Convention Day 3

Wow. That was a good night. The convention is definitely building like a crescendo.

The roll call vote, which is now so much theatre, was well orchestrated. Hillary making the motion to end the roll call and make it unanimous, put all of the speculation of a last ditch effort to wrestle the nomination away from Obama to rest once and for all. Any holdout PUMA's have issues that are clearly personal and have nothing to do with the Democratic Party or any of the platform issues. Anyone who voted for Hillary who would consider voting for McCain has problems that NO ONE is going to be able to talk them out of.

For me the best of the night came from Bill Clinton and John Kerry.

Any speculation from last night about what Hillary should have said but didn't was smacked down hard and fast by Bill.

Some key lines -

Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama.

That makes two of us.

Actually that makes 18 million of us because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November.
....
Everything I learned in my eight years as President and in the work I've done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.

He has a remarkable ability to inspire people, to raise our hopes and rally us to high purpose. He has the intelligence and curiosity every successful President needs. His policies on the economy, taxes, health care and energy are far superior to the Republican alternatives. He has shown a clear grasp of our foreign policy and national security challenges, and a firm commitment to repair our badly strained military. His family heritage and life experiences have given him a unique capacity to lead our increasingly diverse nation and to restore our leadership in an ever more interdependent world. The long, hard primary tested and strengthened him. And in his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park. .....
Most important, Barack Obama knows that America cannot be strong abroad unless we are strong at home. People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power. (my emphasis - that is quintessential Clinton)

And then John Kerry showed, like Gore (who I hope will deliver tomorrow), that he is so much better than what we saw from him in his campaign. This may have been my favorite speech so far, and one I really wasn't looking forward to seeing. Some key lines -

I have known and been friends with John McCain for almost 22 years. But every day now I learn something new about candidate McCain. To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician, I say, let's compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain.
...
Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain's own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you're against it.

Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself.
...
The McCain-Bush Republicans have been wrong again and again and again. And they know they will lose on the issues. So, the candidate who once promised a "contest of ideas," now has nothing left but personal attacks. How insulting to suggest that those who question the mission, question the troops. How pathetic to suggest that those who question a failed policy doubt America itself. How desperate to tell the son of a single mother who chose community service over money and privilege that he doesn't put America first. No one can question Barack Obama’s patriotism. (my emphasis)

Joe Biden's speech was good. Not quite as fiery as I had hoped for, but his story is so compelling. The intro from his son, Delaware Attorney General and reservist about to ship out to Iraq, was really moving. It seems that it would be difficult to have someone who has been a senator for 35 years not be "part of Washington." But they made that point well and he brings experience and foreign policy expertise to the ticket without taking away from the "Change" brand.

The choice in this election is clear. These times require more than a good soldier; they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change—the change everybody knows we need.

And then a litany of -

John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right.

on Afghanistan, talks with Iran, and the timetable to leave Iraq.

Tomorrow is the big show in the stadium with Obama (who made a "surprise" appearance after Biden's speech). Supposedly Gore will speak and since losing the Presidency and winning Oscars, Grammys, and the Noble Prize he doesn't pull many punches.