# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/21 "2016-07-18T15:57:34Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Concerning the convention, I’m wondering if the “Mothers of the Movement” idea is good politics. I keep thinking it sounds like an awesome name for a soul ensemble. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/22 "2016-07-18T16:00:20Z")
After giving the RNC their deserved dose of razzing, I have to play fair and ask who thought [THIS](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnp5WXpWcAQzl1x.jpg) sign placement and message was good optics. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/23 "2016-07-18T16:08:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > After giving the RNC their deserved dose of razzing, I have to play fair and ask who thought [THIS](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnp5WXpWcAQzl1x.jpg) sign placement and message was good optics. What does that even mean? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/24 "2016-07-18T16:09:09Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > After giving the RNC their deserved dose of razzing, I have to play fair and ask who thought [THIS](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnp5WXpWcAQzl1x.jpg) sign placement and message was good optics. What…what am I looking at there? And are there any contexts in which standing behind a sign reading “Better Than This” would turn out well for the person involved? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/25 "2016-07-18T16:16:37Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/26 "2016-07-18T16:29:06Z")
I believe that “Better than This” is supposed to be “Better than [Trump]” as in, “We’re better than this as a nation”. Obviously this does not translate when standing behind a podium emblazoned with the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/27 "2016-07-18T17:01:04Z")
And with gold-fringed flags, to boot … ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/28 "2016-07-18T17:54:51Z")
I forget… the gold fringe indicates what, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/29 "2016-07-18T19:38:50Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I forget… the gold fringe indicates what, exactly? Admiralty Court, if I remember my Dale Gribbleisms correctly. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/30 "2016-07-18T20:29:59Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > I stand by my words. Yes she is smart and talented, experienced and hard working, but she’s had an obviously huge boost in name recognition by being married to Clinton. My point is that it was a far more meaningful thing for Margaret Thatcher to become the first female Prime Minister of the UK (in 1979 no less!), than for the US to have their first female President, who was married to a previous President. > > When one day in the future a woman becomes President who wasn’t married to an ex President, that will be a more meaningful landmark for the US. An even stronger criticism against whether she’s really and fully earned the distinction is who she’s running against. The political pendulum that inclines voters to flip the presidency between parties every 8 years and the fact that she’s not very likeable would have practically guaranteed a Republican win if they were running someone sane. I’m sure the frustration with Trump is far greater than party elders would ever publicly acknowledge. ---
**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 18, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/31 "2016-07-18T20:39:52Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > After giving the RNC their deserved dose of razzing, I have to play fair and ask who thought [THIS](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnp5WXpWcAQzl1x.jpg) sign placement and message was good optics. What the hell is that sign even supposed to mean? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/32 "2016-07-18T21:44:22Z")
I was curious about it myself, and [it turns out](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/18/debbie-wasserman-schultz-strikes-out-at-ill-signed-push-back-presser.html) to be a very, very poorly thought out dig at Trump in what appears to also have been a poorly organized press event. Really, the only way it could have been worse is if Debbie W-S and the Democratic governors were standing behind a sign that said “Bunch of jackasses”. Hopefully they’ve learned from all the flak they’ve gotten and at least won’t be pulling that stunt at the actual convention. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/33 "2016-07-19T16:17:17Z")
The sign should have read: “We Are Better Than This” Would have gotten the message across loud and clear without the self-deprecation. I still don’t know if it’s the best message for a campaign. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/34 "2016-07-23T20:24:51Z")
Super Delegates are here to stay. Good, they’re needed to prevent a Trump like candidate from hijacking the Democratic Party. [Sanders allies defeated on superdelegate amendment - POLITICO](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/dnc-2016-superdelegates-bernie-sanders-allies-226068?cmpid=sf) ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/35 "2016-07-24T13:06:37Z")
where is the analogue to Zell Miller 2004? They really need to bring one in. Also, I understand one Khizr Khan is speaking the last night of the convention. I hope they vetted him, and don’t wind up with a situation like Kaine did 9 yrs ago with Esam Omeish. At the very least Khan should be moved back a few nights or slots. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/36 "2016-07-24T13:53:27Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > where is the analogue to Zell Miller 2004? They really need to bring one in. > > Also, I understand one Khizr Khan is speaking the last night of the convention. I hope they vetted him, and don’t wind up with a situation like Kaine did 9 yrs ago with Esam Omeish. At the very least Khan should be moved back a few nights or slots. What reason do you have to suspect Khan of anything bad? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/37 "2016-07-24T13:54:41Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What reason do you have to suspect Khan of anything bad? Capt. Kirk sure didn’t like him. ---
**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 24, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/38 "2016-07-24T15:04:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What reason do you have to suspect Khan of anything bad? The knee-jerk suspicion evinced is _precisely why_ he is one of those featured on the “Stronger Together” night. It is an explicit contrast to the fear of each other being stoked on the GOP side. [FWIW](https://www.demconvention.com/blog/americans-across-country-speak-democratic-national-convention/) Mr. Khan’s son > [@](#): > > Humayun S. M. Khan was a University of Virginia graduate and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Khan was one of 14 American Muslims who died serving the United States in the ten years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. You can see Clinton speak of that fallen soldier, one of us, one of us who happens to have been a Muslim immigrant born in the UAE who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGV29YP_III). [This](http://www.vocativ.com/259159/the-father-of-a-muslim-war-hero-has-this-to-say-to-donald-trump/) is what Mr. Khan, whose son died while going towards a car with suicide bombers in it as he yelled for his fellow soldiers to hit the dirt, has said before. > [@](#): > > Muslims are American, Muslims are citizens, Muslims participat[e] in the well-being of this country as American citizens, … We are proud American citizens. It’s the values [of this country] that brought us here, not our religion. Trump’s position on these issues do not represent those values, … We still wonder what made him take those 10 steps [towards the car], … Maybe that’s the point where all the values, all the service to country, all the things he learned in this country kicked in. It was those values that made him take those 10 steps. Those 10 steps told us we did not make [a] mistake in moving to this country. These were the values we wanted to adopt. Not religious values, human values … values that he learned throughout his life came together and made him a brave American soldier. This country is not strong because of its economic power, or military power. This country is strong because of its values, and during this political season, we all need to keep that in mind … Yeah I’d say he’s been “vetted”. BTW, having just seen the new ST movie the reference to ST is quite apt. One theme was that being stronger together versus hate of that unification. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/39 "2016-07-24T15:11:07Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The knee-jerk suspicion evinced is _precisely why_ he is one of those featured on the “Stronger Together” night. It is an explicit contrast to the fear of each other being stoked on the GOP side. [FWIW](https://www.demconvention.com/blog/americans-across-country-speak-democratic-national-convention/) Mr. Khan’s son > You can see Clinton speak of that fallen soldier, one of us, one of us who happens to have been a Muslim immigrant born in the UAE who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGV29YP_III). > > [This](http://www.vocativ.com/259159/the-father-of-a-muslim-war-hero-has-this-to-say-to-donald-trump/) is what Mr. Khan, whose son died while going towards a car with suicide bombers in it as he yelled for his fellow soldiers to hit the dirt, has said before. > > Yeah I’d say he’s been “vetted”. > BTW, having just seen the new ST movie the reference to ST is quite apt. One theme was that being stronger together versus hate of that unification. I would be very sad, if like the Esam Omeish guy that Tim Kaine hired 9 years ago, jihad-apologism and anti-Israel comments came up from this Khan guy. Kaine subsequently fired him. Just because Khan served doesn’t mean he’s pure; see Nidal Hassan. One must stand for American leadership, support of America’s allies (including Israel), and never apologize or explain Islam jihad. It does seem a lot like CAIR and other orgs tend to apologize for Islamic terror, explain the term “jihad” as something other than holy war, Islam-splain it, or blame Israel. This Khan guy better have a record not only of doing neither, but doing the opposite. I have zero tolerance for Israel haters, and [neither do real Americans](http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/b9hijypcf0sx_p3h9lq6qa.png). Muslim opinion on Israel is far more uniform than Jewish opinion on the conflict; that is fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158/40 "2016-07-24T15:33:54Z")
So, DWS isn’t going to speak or preside over the convention. I wonder if this was a bargain to keep a firm muzzle on Bernie Monday night? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-national-convention/760158.md?page=3)