I don't know how divided democrats are on the Israeli plank issue. It could be those voting no were voting not to let faux news brow beat us into changing. If I were a delegate I could see myself possibly casting a fuck faux news vote.

Granholm has always been dynamic.  She was our gov. for eight years before she went to Current.  But she has grown as a force to be reckoned with.  She KILLED tonight!

You know, I have run two marathons; both under 4 hours (which is the real test) and one at 3:31--actually recorded.

But Joe has run a marathon for forty years!

This guy has forgotten more about humanity than Ryan will ever learn in two lifetimes!

Yeah.

You got it right Trope!

watching it on Fox News so I can see him speak with the Fox logo next to him.  Hahahahahaha!

I have to totally disagree with you. Obama came out and showed himself as our Leader, which is not the same as Inspirer in Chief. In other words, was it the greatest slickest political speech? No. But does it make me want to go out to work to get him and other Dems (re-)elected? Yes, indeed.  Will I do everything I can to ensure he is in the WH and not Romeny? Yes, indeed. 

I don't see any reason to beat around the bush; partly because of regrets that I did so in 2008.

It's very clear to me that the major theme of the speech:

i.e. "you did that" and  stuff like "if you turn away now, change will not happen"

was blatantly intentionally talking to his original base, revisiting all the 2008 stuff, and their possible disappointment.

It was so blatant that I zoned out and couldn't pay attention (most people who know my opinions from 2008 era know I was never that impressed with his oratory,)  when I found many of the other convention speeches that I caught  very interesting, to my own surprise!

To me it was what the 80's graffitti artists called SAMO. Actually, what he has been doing rhetorically lately is so SAMO, destor, that an anti-Obama group has done a devastating ad with a mash-up or repetitions of 2008 in 2012: We've Heard It All Before.

Clinton's speech was the one targeting the independents and undecideds, very clearly. And Obama didn't try to do that at all.

Looks to me like someone made the decision that Obama shouldn't do that, needn't try, or something like that. That his job is to re-inspire his base to GOTV (and some more money,) to get them back to the state they were in 2008: hoping, inspired. All his "you's," that seemed clearly him talking to his base and not the American public at large.

To others, there were parts that might sound preachy. There was also a bit of his sarcasm, something I prize in friends and family and even in national politicians like Barney Frank, but I don't think serve a president of" all the people" very well. And again, there was so much "SAMO."

This syncs with what analysts have been saying that this election is going to ride on getting the base of each party out to vote.

All that said, I am very impressed with how much livelier, positive and energetic  the entire convention seemed to be compared to the GOP's, and so were several GOP pundits I saw comment on the teevee. (Also took a glance at Joe Scarborough's tweets, and he was like: whoa we are so pitiful and they so have it together!)

I think much is due to Obama's team, they're real good at what they do with the candidate they have to work with! And he hired them, so in the end, I think: this is not the worst thing that could happen to us.

The question is if you're leaning Romney at this point, why are you still leaning?  Why aren't you a full Romney supporter?  What causes you to linger in your commitment?

The voters leaning toward Romney wouldn't be listening, anyway.  It's not in their best interests to dissect the president's speech.  He's talking to Democrats and independents, not Republicans.  They know who they're voting for.

Well, if one is looking for a total take over of the economy by federal government (ie establish pay rates etc), those little things you mention is the way that the federal government not only impacts the here and now economy, but also establish a foundation for the private sector economy.

It sounds like you want him to talk more in-depth about policies, but the problem with the Genghis is, you lose the majority of people when you talk hard core policy. Politics just doesn't work that way, if he were alive you could ask Adlai Stevenson II about how well that works for a Presidential campaign. All of those policies that you want are available to you if you really wanted them, let's take energy for instance, even if you didn't mention it, first of course the administration did up the CAFE standard requirements for vehicles, reducing carbon emission from automobiles over time, The administration  created incentives for individuals to invest in solar electric, wind power, and geo thermal heat pumps, these are tax credits of course which is a fully developed policy to encourage home owners to invest in green energy, thereby creating jobs in the field of green energy, whether it solar panel and converter manufacture, wind mill manufacturing, geothermal heat pump manufacturing, in turn the federal government through the use of their granting process are supporting the efforts of state, county and city governments  to power their building using alternate energy systems, which supports the manufacture of those products  as well as an industry that installs the equipment. This information is readily available to all American citizens on-line.

I'd work on the other things you asked, but I don't know why I should, since an acceptance speech at a political convention is meant to inspire people to vote, to get them all riled up, not lecture them on the benefits of deep policy thinking.

I actually hadn't seen this until just now, but his latest vid is even more to the point and reflects this body politic is a number of different ways, and what is at stake in this election. 

It was me, Trope! Stilli! I'm so glad you remembered it! I feel just the same way. I am still crying. I LOVED the speech. I feel incredible inspired and proud. If anyone who is trying to decide between Romney and Obama would just watch the 2 speeches one after the other, the decision seems like a no-brainer to me.

I'm beginning to believe that who you vote for has little to do with facts and a lot to do with how the candidates, and yes, even their support team, make you feel.

I watched the Republican Convention, having to force myself to stick with it, mentally screaming "you &^%$%^& liar!" more times than I can remember. I noticed with dismay how lily-white the audience was, how angry people seemed to be and I came away from it feeling dirty and deeply ashamed that this is what my country has come to.

I had already felt a little depressed that the race is so close, when I think Obama should be ahead by double digits. The very fact that these people could be in control soon made me very sad, and honestly, even a little angry that people can get away with all the lies, and the people who KNOW they are lying keep quiet, or resort to "nice" words to describe the dishonesty.

On the contrary, the Democratic Convention lifted my spirits. It made me feel proud and hopeful. The diversity portrayed the country as a whole, with all the varying shades of skin color. It felt inclusive, not exclusive. Like anyone and everyone could feel at home here.

Yeah, there probably wasn't a lot of specificity about what Obama's going to do - but does it really matter? Whatever he TRIES to do will be blocked because the American people won't hold the hold the obstructionists accountable. What CAN you do when the monied interests KEEP all that money on the sidelines, hoping they will have one of their own in office next year?

So really it boils down to who do you trust to be the better steward of the country in this terribly dangerous time in our history? Is it the COMPLETELY empty vessel who will do the bidding of his greedy peers - the candidate with "enough digits to sign the legislation the Congress gives him? The one whose primary accomplishment is that he "fires people" in his quest for the almighty dollar? Or is it the man seems to understand what regular folks are experiencing, because he has been there? The one who has shown such appreciation and concern for the troops he commands? The one who had the "brass" to say "GO!" when he had the less than wonderful odds of getting Bin Laden? The one who is trying to avoid a war with Iran, rather appearing to relish the idea of yet another war?

Chances are that whoever wins, they will inherit an improved economy, maybe even one that will take off flying, regardless of the policies that are in place. Do you really want a Republican to be able to take credit for that? To then be given 8 more years to make the country even more awful at its core than it is now? Or stay with the guy who is at TRYING to stick up for the little guy, women and children, and peace in the world?

My vote doesn't really matter because I live in a state that will vote for Obama no matter what.

But yours might. I hope you get past whatever reservations you have about him. Vote against Romney rather than FOR Obama if you must. But please don't let those, those, those (...what's a nice word for assholes?) anal orifices win.