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Random Thoughts from the Democratic Convention
Posted 8-5-2004
The crowd got pumped up in Boston the night before the convention even
started with the O'Jays free concert in the public square in front of Boston
City Hall.
I just knew before it was
even confirmed to me by another member of the Pennsylvania Delegation that
Teresa Heinz's run-in with a member of the media was someone from the
Tribune-Review. I guess you can take McNickle out of the editorial room, but
he's still going to be McNickle.
Monday night was one powerful
night. Two ex-Presidents and the man that truly won the last election -- and
every one of them gave powerful speeches.
You can tell Jimmy Carter
realizes how reckless and ignorant this administration has been in its
relationship with the rest of the world. He said wisdom and judgment must be
restored to the White House.
Bill Clinton, in addition to
sticking it to the right-wingers that could never really bring him down,
reminded everyone the strength and wisdom ARE NOT opposing values.
Al Gore, who has to live each
day knowing he should be president, reminded those third party people who
said there was no difference between Democrats and Republicans that we've
all seen how profound that difference is and that they should not waste
their votes this time. I sure hope those Naderites learned their lesson last
time, even though Nader himself apparently hasn't.
Attended a nice luncheon
hosted by Congressman Murtha at Nine Park Street, a restaurant some call the
best in Boston. Many Pennsylvania politicos were there including former
Congresswoman Marjorie Margolis-Mezvensky, who is still recognized for her
brave vote in 1993 that helped shape a federal budget that actually worked.
Barack Obama was the
sensation of Tuesday night. He will be the next senator from Illinois and
his oratory skills showed why Iron Mike Ditka made a wise choice to not
enter the race for senator. The skinny kid with the funny name, as he called
himself, may someday be our first African-American president.
We had the chance to visit
the Kennedy Library, and what a wonderful experience it was! Not only did I
learn stuff about JFK's life that I never knew, there is great film footage
from the 1960 election, footage from many of his speeches, and memorabilia
from his time in office. The films of his assassination and Bobby Kennedy's
still are very painful to watch. The exhibit ends with a filmed talk by Bill
Clinton who related how his good fortune as a young man to meet JFK inspired
his career in public service.
John Edwards pumped up the
crowd and began to show the stark contrast between himself and
vice-president Ebenezer Scrooge. Edwards is handsome, energetic, and
projects such a positive image. His story is the story of so many of us. His
parents never got to go to college, but they worked hard so their children
could go. He went on to be a successful attorney and then senator from North
Carolina.
There were protesters, but
not in any huge numbers. And unlike the Republicans that want to keep them
miles away from their convention, we could "interact" with them on the
streets each day. That was kind of fun.
Boston is a great
city. There was so much going on, and the history could be studied for many
days. Remember this -- those founding fathers who fought for our
independence WERE NOT a bunch of conservatives. The conservatives were the
Tories who didn't want us to break away from England.
John Kerry delivered a
powerful speech that not only introduced us to his personal background, but
also really laid out a course of action that we can follow to restore our
respect around the world and strengthen us at home. The breadth of his life
experiences, from being a boy in a divided Berlin, to fighting in Vietnam as
a young man, to serving as a prosecutor, to his years as an elected official
sure dwarf the frat boy, party animal, failed businessman in the White
House.
Finally, Bill Clinton put it
best, "we had twelve years of their way, then eight years of our way,
followed by four more years of their way, and it is clear our way works
best." |
