Thursday Democratic National Convention running commentary thread

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

It's not a great speech.

Al isn't a great speaker, Nick.  Never was.

[© tweed]

not nearly as good as his 2004 speech (and I thought his 2000 acceptance speech was excellent, but then again, I was 9), but it's nice to hear from the old man.  he doesn't give many major speeches anymore so the rustiness is to be expected.

[The Mikado]

I'm an Al Gore man, always have been.

[War on Want]

I am liking Gore's speech, just not as much as I thought he would.

[J. J.]

Framing is hideous.  Too many celebrities; looks like a rock concert.  It's not being carried on the network however.

How much does the RNC pay you?

Nothing, the framing is hideous.  The speech itself is important.  Hell, even Harold Ford was was not overly impressed as of yesterday.

Like I said, 1996, the DNC overall was terrible, Clinton's speech was great.  Obama's (and McCain's) speeches are the most important things.  In this one, the secondary things are Michelle's, Hillary's, and Bill's speeches.  Hillary's was the only one that approached stellar, but the others were OK, and didn't do any harm.

This is bad, because it re-enforces the celebrity aspect, but it generally isn't covered by the networks, so it's limited.

I can understand why you would want this to go over bad but you have to realize Americans have pretty short attention spans and are also mostly idiots so a rock concert feel is very good for winning over votes. I don't agree, if it was my choice, for my entertainment it would either be a mix of Warped Tour and Democrats speaking or just serious substance. Of course the former would never happen.

No, I love it as a Republican.  It's terrible, in terms of staging.  Not to mention that CNN has the audio screwed up.

That said, Gore is giving a absolutely kick-ass speech, which is better than Michelle's, Bill's, or Hillary's.  He just invoked the Bible.  And, the the major networks are not covering it.  He's being played on and off by "Let the Sunshine In," in another gigantically bad framing.

[Math]

It's not a great speech.

Al isn't a great speaker, Nick.  Never was.

Yes he can.

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=wApxxm-vOgQ

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I can't believe Gore wasn't being covered properly

[Meeker]

I thought Gore's speech was rather good.

And the set-up looks just like any other convention... it just happens to be outside.

[exopolitician]

I thought Gore's speech was rather good.

And the set-up looks just like any other convention... it just happens to be outside.

I like the setup tonight better than the past few nights. I also thought Gore's speech was actually really good...Bill Richardsons "McCain pays hundreds of dollars for his shoes, but we have to pay for his flip-flops" was pretty amazing too.

[J. J.]

I can't believe Gore wasn't being covered properly

This speech was the closest to a 10 that I've seen in this convention.

Setting is hideous; Brokaw just called it "imperious," and "extension of the Brandenburg Gate."  The crowd is too far from the speakers.  CNN screwed up the sound.  Oberman is trying to talk them out of it.

And the speech that I'm rating a near 10, isn't being covered by the network.

[© tweed]

the major networks really didn't cover Gore?

[Keystone Phil]

the major networks really didn't cover Gore?

They don't cut in until 10 PM (eastern). ABC and NBC are covering pre-season football.

[Meeker]

Oh, it's Joe again. Hopefully he has a few more things to say about McCain.

[J. J.]

the major networks really didn't cover Gore?

Yes, I checked.

They ought to fire whomever came up with this boneheaded idea for holding this in a stadium.

[exopolitician]

Uhg...I hate that they are reading off parts of Obama's speech before he has even taken the stage. I had to mute my TV cause I didn't want to hear anything yet.

[Meeker]

Uhg...I hate that they are reading off parts of Obama's speech before he has even taken the stage. I had to mute my TV cause I didn't want to hear anything yet.

C-SPAN baby!

[WalterMitty]

will obama be doing any faith healing tonight?

people going to be leaving the stadium without the wheelchairs they came in on?

[Sbane]

Uhg...I hate that they are reading off parts of Obama's speech before he has even taken the stage. I had to mute my TV cause I didn't want to hear anything yet.

Watch it online. http://gallery1.demconvention.com/

[ChrisFromNJ]

The full speech is here:

http://thepage.time.com/prepared-remarks-of-obamas-nomination-acceptance-speech/

[J. J.]

will obama be doing any faith healing tonight?

people going to be leaving the stadium without the wheelchairs they came in on?

Not nice, but that could be the impression.  

They say the speech is long and that he uses the word "I" a lot.

[Lunar]

blah blah it's Bush's fault that people overseas are better at doing my job than me.

[Sbane]

I like these random people from swing states. They do connect with normal people imho.

[Sbane]

blah blah it's Bush's fault that people overseas are better at doing my job than me.

It's Bush's fault that they can pay people at below living wages and pollute as much as they want and still bring their product into our country for nothing.

[ChrisFromNJ]

They say the speech is long and that he uses the word "I" a lot.

How much does Rush pay you?

[Lunar]

blah blah it's Bush's fault that people overseas are better at doing my job than me.

It's Bush's fault that they can pay people at below living wages and pollute as much as they want and still bring their product into our country for nothing.

Haha, exactly.  More tariffs!  That's what economists think is the right thing to do.  And if those smartie pants with their PhD's (ALL OF THEM) disagree, then let's ask uneducated people working in dying industries about foundational economic matters!

Jobs aren't going to China and Mexico because they pay people below living wage, the vast majority of their workers are living.  Jobs are going because of comparative advantage and the fact that it is cheaper for Chinese people to build things relative to everything else they could do.  In America, it's cheapest for us to make chemicals, airplanes, and IT services and trade for things made in a "plant."

Here's a newsflash.  If you work in anyplace called a "plant" you do not have job security.  Go to a local community college and begin the process of retraining yourself for a modern economy.

That's my rant.