Democratic Big Dogs Show Their Teeth at Ho-Hum Convention
Dem convention finally gets rolling on day 3
OMG WTF! Obama makes a surprise appearance? NO WAY!?…
Of course he was going to make an appearance, silly. But with the way the convention has rolled out so far, it was easy to see how the Dems might have missed the opportunity.
With the presumptive Democratic nominee appearing on the same convention stage as the rest of the doyen Democrats, Sen. Barack Obama capped the third night of the festivities with a surprise walk-on appearance and off-the-cuff plaudits of his fellow Democrats.
With Sen. John Kerry, former President Bill Clinton, and Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden all lauding Obama and tearing into McCain, the Democrats finally began showing their teeth.
If Kerry and spoken at the 2004 presidential debates the way he spoke last night, he could very well have been president. And if there were any lingering doubts of the Clintons’ commitment to Obama, the speech given by the last Democratic president put those doubts to rest. The rift between the Clinton’s and Obama might not be totally healed, but the commitment to victory has been sealed.
And what of the keynote?
Starting out his acceptance speech slow and sappy, it felt like Biden thanked the entire universe before lethargically tossing platitudes of American goodness, raising his voice only when urged by applause from the convention-goers. Ten minutes into the speech the person sitting next to me turned and asked, “Why do you like Joe Biden again?” With the first half of the speech lackluster at best, I was beginning to have doubts myself.
Since the start of this blog last May, I’ve believed that Biden’s foreign policy credentials, Washington experience, blunt speaking style, and personal integrity (hokey, I know) made him the best Democrat to best the Republicans this election. With all the candidates virtually the same in policy preferences, he appeared to be the best choice to carry a majority of independents and enough Republicans. Needless to say I was pleased when Obama chose him as his running mate. But halfway through his vice presidential nomination speech, I was starting to sweat.
Then the red meat.
After describing John McCain as his friend (who doesn’t?), Biden launched his attack, something he’ll need to ramp up and perfect in the next couple months.
Sen. Joe Biden’s acceptance speech
“John McCain was wrong and Barack Obama was right” chanted Biden during his acceptance speech, a simple and hardly memorable line, but it worked for Biden. That simple and hardly memorable line has in many ways defined the Democratic convention, and Biden’s speech was a microcosm. As I noted previously the Obama-Clinton drama has been the real highlight of the convention, the rest has been a yawn and a stretch. With a slow build up, peaking strongly, then capped with a unique ending (Obama’s appearance), Biden’s speech reflects the entire 2008 Democratic convention: Starting slow, peaking on the third night with red meat, and ending uniquely with Obama speaking in an outdoor stadium.
Love the Dems, but God I’m bored to tears.
Which leads to the question of my next post:
How can the techieset Democratic convention ever, feel so dated?
Stay tuned.
Image: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200808/20080827wap_obidenstagea_500.jpg
Dem Convention Posts:
- Democratic Big Dogs Show Their Teeth at Ho-Hum Convention
- Hillary Clinton’s “Keep Going” Keynote a Grand Slam
- Hillary Clinton Keynote: Presidential Pantsuit Politics?
- Democratic Convention Overture, Day 1: Michelle Obama’s Speech
- The Ticket! With Biden, Obama Can Make Real Change
