# The Democratic National Convention **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 17, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158 "2016-07-17T21:58:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/341 "2016-07-27T03:40:36Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Is is too much trouble to scroll up and read what we wrote? I did. Everyone seemed to say that he droned on for too long, so I asked what exactly happened. It now seems that he delivered the next Gettysburg Address. 🙂 BTW, what happened to the tradition that during convention week, the other party took the week off and let the convention message be the only game in town? It sure hasn’t happened this year on either side. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/342 "2016-07-27T03:42:12Z")
Yeah, I’m not crazy about “change maker” either. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > …I wonder why Bernie was sitting down at the state delegation. Good for Bernie for the call for acclimation and unity. Yes. Didn’t stick around to hear the vote, though - bolted up the aisle with his entourage. And my wife (a Vermonter) and I spotted Sen. Pat Leahy several rows back - you’d think the state’s other U.S. senator would be a bit more prominently featured. C-SPAN is still identifying Bernie onscreen as “(I-Vt.).” I guess they can already foresee what he’ll probably be again after November. Madeline Albright did fine. I liked the short film about the Clinton Presidency, showing the difference his work made for a lot of people. Bill then talked too long IMHO, but with his usual aw-shucks style and charisma, and a good text, he personalized his wife better than I think anyone else has this year. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/343 "2016-07-27T03:46:50Z")
I guess using the word “cartoon” instead of “caricature” was one of his folksy touches. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/344 "2016-07-27T03:48:48Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I did. Everyone seemed to say that he droned on for too long, so I asked what exactly happened. It now seems that he delivered the next Gettysburg Address. 🙂 See for yourself: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr8frG\_OJH4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr8frG_OJH4) ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/345 "2016-07-27T03:50:05Z")
I didn’t find the speech too long or boring at all. I thought it served its purpose well and was delivered brilliantly. Hate the “Change Maker” thing, but otherwise think he did a fantastic job. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/346 "2016-07-27T03:58:28Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > I saw it and it made me sad. Yes, but OTOH the way he was running around the stage seemed to rebut some of the thoughts that he is on death’s door or whatever. I didn’t think the speech was nearly as good as the ones he gave the last two times, but it certainly wasn’t “bad”, and it was nice to hear about the early days. (I agree with those who found it less interesting to hear about the time since she entered the national sphere, but for those who are less engaged in politics, that might be helpful information.) > [@UltraVires](#): > > BTW, what happened to the tradition that during convention week, the other party took the week off and let the convention message be the only game in town? It sure hasn’t happened this year on either side. I thought Hillary’s campaign did respect that tradition. I don’t remember hearing about any campaign events until Friday (at which point the RNC was over). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/347 "2016-07-27T04:02:11Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > He addresses it here. > > [Bill Clinton Opens Up About Hand Tremor | HuffPost Latest News](http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2503432) Glad to hear it. But if he had just played it up a little a bit, a hint of exaggeration, there’s a good chance Trump would have made fun of him on Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/348 "2016-07-27T04:19:09Z")
I did not read the whole thread or watch the broadcast but ----- apparently one of the speakers was the head of the Pittsburgh Police. Before he was finished the local FOP had already released a statement that it is against some local rule or ordinance for someone in the police department to take sides in an election or some such complaint. His response was that he was speaking about public safety and community policing and the candidate had nothing to do with it at all. Given the setting and timing, I’m not sure I buy it but in this city his job is safe and it will all go away by the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/349 "2016-07-27T04:22:33Z")
they used to use the term “Change agent”. Reminds me of that old SNL commercial parody about the bank that specialized in making change. > **[Watch Saturday Night Live Highlight: First CityWide Change Bank - NBC.com](https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/first-citywide-change-bank/n9701)** > > Watch Saturday Night Live highlight 'First CityWide Change Bank' on NBC.com ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/350 "2016-07-27T04:28:57Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > I guess “change maker” was the best description he could think of. I think it’s kind of clunky. I thought it made her sound like a 2-bit whore. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/351 "2016-07-27T04:29:03Z")
ex-Senator Tom Harkin teaches us the sign language sign for “America” > ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/352 "2016-07-27T04:30:06Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > they used to use the term “Change agent”. Reminds me of that old SNL commercial parody about the bank that specialized in making change. > > [http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/first-citywide-change-bank/n9701](http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/first-citywide-change-bank/n9701) Yep. That skit kept popping in my head every time I heard the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/353 "2016-07-27T04:31:34Z")
Instead of “change maker,” he should of used the refrain “Hillary made it happen!” which the crowd would have repeated with him. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/354 "2016-07-27T04:36:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > ex-Senator Tom Harkin teaches us the sign language sign for “America” > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/cspan/status/758043709409595392) Thanks for that. Great clip. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/355 "2016-07-27T05:23:02Z")
Billy boy brought it home. Maybe a little long but that was a great paean and a d a damn fine pitch. Change maker sounds like a riff off of home maker??? Not my favorite turn of words, but whadda I know? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/356 "2016-07-27T05:55:31Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > He addresses it here. > > [Bill Clinton Opens Up About Hand Tremor | HuffPost Latest News](http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2503432) That article says it’s not Parkinson’s but doesn’t say what it is. Is it essential tremor aka benign familiar tremor? /OT I have that. When I first noticed it, I consulted my doctor, worried because my great-grandmother had Parkinson’s, but it’s something different. Turns out my GGrandma had both conditions, but I shouldn’t worry, ET runs in families but Parkinson’s apparently does not. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/357 "2016-07-27T07:55:08Z")
One thing that really strikes me is that these first two nights of the Democratic Convention have looked just so, so much better–purely from an organizational and production standpoint–than anything in the Republican Convention. I mean, the Republican Convention was like a bad middle school production compared to this. Even leaving aside the celebrity speakers and performers (because I imagine there is a much larger pool of celebrity support for the Dems to draw from), the staging, scheduling, graphics, video packages and everything else are very well done. > [@Club\_33](#): > > I didn’t find the speech too long or boring at all. I thought it served its purpose well and was delivered brilliantly. I agree. Bill and some of the other speakers have done a good job of ‘humanizing’ Hillary, and highlighting her record of community service. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/358 "2016-07-27T10:34:15Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Billy boy brought it home. Maybe a little long but that was a great paean and a d a damn fine pitch. > > Change maker sounds like a riff off of home maker??? Not my favorite turn of words, but whadda I know? Sounds more like a riff off the sports phrase of playmaker to me. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/359 "2016-07-27T12:09:54Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > One thing that really strikes me is that these first two nights of the Democratic Convention have looked just so, so much better–purely from an organizational and production standpoint–than anything in the Republican Convention. I mean, the Republican Convention was like a bad middle school production compared to this. Even leaving aside the celebrity speakers and performers (because I imagine there is a much larger pool of celebrity support for the Dems to draw from), the staging, scheduling, graphics, video packages and everything else are very well done. > > I agree. Bill and some of the other speakers have done a good job of ‘humanizing’ Hillary, and highlighting her record of community service. There’s a clear contrast between the rage of the republican national convention and the maturity and the message of compassion at the democratic convention. I don’t see how anyone looking at these conventions objectively can’t lean toward the democrats. If you already hate Hillary, okay, I get it. But if you’re undecided, I would hope that this convention would help you make a decision. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/360 "2016-07-27T12:54:49Z")
Bill’s speech would have been 5 minutes shorter if Hillary hadn’t worked in half the states in the Union. Every time he mentioned a new state, there was cheering from that delegation, which he waited out. I think it hurt his rhythm a bit in the early going - once he got all past those applause lines, he was much more himself. Good speech. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158.md?page=19)