August, 2008

The speeches of Day Three's DNC were good. Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden, and John Kerry did well at setting the stage for Barack Obama. But, it's time for some "fighting words." As a registered Independent, who has consistently voted Democrat in presidential elections (voted for Ralph Nader in '04), I grow weary of Democratic candidates taking the high road...especially when more aggressive speech is appropriate.

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Well, after the crescendo of Barack Obama’s acceptance to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States this evening, we will be ushered into what promises to be one of the most aggressive, to say the least, campaign seasons we will experience in our lifetime. There is much work to be done, many hearts and minds to be healed and won, many doors to be knocked, many grass roots to be fertilized and much more.

But today , August 28, 2008 - I celebrate. We celebrate.

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A surprise guest is now speaking at the Progressive Democrats of America event sponsored by The Nation Magazine - the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Jackson is currently speaking on the importance that no matter how progressive the Presidential administration is there is always a need for activism.

The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll today gives Obama 45% and McCain 44% of
support.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109873/Gallup-Daily-Race-Still-Close-Obama-45....
This is a statistical dead heat. 

There is an element of concern here, in that the numbers are so close even
during the hype of the convention.  

People like Hillary Clinton!

This is obvious based on crowd reaction during her speech last night, and the reaction of the punditry as well. I both enjoyed and appreciated the fact that it was a TACTICALLY sound speech. She illustrated a sincere disengagement from the politics of the McCain campaign; she was clear about her unwillingness to be used as a pawn by the McCain campaign to draw votes away from Senator Obama. Her acknowledgment of the hard work of her campaigners, her acknowledgment of Susan B. Anthony (and the Seneca Falls Convention), and her reference to Harriet Tubman, signaled a Senator who understood her contribution to American History. ...and at the same time, she expressed her unwavering support for Senator Barack Obama. This was the magic of Hillary Clinton's address!

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9:13 pm Clinton is here. This is wild-pandemonium. People are cheering louder and longer and madder than ever .. screaming yes yes yes" " .. waving American flags …

"I am here first to support Barack Obama" ... wild cheers ...

Clinton is amazing. Love him or hate him, he engaged at once.

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10:58 - There they are folks. Barack Obama and Joe Biden standing together as the Democratic ticket for President and Vice-President.  Biden's large family has now joined him on the stage. Barack is smiling and shaking hands.

WOW. WHAT A NIGHT - ON TO MILE HIGH STADIUM!

 FROM CNN.COM:

There are so many events happening around Denver...

It is a beautiful day here. I have been walking the city talking to everyday folks about the convention, how they are dealing with the invasion of 50,000 extra “residents,” and recording their reactions. I am typing this in Civic Center Park where a very large protest against the war is scheduled. I know I am in the right place. It seems that someone forgot to send me a memo. Instead of protestors, I am sitting across from mounted riot police in full, intimidating gear.

Click READ MORE below for Lea's pictures from Denver!

Well, it is the day after Hillary’s speech. She did what she was supposed to do, encouraging her supporters to come out and vote for Barack Obama. It was a stirring speech.
While she was unequivocal in her support and insistence that John McCain not be given the Presidency she did not do anything to renounce the negative pronouncements she made about Obama during the primary.

That not withstanding, Hillary Clintons non-keynote keynote, if it was act, was a damn good act.

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Hey folks.  I just want to share a couple photos with you.  The first taken outside of a popular local restaurant and the second of a Northern Colorado protester I spotted at an event held by The Nation Magazine.

I will definitely be adding more as we go from place to place.  I am officially convinced that we need 28 hours to the day -- give or take.   Lea

The Democratic National Convention is steamrolling the competition with women at the vanguard.

I believe Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton have provided a sturdy foundation for men to take it to the next level. On Monday night, Michelle discussed her roots and upbringing reminding and informing everyone that she’s American as apple pie. Women were allowed to see the construction of her pie’s latticework—motherhood, sisterhood, and marriage. These attributes that make her who she is reminded women that you can be all things and be proud to be all things. The affirmation of womanhood was a theme that ran through Michelle’s speech as well as Hillary’s.

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What is Unity? It seems that the theme within the convention is  “from many one.” And yet do some in both the leadership and the rank and file of the Democratic Party find an uneasiness seeking to place us behind a candidate that embraces the diversity of opinion and strategies that is characteristic of a progressive and dynamic constituency? Do we deep down in our hearts believe the pundits and naysayers that see this cacophony of voices as a failure to stay on message and that we are fool hearty to have the audacity to speak of unity at the foot of the Tower of Babel?
 
Denver must come to symbolize the big tent and yes, we must learn to fight together toward many goals. Does the Democratic Party contradict itself to claim America to be “One Nation.”  I think the answer is “Yes” and it should be as Walt Whitman put, “Very well then I contradict myself,  (I am large, I contain multitudes.)” 
 

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It’s 3:43 a.m. and I want to give my brief reflections on Senator Clinton’s historic address before I turn on CNN and glance at the New York Times, and be told how she didn’t go far enough and blah blah mainstream press bizarre focus on dissension blah.

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