Because, you know, why not.
Watching all of this on MSNBC, where Rachel Maddow and Pat Buchanan provide the best one-two punch on any of the networks, IMO. Both noting, correctly, that Mark Warner’s speech was ridiculous - more designed to get Warner elected Senator in Virginia than in getting Obama elected president. All politics is local, I suppose, but one has to wonder - as Buchanan asked - where’s Dick Cheney? Why is no one at this convention invoking torture, warrantless wiretapping? All these things that have enraged we evil lib’ruls these past few years - it’s not here. It’s not in evidence. And that, boys and girls, is how you lose elections…
10:21: There’s Bubba, that affable smile. Not betraying the great disappointment he’s supposed to be feeling. But then, this is the end of his era - Hillary was to be the continuation of it. Must be hard to give that up, I suppose.
All of this, the hoopla leading up to Hillary’s speech, only serves to increase the pressure. She really needs to hit it out of the park, while walking a fine line (and why don’t we mix a few more cliches in there while we’re at it…) Bottom line - she has to give, maybe, the best speech of her life. I get the idea she just might come through.
10:36: Hillary intro video, to the tune of Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” There’s your subliminal message, right there.
10:42: Good lord. We might have expected Chelsea to say, you know, more than 12 words.
10:48: “And a proud supporter of Barack Obama… whether you voted for me or Barack, the time is not to unite as a single party, with a single purpose.” Got that out of the way quick. Doesn’t mean she still doesn’t harbor resentments; of course she does.
“No way, no how, No McCain.” I’d say that’s pretty unambiguous, wouldn’t you?
10:57: She’s bearing out here something Dee Dee Myers said before the speech started. Hillary - and her supporters - have to live in the country, after all; would McCain and Republican policies actually address the issues they believe need to be addressed? On a personal level, this isn’t shaping up as the most robust defense of Obama as a person at all - but of governing Democratic principles. Hillary is showing she understands what is important - and, she’s acknowledging, it’s not her, but the things she’s fought for.
11:03: Bush & McCain in the Twin Cities, they’re awfully hard to tell apart. So Hillary does play the role of attack dog - and if not ferocious, as Biden is expected to be, the swipes were on the mark - and, of course, well received.
11:06: “Keep going” - invoking Harriet Tubman - the most inspired part of her speech, by far.
11:09: It’s over. Olberman calling it a grand slam - but then he would - but it was pretty good. Give it an A, maybe an A-minus in that you could tell her enthusiasm for Obama himself was muted; but it was, to use Matthews’ term, a “compact.” Values and goals - that can only be achieved if Obama is elected. She handled herself very well, I thought; classy.
For several days now we’ve been inundated with the stories - what will Hillary do? What will her supporters do? Dissention! But Hillary then puts this all to rest. Sad though she might be on a personal level, she knows what needs to be done if the things she values are to be paramount. After tonight, I’d say her supporters know, too.
