Last night, as the Democratic National Convention wrapped up, I felt more than satisfied. From beginning to end, the weather was the only disappointment. Joe Biden’s performance was head and shoulders above Willard Romney’s. The latter is not even worthy of mention in comparison to Barack Obama’s performance. Here is coverage of both Biden and Obama.
Joe Biden stepped forward Thursday as Barack Obama’s chief character witness, link to middle class voters and potentially the most biting critic of Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Speaking candidly about his front-row seat to Obama’s presidency, Biden used his speech to Democrats’ convention to paint his friend as a gutsy leader who helped the nation turn the corner on its dour economy. He pointed to the decisions to bail out Detroit’s auto industry and to dispatch Navy SEALs into Pakistan for a fatal raid on al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s compound.
"This man has courage in his soul, compassion in his heart and steel in his spine," Biden said, drawing the crowd to its feet. "And because of all the actions he took, because of the calls he made, because of the grit and determination of American workers, and the unparalleled bravery of our special forces we can now proudly say what you’ve heard me say the last six months: Osama Bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive."… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <WLS-TV>
Photo credit: IB Times
Here’s the complete video.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
If you prefer, here is the full text of Joe Biden’s DNC speech.
It was wonderful! Joe’s foot didn’t wander near his mouth even once!
The presentation by Barack Obama was awesome!
President Obama’s dilemma has always been that he has been far more successful a president than his opponents claim, but far less successful than he needs to be at making voters see that. Powerful speeches by former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and others did a lot to fix that impression during the convention. But it was up to Mr. Obama to make the case for another term, with a speech that was every bit as fraught with uncertainty and risk as his 2008 convention address.
Just as he did then, Mr. Obama rose to the occasion.
He could have sold some of his best lines with more passion, but gone was the maddening coyness of recent years in which he has avoided candidly talking about the mess that President George W. Bush dumped into his lap and shied away from the rumble of politics. He didn’t hesitate to go after Mitt Romney. “You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can’t visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally,” he said.
And he clearly laid out a vision for governing squarely at odds with the one that Mr. Romney has, but was hidden from view at last week’s Republican convention in Tampa, Fla. He promised deficit reduction “without sticking it to the middle class”; to enact a reformed tax code that raises rates on income above $250,000 to where it was under Mr. Clinton; to preserve middle-class deductions; to “never turn Medicare into a voucher.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Photo credit: Politico
Here’s the complete video.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
If you prefer, here is the full text from Obama’s DNC speech.
He was did not soar, as much as he so often does, but I found his more workmanlike approach to the remnants of the Republican recession America’s other needs more appropriate to this occasion.
Q.E.D. is an abbreviation for “Quod Erat Demonstrandum” and means which was to be demonstrated. It is a formal way to end a mathematical or logical proof, stating that the hypothesis has been proven. At the Democratic National Convention, I hoped Democrats would demonstrate how they are more fit to govern than the Republicans. I must admit, I had reservations because of Murphy’s Law, and because Democrats have a history shooting themselves ion the foot. Looking back, I must say that they exceeded my expectations, even leaving my wildest hopes in the dust. To demonstrate the superiority of Obama and the Democrats, all one need do is compare the two conventions. That proves it. Q.E.D!!!
24 Responses to “Q.E.D.”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I watched both Conventions– The difference in mood was striking— with an atmosphere of negative anger on the part of the RNC–A gloom and doom assessment of America–
The DNC by contrast was positive-optimistic- holding out hope, with plans to reach the goals–That they love America was most evident
Both Biden and President Obama were in top form–IMO ,, and Clinton !!! A true wonder!
I only watched some of the speeches, but I wholly agree with you — the angry atmosphere of the Republican/Teabaggers vs the optimistic atmosphere of the Democrats!
4 more years!
Vote Democratic 2012!!!!! Vote Obama/Biden 2012!!!!!
I completely agree, Phyllis!
I thought the DNC Convention was a home run i don't believe i had dry eye last night starting with Rep. John Lewis(http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/rep-john-lewis-dnc-speech-2012-gop-changing-17175321) Loved Caroline Kennedy(http://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/09/thursdays-dnc-speakers/000426-005773.html)Dr. Jill Biden,(http://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/09/thursdays-dnc-speakers/000426-005783.html)Sen. John Kerry (http://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/09/thursdays-dnc-speakers/000426-005781.html)
I think the whole night was great It was a home run
You know we had the jobs report this morning and we will have one just days before the election on11/6/12
U.S. economy adds 96K jobs; unemployment rate falls to 8.1%
Weak jobs growth beyond government's control
http://economywatch.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13728411-weak-jobs-growth-beyond-governments-control?lite
Is August Jobs Report a "Kick in the Gut"?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2012/09/07/is-august-jobs-report-a-kick-in-the-gut/
Yes I know it was not great news but the mind set is worse
The GOP/Tea Party have such a base of propaganda going that it is not funny. So I say any % of jobs we should stay positive. There has been growth.
Job numbers can be deceiving. Canadian and provincial job numbers were reported yesterday and while I can't remember any of the figures, what I do remember was that the growth was all in the part-time area and full-time jobs actually dropped, but by a lesser amount. Where that might be okay for some, it won't put food on the table for a family.
Thanks, Patty. Great links!
I've watched all Conventions and last night watched at a Democratic home with a group of Obama supporters… Awesome to put it mildly… 🙂
I bet that made it more exciting.
President Obama’s dilemma has always been that he has been far more successful a president than his opponents claim, but far less successful than he needs to be at making voters see that.
This is true. He has been admirably compassionate on some matters. But his past conciliatory behavior towards republicans; the wiretapping of American citizens, and the work requirement for welfare are not good at all. Obama may just kick it up a notch in his last 4 years. I sure hope so. I would love to see him finally kick some corporate republican butt. I will vote for him. To vote for anyone else is to risk this country into the hands of Mitt Romney – unthinkable.
Me too, Angie.
I felt elated after the convention ended because I felt the Dems had shown intelligence, compassion, and a plan for the country which the other party definitely did not do.
There was no comparison!
There are a number of points in each of the speeches, actually quite a few, that I want to highlight and comment on because these resonate with me.
From Joe Biden:
Wasn’t it Romney that some months ago referred to the dignity of work in reference to welfare reform? I don’t think he had respect in mind. Further, Romney has, as have other GOP members, soundly trashed Mr Obama for gutting welfare reform, which of course he did not do. He only gave the states the latitude to determine their own work requirements at their own request, including Romney.
A thinking man. Looking at questions from all angles, trying to see the consequences, trying to mitigate the risks.
Unmistakable! Different values. Like day and night.
It's about people. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Again, what are the risks, the consequences?
Romney doesn’t understand the value of money which might seem like a strange thing to say about a vulture capitalist. He understands the value of profit, NOT money. Mr Obama is far more adept at understanding the value of money.
Look at this in context. I don’t know how much it cost to take out Bin Laden, but if you took that amount and divided it by the number of Americans, that is the per capita cost; that is the cost of healing the American heart, and of justice. This is another example where Romney does not understand the value of money, only the value of profits. But not all ‘profits’ can be measured in dollars.
I particularly like the last line — "Osama Bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive" — because it completely demonstrates a key difference between Mr Obama and Romney — people, the American people. Mr Obama has compassion for the American people, while Romney shows complete distain for the American people.
That's why he is calling on everyone to make their fair contribution. That's why he is, and has been, proposing tax increases on the wealthy, some of whom, like Nick Hanauer and Warren Buffett to name just two, agree with him.
Sandra Fluke said much the same thing but differently. She said : "…And six months from now, we’ll all be living in one, or the other. But only one. A country where our president either has our back or turns his back;…"
To me, this last section really summed up fairly well the direction of the Democratic party and it is to me, the complete antithesis of the Republican/Teabagger party’s platform of ‘government for the wealthy and corporations, of the wealthy and corporations, by the wealthy and corporations.’
From Barak Obama: (I know I am longwinded sometimes, but Biden's and Obama's speeches were fascinating and I found myself getting caught up in them.)
How can Mr Obama soar with the American eagle when he has to work with a bunch of Republican/Teabagger turkeys in the Congress?
As Mr Obama was beginning to thunderous cheers, I was reminded just how personable he is; how much a real person he is (not an edible oil product like Romney); how genuine and relaxed he looks when he smiles; how down to earth he is in a role that demands so much. He seemed to electrify the audience.
And as I listened to the rise and fall of his voice, his emphasis on certain ideas or words, I was never so caught up as in his closing moments when the energy, after 40 minutes, seemed to explode.
That is such an understatement! This seemed to be an executive summary of the whole speech.
That certainly is not Romney’s America. Romney would have separate rules for the elite, the wealthy 1%, the corporations.
Mr Obama clearly demonstrated a sense of humour while making a very important point. I can hear the Republicans crowing now that he [Obama] doesn’t take the country’s situation seriously. But he does take the problems seriously, otherwise he would not be asking, as Joe Biden said “How is this going to affect the average American? How is this going to affect people’s lives?”
He clearly has a plan and he has already articulated some of the things it includes — education, financial regulation, fair taxation and tax reform, jobs. But Romney, even at his own convention, didn’t articulate any plans. Why is that I wonder? Could it be that his plans are yet more lies made to deceive? Could it be that his plans would drive middle class Republican/Teabaggers away?
And how much truth can we expect from Mssr Romney and Ryan, who at Tampa set a world record for the number of lies told (I wonder if they are in the Guiness Book of World Records?)
Again bringing out the idea of working together. Putting to rest the ‘You didn’t build it’ distortion of the GOP.
A direct dig at the GOP’s climate change agenda — no instruction in schools; denying its existence.
Clearly, everyone has a role to play, and they must fulfill it. Here, the total is greater than the sum of all its constituent parts.
A big issue with so many returning from closed wars to an economy clearly in distress. And with so many claims that the armed forces stand with the GOP, perhaps this will cause people to take another look.
I just loved this dig at Romney’s foreign relations trip. Romney is such a twit.
Truer words have seldom been uttered.
With so many, particularly Republican/Teabaggers, calling for smaller government, Mr Obama sets a conciliatory note. But isn’t it interesting that the party calling for smaller government is actually expanding government when it comes to women’s rights, rights of the middle class.
This brings to mind JFK’s famous words “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” The context might have been different, but the sentiment is the same.
Enlightened ownership that understands that he did not build his business alone. He didn’t build it in a vacuum.
Despite your extreme brevity in both comments, your analysis is excellent! 🙂
I know I was long winded, I even said so in the 2nd comment. However, look at this way. Many of my comments used to be a lot longer, but now are a lot shorter. I'm just making up for past brevity. LMAO!
If you thought my humor was a complaint, you misundertook me. 🙂
"We leave no one behind."
It's high time we heard messages like this from the Dems. I loved watching the convention. So much joy and so many truly emotional moments.
I hear that the Repubs plan on having another convention. Anyone heard anything about that?
I haven't seen anything yet, but I'm likely to being north of the 49th.
Having said that, could be that they are in fear of the Democratic fever pitch and feel the necessity to respond.
Reactive! Totally reactive if they do have another convention. And the cost! Just shows that they don't have a creative, solution oriented bone in their bodies!
I doubt the whole party would have a new convention, but I could see a large meeting that did not include middle class Republicans, only the 1% or largest donors. That would be in keeping with their arrogance and deceit. My guess would be that such a meeting would discuss the Republican/Teabagger agenda and definitely would not be televised.
I have not. I don't see how they could without spotlighting their own incompetence.
Lynn that was beautiful I wish we had more people in America who shows the kind of respect President Obama deserves. You also understand him better. After the DNC I still have that spirit and the lump in my throat i have had since 2008. You have just put it there again thanks. And thanks for understanding of a wonderful president. President Obama
It's really shameful that the vast majority of US voters do not have 1`/10 what she does.
After "attendinding" the TV versions of both conventions I can't understand why anyone who is not a millionaire would actually support the GOP in anything they do, let alone the candidates they put forth.
Vote Democrat in 2012!
Re-elect Obama/Biden in November 2012!
Ignorance!