Joe Biden is yet to speak tonight, but here are some thoughts I had while watching Bill Clinton and John Kerry:
1) I would totally do Chelsea Clinton…
2) If he was able to, I am pretty sure Bill Clinton could run for and win the Presidency again. The man is just so popular its scary. Also, when he speaks, its like liquid goodness pours from his vocal cords. I loved his line about “The world looks to the power of our example, not the example of our power.” Thats my contribution to line of the night.
3) Lastly, if John Kerry was as compelling and enthusiastic in his speeches four years ago as he was tonight, we might not be in this mess right now.
I know its the Democratic Convention and everyone speaking is a Democrat, but the place is absolutely jumping. I really can’t wait to see Barack’s speech tomorrow night.
I had mentioned this issue to friends when I first became aware of it, but having learned this, I am now inclined to post about it. I can’t respect an organization that not only forces patriotism, but does so by way of confusing religious belief and love for one’s country. “God Bless America” presupposes a number of things- the existence of a god, that he/she cares about America, and that the people who attend Yankee games want to bless America in the manner suggested by the song.
The fact that they play God Bless America at all is somewhat problematic, but that they also force you to stand there and acquiesce to the blessing is revolting. To say nothing of the imposed religiosity, isn’t forced patriotism, well, not patriotism at all? Along with being the emperor of the evil empire and a Williams College graduate (cough cough ::douchebag:: ), George Steinbrenner takes a dim view of the American people.
I attempted to get up to use the restroom, rather urgently, during the 7th inning stretch as God Bless America was beginning. As I attempted to walk down the aisle and exit my section into the tunnel, I was stopped by a police officer. He informed me that I had to wait until the song was over. I responded that I had to use the restroom and that I did not care about God Bless America. “As soon as the latter came out of my mouth, my right arm was twisted violently behind my back and I was informed that I was being escorted out of the stadium. A second officer then joined in and twisted my left arm, also in an excessively forceful manner, behind my back.
The Times reported on this policy (it wasn’t merely a rogue cop, it’s Yankee Stadium policy to have people “stay put”) last year. I had hoped that perhaps the “Stadium” had grown up, but I am not surprised to learn that it hadn’t.
Featured in the New York Times this afternoon is an article describing the challenges that non-native New Yorkers face when they make the big move to the big city. Although I wouldn’t normally recommend that you read a story about a few people who wanted a prize for not getting verbally or physically killed in one of the safest, politest cities in the world, today I’m deviating from the “friends don’t let friends blog about shitty obvious information” rule to bring you this unsurprising manuscript.
Aside from relishing in the familiar glories of our city being juxtaposed with the naivete of outsiders wanting to be as fly as we are, there’s a reason I gave enough of a shit about this article to post it. (more…)
Senator Edward M. Kennedy had just left a hospital bed here when he delivered his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, after suffering a debilitating bout of kidney stones Sunday upon arriving in town, aides said….
Mr. Kennedy’s longtime associate Bob Shrum said that as soon as the senator became ill, he sent an even shorter three-sentence statement that Mr. Kennedy could read at the Pepsi Center. He said Mr. Kennedy, in informing him that he wanted to speak, had rejected that option.
“He said, ‘I’m not getting up to go over there and give a three-sentence speech,’ ” Mr. Shrum said.
Care of our own David Patterson, speaking about Senator McCain at the DNC:
If he’s the answer, then the question must be ridiculous.
I suppose we should have an open thread of comments on this post where people can put their best lines from the DNC. There have already been some good ones, so I expect the commenting to be lively.
Now I understand that there are Hillary/McCain supporters who aren’t as insane/ignorant as this all-star trio, but I just found this interaction too good to leave be:
17 Page report! Congressional Investigator!
One thing that I wish they would have discussed but didn’t- let’s say she was right and he was a muslim, so what? I’d like to see her explain her way out of that one.
Former NBA player Charles Barkley says he favors his friend Obama
America’s public schools should be a priority, Barkley says
TNT sports analyst also says he’s running for governor of Alabama
“I just want to do good things with my name,” he says.
(CNN) — Former NBA star and TNT sports analyst Charles Barkley attended the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday and answered five questions for CNN.com at the CNN Grill.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley says the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq.
CNN.com: Why are you here in Denver?
Barkley: I just wanted to be here. I’m just so excited. I never thought in my lifetime we’d have a black man with a legitimate shot of being president.
CNN.com: Are you a Barack Obama supporter?
Barkley: Barack has been a friend of mine for a long time. I met him when I was writing my last book, and he was running for Senate, and I got to know him, and we stayed in contact. I consider him a friend. I think he’d make a fantastic president. I want to make it clear that if I didn’t think he could do the job, I wouldn’t vote for him. I think he’d make a fantastic president. And I’m not voting for him because he’s black. I think he’s a great person.
CNN.com: What do you think the Democrats need to do here to win the White House?
Barkley: I think they’ve got to just make sure to get those troops home from Iraq, that’s a big deal. But No. 1, we’ve got to give poor people a chance. America is divided by economics, and we as Americans, we’ve got to do a better job of supporting poor people.
CNN.com: How?
Barkley: We’ve got to improve the public school system. If you’re born in this country poor, whether you’re white or black, you’re going to be born in a bad neighborhood; you’re going to go to a bad school. It’s going to be very difficult for poor people to be successful. iReport.com: Are you at the DNC? Share sights, sounds
CNN.com: What are you doing in Denver for fun?
Barkley: I’m going to the Hill Harper party tonight. Last night we just went out and had a real nice meal and just took it easy because I knew today was going to be a long day. I just want to be here. Plain and simple.
CNN.com: Are you running for governor in Alabama?
Barkley: I’m planning on running for governor. I can’t screw up Alabama. Politics, it’s just so important, and I just want to do good things with my name, and I’m just going to keep continuing to do that.
You had to know that if anything was going to unite the many different religious faiths we cultivate in this country, it was going to be the gays. What better issue to rally around than the attempt to prevent a large swath of the population from enjoying a constitutional (nay, human) right?
“We may disagree on a lot of pretty important things (like the afterlife, forms of morality, and other existential questions)”, said the potpourri of religions, “but if there is one thing we are all quite certain about, it’s that gays shouldn’t marry.” Spectacular.
Early on a late September morning, if all goes according to plan, 1 million Mormons, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, evangelical Christians, Sikhs and Hindus will open their doors, march down their front walks and plant “Yes on Proposition 8″ signs in their yards to show they support repealing same-sex marriage in California.
It is a bold idea, one that may be difficult to pull off. But whether or not 1 million lawn signs are planted in unison, the plan underscores what some observers say is one of the most ambitious interfaith political organizing efforts ever attempted in the state. Moreover, political analysts say, the alliances across religious boundaries could herald new ways of building coalitions around political issues in California.
I won’t get into the broader issue of gay marriage at the moment (Mets game, 13th inning, tie game), but I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to discuss it some other time (you know, when the religious nuts get another brilliant idea).
