That one made me laugh so hard that I spit my drink all over the screen! Nice!

This might require compromise (the HORRORS!)

For the Republicans, compromising was never an option they would even consider, because it did not serve their goal: preventing Obama from signing any legislation into law that would be viewed positively by most Americans. You are aware that the GOP members of Congress met right after Obama's 2008 inaugural speech, in which he stated that he planned to be known as the "bi-partisan President" and decided that they would make a liar out of the President by voting against ANY legislation that Obama supported, regardless of the consequences, correct? They bragged about this to reporters in 2012, when they thought that it had cost Obama his bid for re-election, and they wanted to make sure that they got the credit for it. They boasted at how the better a piece of legislation would be viewed for the country, the harder they fought to block it. This also helps explain the historically unheard of practice of voting against legislation that they, themselves, introduced; but only after Obama signaled that he would sign it if it made it to his desk. Since 2008, the GOP has intentionally voted against America's best interests, all so Obama cannot take credit for anything positive happening during his presidency. The GOP thinks this is a great political strategy, I think it is treason! I just do not know what the Democratic leadership could have done to force the Republicans to do their job that they did not do.

Our convention coverage here is going to spill over well into next week, because I have a lot of material to cover, but haven't had the time (or necessary sleep) to get to it all. I will try to post some of it tomorrow (Friday), but for now there are two new articles up, one by me (which LizM is going to LOVE) and one by my lovely wife.

So check them out, folks! I, for one, am going to bed.

:-)

-CW

Putting myself in the shoes of a conservative I would have heard a. Not going to take my guns, riiiiight. b. You're going to take all my money. c. Why not invite the whole world to come on over. Quick channel surfing after the speech had several talking heads stating that "Bernie could have given that speech."

A couple of items that were small but interesting to me. Nice of her to mention the service of Governor Pences's son. Hillary: "I had to pick myself up off the carpet" Bill: "Et tu Hillary?!"

All points worthy of further discussion ... but I'm done for tonight.

Seriously, nicely put!

The biggest problem is that the leadership is collectively the weakest I have seen. Senators Reid and McConnell are absolute wimps. Rep. Pelosi was a horrible speaker and no better as minority leader. I actually had hopes for Speaker Ryan, sigh.

There never had been or ever will be a valid reason for the Senate to not take action on a presidential nomination for any judicial position. A possible exception was Harriet Miers (mostly kidding). Failing to have a vote on Judge Garland is in defiance of the Constitution and is highly disrespectful of the President. Republicans are foolish if they think either presidential candidate would make a better choice.

The ACA was a start. No one could think that something that massive would be a final product or that making it go away would be an option. No business in a similar situation would fail to put some smart people in a room until they had a solution. Not if they wanted to stay in business. This might require compromise (the HORRORS!)

What do you think moderate Republicans would have preferred to hear from her?

Please see the earlier column with 350+ comments.

Michale has made a conscious and serious effort to let us have our moment in this thread. He's the one who should be congratulated!

I was only able to watch two other speeches. Reverend Barber absolutely killed it. General Allen not so much. I read the transcripts of the Obama (both), Vice President Biden, Senator Kaine, and former president Clinton speeches. All were excellent the President and First Lady were outstanding.

The party's still going on! The energy and joy in the arena. This is everything I had hoped it would be this week.

And, who says this isn't her own special talent!?

Phenomenal convention, all around!

But, I think it will be far easier to find up-wing Republicans than down-wing Democrats. Although, a good place to start looking for the latter might be the MDDOTW club! :)

JL

They usually are. :)

This one in particular, though, as it kind of bookends an illustrious career as senator, statesman, and vice president.

It points to the way forward as opposed to Mr. Trump going backwards, or something.

Actually, there is new way of designating political leaders that leaves the old right wing/left wing classification behind that I was telling Michale about a while back ...

I think a description of "up-wing" is in order.
It's a term used by one of my favourite political analysts, William Bradley, and was derived from an idea that former Senator Gary Hart showed him to characterize political figures using a past-future spectrum instead of the usual right-wing/left-wing classification.

To paraphrase Bradley, this past-future spectrum naturally runs from the up end to the down end of the spectrum, with the futurist (up) end characterized by new technology, creative utilizations of existing technology, and new structural forms to pursue enduring values and new visions.

The up-wing leader places a special emphasis on big think/think big future-oriented and enlightened policies in an effort to position a society on the global cutting edge, even in the midst of great challenges and crises that would paralyze a more down-wing political leader.

Additionally, to quote Bradley, "big thinking, big ideas need not be about big items per se. In fact, some of the biggest thinking is about small things, or more accurately, how to bring smaller things into play to solve problems that big things might make worse."

This is a far superior method of characterizing the current crop of presidential candidates than the out-dated and tired left-wing/right wing labels because it identifies the candidate most capable of outlining a coherent vision for the future and of possessing the courage to carry it out, in the face of great opposition from special interest groups.

The up-wing/down-wing designation is particularly applicable to this presidential campaign.

JL

That has been one of my most favourite Biden quotes for about as long as I've been following his public service career.

Quote of the night, decade and century, indeed!

"We lead not only by example of our power, but by the power of our example."

This is a quote that will live on for all time.

I just re-watched Biden's speech. It was delivered practically flawlessly.

I have no idea what verbal crashes you are talking about but, it doesn't matter. It was, as you say, a terrific speech.

Very sorry to hear about your mother. I'm lucky to still have my mother, living with me, and am so fortunate to be able to care for her at home. I'm sorry if I have come across as overly sensitive myself but, over the years, I have seen and heard everything about Biden and/or his speaking style, to put it kindly, from people who know nothing about him.

What you describe has ALWAYS been the way Biden speaks and has little to do with his age or his brain aneurism which he suffered shortly after having to pull out of the 1988 presidential campaign in the wake of a faux-plagiarism charge.

Did you know that when he was a kid he had a severe stutter. Which he worked hard to overcome by reciting poetry.

In future, try to avoid making unwarranted assumptions and comparisons.

The limits of mortality -- we won't have him forever. That was the subtext for me.

While we're on my favourite subject, ahem ...

Here's what I think were the most important two lines in Biden's speech last night and it wasn't the first time he has said it:

"The 21st century is going to be the American century. Because we lead not only by example of our power, but by the power of our example."

Most important not least because this is how America will defeat the Islamic State and its ilk.

Here is what I think was the most important two lines in Biden's speech last night and it wasn't the first time he has said it:

"The 21st century is going to be the American century. Because we lead not only by example of our power, but by the power of our example."

Most important not least because this is how America will defeat the Islamic State and its ilk.

Are you sure about that? That can't be right! :)

Heh.

Seriously, indeed!

my pleasure. i loved living in philly, and it's been too long since i visited.

It may rain today, so I will give the temperature idea a try.

Thanks for helping out! I've been away from the sauna that is "humidity" for too long, obviously...

:-)

-CW

seriously, how anyone can support donald on the one hand and at the same time decry ANYONE else for "extreme carelessness" is beyond me!

JL

Perhaps even more disturbing than his nod and wink subcontracting of espionage to the Russians is Trump's statement that he will "look into"
recognizing Russia's invasion and annexation of Crimea.

http://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-to-look-at-recognizing-crimea-as-russian-territory

What is there to look into? Beyond creating a Neville Chamberlain award so it can be given to Trump? What exactly is in this for the US? Art of the Deal?

Trump is about to get his National Security Briefing. There are briefings and there a briefings. I think Trumps personalized briefing should be heavy on history, low on secrets and make use finger puppets.

you know what douglas adams said in the HHGTTG:

There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

donald has been throwing himself at the ground fairly hard for over a year, yet still seems to be airborne. adams gives a hint on the reason for this too:

the trick usually lies in not thinking too hard about whatever you want to do, but just allowing it to happen as if it were going to anyway.

i don't think anyone would ever accuse donald of thinking too hard about anything.

JL

I guess he was being "sarcastic" (his explanation for his latest outrageous utterance about Russian hacking) when he said that he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and he wouldn't lose any supporters.

I'm beginning to think that even Trump is surprised by the lack of negative impact on his support in the wake of all of his outrageousness. To the point where one can't help but consider that Trump is trying to lose this election.

Now, THAT was funny! :)

Her recovery has indeed been remarkable and inspiring.

I hope she is ultimately successful in her equally inspiring efforts to enact commonsense gun control laws. The time may have come where the coalition that is coalescing in support of these laws has reached the tipping point.

your boy had a good night. A really good night.

It was vintage Biden and something I have come to expect and cherish whenever and wherever he takes whatever stage.

It has taken a very long time, from Senator to Vice President, for this recognition to have finally settled in with so many Americans. But, it is infinitely satisfying - and, certainly, better late than never, I always say ... :)

That is the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire. And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman—not me, not Bill, nobody—more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America.
~barack obama

I think so ...

Perhaps you missed her lovely follow-up, "he stumbled here and there" ...

Do they teach how to be complimentary where Paula is from because, she sucks at it. Heh.

Most things run a little differently up here. Ahem. :)

Now, THAT's how to pay a compliment!

Yer kidding, right? If I missed it? Very funny.

Seriously, it was a great speech and a truly wonderful moment, just before the speech began.

As Paula stated, it was a perfect example of, how did she put it ... oh, yeah ... "disjointed intensity ... he stumbled here and there"

Some things never change.

But, that's okay ... the people who really mattered to me, after the last seven and a half years, were the people in the arena last night who finally, FINALLY gave back to Biden the love and respect he had been giving to them for the last 40 plus years ... heartwarming doesn't tell the half of it.

it's not the jeep. it sounds like you did the right thing, but sometimes you have to play with the temperature as well; try keeping the A/C on and the fan on defrost, but the temperature not so cold. not being there that's my best guess, but maybe there's something to this canuckistan theory ;)

JL

Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree -- the planners (and Hillary herself, most likely) have indeed been bending over backwards to be inclusive of Bernie, and I think it is paying dividends among the delegates.

Also, from the stage, everyone from Barack Obama on down has been very generous with praise for Bernie. And I think that's a good thing, and is also helpful.

LizM [2] -

Because then he's more likely to think he can get away with it? Just a guess....

nypoet22 -

But that's what I did when the outside of the window started fogging up! I mean, that's what I thought the right thing to do was, but it doesn't seem to be working. The car (a Jeep) has Ontario license plates (licence plates?), so maybe it works different in Canuckistan? [quickly ducks, as LizM reads that... heh].

Paula/LizM -

Hey, I read "disjointed intensity" as a compliment, personally.

I heard more than once, from journalists and others outside the arena: "If Biden was the nominee, he'd be leading Trump by 15 points..."

Biden had a VERY good night, no matter what phrase you use to describe it. See above comment.

Paula -

I was actually surprised how effective an attack dog Kaine was. I never thought he had it in him, but he did a pretty good job taking Trump down a peg or two.

BashiBazouk -

Obama's used that line before, but it's always effective! We had some sound problems where I was sitting, so some of Obama's speech was hard to hear, but we also had a screen with the closed captioning turned on, so we got his words a few seconds delayed.

TheStig -

Ah, but did he have on an Orioles baseball cap (bird on front, bright orange brim)?

I don't have time to upload photos, but I got a GREAT one of Clarence Page, for next week (promise!).

Paula -

Well, if Erickson is annoyed, then the night was probably a success. Especially if he was annoyed because the Dems seem so sane compared to Trump!

:-)

Gotta run, very late. I will try to post a column tomorrow, before Day Four gets started... gotta grab a few hours sleep now... conventions = no sleep, that's the one constant I've learned you can count on...

-CW

OK, I haven't read these comments yet, but before I do, your boy had a good night.

A really good night.

Joe Biden's speech is neck-and-neck for the best speech of the entire convention, as far as I'm concerned. At this point, I think I'd have to give Michelle Obama the edge, but Biden is a VERY close second, and third place is pretty far behind both of them. Joe knocked it out of the freakin' park tonight.

The crowd LOVED the speech. I mean, absolute rapture inside the arena. Not sure if the cameras caught it or not, but man, the place was ON FIRE for Biden.

If you missed it, dig up his intro bio video too, it was easily one of the best videos of the whole convention (only rivalled, perhaps, by Barack's).

Like I said, a VERY good night. Just had to say that. I will have more to say on this subject in a column, but for now just had to share that with you.

-CW

:-)

Great line.

Is that really the best you can do?

What a wonderful first comment on Biden's speech tonight.

@CW,
Put the a/c on and set the fan to defrost.

JL

Has anyone noticed that when his poll numbers rise, so does the frequency and degree of Mr. Trumps outrageous statements?

Are there any theories as to why this is?

I think Bill's speech last night was so important in countering the, as he said, "cartoon image" that has been created about Hillary over the years. And he brought up thing she'd done I'd forgotten about -- there's so many!

Glad your parking is free! Looking forward to tonight!