Bill: McCain Is Wrong On The "Two Great Questions Of This Election"
Bill's ability to frame the big choices in a campaign is legendary, so it's worth looking at his speech's framing of the choice in this election:
The choice is clear. The Republicans will nominate a good man who served our country heroically and suffered terribly in Vietnam. He loves our country every bit as much as we all do. As a Senator, he has shown his independence on several issues.But on the two great questions of this election, how to rebuild the American Dream and how to restore America's leadership in the world, he still embraces the extreme philosophy which has defined his party for more than 25 years, a philosophy we never had a real chance to see in action until 2001, when the Republicans finally gained control of both the White House and Congress. Then we saw what would happen to America if the policies they had talked about for decades were implemented.
Note Bill's formulation on the patriotism question: "He loves our country every bit as much as we all do." That's not a defensive formulation. It's not: "We do love our country as much as he does." Rather, it starts from the premise that Dems are patriotic.
Bill also leads people through what they've heard about McCain -- he's made terrible sacrifices on behalf of his country; he has shown signs of unorthodoxy -- to the conclusion that there are big choices lurking beyond those character issues: What to do about the economy, and how to relate to the rest of the world. Once the character issues are taken off the table, the choice on the bigger issues is clear: Between the party that made a hash of things on these big questions, and the one that has succeeded on them.
Any chance at a full video? I can't believe I missed it. I'm not reading any of this until I see it.
August 27, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
working on it...have no fear...
August 27, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Greg. This needs to get out there.
August 27, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a link to part one of Bill Clinton's speech. There are links from each part to the next. Enjoy!
August 28, 2008 1:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Greg.
August 27, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome back!
August 27, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Hillary' speech hit a home run Tuesday night, Bill's home run went into the upper deck. You do need to see it.
August 28, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was so good it makes you wonder where this guy was the last year on the campaign trail. We didn't see anything like this. Welcome back, Bill.
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
August 27, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy Bob was out there on the campaign trail; saw him in action in the local college gym, and it was the single best public appearance I've ever seen: perfectly organized speech, four points, incredibly good case statement for each, with just the right combo of numbers/details and inspiration, all delivered over about 40 minutes with nary a glance at notes -- except once when he put on his reading glasses and glance down to read some numbers from a poll that had come out that morning.
I kept thinking: why, oh why, did he have to be in office at the same time as such a horrible, reactionary Congress?
August 28, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the man sure can give a great speech. That is why he is one of the greatest politicians of the last 20 years. Amazing. Good speech, great speech. Wow!
Now, hopefully the clinton drama is over. Let's move on. It was a great speech though.
August 27, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
He sure can communicate!
As I was watching, I was reminded of lyrics from Steve Earle's "Christmas in Washington".
August 28, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, powerfull stuff from Beau Biden. Nice seeing Michelle's reaction to a very emotional personal story.
August 27, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
If what we saw is the version of Bubba we're getting going forward, he should get out on the campaign trail asap.
August 27, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't know they were getting a Christmas tree when the car accident happened. How sad is that?
August 27, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack's on his way in to the Pepsi center for an unannounced appearance. They're going to go insane.
August 27, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I called it. Hill and Bill have both made good. You could tell with their sincerity and passion that there was never any real animosity. The PUMA's are lost and confused, and the GOP is about to have a mess on their hands. This is our day, our America!
Obama/Biden '08
August 27, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dammit! Now that's a great handle.
August 27, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why thank you, now all i need is the appropriate avatar
August 27, 2008 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you're into the whole literal thing...
http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Image:Holyhandgrenade.jpg
August 27, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
PUMA? What the hell is that?
August 27, 2008 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
exactly
August 28, 2008 12:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Haha anyone think that Biden "slip" was really a slip?
I'd LOVE to hear more "George Bu- oops I mean John McCain."
August 27, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another great speech. Not fire and brimstone yet, but touching and passionate.
August 27, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
"As a Senator, he has shown his independence on several issues. "
can the dems please stop saying things like this? the truth is that he did show independence once upon a time but now has completely changes his positions so that he could win the primary.
August 27, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen to that; I like the "good soldier" v. "wise leader" idea, though.
August 27, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I HATE all of this "McCain is a dear friend of mine, and a great man, and I love him so much and everything he does"
Why is that needed?
August 27, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously. They should treat McCain like BushCo. treated Scott McClellan. "I don't know who he is anymore... He's changed. Something weird is happening to him."
Biden is getting a little more riled up right now... I want more red meat!
August 27, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it makes his criticism of him that much more potent.
August 27, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Show that (attest to the fact that) McCain is different now than 18 months ago... It shows he's easily manipulated.
August 27, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I wonder if they aren't reaching out to disaffected Repubs with this line.
And they are legion.
August 27, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes - it gives an opening for people who used to like/respect John McCain to realize he has changed, he'll continue/worsen Bush disaster etc.; and vote for Obama.
August 27, 2008 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is exactly what Kerry did in his speech with Senator McCain versus Candidate McCain and the debate that he needs to resolve with himself. Good stuff.
August 28, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I loved Kerry's line about the Candidate McCain and Senator McCain debating each other. Kerry was pretty damn good tonight.
August 28, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are correct... Kerry gave a great speach - in many ways the best speach of the convention. To bad it is not give the coverage it deserves!
August 28, 2008 9:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's see if we stay on message now and ONLY refer to him as CANDIDATE MCCAIN? (No more "Senator")
August 28, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoever McCain chose to be his VP, better be prepared to taste the pavement because Biden it's going to take him down.
August 27, 2008 10:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. If it's LieberSchmuck, maybe not so much. Those senators have a way of treading lightly on each other.
August 28, 2008 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't like his Russia/Georgia rhetoric but he made up for it quick.
August 27, 2008 10:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't like that either. Can't we rebuild Louisiana before we rebuild that other Georgia?
Barrack and Joe better get a copy of Thomas Friedman's column. He finally wrote a good one.
August 27, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell yeah, my friend. Hell yeah.
August 27, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
A-hay-hay-hay-hay-men to that!
August 27, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Russia-Georgia melodrama is a product of Bush inanely refighting the Cold War trying to encircle Russia. This is a Bush failure, and completely unnecessary, and that's what one needs to know about this. I realize the Dems have a tough dance to do on this, but I don't like the rhetoric either.
August 27, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is great right now.
All of this McCain was wrong - Obama was RIGHT.
EXCELLENT
August 27, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm only reading the text, but I agree that was a very good litany. McCain, wrong, wrong, wrong.
August 27, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well sheeeeeeeeeeeeit!
Another slow start that ended up with me on my feet screaming "Hallelujah!"
Go Joe.
August 27, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I get the feeling that this is the model that Obama likes to take with his campaigns as well. These guys know and understand pacing.
I think we're going to be alright. :)
August 27, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Same here Tena!
August 27, 2008 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm watching PBS in Utah, so I haven't seen Biden yet. But as others have said, it was good to see the old Bill Clinton again. He gave a great speech. And who would have believed that John Kerry could give a speech like that? It was great to see a new John Kerry. Hopefully the themes and ideas of both their speeches will be used repeatedly going forward.
August 27, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
If we had had THAT John Kerry in 2004, it would have been President Kerry in '08. That was one great speech!
August 28, 2008 6:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG! Obama is in the house! The crowd went nuts!
August 27, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
We are SO going to win this friggin' thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell yeah!
August 27, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden and his mother. That's just beautiful.
August 27, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't she dear? I loved when he shared the various things that he taught her and the camera shot to her and you could see her mouth, "That's true." Loved her!
August 27, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meant the things that SHE taught him, of course.
August 28, 2008 6:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
And they end with "We Are Family"
God I love being a Democrat!
August 27, 2008 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. We are family. Now more than ever.
August 27, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
With ya -- this is why I love the convention. There are always a bunch of moments that make and old man likke me get teary-eyed and remember why I love our party.
August 27, 2008 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
"We Are Family" by Sister Sledge. Good choice.
August 27, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. The Biden family and their story is fucking amazing. If he had been able to get that out to the general public in 2000 or 2008, he'd have done much better in the primaries than he did.
I love this ticket. This is great.
August 27, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama referring to the stadium as "Mile High" instead of "Invesco" may have just won him Colorado.
August 27, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I caught that as well. :)
August 27, 2008 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
After that Biden speech, anyone still wants Hillary?
August 27, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
(...crickets...)
Oops! Sorry!
August 28, 2008 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can anyone say how this convention compares so far to the 2004 convention? I know it's hard to judge while we're all buzzed on this one. Any thoughts?
August 27, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
All I remember from the 2004 convention was John Kerry doing that whole embarassing "Reporting for duty" schtick. I think I blocked the rest of it out.
August 27, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The 2004 keynote was pretty good.
August 27, 2008 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha, ha. Very clever.
August 28, 2008 12:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Biden was great, more of a statesman, allowing Kerry to be the attack dog. He had the crowd completely engaged to his every word.
Obama really needs to put over the Clinton's tomorrow, he just doesn't sound sincere when complimenting Hillary or Bill. I'll withhold judgment until tomorrow as I understand he was just making a cameo and all, but his mention of Hillary and Bill was a soundbyte.
August 27, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
A big failure so far is the inability to list Obama's accomplishments. It is still a thin resume and I think that this will be a big part of the Republican attack. Bill, Joe and Hillary heavily attacked Obama in this area and they were not able to convincingly take the other side. How do you get out of this?
August 27, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the start Obama hasn't run on experience, he's run on judgment. He has solid accomplishments both on the state level and in the Senate but he understands he's young and can't go resume to resume with McCain. But, as Biden succinctly pointed out, on all of the biggest issues Obama has been right and McCain has been wrong.
Judgment over experience.
August 27, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I cannot fucking believe this. I've spent the last eight years saying that, but now, now the same asshats on CNN and MSNBC who thought that their blathering was more important than any of the speeches that have been given--including one by our last presidential candidate--going after McPow are now criticizing the Democrats for not criticizing McPow more in their speeches.
Its just surreal.
August 27, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Turn it off. I did, and I'm happier for it.
August 28, 2008 7:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Home run for Democrats
August 27, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
This night (and Hillary's speech last night) left me feeling a LOT better about things...that plus the new swing-state polls out today. :)
August 27, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden's secret weapon:
His flubs are cute.
August 27, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I was here posting during the speech, but I wanted to watch it with my dad. He loved it as much as I did, and he's not nearly as hardcore a political junkie as I am. Not even close. But he immediately connected with Biden, on many levels. He's 60 years old, about to turn 61. He's from a family very similar to that of Biden - Irish, raised Roman Catholic. He couldn't get enough of Joe's mother.
I have to say, if there's a demographic that just got completely won over, it's the Irish Catholics. Gotta love 'em. =)
I also have to add... Beau Biden's speech brought me close to tears, and seeing many in the audience, I know I wasn't the only one. What a wonderful introduction.
August 27, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
ChronoSpark, I am in DE visiting with family. I just now was able to get on my brother in laws computer for a bit. I haven't seen any speeches but we tried to listen to Biden on the radio. It was good. Here is the thing I think is so important - My mom said after hearing Biden was VP -"I wasn't going to vote for Obama but now the Joe Biden is vice president I will." I don't know what my dad is thinking - he won't say. The rest of the family is Obama bound. I think my mom is fairly typical of her age group(80+) and I think her reaction to Biden is fairly typical also. I see Biden as a big fat vote getter for Obama.
I myself am SOOO excited Biden is VP. He will be great. I thought I wanted him for Sec. of State but after what my mom said I am really glad that its vp for Biden.
I have to wait until Sunday night when I am back in Charleston before I can see any clips of speeches (only my parents have a TV and I haven't been there for speeches) I am looking forward to seeing Hill and Bill clips after what I have read here.
August 28, 2008 12:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kerry and Biden were both very, very, good. Bill Clinton was absolutely amazing.
August 27, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Three comments:
I took the advice of many in the blogoshphere and chose C-CSPAN over Cable News. What an upgrade! MSNBC was playing with their talking heads instead of showing Kerry's excellent speech.
Bill Clinton showed why he is the Great Communicator of our times. He did a lot of good in just 15 minutes.
What got me about Biden's speech was the emotion. As he moved deeper into it, it was clear that he was angry about what the Bush administration has done and what McCain will do. He showed a passion that we will need in this campaign.
August 27, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES!!!! I couldn't believe it. The first night I was on MSNBC - o my god, Katie Couric and Bob fucking Schieffer (retire, old man, please!) The next it was Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews and it was worse.
Tonight it was C-Span and I found out something I didn't expect to find out - that convention is not boring - it's really worth watching. I find that phenomenal but I'll never ever watch something like that on any other channel if I have the option.
August 27, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
All is forgiven, Bill! This was a truly great speech. Kerry, bless his heart, did great too. And Biden was terrific. As I said in another thread, I am FIRED UP!
August 27, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup. Bill did what Bill does better than anyone. The only thing that can stop us now is racism. Let's hope those concerns are overblown.
August 28, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey guys! Love tonight with many highlightss. Kerry was good and to the key points of where McCain and Bush have perverted patriotism...Clinton did well and delivered several key points on why Obama is ready to be President and lead. Clinton also linked his accomplishments to Obama 's future. The Biden story is heart felt and also an American story and I have no concerns that once Joe is on the stump he will blistering McCain's ass...He is just getting his key points down and will only become more potent.
Now, we have the speech of Gore and Obama tomorrow. It's gonna be a good time for all! Please watch it on CSPAN so you will feel the vibe and energy of it all.
August 28, 2008 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've gotta say, though, that I hope Bill Richardson gets his time on the stage. He got bumped tonight :(
August 28, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Richardson will be speaking to 75,000 people at Invesco on Thursday instead.
August 28, 2008 5:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the most important argument of the night was Biden's (and Kerry's) argument about McCain's poor judgment. That is better than the 'more of the same' refrain (not that there's anything wrong with that). We've got to hammer McCain's judgment because it is his only remaining strength. A few comments about how he is starting to appear forgetful like Reagan and takes drugs to sleep would also help.
Actually, to really rise to the occasion, someone should find a bottle of Cialis in the medicine chest on that plane his wife flies him around in. That would be a great news story to see him try to deny.
August 28, 2008 1:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just got home from rehearsal to watch Bill. Damn, he's good. It may be snake oil at times but boy it sure goes down good....
August 28, 2008 1:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Four threads started for Clinton's speech and none for the extraordinary speech by Kerry?
And at least Kerry attacked John McCain.
August 28, 2008 2:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama showed a lot of confidence in allowing so much time for the Clintons. "We are family" said it all. It made people want to join the Democratic party's family. McCain can't even come up with a decent VP and the Democratic Party's only problem is who of many should get the nomination. Gore will close the deal tomorrow night, and then Obama's speech. :)
Not sure why Richardson got bumped but I agree that he HAS to get on. I will never forget the day he endorsed Obama. Those NM numbers are making me smile.
I'm fired up and ready to go to work.
August 28, 2008 2:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Richardson will be speaking to 75,000 people at Invesco on Thursday instead.
August 28, 2008 5:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was a neat how they chose to have the New Mexico delegation be the one to effectively end the roll call by throwing it to Illinois who passed to NY. Nice bit of political theater, and a nice hat tip to a swing state.
August 28, 2008 8:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Clinton was absolutely correct in framing the choice as going beyond the two men running for office. It's not just John McCain on the other side, but also an entire Republican establishment that is controlled by adherents to a radical philosophy who also have proven to be extremely partisan and often inept. And if John McCain's devolution from Sentaor McCain to candidate McCain shows us anything, it's that even the self-appointed "original maverick" cannot stand up to these people.
August 28, 2008 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
You've got to love him. MP3 highlights are up.
August 28, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Clinton totally nailed it. He framed the problem with McCain precisely -- basically a decent man but one who has succumbed to the radical elements who took control of the Republican Party 25 years ago. And someone who has failed to grasp the two great questions of this election. I'd paraphrase but it's hard to put this any better than the way Clinton said it.
I'm not sure how baseball became the analogy du jour in this election season (how many people have "hit one out of the park"?), but I'll have to agree with James Carville: Bill and Hillary showed the Republicans what a couple of big league fastballs look like.
By the way, I was watching this on Fox, and was surprised to see how moved everyone on their "All Star Panel" was when Obama was nominated. Juan Williams was totally choked up, and Bret Hume, Fred Barnes and Chris Wallace were clearly moved. Even mean old William Kristol allowed that "It is a historic day, a wonderful day for the country that Senator Obama was nominated."
August 28, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink