Anybody watching the convention tonight?

[rcyannacci]

I'm watching on PBS (couldn't take the commentary on MSNBC)

I think Gore gave a really great speech- is it me, or is he speaking more dynamically these days?

It was also to hear Carter- very well thought out words.

 

[faithinkarma]

No, it is not just you. His speech was wonderful. I also am watching on PBS, switching occasionally to CSPAN. I just cannot take any more of "experts" tying to score points with their self perceived words of wisdom.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Nope, not here. I remember when I was young a convention was an exciting thing with surprises. Now it's all prescripted and very, very dull.
Robin M.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Missed Al, LOVED Jimmy Carter's speech. Wow, did he have something to say!

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by faithinkarma
No, it is not just you. His speech was wonderful. I also am watching on PBS, switching occasionally to CSPAN. I just cannot take any more of "experts" tying to score points with their self perceived words of wisdom.

Yeah, I just switched over to CSPAN and realized I was missing some of the speakers. While PBS was interviewing Carter, Tammy Baldwin (Rep. from Wisc.) had some good things to say.

 

[jennyanydots]

I just turned on CNN. saw Glenn Close and the 9/11 tribute. waiting for Hillary.

 

[Brer_Papa]

I've been watching....

Gore gave a great speech!
Tipper looked great..


Jimmy Carter was great too....his quote about America can only lead if its leaders don't mislead. wll be played a lot...

The 9/11 tribute was good...the violin player was awesome.

aaah...Hilary Clinton just started speaking....

 

[Saphire]

There is a convention on TV? Sorry, in Boston, RED SOX come first.

 

[tinatark]

I'm listening to BC, on Fox News... wow, the crowd really loved Hillary! I'm puking over Bill's speech now.

I can't believe Glenn Close flubbed her lines in the 9/11 tribute!

I did love the violinist!

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by Brer_Papa
Jimmy Carter was great too....his quote about America can only lead if its leaders don't mislead. wll be played a lot...

Now that is funny. Jimmy Carter was one of the most inept Presidents we ever had. And I heard he was talking about World politics. Did he discuss it with another 6 year old before he brought it forward? Did he mention the many failed policies of his office? Did he mention the one time he left the Marine Corps Recon, Delta Force and Navy Seals idle while he attempted to recreate a hostage rescue force? Did he mention the number of embassys attacked while he was president? (hint - it didn't just happen in Iran).

Bill Clinton did sound good, like any used car salesman. Somehow he forgot to mention the almost annual terrorist attacks that happened on his watch, including the original attack on the World Trade Center. Nor did he remember to mention that the economy began it's decline while he was still in office. Amazing memory he has.

 

[jrydberg]

Personally, I think it is a mistake for the Dems to bring out Jimmy Carter for the convention.

My take on recent conventions is that they ought to be playing for the cameras but what they end up doing is playing to the crowd in the convention hall. The people in the convention hall are likely not representative of the country as a whole (for either convention). They are the party faithful. By and large, they aren't the ones who determine the outcome.

From what I saw, Bill Clinton did a good job of playing to both. Clinton, despite his flaws, remains a considerable asset to the Democratic party, especially among independents.

Carter, by contrast, remains a considerable liability in terms of a general election.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by MJames41
Now that is funny. Jimmy Carter was one of the most inept Presidents we ever had. And I heard he was talking about World politics. Did he discuss it with another 6 year old before he brought it forward? Did he mention the many failed policies of his office? Did he mention the one time he left the Marine Corps Recon, Delta Force and Navy Seals idle while he attempted to recreate a hostage rescue force? Did he mention the number of embassys attacked while he was president? (hint - it didn't just happen in Iran).

Bill Clinton did sound good, like any used car salesman. Somehow he forgot to mention the almost annual terrorist attacks that happened on his watch, including the original attack on the World Trade Center. Nor did he remember to mention that the economy began it's decline while he was still in office. Amazing memory he has.

Are you kidding ? You're going to complain about "yearly" terrorist attacks when we have people dying almost DAILY of attacks ?



And you throw "used car salesman" around like it's an insult to Bill, but at least he doesn't sound like a blithering idiot when confronted with a tough question.

Bottom line: The country was in a helluva lot better shape when Clinton left office than what Shrub has left it in. It's as simple as that, really.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by jrydberg
Carter, by contrast, remains a considerable liability in terms of a general election.

I disagree with that. 10 years ago, you'd have been absolutely right. But Jimmy has gained quite a bit of respect over the past decade or two for all the work he has done since leaving office. No, he wasn't the greatest president in our history...but neither is the guy in office

I think, used correctly, Jimmy could certainly be an asset to the campaign. Just gotta get him to the right places...

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by wvrevy
Are you kidding ? You're going to complain about "yearly" terrorist attacks when we have people dying almost DAILY of attacks ?



And you throw "used car salesman" around like it's an insult to Bill, but at least he doesn't sound like a blithering idiot when confronted with a tough question.

Bottom line: The country was in a helluva lot better shape when Clinton left office than what Shrub has left it in. It's as simple as that, really.

Funny, you didn't counter anything I said about our old pal Jimmy. But then again, I ain't gonna refute what you say about a blithering idiot.

As for the daily attacks and what shape the country is/was in, the perception of that I believe will be what decides the election in 2004. And the perception that the Democrats are trying to pull off ignores many facts, such as:
- the economy was on the decline before Bush took office
- 9/11 had a big impact on the economy
- the country had already been attacked several times by terrorists prior to 9/11
- we have "people dieing almost daily" in Iraq now, but there were thousands and thousands of women and children dieing in Iraq monthly while Hussein was in power
- the war on terror is now focused in Iraq, not in the US

He may sound like a blithering idiot, but he is intelligent enough to get good quality people to work with him, whereas Kerry likes to be a lone wolf and make his own decisions. When all is said and done, I think that will doom his campaign more than anything.

 

[jrydberg]

Perhaps that's true, wvrevy, but I don't think standing Carter in front of the convention talking about George W. Bush's shortcomings is a good role for him. It brings to mind many of Carter's shortcomings. And I think that's a risky thing to do when trying to convince the independents to vote Kerry-Edwards. Just struck me as an odd approach.

Carter has been a much better ex-president than he was president

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Hey, folks! If you're planning to watch more of the DNC, please join me over on the DNC thread I started: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.phps=&threadid=613380

That said, gotta agree with wvrevy.....although Carter may not have been the most effective president of our time, there is absolutely no denying that he is a good man with the best intentions at heart; one of the few politicians whom one can truly say is motivated by the desire to help people and make the world a better place for all.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by MJames41
Funny, you didn't counter anything I said about our old pal Jimmy. But then again, I ain't gonna refute what you say about a blithering idiot.

I don't recall claiming that Carter was the best president we've ever had....Why should I defend him when he isn't running for anything, and his work since leaving office speaks for itself ?

Originally posted by MJames41
- the economy was on the decline before Bush took office

Yeah, and he's sure helped turn that around, huh ? But hey, India's economy is sure perking up, since that's where all the jobs seem to be going

Originally posted by MJames41
- 9/11 had a big impact on the economy

I'm sorry, where did anybody say that it hadn't ?

Originally posted by MJames41
- the country had already been attacked several times by terrorists prior to 9/11

And terrorism has INCREASED, significantly, since then. (Speaking of "perception" problems). Facts are a wonderful thing, huh ?

Originally posted by MJames41
- we have "people dieing almost daily" in Iraq now, but there were thousands and thousands of women and children dieing in Iraq monthly while Hussein was in power

I'm sorry, but a decade ago, you'd have had an argument...or even if there weren't, you know, thousands of people dying in Sudan RIGHT NOW....but they don't have oil interests, so they don't matter ? Also, I wasn't aware that it was OUR job to protect Iraqi citizens from their own government.

Originally posted by MJames41
- the war on terror is now focused in Iraq, not in the US

Says who ? Every time I turn on the TV it seems like Tom Ridge is on there pulling his "We don't know where, and we don't know when, but they're coming to get us" speech. How is that "focusing" the war elsewhere ? Or is he just blowing smoke to take political attention away from other things ? (Nah...that couldn't be it)

Originally posted by MJames41
He may sound like a blithering idiot, but he is intelligent enough to get good quality people to work with him, whereas Kerry likes to be a lone wolf and make his own decisions. When all is said and done, I think that will doom his campaign more than anything.

Last time I checked, we voted for a president, not for a team. How many times do you think Shrub has looked at one of those advisors and said "no, wait, I have a better idea" ? I didn't vote for Colin Powell or Condi Rice...which wouldn't be so much of a problem, except NEITHER DID ANYONE ELSE.

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by wvrevy
I don't recall claiming that Carter was the best president we've ever had....Why should I defend him when he isn't running for anything, and his work since leaving office speaks for itself ?

And his work since then qualifies him to speak on foreign affairs how? He was a disaster in foreign affairs, he came very close to getting us into a shooting war with the Soviets - gee, that would have been fun. Yes, he qualifies as a great Democrat choice for an expert on foreign affairs. Since it's Kerry's nomination, I assume it is his choice of speakers and what they will speak on. This says a lot about what his (Kerry's) thought lines are, and it doesn't look good.

Originally posted by wvrevy
Yeah, and he's sure helped turn that around, huh ? But hey, India's economy is sure perking up, since that's where all the jobs seem to be going

Wow, this is a strong factual debate on my statement.

Originally posted by wvrevy
I'm sorry, where did anybody say that it hadn't ?

Oh, perhas each time the Democrats say that Bush has been a disaster with the economy. Each time Bill Clinton talked about what a great economy he left and "look at it now". Well, gee, we were attacked and have been at war with them, so yes, we had to spend a few more dollars than you did Mr. Clinton. Perhaps if he had spent those few more dollars and kept his word once or twice we wouldn't have been attacked. Perhaps if he had been more interested in what was going on in the Middle East than what was going on in his intern's dress we wouldn't have been attacked.

Originally posted by wvrevy
And terrorism has INCREASED, significantly, since then. (Speaking of "perception" problems). Facts are a wonderful thing, huh ?

Yes, especially since 1993 when the current president then showed himself so weak that a major attack against the US went from being unthinkable to being possible.

Originally posted by wvrevy
I'm sorry, but a decade ago, you'd have had an argument...or even if there weren't, you know, thousands of people dying in Sudan RIGHT NOW....but they don't have oil interests, so they don't matter ? Also, I wasn't aware that it was OUR job to protect Iraqi citizens from their own government.

So you would support our going into other country's? Perhaps it isn't so much the oil interests that were in Iraq as it was in other foreign governments intelligence services (such as Russia) telling us that Hussein wanted to attack us. Perhaps it was Hussein's paying $25,000 to the "martyr's" familys in Palestine, including those who blew up some Americans on Clinton's watch, perhaps it was the world's intelligence community who believed that Hussein had and was attempting to get more WMD's. Perhaps it was the world's intelligence community's belief that Hussein did have some dealings with Al Queda. Yes, facts are wonderful things.

Originally posted by wvrevy
Says who ? Every time I turn on the TV it seems like Tom Ridge is on there pulling his "We don't know where, and we don't know when, but they're coming to get us" speech. How is that "focusing" the war elsewhere ? Or is he just blowing smoke to take political attention away from other things ? (Nah...that couldn't be it)

Ummm...their wanting to come to get us is quite different than them actually being able to do it. Unfortunately that comes with a yet attached to it. But they haven't succeeded (sp) so far.

Originally posted by wvrevy
Last time I checked, we voted for a president, not for a team. How many times do you think Shrub has looked at one of those advisors and said "no, wait, I have a better idea" ? I didn't vote for Colin Powell or Condi Rice...which wouldn't be so much of a problem, except NEITHER DID ANYONE ELSE.

And exactly who, outside of New York AFTER their presidency voted for Hillary Clinton? Who voted for Paul Begola? Last time I checked the President is allowed a cabinet, including Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Interior - nobody but the Senate votes for them. Which also means that your "NEITHER DID ANYONE ELSE" statement is false as well.