# Democratic convention 2008 discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 25, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236 "2008-08-25T20:18:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/261 "2008-08-28T01:35:01Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] Was that a joke? Bill Clinton talking on family values? His family values end at the tip of a cigar. [/QUOTE] His wife and child are sitting up there and cheering him on–they love him in spite of his faults. Care to bet that ALL McCain’s kids will be up there cheering him on next week? Hint: it’s a sucker bet. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/262 "2008-08-28T01:35:30Z")
John Kerry looks good, but he’s not exactly having to wait too long for the applause to die down. I greatly enjoyed Clinton’s quiet remarks that McCain surely loved this country and had been a maverick–sometimes. That was classy. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/263 "2008-08-28T01:36:38Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] I didn’t say that McCain was right, but Clinton has no right to attempt to take the high ground in that regard. [/QUOTE] He didn’t compare Clinton and McCain family values. He compared Democratic and Republican policies. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/264 "2008-08-28T01:38:45Z")
[QUOTE=TWDuke] He didn’t compare Clinton and McCain family values. He compared Democratic and Republican policies. [/QUOTE] Thank you–you made an excellent point about being able to separate the personal from the political. Kudos to you, good comment. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/265 "2008-08-28T01:39:07Z")
Well, I’m sick of you Republicans talking about your stupid family values. McCain, who believes that marriage should be between one man and one woman, is a disgusting gold digger. He’d divorce his druggie wife in a heartbeat if he could be president. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/266 "2008-08-28T01:40:06Z")
I didn’t expect Kerry to be the attack dog! He must be having fun. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/267 "2008-08-28T01:40:38Z")
“Rovian tactics of fear and smear.” Way to go Kerry! Like the man says, not gonna work this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/268 "2008-08-28T01:41:17Z")
[QUOTE=SmartAleq] His wife and child are sitting up there and cheering him on–they love him in spite of his faults. Care to bet that ALL McCain’s kids will be up there cheering him on next week? Hint: it’s a sucker bet. [/QUOTE] What makes you think I care about McCain? Thinking that Bill Clinton missed the mark by a distance the size of Arkansas doesn’t mean that I care about McCain. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/269 "2008-08-28T01:42:19Z")
I think Bill was decent enough but Hillary made by far the superior speech. Neither one was hard enough on McCain. The Clintons rapped McCain’s knuckles with a yardstick, I’m hoping Biden brings the crowbar. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/270 "2008-08-28T01:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] Well, I’m sick of you Republicans talking about your stupid family values. McCain, who believes that marriage should be between one man and one woman, is a disgusting gold digger. He’d divorce his druggie wife in a heartbeat if he could be president. [/QUOTE] A Republican? Me? Hardly. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/271 "2008-08-28T01:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] What makes you think I care about McCain? Thinking that Bill Clinton missed the mark by a distance the size of Arkansas doesn’t mean that I care about McCain. [/QUOTE] Cool, in that case I suggest you vote for Bob Barr–I’m sure he’s just the guy for you and you should definitely vote for him! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/272 "2008-08-28T01:43:06Z")
kerry is loosening up. oooooh, kerry just slammed mccain on money! ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/273 "2008-08-28T01:44:05Z")
[QUOTE=SmartAleq] Cool, in that case I suggest you vote for Bob Barr–I’m sure he’s just the guy for you and you should definitely vote for him! [/QUOTE] No, I’m voting for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/274 "2008-08-28T01:44:36Z")
Day 1 was all about meet the family. Day 2 was all about unite the family. Day 3 is the start of “our family united is gonna kick your family’s ASS!” Can’t wait for Biden! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/275 "2008-08-28T01:45:53Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] A Republican? Me? Hardly. [/QUOTE] Not directed at you. Directed at the Republican party of 2004. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/276 "2008-08-28T01:45:58Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] No, I’m voting for Obama. [/QUOTE] Okay, that’s cool too! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/277 "2008-08-28T01:47:01Z")
[QUOTE=SmartAleq] Cool, in that case I suggest you vote for Bob Barr–I’m sure he’s just the guy for you and you should definitely vote for him! [/QUOTE] What’s your problem? He’s supporting Obama, he just doesn’t think Clinton has room to talk about certain issues with any authority. I disagree with him, but he’s certainly entitled to his opinion on the matter without being told who he should vote for because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/278 "2008-08-28T01:47:55Z")
Bill showed one of the things I liked most about him. He wasn’t a fucking pussy. He wasn’t afraid to kneecap a motherfucker and he didn’t take shit from Republicans. Hopefully the Dems will take something from his example tonight. Reminding people just how shitty the Bush era has been is really the way to go here. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/279 "2008-08-28T01:52:24Z")
Kerry is freakin’ on _fire_. Good for him for hitting McCain for his hypocrisy and, yes, his flipflopping – turning from so-called ‘maverick’ to Bush administration lackey. “Are you _kidding_ me?” Now this is the straight talk express, baby! Such a relief to hear a speaker aiming straight for McCain’s vulnerable spots at last. Of course if we’d heard this from him four years ago, we might not be in such a craptastic position now. But I do understand that it’s qutie different to be the official candidate; they usually try to go the noble, honorable route. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/280 "2008-08-28T01:56:28Z")
Now that was _exactly_ what I think Bill’s speech should’ve been – explicit reference and reinforcement of Hillary’s speech, followed by explicit praise of Obama, a reminder of the '90s boom through personal history coupled with raking the Republicans, then back to Obama. Besides the “power” turn of phrase, which was fantastic, I also particularly appreciated how he acknowledged McCain’s service and then levelled the scathing critique of Republican policy and philosophy as it’s been practiced for the last two terms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236.md?page=15)