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I'm surprised that no one has brought this up yet. What did you guys think about what they had to say? Did any of you even watch it?
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Andrew Heuett

I watched some of it.

The comedy skits done later on were even more fun to watch. In response to Clinton's call for strength and wisdom, one comedian said "How about power and self restraint?"

It's all pretty staged. If you follow any of the candidates, most of the speeches they gave were heavily vetted, and the same stuff they've done for about a year.

I am losing count of the number of times "hope" is used as a theme at a DNC... (Keep hole alive, A place called Hope, Hope is on the way...). Wonder why they're hoping so much?

The Reverend Al Sharpton was his typical self... Loose cannon once again. But Al's gotta be Al. He lost my respect somewhere back around Tawana Brawly, but I do like his style...

And speaking of loose cannons, gotta love that Theresa Heinz-Kerry and her "shove it" remark to a conservative reporter who correctly called her on using the word "unamerican" in a speech. No problem - the press needs something to write about.

And I do find the "screw the top 2%" theme to be vintage Edwards. Gotta love those guys that are into redistribution of wealth. But then there is the Democrats attempting to become the military presidency with the proposed increases in military spending. That's what we need in this country right now - more unrestrained testosterone! Ark, ark, ark...

Anyone notice Edwards using the "Clinton shoken" jesture?

I missed Kerry's speech because I was here at camp, but from what I read I see I didn't miss much.

It's not like the old days, where the nominees and their VPs were actually decided at the conventions. All the excitement is gone. These days it's just a pep rally for the faithful.

- Bill

Jon Stewart called conventions akin to "a product launch". Many agree with him. But then why have primaries?

[quote]gotta love that Theresa Heinz-Kerry and her "shove it" remark to a conservative reporter who correctly called her on using the word "unamerican" in a speech.[/qoute]

Heinz-Kerry called folks out on using "un-American traits", and the right wing wacko incorrectly tried to pin her in on quoting her on "un-American activities".

I missed Edwards' speech (no TV reception at work that day), but saw Kerry's. Some impartial folks thought he hit it big.

We'll find out come November!

Gene

This is what Heinz Kerry said...

We need to turn back some of the creeping, un-Pennsylvanian and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics.

And this was what the "right wing wacko" said...

In an interview with FOX News, McNickle said he first asked Heinz Kerry what she meant by "un-American activities" — a phrase that draws on language from the 1950s when the nation was gripped by anti-communist feelings.

"I was trying to elicit from her an example of these 'un-American traits' and she quibbled with me and the word 'activity.' Perhaps this brought back some problems with some verbiage from years past. Then I asked her about 'un-American [traits]', and she denied even [saying] 'un-American,'" McNickle said.

McNickle acknowledged his newspaper has an editorial page that is "very conservative with a slight libertarian leaning" but he said that should be no reason for a hostile reaction from Heinz Kerry.

"Why would she react that way to someone seeking clarification of a statement? Would she have reacted the same way if it had been a reporter for NBC or for FOX?" he asked.

The problem with people who become emotionally hijacked by a simple question from a reporter - and there will be MANY such questions - is that it just stirs up the hornet's nest. To wit...

In the Jan. 13, 1976, interview with the Boston Herald American (now the Boston Herald), Heinz Kerry said she didn't trust President Richard Nixon but added, "Ted Kennedy I don't trust either."

She went on to say that she knew "some couples who stay together only for politics. If Ted Kennedy holds on to that marriage just for the Catholic vote, as some people say he does, then I think he's a perfect bastard."

- Teresa Heinz Kerry’s ‘Shove It’ Outburst Is the Latest in String of Outspoken Behavior - ABC News

Rule number 1 of a campaign - don't abuse the press.



All you do is give the person who is irritating you the story they wanted in the first place.

- Bill

This is a very interesting article. One must be careful when reading it, as it appears to say just about anything you want said.

Poll: No boost for Kerry after convention

Here are a few interesting points (minus the "spin" from the various camps).

Last week's Democratic convention boosted voters' impressions of John Kerry but failed to give him the expected bump in the head-to-head race against President Bush, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll finds.

In the survey, taken Friday and Saturday, Bush led Kerry 50%-46% among likely voters. Independent candidate Ralph Nader was at 2%.

The survey showed Kerry losing 1 percentage point and Bush gaining 4 percentage points from a poll taken the week before the Boston convention.

The change in support was within the poll's margin of error of +/-4 percentage points in the sample of 763 likely voters. But it was nonetheless surprising, the first time since the chaotic Democratic convention in 1972 that a candidate hasn't gained ground during his convention.

****

Analysts said the lack of a bounce may reflect the intensely polarized contest. Nearly nine of 10 voters say their minds are made up and won't change. "The convention, typically a kicking-off point for a party, is now merely a reaffirmation" of where voters stand, said David Moore, senior editor of the Gallup Poll.

Here's the poll itself, with trends. Very, very fascinating. I'll let the data speak for themselves.

USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results

- Bill