Parker County Democratic Blog

Did you watch the RNC last night? Courtesy of the Associated Press via HuffPost, here’s the rundown on the truth behind those party-building speeches. Sounds like they need some fact-checkers on staff.

By Jim Kuhnhenn

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.

Some examples:

PALIN: “I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending … and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress ‘thanks but no thanks’ for that Bridge to Nowhere.”

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a “bridge to nowhere.”

PALIN: “There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform _ not even in the state senate.”

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: “The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.”

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama’s plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain’s plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

MCCAIN: “She’s been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America’s energy supply … She’s responsible for 20 percent of the nation’s energy supply. I’m entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America,” he said in an interview with ABC News’ Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain’s phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she’s no more “responsible” for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state _ by population.

MCCAIN: “She’s the commander of the Alaska National Guard. … She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities,” he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under “federal status,” which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska’s national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin “got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.”

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor’s election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: “We need change, all right _ change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington _ throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

___

Associated Press Writer Jim Drinkard in Washington contributed to this report.

Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans’ rights, said: ‘I have been following John McCain’s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is – deceit.

‘When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it.

‘Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better.

‘This is a guy who makes such a big deal about his character. He has no character. He is a fake. If there was any character in that first marriage, it all belonged to Carol.’

If you don’t recognize the name Ted Sampley, he is the founder of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry. You know, the swift boat guy.

I will finish up my thoughts on this amazing week with a reflection of what has transpired in the past 24 hours to crystallize the choice and the job ahead in such a clear fashion.  Yesterday’s announcement of Governor Sarah Palin was such a shock….it reverberated in (largely negative) ways throughout the high and mighty and the ordinary of we citizens……

Barack and Joe’s speeches on the final night were SO WELL DONE….you could absolutely hear a pin drop throughout most of it, despite the throngs.  Yes, we were all on an incredibly thoughtful ‘high’.  As I watched Barack and Michelle’s girls eyes widen as the applause and the fireworks roared…you caught a beautiful glimpse of the future we all work and hope for….genuine excitement NOT practiced political theatre….thankfully they are too young and innocent for that and in them, I could see what all the hard work the past 19 months was for.  Their girls represent all of our kids and grandkids!

I think we’ll have to wait for the Inaugural for the high soaring rhetoric….that’s ok, Thursday night’s speech was sane, practical, tangible and overwhelmingly inspiring to specific action.  It had the strength, focus and leadership we all needed to hear from Barack….underscoring the wealth of  depth backing up the awesome oratory. Even my parents…total conservative issues voters from Ohio…..were able to allow themselves to be impressed and daunted by the high bar Barack had set for all of us.

I was lucky enough, after the closing of the convention to tag along to the A List party hosted by Vanity Fair and Google.  I’ve never been so fortunate to have shaken hands, spoken to and gotten to know a bit, just a few of dignitaries of our party and nation.  Among them were:

Madame Secretary Madeleine Albright, Rep Rahm Emanual, Senator Schumer, Governer Sebalius, Governor Schweitzer, Senator John Kerry, Senator Claire McKaskill and her whole family and the non-political celebrities Minnie Driver, Anne Hathaway, Chevy Chase, Judy Woodward and Luke Russert.  It was truly an evening of unbelievable memories and hopefully some great pictures to share down the road.

We closed the club at 2:30 and finally fell into bed by 4a.  Enroute, I’d personally run into Tom Brokaw and Campbell Brown who were headed to a hush hush intense meeting at the Hyatt.  We didn’t know it at the time, but the topic of the intense press huddle was the about-to-break news re: Governor Palin as McCains running mate.

When that news hit the wires the next morning….frenzy ensued.  I happened to see Ken Rubin at the airport and asked if he was having fun.  His answer, ‘No’, hell I not only have to go on to Minneapolis without a break but now I’ve got to find out who the heck this Sarah Palin is…….

The press on the plane were visibly grumpy and their comments indicated it was mostly because, despite the objectivity they pursue professionally, they’d WANTED to come to Denver, but going on to Minneapolis was nothing short of work!

Ordinary citizens (sans idealogues) were still on a super high from Barack and unbelievably dissing of this announcement.  For many it had, in one fell swoop, moved them to where they had abandoned any hope of finding sanity in McCain’s campaign and were now tangibly looking for reasons to go with Barack.  In these next 67 days, we must state those reasons to everyone we interact with so both their rational and emotional selves can feel good about coming aboard.

And, I’ll finish this blog by returning to my ‘friend’ Paul Begala.  As much as his comments the prior Sunday had caused angst for me, what he said on the talk circuit last night reflected very clearly my and thousands of others sentiments.

“Women who supported Hillary were incredibly insulted to think just by naming a physical woman to a major ticket, their votes would move from Democratic to Republican”… NEVER

“As a Democrat, we are giddy with delight at the choice….makes our job SO MUCH EASIER but as Americans we are horrified to think that John McCain showed the lack of wise tempermant and judgement to knee jerk react and pander to every conceivable special interest group by appointing someone to the heartbeat-away -top position in the land who has never managed anything larger than the city of Austin, Texas and who he’d only ever met at a reception once before”.  Yes, McCain and the Republicans are panicked…..they should be….but the meltdown is playing out in such potentially dangerous ways.

Hail Mary’s from a 4 time Melanoma patient could put EVERYTHING we hold dear, in dangerous harm’s way.

We must and we shall continue with vigor to architect a landslide for Obama/Biden in just 67 days.  PLEASE go to www.barackobama.com and volunteer your time, talents, dollars and energy to that increasingly noble cause.

Thanks for letting me share my experiences with you.

Best,

Deb

We had a great turnout at Jorge’s Thursday night for the final night of the convention - I think something like 48 people showed up. We even managed to take a group pic. Thanks to Doug Kerr for his excellent photography skills.

Fellow PCAD’s, sorry I wasn’t able to be with youall last night at Jorge’s….my evening ended up going till 4a and frankly, I just could not keep my eyes open at that hour to post….please forgive.

A few hours sleep and about to board the plane back to Dallas….I will start this post now and finish it when I land.

No amount of hyperbole can capture the experience this has been nor the enormity of the mission/journey we are on.  Yesterday’s events began buzzing as early as 10a as throngs (90,000 strong) snaked their way toward Invesco Field and all the security.  What was unique about that crowd in that bright sunshine on that long walk….1/2 mile or more was the decency, the mutual respect, the excitement and the multi-hues, ages and walks of life who walked along together.  It was a kind and gentle crowd….much like Obama himself.  Already he’s made such a difference in the attitude and actions of his supporters. 

Press was able to get in before 1p.  General admission starting at 1p but we all streamed in the lines together…together ….until i inadvertendly rolled my ankle sending me gut long into a metal plate covering a storm sewer.  Despite my clumsiness, folks from all over came to help me up, gather my scattered belongings and just be there.  This was NOT my intention, but the fall complete with scraped knees, elbows and palms, earned me a ride on the handicapped golf cart right up to the security entrance.  So, I guess it ended up being a blessing in disguise, because I was able to get prime seating in the press area….right behind those broadcast mobile studios for CNN, ABC, CBS.

What fun to see all my broadcast heroes….Bob Schieffer, Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, Ann Curry, Wolf Blitzer, Donna Brazil…SHE IS TALL, ALMOST 6′1″, Anderson Cooper, Suzanne Malveaux, Jim Lehrer….they were all milling about backstage, getting their makeup touched up, broadcasting live in segments….such a hub of activity!  And they were all VERY gracious with their time to those of us onlookers….

The highlight of this preview was when Michelle literally went from one broadcast booth to the next granting onair interviews.  I caught up with our tall elegant next First Lady after her CBS interview and managed to catch a handshake and a quick conversation.  She’s every bit what you see on tv and more.  Again, I promise pictures when I figure out the download scenario.

Then it was into the speeches, and the free concerts….Johnnie Legend of the Black Eyed Peas who did  the orginal Yes We Can video, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and the grand Stevie Wonder.  There were also local Colorado bluegrass groups and broadcast blasted music from Rap to Bruce Springsteen.  The afternoon hours were amazingly well paced and everyone stayed engaged, if not quiet throughout.  The weather, despite the pleas of our evangelical friends for downpour, was perfect…..sunny, warm and cloudless.

More later after some sleep….

It’s hard to put the emotions of today into words but I will try.  For me, today was B day, and I mean that in the very best sense of the phrase.  It was the magnificent B’s…..

-The power of the Bloggers

-Bill

-and Bidens…

What you see on TV is impactful to be sure, but I will never forget the gut-socking awe I experienced today in the form of new media and the crux of the real convention…the Blogger tent 4 blocks away from the Pepsi Center.  Talk about a shift to a whole new world of communication and interaction and intense engagement….it was happening in realtime ( unscripted) as a parade of governors and legislators and influence peddlers met in huddled long rows of tables in an overheated tent to become the topic of conversation for the enormity of influence bloggers have in our political discourse and world.  I had to be escorted in….the hubbub was too intense to let mere press folks go wandering….I told them my topic of interest….international….and ambitious and completely clued-in young people guided me to the perfect person (in shorts, tshirts and various body adornments) to link me into the worldwide audience they commanded through their blogs.  Luke Russert regularly makes the rounds, so too do the other clued-in journalists.  No one talks about the tent, but those that know about it, understand that it’s the true nerve center of the action.  I left with my head buzzing with possibilities and ideas for how to spread the word to turn Texas blue from the grassroots up.  I commend Parker County Active Democrats, (Darrel, Jennifer and all the founders) for having the insight and kahunas to embrace this technology and use it as a platform for spreading the good word.  This is the very first convention ever in history to fully embrace bloggers and if the numbers are any indication, it’s the power source for all connected conventions to come…..over 3000 bonafide blogs applied for credentials….only 500 were able to be granted! 

The second big moment of today came with former President Bill Clinton’s rousing speech to ‘his fellow Democrats’.  In it,  he proved once again why he is the master campaigner….he was simply in top form and it was a joy to behold.  Yes there was tremendous nostalgia throughout the hall, but it was more than that…..it was the collective sigh of relief that he was willing to set aside his personal disappointment and act in the bigger good to wholeheartedly and enthusiastically embrace Barack.  We all were watching him carefully and he pulled off the speech with full aplomb.  It was a little harder for him later when Barack paid him tribute from the stage….still a sense of perceived uncomfortableness at the new order but he was and is a true believer in the cause and he’s acting like the grownup we all need and want him to be.   My own personal observation is that , maybe for the first time tonight, both intellectually and emotionally, Hillary ‘fell’ for Obama in the way so many of us have for a long time.  She seemed to genuinely ‘get it’ and more importantly, to indulge in the passion so many of us feel for the new possibilities being created.  It was a pleasure to honor Bill and his accomplishments and with news today of his new $12 million dollar memoirs deal…the issue of paying off the campaign debt should finally be laid elegantly to rest.

The 3rd B quite simply, had me in tears.  I don’t often think of Joe Biden in a sentimental vein….he’s our bulldog after all.  But tonight, we saw the heart of the man and it was indeed beautiful.  I can’t remember a son’s tribute to his dad that was more powerful or moving.  Yes, he came out strong at the GOP but he also embraced all of us up close and let us into the inner circle of the magnificent leadership we’ve just nominated.  Not even NY putting Barack over the nominating top could rival the intensity of  public servanthood that radiated from Joe’s speech.  It’s a moment I won’t soon forget.

Before I close with my favorite B, I want to do a special shoutout to Senator John Kerry.  He was alive with palpable excitement that if he’d showed that side, four years ago, we might well be dealing with a far different scenario today.  He was the best I’ve ever seen him and his genuine excitement on behalf of Barack and Joe just shone through and made him look and seem 20 years younger!!

Of course, my absolute favorite B was when Barack surprised Joe on stage in a wonderful unscripted moment.  With his words, he instantly brought us all together and bound up the wounds that had been inflicted through the primaries.  Once again I was so proud of him for knowing exactly what to say and then knowing when to exit stage left so that Joe, Jill and the whole family could bask in the warmth of the very well deserved and genuine love of the audience.

I keep thinking the mountaintop experiences can’t get any higher….but each and every day they do.  Tomorrow will be our universal call to action and I can’t wait.  Full of vision, yes Barack will lead us to the vista of possibilities but I’ll bet he’ll also cement in our hearts and will the precise actions each of us need to take to make success and victory and change possible in November.

We, as humble students, await the assignment and as it comes we will share it with all who can and will make all the difference!

Best,

Deb from Weatherford

I don’t want to steal thunder from Deb’s awesome entry about her DNC experience (have you read it? If not, follow this link), but in the wake of last night’s speech by Hillary Clinton, I would like to share my thoughts.

Hillary gave a great, impassioned speech that was meant to unify Democrats and win her reluctant supporters over to Barack Obama’s side. However, for some, it seemed that the speech only drove them further apart, making Clintonites hyper-aware of who they wouldn’t be voting for in November. After the speech, some of them told the media that they might even stay home from the polls this year, or worse, vote for John McCain.

This is exactly the divisiveness that the McCain campaign was hoping for.

During the commercial breaks, McCain ran ads with video clips of Hillary criticizing Obama in the heat of the primary. His press flack, Tucker Bounds, immediately released a post-speech statement that said, in part, “Millions of Hillary Clinton supporters and millions of Americans remain concerned about whether Barack Obama is ready to be president.” All of these little tricks, these turns of phrase designed to plant seeds of doubt in voters’ minds, tell me that McCain can’t win on his own merits, so he plans to win by turning Democrats against themselves.

I know we have a lot of Hillary supporters in Parker County, and from talking to voters I know that many of them are at a loss for what to do when it’s time to step inside the voting booth. To them, I say: Remember what McCain stands for. He’s saving most of his tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He wants to keep our broken healthcare system on the same path - the path that has left 42 million Americans uninsured. He has voted multiple times against veterans and women.

Is that who you really want in the White House?

It stings to see your candidate lose. Believe me, I’ve been there. But this election is simply too critical to let your vote be clouded by emotions. Remember why you became a Democrat in the first place. And remember that John McCain is the antithesis of everything that is important to us. Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s vision for America are one and the same.

Don’t play into the Republicans’ hands and vote for four more years of Bush’s failed, out-of-touch policies. Remember Hillary’s words: “Were you in this campaign just for me?” I think most everyone reading this would say no. Take her words to heart and remember the objective of this election - to wrest our country from the grip of those who are content to let it remain at its sad, unjust status quo. There’s one man who can accomplish that task, and it isn’t John McCain. I hope you’ll join me in the effort to make that man - Barack Obama - the next President of the United States.

That was the seminal question that will linger in the thoughts and hearts of Clinton supporters as she moved the minds and emotions of her pledged supporters to get behind the greater goal and good.  On Day 3 of this magnificent obsession, otherwise known as the Democratic National Convention, we all, Obama and Clinton supporters alike, found ourselves with signs aloft, cheering on this veteran of the civil wars we have waged these past months and , indeed years.  It was easy to become an instant Hillary fan tonight, if for no other reason than the grace and intelligence with which she conducted herself.  She did exactly as she needed to, and exactly as Lanny Davis had assured me she would do when he and I visited earlier in the day.

Lanny shared that the emotional tug of war we Democrats had endured during the primary was simply an expanded version of the hardwrought angst in his own home as he and his son had struggled to come to grips with how they both supported their own candidate in the united quest for the right solution to bring the country together.  It was a telling moment for me.  Real people, real angst, real passions played out in dinner tables across the country.  Democracy is NOT easy but it is so very worth it.

We got to know more about Mark Warner tonight and throughout the day.  It seemed to me that the pundits were a bit harsh with him over their perception of his speech that seemed to be more about governing than winning.  Personally, I thought his keynote reflected the attitude, approach and vision of Barack and it was easy for me to see why they are so very close.

The hit of the night was Brian, Gov of Montana….what a hoot!!!!  He had everyone totally mesmerized as he railed against being beholden to foreign oil demigods.  What you saw on TV was magnified ten fold by his oversize presence in the hall.  He’s obviously accomplishing great things and having a marvelous time doing it.  He made the energy crisis and solving it seem totally in, cool and motivating!!  Wouldn’t it be fun if he got to bring that outsize personality and vigor to the Obama cabinet!

Political star gazing was a bit less ambitious today.   Howard Kurtz shared his popcorn with me, I keep running into Linda Werthheimer…..we’re old buds by now….and saw Gayle King, Oprah’s sidekick in the lobby for a quick chat.

During most of the day, I was well esconced with the Washington State alternate delegate contingent.  They are an interesting bunch and after things wrapped at the Pepsi Center, we all partied together with Microsoft execs and the Governor of Washington at a private party in South Denver where one of the featured attractions was a Microsoft Demo bus that had a live touch screen like the one John King plays with available for all of us to mess with and pretend we were far more skilled technologically than we really are.

One final note on the humanity of our elected officials….Bob Casey who together with his wife and daughters spoke  movingly on behalf of Barack and our insistent agenda, happened to be coming out of a hallway when I was going in.  I stopped to thank him for all he’d done to get us this far and instead of the cursory thank you and on his way, he paused, shook my hand and said, “thank YOU for all you are doing”.  It was a moment of mutual connection and shared belief in how very important all our efforts in these next 70 days are.

Keep the faith and fingers crossed that Bill (er Hillary’s husband) will raise the roof in the best possible way in tomorrow night’s happenings!

Deb from Weatherford

ps will forward photos when I figure out how to download from my daughter’s camera.

This will be a short blog post here in the wee hours….short only because of the lateness of the hour….unfair really given the emotional and electrifying highs of the last 15 hours.  It all seems almost too much to try and put into words. 

Even breakfast was extraordinary…it started at 7a with the kickoff of the Texas State Delegation and a cast of regional heroes.  The ones that resonated most loudly with me were Gov Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Rep Chet Edwards, both of whom not only took the time to really talk about what we must accomplish in the next 70 days but then were so especially gracious in spending time talking with every attendees who wanted to meet or take a photo or pitch a special issue.  They were TOTALLY engaged….not aloof as one might imagine they would be at their juncture.  I was able to advance my Begala concerns with each of them one on one and I was really impressed by the candidness of their response to have a quiet word with Paul on behalf of the bigger agenda.  Rep Edwards was obviously thrilled to even be considered for the VP slot…..Gov Sebelius is just a class act all around and in my estimation we’ll see lots more of her in a high profile cabinet position. 

As we migrated to the Convention Hall, I found myself drawn to the Congressional Black Caucus meeting which Howard Dean kicked off.  From the moment they asked us to hold hands with the person next door for prayer to the dictate and chant of what it will take to win……Make 40 contacts and revisit those 40 contacts at least 4 times before the election…..you could see the community grass roots in action.  Folks, including me, WERE MOTIVATED!!!

Lunch ( yes, life does revolve around grazing) at the National Convention….found me at the Texas Judicial Gathering at the Hard Rock Cafe and an up close with the real Charlie Wilson who talked about the inside scoop on ‘his war’.  Tom Hanks was nowhere to be seen but you can understand why he’d have been the natural choice to play Charlie Wilson.

It seemed to be a day of celebrity sightings….Tony Bennett, Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer, Mark Hardin, Howard Kurtz, Gwen Eiffel, Al Franken, Senator Carl Levin, Daryl Hannah, couple of rap stars I didn’t personally recognize but that were all decked out in bling….all pretty friendly and willing to pose for pics.  I managed to get some un-entourage time with Senator Tom Dashcle to thank him for all he’s done to bring us this far.  He assured me the best was yet to come….he was right!

The day could’ve ended at 3 and been considered a rousing success….but at 3p, things turned from great to magnificent.  Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean kicked things off in the opening sessions but the real stars of those early hours were the simple human stories of individuals who matter so much in this election….their stories were our stories and they resonated beyond what you might imagine….not sure how much of them were caught on cable.  Yes, there was lots of music and happy, swayey folks in the stands all claiming their 60 sec of facetime fame.  But the net was clear.  We are all part of the shared human experience and we need and serve our fellow mankind.

No doubt, the networks were awash with coverage of Caroline Kennedy, the film and the Grand Lion himself.  Despite his words which were so inspiring, what I will always remember are how clear and determined his eyes were.  If Uncle Teddy says he’ll be there in the Senate in Jan, we’d be fools to contradict that iron will.  Caroline, as always, looked elegant in her simple black sheath and she seemed to be tracking the Senators comments in her own volume as if to jump in in case he lost track….thankfully, it never happened.

It’s not often that Senator Edward Kennedy is the warm up act to be eclipsed by the absolutely mesmerizing speech and delivery and warmth of Michelle Obama.  She is so very real, more down to earth than Oprah and just the best we could ever ask for in a First Lady.  As a mom, I and every other mom in the audience, wept right along with her as she shared the honest nuts and bolts of her life.   We all wanted to go hug her mom and cuddle the girls.  When Barack did the live connect at the end, in my opinion, their family became ours, in the very sense of that emotion.  They are us and we are them.

The evening ended with a Finance Committee reception featuring Howard Dean and the GooGooDolls.

Tomorrow promises to be intriguing.  All eyes will be on the Clintons and whether any iota of genuineness comes through the tough feelings.  My guess is that Hillary will be great….Bill seems to still be nursing some bruised feelings.  Michelle paid a very sincere and heartfelt tribute to Hillary tonight and I hope people are big enough to put their own emotions aside for the broader good, but you never know. We shall see.

Thankfully with all these late night events, morning’s start a bit later….

More after the Clinton roundup tomorrow eve.

Deb from Weatherford

The official schedule of the Democratic National Convention can be found here. Good stuff.

Remember the watch party at 7PM on Thursday night at Jorge’s Mexican Restaurant in Weatherford.