Democrat Convention Fail

[drmomentum[$]]

Karl Rove has been watching the Democratic convention, and has been listening to the speeches. I'm disappointed to hear that the heartfelt, eloquent and sometimes emotional speeches have as of yet not convinced Karl Rove to vote for Obama...

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[JonSmith]

Karl Rove is a pompous blowhard who couldn't recognize a good speech if there was one. If the speech isn't promoting PNAC's and the RNC's policies, then it's a bad speech, to him.

[drmomentum[$]]

It's a sort of joke about the coverage of the convention. It amused me to see conservative commentators saying that Hillary, Bill, Biden or anyone didn't say what they needed to say because they weren't convinced. We've got people calling in to local shows who would never vote for a Democrat -- I recognize their voices and know their politics -- criticizing a speech on ridiculous criteria.

I'm not saying there aren't people that are targets of these speeches. I'm not saying there isn't a job to do of convincing people. But really.

Of course Karl Rove is not convinced. It's a laugh.

-JP

[Prepoia[$]]

I think that Bill Clinton's speech was marvelously presented. He gives great speech.
My only question is (this is about both sides) how can I believe what he's saying when I know that it is the Democratic party and not really Obama that Bill is believing in and supporting. His speech was so convincing that it actually moved me but that nagging doubt keeps me wondering how many times I've been fooled by both parties before...I'm looking forward to Obama's speech tonight. I know his idealism is real and his plans are sincere; but, I need to hear his plan to accomplish his goals.

This is a non-partisan response. I also want to hear not only the promises and ideals of the Republican party but what their plan is to actually inact change for the better. Until then, I'm uncommitted to either candidate.

It's easy to talk the talk (and promise the citizens everything they want to hear) but not so easy to walk the walk (actually be able to carry out the plans and give the people what they promised during the election process) because of the system.

[drmomentum[$]]

Quoting conservative author Andrew Sullivan on Obama's speech:

"It was a deeply substantive speech, full of policy detail, full of people other than the candidate, centered overwhelmingly on domestic economic anxiety."

So I hope you were not disappointed!

It was a speech unusual in its relative lack of airy rhetoric (for Obama) and unusual for its detail (for an acceptance speech). But, honestly, I don't think this will stop people from repeating that "they have to hear plans."

I don't think it's a partisan thing, it just seems to be something that people say. In this case, it's nice to hear Sandy say it about McCain as well, but I think both candidates have given us a pretty good idea of their plans (Google searches to fill in the blanks). If not to the detail that they can now hand those plans off, then at least to know where they want to take the country.

For me, the central issue of this campaign is that the structure of the country has been altered such that the lower end of the economy feels it when times are tough, but the "rising tide that lifts all boats" is gone. Economic disparity rules the day. Just looking at the tax plan comparison, McCain seeks to continue this trend, Obama wants to reverse it.

Secondarily, I want to see better government. In the wak of the Bush years, don't hold your breath on Republican promises of less government. We're stuck with it. But it's the Democrat's interest to make government good government rather than treat it with contempt. It's unrealistic to think that contempt works.

To quote Robert Reich:

Right-wing Republicans detest government, so when they screw it up – failing to protect the citizens of New Orleans or returning veterans in Walter Reed hospital, or wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on non-competitive bids for the military, turning budget surpluses into massive deficits – they’re proving their own subterranean point that the public can’t trust government to do anything right. Democrats, once in power, inherit this legacy of distrust and deficit, and spend much of their time in office working their way out of it. And also inordinate time and energy promoting good governmental processes (recall Al Gore’s “making government work” crusade, which holds the record for the most arduous effort generating the least media attention).

Reich's larger point (in that essay) is right, that "any means necessary" and trashing the government are refrains which give the Republicans an advantage in elections. I hope that the country is at a point where they want improvement, and not an ideology of government distrust as a veneer over an administration's incompetence.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Prepoia said

I think that Bill Clinton's speech was marvelously presented. He gives great speech.

[Prepoia[$]]

mjfrombuffalo said

I couldn't resist

I liked the speech very much.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

BTW, I loved-loved-loved Obama's speech, for the inspiration and idealistic messages as well as the political acumen I thought it exhibited. I hope he can run with those ideals and, if elected, govern with them too.

transcript of speech for those who missed it.

[theworm[$]]

watching the speech was great! He is a wonderful speaker and I liked what he said and how he said it. I liked that he attacked issues, not people. I liked the way he talked about "not red states or blue states, but United States". I like his ideals and his integrity.

[frazzledspice]

My only regret is that if he gets indicted (and there is a good possibility he will) that Bush will pardon him before he leaves office....

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

...?

[jgibson2[$]]

I think she means Karl Rove, but sometimes a little judicious quoting can make things so much clearer.