Friday, July 29, 2016

Eight Days of Political Conventions

WARNING: This report is totally biased!

I am a bit of a political junkie. When it comes to watching big political events, I'm in. 

So except for the first night of the Republican National Convention (RNC), when I was traveling back home from Whidbey Island, I watched every day of the RNC and the DNC. This week, with the Democrats, most days I turned on C-SPAN at 2:00 and let it run in the background as I tended to other things, stopping to listen when something really interesting was on. 

And so, yes, I saw it all.

I saw the Republicans put on the best show they could given that most performers and party powerful didn't want to have anything to do with the nominated candidate.  Mr. Trump showed up every night, not wanting to miss the spotlight, and to watch the parade of his beautiful children take the stage to support their father. 

I heard lots of attacks on Hillary Clinton and hardly any praise of Donald Trump. Follow up fact checking indicated that truth was in short supply. The tone was dark and pessimistic, except when The Donald assured us that "I am the only one who can fix it". Trump still wants to build walls that separate us. 

The tone of the Democratic National Convention was much more upbeat. On Monday the theme was "Love trumps hate" and Cory Booker spoke eloquently on the theme of love. He and other speakers tried their best to embrace the Bernie Sanders supporters, who frequently shouted out protests throughout the convention. Bernie got to address the convention too. Then the highlight of the evening was Michelle Obama, who delivered a magnificent speech from her perspective as a mother of daughters. The line I remember most was "Our children are watching us." Many of us had tears in our eyes. 

On Tuesday Bernie got his roll call vote and his people got lots of opportunities to cheer, but when he conceded, his hard core Bernie or Bust supporters staged a walk out. It was democracy in action in all its messiness.

But then there was Bill. Bill Clinton took us back to the day he first met Hillary and told of their life together over 45 years of good times and bad. He explained that he was telling us about the "real Hillary", and not the caricature created by those who have tried to diminish her. I personally loved it!

Wednesday night's stellar lineup included Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, and Tim Kaine, the VP candidate who looks to be the perfect guy to replace Joe Biden, sweet, thoroughly good, and very capable of taking on Trump, and the office of president should that ever be required of him. 

When President Obama took the stage, it was the topper of three days of praise for HRC and all she has done and accomplished to help others. That hug at the end, when Hillary made an appearance, was just the best moment of all for me. 


On Thursday night Chelsea Clinton made her introduction of her mother personal, telling us of her childhood with a mother who loved her dearly and how much fun they had together. 

And then it was Hillary Clinton's turn to speak and accept the nomination. I thought she did a wonderful job. She showed her compassionate and caring nature, but she was also in command! And besides that, she looked great! I liked  her message that we are stronger together, that we can all rise together. And my favorite "When there are no ceilings, the sky is the limit!"

And she was having fun!

I am now ready to leave politics behind for a few days. I will follow the news and maybe read a few editorials, but not much. 

I will be ready later, though, to help elect this good woman to be our next President of the United States!

17 comments:

  1. I too watched both conventions. It was a first for me to watch a Republican Convention. I don't ever expect to see a better convention in my lifetime than this DNC. In my opinion it was darn close to perfect. Not being the Hillary supporter you are I wavered some about watching Thursday night but I'm so glad I did. This is such a critical election. If people don't like Hillary I wish they could see a vote for Hillary is a vote against Donald Trump. They don't have to like or embrace Hillary but they do need to vote against Donald Trump. David Brooks column gave me pause for thought. If Donald Trump cannot be stopped, and it's possible he can't, then it means our country as a whole has changed and none of us are going to like what's ahead. And, no, I do not think God is in heaven protecting Americas from making a stupid choice.

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  2. Linda, I'm glad you feel so confident about Hillary. I am not a big fan, but am definitely against Trump, so that tells you how I will probably vote.

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  3. Good summary and comparison. I used to be a political junky but not anymore.

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  4. I enjoyed moments from the DNC but got really depressed while watching the RNC parts that I could handle watching. Thanks for your wrapup, I too felt the DNC was close to perfect. Even the "democracy in action" parts. :-)

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  5. Good luck to all you Americans in your choice next November. Watched Hilary's speech ourselves, and thought it was very good too. The difference between dividing us and pulling together, between fear and hope, couldn't be clearer.

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  6. Let's see, the Russians have hacked the DNC servers twice (maybe more) and people find Hillary too secretive about her emails and wanting her own server. What is she hiding? I think she knows to what length those who crave power will go, including destroying this country, to keep her from office. The rah,rah conventions are over but she won me over by being the smart one.

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  7. Hillary has my vote and I sent her campaign some $, another kind of vote. I couldn't make it through the GOP convention; He Who Must Not Be Named is too repellent, its easier to read for me to read about it. The Washington State Primary Election is Tuesday and there are so many names on our ballot that I feel swamped trying to research all of them. I hope to finish today and will drive by and drop my ballot into the box. Though it's looms largest it's not just the presidential office, there are many in congress who I like to see replaced as well.

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  8. I'm the opposite of a political junkie. I can't stand it. I already know who I'm voting for so no amount of convention speak will change anything for me.

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  9. Admire your courage watching the RNC. You are one strong woman. I couldn't do it. I really enjoyed your Cliff Notes and think you summarized both beautifully. Hillary is my choice also, always has been. I loved Obama's statement that she was more qualified than either he or Bill. The Obama team stole the show.

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  10. I cannot in good conscience vote for Hillary. I wish I could vote for a woman but with her history since Whitewater and those cheating Billy years... I cannot. My husband was so upset after she violated her Top Secret Security Clearance that when ever she is on TV he turns it off. In this area of Minnesota we are fed up with Obama and the Dems. Time for a change! :)

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  11. I tried the RNC but just did not have the stomach for it. My parents would have been so disappointed in me because they were political junkies of the highest order. However, I also know they would be beyond appalled by the idea of a Trump presidency.

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  12. I am also a political junkie and read and watch both sides.... I am afraid that I will never feel the same about anyone I know who votes for a platform of ignorance and hate... Not liking Hillary is not enough of a justification to say "I'm with him"....

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  13. As a Canadian, I have no real investment in the outcome, but I am so very afraid of what will happen should the Donald win the presidency. He has fanned the flames of hate and prejudice throughout the campaign and I fear there is only more of than in the future.

    As for the DNC, I saw both Obama and Hillary's speeches. Both provided a message of hope and possibility. I laughed out loud when Hillary told the audience that D.T.'s boast of making America great again, while so much of his brand's products are made outside the U.S. Very telling!

    Good luck!

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  14. Loved your write and summary. You know where I stand.
    I'm with her.

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  15. I consider myself a conservative constitutionalist, and I'm voting for Trump. I would never vote for Hillary. To place ones self interest above national security is beyond the pale for me. She has done nothing for this country. What a piece of work she is, and to vote for someone because of their gender, really!

    It's time for us to make America great again, and so for me it's Trump.

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    1. I take it you didn't watch the DNC, or you wouldn't need to ask what "she" has done for this country. Oh well.

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  16. I didn't watch either convention. But then I don't watch TV, preferring input from other sources. That said, I would appreciate a list of the positive things she has done for this country. Oh Well...

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