The last few days through the end of next week are exciting moments for political junkies like me. This week’s Democratic National Convention has been loaded with plenty of classic lines and unforgettable moments already, with the culmination tonight as Obama accepted the nomination.
i. Mark Warner Keynote:
I believe that Obama, if elected, has huge potential to be an amazing President, but in 2006 I wasn’t yet on his bandwagon. In 2006 I was gunning for Mark Warner. As a casual observer of American politics, I have often noticed that legislators suck at running the country. Legislators make the laws and executives apply them. The reason we haven’t elected a senator or congressman in decades is for this very reason. I have faith in Obama’s executive potential because his community organizing required him to do lots with little resources, a challenge that builds character and leadership, two traits that are easily scalable. Also, his relatively short career in the senate was not long enough to corrupt him. Under most circumstances though, I’d prefer a former Governor to a Senator, and former Virginia Governor Warner was my man. Early in 2007 he formally let down the thousands who had joined the “Draft Mark Warner” groups, myself included, saying he and his family weren’t ready. With the honor of being the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention, however, he is now well on his way to getting there.
Former Virginina Governor Mark Warner
Mark Warner’s speech was the one I was most looking forward to, and before tonight’s festivities, the one I was most wowed by. His energy and idealism were nothing like Obama’s in 2004, but instead it was firm and decisive, strong and quote-un-quote Presidential. His message of the ‘race into the future’ was uplifting, essentially the content, and clear sequel, to Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” speech. His message contrasting Obama to McCain echoed one of the prevalent Democratic themes of the election, that McCain would be more of the same, but he offered details to back up the claim. His words were firm, detailed, and pointed, and though it may not have inspired people like Obama four years ago, it instead ignited people’s resolve to see the change we need actually occur.
The best part of his speech was his “greatest criticism of President Bush” which, according to Warner, was not about policy but inaction, when he failed to “tap into our greatest resource: the character and resolve of the American people”. Here is a quote, definitely the most thought-provoking moment of Convention.
“People always ask me, ‘What’s my biggest criticism of President Bush?’ I’m sure you all have your own. Here’s mine—it’s not just the policy differences, it’s the fact that this president never tapped into our greatest resource: the character and resolve of the American people. He never asked us to step up.
“Think about it: after September 11th, if there was a call from the president to get us off foreign oil to stop funding the very terrorists who had just attacked us, every American would have said, “how can I do my part?” This administration failed to believe in what we can achieve as a nation, when all of us work together.”
With a future as bright as Warner’s, I hope he ends up on the short-list for the next Democratic ticket next time go round.
ii. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer:
Throughout the convention the headlining speakers have done their job to deliver the message in the way we expected them to. I will save you all the trouble and not re-hash the analysis of most of these speakers. But in Brian Schweitzer we had a minor speaker inspire, entertain, and impress us in a way totally unexpected. CNN was decidedly ignoring the man’s speech, picking apart Warner’s recent speech to the utmost detail, until suddenly the crowd was overheard cheering like crazy. The anchors shut up and cut to Schweitzer. What a great cut it was.
Montana Governor Brian Schweizer
Immediately what we saw was a good ole western cowboy whose level-headed look at what America needs, his energetic approach to speaking, and his calculated comedy back wit and charm made for an unforgettable speech. His occasional “whoo-weee” and guttural phrases characterize him as a modern loud and proud American frontiersman (cowboy), masculine and not afraid to rise up and speak out. I hope this guy makes it to national politics, we need a guy like him.
There were many memorable moments in his speech, including a one-liner about McCain’s forgetfulness about the number of homes he owns—which was followed by a “whew-wee” as the crowd cheered, a moment where explained that the best barrel of oil is the one we don’t have to buy, and another when he told convention delegates to “get off [their] hind ends” and let the world know we were declaring our energy independence.
iii. Hillary Clinton:
Hillary had a job to do. She did it and more. Among the many excellent things she said, I was most happy with this quote, which summed up the reasons I get so frustrated with old Hillary supporters that “can’t bring themselves to vote for Obama”:
New York Senator Hillary Clinton
“I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?”
Her words were spot on, uplifting, and well organized. She made a case to her former supporters for Obama, and didn’t just say “I endorse him”, rather she told them why they must, for the sake of all they worked toward together, vote for him.
The next day when she interrupted the roll call of the states to motion to nominate Obama by acclimation, that was amazing. I am proud of that woman. I would have been proud to vote her. She was and is good for America, and I am glad she had a role in this historic election.
iv. Obama:
After being picked apart by everyone under the sun, if you want to see some more intelligent commentary on Obama’s speech, check out any other website. I just want to say this: it was great, at times it made me tear up, and it reminded me why he is my candidate. Good job Obama, and good luck over the next few months.
v. See More:
All the speeches are archived on the convention website. Especially check out Schweitzer’s speech if you have a moment. You need Microsoft Silverlight (the new flash competitor) installed (boo), but the videos are high quality and worth it.
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