Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder He said just about everything I've wished Obama would say whenever the GOP says something stupid, which is often. Arithmetic!
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder OR...... "The GOP's message is we left with with a huge mess four years ago and he didn't fix it fast enough. Fire him and put us back in!" Yeah, NO.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Andrew Sullivan: <a href="http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/09/live-blogging-charlotte-day-two.html" target="_blank">http://andrewsullivan.thedaily...two.html</a>
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder From the previous link: "Republicanism today is failed arithmetic. Clinton is really bringing this home - intellectually. It is not a series of platitudes; it is a series of arguments rebutting last week's entire convention arguments. It has far more policy substance than Romney's or Ryan's speeches. And it has the added benefit of being true."
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I hope B Obama can bring the sppech of his life tomorrow night because Tue/Wed we're fantastic. Say what you want about Clinton I could listen to him forever. He keeps it real, intelligent & easy. He brought the hammer down and said what a lot if us have been feeling brilliantly.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper No doubt that Clinton certainly knows how to push all the right buttons.
Originally Posted By ecdc Yes, he did, Donny. Clinton also mentioned an issue that's been on the fringes but is now in the forefront (hopefully it stays there): Cuts to Medicaid. He explained that families with people with disabilities would be hit hard by Romney/Ryan's cuts, and said, point blank, I don't know what these families are going to do. Neither do I.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Clinton gave them everything they were hoping for and more. He talked specifics, not platitudes, and there wasn't a damn thing he said that could be credibly refuted by Romney, Ryan, or anyone else in the GOP. The GOP spin controllers were left nothing but talking about how he ad libbed and went too long. Umm, yeah, he sure did on both counts, but no one could claim to be surprised by this considering that's been his m.o. since forever, and at least back to the 1988 convention when no one knew who he was and he went far too long then. Clinton's speech was a body blow to the GOP ticket. How do they counter his charge of "they left him a mess....."? How do they counter his comment about Ryan having the "brass" to accuse Obama of exactly what Ryan himself has done? How do they counter his remarks about Medicaid? How do they talk about "Arithmetic"? How do they counter the welfare comments SINCE HE WAS THERE???? How do they counter his remarks about compromise and spin what he quoted McConnel as saying, that the GOP's sole goal from 2010 on was to get Obama out of office? How do they credibly say they don't "hate" Obama, when so many of the far right have expressly said they do? How do they now avoid talking about specifics when Clinton's speech was loaded with specific details about policy? It's up to Democratic candidates for the House to capitalize on these things as well. It's up to the Reids and Pelosis to get on board or get out of the way. It's now up to Obama to bring this home.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 The best comment I saw on Clinton's speech was in one of the tweets they played in the margins last night: "A perfect blend of policy and passion." Exactly right. And yeah it was long, but unlike his 1988 speech (and some others), it didn't SEEM long. It was paced beautifully. It was like a movie that keeps you interested and then you look up and notice it was 2 1/2 hours long but didn't seem like it, whereas a 90 minute movie that sucks seems an eternity. And this was not a gimme, considering Clinton HAS given speeches where I was thinking "enough already." But last night's was paced brilliantly. It was substantive, it was aimed squarely towards the center/independent voters, and it absolutely eviscerated the GOP argument for Romney and their convention last week. Point by point, he called out their horse pucky - with both authority and a smile. Best line of all: "What did you bring to Washington that was so different? I always say there's a one-word answer: arithmetic!" Second-best line (and surprisingly humble): when he said he couldn't have fixed the mess Obama had been handed in 4 years either. He took justifiable pride in his accomplishments, but noted that he was handed a far milder recession. Third-best line(s): when he kept the score. On Democratic job gains vs. Republican, on Obama's auto industry save vs. Romney ("Romney: Zee-roh."), etc. He kept it relatable and understandable for independents and swing voters, the very people who aren't inclined to believe the Republicans just because they ARE Republicans or the Democrats just because they're Democrats; the very people who are most likely to be swayed by actual facts, actual numbers... actual arithmetic. And by doing the point by point refutation he freed Obama from having to do the same sort of thing (at least to the same extent) tonight, so he can do the more expansive inspirational thing he's so good at. (Hopefully, anyway... we'll have to see). It was masterful.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Then there's the talking about compromising and working with the opposition. Clinton didn't avoid but directly took on the fact his wife ran against Obama. Naming her his Secretary of State is certainly a way of working with those who oppose you.
