# 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:** 18
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/341 "2008-08-29T01:06:57Z")
The speech it will inevitably be compared to is his speech at the 2004 convention, and that’s almost an impossible bar for him to reach. (If nothing else, he doesn’t have the element of surprise.) So don’t blame him for wanting to lower expectations, but I don’t expect him to give it anything less than his best. ---
**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 29, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/342 "2008-08-29T01:07:04Z")
bits and bobs… let the sunshine for al gore’s theme music? that is funny. gore had some cute lines. when i heard that sen. obama picked the stadium to make his speech, i thought: “well now, that should solve that pesky ballon issue!”. can’t wait to see what they do intead. i’m thinking fireworks, but i’m a bit concerned that would make the secret service very edgy. total eyeroll for the new mccain ad. nice try, mccain, still didn’t get it right. ---
**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 29, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/343 "2008-08-29T01:07:01Z")
I think he’s going to try to do some heavy lifting with the speech and talk specifically about policy (if he didn’t, he be accused of being all style and no substance), but I have no doubt he’ll put a big ass bow on the end of it. We’re going to hear 85,000 screaming “Yes we can.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/344 "2008-08-29T01:20:06Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] total eyeroll for the new mccain ad. nice try, mccain, still didn’t get it right. [/QUOTE] I certainly doubt that it was altruistic, but it was a nice gesture. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/345 "2008-08-29T01:21:46Z")
How many retired Generals and Admirals are on stage right now? This too me is more powerful than anything Al had to say. Sorry Al. ---
**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 29, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/346 "2008-08-29T01:25:55Z")
the eyeroll was because it sounded like it was pulled out of him. like he knew he had to say something, and here it is. i didn’t see the ad. i just heard it, i was not in the room with the tv. just the sound of it sounded like a “here’s a pat”. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/347 "2008-08-29T01:28:42Z")
I just want to comment that I was flipping through the channels during Stevie Wonder’s performance. MSNBC was hilarious, as their entire panel was openly rocking out during the performance, except for Pat Buchanan, who sat stoicly in a pair of shades. Out of curiousity, I briefly flipped to Fox to see how their people were reacting to the performance. What I saw literally made me laugh out loud: Bill O’Reilly was playing the William Ayers smear ad. ---
**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 29, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/348 "2008-08-29T01:32:52Z")
[text of Obama’s speech](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Conventions/story?id=5680403&page=1) just released. ---
**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 29, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/349 "2008-08-29T01:36:10Z")
oh, dang, i’m watching cnn. they didn’t show wolf and donna dancing. i bet keith and rachel were pretty funny. buchanan has a very “get off my lawn” vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/350 "2008-08-29T01:38:05Z")
I love this parade of ordinary people. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/351 "2008-08-29T01:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] [text of Obama’s speech](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Conventions/story?id=5680403&page=1) just released. [/QUOTE] And Keith Olbermann is reading it, verbatim, on the air. Way to suck the air out of the room, asshat. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/352 "2008-08-29T01:40:45Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] And Keith Olbermann is reading it, verbatim, on the air. Way to suck the air out of the room, asshat. [/QUOTE] That’s why I am watching on C-SPAN. I started reading the speech but then realized I’d rather see it live, but what I read I liked. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/353 "2008-08-29T01:42:38Z")
Okay, Barney Smith is my new hero. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/354 "2008-08-29T01:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=Drain Bead] I love this parade of ordinary people. [/QUOTE] Not me so much. The Ex-Republican and Barney Smith were rabble rousing. Last night I thought I’d slit my wrist if another ordinary person told me how fucked up shit was. Ah, today was much better though. The people who spoke were eloquent and short-winded and segued into BRUUUUCCCCEEEE!!! ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/355 "2008-08-29T01:48:30Z")
“It’s time to put Barney Smith before Smith-Barney.” “Barney! Barney! Barney!” ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/356 "2008-08-29T01:49:56Z")
How the hell can McCain compete with Obama? That stadium is PACKED!! time square is packed for Ogs sake! Sorry McCain, it’s over when Wolf Blitzer is saying this is the most historic event he has covered in his career! LOL! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/357 "2008-08-29T01:53:12Z")
So, are they serving beer at InvesCo? I don’t see anyone with one, but a few people have looked a little tipsy. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/358 "2008-08-29T01:56:34Z")
[QUOTE=Drain Bead] So, are they serving beer at InvesCo? I don’t see anyone with one, but a few people have looked a little tipsy. [/QUOTE] It’s Colorado…One of the Greenest states in the Union, they are passing around an interesting smelling cigarrette.. 😉 ---
**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 29, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/359 "2008-08-29T03:05:13Z")
look at that fireworks! and nicely coordinated with the music. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236/360 "2008-08-29T03:33:33Z")
Very good convention – it hit all the right points and did show strong party unity. The PUMA people are irrelevant, and the sooner they figure that out the better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-convention-2008-discussion-thread/461236.md?page=19)