August 25, 2008 9:21 PM
Random thoughts on tonight's convention so far
830 pm EST
Random observations on the Democratic Convention:
Nancy Pelosi looks like she got dentures. Inconsistent oratory. I keep wondering what she would look like without all the plastic surgery and hair color.
And would someone please tell San Fran Gran Nan that the correct phrase is well-paying jobs, not good-paying jobs? Each of the three times she referred to good-paying jobs, I flinched.
Loved Ann Curry's tough offstage interview of Mme. Speaker, which clearly pricked away at the smiling veneer, bringing Pelosi pretty close to losing it. No one wants to admit the elephant in the living room - Hillary Clinton and her bitter followers.
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*sigh* I guess we must resign ourselves to constant references to Obama's patrtiotism, experience, and faith.
Methinks the party doth protest too much.
Oh, and I love the reference to Obama and Biden as two men who understand what it's like to sit at the kitchen table and pay bills. Yeah, right. A career politician and a wanna-be career politician (Obama lives in a million dollar home and is reported to have made 4 million dollars last year).
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Trying to get up my courage up to watch Michele Ma Belle. She is a consummate actress and has had forever to rehearse. Underneath, she has already exposed to the world that she is an angry woman who bosses her husband around and has contempt for anyone she doesn't see as useful to her.But they do make a pleasing magazine cover - how many were they on this month?
Posted in Campaign 2008 | Permalink
Comments
I visit your blog frequently, not because I share your world view but because I think it is important to understand where people who disagree with me are coming from. I enjoy reading about your family, you've sparked my interest in Montessori education, and I admire your courage in blogging frankly about your family's current financial woes (ie, bad things do happen to good people).
That said, I'm disappointed by your account of the DNC so far. I wouldn't expect you to agree with the positions expressed in the speeches, but your critique takes such a petty and vindictive tone. What's with the disparaging nicknames, for instance? I fundamentally disagree with Sen. McCain on almost all issues, and I won't be voting for him, but I don't doubt his sincerity, his good intentions, or his sacrifices for our country. He even possesses traits that I admire. How does name calling address any of the problems our country faces? How does that sort of rhetoric reflect on the people who engage in it?
Moreover, I think you misrepresent both Barack and Michelle Obamas' backgrounds. There's no question that they're quite affluent now, but that's not how they grew up. To be blunt, Barack had an irresponsible flake for a mother and a selfish cad for a father. He spent his childhood getting shuttled from relative to relative and country to country. Despite this adverse beginning, through intelligence and hard work, he became professionally successful. I would think that sort of narrative (that our country is a meritocracy and that the determined can overcome obstacles) would appeal to you. Furthermore, who runs for president who _isn't_ rich? That's the nature of the game: non-elites lack the funds, connections, and influence to succeed at the highest levels of electoral politics. We can debate whether the status quo is right, but it is hardly a partisan issue.
In sum, why the hateful invective? Can't we disagree respectfully? Must we assume the worst in our opponents (especially in highly gendered terms)? Even if your opponents aren't extending the courtesy to you, why not rise above? I understand that people often react most violently to ideologies they've held in the past and subsequently rejected (I'm looking at you, all you former Objectivists), but you're smart and normally well considered. I would hope for a factually accurate, carefully reasoned refutation of what you've been watching, not a series of personal attacks.
Posted by: AE | August 26, 2008 12:08 AM
You seem really bitter about other Americans having success...Is it suddenly wrong to be wealthy from writing books? You of all people should know that. Barack Obama worked his way up from lower middle class to success; John McCain was born into money and married into a beer fortune (leaving his broken first wife in the process) for even more money.
Your insults of Michelle Obama just show your partisanship and hatred - Remember Matthew 22:36-40 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. "
Posted by: Johntegrity | August 26, 2008 1:03 AM
I rarely slip into this kind of commentary, but I'm going to allow myself last night's moment. It's been a rough month - move, kids' medical issues - and this is about all I have the energy for. I really see little harm in calling Pelosi San Fran Gran Nan or Mrs. Obama Michelle Ma Belle.
Is the Left that touchy about its icons?
John, I'm not bitter about Americans having success. I take issue with people who've enjoyed success in this country and then try to solidify their power by preying on people's envy. Who appeal to "hope" by making people think that without them there is none. Who set themselves up as Messiahs.
And then, who when caught in the act - as Michelle was many times with her bitter remarks about our country - contrive to pretend that they love their country.
They love themselves.
Johntegrity, I hate it when people bash others with Bible verses - whether from the left or the right. Even Satan used Bible verses to make his points. To forbid those who disagree with your political position the right to comment on politics because of a Bible verse is absurd.
Discussing politics - even in a few shallow, disjointed way as I did last night - does not mean that I don't love God or others. Actually I see it as the opposite. I write because I love God and others - and I care for the future of my children.
I think Obama is a dangerous person to put in charge of our country. I think the Democratic party is a party of hypocrisy and double standards.
I think the double standards are obvious when we see the vile hatred and dehumanization of our sitting president, Supreme Court justices and other conservatives, and the fawning of our press corps over a completely unqualified individual - and his wife - who speak well on teleprompter, but whose off the cuff remarks betray their true feelings of contempt for our country and for middle class Americans.
I will not be intimidated by "I like to read your blog, but if you get too uppity I'll come out of the woodwork to let you know you'd better shut up." AE, your remarks are condescending and since you have never commented here before on anything you found to your liking, you really don't have much of a platform to speak into my life.
We all have our moments. Last night was not mine for well-reasoned discourse. But my blog is like my living room and many people who read here are like my family. I let my hair down last night, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Posted by: barbara | August 26, 2008 7:07 AM
Barbara, I'm sorry my compliments came across as condescending. That was not my intention, and they were sincere. It always seems wise to give credit where credit is due, and by doing so, I was trying to live up to my own call to attack positions rather than people. Your point about my having left more critical comments than not is well taken. I suppose I'm only moved to speak up when I feel strongly, and your posts go by without comment when I'm entertained or moved or inspired. That tendency creates an unbalanced picture of what I really think of your blog.
Posted by: AE | August 26, 2008 7:20 AM
The only objection I have to calling Michele Obama "Michele Ma Belle" is that's what my mother calls me. I was named for that song. Creepy. ;)
I think I'd have a problem with Nancy Pelosi saying "good-paying jobs," too. I have to wonder -- surely she's a well educated woman -- is she saying it that way to appear more like the "common man"?
Posted by: Michelle Potter | August 26, 2008 9:20 AM
Barbara,
I love reading your blog. Many times your opinion and mine are exact matches! Sometimes a person can have enough of the constant syrup-y fake put on by politicians trying to convince the ignorant masses that they have all the answers. I, for one, have had enough. And I would have laughed and toasted you had I been sitting in your living room with you last night!!!
Posted by: Sara | August 26, 2008 9:53 AM
Well I watched Michelle's speech and I found it, in a word, uninspireing.
It seemed very, very forced. She must have said "folks" about 20 times as well as "see". As in, "See, where I grew up people were poor" and "See, Obama has hope for America."
Gag. I mean, sure, this could be her typical manner of speach, and I might be misjudging her, but it definitely came across as a ploy to seem like the "common man".
I think it is admirable that she was able to get an education and try to better her community, but I don't think that translates to a "love for America." Also, I thought it was interesting that she titled her speech "I love America," yet said very little to that affect. Instead, she seemed to be saying "I love Barak and I love me, so you should too!"
I don't know, I'm sure that others might see this differently, but I don't think it did anything to help her seem more "likeable." It seemed forced and insincere.
Posted by: Lauren | August 26, 2008 4:06 PM
