| During the performances and down-time, I will use this diary for recap commentary on the past days of the convention.
Bill Clinton: One of the most compelling lines he said was that since 2001 has been the only time the GOP has had unchecked power in America. It was great that he drew a contrast with conservative ideas that often sound unoffensive in the abstract sense, and what happens when those ideas are actually put into practice.
As this decade has shown, unchecked conservative power has resulted in a disasterous war, an energy crisis, a severely depressed economy, and terrorists gaining power in areas like Pakistan and Afghanistan because republicans decided to wage a war of choice and ignore the war of necessity.
If there is any silver lining to the Bush years, it's that we have once and for all settled the debate on conservatism- it is an ideology of complete failure.
John Kerry: Kerry delivered the speech I think we all wish he had done at any time during his 2004 campaign. In 2004, he unbelievably thought not going negative in his convention was a good idea, although as a challenger, he should have known that every election with an incumbent is a referendum on that incumbent, and no amount of positive portrayal of the challenger will get a victory unless you kneecap the incumbent first.
There is no incumbent in this election, but there is an incumbent party, and Kerry kneecapped the GOP last night:
How insulting to suggest that those who question the mission, question the troops. How pathetic to suggest that those who question a failed policy, doubt America itself. How desperate to tell the son of a single mother who chose community service over money and privilege that he doesn't put America first.
Even though it's too late, Kerry seems to have learned the lessons of 2004. I look forward to him getting upwards of 90% in his re-election bid for senate this year. |
