On Demand
DNC Coverage: Hour 1
Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, Daily Kos blogger and author of Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era, and Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today, wrap up the week's events.
Then
Brooke Gladstone, host of WNYC's On The Media, discusses the media coverage during the convention.
Then
Musician Steve Earle gives his impressions of the convention from a singer/songwriter's perspective. Catch Steve Earle next month performing at Judson Memorial Church in New York, September 22nd through 26th.
The official Steve Earle website
Then
WNYC's Bob Hennelly and Andrea Bernstein react to Barack Obama's speech last night.
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An outstanding speech. Barack has had my vote for 18 months, but last night was the first time that he brought a real indignation to the campaign. An anger that most of us have felt for these last 8 years. He was aggressive without being crazed. He played right at the net. It was like a symphony that built on a crescendo of sound and fury. I don't agree with virtually anything that Pat Buchanan says or thinks. Last night changed that. Buchanan called it "THE FINEST CONVENTION SPEECH EVER". I second that. He made the case for liberalism without seeming defensive. He made it with courage and conviction. America saw the best Politician in many years last night.
My favorite part of Obama’s speech was his pushback against McCain’s questioning of his patriotism.
McCain’s quote that “my opponent would rather lose a war than lose an election” is the most disgraceful, outrageous, and depraved attack I’ve ever heard a political candidate make against his campaign opponent. Every editorial page in the country should have denounced this gutter attack line and demanded that McCain issue a public apology.
Note to Brian:
Ask Brooke Gladstone her opinion on the following
Tom Brokaw called the Dem convention a kabuki dance and Ted Koppel called the Dem convention a colossal waste of time and money. Both of them said the event should be shortened by several days because it's largely a fluff affair. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/28/brokaw-and-koppel-on-dnc_n_122199.html
Does Brooke think it's appropriate for Brokaw and Koppel to trash an event while on the ground covering it? I think Brokaw and Koppel crossed the line. Don't they owe it viewers to report from St Paul next week and say that the Repub convention is also too long and is a waste of money?
I think the Democratic Convention was poorly organized and boring as heck. At least the Clintons had their day in the sun:)
If Obama wins, I will have to go to sleep for the next 4 years. YAWN.
It was interesting that the Democracts seemed to have chosen a strategy that is based on telling everyone that John McCain has faithfully served his country and is a war hero, but...
I am curious if the Democratic base feels that Biden was a good choice? As a McCain supporter (but an independent voter) having Biden as VP would make me feel better if Obama is elected. Also, are those Clinton voters making the switch to Obama or is McCain beginning to pick them up?
I watched the Obama speech at a live feed fundraiser. Until last night, I had no idea how inadequate my hands were for the task of applauding nearly continuously. I agreed with virtually everything he said. I really can't even judge the speech objectively, because I was too wrapped up in screaming "yeah" in agreement after what seemed like every line. I felt like Fred Exley watching Frank Gifford in "A Fan's Notes." (But without the alcohol.)
It was great to watch it with a lot of fellow Dems and Obama supporters. But God, we have a long way to go if you look at the polls.
An ace speach (US Open is in Queens afterall)!!Pat Buchanan said on MSNBC that Obama didn't give a liberal speech, he was right. Sen. Obama delivered a 100% progressive speech, chock full of red meat, calls to service and comon sense.
Peter,
As a "forever" Democrat, I can only speak for one person, but...
I think Biden was the BEST choice. He was my first choice, before he dropped out of the presidential running.
And yes, I think it's the ONLY policy to acknowledge McCain's humanity and heroism, but to point out why we think he won't make a good leader. Besides supporting a re-opening of trade with Vietnam, there are many things I love about John McCain. But the time for him to be president was eight years ago, before Bush shattered our economy and trashed our global reputation. Now we need someone who can reach out to the rest of the world. Obama is that man.
Obama comes through as usual. It was obviously one of the best run conventions ever. Just as his campaign was managed incredibly effectively, so was this extravaganza.
I especially liked when he turned to foreign policy. I thought he was very strong, very secure and mostly on the money. He laid out direct instances of McCain's bad judgment on Iraq, Afghanistan - how his positions have been adopted by even Bush. And then he closed with the rhetoric: "I will restore our moral standing so that America is again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future." OK - I don't know about the peace and future, but I do know that we are (or at least have been) a bastion of freedom for mankind.
Can we talk for one moment about this AP article saying that Obama didn't hit specific points about what he will do when in office?! This highly suspicious article that got the length of the speech wrong by 7 or 8 minutes? Its very troubling that this news source is misreporting (was it written before the speech?) through hundreds of newspapers.
This is as good as it gets with Obama, but it might have gotten lost in the spectacle. It kind of reminded me of Beijing. The Republicans will be just as overproduced... but with more flags and flag pins.
Barack made no mention of immigration or of Latinos during his speech.
I like Joe Biden a lot personally, his down-to-earth style (is that an oxymoron). But most importantly, he has the abilities to make a good President, God forbid it should come to that.
I just thought how he is in the mold of Cheney, at least in terms of succession. If Obama is able to win, Biden will not be his successor (like Gore, or the 1st Bush, or Quayle etc.).
Brack can give a good speech.
However I can't get past the following in order to vote for him over Nader:
1. FISA
2. Patriot Act
3. Death Penalty
4. More Drilling
5. Taking money from Lobbiests and special interests
6. Selecting a VP who is wildly corrupt - MBNA bank who hired his son as a VP and Lobbiest.
7. Supporting Bush's Energy plan which McCain voted against
I think that's enough
I thought of the Beijing spectacle, too - which was magnificent - and I thought: this guy CAN compete with China in the 21st Century!
The speech was an embarrassment. He was forced to criticize one of many FORMER economic advisors of McCain, who was quoted as saying the Americans are whiners. Not something McCain said, but a aide of McCain's.
And Obama said it just one day after we learned that the US economy had grown in the last quarter an astounding 3.5 percent, and median incomes rose highest since 2000.
One can point to "below the belt" attacks from both sides, but challenging Obama for his ties to his church is completely within bounds. Obama attended a church for 20 years that seemed to preach an awful lot of racism and hate. Obama was extremely tolerant of the hate that came from his pastor for a long time - Obama's tolerance can be gauged by his years of silence. Your guest should really explain why saying these things is unfair or out of bounds.
Why does the word 'Presidential' come to mind? (That's a rhetorical question)
Eva,
I agree with you that Biden seems to be the best choice, but it does tie Obama's hands in saying that McCain is of Washington. It also seems to concede that Obama comes up short on foreign policy. Having said that, I like Biden and feel better with him on the ticket even though I am for McCain.
To Gary-
Back in '92, the economy was beginning to show signs of recovery during the Presidential Campaign between H.W Bush and Clinton. Clinton won... and got the credit.
Timing is everything.
Obama sat in the US senate for little more than 100 days when he announced he would run for President. THAT is the reason he's refused McCain's offer to have several open ended town hall style debates, without moderators who tend to attenuate the discussions. And The reason for that is because Obama doen't have the depth of knowledge on the issues.
Lack of experience had caused Presidents as diverse as John Kennedy and GW Bush to injure this country. And the media has not scrutinized this flaw.
The speech was highly cynical. It veered away from the soaring rhetoric that earned him rock star status as a calculated step away from Paris Hiltonhood, and toward a challenge to a street fight, not because he wants the street fight, but because he no longer wants to be Paris Hilton. As that street fight develops, a lot of the little Brittny's out there are going to become less enamoured, because of their limited attention span for conflict, or anything that requires brain power. Obama is a cynical, calculating politician, and last nights stepping back from what got him here, is as cynical as it comes. Get ready for Jimmy Carter II. It's going to be a long and bumpy ride.
Two things:
What got me was "This isn't about me, this is about you." I happen to believe him.
The fireworks were painfully lame. China set a new bar for ceremonial eye candy for the masses.
#10 Tara
Your comment is right on the money.
I think the AP has seriously tarnished its reputation. Remember Ron Fournier? He's the Washington Bureau chief of AP. It was recently reported that he sent Karl Rove a gushing supportive email message. I think Fournier subsequently apologized. I've heard Fournier was offered a job by John McCain. I think AP is slipping closer to Fox News.
What a bore and a vomitous overdisplay of Las Vegas last night. Vomit puke!
Peter,
I disagree - it is important for someone who wants to enact change to bring with him an insider who can help him negotiate the territory. To think he could do it without such insight would be naive in the extreme.
The line that jumped out at me was "This is not about me. This is about you." That was the best defense against the Republican strategy of centering their campaign not on issues but on Obama. And, it pulled in everyone. It made it our campaign, our election.
Tom Brokaw has no credibility.
Eva,
Well, i agree with you, but it does mean that Obama can't play the "McCain is of Washington" game. If being "of Washington" is good for the dems, its good for the other party too. That was my point. Obama will look foolish now if he says that experience is good for one party, but not the other.
Where was Barack's sister this week?
#22 Fred: Bravo. Well said.
Obama's speech was great. However, words that Obama should have emphasized more are: future, competence, constitution, sacrifice, "Work hard in the next 2 months" and "Take our country back".
Don't believe polls. Polls are biases towards people who answer polls.
If I was a right winger, I would be very disgusted and critical of last night's speech because it puts me in a lot of trouble.
per #10 (tara): Anyone who believes AP has veered to the right need only read www.honest reporting.com, to name just one news watchgod organization.
#27,
at least we get a countdown to Joe's next gaffe... we've had 7 years of continual embarrassment from W. To the extent that most of us don't even really register it anymore - we've become inured to it.
are Barack's grandparents GOP?
Barack is starting to look like Harry Belafonte.
14# michaelw
I wish Obama was more progressive in his positions.
However, you shouldn't make the perfect the enemy of the good. You're never going to find a pefect candidate. Despite your criticism of Obama, he's 1,000 times better than McCain.
If you vote for Nader, you're punishing the nation in a quest for ideological purity.
Don't hand the White House to John McCain because you're disappointed with Obama.
Cartoon animation idea for Brian Lehrer theme song music: Giant Brain walks down Madison Ave in a Cowboy Hat. He peeks into the window of one of the buildings, hip people are designing websites. Angle on computer monitor: dragging around graphics. Giant Brian steps on a few Billboards. etc.
Brooke show us your t shirt
Brooke Gladstone is not as incisive and daring as WBAI. She should stop pulling her punches.
Any Energy wonks want to talk about "Nukes are on the table"
or Energy independence from the ME in 10 years?
Many of my friends actually tuned in to watch for the first time all year. They were impressed to say the least. What a night!
Yeah those fireworks, that wasn't too rock star now...
Why do you republicans keep attacking the moment instead of the speech. John McCain doesnt even attack Obama's message with a counter message instead its oh he's a celebrity, not ready yadayadayada..... Republicans what is yor message? John McCain what supporters what is he offering?
Brian nice going: call Detroit ratty again.
I would like Brooke Gladstone to say why (to the best of my knowledge) no one in the press has noted that Obama's experience in government (fewer than four years in Congress and several years in the Illinois legislature) is almost precisely the same as the experience in government that Lincoln had before he became president.
Is Obama's experience really inadequate for preparing him to lead?
The best (and only) channel to watch the convention is CSPAN.
brook should have been watching pbs channel 13
Brooke , I"m intereested in your take on cable.
I am also very interested in Brooke and OTM's take on what's hapened at Associated Press, and why.
e.g. AP Wash Bureau Chief Fournier having negotiated for a job with McCain, and quite a few apparently pre-written hit pieces on Obama, and the slanted "accountability journal" model they're using.
The Scarborough thing is on youtube for anyone who likes horror
a woman holy crap for veep
The "This isnt about me,is about you " comment made me laugh, it was a nice bit of Jujitsu however I just thought it was insincere,,,,a bit
Tell Brooke that PBS showed the speeches without cutting in and Stevie Wonder too!
Wow McCain Picks a woman from Alaska
Damn Sam
HILLARY said, “Is it about me, or that marine?”
#35 It puts McCain in no trouble WHATSOEVER. All McCain has to do now is look tan and cool while Barama continues to look exotic, pursues disgusting rockstardom, and dares Obbrama to attack a VP Woman now, with a disabled kid! It's OBracka whose in a world of hurt now...
Alaska. That's cool.
shout out to channel 13 (pbs). got to see most of the speeches (and stevie wonder) without the annoying crawl or any split scrn.
Fox is reporting that Sarah Palin, gov of Alaska, is McCain's VP pick
#30,
you might have an argument IF the most disastrous leadership in this country in the last century hadn't come from the GOP. Some questions for your side:
1)Do you disagree that Bush incurring a $9.5 trillion deficit is historically disastrous?
2)How are we to pay for that?
3)What sort of pixie dust allowed "fiscally responsible" republicans to go to war without raising taxes?
4)How much debt has Bush sold to China in the last 7 years?
MSNBC.com showed the convention without any of the talking heads. The coverage had various camera shots and show the speakers in its entirety. Even crowd shots. (Yes, crowd shots with the delegates dancing to such "standard" convention music like a band playing Huey Lewis and The News.)
On a serious note, it was great. You got the feel of the convention without hearing opinions stated for the mere fact of filling time.
This was the best way to enjoy the convention unfiltered.
60 Minutes did a nice profile of Sarah Palin a little while back. For a Republican, she seems decent. For VP, she seems unqualified to be President.
C'mon Brian: Start asking for calls from Alaska. You know how to direct those phone call solicitations.
OMG, Sarah Palin! The motorcycle riding mama from Alaska. He has reached further off the reservation than I thought he would.
#31 Didn't Obama's sister speak at the convention earlier this week? I didn't see her but I heard she would.
chris o and seth: I agree. My favorite part of the speech was the foreign policy part. I am sick of the Repub charge that Dems are clueless in this area, particularly after the mess they have made.
The convention was broadcast in it's entirety on CSPAN, which everyone who has cable has. Also if you have broadband internet access go to http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx where there are live video and audio streams of all CSPAN channels.
She was also a pole dancer. (Politico)
I'll be happy to address the substance of Obama's Speech.
He want's to add more Nukes to the energy grid as well as push alt energy, and (as of late) to ramp up the drilling.
That all sounds good.
Any thoughts?
Palin was once a sexy unknown librarian in a small Oregon town. Steve write a song.
#68,
that is EXACTLY why it won't appeal to the die-hard Hilary supporters. It will, to them, smack of sexism.
Overall, I think it was a B+. Covered a lot of ground well.
However, I think he's again failed to connect with fiscal moderate/conservatives.
There are a lot of undecided independents/republicans who will listen to him say health care for all, hear instead "big spending", and just turn off.
But he could get them!
He has to better frame issues such as health care as an *economic* imperatives.
(Because it *will* sink our economy when the baby boomers begin to retire in Feb 2009 if we don't deal with it.)
Steve: do you have a rhyme for Alaska? Or political ho? Either one?
mc from Brookly
What about his foreign policy leaps to mind?, I don't have the transcript in front of me.
Markos Moulitas of the Daily Kos repeated the Obama`s spin that the primary was over in February which is nonsense. From March on Hillary was clearly the strongest candidate winning primary after primary.
The primary season was over on June 3 when Obama got the requisite number of delegates.And he only got those delegates when the super delegates that flocked to him as he limped across the finish line in order to deny Hillary the nomination
Steve Earle wake up!
Steve do a song with Rage.
Markos of the Daily Kos repeated the Obama`s spin that the primary was over in February which is nonsense. From March on Hillary was clearly the strongest candidate winning primary after primary.
The primary season was over on June 3 when Obama got the requisite number of delegates.And he only got those delegates when the super delegates that flocked to him as he limped across the finish line in order to deny Hillary the nomination
Brooks and Dunn. Now that's real country. Old school.
How are the Repubs going to follow that act?
Whey does all country today sound
like Pickup Truck commercials?
PBS was great for watching just about all speeches at the convention. We just flipped to other channels i.e. CNN to learn who was speaking when.
Ok,
Dont want to talk about Energy,
Lets talk about the Speech, "University Education for all qualified students" or was it all students.
Does this seem real?
or even doable an if so how the heck do you do it.
I mean just sketch it in.
who will win the biben palin debate
bob small state in population
The choice is clear.
Wasn't she an exotic dancer at one point?
barry #74:
He lost me a little on this one. "Clean" coal is a fantasy, I'm skeptical that we can find a way to dispose of the nuclear waste safely and although he did not mention it, he is a big corn ethonol booster.
#81, It was not anything specific. It was the argument that after their rather psycho approach to it they are not in a position to say the Dems are unqualified.
She hunts, eats moose burgers, ice fishes, rides snowmobiles, and owns a float plane.[9][10] Palin holds a lifetime membership with the National Rifle Association. She admits that she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska, but says that she did not like it
BRIAN THE QUESTION IS WHO LOOKS BETTER: MCAIN AND PALIN OR THE OTHER OLD GUY AND THE SMALL EAR GUY
I'd have liked to see (or hear--I was listening on the radio) Obama, or anyone, take one more step & challenge McCain's "maverick" image. Because that's all it is, an image. Why not say that voting 90+% w/Bush is not being a maverick?
My own biggest beef w/McCain is that after not only having been tortured in Vietnam but having made that experience the basis of opposing torture by the US, he voted for the version of the Military Commissions Act that authorizes the CIA to carry out torture. That's disgusting.
Finally, I want to thank Brian & the rest of the WNYC team for the great job they've done covering the convention (from their public-radio-budget hotel rooms!).
PS: Jonny [50], it's not Detroit, it's Denver, & Brian was talking about one small area, not the entire city.
barry,
face it - any energy policy will beat W's moronic decision to protect oil reserves by invading Iraq on false pretenses, thereby exhausting our professional army.
say, don't want to talk about Bush's $9.5 trillion federal deficit? don't want to talk about how much debt he's sold to China?
Sean #79,
He lost me a little here as well. I may be in a tiny minority but I would have appreciated hearing him tell us that we are in deep doo-doo and it will cost us to get out. Promising a tax cut while promising to invest in health care, energy, jobs, infrastructure while we already owe $9.5 trillion leaves him open to the usual charges of Dem politics as usual.
Well, you can't say this won't be an interesting two months. I'm an Obama voter but thanks, John McCain for making this truly historical. May the best team for America win.
Is John McCain going to pay Sarah Palin the same amount he would pay a man? Or does that go against traditional values that Repugs hold so dear?
I saw a cartoon where Will Rodgers was saying: "I am not a member of an organized party. I am a Democrat." The cartoon noted that the formulation does not work under Obama, or at least the organization he has built.
Obama's "being nice" was necessary for a consistent platform about restoring faith in the political system --- bring it back to the days when intelligent opponents of good will can disagree without personal attacks, and let opponents work together for the good of the nation. It is easier to work across partisan lines when politicians don't waste time with personal barbs or defending from barbs....By being nice-then-critical, he is "modeling" the ideals he offers as an agent of change.
He should appeal to McCain & Palin to uphold it for the same reasons that the US should abide by the Geneva conventions: not just for political necessity, but because it is the right thing to do and is the basis for "civilizing" politics. McCain and Obama probably agree that the US is not held to a higher ideal than the rest of the world, rather we have uphold civil disourse and international conventions (even if other countries don't), because "winning at any cost" normally comes at the "cost" of losing what is most important.
I agree w/the listeners who posted that C-SPAN carried the whole thing, every speaker. Plus it's available on basic (not even standard) cable.
#87MC: Two words: Palin and a giant Birthday Cake. Happy Bday Mr. President...
Palin is a wise choice. It throws down the Gauntlet ot the Hilary supporters, it gives those PUMA "ladies" the chance to jump ship.
mccain could die in february she could be the first female pres
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