The Democratic National Convention -- Day 2

Oh MY! Where do I begin? Day 2 of the Convention, while not as good as day 1, was a great day. The old guard took the stage as Senator Edward Kennedy stepped up to the plate for a stirring speech.

"The goals of the American people are every bit as high as they were more than 200 years ago. If America is failing to reach them today, it’s not because our ideals need replacing, it’s because our President needs replacing. "

And my personal favorite...

"We bear no ill will toward our opponents. In fact, we’d be happy to have them over for a polite little tea party. I know just the place – right down the road at Boston Harbor. "

Howard Dean also spoke to us and was his normal fired up self...

"We’re not going to be afraid to stand up for what we believe. We’re not going to let those who disagree with us shout us down under a banner of false patriotism. And we’re not going to give up a single voter, or a single state. We’re going to be proud to call ourselves Democrats, not just here in Boston. We’re going to be proud to call ourselves Democrats in Mississippi, proud to call ourselves Democrats in Utah and Idaho. And we’re going to be proud to call ourselves Democrats in Texas."

My favorite line from his speech:

"Never again will we be ashamed to call ourselves Democrats. Never. Never. Never. We’re not just going to change presidents, we’re going to change this country and reclaim the American dream."

So, those 2 were excellent as were several others, but then the star was born.

Barack Obama!

What can I say but this man will be the first African-American President someday. He is a shoe in to be elected to the Senate that is for sure after the GOP implosion in Illinois and after his absolutely perfect speech last night....

"A belief that we are connected as one people. If there’s a child on the south side of Chicago who can’t read, that matters to me, even if it’s not my child. If there’s a senior citizen somewhere who can’t pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it’s not my grandmother. If there’s an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It’s that fundamental belief—I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sisters’ keeper—that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. “E pluribus unum.” Out of many, one."

I love this guy! Can we make 100 copies of him and elect him to every Senate seat?

Here is my favorite part of his speech......

"Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there’s not a liberal America and a conservative America—there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."

Ron Reagan then broke loose for an amazing speech about embryonic stem cell research. He didn't endorse Kerry, he endorsed any candidate who is for lifting the ban on stem cell research.
"Now, there are those who would stand in the way of this remarkable future, who would deny the federal funding so crucial to basic research. They argue that interfering with the development of even the earliest stage embryo, even one that will never be implanted in a womb and will never develop into an actual fetus, is tantamount to murder. A few of these folks, needless to say, are just grinding a political axe and they should be ashamed of themselves. But many are well-meaning and sincere. Their belief is just that, an article of faith, and they are entitled to it.But it does not follow that the theology of a few should be allowed to forestall the health and well-being of the many."

Well said Mr. Reagan, how long before he runs for office? He is a better speaker than 90% of the politicians in both parties and is very passionate on at least one topic.

Then the Finale of Tuesday was Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Her best line:

"John is a fighter. He earned his medals the old-fashioned way, by putting his life on the line for his country. No one will defend this nation more vigorously than he will—and he will always be first in the line of fire."

Overall, A productive and exciting convention so far. I can't wait for tonight as we will see the next Vice President of the United States: JOHN EDWARDS!