Night Two Open Thread

Tell us how the Dems are doing; the Yanks are down 3-2 in the top of the fifth.

Comments

[JM Hanes]

I'm drinking on JFK and Bush/McCain.

[JM Hanes]

And thanks for the convention thread!

[JM Hanes]

Ann: I wish you were here to co-snark about Granholm's gi-normous pearls. She's moderating a pseudo panel for a pseudo town hall.

[JM Hanes]

I think they saw the questions beforehand too.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I don't know much about Eric Cantor, but after reading the following post, he sounds pretty good. Anyone have any thoughts?

Eric Cantor for VP? [Reader Post]

[Sue]

JMH,

I had to switch the channel on that one. Boring!

[Sue]

Sara,

I fell in love with him on the first day of the House Republicans protest over the energy bill. And I don't know anything else about him. Shallow, I am. ::grin::

[Ann]

JMH,

Missed the hugh pearls, darn! I am trying to figure out what color pantsuit Hillary will wear tonight. Green is to envious, blue is to sad, but black would be great.

[Danube of Thought]

It's now 6-3 Sox in the bottom of the 6th, as doom stalks the once-proud House That Ruth Built.

Just watching Brit (delayed by tivo) and heard something of a roar go up. Turns out it was for Dennis Kucinich. I tell ya, these people got a problem.

[JM Hanes]

Granholm has the key to Obama policy: It's all about partners and investment. Oddly enough, I ran through the draft Dem Platform just today, and counted a few key words (and their variants). In 51 pages, there were:

38 - "partner"
50 - "create"
50 - "fund"
70 - "invest"

The document is rife with new public/private funds and partnerships being created to solve every conceivable problem -- and they sound just as much like the Annenberg model as the one I've been citing. Obama cannot wait to start investing your money. I'll report back when the official platform comes out.

Although if they don't stop with the man in the street stories soon, I might just get a headstart on it tonight.

[centralcal]

Oh, goody, a drinking game! I tell you what - Hillary, no matter how false she is tonight, will still be more sincere than Michelle was last night.

[Soylent Red]

Granholm's gi-normous pearls

She borrowed them from Wilma Flintstone

[Sue]

Quick question. Obama had been vetting VP candidates. Do the VP candidates vet Obama?

[JM Hanes]

Ann: Not if she does that black suit with the weird hair pin piping on the collar. I figure aqua is the new red. I thought that yellow jacket she wore when she was doing her Obama imitation actually worked surprisingly well.

[Sue]

I saw her earlier and she had on a beige suit. I guess she'll change before the speech?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Ed Rendell: John McCain is a fraud, Barack Obama is like Adlai Stevenson.

Which brings up the crossing guards at my grammar school. They would not allow us to cross the street unless we said we preferred Pepsi to Coke (fitting for the Convention), unless we said we (our parents, I guess) were voting for Adlai Stevenson, and most importantly, that we were rooting for the NY Yankees over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

If we refused, they took our 10cent milk money. I lost all my milk money for months.

[JM Hanes]

Vetting doesn't take long when there's no paper trail to work with.

[Sue]

JMH,

It would seem to be an appropriate response to being vetted. Who wants to wind up as Al Gore?

[JM Hanes]

The Wilma look. Yes, that's it. Sebelius obviously didn't get the pastel memo. Or the memo on memorable either.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

OT about one of JOM's favs:

Ad revenue drops 16.2 percent at New York Times Co., sending July revenue down 10.1 percent

Link

[Rick Ballard]

"Do the VP candidates vet Obama?"

Sure. SloJoe was the only one to do it personally though.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Romney has been all over the Convention Hall today, hasn't he? Another interview coming up on H&C, with Cavuto earlier, and I heard also with CNN.

[PeterUK]

MSM in the tank for Obama - official

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

"Do the VP candidates vet Obama?"

Yes. That's how he ended up with Biden, no one else wanted the job.

[bgates]

I like Cantor. I think he understands the internet better than any other Republican, in terms of setting up advocacy/petition sites like standwithrush.com (opposing the fairness doctrine) and savethesecond.com, blogging, and using tools like Twitter and YouTube. He's as young as Obama but more experienced.

DoT - you will not be surprised to hear that the press is more than happy with him ("Kucinich electrifies convention arena", says the headline.)

[JM Hanes]

When I saw Charlie Rangel consigned to a group appearance with Dem black caucus in a tribute to Stephanie Tubbs Jones, I wondered how much of that promised investment Obama would actually get to do.

Did you guys know John McCain hates women and small businesses?

[Porchlight]

Yes, I think some form of aqua. Or maybe red for the true throwback.

[JM Hanes]

People with painfully halting hispanic accents should not attempt soundbytes.

[clarice]

Drat! O's not taking my idea that he parachute into Invesco stadium. Hot Air says this is the plan:
"Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s big speech on Thursday night will be delivered from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple.
The stage, similar to structures used for rock concerts, has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos’ National Football League team plays.
Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington’s Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party’s nomination for president…
Once Obama speaks, confetti will rain down on him and fireworks will be fired off from locations around the stadium wall."

[JM Hanes]

Porchlight! The couture klatch is complete.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Whoops.

Just moments ago, a tribute to prominent Democrats who have died since the 2004 convention was screened at the Pepsi enter. With somber music in the background, the names and faces of the departed were
presented for a few seconds each in a kind of slideshow. (The same thing is done at the Academy Awards every year.)

It was a thoroughly respectful salute – until it was Eugene McCarthy’s turn. Or, as he was labeled in the slideshow, “Joseph McCarthy.”

Despite sharing a last name, Eugene Joseph McCarthy and Joseph Raymond McCarthy were very different men.

[PeterUK]

"Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington’s Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party’s nomination for president…
Once Obama speaks, confetti will rain down on him and fireworks will be fired off from locations around the stadium wall."

Sounds like a scene from an Oliver Stone movie....

[Danube of Thought]

I'm drinking on "and" and "the," even though I know both words are lies every time these knaves speak them.

A large jug of Stoli stands at my elbow.

[JM Hanes]

Has anybody noticed that when they show clips from Obama speeches, they screw with the frames/second somehow so that there's a slightly jerky motion blur, and then add a barely perceptible resonating echo? I think it's a deliberate attempt to give the video an historic JFK film quality.

[Sue]

These are really lame speeches. Even the audience isn't impressed. And how did this lame-ass beat Santorum?

[bgates]

Clarice, I think that's perfectly in keeping with the Greek theme of his campaign - hubris, bathos, and of course with the Clintons around, Nemesis.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I asked this the other day. Do you think those 80,000 are showing up for Obama's speech or for the Springsteen/Bon Jovi concert that the Las Vegas paper says is to follow the speech?

[JM Hanes]

"Sounds like a scene from an Oliver Stone movie...."

Fireworks & confetti sounds like Bejing to me. Probably fake too.

I knew "4 more months" was going to be popular when I heard it this afternoon.

[Sue]

According to news reports, Springsteen is not appearing. Never was appearing. How many are bummed and will skip the big event?

[Ann]

Mourning black is out, I am going with in your face yellow or gold. ;)

[BobS]

Clarice: Since Springsteen is going to be there, he ought to have the Boss come out first and sing "Born in the USA"

[JM Hanes]

Ledbetter too. I guess wearing red is like a state of nature on the left.

This is definitely not the RENEWING AMERICA’S PROMISE night. This is the "I WUZ ROBBED" night.

[JM Hanes]

BobS: ROTFLMAO!

[BobS]

Talk about about blog fodder

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Documents Shed Light on Obama, Ayers Relationship

[BobS]

Clarice set me up with the puff ball, JMH.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

She wore very dark blue to concede during the primaries. So dark, it looked black on TV.

How 'bout virginal white?

[bgates]

the Springsteen/Bon Jovi concert
"And they said he wasn't black enough," to steal a Conan O'Brien line.

For a minute, I thought they might both be older than Obama, but they're not. Springsteen is, but Bon Jovi is 7 months younger. We're considering electing someone Jon Bon Jovi's age President. It seems a few decades early for that to be possible, doesn't it?

[BobS]

I hope the Dems do the Macarena again at the convention. It moves me so.

[Sue]

Doesn't Bush have 5 months left?

[Porchlight]

The couture klatch is complete.

I'll do my best to keep up! First week of school and early bedtimes here. Also I will have to bring myself to actually turn the convention on. ;)

[Rocco]

Blood red perhaps?

[JM Hanes]

Sara: The spin is already producing an Obama pushing for more innovation.

[JM Hanes]

Porchlight: You could watch it with the sound off and not miss much.

[MayBee]

Wow. I just thought to myself, "Dukakis looks good, making this speech"

[BobS]

Maybee.....I know....Warner looks like Kerry a bit, too.....

[Ann]

My internet connection was on and off last night and I just had to give it up. I am so glad it is working tonight because BobS, you are on a roll. LOL

[MayBee]

I bet Hillary's husband Rhett dragged her upstairs and made her put on her sluttiest pantsuit to wear over to the Obama convention.

"Nothing modest or matronly will do for this occasion!"

[Sue]

Hindsight. Great.

[JM Hanes]

The best rabble rousing speech today was given by, believe it or not, Dennis Kucinich!

I'm getting really sick of Democrats complaining that Bush failed to unite us.

[Sue]

MayBee!

[Porchlight]

I was thinking Quayle. ?

JMH, good call. I'm watching the Fox feed on my laptop minus the sound.

[Porchlight]

MayBee, you are brilliant. Sluttiest pantsuit LOL. Maybe the green velvet drapes?

[BobS]

Thanks Sue.....The Dems make it so easy.....Nevermind the media

[Porchlight]

Excuse me, green velvet portieres. Got to get the lingo down for couture klatsch.

[JM Hanes]

Don't forget, this guy has running for President on his mind.

[Sue]

I really don't think these people are all that excited about Obama.

[clarice]

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/26/newly-released-documents-highlight-obamas-relationship-with-ayers>1st report on doc dump at U of I

[JM Hanes]

Porchlight - We could just call it culture clash if that would ease the burden.

[BobS]

I can never again watch MSNBC. First for what happened to IMUS. Mostly its that creepy man crush for Obama that Chris Matthews and Mike Barnicle has.

[JM Hanes]

I don't think this keynote is going to do for Warner what it did for Obama last time out.

[centralcal]

Sue, I think you are right about the delegates not being that into Obama.

[BobS]

Clarice: I'm rubbing my hands in glee. Someone say, ACORN!

[Jane]

Anyone got a short version on what I missed?

Meanwhile I'll go back and read.

[clarice]

I'm still imagining the Greek drama. If a sudden hailstorm should blow up over Denver and flatten the Greek temple just as the Obamessiah starts his strut to the portico I would not be sad.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Those damn stars bother me. Outside the Convention Hall, on the sign on the podium, always the star, like it is there to lead the Wisemen to the new Messiah. It is creepy.

[GMax]

Looks like Pelosi stirred up a hornets nest. Can a statement from Pope Benedict be too far fetched? Whoa she must be hiding under her desk right now!

Catholic and conservative commentators reacted with outrage and disbelief to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's nationally televised comments that Church teaching is undecided on when life begins and that the question "shouldn't have an impact on a woman's right to choose."

Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said he has had long experience with Catholic politicians disagreeing with Church teaching on abortion but never before with what he called "absolute misrepresentation."

"I have to tell you in 15 years of doing this job this one goes off the end," he told Catholic San Francisco.

Pelosi should correct the record, he said.

"I don't know what the woman's motive is," he said. "Let's just assume it's stupidity. I'd still oblige her to hold a press conference saying she misrepresented the teachings of the Catholic Church."

The Archdiocese of San Francisco received hundreds of e-mails from around the country, many urging that the Church correct Pelosi. A "horrified" Bill Kelly of Carolina Shores, N.C., wrote: "Since she spoke as a Catholic will there be any action taken by the Archdiocese to refute her?"

Archbishop George Niederauer will address recent comments by Pelosi in a column in the Sept. 5 issue of Catholic San Francisco, archdiocesan spokesman Maurice Healy said.

In an official response, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a joint statement by the heads of the USCCB Pro-Life and Doctrine Committees calling Pelosi's comments "misleading" and based on mistaken theories of fetal development that modern embryology made obsolete 150 years ago.

"The Church has always taught that human life deserves respect from its very beginning and that procured abortion is a grave moral evil," the USCCB said in a statement signed by Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine.

Individually, one U.S. cardinal and two other archbishops publicly corrected Pelosi.

Pelosi "is a gifted public servant of strong convictions and many professional skills," Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote in a message also signed by Auxiliary Bishop James Conley. "Regrettably, knowledge of Catholic history and teaching does not seem to be one of them."

Cardinal Edward Egan of the Archdiocese of New York said he was "shocked" at Pelosi's comments and found them not only misleading but also "utterly incredible in this day and age."

Washington, D.C., Archbishop Donald Wuerl said, "We respect the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them, but the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops."

There was no immediate response from Pelosi's office in Washington

No immediate response as in the wagons are circled up and we dont have the townhouse memo yet to read from. She really is a dimbulb to think she could pull this off.

[clarice]

Jane--first inkling of swhat's in the huge U of I doc dump--lots of contacts between Ayers and O--

Convention chatter and some news about the set up at Invesco.

[hit and run]

Porchlight:
I'll do my best to keep up! First week of school and early bedtimes here.

Is this kindergarten for yours? princess hit and run started kindergarten today (hit and run jr in first grade). Big day! She was excited...

[MayBee]

She should have had Project Runway design her pantsuit for one of its challenges.

http://bloggingprojectrunway.blogspot.com/2008/08/congratulations-joe.html>Imagine

[clarice]

Pelosi's response was that it must be a regional thing--I take it she;s saying that Catholic doctrine is different in SF..(Actually, I have known priests telling prominent men with faithless husbands it was ok to use birth control and I expect in far left enclaves there are priests who see things as Pelosi does. I don't recall Boston cardinals being any too hard on Kerry or Kennedy on this issue either.)

[BobS]

Jane: Just that the minutes say they were in meetings at the same time. Nothing about what "reform' meant to ObAyers - not like the stuff the Stanley Kurtz and Steve Diamond know about or have strong suspecions. See my LUN for some of the money that went to Klosky

[clarice]

**telling prominent WOmen** (Good Grief!)

[Ann]

Ah!, Brit Hume is on Fox. I know which channel I'm watching!!

[Jane]

First day of school here too Hit and I got to go for ice cream with Amy's first grader. Everyone goes for ice cream on the first day of school here, apparently. Buttercrunch and chocolate with M&M's. Yum!

Clarice, where is the document dump?

[Sue]

MayBee,

This is what I had in mind when you spoke about Scarlett...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjhtxfSMIWk>Scarlett

[JM Hanes]

I know Lebanon Virginia, and they weren't shipping jobs to India.

I'm sensing kitchen sink syndrome here. The platitude count alone is astronomical. Lord, I hope the Republicans can do better than this. It shouldn't be hard, but then they managed to blow through their own majority

[BobS]

I dont suffer Dems well and am watching Dr Steve Lyons on TWC as I live in hurricana alley in the northern gulf coast

[clarice]

No where online yet, Jane --it is ginormous.

[MayBee]

Amy and Hit and Run have 'Graders'! That's such an exciting milestone.

[GMax]

Her Archbishop will respond Sept 5th. Want to bet he does not see it as she does? In that region, he is the law as far as intrepreting church doctrine. Bishop Niederauer will likely beat her like a rented Grand Canyon mule.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Comment over at PBS after Warner's speech: "rhetoric of this convention very banal."

[clarice]

The church has had a hard time--not wanting to punish Catholic solons and yet not wanting to give communion to those who outwardly support abortion..she may have forced the issue, that nitwit.

[Porchlight]

Yes, Hit - Princess Porchlight the Elder started kindergarten yesterday. A very big day! All great so far, but I am worn out already. Glad your kids are having fun too!

[Sue]

It isn't that she is pro-choice. They would have left her alone had she merely claimed that distinction. What she did was re-write Church law.

[clarice]

jmh we may be part of an increasingly smaller band paying any attention at all to the conventions. How long before the nets refuse to cover this at all?

[clarice]

Yes, Sue.

[BobS]

I'm Episcopalian and have watched with interest just how many Catholic bishops have smacked down Dem pols. Its astonishing

[MayBee]

Hah ha ha ha ha, Sue and Porchlight. I love that so much.

http://z.hubpages.com/u/214954_f260.jpg>This is the dress/pantsuit I was thinking of.

[JM Hanes]

Jane:

Think struggling middle class downer. They're talking about emerging from a nightmare and running against Bush. McCain is just his sycophant. And did I mention Bush/McCain is rich and doesn't care about the least of us?