An Update From The Democratic National Convention
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-09-06/update-democratic-national-convention
Bill Clinton and others take the stage, and the spotlight’s on the middle class as President Barack Obama prepares to accept the party's nomination for a second term. Diane and her guests discuss the latest from the DNC in Charlotte, N.C.
Guests
Ron Elving
Washington editor for NPR.
Elizabeth Williamson
reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
Susan Page
Washington bureau chief for USA Today.
Comments
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How appropriate the Charlotte Bobcats Arena is the venue for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The Bobcats ( Democrats) are the worst team in the NBA guided by an egotistical obstinate and feckless owner, Michael Jordan ( POTUS Obama).
"Good evening. This is an extraordinary period for America's economy.
Over the past few weeks, many Americans have felt anxiety about their
finances and their future. I understand their worry and their
frustration.
We've seen triple-digit swings in the stock market. Major financial
institutions have teetered on the edge of collapse, and some have
failed. As uncertainty has grown, many banks have restricted lending,
credit markets have frozen, and families and businesses have found it
harder to borrow money".
President George W.Bush addresses the nation September 24, 2008.
ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN FOUR YEARS AGO?????? YEAH !!!! HECK YEAH!!
There are so many inconsistencies in the democratic national convention. First, why would they have Bill Clinton as a key note speaker when so much of the party platform revolves around the "war on women", in light of the fact he was accused of sexual harassment three times, accused of rape once and is a well known cheating womanizer. Second, there is a lot of talk about looking to the future as apposed to the "republicans looking to the last century" the democrat party constantly refers to the last century with Bill Clinton's administration as being the model for Obama's administration, which is obviously false, and even further back to the 1930's with their talk about labor unions. The message coming from the convention is incoherent at best.
It`s the economy stupid,was the rallying cry of William Jefferson Clinton in 1992. He remains a symbol of success. Unlike his successor,George W. Bush,whose absence last week at the Republican Convention,was a glaring reminder of the failings of "Supply Side' economics.
Clifford wrote:
"It`s the economy stupid,was the rallying cry of William Jefferson Clinton in 1992. He remains a symbol of success. Unlike his successor,George W. Bush,whose absence last week at the Republican Convention,was a glaring reminder of the failings of "Supply Side' economics."
---------------------------------
Bush 43 served 2 terms. Too bad POTUS Obama rejected POTUS Clinton's 1996 State of the Union declaration that the "era of big government is over." Clinton and Obama have a mutual hatred for each other. Imagine the desperation of the Obama Administration and the DNC to coerce Clinton to speak at their convention. And what about this:
"Bill Clinton made insensitive 'race jab' about Obama in 2008"
"Only days before he will nominate Barack Obama for re-election, a new report claims that in 2008, former President Bill Clinton said of him: “A few years ago, this guy would have been carrying our bags.”
“A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee,” Clinton is quoted as saying in “Game Change,” by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin"
"Obama’s chief political strategist, David Axelrod, argued that Obama needed Clinton more than Clinton needed him, according to Klein."
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bill_insult_S2ftiPKRPCkX7QUlM3Rv4J
The highlight of the DNC convention has to be Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa calling for a vote to include or exclude the mention of "god" and whether "Jerusalem" is the capital of Israel. He had to do it three times and then pronounced the platform be changed to include both of these items even though the nays were much louder.
Democratic Party usually gets the Jewish vote. They may have just lost Florida to the Republicans.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/democrats-change-platform-add-g...
The Michelle Obama speech was very insulting. Why isn't the media picking up on these made up stories of poverty. Both her and her husband always attended the best schools even before college, their parents or in the case of Obama, grandparents, were not poor and they enjoyed very solid upper middle class lives. Who would believe this women on anything in regards to caring about the poor when she goes on vacation to Spain in August of 2010 spends $500,000.00 of tax payer money while the unemployment rate was well above 8%. President Obama and Michelle by any measure have led charmed lives. Her speech was the equivalent of spitting in the faces of every American.
It's amazing that the majority of those commenting here are angry, sore, conservatives who appear to hate the President personally.
And let me nip this in the bud, yes, I was once a Democrat, but now am an Independent. There are things I agree and disagree with with both Democrats and Republicans. However, I don't think Mitt Romney has the best plans for the country. His policies appear to favor the rich...NOT job creators...the RICH. People who are like him. People, who get these tax breaks and incentives will pocket them instead of allowing it to "trickle down" to everyone else. Corporations who get such breaks will more than likely keep shipping jobs overseas instead of bringing jobs back here.
If you feel I'm wrong, please in a respectable way, provide me with some examples to support your argument. I don't want to hear "they're out there" or "you just don't want to hear it". Not true. I want to hear it. I just haven't.
While this week is the Democrats' convention, I would like to point one other thing.
Last week during the Republicans' convention, I thought it was wrong how Ron Paul delegates were basically dismissed and almost forced to vote for Romney in terms of being a delegate for the convention. Although I am not a fan of Romney, there are some things that Ron Paul says that actually makes sense (i.e. getting rid of the Federal Reserve and the Dept. Of Education).
If I had to choose between Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, I would choose Ron Paul. At least Ron Paul stands by his beliefs; unlike Mitt Romney--who, is really a moderate, but shifted so far to the right only to pander to the base and win the primary, then "etch-a-sketches" for the general election.
IndieLady7 wrote: "I am DEFINITELY NOT voting for Romney and I'm still undecided about Obama.August 31, 2012 - 12:20 pm"
Stop wasting our time with your superficial thought processes, "independent". You would no more support Ron Paul than Romney.
@partisan--what is the point of repeating something that I said last week? I didn't give a clear indication as to whom I was voting. There are some things that I heard over the last two days which made me feel uncomfortable (i.e. investing in an educational system that is broken, the push for same sex marriage).
I know you mentioned Gary Johnson to me recently. I take it that it's he you're voting for?
partisan politics wrote: "Stop wasting our time with your superficial thought processes, "independent". You would no more support Ron Paul than Romney."
What is your definition of an independent? For me, it's not being affliated with either of the two major parties. I am not affliated with either--as there are things that I like and dislike about both parties.
I like how the Democrats care about the little guy, and would like for everyone to have a fair shot at success. Note that I didn't say a fair shot of being RICH, but a fair shot of being able to make ends meet, for people to provide for themselves and their families. I also like the fact that they're interested in investing in infrastructure in terms of fixing and maintaining the country's aging roads and bridges--which will bring many jobs. What I don't like is where they are morally in terms of abortion and same sex marriage. Those does not fall in line with my morals. Also, I feel they are beating a dead horse in terms of constantly investing in an educational system that doesn't work. It's unfortunate that we are the "world's superpower" and we are at the near bottom in terms of academic achievement amongst other developed countries. I do believe that many teacher's unions control how things go. I say this based on a John Stossel documentary called "Stupid In America"--which was initially done for 20/20, but can now be seen on YouTube.
MarcusTullius wrote: "How appropriate the Charlotte Bobcats Arena is the venue for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The Bobcats ( Democrats) are the worst team in the NBA guided by an egotistical obstinate and feckless owner, Michael Jordan ( POTUS Obama)."
- Oh, enough with the adolescent and simple-minded sports analogy for all of life. Is that all you've got?
IndieLady7 wrote: "What is your definition of an independent?"
An "independant" is a person that admires their own reflection in the mirror, after flexing and profiling for about ten or fifteen minutes in the morning they call themselves an independent and start their day.
CONT'd
What I like about the Republicans is where they are morally in terms of being pro-traditional family and pro-life. What I don't like are their fiscal beliefs in cutting taxes and providing incentives for the wealth and their perceived "job creators" and. Such cuts have been done before all at the expense of the middle class and the poor. I also don't like where their policies lead in terms of the environment. I don't believe that constant drilling for oil and coal is the way. These are non-renewable sources and are both destined to run out and pollute the air and water. I am a proponent of wind and solar. In fact, Iowa (which has perhaps the lowest unemployment rate in the country of about 5%) has loads of wind farms--which produce many jobs there. While I know that non-renewable sources are the way now, I feel that we need to transition to solar and wind. I haven't seen the Republicans support this
With that, I'm socially conservative but fiscally moderate. I'm not fiscally LIBERAL because I do believe that government spending needs to be rained in. I'm not going to totally blame Obama for overspending. While he is guilty of some of this, the overspending has been happening for decades.
Here's my proposal. Like Clinton, raised taxes on the wealthy and corporations (he has done so to 39%), cut military spending (the US spends the most on the military than all other developed countries COMBINED), and close tax loopholes on companies that ship jobs overseas (as they're doing this for cheap labor and to avoid paying taxes) in order to bring down the debt. Once down, create a flat tax rate for everyone across the board.
It pains me that so many comments are snipes, picks, and attacks at one another rather than substantive comments. Both Clinton and Obama are known as long-winded wonks, but sometimes wonkiness is what we need to better understand the "weeds". Clinton hit it out of the park with the details to offset the GOP rhetoric. They together are powerful and with Hillary -- Wow!
Kate Reed
(From John Hales of Sterling, Utah)
As a conservative in the 90s, I don't think I fully appreciated Bill Clinton until last night's speech. However, I heard several journalists and commentators who have followed the former president since 1992 say it was the best speech they had ever heard him give. It was good enough that it felt to me only half as long as it really was.
I appreciated that, generally, he didn't simplify things so much that they became too misrepresentative (for instance, his explication of Romney's tax-cut plan, and its possible effects on the middle class; most Dems have been unfair in the characterizations of that plan until now).
QUESTIONS: Did Clinton's effectiveness last night expose a general weakness in the Obama campaign? Should they be explaining more like Clinton did, or is that something they really could not do even if they tried? After last night, does Clinton become a more active and visible surrogate for the campaign?
I have been struck (yet again) by the stark contrast between the conventions. This is seen not only in the speakers but also in the people on the floor.
RNC: peevish, ridiculing, crass, vulgar, outrageously dishonest, exclusive and mean-spirited. Much of this was hit home with Clint Eastwood's cynical performance, which only gave the crowd what it already wanted.
DNC: good-humored, supportive, restrained, forthright, diverse, optimistic and generous in spirit. Much of this was seen in the faces and behavior of the people on the floor. They were just simply a nicer crowd.
Call me partisan...I don't care. I trust my eyes, ears and well developed discrimination. The Republican Party is a negative force.
partisan politics wrote: "Stop wasting our time with your superficial thought processes...".
Look in the mirror.
The GOP's fraudulent campaign about President Obama's supposedly removing work requirements from welfare deserved Bill Clinton's put-down. Don't the Republicans make such a big thing of wanting more responsibility for the states? That's exactly what President Obama offered them, on condition that they shoot for getting 20% MORE welfare people to work. This just confirms that the Republicans are for something until President Obama is for it. Then they are against it. Hypocrites to their very core.
I was glad to hear mention of the politics of hate and obstructionism that seems to have taken hold in the Republican party. To point
out at the DNC that moderate Republicans are being driven out was a powerful statement to the depth of the problem, and the difficulty in working in a bipartisan way.
Rightwingers are vainly trying to obstruct American progress...ignore them....they're the debris of false idols crumbling.
We have a $16 trillion dollar debt because of compromise. The president spent just about all of his political capital on a health care reform bill that will only make the problem of deficit spending worse. Of course we hope he fails, success in enacting disastrous policies is not a good thing.
I believe I heard Ron Elving say that Sandra Fluke "testified before the House committee".
No, she wasn't allowed to testify. That was the beginning of the GOP/Limbaugh's PR disaster.
For all of our liberal friends still 'resonating' from a fresh load of slick Willy last night here is the latest dispatch of reality relating to President Obama's supposed efforts at bipartisan compromise. Don't listen to Fox News listen to Bob Woodward and ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bob-woodward-book-debt-deal-collapse-led-...
and don't forget to remember God and Jerusalem in your prayers.
President Clinton mentioned it in passing but I think is critical in looking at what can be accomplished in Congress: Grover Norquist's strangle hold on GOP members of Congress via his pledge to raise no taxes. Seems to me the GOP his answerable to him and his lobbing not to their constituents or the country as a whole.
Felt like I was at a National Clinton Teach In on the economy, education, health care. Did not think anyone else could blow off the roof as high as the first lady Michelle Obama, Strickland, Castro. But Elizabeth Warren, Sister Campbell and then Bill Clinton blew the roof off. But what will President Obama say to those of us who are appreciative of what he has accomplished but are deeply discouraged by the lack of accountability when it comes to holding those responsible for the false pre war intelligence, torture gone wild, sub prime fiasco. Will be voting for Obama but not putting in the literally close to a thousand hours for him the last time around. Forward is just not getting it for some of us
Regarding the "dirty" word compromise:
'Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.' JFK, 1/20/1961
(I thought Reagan was the one who said this until I looked it up).
President Clinton made me proud to be a Democrat. He explained how the Republicans have distorted the facts about President Obama's record that is better by far than G.W. Bush's record.
Romney is a poor choice and will not do anything for the people. Obama is for the people, Romney is for money and profit ONLY. Remember it was the Bush GOP who said "deficit doesn't matter" as they ran it through the roof and now blame Obama for it. Clinton's best comment was how the GOP left a big mess than complained because it's taking longer to clean it up and they should be put back in charge.
Remember what the alternative will be with Romney. Do you really think Romney will address any of your concerns? Obama is the only choice and really needs your incredibly generous contribution of time even more now. Forward is the only and best choice we have.