It seemed to me like there were two goals for the Dem Convention last night. One was to show that Obama and Biden together could be leader of the free world and competent as commander in chief. The second was to show that the Democratic vision of multilateral engagement and international institutions is a superior policy to the Republican vision of a coalition-of-the-willing Freedom Agenda.
Bill Clinton certainly did his part on the first count. He proclaimed that, in his judgment, Obama was ready to be president and commander in chief. He also gets a 8.5 for delivery – it was very good, but not on the top of what he’s capable of. And a 9 for appearance – the short haircut and makeup made him look a lot younger, but the flag lapel pin was missing when he’s looking out on an audience waving flags. As for message, I give it a lower score – only an 8. He was good on the experience imprimatur, but failed to sell any sort of vision on foreign policy and diplomacy. He talked more about domestic policy than foreign policy it seemed (I note that The Fix disagrees with me – he thought it was a stellar speech).
As for Joe Biden, I agree with Hotline On Call – the speech was “middling.” He rambled, he roamed, and he didn’t convince me Democrats have a better approach to foreign policy. A few lines we really bad, like calling for two more combat brigades in Afghanistan – more troop deployments is just not an applause line at a gathering of Democratic activists.
We’ll see how Obama does tonight. I hope the McCain VP name does not leak – that would be kinda classless. (For the record, I’m pulling for Romney or Pawlenty or Cantor). I also am anxious to see the Greco-Roman temple in all its glory. What an embarrassment.
Of course, my offerings on these matters are nothing compared to the brilliance and insight of the one and only Peggy Noonan.
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When I first heard the clamoring over the “Greek temple” I was worried. But seeing the set now on MSNBC, it’s really much ado about nothing. It’s basically a faux facade of the Lincoln Memorial or something with TVs inside.
And you also forgot about Kerry’s speech, which was probably the best he’s ever given.
Psst…Daniel, don’t look now, but as I recall our current (Republican) president accepted the nomination in 2004 on a remarkably similar set, and I didn’t hear any Republicans (or Democrats, for that matter) mocking him for using columns.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/.....emple.html
How soon they forget, eh? Not to mention that, you know, Greece was the birthplace of democracy, which might explain why so many of our national buildings and monuments use Greek columns in their design and why candidates of both parties like to incorporate that symbolism into their convention sets…
Daniel, great blog! Joe referred me to the site. Keep up the good fight! I recommend this article mhtml:file://C:\Users\John\Desktop\Bush\American%20Thinker%20Who%20Lied%20About%20Iraq.mht!http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/08/who_lied_about_iraq.html
Those presumptuous, elitist ancient Greeks.
Those presumptuous, elitist architects, you mean…how dare they put columns on the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, not to mention Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White House! Is no branch of government safe from these Greek-mongerers?
Thank God the Republicans are standing up to the deviousness of the column scourge:
http://thinkprogress.org/wp-co...../vagop.gif
http://i331.photobucket.com/al.....column.jpg
(Wait, those aren’t even American columns…)
So Daniel, what will be more embarrassing: Obama giving a speech in front of 70,000 supporrters with the elitist Greek Architecture or McCain giving a speech in front of 10,000 people whom are sleeping?
I think the Greek temple is less about the look and more about the message: it fit perfectly into the GOP’s attack line about Obama’s arrogance.
Sarah Palin?!?
You guys can kiss goodbye your “inexperience” card.
Sarah Palin. Thank you McCain! I haven’t been this happy since…well, since I won my first chess tournament.
HAHA!
Under “Sarah Palin” at the On The Issues web site, under “Foreign Policy” it say:
“No issue stance yet recorded.”
McCain does remember we’re currently at war, right?
Daniel, the last thing Obama should be doing is giving a damn about what the Republicans think he shouldn’t do. That’s a big part of what killed Kerry in 2004–he allowed the Republicans to set his limits.
On another note, congratulations, Sarah Palin, on following in the fine tradition of Harriet Miers of unqualified women chosen for the sheer “excitement” of nominating someone of the non-male gender. Talk about a political Hail Mary pass!
What were they thinking putting someone with only two years of experience on the ticket? What does it matter if someone looks great and sounds great (plus the minority status)? Does that mean someone can do the job? Who would vote for someone like that?