Democratic National Convention

cristoir · 01-09-2012 05:41PM #1

On Tuesday so begins the Democratic National Convention where US President Barack Obama will receive his party's nomination for re-election. The Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Caroline.

The Keynote will be given by Julian Castro, the Mayor of San Antonio in Texas.
Other Notable Speakers include:

Elizabeth Warren
Michelle Obama
Bill Clinton (who will nominate Obama)
Rahm Emmanuel.
Charlie Crist (Former Republican Governor of Florida who left the GOP in 2010)

Of all the speech's I think Crist's could be the most interesting. He is a moderate Republican who fell victim to the Tea Party.

matthew8 · 01-09-2012 06:54PM

cristoir wrote: »

Of all the speech's I think Crist's could be the most interesting. He is a moderate Republican who fell victim to the Tea Party.

More like a career politician who doesn't believe in anything.

Einhard · 04-09-2012 02:04AM

matthew8 wrote: »

More like a career politician who doesn't believe in anything.

Sounds pretty much like Romney so.

Amerika · 04-09-2012 07:00PM

It’s looking more and more that the Democrats are set to move Obama's Thursday DNC acceptance speech from the 74,000-seat outdoor Bank of America stadium to a much smaller 20,000-seat indoor arena. There is concern that they can’t fill the big venue and footage of a plethora of empty seats would be politically disastrous. Even though a Democratic official said that the speech would be given in the outdoor stadium “rain or shine,” they now are using the weather and 30% chance of thunderstorms as an excuse to move it to the much smaller arena. I certainly would agree a storm is coming, but not necessarly the kind that’s weather related.

And an update to the Democratic Convention. Seemingly, the party will officially adopt an extreme position on the issue of abortion today. “The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay.” ”Regardless of ability to pay” simply means taxpayer-funded abortions. It seems the party also endorses the unrestricted right to “Abortion-On-Demand.” And what's the will of the majority of Americans regarding tax-payer funded apportions, and unrestricted abortion-on-demand, you may ask (but probably won't)?

Amerika · 04-09-2012 08:36PM

Are there any Democratic prime-time speakers at the DNC convention tonight worth watching?

Conas · 05-09-2012 12:40AM

They had a tribute to Ted Kennedy at the convention tonight. It's so sad what happened to that amazing family. JFK, RFK, John Junior. Had JFK lived, and Robert Kennedy became president in 1968 thousands of lives would have been saved in Vietnam, and it's scary how different America would have been today in my opinion. The American dreamed died that day in Dallas. Found this very popular JFK video on You Tube today, worth a listen. RIP JFK, Ted, RFK, and John Junior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZk8ronces

Amerika · 05-09-2012 04:07AM

Did they really show a video at the DNC convention with the line "The Government Is The Only Thing We All Belong To?" The Internet and political pundits are sure going to jump on that one. What were they thinking?

05-09-2012 09:15AM

Conas wrote: »

They had a tribute to Ted Kennedy at the convention tonight. It's so sad what happened to that amazing family. JFK, RFK, John Junior. Had JFK lived, and Robert Kennedy became president in 1968 thousands of lives would have been saved in Vietnam, and it's scary how different America would have been today in my opinion. The American dreamed died that day in Dallas. Found this very popular JFK video on You Tube today, worth a listen. RIP JFK, Ted, RFK, and John Junior.

Off topic I know and possibly should be dealt with in History form, but could you explain that one please ?

Min · 05-09-2012 10:48AM

I thought it was rather unfortunate when Michelle Obama was speaking last night about the right of women to control their own bodies, then for the camera to show a child clapping like crazy and then to focus the camera onto a baby in the audience.
Seemed a bit contradictory.

Permabear · 05-09-2012 11:34AM

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Denerick · 05-09-2012 11:39AM

Permabear wrote: »

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Jesus Christ I'm getting sick of this stupid posturing. The government is the only thing that all Americans belong to. America has a plethora of unique churches, social groups, political organisations, families, individuals, police stations, schools, universities... What binds them all together? The nation. The government is the representative organisation of the nation, chosen by the people to carry out the work of the people. Anyone who decides to get offended at this is so far in hock to the radical right that I would begin to question their level of sentience.

On another note, its becoming more and more distressing to remember and bear in mind that Ronald Reagan would be considered a liberal pinko in the modern Republican party. Let America burn, let its republic collapse, it'll frogmarch into its own demise if it follows through with this radical crap. Obama is the last hope of sanity in an increasingly bizarre conservative political scene.

Now for a little historical perspective. Romney = Sulla, Obama = Marius. Think of that what you will.

joseph brand · 05-09-2012 12:14PM

Permabear wrote: »

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Those in the DNC view government as a coordinating and authoritative entity, providing direction as opposed to development by way of a spontaneous order. This romance with centralized authority is why those in government, including their apologists and cheerleaders, so often enact legislation that harms the people. Minimum wage laws create unemployment, subsidies increase costs, and public schools fail to provide adequate education.

The DNC does not want individuals to have power. They want collective groups (whom they favor) to have power at the expense of others. This is in stark contrast to what the founders had in mind, and goes against the very principles this country was founded upon.

Minimum wage laws keep people out of poverty, I would have thought? I'm all against subsidies for the oil industry, just like Obama.

President Barack Obama announced he is supporting a bill in the Senate that removes subsidies for oil companies. CBS News reports the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., was voted down in a procedural move. Menendez needed 60 votes to pass the bill but only got 51 votes to move forward. The bill would have ended oil subsidies to large companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell.

Would this have anything to do with the fact that the Koch bros are donating millions to Romney's campaign? (apart from the whole 'lowering of taxes for the wealthy').

Did the founding fathers envision Billionaires (Koch bros and Adelson) attempting to buy a government? What could possibly go wrong with this idea.

Duck Soup · 05-09-2012 12:17PM

Michelle Obama was superb last night. Deval Patrick just plum brought the house down.

Duck Soup · 05-09-2012 12:24PM

Elizabeth Warren and the Big Dog himself, Bill Clinton, on tonight. Really looking forward to Elizabeth Warren's speech in particular. Damned smart and the hall will love her.

Permabear · 05-09-2012 12:47PM

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Amerika · 05-09-2012 12:51PM

Denerick wrote: »

Jesus Christ I'm getting sick of this stupid posturing. The government is the only thing that all Americans belong to. America has a plethora of unique churches, social groups, political organisations, families, individuals, police stations, schools, universities... What binds them all together? The nation. The government is the representative organisation of the nation, chosen by the people to carry out the work of the people. Anyone who decides to get offended at this is so far in hock to the radical right that I would begin to question their level of sentience.

I know what I heard, and it was truly a revealing moment of today’s Democratic core philosophy. It’s becoming a rather sad joke over here that we are to ignore what Democratic politicians actually say, and have to wait a day to find out what their spin-doctors tell us they "really meant." The values described in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are a better summary of what we belong to. And those documents are not the government. Rather, they provide us the right to assemble, speak out against our government, and change it through our votes. The government belongs to us... not the other way around.

Eliot Rosewater · 05-09-2012 01:16PM

Denerick wrote: »

Jesus Christ I'm getting sick of this stupid posturing. The government is the only thing that all Americans belong to. America has a plethora of unique churches, social groups, political organisations, families, individuals, police stations, schools, universities... What binds them all together? The nation. The government is the representative organisation of the nation, chosen by the people to carry out the work of the people. Anyone who decides to get offended at this is so far in hock to the radical right that I would begin to question their level of sentience.

In fairness, there is a difference between the government and the nation. While every American belongs to the American nation, saying a partiuclar American belongs to the government has a different connotation. It implies that they in some sense support its current direction or any direction it is likely to take. To put it in a context you might sympathize with: if you were born and lived in China would you say you belonged to the government of China? I really doubt it. Just because the United States is a democracy of some kind does not change the point: many people do not believe that their government reflects their values and desires enough to "belong" to it.

20Cent · 05-09-2012 01:19PM

Michelle Obama's speech transcript

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/transcript-michelle-obamas-democratic-convention-speech/story?id=17155898#.UEdRNrJlTQ4

Great line here sums up well

And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity…you do not slam it shut behind you…you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.

Amerika · 05-09-2012 02:21PM

I watched a lot of the DNC convention last night. My God, these Democrats really love abortions. Can someone please tell the DNC that the American people want to hear about increasing jobs and improving the economy… not about taxpayer subsidized abortions-on-demand.

Also, Hillary Clinton is half a world away, and we pretty much know why. Andrew Cuomo is one of the most prominent Democratic Party’s shining stars, and could possible be POTUS one day… why is he not at the DNC convention?

20Cent · 05-09-2012 02:31PM

Amerika wrote: »

I watched a lot of the DNC convention last night. My God, these Democrats really love abortions. Can someone please tell the DNC that the American people want to hear about increasing jobs and improving the economy… not about taxpayer subsidized abortions-on-demand.

Also, Hillary Clinton is half a world away, and we pretty much know why. Andrew Cuomo is one of the most prominent Democratic Party’s shining stars, and could possible be POTUS one day… why is he not at the DNC convention?

Hillary Clinton is secretary of state so is probably busy, if she returned to attend the conference you know the reps would be bangin on about her leaving her post to attend. Anyway I think that the sec of state is banned from participating in political activities while on duty.

Never heard of Cuomo.

matthew8 · 05-09-2012 02:44PM

I hate this idea of a first lady having to give a speech at the convention.

Amerika · 05-09-2012 03:46PM

Thursday’s acceptance speech for the DNC by Barack Obama is now officially being moved from the 75,000 outdoor stadium into a 20,000 indoor stadium. Hmmm... So are they going to have to turn a whole lot of people away?

The best quote on the matter I’ve read so far was this:

It looks more like the attendance forecast was partly gloomy, with a large chance of Eastwooding at Bank of America Stadium.

And it went on to ask a simple question regarding the Democrats use of the small chance of bad weather as the basis for their decision... "if you had a Panthers game, Concert or Soccer match with a 20% chance of storms would you cancel 24 hours prior to the event?"

FatherTed · 05-09-2012 04:14PM

Watched a bit last night, thought the Ted Kennedy tribute was good. I thought it was interesting how Michelle Obama painted hers and the President's background and how it compares to the Romneys'.

Denerick · 05-09-2012 04:14PM

Permabear wrote: »

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If you don't recognise the state you live in you are essentially an anarchist. As for your political views, which you are more than entitled to, you need to recognise that you're very much in a fringe minority.

southsiderosie · 05-09-2012 04:51PM

Amerika wrote: »

I watched a lot of the DNC convention last night. My God, these Democrats really love abortions. Can someone please tell the DNC that the American people want to hear about increasing jobs and improving the economy… not about taxpayer subsidized abortions-on-demand.

What? The President of NARAL is going to talk about choice - that is her job. And support for access to abortion is a part of the Dems platform - just as opposition to abortion in all cases was a GOP plank.

Amerika wrote: »

Also, Hillary Clinton is half a world away, and we pretty much know why. Andrew Cuomo is one of the most prominent Democratic Party’s shining stars, and could possible be POTUS one day… why is he not at the DNC convention?

The Cuomos are a known commodity in American, and particularly Democratic politics. The Castros are not. Castro gave the keynote speech last night for the same reason Obama did in 2004 - he is a young, fresh face for the party with a great backstory - and it does not hurt that he is Hispanic and from Texas, a state that will plausibly go 'purple' in the next decade.

There have been a lot of rumors about the Clintons challenging Obama, etc., but if the rest of the DNC goes as well as yesterday did in terms of rallying the base around re-electing Obama, the Clintons will suck it up for the good of the party.

20Cent wrote: »

Never heard of Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo is the Governor of New York, and the son of Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York who gave an electrifying speech at the 1984 convention but never ran for President himself.

Duck Soup · 05-09-2012 05:01PM

Amerika wrote: »

Thursday’s acceptance speech for the DNC by Barack Obama is now officially being moved from the 75,000 outdoor stadium into a 20,000 indoor stadium. Hmmm... So are they going to have to turn a whole lot of people away?

Yes, they are. There are 65,000 people who had tickets for the outdoor event.

Permabear · 05-09-2012 05:55PM

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20Cent · 05-09-2012 06:19PM

Must be going well if the only complaints so far are a sentence form a video and that they want to keep out of the rain. Has anyone done an Eastwood yet?

Amerika · 05-09-2012 06:51PM

20Cent wrote: »

Must be going well if the only complaints so far are a sentence form a video and that they want to keep out of the rain. Has anyone done an Eastwood yet?

Going well??? Ask yourself what was missing yesterday? Last night the Democrats were either in denial, or they don’t realize we are in a financial crisis. I guess the empty chair was reserved for the massive debt load, budget crises, unaffordable and underfunded public pension obligations, and how to pay (when we are broke) for the lofty goals of investing in education and public sector jobs. But unlike Eastwood, the Democrats didn’t even bother to engage. Last night was truly terrible IMO.

southsiderosie · 05-09-2012 07:11PM

Amerika wrote: »

Going well??? Ask yourself what was missing yesterday? Last night the Democrats were either in denial, or they don’t realize we are in a financial crisis. I guess the empty chair was reserved for the massive debt load, budget crises, unaffordable and underfunded public pension obligations, and how to pay (when we are broke) for the lofty goals of investing in education and public sector jobs. But unlike Eastwood, the Democrats didn’t even bother to engage. Last night was truly terrible IMO.

The point of the DNC is to rally the party base, and they are loving it.

Itssoeasy · 05-09-2012 08:58PM

Now according to a contributor on fox news, Bill Clinton wont show his speech to the Obama camp ahead of his speech tonight.

Democratic National Convention

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