# Let's discuss the Democratic Convention! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 27, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036 "2004-07-27T02:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/81 "2004-07-29T15:39:46Z")
Local News sez Jessie Jackson made some nasty comments about Boston having racial inequality. Mayor Tommy “Mumbles” Menino was “Shocked. _Shocked_ and dismayed.” Or something like that. Anyway, Menino was pissed at JJ, JJ apparently ate a little crow and apologized during his speech (I missed that), and now Menino wants to give JJ a tour of the city. I know a few places I might take him. With SWAT team surveillance, of course. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/82 "2004-07-29T16:02:20Z")
I can describe Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm in 3 word: Dee. Lish. Us. I mean, we’re talking seriously \*hot \* here. Are y’all with me? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/83 "2004-07-29T16:12:28Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > I’m the only one who found Edwards speech boring? No. It was good, solid, but not great. I was way more intrigued by the way he kept whipping his daughter around after the speech was over (Is he going to drop her? Will she fly off into the conventioneers?) than the speech. And Elizabeth looked like an extra from “Apollo 13.” Which I also found a bit odd. Did anyone show the roll call? (I watched the PBS rerun, I get home late. They didn’t.) I love the roll call, it completely cracks me up. Maybe it’s on the c-span website. Speaking of which, is there any website with video that works on a Mac? finally **Loopydude** , if the mayor of Boston was “shocked” either things have changed drastically in the past decade or he’s entirely out of touch with reality. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/84 "2004-07-29T17:04:21Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > **Loopydude** , if the mayor of Boston was “shocked” either things have changed drastically in the past decade or he’s entirely out of touch with reality. Well, out of fairness, the Boston area has seen some pretty dramatic economic changes over the past ten years, and that has led to rapid gentrification of neighborhoods in places like Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Southie. But really this “gentrification” is essentially a reversal of the “White Flight” that exacerbated the racial segregation of the city way back in the mid-20th century; the poorer neighborhoods are not so poor anymore, partly because middle-class suburbanites can barely afford to live in the suburbs. In some respects the city looks a bit more integrated as a result, but on close inspection it seems different groups have simply moved around a little, with the divides still firmly in place. In the poorer neighborhoods that have remained poor, the schools and other social services are still severely impacted. There’s still social inequality, and it still is a racial issue. ---
**Author:** ![spectrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spectrum)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/85 "2004-07-29T18:30:10Z")
> [@thermalribbon](#): > > Well, Edwards just promised to raise the minimum wage. Despite well-known and well-founded economic theory that states that raising the minimum wage only creates additional competition for the lowest paying wages, they are proposing raising the MW in exchange for votes. If that isn’t the most priceless thing I’ve heard. We covered this myth extensively in my macroeconomics course last year. While that’s been a popular theory in conservative circles in recent decades, there’s no substantial evidence from either of the last two minimum wage hikes that it had any impact on adults who rely on minimum wage jobs for their income. It may impact kids and college students, but unless you can show evidence that it’s impacting folks who live minimum wage paycheck to minimum wage paycheck, you’re just spreading a conservative urban legend. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/86 "2004-07-29T19:47:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I can describe Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm in 3 word: Dee. Lish. Us. > > I mean, we’re talking seriously \*hot \* here. Are y’all with me? Not as hot as Gwen Ifill, but ok, I guess, if you like american cheese on white with mayo… But the big story is the story that didn’t happen, the dog that didn’t bark. If they get through tonight without any big stumbles or up-screws, then they’re through the rapids and all they got to explain is the lack of a big up-tick in numbers, which probably wont happen. But who cares, its not who’s winnings, but who wins. Demo honchos will breathe a big sigh of relief, and begin quiet anticipation. Now its _thier_ turn to sweat it out. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/87 "2004-07-29T20:37:36Z")
> [@thermalribbon](#): > > My comment was intended as a comment on the obvious pandering that was going on. I mean, raising the minimum wage. That’s the oldest one in the book. No, I think “cutting taxes” has the advantage of seniority here. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/88 "2004-07-29T22:55:13Z")
Heinz-Kerry is boring if five languages. Her dirge sapped what little enthusiasm existed right out of the arena. Did anyone catch the crowd reaction shots? People with hands over thier faces, squirming in seats, looking nervously around. Oh well. She has a billion dollars. I wouldn’t worry if I was her. In fact, if I was her, I’d tell alot more people to “Shove It!”. Clinton (both of them) make me sick. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/89 "2004-07-30T16:02:20Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > But the big story is the story that didn’t happen, the dog that didn’t bark. > > If they get through tonight without any big stumbles or up-screws, then they’re through the rapids and all they got to explain is the lack of a big up-tick in numbers, which probably wont happen. But who cares, its not who’s winnings, but who wins. > > Demo honchos will breathe a big sigh of relief, and begin quiet anticipation. Now its _thier_ turn to sweat it out. I watched it through to the end and that dog did not bark! 🙂 “I’m John Kerry, and I’m reporting for duty!” And it just went uphill from there. Man! How are the Pubbies gonna follow THIS act? Rove must be shaking in his boots! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036/90 "2004-07-30T16:25:30Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Not as hot as Gwen Ifill, but ok, I guess, if you like american cheese on white with mayo… Aw, c’mon, it’s always the ones who \*look \* the most straightlaced who want to get the nastiest later on. The ones who put on the slut act have issues and hangups, ya know? Maybe I’m just too much of a policy wonk myself, but I thought Kerry needed to be more specific, just a few sentences’ worth really, about his economic programs. A lot of folks wanted to hear his Iraq withdrawal plan too, but it would be countereffettive to get into it. But that will come out, and the real decisionmaking for the undecideds will be during the debates anyway. He needed to blunt and riposte the insinuation campaign, without giving Bush any usable soundbites, even more, and I think he succeeded completely. Kerry still has to close the sale over the next 3 months, but he’s set himself up to do so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-democratic-convention/257036.md?page=4)