Kos on Obama's speech.

I like what Kos has to say, particularly about it being truly progressive, not centrist, despite what Buchanan says:

"When was the last time we saw a speech like tonight's -- a full-throated defense of progressive principles, devoid of mushy "centrist" crap? It didn't avoid the tough social issues like abortion, guns, or gay marriage. It wasn't apologetic. Unlike Bill Clinton's and Biden's, it didn't unnecessarily praise John McCain. It drew sharp distinctions between Democrats and Republicans.

It came from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

To be honest, this is the speech -- aggressive and unabashedly populist -- I expected Biden to give. I couldn't be more pleased to have gotten it instead from the standard bearer himself.

Tomorrow, the McCain campaign will try to "steal Obama's thunder" by announcing Pawlenty. Or Mittens.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Bring 'em on. This battle has been engaged."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg9QekmZ-iM&feature=related

Irish Rules tonite

Yep.

come on, david. what did *you* think?

over a stoked fire.

:rofl:

How often do you hear not just a candidate, but THE candidate speak favorably of not just a woman's right to choose, but of full self-determination, civil rights for gays, standing up for the middle class and standing down special interests and mean it??? Not platitudes, these are solid words.

And it wasn't just from Senator Obama, but from a large number of speakers the past two days. We saw a picture of an America we can live with and be proud of. No, it's not all sweetness and light...and I'm sure for some, it won't be enough, but it's the most Progressive message I've heard in a long time...even from DLC'ers like the Clintons. I see a quiet hand of Howard Dean behind a lot of what took place this week and the strong partnership between him, the DNC and the Obama campaign.

Tonight Senator Obama defined and framed this election...from here on out, we play on our turf...and NO SURRENDER!!!

At least for tonight, I feel there's a better day coming...

Cheers...

and it was done LIVE on national scratch that, world wide television. This man stood up before these people and BROKE DOWN the Republican Party and what they stand for and without a hint of hesitation or ambiguity.

He explained to the American people what exactly TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS has wrought in this country and how people in Washington call it the "Ownership Society", a belief that the rich sustain the country and not the other way around.

He explained how foul and illogical the Republican party's foreign policy philosophy is and how Neoconery has destroyed the faith and trust our alliances held in us around the world.

He explained that you are not a whiner by simply asking that YOUR GOVERNMENT live up to the promises it made in the very Revolutionary document AND accompanying founding document which established this country. It IS our promise, the promise of America that is OWED to us, and simply wanting those promises honored should not be an imposition. It is what makes us the greatest nation on earth, the very fact that we have these rights, privileges, and immunities.

Whew. He blew me away. I had gotten used to Democrats cowering and shifting OUR positions and policies just to scrape by. We will win or lose on our own terms.

but tonight was all Obama. This was reminiscent of 2004 when he was ablaze. It didn't matter that he was in a stadium tonight, he spoke similar to this when we were only in the hundreds because that was all the venue would hold. We started out having his talks in the city hall, in a large room. People were down the halls out the doors and around the building. They did not expect that in Southern Illinois for this man from Chicago. Not this Black man!

We then moved to the headquarters (which was just a house turned into offices) where he spoke to us in the main room then quickly moved to the porch where we hung over the banisters, filled the yard and spread out around the house and down the sidewalk. They did not expect that on a week day in Southern Illinois for this man from Chicago. Not this Black man!

Then we went to union halls and other places that had larger rooms. The parking lots were soon filled with cars as was the grassy fields next to them. The halls were filled with people shoulder to shoulder, there was no standing room as people pressed together. the hallways were also filled and the spill over was out to the cars. They did not expect that in Southern Illinois for this man from Chicago. Not this Black man.

This is how it began down state for Obama. No glamor, no celebrities, not much of anything. Well, in fact how it probably began in truth was one yard sign with his name on it. That yard sign drew more attention than any I have ever seen. From a yard sign to a campaign, to the Senate. Of course, Obama didn't even need us to get to the Senate. Chicago has enough votes to elect someone with no votes from us, but Obama didn't see it that way. He was going to earn the whole state and he did, this man from Chicago.

And you wonder where the 50 state strategy comes from?

--subsequently became the local Dem party headquarters? Seems I heard something of the sort here.

we serviced all the local candidates. Gave out Kerry, Obama and some local candidates yardsigns, bumperstickers and pin/buttons. The young man that ran the office arranged all the area Democratic events and such, but we were still primarily Obama's office. The rule of the office even then was no drama, unfortunately I volunteered there. ;)

I voted for Senator Obama in 2004...and saw his campaign. I definitely am not discounting his grassroots and bottom-up style...if anything, it meshes beautifully with the 50-state mantra.

More important than downstate Illinois (and not to discount that area in the least), he also went into the heavily repugnican areas in the Central Part of the state and drew big time as well.

I'm very happy to see this philosophy now in charge of the Democratic party...there's plenty of credit to go around. It'll be even nicer when we win.

Cheers...

:hi:

the central part of the state tends to be over looked mainly because some of us can't find you guys. I have heard places called Southern Illinois that I clearly thought was Central, so I finally came to the conclusion that the state was Southern until you hit the Chicago suburbs. ;)

Don't know if many people realize this but the southern part of Illinois and Chicago have a long going feud. There have been many an article in Chicago papers about the hillbillies of downstate, and the people down here tended to think that Chicagoans were pushy and rude. Don't know what started it all, but have wondered if it was the bootlegging war that took place between the two areas. That is why Obama's acceptance here was so surprising to many people. Plus the fact that we also have a reputation of not being very open to minorities. There are several counties down here that were all white by design until Civil Rights laws took effect. I grew up in one of them.

When I was in grade school in the fifties, I was the only child in my class who had had contact with an African American. (people did not travel outside their counties then) Most had not even seen any African Americans, Latinos or other ethnic groups. Some of the people, including my mother, had American Indian ancestry, and we had one Chinese man that lived in town, so Asians were covered. :cry:

Until recently we were a population of descendent's of those who moved north, especially following the civil war, along with some post World War immigrants from Europe. Now, thanks to the university and changing time, we have a sprinkling of many different groups in some of our regions and are truly less isolated than before.

The fact that we are known for our racism is what made us important to the Obama campaign. If he could get accepted here as well as other parts of the state, it proved that he was capable of winning votes from all of the population and not just targeted members. Our votes were not as important as our acceptance. And trust me there are plenty of republicans here as well. We democrats are outnumbered down here frightfully. It has been sometimes harmful, if not downright dangerous, to speak out against bush and his cronies here.

Southern Illinois can be beautiful for those that visit our lakes and other vacation areas. Things are not as they once were but outsiders are still suspect, but now can be treated with kindness or with indifference, but shows much improvement from the old days. The people here are friendly and open for the most part. We tend to look each other in the eye, a practice that bothers some folks not from here. I hate living here sometimes (because I am liberal) but love some things about it also.

And to Central Illinois, where ever you are...:hi:

Thank you for sharing...and you are correct...many "up here" think Illinois ends at Interstate 80 and it's "hickland" south of that. I went to SIU in the early 70's and loved the area...spending many a day driving through the small towns and partying at Crab Orchard Lake and Giant City. While we would joke about the bigots and old farts (Dern Collij keeeds), it also was the home of one of the greatest Liberals, the late, great Paul Simon. At that time, he was the Congressman from Makanda and I had the pleasure of meeting him many times and proudly voted for him when he ran for Governor and Senator.

My daughter lives in Central Illinois, near Danville...married into a family that has been homesteading the same land for over 100 years. It's quite a culture clash for this Jewish kid from the "big city", but my son-in-law, who, like his family, voted for repugnicans in the past, is now a solid Democrat (or else...LOL). I remember someone once describing Illinois as New York in the North, Kansas in the Middle and Alabama in the south...and riding down I-57, it's not hard to see that.

The one thing that seems to unite many of us now is our disgust with Blago (earlier today I saw a bumpersticker that said "Buck Flago") and how impotent the GOOP has become. To me, this is a harbinger of what will happen to the national party...and if anyone knows about this and how to reach out, it's Senator Obama.

Yes, we've come a long way in this state...now one of the bluest in the country. I'm in the Chicago burbs where 20 years ago I was one of the only Democrats for miles around (once they had to find a special ballot and voting booth for my wife and I)...a group of us "city kids" began working in the late 90's to bring change, and today, the only elected repugnican in this area is boooosh...everyone else, down to state senate and legislature are Democrats.

Cheers to you and here's to a better and brighter future...Yes We Can.

:toast:

He mentored both Durban and Obama before his death. His daughter Sheila was shown several times on the floor at the convention. She looks like her dad.

We are also proud of Glenn Poshard, who use to be a Congressman and is now president of SIU. Glenn has had a hard old road to go, but he is one of the nicest, sweetest men you ever want to meet.

Yes, we are proud to be blue and to heck with the idiots with their mccain stickers and their stupid bumper stickers. My daughter called from work earlier and told me that she was about to die because of all her co-workers going on about mccain and his VP pick. She said we have to get out of here. Either go to Chicago and marry the long time boyfriend that she has been putting off or to New York City where her dad's family is. Problem is that she will not leave me, and I don't think I can handle either place. Not going to say why this is except that stairs are impossible for me now. Personally I love the city and the country, just need two houses where I can live in both. Wonder if JM would like to buy me two, or maybe Cindy would as part of her charity work. :9

Anyway, I like the analysis of Illinois, but hate to think this is Alabama. Can accept NC where most of our ancestors are from.;)

Here's to us where ever we are. And yes we can.

:toast:

Went to an SIU NSF summer program in 1963. Us cornfed types found out about the Alabama part the hard way. We went to a restaurant after a field trip and they wouldn't serve us because one of the students was black. We were shocked! SHOCKED!! that something like this could happen in the Land of Lincoln.

That damned "That's what I said, Bunny Bread" jingle is still a brain tapeworm of mine after 45 years!

common sense on finding solutions !!