And Now, Random Convention Thoughts

admin | July 29, 2004 12:37 am

  • Al Sharpton: good speech. My favorite line was this:

    You [President Bush on Friday before the Urban League] said the Republican Party was the party of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is true that Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after which there was a commitment to give 40 acres and a mule.

    That’s where the argument, to this day, of reparations starts. We never got the 40 acres. We went all the way to Herbert Hoover, and we never got the 40 acres.

    We didn’t get the mule. So we decided we’d ride this donkey as far as it would take us.

    Also,I hereby revoke the right of any commentator who mentions “Tawana Brawley” [spelling corrected] to tell Democrats to “get over” Florida.

  • Bob Graham, Bill Richardson, Ed Rendell, and Jennifer Granholm: Great content, mixed on delivery. Graham was worst (even his “Osama bin Forgotten” line fell flat), Richardson next worst, Granholm not bad but needs to talk faster, and Rendell did a decent job making energy policy entertaining. Here’s a tip for watching speeches like these, meaning speeches for which the content is more important than the delivery.

    Step 1: Get Tivo.

    Step 2: Record the convention

    Step 3: Bring up subtitles (SAP)

    Step 4: Watch on fast forward.

  • At long last, I know how to pronounce “Shalikashvili” — just like it’s spelled, except that the first two i’s are pronounced like hard e’s. Shalikashvili’s best line was at the start of his speech: “But I do not stand here as a political figure. Rather, I am here as an old soldier and a new Democrat.”
  • The montage of statements from generals and admirals endorsing Kerry should be made into a commercial of some sort.

    Speaking of generals and admirals, surely the DNC can find someone of high rank from the USMC to join the rest? If not, I’ll volunteer my father (Captain, USMC, 6 years, mostly in Vietnam). He’s not particularly fond of Kerry but recently opined, “I’ll tell you one thing, son: George Bush is not fit to lead this country.”

  • Edwards: Good speech, not great. Unlike Joe “Mentum” Lieberman, he’ll debate circles around Cheney. In fact, the prospect of that debate may revive the talk of Cheney leaving the ticket. For health reasons, of course.

    Edwards’ best line: “And we, John and I, we will have one clear unmistakable message for al Qaeda and these terrorists: You cannot run. You cannot hide. We will destroy you.” Best catchphrase: “Hope is on the way.”

  • The convention closed with a live performance by the Black Eyed Peas singing “Let’s Get it Started” [in here]. Given that the actual song is “Let’s Get Retarded”, and “Let’s Get it Started” is the radio version, have the Democrats at long last cast off the political correctness label?

AB

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