand the nomination to the Illinois senator and launch, in earnest, the fall campaign.
One possibility was that the Illinois delegation would defer to their New York counterparts, giving Clinton's backers a chance to nominate — and serenade — her. The next step could be to allow Illinois delegates to nominate Obama by acclimation, a step that would end the potentially embarrassing spectacle of a state-by-state roll call that could paint a picture of a divided party.
Moving toward future
The atmosphere surrounding the Clintons was charged all day long.
"Suppose you're a voter, and you've got Candidate X and Candidate Y," former President Bill Clinton said at a gathering of foreign dignitaries. "Candidate X agrees with you on everything, but you don't think that candidate can deliver on anything at all. Candidate Y you agree with on about half the issues, but he can deliver.
"Which candidate are you going to vote for?"
Clinton may have realized that his comments might be interpreted as a swipe at Obama.
"This has nothing to do with what's going on now," he added quickly.
But the damage was done. News stories focused on the question of whether Clinton was taking a swing at the man who knocked his wife out of the race.
Tonight, Bill Clinton takes to the microphone. He'll have 10 minutes to put all the animosity and the ill feelings — real and perceived — behind him.
Then, the party will move on without the Clintons. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, Obama's running mate, gets the final word of the evening as the focus turns in earnest to the campaign ahead.
Staff writers Aaron J. Lopez, Todd Hartman, Kevin Flynn, Wes Pope, Myung Oak Kim, Berny Morson and Ryan Sabalow contributed to this report.
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August 26, 2008
12:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
familyortiz writes:
Romney is as much of a handwringer and fearmonger as Cheney.
I am amazed that any republicans want him to represent them. Fortunately, he won't be a factor at all after the election.
August 26, 2008
12:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
theguyoverthere writes:
Get a life familyortiz. The only person that has the ability to fix the economy is Mitt Romney. He has a proven track record, he gets the job done, and he does it right. So take your horse blinders off and look at real life. All Obama does is say what people want to hear and then doesn't get anything accomplished. I don't want to vote for any of the candidates because they all bite, but if Mitt Romney became VP to McCain, I will be voting for McCain. Mitt is nothing like that idiot Cheney.
August 26, 2008
12:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
oops...... the SS Obama has slid beneath the waves..... Gallup poll released today confirms the obvious..... Biden pick backfired. Obama dropped another 4% points and trails McCain by an even larger margin.
As James Carville said it so accurately.... "what a waste".
August 26, 2008
12:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
kalonblake writes:
What did the headline of this have to do with the text? Rumble? Where? The article describes the efforts by both camps to unify, where's the conflict? And, what does Candace Mitchelle have to do with anything?
August 26, 2008
12:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
MarineWing writes:
Why is it that when we expect the RMN to do some reporting and get us photos of said diva, they always fail us?
August 26, 2008
1 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
RATINGS SHOCKER!
Every objective observer knows that last night was a snoozefest, and the ratings prove it.
Numbers released from Nielsen today....
Viewers of first night of 2000 Democrat convention = 17.2 million
Viewers of first night of 2004 Democrat convention = 11.8 million
Viewers of first night of 2008 Democrat convention = 11.7 million
Yeah.... those voters sure are fired up! Never mind that less than 4% of the total American population bothered to watch the Democrats on TV, but when there are even fewer people interested enough to watch than have in past elections, the signs of trouble on the SS Obama-tanic campaign are getting serious!
Even worse news for the leftists.... 4.85 million watched it on NBC and yet the show immediately before it was Deal or No which had 10.95 million viewers!
That means the MAJORITY of viewers said "NO" to leaving their TV on and watching the Democrat's infomercial.
August 26, 2008
1:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
timeandagain writes:
Get over it Hillary! You LOST!! Barack is our nominee!!
We don't need you or your disciples to win in November!
OBAMA '08!!!
August 26, 2008
1:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
ou8one2 writes:
"DNC sports crack" need there be anything else said?
August 26, 2008
1:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
BigSky182 writes:
Hillary is going to pull some backdoor shenanigan and try to steal the nomination right out from under Barack's nose.
If she is successful, Obama fans will vote McCain out of spite. If she fails, HER people will vote McCain out of spite.
She may single-handedly elect McCain, by accident.
August 26, 2008
1:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Willy writes:
The decline in ratings is due to the fact that most intellignet people resent the way our politics have devolved into name calling by faceless handlers behind the curtain. Voters are disgusted with their choices, as they have been for most of the last 50 years. If a line item of "none of the above" were added to the ballot in every contest in the country, it would win 75% of the vote for most contests.
August 26, 2008
1:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Fireball writes:
Obama always gets the press with the media kissing his backside but wait till election day when the "Silent Majority" have our say. Obama can keep his mouth flapping for the next 71 days then the Silent Majority will have a say and shut him up.
August 26, 2008
2:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
America1st writes:
Dem Party = SNL skit. Fake people, fake show, empty heads.
August 26, 2008
2:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Average poll in May.... Obama leads by 9% points
Average poll in June.... Obama leads by 7% points
Average poll in July.... Obama leads by 6% points
Average poll in August.... Obama leads by 3% points
Average poll just prior to Biden pick.... Obama leads by 2% points
Average poll after Biden pick.... tied.
Poll released today..... McCain leads by 3%.
Democrats sure know how to pick losers. At the rate that clown circus is going, the Republicans could nominate NO ONE, and Democrats would still find a way to nominate someone that would alienate average voters so much that they'd lose.
In the words of James Carville.... "what a waste".
August 26, 2008
2:23 p.m.
kevin3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
August 26, 2008
2:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
mojambo writes:
Barry's gonna regret ever producing his books on tape.
The ads filled with his voice, speaking his words from 10-15 years ago will BURY him.
August 26, 2008
3:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
dilligaf writes:
rickg19611
Don't want to ruin your day but there is only one poll that counts and is the most accurate. But you will have to wait until Nov 4th.
But that day better get here soon because McSame isn't getting any younger. Gee I hope he makes it.
August 26, 2008
3:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Wow... the lunatic fringe of the Democrat party is getting hysterical. Must be the desperation kicking in.
When they have to scream and shout obscenities in hopes of convincing everyone that they really are "united", then its pretty obvious that they're experiencing Grand Canyon sized "cracks" in their unity image.
Must have been those poll results that caused their heads to spin out of control!
You have to feel sorry for the Obama fans though....
They thought that nominating a guy that is able to read his lines from the teleprompter was all they needed to win (like one of those characters you see on late night TV at night hawking his DVDs..... gives speeches, but lacks any substance).
Then they found out that their empty suit had ties to fanatical groups and his poll numbers started falling. And falling.
Desperation started to kick in. They proclaimed "Ignore his blunders, just wait until he picks a running mate for 'Change'".
Then their empty suit blundered again and picked Biden. And his poll numbers started dropping even faster.
Then they said, "Sure, he keeps messing up, but just wait until the convention." And the first day's results..... even Democrats themselves called it "a waste". Americans turned their TV sets off. Result....lowest ratings in decades. 96% of Americans refused to watch the clown circus in action.
But then the majority of Democrat voters preferred HILLARY.... the primary vote counts proved it. Team Obama has to cook the books with some caucuses (zero reflection of elections) to engineer a nomination of the empty suit. And rigged the convention rules to create the "illusion" of unity.
Let em have it BILL! Bring on one of those good ole speeches that shows that the DNC fatcats made a mistake in engineering the nomination of a dud.... but that there is still hope for 2012!!!!!!
The campaign to recover the White House for Democrats BEGINS WITH BILL CLINTON'S SPEECH! LET THOSE ELITIST FATCATS HAVE IT!!!!!
Make McCain a one-termer.... and teach the lunatic fringe of the Democrat party to go back in their caves where they belong.
August 26, 2008
3:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
timeandagain writes:
Quit whining all you Hillary delegates!!! You shouldn't even BE here in Denver!! Your candidate LOST and now you all travel here to disrupt OUR candidate??? Give me a break. Go home and take your whining (and your votes) with you!
Obama '08!!!!!
August 26, 2008
3:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
GO BILL GO!!!!
The news reports from today confirms it. Bill will present the image of criticizing Republicans, but will be making sure the empty suit celebrity that the Democrat party bosses foisted onto voters will be undermined...... sets up 2012 for Hillary!!!!!
"Bill Clinton in Denver again undercuts Obama
By Sam Youngman
Posted: 08/26/08 01:47 PM [ET]
DENVER — Bill Clinton appeared to undermine Sen. Barack Obama again Tuesday.
The former president, speaking in Denver, posed a hypothetical question in which he seemed to suggest that that the Democratic Party was making a mistake in choosing Obama as its presidential nominee.
He said: "Suppose you're a voter, and you've got candidate X and candidate Y. Candidate X agrees with you on everything, but you don't think that candidate can deliver on anything at all. Candidate Y you agree with on about half the issues, but he can deliver. Which candidate are you going to vote for?""
Then, perhaps mindful of how his off-the-cuff remarks might be taken, Clinton added after a pause: "This has nothing to do with what's going on now."
The comments are unlikely to be taken as an innocent mistake by those Democrats who continue to be angry with the former president for, they say, not supporting the Illinois senator wholeheartedly, if not implicitly undercutting him."
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/bill...
August 26, 2008
4:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hooligan writes:
I can hear the excuse already.....
"Obama only lost because he is Black"
August 26, 2008
4:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
DenverDan writes:
Shag
Get off your moms computer. How many times do I have to tell you. take your meds too.
Obama 08 Your Daddy
August 26, 2008
5:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Pelosi tells the protesters "Can we drill your brains". Someone needs to drill hers and maybe let some reality seep in. She is the most destructive, unrealistic, "give it all away to anyone who's not an American", irrational, politicians that I've ever heard of. She is sooo "out of touch" with what Americans want. She wants it "her way or the highway". Her stance and beliefs on illegal immigration are hilarious. She wants to give them all a free ride. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this delusional "iceberg". God, she needs to be removed from office, quick!
August 26, 2008
5:30 p.m.
kevin3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
August 26, 2008
5:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
chobbes writes:
This one is a little different. Same Story.
Two Different Versions! Two Different Morals!
OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
-------------------------------------------
MODERN ! VERSION :
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast.
How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome! .' Jess e then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.
The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the
ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from
a list of single-parent welfare recipients.
The ant loses the case.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the governme! nt hous e he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2008
August 26, 2008
8:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mike846 writes:
Well, Hillary is set to do to Obama what Jesse Jackson said HE wanted to do, Nancy Pelosi is angry at the demonstrators (what about inclusiveness, Nancy?), the campaign got no bump whatsoever from naming Biden, a 36-year fixture in the Senate (so much for "change"), and John McCain came off as a pretty straight talker on Jay Leno last night. All in all, I'm pretty sure that the better Hillary comes off tonight, the worse Biden is going to look as a choice for VP, and her lack of anything other than lip-service support for Obama in the ensuing 72 days will almost make her coronation in 2012 a foregone conclusion. Lady Macbeth was patient, too. Up to a point. Mike
August 26, 2008
8:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
kevin3 writes:
Someone around here who was reading my comments were obviously offended by the truth. The truth hurts, too bad. I could see why my last comment was removed, but the first one? Why? All I said is what the rest of the Obama's supporters are saying; that is to stop being self-destructive and fall in line and support someone who has YOUR best interest at heart! Whoever had my comment removed is obviously someone who feels angry, powerless to the world and has no sense of reality except their own. Let me see if I can put you into a box, (middle aged to older aged white female).
August 26, 2008
8:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Democrats unite?!?!?!?!
When Bill Clinton not only slapped Obama today, but turned him over and kicked him in the rear so hard that Obama resembled a football getting punted!
"Bill Clinton will not attend Obama's Invesco speech"
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/...
BBWBWAAAHHHAAAA!!!!! UNITY!!!!!!
August 26, 2008
9:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
TatMat76 writes:
Does she think wearing orange will help. She is no Bronco fan. #%^$# her
August 26, 2008
9:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
BJG writes:
I will vote for the big BO.......however, as a woman and a democrat this is the LAST time I will ever vote for a all male ticket. The very last time. Democrats take note.
August 26, 2008
9:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
So it's either 4 more years of "Bush" or "Jimmy Carter's belated second term"?..
(no contest) I'll take 4 more years of "Bush".
August 26, 2008
9:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
commoncents writes:
Hillary made a wonderful speech tonight. She even looked like she meant it. Maybe the media can start to leave it alone now, but I doubt it, they need something to be going wrong to act like they are serving a purpose.
Obama will win with or without her voters. Many were not really into the primary to elect the new Democratic nominee, but rather to vote for the first woman president. The upset will stay home and wait for the next time they get a chance to put a woman there.
August 26, 2008
10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Reason writes:
"OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
-------------------------------------------
MODERN ! VERSION :
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast.
How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome! .' Jess e then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.
The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the
ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from
a list of single-parent welfare recipients.
The ant loses the case.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the governme! nt hous e he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2008"
The main reason I read this forum is because a number of posters have a great sense of humor and I almost always get a laugh a day. Thanks allseasonsfan, hahaha
August 26, 2008
10:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
Is it just my imagination, or have the democrats put the issues of abortion (Pelosi) and Obama's ties to the unrepentant terrorist Ayers back in the spotlight over the last 48 hours? Don't these people understand that the American people are not pro-abortion?
Relish the bump from the convention, my friends. McCain is going to feast on Obama once they get one-on-one at the debates (especially if Obama starts stammering incoherently like he did at the Saddleback exchange). "Change, change, change..." isn't going to cut it once the people start wanting specifics.
August 26, 2008
10:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
Maha writes:
What scares these republicans so much about the possiblilty of an intelligent and honorable executive branch?
Time to put your foil hats back on and go listen to rush (and I don't mean the Canadian rockers) children.
August 26, 2008
10:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mike846 writes:
I thought Hillary's speech was about her, not about Obama. It was pretty clear that she wanted to remind everyone what SHE stood for, and, oh, by the way, so does Barack. I can't wait to hear Wild Willy tomorrow night. The good news is, he's not in prime time, Biden is. The bad news is, Biden is in prime time. By caving to the Clinton's demands, Obama has shown himself to be weak. He then responds to McCain's ad about Bill Ayers by saying Ayers did those bad things when Obama was only 8 years old. Ayers sat on a foundation board with Obama, and gave him his first fund-raiser in Chicago. This is a guy who bombed the Pentagon and said he'd do it again when asked just two years ago. That shows Obama is hard left in his politics. Then Nancy Pelosi rewrites about 2,000 years of Catholic dogma on national tv. She's either lying, or stupid, or uneducated in her "faith". None of those things particularly recommend her to lead anything. I just hope a lot of American's are watching this fiasco. If you want "change", these folks will be glad to take your money through increased income taxes, throw more of you out of work by hounding corporations, raise energy prices even MORE through windfall profits taxes and refusing to utilize fossil fuels to be found IN OUR OWN COUNTRY, and erode your personal choices even more (unless its the choice of an abortion) than before by appointing liberal, fascist (the State knows best!) judges. Vote McCain. Hold your nose if you must, but vote Republican all the way. Look what wonders the Democrat-controlled Congress have performed for you lately. At least your local post office probably got renamed. Mike
August 26, 2008
11:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
Maha writes:
Time for your meds mike.
August 27, 2008
12:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
WestminsterJ writes:
>Obama always gets the press with the media kissing his backside but wait till election day when the "Silent Majority" have our say. Obama can keep his mouth flapping for the next 71 days then the Silent Majority will have a say and shut him up.
"Silent majority"= rich white people voting for their interests, and stupid middle and lower class white people voting against theirs.
August 27, 2008
3:28 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
After all the valid shortcoming she harped on about Mr. Obama, now in a few short months, she feels Mr. Obama is now qualified to lead our nation? She must think the American people are fools. Even the man's running mate, put it right on the money in the primaries, when he stated quite factually Mr. Obama has no experence to be president. Funny how every democrat running against Mr. Obama, has said the one thing America has known all along, the "junior" senator has no experence that qualifies him to be president. Even Mr. Obama knew he lacked the experence, so he picks a 35 year seasoned politician, who is a pathetic loser in his own bid for the presidency, to be his running mate. So, it looks like Joe Biden will be president by proxy; the seasoned vet leading the young man by the hand as his mentor in world and presidential affairs of state. A man who the entire party claimed a few months ago, was totally inexperenced to lead our nation. If it came down to Mr. Obama or George Bush today, as an independent I'd take Mr. Bush, and that is not a good thought at all. As an independent voter, realizing Mr. Bushes weaknesses domestically, I gave serious consideration to Ms. Clinton. The girl was much more seasoned than Mr. Obama, and much more intelligent than Mr. Mc Cain. Thus both parties have put America in real peril, with canidates that are not only less than stellar, they are just plain pitiful. I feel Ms. Clinton was the best out of all 3 canidates, I don't think Mr. Obama can overcome his lack of experence in a few short months. His own party was quite truthful in this respect. Just like his time in the senate, he attaches his name to the more senior democrats, even in legistlation with his name on it. Luger and others took the kid under thier wing, but it was a relative short time, not enough for the "junior" senator to become experenced in his own right as a senator, much less a presidential contender. Mr. Obama's own insecurity is reflected in his running mate. Joe Biden could never get pass the first round of the primaries, he was a knight charging the proverbial windmill, non-productive and unelectable, defeated in the first rounds by his own party faithful, registered democrats. Democrats just keep digging thier hole deeper, reverend Wright, Jesse Jackson, Ms. Clinton and Mr. Biden prior statements, along with other seasoned veterans of the party, have been Mr. Obama's downfall. When your own running mate says your inexperenced, who are the people not to believe just that? In two months, Mr. Obama suddenly became qualified in his own party? I don't think so, the American people are not that dumb. Apparently the democrats think voters have short memories, as to what they themselves said about Mr. Obama's qualifications to lead. Joe Isuzu was a better salesman!
August 27, 2008
3:54 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Personally, I think Mr. Obama is a wonderful, caring man; a man who came up from the middle class by his own bootstraps. He wasn't the son of priveledge, he has great charisma, and a gifted speaker; he needed much more experence under his belt. Joe Biden was a poor choice to fill that void. Joe the Pro, that's definately not "change". I was hoping he'd pick someone like Caroline Kennedy, somebody who is above the party scandals and fray, charmed, intelligent, well heeled internationally, a girl who remains America's darling, even though I have no respect for the older generation of her family, too much treachery. Picking her would have shown Mr. Obama to not only be confident in his own ability, but that youth, and intelligence, and two equally great team players could really effect "change". It would have brought back thoughts of a different era; an era of Dr. King, Camelot, dreams America once had. Joe Biden means the same old dirty politics as usual; Caroline is viewed in a much better light. Together I believe thier youth and vigor could beat Mr. Geritol, the Oliver Cromwell who wants to step in and preserve the throne, until a king could be found. She's the only Kennedy I ever saw honor in. My opinion is just that, an opinion. Biden is a poor choice, it shows Mr. Obama lacks confidence in his own ability as far as experence.
August 27, 2008
6:45 a.m.
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peterclarke writes:
Well it is obvious, first the super delegates and the back room party boys made a huge mistake by prematurely casting support to Obama. Secondly the dems have the Junior Senator himself to blame for their upcoming lose in the November election, for not having Hillory Clinton as the democrats VP choice. No longer can the Obamas and other keep blaming the Clintons for the democrats and Obamas falling in the polls. Keep smiling.......
August 27, 2008
7:06 a.m.
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trinidad writes:
Here's what Hillary REALLY wanted to say "No way, no how, no OBAMA- 2012 is my year".
August 27, 2008
7:22 a.m.
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ifyem writes:
Clinton followers are whack!! I couldn't even have a drink at the bar last night without getting into it with one of these knuckleheads!! Nice job reading the script Hillary.....
August 27, 2008
7:24 a.m.
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marine76 writes:
What did he have to promise the Clinton's to get their support? Will it be their white house and he'll be their talking head? It scares me to think he will have to call mommy and daddy (the Clinton's) before making a dedcision. Clinton and Biden have both said he's not qualified to lead the country. What's changed?
August 27, 2008
7:29 a.m.
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marine76 writes:
Everyone makes a big deal about what a wonderful speech, how it was from the heart etc. Who are you kidding. A speech writer wrote every word based on what will get the people to buy what they are selling. The people giving the speech never write their own material. Just like when you go to the dealer to buy a car, they have a script they follow. You've seen it. You have to ignore the sales pitch and look at what you are buying.
August 27, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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maverick7 writes:
Its funny how everyone on the right feels that the Dems esp. Hillary are hypocritical back stabbers when they support their parties nominee. You don't think Mit and the other Rep. will support McCain after bashing each other all spring? Come on guys, they need to support their party. Both sides in the big picture want to win the White House. These conventions aren't for one person and their agenda, its for party they represent. Get people fired up. No matter what happens in Nov. America needs to move forward!
August 27, 2008
8:50 a.m.
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Who_Me writes:
Funny how she didn't say she was a proud wife.
August 27, 2008
9:03 a.m.
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DisplacedColoradoan writes:
For those Republicans among you who are so eager for McCain to pick Romney who's been "in the economy," I lived in Massachusetts throughout most of his tenure as governor, and he is NO conservative. Sure, he's rebranded himself as such, but he did not run as a conservative and he certainly did not govern as one (there's no way he would have been elected here). He offered only tacit disapproval when the SJC legalized gay marriage.
Moreover, if you do a little digging into what exactly he did at the helm of Bain Capital, you'll see that he was one of those corporate raiders in the 1980s that inspired books like "Barbarians at the Gate." Bain Capital is a private equity firm that makes money for the uber-wealthy (you have to be willing to invest millions just to get in the door). They buy up depressed companies, and either liquidate them (and the employees therein) or load them up with debt and dump them on the open market while walking away with a heap of cash, while average investors get ownership in a re-branded, but ultimately debt-burdened company.
Ultimately, I think McCain HAS to pick Romney as his running mate, and it will be a SPECTACULAR failure! I for one, am looking forward to it.
August 27, 2008
9:19 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
marine76, yes, speechwriters are usually involved. But the Clintons actually work a lot on their speeches, too. According to Hillary Clinton's autobiography, they consult with many people when writing their speeches but they are also directly involved, too. We're talking about two people who love to talk to a crowd here. So, speechwriting is probably one of their preferred activities.
I think a lot of folks just don't realize how much the Clintons, for better or for worse, love politics. They have a tremendous amount of energy and work around the clock. I don't agree with some of their politics, but I have a certain respect for their remarkable reservoirs of energy and love of the game.
August 27, 2008
9:33 a.m.
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ifyem writes:
" I think a lot of folks just don't realize how much the Clintons, for better or for worse, love politics. They have a tremendous amount of energy and work around the clock. I don't agree with some of their politics, but I have a certain respect for their remarkable reservoirs of energy and love of the game."
Yeah I would love politics as much as the Clintons if I received the political "gifts" that they receive on an annual basis..
August 27, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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Zim writes:
I just hope they get the Pepsi Center cleaned up in time for the Avs.
August 27, 2008
9:40 a.m.
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wow writes:
"Right here? You want to drill right here?" Pelosi asked. "Can we drill your brain?"
-------------
Boy, that's mature....
Way to show the public that you care.
It doesn't matter if you think they're simple, or if you disagree. Rude, unprofessional, inflammatory and insulting comebacks are not acceptable from any public figure.
If you can't behave in public, Nancy, stay home.
August 27, 2008
9:41 a.m.
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marine76 writes:
I'm sure that politics beats having to work for a living. I know they put in a lot of hours etc. but how much work do they really do?
August 27, 2008
9:45 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
ifyem: "Yeah I would love politics as much as the Clintons if I received the political "gifts" that they receive on an annual basis.."
Yes, I'm sure they don't mind at all the wealth they have reaped. But mainly, I think they love power and control and just being in constant action. These are two people who were each born with a driving need to compete - and to win.
Injected in there somewhere is probably a belief they have the right ideologies, too. But I certainly don't deny they probably savor all the perks of fame.
August 27, 2008
9:51 a.m.
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broncofan73 writes:
I am so sick of these politicans. They spend their whole lives working towards on goal, lining their pockets with as money as they can get. That's why Congress has a lower approval rating than the President. Nobody cares about the little people anymore.
When are fore fathers wrote the Constitution, they weren't looking for careerist, they were looking for the common folk.
We need to take back Congress and put it into the hands of the common folk again. Very incumbent that is up for reelection needs to be voted out and someone new in their place. We need term limits, and no more pays raises for themselves.
What is the first thing that they vote for when a new term starts, a pay raise for themselves. They have better health care and retirement benefits when they leave office, than before they started.
This is not what our fore fathers wanted Congress to be.
It's time we the people stand up and take back what is ours!!
August 27, 2008
9:57 a.m.
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JSeifert writes:
I watched the convention with Hillary and I can say one thing for sure Mrs Obama looked pissed. Maybe it was the fact Hillary got standing ovations time and time again and she did not or maybe there was real support for Hillary and she did not get that but maybe its the fact Hillary could have won and Obama can not. But one thing I knew was what I was getting with Hillary but with OBama I do not so McCain it is.
August 27, 2008
10:02 a.m.
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joggle writes:
rick: Where did you find those Nielsen ratings? According to the Nielsen number reported by the AP the first night of the convention had a higher viewership than Kerry's (at least 22.3 million viewers compared to 18.4 million back in 2004 -- see http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j2...). That's without counting PBS and CNBC.
timeandagain: "We don't need you or your disciples to win in November!"
Umm, yes we do. It is foolish to think that Obama can win without nearly the full support of the people behind Clinton. I think she did just about as well as possible last night to bring them over to Obama so hopefully they won't be such sore losers as to stay home or vote for McCain in spite this Novemeber.
Cowboy63: "Don't these people understand that the American people are not pro-abortion?"
According to who? According to the last poll I read (can't find a newer one) only 22% are in favor of an outright ban on abortion. See http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/0...
marine76: "The people giving the speech never write their own material."
No, Bush Jr never writes his own material. Bill Clinton, Biden and Obama often write their own speeches with varying amounts of help from speech writers. I don't know what Hillary usually does but I know that she and her staff were making tons of last-minute changes to the speech she gave last night.
However, it's true that no major politician writes all of the speeches they give since that would take an inordinate amount of time to do well. Some politicians are more involved in reviewing speeches than others and I would place Bill Clinton and Obama pretty high on the list of people involved in writing their own speeches and put Bush Jr dead last.
August 27, 2008
10:04 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
broncofan, I agree, but there are many forces against us.
Primarily, the media, who has to boil down every story to a two-sided boxing match, no matter what they are reporting on.
Apparently, the media has decided this produces far more interesting, if not completely accurate, news stories.
So, when election time rolls around, the media is quick to decide which two candidates they want to cover the most. Or, when a notable event occurs or controversial piece of legislation is proposed, the media picks representatives from only two opposing sides to quote.
There is never a third, fourth, or fifth perspective. Evidently, our media believe Americans are too stupid to process too much information.
Thus, no matter the issue, or candidate, we are presented with simple "either or" choices.
And this lends itself very well to creating a Congress that lacks true diversity of opinions, and which would be more truly representative of the people.
August 27, 2008
10:10 a.m.
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mojambo writes:
A spectacular failure, the likes of which haven't seen since 3 AM this past Saturday?
August 27, 2008
11 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
This year the DNC is bust compared to thier conventions past. I remember the gifted Mr. Mario Coumo's articulate and eloquent speech years ago, yet to see him topped. Democrats are divided as ever, speeches were boring party rhetoric. I was hoping for better, but it's like they really don't believe in Mr. Obama. Hopefully Mr. Clinton can deliver, that boy has a lot of personality. Seems even the democrats know the best and most experenced person they had is on the sidelines, Ms. Clinton. I don't care for McCain, but what alternative do I have, a gifted speech maker with no substance or experence?
August 27, 2008
11:37 a.m.
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marine76 writes:
Joggle - how do you know that your hero's write their own speeches and none of your enemies do? Are you one of the speech writers? I don't believe for a second that any of them write their own speeches. They have a bunch of researchers polling the masses and then the write their speeches toward what the people want to hear. After it's all over, they do whatever they want. So the speeches are pretty much a waste of time anyway. Just window dressing.
August 27, 2008
11:48 a.m.
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joggle writes:
marine76: The same way anybody else that doesn't know them personally does -- what other political insiders say about them and also what they say about themselves (largely information I get from watching Meet the Press). How else would anyone know?
To flip the question, how would you know that they never write their own speeches?
As for speeches being window dressing, that's bull. Historically major speeches have had quite an effect -- just last night a historian recalled how a formal Democrat who had lost the nomination gave a great speech at the convention and put a huge amount of doubt into the delegates in regards to whether they really chose the best candidate leading to tepid support for the nominee. In decades past a good speech has been critical in times of war to keep people's moral up and to set a course for the government to take. A huge part of why Bush's approval rate skyrocketed after 9/11 was thanks to several speeches he made, including a great one in front of a joint session of Congress.
August 27, 2008
11:52 a.m.
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marine76 writes:
All the promises they make in their speeches. Later they will say they can't deliver any of them beacuse of the other side. Just like now, everything is Bush's fault. Instead of trying to work together to do what's best for America both sides are looking out for their own interests and blaming the other side for the problems. Pelosi said the first 100 days of Obama's term will see an amazing number of things getting done. Why can't they work together and get things done now. What has Congress or the Senate done since the Democrats took over? We will see a rash of legislation that supports the Democrat agenda, but is that really what's best for America? I agree with others on this blog, we need to clean house and find some honest people to run the country.
August 27, 2008
1:36 p.m.
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jay writes:
i heard some right wing pundits say this morning that no matter where you are on the political spectrum, if you looked at hill's speech objectively, you can't make the case that she didn't hit it out of the park for obama.
apparently our far right wing posters didn't get the objectivity memo.
oh...and lots of right wing myths here from our regs.
cowboy...how many times do we have keep debunking your myths about a second carter term and dems being "pro-abortion"?
shaggy...seriously...get an education or quit posting stuff we've already proved was inaccurate. iran doesn't have nukes, biden is bringing votes to hillary. jebus...i can't believe yo'ure still posting this crap.
louie, you say that you'd vote for bush again instead of obama, but then claim to be an independent.
that's complete bs.
don't pretend to be what you're not...i think you and i went round and round about that before.
let's not do that dance again.
reason...i am not surprised that you love the latest right wing conspiracy theory parable about socialism.
that's a great dog whistle for someone like you.
bronco...take a civics class. the congressional approval ratings are so low because republicans are obstructing initiatives and legislation with the support of the majority of americans...which is why they'll lose even more seats come november.
the beatings will continue until they get the message that they need to start representing the average american.
finally...after reading a couple of hairfarmers talking about how "far left" obama is...i ask again....if he's so far left...why do the majority of americans support his stances on the policies? do you also believe most americans to be "far left" or can we deduce that from your extremist position on the far right of the political spectrum you simple can't determine what is "far left" and what is left of the far right?