Democratic National Convention

Red, white and moose: a contrast in conventions

Mike W — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:50:22 EDT

Red, white and moose: a contrast in conventions
by Jo Biddle
Sat Sep 6, 11:48 AM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080906/ts_alt_afp/usvoteconventions

ST PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) - In two breath-taking, intoxicating, adrenaline-fueled weeks history was made in the United States and the country's political landscape redrawn forever.

On the wind-swept, midwest prairies of Colorado in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, a young Illinois Democratic senator named Barack Obama, 47, became the first African-American nominated to run for president for a major US party.

A week later in Minnesota, the northern state of 10,000 lakes, an even younger mother of five, and first-time governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, 44, became the first woman to be win the Republican nomination for vice president.

American conventions perhaps have to be experienced to be believed: homages to patriotism, homegrown heroes and folksy stories of success in the face of adversity.

Anyone expecting a real debate about the serious issues facing the country -- the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, health care and education -- would probably have been disappointed.

It became clear early on in these back-to-back political pageants complete with cutesy family tableaux, that they were one grand show to win over some 38 million voters glued to their TV screens at home.

And while the two parties traded jibes as to which would one would best usher in a new era of change, each also had their own message which echoed through their convention halls.

"Hope," said the Democrats. "Fight," replied the Republicans.

Watch the GOP Women Talk About Sarah Palin

Cato Meador — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:15:42 EDT

If you notice, every woman at the GOP convention that is singing the praises of Sarah Palin......of what I have seen EVERY ONE OF THEM......is MANY MORE TIMES MORE QUALIFIED THAN THE WOMAN THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOVE DOWN AMERICA'S THROAT!!

And yet....THEY were looked over for the runner-up Miss Alaska 1982!!

This goes so far beyond bizarre.............

Why Sarah Palin Is The Perfect GOP VP Selection

Cato Meador — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:30:25 EDT

It would seem to me, that John McCain couldn't have found a running mate better suited for a GOP ticket, than Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.
First, if it turns out that her youngest child is actually her daughter's.....then she is a LIAR.

Second, as someone who is an advocate for 'abstainence only' sex education and still believes that it works after her own daughter has been pregnant out of wedlock at LEAST once, if not twice....then she is a HYPOCRITE.

Third, being the type of VP nominee that scares the beejeesus out of people who contemplate her one heartbeat away from being the most powerful person on Earth.....following the likes of Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle and Spiro Agnew....she MEASURES UP.

And fourth, being a Republican politician who is under investigation for ABUSE OF POWER.....hell, she is just another "The Constitution and the laws don't apply to me" REPUBLICAN!!

Short of Ann Coulter......SHE IS THE PERFECT FIT!!

We Cannot Drop Our Guard!!

Cato Meador — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:24:53 EDT

It would seem, as I have written earlier, that the polls are incorrect due to under-polling of the new voting blocks that Barack Obama has brought to the table.

It would also seem that the Republicans are doing their best to continue George W. Bush's direction...for their party......straight off the cliff!

We have seen that McCain having ONE meeting and ONE phone call with the runner-up for Miss Alaska 1982 wasn't anymore telling than Bush's first meeting with Putin when he "looked into eyes and saw deep into his soul" and KNEW that he could trust him!!

A new out-of-wedlock pregnancy in this right-wing Christian, let-US-tell-you-how-to-live-your-life Republican family, along with a good chance it wasn't the first one, since evidence points to the youngest Palin child, may have been the daughter's anyway might be helping them completely devolve into the chaos that Bush/Cheney pictured for the GOP nearly 8 years ago. Throw in the investigation of Ms. Palin in Alaska, and the word now that her husband had a DUI arrest several years ago, and you would think that we could just WALTZ Barack and Michelle right into the front door of the White House.

But, fellow Democrats, as I have been saying for MONTHS now....the ONLY way we can lose this election is to BEAT OURSELVES!!! And we MUST NOT sit on our laurels and allow the next Bush presidency to become reality and completely destroy what is left of our Constitution!!

We cannot drop our guard, and get soft on the issues, the phone calls, the door knocking or the donations. And for SURE we cannot let up on the blogging, because sometimes it is the only place where one can ever find the complete truth!!

Barack and Joe NEED OUR HELP, no matter HOW much the GOP'ers want to rock us to sleep by completely self-destructing.

I want this country back on the right track, and it can only happen if WE MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

How does that sound??

Birthday of the late Ann Richards

Mike W — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:13:09 EDT

Ann Richards, 1933
Monday September 1, 2008
Birthday

Texas Governor Dorothy Ann Willis Richards (September 1, 1933 - September 13, 2006) first came to national attention as the Texas state treasurer, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as Governor of Texas and was an American politician from Texas. She first came to national attention as the Texas state treasurer, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as Governor of Texas from January 15, 1991, to January 17, 1995, and was defeated for re-election in 1994 by George W. Bush. Born during the start of the Depression in rural Texas, she died in Austin from esophageal cancer at the age of 73.

Can We Really Trust These Poll Numbers?

Cato Meador — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:04:56 EDT

First and foremost. All of my prayers and good thoughts are going out to all of the people on the Gulf Coast. God be with them in these trying and dangerous times.

Now, I keep seeing online and on TV about how 'close' this election is, according to the polls. But these polls have to be faulty.

Polls have there base in previous 'models'. How the country trended in past elections is taken into consideration, and then they build from there.

Not included in these 'models' is the large number of young people that Barack Obama brought into our primaries for the first time, just as it doesn't include the extremely large increase, during our primaries, in the number of African-American voters who turned out.

Both of these groups together combine to create a large hole within the numbers that the poll companies continue to release. I honestly believe they are HEAVILY skewed.

I really have to think that when I see John McCain's choice for a running mate. His campaign KNOWS that putting a woman on the ticket, that has NO tolerance for reproductive rights of women and loves to be photographed with assault rifles, will NOT bring many, if any, Hillary Clinton supporters to their cause.

The Palin choice is nothing short of minimizing the down-ballot losses in November. It was made to shore up the Republican base. The right-wing fanatics who think the Constitution is just an irritating little document on display at the National Archives! Otherwise, they would have put someone up for nomination that actually has at least SOME credible and relevent experience to bring to the job.

The idea of putting an empty resume on the ballot otherwise makes no sense at all.

And I believe it is because that their 'internal' polls are telling the GOP that McCain is a lost cause, so salvage whatever you can. George W. Bush has successfully put his party on the ledge of complete self-destruction and he has done it nearly single-handedly.

And I also believe that the Obama campaign is seeing the same things.

In other words, (as if anybody really cares, of course), I believe that this campaign is nowhere NEAR close. Polls looked really close in 1980, but the night before the election, President Jimmy Carter shed tears, while on Air Force One, when told by his people that there was NO way that they could win the election.

And as I remember.....sadly for sure......it turned out a Ronald Reagan landslide!

What WILL The Republicans Do?

Cato Meador — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:42:43 EDT

WHAT A CONVENTION!! The DNC and the Obama campaign set the bar SO high for ALL future conventions.....but that isn't my point right now.

The Republicans, next week, will have such an impossible task, as to try to keep the American people from going to sleep or just change the channel. They can talk about 'celebrities' all they want, but our speakers ARE not just 'celebrities'.....hell, they are SUPERSTARS!!!

Michelle Obama? Teddy Kennedy? Hillary Clinton? Al Gore? The 'GOP' which has allowed itself to be obliterated by George W. Bush, have NOTHING like these people.

President Bill Clinton?....ROCK STAR!! And NOW...Barack Obama? The NEXT President of the United States? EVER BIT THE ROCK STAR, himself!!!

Now, the GOP can take their band of misfits to the convention, and try to not be completely overshadowed by the Democrats who KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!

Picture this. After 80,000+ people in Mile High Stadium, along with what I am sure will be some HUGE numbers of Americans watching Senator Obama's acceptance speech....a complete SEA of AMERICANS in high definition, the Republicans now get to go to their venue and try to make Barack look like some 'celebrity'. But this is not possible any longer. Their little crowds inside with TV cameras, will show so many of the differences between, not only the two conventions, but in depth, compassion, and make America actually see who the REAL 'ELITESTS' are!

And that crowd may even be smaller if they can't drag a bunch of their male delegates out of the men's room at the airport......imagine all that FOOT TAPPING..........

CONGRATULATIONS DEMOCRATS!!!!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08!!!!!!!

Excerpts of the Remarks of Senator Barack Obama

Mike W — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:23:40 EDT

2008 Convention: Excerpts of the Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:33 PM EDT
DNCC Press
2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2008

2008 CONVENTION:
EXCERPTS OF THE REMARKS OF SENATOR BARACK OBAMA

Excerpts of the Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
“The American Promise”
Democratic National Convention
August 28, 2008
Denver, Colorado

As prepared for delivery

“Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story - of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

“It is that promise that has always set this country apart - that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.

“It is why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women - students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.

“We meet at one of those defining moments - a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

Thursday, August 28 2008: daytime convention events

Mike W — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:13:24 EDT

Thursday, August 28 2008: daytime convention events

All times MDT: Mountain Daylight Time

7:00 am - 9:00 am

STATE DELEGATION MEETINGS
Locations -

Excerpts of Joe Biden address, Denver 8-27-08

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:53:33 EDT

EXCERPTS OF JOE BIDEN
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

We now have an official nominee: Barack Obama

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:49:17 EDT

We now have an official nominee of the Democratic Party for the November 4, 2008 general election for President of the United States:

Barack Obama

Wednesday, August 27 2008: Securing America's Future [updated podium agenda]

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:27 EDT

Wednesday, August 27 2008: Securing America's Future
Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT
Complete updated podium agenda below...

Barack Obama offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy to make our country more secure and advance our interests in the world. Wednesday night’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack’s vision of making America stronger and safer.

The headline prime-time speaker on Wednesday will be Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Joe Biden.

Featured speakers will include: 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.

Obama and Clinton Nominators Announced

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:24:49 EDT

Obama and Clinton Nominators Announced

Securing America's Future- Obama and Clinton Nominators Announced
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 1:33 PM MDT [3:33 pm EDT]
DNCC Press
Democratic National Convention Committee [DNCC]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2008

Securing America’s Future
OBAMA AND CLINTON NOMINATORS ANNOUNCED

Republican Iraq War Veteran Michael Wilson, Senator Salazar (D-CO), Reps. Davis (D-AL) and Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to speak on behalf of Barack Obama

Three Clinton Delegates, Including Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta, Student Jordan Apollo Pazell and Campaign Volunteer Denise Williams Harris, to Nominate Senator Clinton Tonight

DENVER -- The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC), Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton announced today the speakers who will nominate and second Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during Wednesday night’s Convention program.

Michael Wilson of Florida, a Republican and Air Force medic veteran of Iraq, will formally nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic Party’s candidate. Wilson, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who served eight years as an Air Force medic, was one of Senator Obama’s dinner guests on September 3, 2007. United States Senator Ken Salazar (CO), United States Representatives Artur Davis (AL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) will second the nomination for Obama.

Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:03:50 EDT

Today's session of the Democratic National Convention starts in 1 hour.

I posted the schedule today a few hours earlier than on previous days and now request a few 5-star ratings for the full podium agenda at the clickable link below so it will be easier for more to access:

Wednesday, August 27 2008: Securing America's Future [podium agenda]
By Mike W - Aug 27th, 2008 at 1:04 pm EDT
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/mikeworkman/Cgzq

Wednesday, August 27 2008: Securing America's Future
Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT

Mike W
Tulsa+
Who is making a shameless plug without any, uh, shame ;^)

Wednesday, August 27 2008: Securing America's Future [podium agenda]

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:04:14 EDT

Wednesday, August 27 2008: Securing America's Future
Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT
Complete podium agenda below...

Barack Obama offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy to make our country more secure and advance our interests in the world. Wednesday night’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack’s vision of making America stronger and safer.

The headline prime-time speaker on Wednesday will be Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Joe Biden.

Featured speakers will include: 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.

Remarks of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Denver

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:35:00 EDT

Remarks of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, for her address to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night in Denver:
---------------------------------

I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love.

Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines.

This is a fight for the future. And it's a fight we must win.

I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights at home and around the world ... to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people.

And you haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.

No way. No how. No McCain.

Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president.

Tonight we need to remember what a presidential election is really about. When the polls have closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you - the American people, your lives, and your children's futures.

Text of 2008 Keynote address

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:16:21 EDT

Remarks of former Va. Gov. Mark Warner

Prepared remarks of former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, the keynote speaker Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
-------------------------

My fellow Democrats. My fellow Americans. The most important contest of our generation has begun.

Not the campaign for the presidency. Not the campaign for Congress. But the race for the future. And I believe from the bottom of my heart with the right vision, the right leadership, and the energy and creativity of the American people, there is no nation that we can't out hustle or out compete. And no American need be left out or left behind.

Yes, the race for the future is on, and it won't be won if only some Americans are in the running. It won't be won with yesterday's ideas and yesterday's divisions. And it won't be won with a president who is stuck in the past.

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise [complete agenda, caucus schedule]

Mike W — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:27:06 EDT

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise
Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT
Complete podium agenda below...

Millions of Americans are struggling to get by. The failed policies of the last eight years have betrayed the country's values and left an economy out of balance. Barack Obama believes a strong economy is unattainable with a weak middle class. Tuesday's Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack's concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness, and expand opportunity.

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime-time speaker and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday night. Pay Equity pioneer Lilly Ledbetter will also address the Convention on Tuesday.

Other Tuesday speakers will include: Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana; Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts; Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona; Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia; Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin; Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania; Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio; Governor David Paterson of New York; Governor Chet Culver of Iowa; Senator Bob Casey, Jr., of Pennsylvania; Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont; former Secretary of Energy and Transportation Frederico Peña; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel; Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Assistant to the Speaker of the House; and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Chris Van Hollen, who will use his time to showcase his top candidates for change.

Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Honda (D-CA), California Controller John Chiang, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Change To Win's Anna Burger, and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will also speak.

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise [complete agenda]

Mike W — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:58:22 EDT

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise
Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT
Complete podium agenda below...

Millions of Americans are struggling to get by. The failed policies of the last eight years have betrayed the country’s values and left an economy out of balance. Barack Obama believes a strong economy is unattainable with a weak middle class. Tuesday’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack’s concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness, and expand opportunity.

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime-time speaker and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday night. Pay Equity pioneer Lilly Ledbetter will also address the Convention on Tuesday.

Other Tuesday speakers will include:
Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana; Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts; Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona; Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia; Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin; Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania; Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio; Governor David Paterson of New York; Governor Chet Culver of Iowa; Senator Bob Casey, Jr., of Pennsylvania; Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont; former Secretary of Energy and Transportation Federico Peña; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel; Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Assistant to the Speaker of the House; and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Chris Van Hollen, who will use his time to showcase his top candidates for change.

Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Honda (D-CA), California Controller John Chiang, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Change To Win’s Anna Burger, and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will also speak.

Watch convention on Dish-211

Mike W — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:19:52 EDT

Direct feed from the podium on Dish-211 and on other cable networks.

Avoid even C-SPAN commentary!

Mike W
Tulsa+
Who prefers primary sources