Will I Am and Legend Perform Yes We Can

Convention Speakers: How to Win an Election

Speakers at the convention (live streaming here) are encouraging people to work for the campaign. Nancy Pelosi just called the DNC to order.

A Fine Moment in Denver: Roll Call

I have to say, yesterday's roll call was exciting because it was symbolic and gracious and energizing. 

When they got to New Mexico, the delegates "yielded" to Illinois, and I didn't know exactly what that meant but then Illinois yielded to New York and in walks Hillary, circled by a horde of photographers.

Then Hillary moved to nominate Obama and that was moving. Rival nominates rival. It signified the end of any divisions. It couldn't have been done any better. On this blog, no more PUMAs, no more NoBamas, no more drama between Hillary and Obama camps. We're moving ahead.

Salon: For all the stories about the dysfunctional tensions between the Clinton and Obama camps in the last two weeks, it's worth singling out what may remain the best moment of this convention, even after Barack Obama blows everyone away at Invesco Field Thursday night. And that was Wednesday's roll call vote. It was handled with an incredible dignity and sweetness that went a long way to redeeming the bitter feelings on both sides. It even had a tiny bit of suspense, not about the outcome, but exactly how it would end.

And when Illinois yielded to New York, and Hillary Clinton, speaking from the floor, in the heart of her delegation, moved to nominate Barack Obama by acclamation, well, that was catharsis. Sometimes catharsis is angry, sometimes it's quiet and calm; wholeness is restored. The entire roll-call process was a healing ritual handled by both sides with kindness and even tenderness, which you rarely see in politics.

Here is the moment

I Have A Dream Aug. 28 2008

On this 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech, here's to hoping Obama does what he needs to do. 

This is the speech in which Obama draws "the fierce urgency of now" that he speaks of so often. Every now and then a great leader comes along to uplift and inspire change.

Joe Biden at the BBQ Express Denver

Joe Biden Touches the Heart

Bill Clinton sealed the deal, the ice cream in the bowl. John Kerry was the whipped cream and Joe Biden was the cherry on top.
What will Obama be?
Biden's speech tugged at the heart strings. He made Obama human. I'm so used to reading about Obama, the awful guy.
John McCain is my friend, Biden said. It's a friendship that goes beyond politics. But I profoundly disagree with the direction that McCain wants to take this country.
"It's about whether you can look your child in the eye and say we're going to be all right."
They even have "McCain More of the Same" signs to hold up as Biden delivers the line: That's not change that's more of the same. Brilliant.
Now is the time for America to get back up. This is his time. This is our time. This is America's time. Fiery!
Surprise: It's Barack!
"Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night," Obama said. President Clinton reminded us what it is like when you put people first.
We're moving to Mile High stadium because change starts from the bottom up, so we want to open up this convention to make sure everyone who wants to come can.
Does it get any better? I think not.
The Obamas and The Bidens take off on a bus tour to the swing states about the time John McCain is announcing his vice president on Friday.
Here's Joe (transcript)


Here's Obama

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Video

Bill Clinton Gives Awesome Speech

He goes all the way for Obama.
I mean all the way. I expected a half-baked speech, one half about Bill Clinton and the other about Obama.
Bill is good.
It seems like Obama and Bill took a blood oath.
I guess this is what a masterful politician is.
He left no room for wonder.
Clearly the job of the next president is to rebuild the American dream and restore America's leadership in the world, he said.
Everything has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.
Clinton takes an axe to the republicans.
Chants of Yes he can.
McCain loves his country. But he still embraces the extreme philosophy of his party.
Bill said he was told he was too young and inexperienced to be Commander in Chief when he was elected. Sound familiar?
Now, the torch has been passed.
The Clintons are democrats! The party is unified!

Transcript

Rage Against the Machine Leads Anti-War March

Wahooey. Now that's a protest.

Rocky Mtn. News: A massive antiwar street march led by veterans of the Iraq war has entered downtown Denver, still thousands strong.

The protest, cosponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War and Tent Street University, began at the Denver Coliseum and is planned to continue on to the Pepsi Center. It is being escorted by a massive police turnout.

Alabama Kicks Off Nomination Casts 48 Votes for Obama

Read the rules here.
Alabama = 48 votes for Obama; 5 for HRC
Alaska = 15 votes for Obama; 3 for HRC
American Samoa = all 9 votes for Obama; pays tribute to Hawaii for nurturing Obama
Arizona = 40 votes Obama; 27 votes HRC
Arkansas = 47 Obama.
California = passes?
Colorado = 55 for Obama; 15 for HRC
Connecticut = 38 Obama; 21 HRC
Delaware = All 23 votes to Obama. Go Delaware! The first state to cast all votes for Obama.
Dems abroad = 8.5 Obama; 2.5 HRC
District of Columbia= 33 for the co-sponsor of the DC voting rights act Obama; 7 for HRC.
Florida = one vote for one person and we have cast 166 for Obama; 51 HRC, 1 abstention.
Georgia = birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 82 for Obama; 18 for HRC.
(They all have to say something good about their states before they speak)
Guam = 4 Obama; 3 HRC
Hawaii = 26 for Obama, our native son; 1 HRC
Idaho = Gave Obama his largest winning margin in the primary 20 for Obama; 3 votes HRC
Illinois = passes
Indiana = Home of Sen. Evan Bayh 75 Obama; 6 HRC.
Iowa = I (a soldier in his combat boots) represent the great state of Iowa where it all started with Barack Obama. 48 for Obama; 9 HRC.
Kansas = birthplace of grandparents of Obama and home of Obama's momma, Kathleen Sebelius 34 for Obama; 6 for HRC.
Kentucky = we're working to turn the bluegrass blue. 36 for Obama; 24 for HRC.
Louisiana = home of gumbo and shrimp in recovery from Katrina 43 Obama; 7 HRC.
Maine = as Maine goes so does the nation (I didn't know that) 24 Obama; 8 HRC.
Maryland = 94 Obama; 6 HRC
Massachussets = Home of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Boston Red Sox, and the rest of those sporting teams. They are proud. First in equality of marriage in U.S. 65 Obama; 52 HRC.
Michigan = 125 Obama; 27 HRC.
Minnesota = 78 Obama; 8 HRC.
Yes we can chants
Mississippi = 33 Obama; 8 HRC.
Missouri = Home of Claire McCaskill, the belwhether state 82 Obama; 6 HRC.
Montana = first woman majority leader in Montana and a cattle rancher announced 18 for Obama; 7 HRC. They soaked up their moment.
Nebraska = 28 Obama; 3 HRC.
Nevada = 25 Obama; 8 HRC. Home to Harry Reid. Obama has a vision for the West and keeping nuclear waste out of Yucca Mtn.
More Yes we can chants.
New Hampshire = unity is more than just a town. We answer Hillary's call to unite and casts all 30 votes for Obama.
New Jersey = Home of the Giants, Bon Jovi, all 127 votes for Obama.
New Mexico = home to 22 native American tribes, red and green chiles, Bill Richardson, yields to Illinois, hometown of Obama, which now casts its vote after passing earlier, yields to NY.
What's all this yielding stuff?
New York = Hillary's home, Hillary arrives and declares Obama president (oops, the presidential nominee). Moves to suspend the roll call. I move Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois be selected as the nominee.
Is there a second?
All in favor please say aye. Big aye.
Love train is playing. Alas, Obama is the official nominee!

Joe Biden To Speak Tonight

But it's all about Bill. What's the headline at CNN: Bill Clinton to take center stage.

CNN: Sen. Joe Biden will make his first appearance before the Democratic National Convention as his party's vice presidential nominee Wednesday night, but the real drama of the evening may come from former President Clinton and what he says about Sen. Barack Obama.

The continued plot to undermine Obama and the campaign for the Clinton White House 2012 campaign moves forward. 

The Continued Undermining of Obama

Call me a cynic and maybe I shouldn't even be pointing it out, but the undermining goes on. Now the narrative is Hillary's speech was so good that now voters must wonder why Obama didn't choose Hillary as his vice president. 

This NY Post writer gives a biased review of the primaries. The one thing that many Hillary supporters failed to understand was that she could never catch up in delegates no matter how many big states she won. She had the wrong strategy and a dysfunctional one by all accounts. Not only that, she dug into Obama's character-- attacking a fellow democrat. To Hillary supporters, Obama was an unqualified black man who used his race to get ahead. That's it in a nutshell.

Hillary said she wasn't sure if Obama was a terrorist Muslim. She exploited the "white working class" voters, giving them politically correct reasons not to vote for Obama. She hired a pollster to pit blacks against Latinos. But all of this was turned around as Obama playing the race card. It was genius and it worked.

Not once did the Obama camp bring up the fact that Bill Clinton sullied the office of the presidency with his stupidity. He dragged the whole country down as the republicans publicly and endlessly flogged him. The backlash set the table for Bush to take office.

NY Post: WHY is Hillary Clinton not Barack Obama's running mate?
That question had to be on many minds last night as Clinton delivered a rousing endorsement of Obama - a speech that moved between inspiration and attack, hitting every note perfectly.

The Clintons have proved that they still rule the democratic party. This twisted election is about the Clintons and it's always been about the Clintons. It's always been about how Hillary was slighted and her poor, poor supporters. In her defeat, she's stolen every Obama moment for herself. She's proven to be the superior politician. Much of politics is so shallow. 

But what we need is someone who can actually lead and govern. 

Convention Preview Aug. 27

Joe Biden is the headliner.
Other speakers: 

Former President Bill Clinton; former Senator Tom Daschle; Governor Bill Richardson and Senators Evan Bayh, John Kerry and Jay Rockefeller. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Convention home state Senator Ken Salazar, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, and Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future – veterans, active duty military and their families.

Mark Warner Plans Bipartisan Speech

I guess that has ticked off some democrats. Mark Warner, former governor of Virginia, is actually the keynote speaker tonight. But of course, he's being upstaged by none other than Hillary. 

CNN: A source close to Mark Warner who helped the Senate candidate craft his convention keynote speech said criticism by senior Democrats that his planned remarks were not partisan enough were off-base – because the Virginia Senate candidate's bi-partisan reputation is precisely why he was asked to speak in the first place.

“That is at odds with the notion that he should be the person ripping the bark off McCain,” this source said.

I would argue that I'd like to see McCain's bark stay on. What I'd like is more grown-up conversation. Leave the bark ripping to McCain and his kind. Go Warner.  

Does McCain's POW Status Equal Good CIF?

Obama's press secretary Bill Burton answers some tough questions on McCain's POW insulation, FISA and offshore drilling.

Recreate 68 and Other Fun Convention Protesters

Some people it seems protest just to protest. Recreate 68? The talking polar bear is amusing.

Obama Says Party Will Come Together

The Clintons will come through because this is the convention to nominate Obama, and from here on, the Clintons no longer gain anything politically in undermining Obama.

NYT: “The Clintons love this country and they love the Democratic Party,” Mr. Obama said. “They are going to be active parts of our campaign for the remaining 70 days.”

As he made his slow march to the Democratic convention in Denver, meeting voters at stops in Iowa, Missouri and Montana, Mr. Obama took questions for about 20 minutes. It was the first time he talked to reporters in a formal setting in nearly two weeks.

Mr. Obama played down worries being aired by some Democrats – and fueled by the Republican campaign of Senator John McCain – that stalwart admirers of Mrs. Clinton would not support his candidacy in November. He said that Senator Clinton and former President Bill Clinton “could not be more clear about their support for my candidacy.”

Yet he conceded that some political patchwork was needed – and the burden was on him.

“There are going to be some of Senator Clinton’s supporters who we’re going to have to work hard to persuade to come on board – that’s not surprising,” Mr. Obama said. “But if you take a look this week, I am absolutely convinced that both Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton understand the stakes.”

On Bill Clinton's dismay at giving a speech on national security and not the economy (Obama's giving that speech):

NYT: Mr. Obama sought to quell that dispute.

“I said as much to him three or four days ago. I said, ‘Mr. President, you can say whatever you like,’ ” Mr. Obama said. “Bill Clinton is a unique figure in our politics. This is the only person, the only Democrat, who has been re-elected since F.D.R. And he is somebody who is equally adept at talking about domestic issues and foreign policy issues.

Ted Kennedy's Speech

The video is not embeddable yet. You can view it here. It's pretty powerful.

Bruce Springsteen To Play Convention?

Update 8-27: Well, it looks like he's not. 

Rumors are flying that he will but how could he not?
Springsteen's "The Rising" is always played at Obama's events and Springsteen is a big Obama supporter.

Wapo: Fueling the speculation: the Boss has a six-day gap in his tour schedule, with no public concerts listed between Aug. 24, when he's due to perform in Kansas City, and Aug. 30, when he's set to perform in Milwaukee.

And local radio and other news outlets are reporting the Boss buzz as fact. One of the Sleuth's colleagues heard a traffic reporter on a Denver country radio station warning drivers about the traffic woes when Springsteen shows up later this week.

The Las Vegas Review Journal also is reporting that Springsteen "will follow Obama with a solo acoustic performance on Thursday after Obama's acceptance speech."

Convention Preview Aug. 25

Shepard Fairey, the maker of the original Hope poster and the Manifest Gallery in Denver




The convention will have live streaming of the events. Michelle Obama's speech sure to be covered on all the news networks, cnn.com for sure. Rumor is that Bruce Springsteen might play on Thursday. Other musicians slated to play.

Monday’s headline prime-time speaker will be Michelle Obama.

Other Monday night speakers include:
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri; Barack Obama’s sister Maya Soetero-Ng and Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama’s older brother; Jerry Kellman, mentor and long-time friend of Barack Obama; Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.; former Indiana Representative Lee Hamilton; Tom Balanoff, President of Illinois SEIU; Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America; NEA President Reg Weaver; AFT President Randi Weingarten; Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; State Comptroller Dan Hynes; Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis; Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle; and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Monday night will also feature a tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Recommended blogger covering the convention with much wit and smarts. Marc Ambinder also is doing a good job. He's got some raw video footage. 

Convention tidbits: The oldest delegate is 91 and the youngest is 17, half are women, 17% are seniors.

On that note, check out the convention speaker schedule. There are bunches of photos up and videos as well.  Read the convention blog.
Some of the artwork at the Manifest Hope Gallery at the convention. More at Obamaartreport.com

Lukas Ketner