Closing the beer stands was probably the smartest thing done for handling this massive crowd at Denver's Mile High Stadium. This must be the most sober crowd of 80,000 ever to gather in a major league football stadium.
But these folks don't need booze to got nuts. I got to the stadium hours ago and, despite standing in lines for as long as four hours, Barack Obama's supporters are not complaining. Many have never been to a national political convention. And as Carole Watson, a Detroit community organizer told me, "I'm 69 years old, honey, and I've waited my whole life for a moment like this. I'd wait 40 hours if necessary."
This thread is for discussion of what Obama enthusiasts believe to be a speech that will be talked about for generations.
Crowds fill Denver's Mile High Stadium hours before Barack Obama's acceptance speech (photo credit: Craig Crawford)

Comments
C-SPAN's going a nice job of covering it all.
tt
Posted by: tiptoe
| August 28, 2008 10:13 PM
Now if the crowd would shut up!
Posted by: Gidget
| August 28, 2008 10:14 PM
Oh, it will be talked about for generations to come alright, just like Hitler's speech at the Reichstag. That one sure was a doozy, too.
Posted by: champ | August 28, 2008 10:15 PM
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/NEWS15/80828123
text of the speech
Posted by: Katherine Graham Cracker
| August 28, 2008 10:15 PM
Yes I know Obama is better than the alternative but damn he just doesn't inspire me. I sincerely wish he did. I do believe he is a good man just not yet presidential.
If any of you are people who believe in prayer, I need some. We have a hurricane heading our way and we still haven't totally healed from Rita that hit us hard three years ago.
Also I have to stay if the hurricane hits here because I work at a prison where we are the first responders. I am in charge of the medical department. They told me I couldn't bring my little dog, my very best friend. I have no one to take care of her. If they don't change that I will be having to quit that job.
Carol
Posted by: ct | August 28, 2008 10:40 PM
This is a State of the Union speech....Unless it picks up pretty soon, it's going to be a memorable as one...
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 10:40 PM
Craig -- did you need oxygen by the time you got up there to take that picture?
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 10:42 PM
There's sure been a lot of the material Bill Clinton covered in this speech so far...
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 10:43 PM
21st century needs can't be met with a 20th century bureaucracy.
There's your pitch to the independents
Individual responsibility combined with mutual responsibility (different phrasing for It Takes A Village)
Won't even follow him to the cave where he lives.
McCain: More tough talk and bad strategy
It is an excellent power speech. No one can say there isn't any meat on the bones.
Posted by: Jamie
| August 28, 2008 10:45 PM
"This is a State of the Union speech....Unless it picks up pretty soon, it's going to be a memorable as one... Posted by: spike"
i agree, spike, so far it does have that laundry list state of union feel, but he's picking up the pace a bit now, needs a big finish to make the history books
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 10:45 PM
i know he's concious of the empty suit charge and trying to give specifics, but there is much more prose than poetry than i expected
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 10:47 PM
Dish Network just went down! ARGHHHH
Must be Republican signal pirates!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 10:51 PM
while surprised, i'm starting to think it makes political sense for him to give a more utilitarian campaign speech. save the history-making, poetic speech for if he gets a the chance for an inaugural address. guess the dramatic setting gave me the impression it would be loftier.
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 10:52 PM
this "promise" passage is achieving altitutde
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 10:55 PM
now he's cookin -- "cannot turn back"
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 10:56 PM
well, this was a hard-boiled partisan speech for the moment, very little soaring rhetoric for the ages. but probably makes sense for a tight race
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 10:59 PM
Good speech. Good speaker.
I'll buy what that guy's selling.
tt
Posted by: tiptoe
| August 28, 2008 11:00 PM
I really like how Jill Biden reached over to bring the Obama girls into the family clutch.
Posted by: Alicia Knight
| August 28, 2008 11:01 PM
Craig
it was an American sermon not only about the beliefs of the Party but of basic myths that we believe about ourselves. Very Reagan at times imo.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| August 28, 2008 11:02 PM
Quite a spectacle. Good show -- bigger than a Superbowl. This is what happens when DEMs have money.
Posted by: Alicia Knight
| August 28, 2008 11:03 PM
AWESOME. Sorry guys, but this is a psychic barrier for African Americans. Too often, the United States is the land of promises. Now, a promise has been fulfilled. I'm very proud today.
Posted by: Mr. Democrat | August 28, 2008 11:05 PM
The biggest charge against him from the Clinton supporters, independents and blue collars was that there was no definition to "Change". Well we just got the definition of "Change".
There were good lines, but the objective was to take down Bush and with him McCain, and that is what he did with pledges of the changes to be made.
The innauguration can be flowery. This was the call to war, and it was well done.
Posted by: Jamie
| August 28, 2008 11:06 PM
Does anyone thnk it is overdone?
I mean, it's HUGE, but somehow the production values seem really cool and just right.
How is the GOP going to match this?
Posted by: Alicia Knight
| August 28, 2008 11:06 PM
Is it just me, or is the music kind of Orwellian?
Boy that ended in a wimper...Had the feel of a President at their last convention before leaving office. Walking away and closing the door behind them as the lights dimmed? Boy that felt weird...
The benediction's even strange...
This was not the led they needed going into the news...
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 11:09 PM
NEW THREAD
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 11:11 PM
Spike
As i've said several times it is the venue an open stadium doesn't hold the noise in like an arena does.
If this had been held back in the convention hall the place would still be rocking but the stadium is now almost empty. People came to see the event and went home like a football game.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| August 28, 2008 11:16 PM
Spike -- I agree with your points re the anti-climatic ending, but you only heard the weak-ending stuff if you were not watching the news -- the big MSMs started yakking almost right after BO stopped talking.
How do you beat the fireworks, streamers and funfetti? 84,000 audience?
Posted by: Alicia Knight
| August 28, 2008 11:17 PM
{{{{{{Carol}}}}}}}
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/08/obamas-mile-high-moment.html#comment-135266
Be safe. Let's hope and pray the hurricane is not a strong one and that it blows away.
Posted by: Alicia Knight
| August 28, 2008 11:25 PM
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