Democrat/Republican Conventions
 

Has anyone been keeping up with what's going on?

Did anyone catch Clinton's speech? Gore's speech?

I watched the entire broadcast on CNN. It was really good. I enjoyed all the speakers especially Bill.

Bill was talking about gentrification and how he was making Harlem a white neighborhood. Interesting speech.

-Rudey

Eh, it was ok...one one hand I think it's great that the convention is in Boston from a historical perspective, but on the other I'm not a Kerry fan at all.

From the reporting this morning, you'd think that Clinton and Gore abandoned partisan politics, but I heard quite a few digs at Republicans and the administration. I'm pretty interested to see what Heinz Kerry says tonight - should be entertaining if nothing else.

Re: Democrat/Republican Conventions
 

I caught bits and pieces (and saw the re-air of Gore's speech on C-Span). They kept the Bush bashing to a minimum and systematically made their case for new leadership --- dubious Iraq war claims, failure to build/keep Int'l coalition, the economy, same points they've been making. Commentators seemed split on whether the night's "script" was to hype the base (usually the goal of most conventions) or play to the undecideds.

Night 2 may be interesting. Barack Obama, leading Illinois Senate candidate, and Theresa Heinz-Kerry are on the mike. By the way, I saw her dustup with the reporter and thought she was wrong for that. She'd had her say, walked away and then seemed like she had a Cedric-the-Entertainer moment: "I wish a mo-fo would...." and came back. :)

Last night's opening event was entertaining to say the least. The mood was VERY festive. And Patti was great singing "A Change Gone Come", lol. However, nothing that has been said or done has convinced me that Kerry is the right man for office. I want George out and I don't want Kerry in, so I'm not sure what to do yet. I will be following the convention throughout. I'm just dreading the Republican convention coming to town.

i really appreciate C-Span's gavel to gavel coverage. they keep the commentary for the end which is good. i enjoyed last night. i wish that Al Gore had spoken that way in '00. Jimmy Carter, DST Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill Clinton, they all did really well. i don't see the speeches as "Bush-bashing" but as truth-telling:rolleyes:

Bamboozled I understand what you're saying but it’s like picking the lesser of two evils...so I guess I'll vote for Kerry and pray he isn't another Bush.

Ditto! Again, this man is Bush-lite. But, the Democratic party has finally found an electable candidate. I hate the lesser of two evils thing, but that's what we are left with in a two-party system. **sigh**

The key is electability. The suburban swing y-t is what Kerry has to appeal to, so there's no way he can go hard left -- meaning he can't talk heavy tax increases or social programs. If he goes left, Boosh crushes him.

Weelllll? What? Don't vote? LOL
Those darn Demos and Repubs....lol ;) :rolleyes: :D

I thought Gore's speech last night was very good! He didn't harbor any bitterness about the last election being stolen from him. Also tonight the Gentlemen from Chicago whose running for a Senate seat's speech was positive and uplifting he talked on One America instead of the many factions that the media likes to capitalize on!

Re: Re: Democrat/Republican Conventions
 

I enjoyed Barack Obama's speech. He articulated his points very well and he connected with the audience.

Re: Re: Re: Democrat/Republican Conventions
 

I wonder if that dude is greek. Anybody know fa sho?


I'm The Original Ape, and I approve AKA2D!!!:D

I don't know if Barack Obama is greek but he spoke elouqently and with great poise last night. Not a lot of substance but that wasn't the point of his remarks, IMO. He gave a good "visionary," feel good speech. He'll bear watching as he moves to the Senate.

Ron Reagan gave a good and enlightening speech advocating stem-cell research. I thought he would do well based on his delivery of his remarks at his father's funeral.

Theresa Heinz-Kerry bored the isht outta me. Great background, feel good American story, but I was not feeling ole girl last night. It'll be interesing to see how the Kerry campaign uses her on the trail.

Barack is not greek. However, Blue and White will be sponsoring a fundraiser for him August. If you are in the Chicagoland area and would like to attend let me know.

Barack WILL be the next Senator of Illinois. YAY!

Epitome, did the Republicans find anyone to run against him since Ryan dropped out of the race? I heard Ditka's name floated about, but was not sure if that was finalized and he was definately running.

not Epitome, but mind if I answer....
 

I don't think the R's have found a Senatorial candidate yet, at least that's what was being commonly reported last night. One report said, however, that one reason Obama was given the prime time spot Tuesday night was that the D leadership thought Mike Ditka would accept the R invitation to run and the D's wanted to give Obama maximum exposure.

Truth or reporter scuttlebutt, I dunno....

^^^^

Thanks Tony. I musta missed this last night.

BTW, I like your location, although I do want to be around when 1savvy sees it! LOL :p

Al Sharpton did the damn thang!!

Ummm...yeah Al was on phire! Just wish he wouldn't scream into the mike. :p They said he was only supposed to speak for 6 minutes and spoke for 20,lol

Re: not Epitome, but mind if I answer....
 

Yeah Ditka turned down the opportunity (thank God). To my knowledge he doesn't have someone running against him. And Jack Ryan was never a real threat anyway.

Yeah, I was like, "Why is he shouting?" The caucasians were looking disgusted at first with Al, but he soon had EVERYONE on their feet!! I was like, "Way to go, Al!!" People usually just look at him and are put off by his appearance or whatever, but Al is really knowledgeable and passionate with his words.

For those interested, Barack Obama is going to be interviewed tonight (7/29) on Tavis Smiley's PBS talk show.

No confirmation yet on the report that "TheEpitome1920" has been named senior policy advisor to the Obama staff. :cool:

ROFLOL! Lemme 'lone.

now that Barack Obama is on fire, would it be wise for the IL GOP to continue to search for his competition?
i mean, if they do find someone, fundraising will be tough. folks may not want to throw "good money after bad" :rolleyes:
i'm hoping to see IL State Representative Barak Obama elected (after being unopposed) to the US Senate and that folks finally get his name right (i'm mad at Al Sharpton for his attempt to say his name:p)

Well I think they know better. The people have spoken.

Yeah I heard Al call him Baraka Obama, LOL.

I'd think the Rs would want to run somebody for the following reasons:
1. to make Obama expend campaign $$
2. force him to campaign in Illinois and not be able to campaign for other Ds as a result of his new-found national prominence.

Besides, even in defeat, a run provide name recognition for the R candidate should he/she decide to want to run again. .....Parties usually hate to let folks run unopposed. :mad: ...but it's getting dang late to put somebody up.

your boy A. Sharpton did mangle "Obama Brakkk" last night though, didn't he? :p

Yeah, but...
 

Is there anyone else in Illinois who has a realistic chance of opposing Obama? I can't help but think the GOP will find someone to put on the ballot.

What happened to the Republicans in Illinois? The party once was very powerful. This is amazing to me. :eek:

Exquisite5's ignorant comment for the day, "Barack is so fine I want him to be my baby daddy!"

:D :D :D

Please return to your regularly scheduled intelligent thread.

LOL.
The New Yorker did a good story about Barack Obama. Here's a link:
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/con...02fr_archive04

Also, I've seen it discussed elsewhere, but this is something I'm thinking about: could Mr. Obama's relatively wide appeal be because he's the son of an immigrant rather than a slave descendant? :confused: Some people on other online communities I belong to brought this up.

Transcript of Al Sharpton's speech:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...on.transcript/

My local PBS station played orchestra music throughout the convention and Tavis Smiley's show. The correct video feed was there, the audio was wrong. Is there a website that has the segment online?

I actually did not watch too much of the DNC, even though it was happening close to me. I caught a couple of speeches, but for the most part, read about it in the paper or caught updates on CNN/Fox News/etc.

I'm interested to see who speaks at the RNC and what people say, but I don't know if I'll watch all that much of it.

I'm more interested for when the debates start.

Has anyone heard that Alan Keyes may be running against Barack??:rolleyes:

I didn't even know he'd lived/lives in Illinois? Where are you hearing this from?

* E1920, smiling mischeviously and rubbing her palms together as she begins to do opposition research on the neo-conservative A.K., on behalf of her fearless leader, B. Obama * :D

I'd heard that. Does Keyes live in Illinois, even?
:confused:

I have no idea. I swear I have never heard about anything he's done in the state.

How did you know!!! *searching furiously on the internet for more info*

I just recieved an email from the Obama files about this.

Dairy owner James Oberweis, the second-place finisher in the GOP primary; Chicago attorney John Cox, who lost a 2002 Senate primary; and former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, whose name just surfaced this week, have the most support, but "as unbelievable as it is, there is not a front-runner," said committee member Kirk Dillard, a state senator.

Oberweis greeted reporters before the meeting. Keyes had a scheduling conflict, but Dillard said committee treasurer Dave Syverson would present on Keyes' behalf.

"I think there's half a dozen people that are serious candidates," Syverson said, adding that the committee should consider delaying a decision.

Illinois Senate Race