DNC Convention

Oh and I can't leave out the Chris Matthews quote of the night:

"If Clinton landed on Mars, he would know how to do it with them. He would know how to reproduce. He would know everything. He'd just instinctively know. How to talk to people. He'd be laughing in about five minutes."

And he'd be elected King of Mars in no time flat.  Charisma.  Wish I could get me some of that!

That reminds me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOHcyIjnaZY

Bill Clinton has this, "I'm not running for anything, seeking a prize, or out for personal gain.  I'm just trying to help YOU." personna.  That's why he's so popular and powerful now.

The risk is in Clinton upstaging Obama.  The Dems now have to quickly get him off stage and out of the way to put the spotlight on Obama.

The political positioning of a possible Hillary in 2016 with Bill at her side as "First Gentleman" is quite intriguing.  Could he use that charm and charisma to catapult his "estranged"? wife in 4 years?

Elevating Sandra Fluke is the same as the Repubs elevating Christian Conservatives - trying to energize the base.  This election can't be won by just those people already decided.  Theer are a lot of undecidedes out there and each party needs it's base to work hard to swing them over to their side.  While there's always been a lot of potential on the Dem side for students, young, minorities (if you could call non-Caucasians "minorities" anymore) - these are the least likely people to vote.

Compared to the Repubs who have more enthusiasm about Herman Cain and Sarah Palin than they do their own candidate, a rogue Tea Party movement who doesn't give a $hit about the party leadership or party direction as a whole, and the schism between hard-core Conservatives who want the Repub party to take a massive leap to the right while others want to stay closer to the middle...  The Dems look very much united.

While I don't think tonight will be a policy speech with specific details...  I'll take that $5 bet that there'll be more substance than in what Romney delivered which was bupkis!  It may not be much, but there'll be something.  (He has a clear and unfair advantage in going after the RNC.  They've had a week to analyze the RNC and prep the message+response.)

Bill's personal gain is the adoration of the media and the crowds.  He loves that stuff.  I still think we should put him up for Sec General of the UN even though I'm as R as they get.

I have to call Bull on your "enthusiasm" comment.  Herman Cain lost a long time ago, Sarah Palin wasn't invited to the convention and last I checked was just a political commentator now.  I think you need to stop watching so much MSNBC and check out the other side every once in a while.  Republicans are firmly behind Romney now.  I think he missed an opportunity with not picking Rubio, but Ryan really energizes the base.  Romney's got more strong support from R's than Bush had the second time around.

I'll take your $5 bet on the substance vs rhetoric.  But how do we decide that?  a Poll on BT perhaps?

When I win your $5, I'm going to donate it to the Right to Life Foundation... ooohh that'll hurt...

The lack of specifics from Romney frustrates me too, but I'm guessing he thinks he can win on the "Obama failed" platform similar to Obama beating McCain on the "Bush failed" platform.

If Romney goes out and details all his cuts he's planning then he'd stoke the fires in the special interests that value those items.  Same with Obama, if he comes out and says where he's going to spend money or cut money then he gets hammered even more.  So it's safer to just say "i'll invest in the economy and raise taxes on the rich" or "I'll cut spending and lower taxes for everybody".  

I don't think I can fault Obama any more than Romney about a lack of specifics because they're both doing the same thing.

As far as being a good public speaker Clinton is one of the best if not the best of the last 100 years.  Reagan is pretty darn good to so I think it's a very close race between those two for best speaker as president.  Tough call.

You can tell it's still Bill's party and Obama is just driving the car for right now.  If Bill were allowed to run again he would and he would probably win.  People just want to like the guy.

"Driving Miss Hillary"?

Yeah.  I could see that. 

I'm actually quite curious as to what type of "marriage" the Clintons have these days.  They never seem to be in the same place as Sec State and his political/charitable work have them in different corners of the world all the time.  I wonder if she truly ever forgave him.  I wonder if there's still any love or if they've morphed into a modern "political couple" with their own agendas.  A marriage on paper.  Very different than both Romney and Obama whom have had long, strong marriages.

Well said!

I did listen to Clinton last night and as always enjoyed hearing him speak...not so much what everythiing he said.  Interesting that one point he was trying to make was working with Repubs to get the job done and that Dems were better at working across parties.  Really?  I have not seen that with this adminsitration.  I don't see either party trying to work together to get anything done.

Another observation, I caught part of Sandra Fluke, listening to her you would think that the Obama administration has chased down all the fraudulant bankers and has reformed wallstreet!  Who has gone to jail?  Who has been indicted?  Noone that I am aware of.  I didn't hear her entire speach but she did absolutely nothing for me.

Speaking of 2/3rds votes: That clip was 2+ years ago, this clip of the convention was from yesterday, Sep 5. 

Look past the subject matter (the procedural ruling & platform wording) and gain an insight into how the leadership 'governs' regardless of the actual voting and people's wishes.

It is clear that 2/3rds did NOT agree, but it was declared passed anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4z64YjfEaQ

Morphed into? They always have been.

When the outcome is already on the teleprompter...