# We need a DNC 2012 Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 5, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695 "2012-09-05T00:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Abortion\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@Abortion\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abortion_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/101 "2012-09-05T17:59:27Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I saw this morning that there is a faction trying to draft Betty White to speak at the convention to counter the notion that all seniors are dithering gasbags. The internet wants Betty White to do everything, all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/102 "2012-09-05T18:00:07Z")
I saw the tail end of MO’s speech. She did a great job. But… …I wish she hadn’t gone down the “we were poor” road, so much. Rusty-ass car? Not needed. I think the line about student loan payments being more than the mortgage was good, though, and made the point. Doubtful that good ol’ Ann Romney could relate to that. Meanwhile, I just turned on the radio to hear gasbag Limbaugh’s take on the convention. He was arguing how rich MO’s dad actually was. I almost swerved off the road. Your guy is worth $250 million dollars, and MO’s dad made $50K in the 70s… and you actually are arguing that the Robinsons were rich? I was going to make a snide comment about how the Repubs were going to drop the “elitist” hashtag for '12, but apparently, some geniuses on their side are going to try to paint the O’s as rich-ass elitists while their guy is stashing his cash away in tax shelters in the Caymans. As the Ol’ Dirty Bastard would say, “N\*\*\*\* please.” ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/103 "2012-09-05T18:02:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I saw this morning that there is a faction trying to draft Betty White to speak at the convention to counter the notion that all seniors are dithering gasbags. Let me be the first to announce that we are at Betty White saturation. No more. Not for a few months, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/104 "2012-09-05T18:25:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And these people – do they run the gamut from conservative to liberal? Is there some reason they should run such a gamut? I mean, people’s opinions about the age of the Earth run a gamut from six thousand to four and a half billion years, but the people whose opinion I respect fall squarely at the latter end of that range. Clearly, “representing the entire range of available opinion” is not in and of itself a virtue that overrides considerations of how one measures the value of this or that opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/105 "2012-09-05T18:36:44Z")
> [@moonshot925](#): > > The Democrat Party has turned into a freak show. > > Muslims, abortion fanatics, gays, lesbians, transsexuals, transvestites, occupiers, government unions, illegal aliens, communists, and more! Oh, he’s very popular Moon. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think Obama’s a righteous dude. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/106 "2012-09-05T18:50:53Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And these people – do they run the gamut from conservative to liberal? No, of course they don-- damn you, you’ve found me out, you sly dog! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/107 "2012-09-05T18:56:15Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > As the Ol’ Dirty Bastard would say, “N\*\*\*\* please.” Nasterisks please? What the hell kind of talk is that? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/108 "2012-09-05T19:02:38Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > I just watched Michelle Obama’s speech. Great speech, wonderfully delivered. The contrasts with the Romney story were strong. Indeed. The lessons of the two speeches seem to be something like this: Romney: We struggled, but with hard work and family, anyone can become wildly successful. Obama: We struggled, but with hard work, family, and a wise government, anyone can live the middle-class dream. Is this a fair super-summary of the speeches? If so, the latter not only seems more realistic to me, it also seems more designed to appeal to the middle class. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/109 "2012-09-05T19:12:58Z")
I just read that Obama’s speech, which was going to be in an arena with 74,000 people attending, is being moved indoors because of the possibility of violent thunderstorms. This will reduce the audience to about 15,000. The RNC is claiming (sneering, really) that it’s being moved because Obama is afraid the attendance will be less than expected. Yeah, right. They’ve already issued 65,000 sets of credentials for attendees, so I’m pretty sure that’s not the problem. It’s more like: what if 65,000 people show up and we’re unable to hold the event? Not to mention the danger to all concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/110 "2012-09-05T19:23:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The RNC is claiming (sneering, really) that it’s being moved because Obama is afraid the attendance will be less than expected. Yes, and they postponed their whole convention one day because Ann couldn’t find a sitter. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/111 "2012-09-05T20:06:01Z")
I’m at the convention, and have already heard the theory about the arena. Anyone can see it is patently insane. This town is full to the brim and last night it was pouring for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/112 "2012-09-05T20:08:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Indeed. The lessons of the two speeches seem to be something like this: > > Romney: We struggled, but with hard work and family, anyone can become wildly successful. > Obama: We struggled, but with hard work, family, and a wise government, anyone can live the middle-class dream. > > Is this a fair super-summary of the speeches? Not quite, because when you know the Romney’s backstory, it’s more like: “Romney: We struggled, but with hard work and a rich and connected family and a gift of $100K of stock to get you over the rough patches, anyone can become wildly successful.” That makes it fractionally less convincing. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/113 "2012-09-05T20:13:43Z")
This arena theory is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Yeah, because we all know Obama has a hard time drawing a crowd. Retards. Anyway, I may be biased too (I goddamn want to marry Michelle Obama), but girl killed it! Although I will say enough with the trying to out-humble-beginnings everyone. From Michelle it’s sincere, from many others it’s pure bullshit, but in any event, enough. Funnily, Charles Krauthammer, king of douchebags, commented that if he hears one more speech about having to walk uphill in the rain both ways to reach success, he’s going to vomit, and I found myself perhaps for the first and last time ever saying, “Amen, Brother Krauthammer!” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/114 "2012-09-05T20:13:50Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Not quite, because when you know the Romney’s backstory, it’s more like: > > “Romney: We struggled, but with hard work and a rich and connected family and a gift of $100K of stock to get you over the rough patches, anyone can become wildly successful.” That makes it fractionally less convincing. Or it could even be: We struggled, but with hard work and a rich and connected family ([who struggled, but with hard work, family and a wise government succeeded](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/05/1127998/-Mitt-Romney-s-Dad-was-on-Welfare)), anyone can become wildly successful. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/115 "2012-09-05T20:26:57Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Is Michelle Obama giving an incredible speech, or am I just ridiculously biased? > > [Speech text](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/09/04/dnc-2012-michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-democratic-national-convention-full-text/). I think she gave an excellent speech. A really good job. But I also think that her speech was too polished and too political. She could run for something herself, I think. While it built a good argument, it didn’t make Obama seems like a warmer human being to me. So, as political speech: excellent. As for what you want from a speech from a first lady, it won’t change any minds. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/116 "2012-09-05T20:29:43Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I was not expecting the second coming of Martin Luther King, but I got it. Utterly ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/117 "2012-09-05T20:41:22Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > This arena theory is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Yeah, because we all know Obama has a hard time drawing a crowd. Retards. > > Anyway, I may be biased too (I goddamn want to marry Michelle Obama), but girl killed it! Although I will say enough with the trying to out-humble-beginnings everyone. From Michelle it’s sincere, from many others it’s pure bullshit, but in any event, enough. Funnily, Charles Krauthammer, king of douchebags, commented that if he hears one more speech about having to walk uphill in the rain both ways to reach success, he’s going to vomit, and I found myself perhaps for the first and last time ever saying, “Amen, Brother Krauthammer!” Brit Hume made the same complaint. It’s both true and ridiculous at the same time. You have to remember that conventions are infomercials. Infomercials are advertising. The basic thrust of advertising is repetition. Watch any infomercial and you’ll hear the pitch over and over again. People watching are not necessarily giving their full attention to the screen every minutes. And people also tune in and out. Not repeating your message to the point of nausea gets you only a fraction of your potential target audience. Besides I have a better coming up from humble beginnings story than any of them. I wish I were up there one-upping them. Cardboard box? You were lucky. We lived for three months in a brown paper bag in a septic tank. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/118 "2012-09-05T20:41:05Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I’m at the convention, and have already heard the theory about the arena. Anyone can see it is patently insane. This town is full to the brim and last night it was pouring for hours. Conservatives are apparently insane, then, because they’re saying (if my quick perusals of blogs are any indication) that a local weatherman says that “Thursday will be the best weather of the week” (because they’re infallible), that someone on the campaign said it’d be outdoors “rain or shine” (because no one changes their minds for legitimate reasons), and all this proves that while the President could draw crowds in the PAST, obviously this isn’t 2008 anymore and this proves that his support has abandoned him in droves. Obviously. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/119 "2012-09-05T21:16:50Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Utterly ridiculous. You’re right, she’s the 3rd coming of MLK Jr., Obama was the 2nd coming ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/120 "2012-09-05T21:19:46Z")
Speeches starting. I’m in the arena now. Very exciting! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695.md?page=7)