Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good insight. There really doesn't seem to be much fire. Perhaps they are trying to ease into it to make sure everyone comes along. Still not sure if the stadium and huge crowd is one of the better ideas, but we shall see.

Michelle was pleasant tonight and the girls were cute. Still this isn't supposed to be a mother daughter fashion show.

Craig,

Glad to see you have not lost your objectivity.

Michelle's speech was astonishing. Great to see Senator Kennedy. The rest was a lot of filler that -- you're right -- could be dispensed with.

But anyone who missed Michelle missed something very unusual. And her mother and brother. Warm and very real family.

But Craig, nobody knows Obama, haven't you heard.

I thought the crowd at the convention seemed a little apathetic also. It may have been wishful thinking but it seemed to me the loudest applause came when Hillary's name was mentioned. Maybe I am wrong, maybe not.

Carol

It's just a warm up...plenty more to come. I'd like to hear more convention and less Tweety.

Great,

Perhaps day one was akin to someone going an entire Texas summer and still keeping their pasty white skin...instead of enjoying the warmth of 103 degree days, they decided to enjoy the comforts of 68 degree AC instead...

LOL

Good night all. Have a pleasant rest of your night.

Everyone was very glad Michelle spoke of the 18 million cracks in the ceiling. It was a graceful and moving moment in a very good speech.

Ivy watch PBS. They are covering it every night and No Tweety.

Ivey

C-span no tweety at all yea!!!

Jack

"Still this isn't supposed to be a mother daughter fashion show."

What a small thing to say.

And Craig tonight wasn't about bashing McCain, tonight was calling Democrats home. Teddy to remind of us our core values, a msg that has become sorely lost in Clinton drama, and Michelle to remind us of just how committed Barack is to those party values on making sure there is a place at the table for every American. We're not really looking to do things the James Carville way anymore, it's 2008, not 1992. Craig it's time to swoon to a new tune.

Why are people even bothering to watch these conventions?

Even as a political science major, I find them to be the electoral version of a porn compilation video tape. Realistically, you can maybe handle the first 30 minutes of the 6 hours tape/DVD. If you try to endure the whole show, someone will disappoint you or just turn you off, forcing you to walk away.

Personally, I'd rather watch the informercial for the Hand Hammered wok or the magic towel or something...

From Michelle Obama's recent past.
===========================

Michelle Obama "Proud" vs "Really Proud"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGjR81pFJI4

Brian,

I will say that when it comes to elections, Carville is a consistent water into wine guy...he and begala ran a brilliant campaign in 92 and had they deigned to get involved this time around for anyone, Democrats would be better off for it...

John McCain is on Leno 8~)

Poor Leno.

Bear the same can be said for Rove, that doesn't mean his methods will prove to be successful this election.

"John McCain is on Leno 8~)"

I am sure he'll say at least six words

A noun, a verb and POW

actually, he was pretty funny and got a lot of applause from the audience. Am too tired to remember the quips, but it went well for him.

Craig, good to have a first hand report.

tt

The RNC is all over Denver -- playing tricks. Tonight there was a Reception for Hillary at a local watering hole. This really ticks me off. The GOP had been riding the "Hate Hillary":bandwagon for years now -- now when it suits them they embrace her. Screw them.

James Carville is a slimeball. Anyone who, via his wife, would be opportunistic enough to publich the Corsi book should never be let on the same floor with Democrats again. He disgusts me.

Well Alicia,

The Republicans know that they can treat Hillary like the treat all their women...like subservient whores...you ever wonder why the hate the way Muslims treat women? Because they do a better job keeping a leash on them...

They know that many Hillary supporters will take to them the way a stray cat takes to anyone who shows them affection. At least the stray cat can defend itself...the scorned Hillary supporters will wake up, literally and figuratively with their clothes on the floor and the feeling that they were drugged and violated...

Craig,
In the normal world of partisan politics, yeah, they needed to attack Mccain. But from everything everybody's been saying, if his campaign can do whatever it takes to garner more of Hillary's vioters , then he's well on his way to victory. So maybe that's the mind set.

McCain was funny 8~D

He talked about his homes, his father-in-law, Cindy, Hillary, Obama and living as a POW.

If Patsi is here, did I read her post that the DNC is bugging Cindy Sheehan's hotel...is this confirmed?

If so, will they use the information they gather to infuse Pelosi with some fucking backbone???

I know a lot of women are upset at the treatment Hillary Clinton got. I think some of it is Clinton fatigue but a large part is absolute disgust at Pelosi's speakership. The fact that she took impeachment off the table when it's so clearly warranted was just one of the emasculating steps she took as speaker...

After 9/11, all I wanted was to make the scum sucking terrorist die for killing my friend and to see the twin towers rebuilt as fast as humanly possible...taller and stronger...instead we got Republican greed and the "Freedom" tower clusterf#$#, and Iraq...while the terrorists went free and unpunished.

All I wanted with a Democratic congress is that Bush be made to acknowledge for the record his actions and then be made to account. Instead, a 28% president is still able to get legislation that basically defecates on basic constitutional rights, he's able to finish his term knowing he won't be made to atone for his sins and he'll still be able to pardon his cronies on the way out the door.

That's simply unacceptable and disheartening. People are crying about the lack of human rights in China but does anyone doubt that were the twin towers theirs, not only would they have been built already, but they would look freakin cool too...as for the govt' thing...didn't they execute a government minister who took some bribes or something?

If we are giving away our rights, we may as well take the dudes who can get us results for those abdications...

I want to see major attacks on Bush and links that show people how much a McCain win ensures a bush third term.
Tonight was all marshmallows and fluff...I did enjoy Sen. Ted and Michelle was OK, but if McCain and his mentor Bush are let off the hook, we're doomed for the same thing that happened in 2004...that is,after a totally botched repugg term, a re-election. We cannot allow this to happen. We need to attack the incumbents.

James Carville is great. His books make wonderful reading.

More from SoetorObama's "hidden" past.
Floyd Brown defends his latest ad.
=============================
Mum on Being Muslim: Is Obama's Silence a Slam on Islam?

"How am I the bad guy here?" asks Brown rhetorically. "If the Muslim community should be angry with anyone, shouldn't it be with Barack Obama for being ashamed of Islam and for denying his roots?"

The argument that Barack Obama's past includes more Islamic ties than he is leading people to believe is built on a solid foundation of historical facts. The question then becomes, why is Obama either denying or avoiding much of it? "At the core of that denial is either shame or deception," says Brown "and we should not be labeled as 'Islamophobes' or 'racists' for demanding to know the truth about a man who wants to become president of the United States."

http://newsblaze.com/story/20080825054229tsop.nb/topstory.html

he's scum

speaking of scum!

Phil Berg was on at least 10 radio shows today.

"he's scum"

"speaking of scum!"

I don't understand. Are you saying Floyd Brown is scum and he is speaking of scum? That would be SoetorObama. Is that what you mean?

nope.

dope.

Good Morning all.

I have to say: Kuddo´s to the script writer for Michelle. She Aced it..... Perfection. Even her stops, breaths etc...It was a very good and moving speech. A+
I only don´t know why those two children were there. If they keep on bringing them in, they shouldn´t question if after the election the press keeps howling them.

Sorry, but am I the only who zapped when Teddy Kennedy came on. Maybe it´s me, but couldn´t watch his speech. I think bringin Ted Kennedy in infuriated more riffs than DNC could imagine. ....

On flushing meadows a near miss in a brilliant game for Donald Young against James Blake......

Well it's been a long day, and an exciting night, I'm off to bed, somehow I suspect I'll be having much sweeter dreams that most of you all, aint life a kick in the pants.

Back from a long day on the convention trail. We started off with a delegation breakfast at 7:00 a.m. that lasted until around 10 because we had to have the group picture taken. At 11:00 we got on buses to go to Congressman Boswell's daughter's house for lunch. Yikes, Iowa Chops. I never eat that much for lunch.

We got back from there at 2:00 and had a reception at 3:00 at the Hard Rock Cafe down the street from our hotel. I stayed there for a couple of hours then off to the Pepsi Center for the snooze fest. People didn't seem nearly as excited as I thought they would be. I got bored and took pictures...got the back of Ted Koppel's head...long story.

After the convention it was off to another reception. I am living on hors doevers and alcohol. On the way to this reception, they had the street blocked and the bomb squad there. Earlier, I guess they foiled an assasination plot and there is the constant sound of sirens and uniformed offiers rushing here and there. Someone important is staying at the Sheraton down the street because you can't go in there without a letter and they are searching every car that parks in their garage.

My hotel is next to the Federal Reserve Bank and there were a lot of cops there tonight. I don't know if there was a threat but I hope it doesn't get blown up cause it could be bad for my hotel. It is sometimes a little concerning walking around. Night...another early morning tomorrow.

NBC Nightly News has a seg on Craig's security topic from yesterday. Defintitely looks like they're expecting a terrorist bombing, they even have the interstate highway scheduled for closing in a couple days to thwart a stadium attack. A local woman is i'viewed, saying it sure looks like over-kill.
Is it paranoia, pressure to spend all 50 million dollars, or damn, is a major terrorist attack imminent?
All those cops on the running boards of the SUVs, four or five on either side of each vehicle , makes them look like they're looking to do a drive by on somebody. It's realy rather creepy.

gee, zoey...an ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT????? That is pretty damn big news...time to go to Reuters and scope that out...

REUTERS
"Your search for 'assassination attempt failed in denver' produced 0 results."

I typed in "foiled", too...they just corrected it and said no attempt was either foiled or failed in Denver.

An American car was shot at in Pakistan, however.

Yes, I got my news from the local CBS affiliate after they attended a press conference. It looks like MSN has the story. They have arrested some people and it looks like they must have some pretty good evidence there was a plot. I watched some cops sweep a building today using dogs. I don't know if I mentioned it but my train was swept in Omaha by homeland security and dogs. There are lots of groups of riot gear and SWAT officers riding on the running boards of SUVs and it IS creepy.

Try this though they are downplaying it:

Obama threatened? FBI examines reports
'Premature to say that it was a valid threat,' source says of man's arrest

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26398461

Local TV had more late tonight.

WHOA! Didn't mean to doubt you! I found it too...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1126388,fbi082608.article

Oh my god...white supremacists...one named Adolf..."Arrested Sunday were Nathan Johnson, 32; Tharin Gartrell, 28; and Shawn Robert Adolf, 33. "
We just don't need this crap...thank God they caught them.

Train sweep? Amtrak seems very vulnerable, always has...we've probably seen the last of whistle stop campaigns.

That cage? The "Free Speech Zone"? WHAT A JOKE! it's so far away from the action, it makes a mockery of the right to assemble.

"hors doeurves and alcohol"...have fun zoey!!

Zoey,
Thanks for the denver information. think we all enjoy reading about what is going on..

Interesting article on Obama/Soros
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08202008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/a_soros_slush_fund_125233.htm

julie

I don't really watch the conventions. I absolutely do not like politicians speeches - or any other formal speeches come to that. They are so contrived - look at how often Peggy Noonan made Reagan appear to have a brain!

I do like the way Bill Clinton uses words to express an idea - he can say things perfectly, except of course he tends to say too many things and talks too long.

The only convention speech I ever really enjoyed was Al
Sharpton's in 2004 (was it that long ago?) when he explained to republicans why blacks weren't flocking to their party. Al was blunt, and determined, and disgusted. Of course, he appears to be useless to dems now, so maybe the speech doesn't count any more.It was probably the most honest speech ever made at a convention. And I still enjoy listening to what he has to say, whether I agree with him or not.

Did Mika used to be on Imus??????

I've been wondering what was going on thru those de-composed brains of white-supremacists - thought they were awfully quiet. As to that woman's thinking the security is overkill, she must be unconscious. They'd better not let anything happen.

This is for Gordo...from the Politico article...
====================

The last weeks were terrible ones for the Clinton people. They knew they could not get ahead in pledged
delegates and hoped against hope that the superdelegates would come to their rescue. They hoped for an
Obama scandal to surface. Something new about Tony Rezko, something new about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Anything. “We hoped that that the superdelegates would see that she was the better and more electable
candidate,” Wolfson said.

And did you believe they really would?

“It’s all we had,” he said.

Good morning ,

Story on voting machines again. Obama/McCain Election?

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/257/story/50485.html

julie

With regards to Craigs blog title...... :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qu8RPvhP-U

He was one of the best.....

Morning everyone,

I agree with Craig the convention was "a wasted night." Boring.

I did like seeing Ted Kennedy looking animated, though. As for Michele,
she did what she was instructed to do--tried to sell herself and Barack as
hard working, regular folks. No surprises. Hardcore Obama Dems are
enraptured, others aren't so much.

I'm looking forward to seeing Hillary, Chelsea and Bill.

Anybody get the rating of how many people actually watched the convention last night? If the numbers were low, and it was as boring as Craig indicated, MO's coming out speech probably was only seen by the democratic faithful and won't make much of a difference in how people vote.

I did not watch the coverage so I can't comment on the speeches. So even though I follow politics, I just was not interested in seeing Kennedy, MO or any of the others.

Just checking in to see reaction -

"A Wasted Night"

Wow! When most are seeing last night as a historical event Craig you say it was a wasted night? I can understand why you would want to change that thread.

I thought Michelle did as well as anyone in her position could have done. Plus she went beyond and actually talked about issues that women all over the world feel is important - that is a chance for their children to have a better life.

Wasted Night - I think not.

Marsha Kramer of CBS actually said/predicted (somewhat in jest), that the conventions will probably go the way of the DoDo bird.