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"The Speech"
- Filed under: Democrats '08, Obama, Presidential
- Date: Aug 27,2008
Had to wait until this late hour to discuss the Hillary Clinton (not Rodham) speech. Planned on watching it but a baseball game got in the way, so I caught a replay (hey how about the anchor battles over at MSNBC?). The speech was successful due to the low expectations Democrats set for her. There was never a chance she was going to go out there and undermine Obama publicly, despite the media pretending it might happen. Her speech was delivered above average. It wasn't geared towards someone like me, but if I was a Democrat I would be reasonably happy. She had a few good one-liners (notably the Twin Cities one) and her public speaking skills have improved since way back when. There was of course the typical Democrat red meat talking points in there as well.
However, notably missing was praise specifically for Obama. It was sparse. Anything that she said could have been used for any generic Democrat she was stumping for. I suspect that in the eyes of some that parts even made Obama look like even more of a jerk for ruining her historic candidacy.
The ball is now in Obama's court. He has to win over skeptical Democrats. It isn't Hillary's job anymore to convince them; she did what she was supposed to do. Actually, it never really was her job to do. He has to sell himself from here on out. She isn't the one running, though you might have thought she was still in the race during points of her speech tonight. All in all, Democrats shouldn't complain about her anymore after tonight. (BTW: Bill's performance knowing the cameras would be all over him was sickening. What you would expect. Oh, and he will skip Obama's speech on Thursday). Still, it makes me mad that some people are so dumb they think that millions of voters are sitting out there waiting for some cue from Hillary that it is okay to vote for Obama. They aren't (well maybe a handful are) and I would be insulted if I was one of them - like I was some mindless drone acting on orders from her. Voters will make up their own minds. The people who supported/still support her are not a single minded cult-like mass. They all had their own reasons for backing her and for not warming up to Obama yet if they do.
I've always felt Hillary Clinton would have been the more formidable opponent in the fall, but it was never based on her speeches. She has the stature to go head to head with McCain that Obama does not. Win or lose, this is nothing like 2004. That was purely a get out the base election, whereas this time around there are large segments of legitimately undecided and reluctant of their party's candidate voters who may actually be swayed and moved one way or the other.
Only two more days of the DNC infomercial thankfully. Heard Mark Warner bombed in the keynote. If he was speaking in my kitchen I would go to the basement. I guess starting next year I will have to turn C-SPAN2 off when he comes on to speak as Virginia's junior senator.
And there is still no question Hillary wants Obama to lose in November so she can run in 2012.
15 Responses for ""The Speech""
Clinton voters get over it. She lost.
What speech did you watch? She praised Obama many times.
Gallup Daily: No Bounce for Obama in Post-Biden Tracking
McCain creeps ahead, 46% to 44%USA Election 2008 Gallup Daily Americas Northern America
PRINCETON, NJ — It's official: Barack Obama has received no bounce in voter support out of his selection of Sen. Joe Biden to be his vice presidential running mate.
Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 23-25, the first three-day period falling entirely after Obama's Saturday morning vice presidential announcement, shows 46% of national registered voters backing John McCain and 44% supporting Obama, not appreciably different from the previous week's standing for both candidates. This is the first time since Obama clinched the nomination in early June, though, that McCain has held any kind of advantage over Obama in Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
Biden is a crappy pick, tries to shore up obvious obama weaknesses, but instead highlights them. He is from a 3 electoral vote blue state so they cannot even count on him bringing in new electoral votes. He is just another east coast know it all arrogant windbag liberal that nobody particulary likes, (oops did I just describe John Kerry)? To top it off he has continuously run for president and done completely awful even among democrats, 2% of the vote. He's not even popular among democrats What is entertaining is watching the democrats try to put a good face on this pick, and he gets NO bounce whatsoever.
Obama will get NO bounce from all of the convention coverage either. Democrats KNOW they are in deep trouble with their candidate, he should be way ahaead, and he cannot pull away, actually the more people become in tune with the candidates the more they lean towards McCain.
Did anybody notice Michelle Obama when Hillary was speaking?? The look of pure disdain on her face was priceless. I cannot believe someone didn't coach her the cameras would be on her and to smile, look happy, etc.
McCain is the only Republican that wins this year.
Hillary delivered a good enough speech to leave doubt, particularly in her supporters, about whether or not the right candidate was picked.
No doubt that was a "remember me in 2012" speech.
"However, notably missing was praise specifically for Obama. It was sparse. Anything that she said could have been used for any generic Democrat she was stumping for. I suspect that in the eyes of some that parts even made Obama look like even more of a jerk for ruining her historic candidacy."
I haven't seen the speech yet, I'll admit, but don't you think her gushing about Obama would have rung a little hollow after the pretty intense battle they had this spring? I'm pretty sure if she had sung his praises, people would be calling her out as a hypocrite. She really can't win, no matter what she does. Even her speech in Denver has been billed as power grab, when she's hardly the first runner up to speak at the convention or to have her name placed in nomination.
Hillary's speech was rousing, a crowd pleaser and exactly what Bill ordered. She made Biden look like a loser and Obama look just plain bad.
I agree with Ben's first three paragraphs for the most part. I thought Hillary did exactly what she needed to do and praised Obama plenty. She also reminded Democrats that it is the issues and not individual candidates that are important. There was nothing that newsworthy last night and that is a good thing.
On the MSNBC Olbermann flap - Olby is just the worst so-called political commentator in the history of television, bar none. Straight liberal propaganda with no dissent tolerated. When Scarborough exposed Schuster for pretending to be non-partisan, that was outstanding. Joe probably does need to get his resume updated. MSNBC and NBC are both obviously in the tank for Obama. That isn't even seriously debatable.
On Hillary, I thought she was about as pro-Obama as she could muster. If she had torpedoed Obama, the Democratic party would have crucified her. She had no choice, even though she knows she is the better presidential candidate and was passed over for VP.
King - right. She had no choice. We will see what she does from here on out, and what Bill has to say.
Good points Jess as well.
Just as FYI, Gallup Tracking had Obama up 1 today, Rasmussen McCain up 1. We should know in the next couple of days if Hillary had any effect on the polls.
I doubt I will even watch Biden speak tonight. I have seen his speeches during his "questioning" at Senate Judiciary Cmte. hearings.
Her speech was mostly about her.
Understatement of the year: And there is still no question Hillary wants Obama to lose in November so she can run in 2012.
Think she'll get her wish?
I guess people see and hear what they want to.
Wow - it's like a number of the commenters and I didn't hear the same speech.
1. It was about her to the extent it should have been.
2. She said Obama's name plenty - to do more would be disingenuous.
3. This ISN'T about her and those who say she's making it about her must stop saying that, because then, guess what - you ARE making it about her - the very thing you don't want.
4. And still no one comes up with numbers to show what the voters of the primary losers do with their votes - so lay off the 18 million who voted for Clinton. Until someone can show a side by side trajectory of what happens to those votes, traditionally, pretend you need every OTHER vote out there. Obama's campaign people haven't gotten here by acting like it's someone else's job to get Obama elected. It's HIS job - now he needs to go and DO it.
5. When are Obama supporters going to focus on Obama and Biden? I need 57 reasons to vote for them - let's get crackin'!
6. What's this ridiculousness about her running in 2012? SO WHAT? Seriously - people are looking for any excuse to write about the Clintons.
Talk about people needing to move on. If Obama is so awesome, then let his awesomeness consume you the way the Clinton's irksomeness has.
Oy - life is too short! I didn't like my choices, I'm not "not voting" I made a decision, now let's get on with it.
Frankly, I think it's the pundits and many of the blogs that don't want a political writing sphere without the Clintons - because then what? We have to focus on Obama.
Guess what - that's what we have to do - you don't get Hillary or Bill as foils anymore.
"'5. When are Obama supporters going to focus on Obama and Biden? I need 57 reasons to vote for them - let's get crackin'!""
One reason for each state? haha
each state? No.
It's the number I used to write about why people should vote against Ohio Learn and Earn in 2006. And it's 57 because the day I decided to start it was 57 days away from the election day.
Obama will get NO bounce from all of the convention coverage either. Democrats KNOW they are in deep trouble with their candidate, he should be way ahaead, and he cannot pull away, actually the more people become in tune with the candidates the more they lean towards McCain.Frankly, I think it's the pundits and many of the blogs that don't want a political writing sphere without the Clintons - because then what? We have to focus on Obama.
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charles
Ohio Alcohol Addiction Treatment
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