Months ago, Mitt Romney and his campaign team adopted a curious strategy. Hoping to undermine President Obama, Republicans would elevate former President Clinton, giving him unrivaled credibility and stature, as a way of positioning him as the good Democrat, as compared to that rascally Obama.
As was clear last night in Charlotte, Romney's plan was a spectacularly bad idea.
I suspect the only person in the arena who didn't enjoy the Big Dog's tour de force was the one trying to operate the teleprompter -- Clinton had a prepared text, but he largely ignored it. The speech was nearly twice as long as it was intended to be, and long portions of it were entirely extemporaneous, which only made it more impressive.
What made Clinton's speech so exceptional? First, for all the assumptions that the public will not tolerate and has no appetite for substance, Clinton proved the cynics wrong -- his remarks were incredibly policy focused, not only in heralding Obama's underappreciated achievements, but also in taking the GOP vision apart, one issue at a time. The former president is in a league of his own when it comes to making wonky details accessible and easy to understand.
Whereas Republicans treated voters like children last week, building whole days around out-of-context quotes and shallow platitudes, Clinton spoke to Americans like adults, respecting us enough to assume we'd understand. It was a triumph for facts and reason.
Second, after a week in which the chatter has been over how to respond to (and whether to ask) the are-you-better-off-than-you-were-four-years-ago question, Clinton seemed to put the matter to rest entirely, delivering a forceful response that made the answer obvious.
In the same breath, he summarized the entire Republican message in a devastating soundbite: "We left him a total mess. He hasn't cleaned it up fast enough. So fire him and put us back in."
Third, I was struck by Clinton's ability to excite the Democratic base with a bipartisan message. He reminded the audience about the virtues of "compromise," about Obama's commitment to "constructive cooperation," and even had the convention goers cheering one of George W. Bush's more admirable successes (PEPFAR). Indeed, Clinton had more positive things to say about Bush than Republicans did.
It created a contrast with the Tampa convention that reinforced the notion that the parties are in competing, alternate universes -- one where the parties can and should work together to advance the nation's common interests, and another where compromise must be avoided at all costs. The floor in Charlotte cheered the very idea of "constructive cooperation" -- would GOP delegates have done the same?
For independent voters who say they're desperate to see more policymaking and less partisan gridlock, the message wasn't exactly subtle: Democrats agree with you.
As became obvious as Clinton's speech soared, there is no one in the Republican Party who can compete at this level, and it's only going to get worse for the challengers -- Clinton dazzled last night, but Americans will also see him in campaign ads and on the campaign trail. Bush and Cheney are hiding, but the Obama campaign will deliberately keep Clinton in the spotlight.
Team Romney helped build up Clinton's credibility. Now they're paying the price.
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Did not vote for Clinton or Obama. Will not vote for Obama. I'm just checking in with the most rabid pro-Dem website I can think of. Do you Dems know what you've got with Clinton: the most persuasive speaker in the history of mankind. His speech had all the classic elements of rhetoric in the unique American style. He had facts, he had humor---he had a point. I can not congratulate him more.
Sadly for Dems, he rises not only above the caliber of GOP speakers, he far outshines anything else in the Dem party. The miserable speech by Elizabeth Warren was the most flagrant example of demogogic tripe I've ever heard. Harvard should be ashamed to be associated with such. Our First Lady's speech, while dignified, was more of the theme for the convention: "We're all just hard working blue-collar types trying to make a better place for our kids." And she's from Princeton! The same can be said be said Castro's keynote.
As far as political theater goes, Clinton gets an A+, all the rest of the Dems get a D. For the RNC, Anne Romney gets a B+, the rest a C. I'm still voting for Romney.
How was her speech demogogic tripe? She talked about what she didn't like about the financial industry. Considering that's what her area of expertise is in what did you expect her to say?
If you want to vote for Romney, fine. But you are making assertions of fact that are, in fact, opinions.
And because of this I will vote Republican! My logic is infallible!
Well I hope you enjoyed the Bush presidency an awful lot then.
Ann Romney bounces in her speeches and she sounds like a "High School Cheerleader" - Ann Romney gets a D and the rest get an F at the RNC. Your prerogative to vote for whomever you want, your choice two men and a party with no integrity, no honor and are cowards. I hope they loose in November, because I do not want to be governed by a REGIME, similar to those Regimes governing, Cuba, N. Korea, Vietnam and China. Personally I myself prefer Democracy and that is why I will vote for President Obama.
What planet are you living on ?. No one wants to persuade you, you are for the GOP's and who cares . Is the ability to comprehend difficult
Will be interesting to see what all the talking heads on FOX, the GOP pundints, and R. Priebus will have to say. "That's no fair
you have two Presidents praising President Obama, we do not have one President praising Romney." Once again Democrat Presidents 3, Republican presidents 0, Great speech made by President Bill Clinton, one of the best Presidents we have had since LBJ and his Great Society
Thanks Steven Benen! We need everyone in the media applauding real engagement with debate, with real efforts to rebut the other side with facts. And not just by newspapers and bloggers--and MSNBC--but by the principals themselves. My take on this: http://therepublicon.blogspot.com/2012/09/bill-clintons-speech-passionate.html
"We left him a total mess. He hasn't cleaned it up fast enough. So fire him and put us back in." .
Still wow...
Each time the GOP's are the government they take us to war, leaves the country in a mess and then the Dems follow and clean it up , . They are war mongers and LIARS .
So good I just watched it again! Masterful!
It's really interesting that even the pathetic fifth-rate trolls we seem to attract here (Pooper's actually tenth-rate) are having trouble being mendacious enough today.
Clinton was incredible! But so was Elizabeth Warren, and the nun who kicks butt!! Fantastic! Warren has a huge following, it's so good to see.
I was fascinated by what Bill said about the next presidency inheriting an economy that's on the mend. Along with what Chris M. was saying about Hillary - the next president will get a good economy to lead. And what a great lead up to Clinton if she's willing. And maybe that's why Romney will say anything. I guess this election really is a big prize.
Absolutely awestruck by Clinton's speech! He connected the dots for all that fail to see that dots need connecting (Hello FOX "News"). The former president's address provides steel to the Dems' newfound spine, and they are going to need it. In the wake of the horrendous Citizens United decision ol' Dr. Evil wannabe Karl Rove and his minions are preparing an onslaught of unimaginable proportion (and from that crew I can imagine plenty...THE KENYAN CONNECTION VOL. 4,952...HAWAIIAN BIRTH BUT A CONNECTICUT SOCIAL SECURITY #...OBAMA'S A SECRET CANNIBAL READY TO EAT YOUR CHILDREN IN A 2ND TERM...blah, blah, blah...ad infinitum!!)
It's really just going to come down to this-- GET OUT THE VOTE, STUPID! And on an entirely related note...has anyone noticed how much Ohio's Jon Husted resembles Greg Marmalard from Animal House? Maybe Republicans should eat their young.
It is too bad few independents and less repubs are watching the Democratic Convention. Will someone please tell me how anyone can disagree with what the speakers are saying? Can anyone tell me how anyone can believe what repubs are saying?
Hey CONS, let's do some ARITHMETIC...
Name the Obama policies that added trillions to the debt and the amounts.
Then deduct that amount from the current $16 TRILLION.
The rest is GOP spending.
Spending to fix the GOP F'ups is still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so do not count those.
INTEREST ON the GOP created debt DOESN'T count either.
All progressives should start asking that question and doing that ARITHMETIC.
The CONS will NEVER have those numbers because they DO NOT exist.
I bet all you will get is NOTHING but insults and ridicule.
That is the stupidest remarks of the day. Go back to school brush up on your American Economics
And your Elizabeth Warren, WOW
Elizabeth Warren, who has railed against predatory banks and heartless foreclosures, took part in about a dozen Oklahoma real estate deals that netted her and her family hefty profits through maneuvers such as “flipping” properties, records show.
A Herald review has found that the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate rapidly bought and sold homes herself, loaned money at high interest rates to relatives and purchased foreclosed properties at bargain prices, from the middle class.
Flipping properties means you buy junker houses that are selling below market, fix them up at your own expense, and then you sell them at above what it was you paid for them+the expenses you put in to fix them, thereby netting you a profit. This is non-predatory (people aren't hurt or taken advantage of in the deal) and actually requires that you produce work in order to make money. You aren't forcing people to be foreclosed on and you aren't causing people to go bankrupt.
You are making a comparison between two practices that are wildly different and this is because you think that when Warren rails against people using predatory practices to hurt other people that this somehow equates to her saying she doesn't like people with money. Has it ever occurred to you that if the only way you know of to make a profit is by hurting other people and not producing anything that there's a problem with you?
Additionally Warren has never been against loans or against credit card agency lending practices, but she has been against them being deceitful. If you tell someone upfront I am going to charge you 30% interest in black and white language and in large print (not tiny print buried beneath legalese that even legal experts struggle to understand) then Warren doesn't think there's a problem with it (from what she has argued). She does think that you shouldn't be able to charge ludicrous rates (for instance she thinks credit card companies should be capped at 10% interest (which for the record would be considered high interest)), but that charging people interest rates in and of themselves isn't wrong. It's just when you do it in a way that is intentionally manipulative and abusive that makes it wrong. Again if you cannot understand the difference that says something about you, not about her
I also want to point out hemi that you didn't address any of the things pointed out by BO. You're using a red herring to attack Warren as opposed to confront the issue at hand. What is it about the topic at hand that you're so afraid of? Can you actually form a cogent response?
Name the Obama policies that added trillions to the debt and the amounts.
Spending to fix the GOP F'ups is still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so do not count those.
INTEREST ON the GOP created debt DOESN'T count either.
This is exactly what the Dems need to move forward, just facts,facts and more facts. Romney/Ryan made a bad move, they now are in the Liar pit , will be for the future . They had a fist class bath without soap last night , they deserved that and more. Ryan is the biggest liar of all time , he being a creature of Washington is an embodiment of obstructionism and falsehood .
I'd vote for Clinton again in a heartbeat! An Extremely intelligent man, speaking trueth to the people, with so much passion that you know it's coming from the heart.
Why is it that Bill Clinton spent more time praise G. H. W. Bush & G. W. Bush than the Republicans?
Side note; In his speech Clinton referenced how he and Congress had 4 years of surplus budgets - Arithmetic.
Today, "...suddenly Team Obama is moving inside after questions about enthusiasm for event. What's the real forecast for the speech? 40% chance of lies and scattered excuses." Kisten Kukowski - RNC Spokesperson.
I'm no mathematician but don't that mean there is a 60% chance of facts and truth? The RNC has just proved his point and confirmed they can't handle the budget.
This whole convention has been awesome, right from the start. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 FACTS not lies, 1/2 truths and distortions.
It's been quite enjoyable today watching the Republicans spew on the blogs today after the big @!$%#burger President Clinton gave them to eat last night
First of all would you expect anything else from MSNBC news than singing the praises of the Dems and ripping the Republicans. Have you ever heard them say anything negative about the Dems? They are clearly not objective in their reporting. It's their job to report what was said not put a spin on it and tell you what you should think about it. Do they think we are all so stupid that we have to be told what our opinion is?
And on the idea of compromise: exactly what "constructive cooperation" was he referring to??? I have seen no effort from Obama or any other Democrats for that matter to reach across the aisle and reach a compromise that both parties can live with on any issue. That being said, I would like to see more of it on the Republican side as well. They are not perfect either by any means.
Paula Beatty, if you haven't seen the efforts made by President Obama and his fellow Democrats to "reach across the aisle", it may be that you've simply limited your reading/viewing.
The mandate in the ACA came straight from the plan adopted by then-Governor Romney in MA. 40% of the ARRA was basically wasted in providing tax cuts in an attempt to meet Republican demands. Google the final votes for these two pieces of legislation to find out who voted for and against them. You should find the results...interesting.
The only group of people that hasn't made any attempt to compromise is the same one on whom Standard and Poor's placed the well-earned blame for the downgrading this country's credit rating: Congressional Republicans.
The only fault I have with your last sentiment is that it's too understated...
Look at the fur fly, mostly off Lyin' Ryan and Mighty Mittens. It's nice to hear as true, the things I have thought these last three and a half years put out there for the real Americans to hear.
From the first day of Baracks' presidential term, turtle man, Mitch said. and I quote, "Our job starting today is to make sure that Barack Hussein Obama is a one term president. You can see right off the bat that there was going to be no, that's ZERO non-partisan work done. Air got dirtier, gas got higher, water got dirtier, Ecoli and food born diseases ran rampant through the country because the "Do nothing" congress didn't think you had to check and make sure the food or water was fit to eat, or the air clear enough to breathe, that's on Grover Norquists' orders, so they did nothing. They blocked Stem Cell research when it was getting started and a large portion of our better scientists moved to other countries to do their research, W's job outsourcing program, I suppose, No funding for ANY program that would have created jobs, built our bridges, (several major bridges fell down) GEEz, I thought I had been transported to some third world toilet. And now, they have the big BRASS BALLS to stand up before a beaten to death middle class and say, Barack did nothing. I like their nerve, maybe they and their families should move wherever they sent their money and Corporations instead of trying to turn the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA into wherever it was they sent it. But when you leave, you can't come back. America is NOT a business, we are a benevolent, kind country that every human being in the world wants to live in and participate in. We take care of our old, infirm, disabled, poor, sick, children and all needy who can't make it on their own. We have plenty, and if we take the right attitude, instead of RICHIE ROMNEY's, and Lyin' Ryan's attitude, we could tend the entire world if it really became necessary. So you baggers and Rich guys, (republicans), you're welcome to leave and take your money with you. This great country made it for all these years, and it's been my pleasure to live here for 76 of them, and I never gave a thought that I might lose something I worked years to gain. I would have one request, All of you who think Social Security is a ponzi scheme, or it's broke, well then, all you congress persons give me back all the money you stole from our "ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM" and never repaid. You know it's true. You took our money to cover your crappy policies and dumb ass programs like tax breaks for the rich and never gave one thought of repaying us. I am one of the ones that lived and I'd like my share of all the dead peoples money that was never collected by deceased retirees. Where is it? Probably Senators and Congressmens wages and free health plans. I have plenty more but, I'll stop now. It's hard pissin' into the wind.
I say, only a traitor sends his jobs, and money to another country.
As I listen to our president's acceptance speech, I find it difficult to comprehend how any person who is moral and has American values in their heart can even consider--for even a mili-second--voting for the two biggest anti-Americans to ever run for the presidency.
Why do I call the anti-Americans? Well, that is NOT my opinion, it is a fact. What else can you call a pair of liars who boldly look into TV camera and tell bald faced lies without flinching. Romney keeps the bulk of his wealth in foreign banks ONLY to avoid paying his due taxes. Ryan has plans...horrendous plans of which Romney has said he totally agrees with. What are those plan? To TEAR DOWN EVERYTHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BUILT UP TO PROTECT AMERICANS FOR THE PAST 70 YEARS!
That is not MY OPINION, my friends, THOSE ARE FACTS.
After seventy years we finally have AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE and the team of R&R have already stated time after time after time that the very first thing they will do is to OVERTURN "Obamacare."
Wanna do away with that? Neither do I.
I loved Clinton's speech. Per factcheck.org, which isn't my favorite fact checker, Clinton gave them a lot to check with little for them to disprove. Granted, Clinton had months to work on the speech and to distill his points, even if he did adlib additional comments/information throughout.
The success of the speech does point to the public's willingness and appetite for substance, which I believe goes beyond political speeches.
In any organization, when you have people who break down complex topics and discuss them lucidly, simply and accessibly; these are people that others enjoy listening to. These are the people who can lift the level of debate and educate those around them, because they put the issues in terms that everyone can talk about.
It's something we need more in the media: people who can quickly and accurately move to the heart of the matter. Liberals like to point out that things are nuanced, but to the extent that things can be made perspicuous, it's a gift. And honestly, being able to express complexity in simpler terms takes a lot of skill. Take Khan Academy. Sal Khan will set up an example that perfectly exemplifies the concept, but what he doesn't say is that he's carefully picked something that lines everything up to unfold neatly. When Clinton was talking about balancing the budget, he doesn't say you need to be an expert, a lawyer, or an accountant to understand all the details on how Washington works. He tells his audience, you need arithmetic. Everybody can get it.
One article said that Clinton's speech is less about soaring ideas and more of a lawyer competently presenting the case. I don't know about soaring ideas. I know that the speech was energizing and inspiring because it brought ideas, specifics, and laid things out so that everyone could see it for themselves. It wasn't the Romney line of "trust me;" we didn't have to, because we could see it clearly. It was more a celebration of reason, insight, and fact where speaker and listener can meet. Perhaps it points that legal training is a strength for the politics, since it teaches lawyers to appeal to the jury of peers and to understand that the final decision is of average Americans and their intellectual ability to decide for themselves.
W.r.t. the media, a gift for explaining is powerful. The first time I tuned into Rachel's show she was talking with Cory Booker and later David Axelrod and my first impression was that all 3 needed to distill their words to about half. They all came off as very intelligent and I liked them, but it was so long, I felt their messages weren't as strong because it took a while to get to the essence. And granted, the more people explain things, the faster they get at getting the message across. Right now, I'm pretty content with Rachel's style. But those in the media who could break down the issues as well as Clinton did, they'd be amazing. Clinton showed people have a genuine interest in the policies that affect them and that it doesn't need to be abbreviated the way the Republicans stressed in their convention. However the information does need to be articulated with skill.
I appreciated that Clinton kept the tone conversational. He laid out the case against Romney/Ryan beautifully, but it wasn't with the outrage or the knee-jerk labeling of Republicans being bad. (I admit I'm a biased Democrat.) However it's a huge, huge, huge relief because sometimes when we see what Republicans are doing, it seems like a steady stream of "can you believe how hypocritical this is?" Sometimes that appeals, but lately I find it emotionally draining and I'm not sure it's constructive. When we immediately turn to labels, we lose our ability to see the other side and both sides stop listening to each other, and the label of debate goes way down. When we can talk respectfully and truthfully, there is a hope that people may meet in a solution that brings out the best of both sides. A hope, not necessarily an expectation.
Whew, that was long. But yeah, Clinton was amazing.
Okay, Sunshine, if you agree that infrastructure is not important and that building a quality infrastructure does not create jobs, try moving to a country where the government does not exist, thus allowing the "free market" to build it and run the economy. Somalia, for example.
It creates jobs but the people who are doing those jobs are getting paid with money taken out of the private sector. You know what the the 6th largest city in France is? London. There are massive numbers of French citizens leaving France because their new president decided to raise taxes to 70%. So the job creators, the people who can afford to leave, left. Same thing in Venezuela, same thing in every country throughout history who have tried it. You drive the people who hire out, who will hire. And all the wingnut/moron/idiot slurs you all sling doesn't change the facts. There's all this talk of fair but what's fair about taking someone's money and giving it to someone else? Half the people in this country pay no taxes, and the top 10% pay 70% of taxes collected. So what's fair? Is it fair to let illegal immigrants jump to the front of the line because they broke the law when people who go through channels and do things the right have to wait and wait and pay taxes and do everything the way they were told. Is that fair? I don't question the good intentions of the people propogating this line of thinking, but good intentions alone don't cut it. Sit down and talk to Iran like civilized people and of course they'll be rational. No, they will smile, think we're naive, and try to destroy us. Raise taxes and of course people will pay. How does taking private money and making it public strengthen the economy? This election is not about taxes, energy, jobs--any of it. It is about the role of government. You want a big government that tells you what lightbulbs you're allowed to buy, how big your sodas can be, and how warm or cool you can keep your house, keep the guy we got. If not, get the other guy in there.
If they succeed in taking over the WH, there will be no reaps to sow. I hope voters realize that the eight years that Clinton served plus the four years of Obama experience will provide voters the information they need and the policies they need to adhere to as we move forward, side by side with Clinton and Obama. Two different economic eras and a coordination of different beliefs.
I just wanted to say farewell all my new friends. Thought I'd check out the site to get a perspective. Amazing how you all like to paint the GOP as the narrow minded, bigoted, racist, angry people. Obviously there are some thinking folks who genuinely have a different perspective than I, but I have never seen such vitriolic, personal, rabidly ad hominem attacks before than the ones I got in response to my stating a different thought than the prevailing thread. So much for wanting to reach out and having an intelligent, adult conversation. Congratulations. You drove me away. God bless America.
If Romney is elected - this will happen---
More Wars
More Poverty
More Pollution
Will these make the world, our country, your life better?
Am prouder than ever to be a Democrat in a Republican stronghold here in CA. What a wonderful array of brilliant and articulate speakers, no, orators, the Democrats displayed for the country and the world to see and hear. Clinton led the list. I was alone in the room hooting and hollering as he spoke. Wahoo!