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News & ArtsTuesday, September 4, 2012
2012 DNC Night One: The Night That Was
Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 10:43 PM
The highlights of the first night of DNC speakers were Lily Ledbetter, Kal Penn, Deval Patrick, and the HILARIOUSLY ALL CAPS-y Ted Strickland.
But the breakout star was San Antonio mayor Julian Castro, whose biographical speech marked him as a Texas Democrat to watch. He struck a highly moderate tone—you kind of have to, if you're a Texas Democrat—but he also made the case for a social safety net, and he got one of the night's biggest dings on Mitt Romney, with his sarcastic dismissal of Mitt Romney's suggestion that students borrow money from their parents to start their own businesses:
But nobody could top Michelle Obama, whose speech started off a little generic but quickly transformed into the kind of speech that sets the tone for the days to come. Without mentioning the Romneys, Obama trashed them as out-of-touch, and she framed herself and President Obama as struggling middle class Americans. It was a speech that managed to relentlessly attack the Republicans without using a negative word. It was the best speech we've heard so far out of both conventions, and it left just about everybody stunned:
And after the jump, you can find the biggest non-Obama surprise of the night: A loving tribute to Ted Kennedy that transforms into a lively lambasting of Mitt Romney using debate footage of a Kennedy/Romney matchup. Republicans tried to pretend on Twitter that this video was disrespectful of Kennedy's memory—as though Republicans suddenly care about being respectful to a Kennedy—but the truth is that Teddy would've loved the video. It was just the kind of sly politicking that he lived for.
1
Thanks for posting. I had read on several sites that FLOTUS knocked it out of the park, but this was really beyond all expectation. If this speech doesn't get you choked up and put a tear in your eye, then you have my permission to vote for Mitt Romney.
3
Excellent recap. You're so right about Teddy, too - making use of him in the service of reelecting a President he believed in is the finest posthumous honor any true politician would ever want.
4
Absolutely fantastic, all of it. Michelle was spectacular and so real.
Proud of the Dem delegates -- a rainbow of humanity. In contrast to the pasty all-white all-male Republican Convention delegates.
Now get out there and get your friends to VOTE!
We cannot afford to mess this up.
Proud of the Dem delegates -- a rainbow of humanity. In contrast to the pasty all-white all-male Republican Convention delegates.
Now get out there and get your friends to VOTE!
We cannot afford to mess this up.
5
No one could have paid me enough to subject myself to the Republican convention as you did, Paul. But now I am jealous that you got to stand in the same room as Michelle and hear her speak. I think I'm in love.
6
I didn't go to college, but my kids will. First in my line. How anyone in my position could consider voting Republican simply baffles me.
7
Best moment for me was Julian Castro, hands down. What made it all the more special was watching his speech live with my Abuelos.
8
Michelle Obama's speech actually didn't do much for me. It was way better than Ann's, but that's not saying much. It was okay.
Who really rocked it for me was Ted Strickland. Holy crap! What a speech! Jesus! That's the sort of stuff you think you only get out of Republicans. It was so hot, not even Palin could touch it. The insulting one-liners were total top caliber. He just said everything we know about Romney, and said it straight and sharp. And he presented Obama's auto industry success better than Obama himself could do it. This is precisely the sort of stuff we need to hear. I'm glad that, for once, we have someone on our side who can punch it home.
And Cory Booker? Holy crap, what a way to simply introduce the party platform. I was ready to charge the stage when Villaragosa asked the delegates to vote "yey" on the platform. I wasn't sure if we were going to be voting for Cory this November or for Obama. I guess this is the attitude you take when you're about to save someone from a burning building.
And the Kennedy montage wasn't bad, either. Nice way to get even the dead guy to campaign for you.
All in all, pretty good night. Much better than any Republican convention night by multiple degrees.
Who really rocked it for me was Ted Strickland. Holy crap! What a speech! Jesus! That's the sort of stuff you think you only get out of Republicans. It was so hot, not even Palin could touch it. The insulting one-liners were total top caliber. He just said everything we know about Romney, and said it straight and sharp. And he presented Obama's auto industry success better than Obama himself could do it. This is precisely the sort of stuff we need to hear. I'm glad that, for once, we have someone on our side who can punch it home.
And Cory Booker? Holy crap, what a way to simply introduce the party platform. I was ready to charge the stage when Villaragosa asked the delegates to vote "yey" on the platform. I wasn't sure if we were going to be voting for Cory this November or for Obama. I guess this is the attitude you take when you're about to save someone from a burning building.
And the Kennedy montage wasn't bad, either. Nice way to get even the dead guy to campaign for you.
All in all, pretty good night. Much better than any Republican convention night by multiple degrees.
11
Maybe I shouldn't type stuff when it's late at night and I'm sleepy and apparently incapable of prrofreading.
12
I didn't watch Ann Romney's speech when it happened, but after I saw Michelle, I had to go back and find it.
Wow! Prom Princess vs Woman. No contest.
Wow! Prom Princess vs Woman. No contest.
13
Wow. She's amazing. And she delineated the differences between hope and avarice without ever mentioning avarice by name.
14
Ted Strickland gave an essentially perfect speech, and was the perfect speaker to give it.
Independent, conservative leaning, and from Ohio talking passionately and in specifics about all Obama has done for Ohioans(?).
I know the Romney camp was shaking a little watching that one. I wish I lived in a swing state. My presidential vote is essentially wasted in deep blue Maryland, something I am sure all you Washingtonians are quite familiar with.
Independent, conservative leaning, and from Ohio talking passionately and in specifics about all Obama has done for Ohioans(?).
I know the Romney camp was shaking a little watching that one. I wish I lived in a swing state. My presidential vote is essentially wasted in deep blue Maryland, something I am sure all you Washingtonians are quite familiar with.
16
8
yeah.
dammit, dead guys have been voting for Democraps for years so its high time their dead politicians pulled their weight.....
yeah.
dammit, dead guys have been voting for Democraps for years so its high time their dead politicians pulled their weight.....
19
@14
Yeah, but you get to make Maryland the first state to vote to legalize marriage equality.
Ok, so does Maine. But if you and your neighbors volunteer you might win big and you might beat Maine to marriage equality being declared a winner.
So please go volunteer. :)
Yeah, but you get to make Maryland the first state to vote to legalize marriage equality.
Ok, so does Maine. But if you and your neighbors volunteer you might win big and you might beat Maine to marriage equality being declared a winner.
So please go volunteer. :)
20
Loved Strickland the most - I have stopped trying to be polite and play nice. He was not mean but he did hit with some great lines. The best is one that has to burn the fundies "Where your treasure is there also is your heart". Willards heart is in the Caymans & Switzerland.
As for nobody topping the FLOTUS? I have to guess the President did at least twice. Sorry I had to go there.
As for nobody topping the FLOTUS? I have to guess the President did at least twice. Sorry I had to go there.
22
I tuned in part way through the Strickland speech, listening on NPR. I kept saying, "Who is this guy?" and I sat in the parking lot of my building until the told me. That was an awesome speech. I loved that he quoted Scripture to indict Romney. I'm not generally thrilled with any politician bringing Scripture (or any religious stuff) into the debate, but that was well-placed.
I loved Castro's speech, too. It was a thrill to hear a strong, smart Democrat from the deep south. It gives me hope while I'm stuck here in Louisiana.
I was chatting online with a friend during Michelle Obama's speech. The first thing I said was that she seemed so much more authentic and genuine than Ann Romney. Romney felt composed and rehearsed to death, whereas Obama just felt natural and real.
@14 - I know what you mean. My vote is totally wasted in Louisiana. In state races, half the time there is no Democrat to vote for, and in national races, the Democratic vote just doesn't matter - especially for President in this particular case. I think the white folks in Louisiana would vote for Satan before they would vote for a black man.
(Seriously - McCain got over 95% of the white vote last time around. That is just nuts.)
I loved Castro's speech, too. It was a thrill to hear a strong, smart Democrat from the deep south. It gives me hope while I'm stuck here in Louisiana.
I was chatting online with a friend during Michelle Obama's speech. The first thing I said was that she seemed so much more authentic and genuine than Ann Romney. Romney felt composed and rehearsed to death, whereas Obama just felt natural and real.
@14 - I know what you mean. My vote is totally wasted in Louisiana. In state races, half the time there is no Democrat to vote for, and in national races, the Democratic vote just doesn't matter - especially for President in this particular case. I think the white folks in Louisiana would vote for Satan before they would vote for a black man.
(Seriously - McCain got over 95% of the white vote last time around. That is just nuts.)
23
How is it disrespectful to Kennedy? He said all those things, no? He campaigned for Obama in 2008, right?
24
I COULDN'T LISTEN TO TED STRICKLAND'S YELLING FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE. TOO BAD, AS THE COMMENTS HERE INDICATE THAT IT WAS A GOOD SPEECH.
25
@16,
Yeah, all those dead people voting Democratic. Like this guy's dead girlfriend.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/26/re…
Oh, wait, he's a Republican? Strange. Still, I'm sure you've got countless examples of dead people voting Democratic right? Right? Any moment now...
Yeah, all those dead people voting Democratic. Like this guy's dead girlfriend.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/26/re…
Oh, wait, he's a Republican? Strange. Still, I'm sure you've got countless examples of dead people voting Democratic right? Right? Any moment now...
26
18
25
are you girls STILL buttsore about losing you jobs with ACORN registering Disney characters to vote?
25
are you girls STILL buttsore about losing you jobs with ACORN registering Disney characters to vote?
27
@26: Are you STILL buttsore about getting caught lying? I'd have thought you'd be used to it by now...
Seriously, why do you still even care about us finding out that you're spouting bullshit? Nobody listens to you anyway, and it's not exactly a surprise to anyone.
Seriously, why do you still even care about us finding out that you're spouting bullshit? Nobody listens to you anyway, and it's not exactly a surprise to anyone.
28
@26) Check this, Troll: ACORN was the VICTIM of that bit of voter registration fraud, not the perpetrator.
Sorry, everyone else. I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I couldn't help myself!
Sorry, everyone else. I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I couldn't help myself!
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