Joe Biden was fired up and ready to go, not angry and bitter. You nailed it Rob: Joe Biden is a mensch. On a scale that I certainly haven't seen in my lifetime. And it was righteous that the convention broke out in a thundering extended round of "Thank you, Joe." What an incredible first term. Nothing close to it in history. Now it is in our hands to win and seal the deal for Joe Biden. We owe him this victory.
No, I am not. Lincoln managed to defeat the forces of the greedy southern planters the equivalent of today's robber barons to preserve the Union. Joe Biden has fought against today's version of those same forces.
Yes she is. JennSH is being tongue-in-cheek. Asking a rhetorical question designed to lead us Socratically to the right answer. You're the one that's kidding, right? George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Joe Biden have made this country what it (still) is today (if we can snatch it back out of the death grip of the Trump/Putin jaws). Americans have always been fighters, and this is the fourth fight-of-our-lives we've been involved with over the last 240 years. The revolution against the British super-power; the carnage of fighting to preserve the Union and set a segment of our population free from slavery; the desperate stand against the forces of hate-filled world dictatorship; and now, the attempts (ongoing) by billionaires, foreign dictators, and their orange puppet to overthrow the greatest nation on earth, where Lady Liberty shines her torch to give light to everyone in the world. (Sorry to wax so emotional.) No time to rest or lose focus. GOTV!
It was an evening of emotion, with love and gratitude for President Biden, and for myself, in addition to the quote from "American Anthem," I was deeply moved by his remarks: "It has been the honor of a lifetime. I love my job, but I love my country more." And with grace and dignity, he handed off the potential future Presidency to Harris and Walz, stating that "I promise I will be the best volunteer that the Kamala and Walz campaign have ever seen."
As you wrote,
"It was a terrific start. During a night of many standout speeches, it is Joe Biden’s words that will echo through history. “America, I gave my best for you.”"
Someone also mentioned Amanda Gorman's amazing poem, presented at President Biden's inauguration. It's particularly poignant now. Her beautiful words are eclipsed only by her recitation.
I'm not sure, but I think it was Joe himself who quoted Amanda Gorman: "For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."
So grateful you posted this as already it is timeless and unique, but specifics in the poem also stand out as perfect in this moment. I’ll be honest, it made me cry. So grateful for this reconnection.
As he was speaking about his remaining 5 months, unencumbered by the need to campaign for re-election, I was imagining him saying, "I'm going to spend the next few months doing my job to the best of my ability. I'm counting on all of you to do yours!"
He is so *not through*! I have a feeling his behind-the-scenes genius, which gave us the amazing progress he detailed (finally) for us last night, is hard at work laying down a ten-year blueprint that because of his expertise, brilliance, knowledge of human nature, and love of this country, will actually work! Harris can execute. If we can get two terms for her, I believe we will have secured our nation for the next 50 years or so. And can I just say that Joe Biden is the best-looking, sexiest, 81-year-old I have ever seen? He was on fire last night. His righteous anger at what is happening to our country was inspiring. He lobbed a lot of effective but soft zingers in all the right places. How dare readers here criticize him for "being angry?" He was not angry for selfish reasons. His anger is necessary to spread the fire to the rest of us that is needed for us to do the work to ensure a Harris victory. In my opinion, if you are *not* angry right now there is something wrong with you.
I think we may all be on a similar wavelength. There has been a lot of noise which needs filtering. Trump has been the loudest while Joe Biden quietly got things done. Hot air over substance. We have a lot of work to do but perhaps we also need to find time to be still and reflect.
If Biden was going to get anything done, it had to be quietly. Insurrection-man was out to intimidate the people Biden needed. A testament to Biden's goal to get things done, not to take noisy credit. But he had his platform last night!!!!!
Biden had his platform – *last night*(!) – after, weeks earlier, Democrats (among others) roughly shoved him off. I sensed (unintended) irony in the “We love you, Joe” chants, and wonder how Biden felt, deep inside.
In part, Biden got a lot done quietly, and without taking credit, because he had to overcome opposition from both the left (AOC et al.) and the right (Manchin); the only way to accomplish that was by quiet, behind-the-scenes negotiation and persuasion. Biden excelled at it, and compiled a remarkable, underestimated, record of legislative successes.
“We love you, Joe” (now get out of the way) – indeed!
I agree with you, Michael; I too think Joe Biden took a look, strategized with his 50 years of brilliance and wisdom, and decided to pick his battles and work tirelessly behind the scenes to get structural things done for America that (a) didn't attract the ridiculous sound-and-fury of the do-nothing Congress or the nutso MAGA media, and (b) were wisely chosen to turn the nation in directions it needed to go, like turning the fabled ocean liner. But I'll go further: I think he was also the architect behind the changeover, not its victim. I'll posit that he timed it (do you think it was an accident the announcement came a week or so after the RNC, taking all the wind out of its weird sails?). It wasn't an accident that "suddenly," loyal Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Jame Raskin began to call for him to step down. He needed some cover for the announcement he was planning. And what about the seamless, shocking, surprising, instantaneous emergence of Harris as THE candidate, with no fighting, argle-bargle, or insane infinite divisive process? Do you think that was magic? Did Tinkerbell just wave her wand and Harris emerged and was accepted? I think not. I think Joe Biden planned it all. It was too perfect to be serendipity. He's like the most wonderful father in the world who figured out what his massively-needy kids needed, and just quietly arranged for it all to happen. With every day that passes, I think he's greater even than I thought he was the day before. Our nation has always been blessed by some divine providence to have the right person in the right place at the right time, and that sure is happening now. In more ways than we dim surface-dwellers can appreciate.
I think they meant the love they expressed. For those of us he helped, we will continue to show him that love. Like we show it to Obama, and Clinton, and Carter; even Hillary Clinton continues to command an audience. Her efforts are not forgotten. Biden's sacrifice to "spend" his power to lift everyone up by passing the baton to the one who will cross the finish line will not be forgotten - in his lifetime, and after.
Wow!! I was laughing and crying and texting friends all across the country!! It’s soooo exciting!! I feel the hope that we truly are in the middle of history soup! We can’t see it quite yet but we are busy working it out one action at a time and in 100 years, because of us, children will be able to read an amazing story of how the people stood up against cruelty and oppression and made it right!
I want only to add to Robert’s terrific report, that Cortez reminded us that winning the Congress and winning it BIG is part of this picture. There’s no wiggle room and we who work as organizers have to help voters to vote only for sensible, heart-healthy, intelligent, relation building candidates who have integrity. Harris without the Congress is not acceptable. We can’t do that to her or to ourselves and each other. Voters don’t all know that. Let’s help them to see how potent their down ballot vote is.
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s newsletter!!! I’ll be vibing with all of you again tonight and so glad you’re out there!
Amy, you are so right! On every postcard we write, we mention that the president has to have a supportive legislature. We say it in a simple way: "We need leaders at every level who work for democracy. Vote blue up and down the ballot!"
It makes me giddy to feel the excitement. I wore my “Dems Make Life Better” shirt on a dog walk and ran into three neighbors fawning over a new Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. One burst out with “I love your shirt!” The other two remained conspicuously silent. We all enjoyed our time with the puppy and talks of summer coming to an end. Our kids are in grade school together.
It wasn’t a snub. It was a community woven with different threads.
Bob, it really nails what it’s all about. Dems Make Life Better is the best response to Make America Great Again without feeling like a reaction to MAGA. It’s forward thinking and all inclusive.
I realize there was a ton to focus on in primetime, but spare a moment for Mallory McMorrow, who should absolutely come back every night with 10 more minutes of riffing on Project 2025. If she does she'll be the breakout star of this convention. https://www.threads.net/@kamalahq/post/C-30wZ2vzAF?hl=en
Hillary was spectacular! Kamala, though, is dealing with a different moment. Maybe we needed to see Donald in all his evil strength to get someone for this moment. Hillary's moment brought us to this moment. Just like Warnock's mother brought him to us. It is an extraordinary moment in history that is here because of the goodness in so many fine people on OUR side!
My late husband, also a mensch and a close follower of politics, always said of Joe when someone was criticizing him, "I have a lot of time for Joe Biden." He recognized Joe's great qualities of strength and inner wisdom. For those readers who saw stridency and anger, another way to see it is passion. Stridency and anger have been words used to denigrate women who are passionate and strong. So Thank You Joe. I wish my husband were here to see this. Maybe he is.
Joe's passion (which I would prefer to stridency) was evident and I think appropriate because this matters. 2016 was one thing, and even 2020 was significant. But American democracy is up against the wall, and if Trump wins in November we will get no second chance. Passion, even ferocity is warranted, but that can be conveyed with the quiet resolve and the clarity we saw in many speakers and especially in the women and men affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, one thing Trump can actually take credit for.
Patrick, I agree. The dispassionate wrath of someone who is not serving himself but expressing wrath on behalf of others is rarely, if ever inappropriate, I think. This wrath is fully justified. I want to see more of it. No more lying down and letting Trump stomp on us. Nobody respects that, and it's not good for anyone. Joe's passion and wrath were directed effectively against the bully who has been hurting tens of millions of people for nine long years.
It's good to be lifted up. It's good to see that even in states like Ohio and Texas, there are government officials who see their jobs as helping their constituents, not lining their pockets. It's good to see a wide array of Democrats talk about service to our country as the priority, not giving more of our wealth to the rich through tax cuts. It's good to hear about the future, not rake over the coals of the past. I hope Ohioan, Texans, Nevadans, and the rest of the country think. Then I hope they vote. And if Trump manages to discourage his base further and further, well that's to the good. The ads we see of flip-flopping Vance and Putin-loving Trump in their own words are devastating and I hope run up right through November 5th. Especially poured into the swing states where one or another voter might decide to prioritize country and children over the coddling of the extremely rich.
I do think that you are right! She did give a great speech - However - Biden was amazing (and I do think Clinton had too much baggage) And the joy and enthusiasm and the ticket - Harris and Walz is, I think, a dream ticket
A good point, Joe! I wish we didn't have to go through this, but perhaps we were all half-asleep, thinking that what our country meant to us was how everyone saw it. Trump's followers are blind and have been easily swung over to the yelling ignoramous's fake world view. We must overwhelm them at the ballot box, as Robert has said all along!
Thank goodness we know the Trump playbook and that of his fellow Teufel and we can all respond to it better. The things that got Hilary then look like a stroll on the beach on a summer day compared to what we know about Trump and his doings now. Treason much?
And for many her speech will not matter this year, though she helped heal some wounds and present a united front. I was thrilled by her speech, but there were many other heroes last night: those Republicans who said on air they would never vote for Trump, those speakers recounting their own suffering and sorrow at the hands of a post-Roe world, Shawn Fain of the UAW calling Trump a scab, the other union leaders who will impact GOTV efforts in swing states, AOC emerging as a tough progressive voice who refuses to be typecast by the Right as a Marjorie Taylor Green of the Left, Raphael Warnock's passion and Christian kindness speaking to believers to dim the false idolatry of those who see God speaking through Trump, etc. And Rev. Warnock's tough prayerful wish that the Bible does not need Trump;s endorsement, but he wished Trump would read it sometime,and the ticking off of the Biblical admonitions, including "love thy neighbor," and "walk humbly with thy God," cut to the cold heart of the false faith of Donald Trump and the evangelicals who support him. And Joe Biden's speech and his whole ethos tells us again that here is a good man and a great leader who has thought and felt deeply about his faith, his people, and his country. Robert called him so accurately a mensch. Has anyone ever referred to Trump as a mensch? I could find dozens of other terms in my copy of Leo Rosten's "The Joys of Yiddish" to refer to Trump, but mensch would not be one of them. Trump walks humbly with no one. He is pathetic and dangerous. Joe Biden walks humbly with his God, his country, and the people he has loved, served, and led throughout his life. He SEES America, like all our great leaders, as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz do too. Our role as citizens is not to rate the DNC 's first night on a one-to-ten scale, as the wise heads of the NYT's did for us this morning. Our role as citizens is to make sure that the bright vision of American democracy lives and thrives in coming years. Trump is still our clear and present danger; and he is right: HIS America is a vision of carnage. We must not allow that. We must not let up. For Joe's sake, for Hillary's sake, for the sake of the women and men and children of this country we must take on as our responsibility. Go Kamala Harris!
Patrick, your eloquence is wonderful. Thank you. A small note on Trump as mensch (he is not): Gov. Hochul said, I think, that if we think we're tired of Trump, we should visit New York.
I just want to point out that I was humbled and astonished by the long, long, ovation the crowd gave Hillary. Almost no one is talking about that. It seemed to go on for ten minutes! It was longer than anyone else's, I think, and was loud, heartfelt, and very emotional it seemed to me. I felt it was an outpouring of love, respect, and gratitude. It recognized her place in history and thanked her for her many, many years of service to America. No one talks about that either. Even on this strand I read a lot of criticism and negativity about Hillary. She certainly is a lightning rod.
I woke up with puffy eyes after my sobbing last night, but also filled with gratitude, renewed patriotism and my own personal moving on. The embrace of Joe as a great President and better person was so deserved and a sight to behold.
For the first time, I watched the whole event on the DNC You Tube Channel which I would highly recommend if you want to see it all - the videos, Jaime Harrison's adorable sons saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and zero pundits or commentary.
Ah, the word I searched for..”Noble”. In the end, Joe’s nobility will be forever remembered. Thank you, Joe, for your long service. And he is not finished yet!
Joe Biden was fired up and ready to go, not angry and bitter. You nailed it Rob: Joe Biden is a mensch. On a scale that I certainly haven't seen in my lifetime. And it was righteous that the convention broke out in a thundering extended round of "Thank you, Joe." What an incredible first term. Nothing close to it in history. Now it is in our hands to win and seal the deal for Joe Biden. We owe him this victory.
Something to remember: although he was re-elected, Lincoln only had one term because he was murdered. How consequential was his one term?
How consequential was Abraham Lincoln's Presidency? Are you being tongue-in-cheek?
No, I am not. Lincoln managed to defeat the forces of the greedy southern planters the equivalent of today's robber barons to preserve the Union. Joe Biden has fought against today's version of those same forces.
You sum it up well. The robber barons are back at work—Bezos, Musk and the rest of the rich bozos.
Yes she is. JennSH is being tongue-in-cheek. Asking a rhetorical question designed to lead us Socratically to the right answer. You're the one that's kidding, right? George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Joe Biden have made this country what it (still) is today (if we can snatch it back out of the death grip of the Trump/Putin jaws). Americans have always been fighters, and this is the fourth fight-of-our-lives we've been involved with over the last 240 years. The revolution against the British super-power; the carnage of fighting to preserve the Union and set a segment of our population free from slavery; the desperate stand against the forces of hate-filled world dictatorship; and now, the attempts (ongoing) by billionaires, foreign dictators, and their orange puppet to overthrow the greatest nation on earth, where Lady Liberty shines her torch to give light to everyone in the world. (Sorry to wax so emotional.) No time to rest or lose focus. GOTV!
It was an evening of emotion, with love and gratitude for President Biden, and for myself, in addition to the quote from "American Anthem," I was deeply moved by his remarks: "It has been the honor of a lifetime. I love my job, but I love my country more." And with grace and dignity, he handed off the potential future Presidency to Harris and Walz, stating that "I promise I will be the best volunteer that the Kamala and Walz campaign have ever seen."
As you wrote,
"It was a terrific start. During a night of many standout speeches, it is Joe Biden’s words that will echo through history. “America, I gave my best for you.”"
Someone also mentioned Amanda Gorman's amazing poem, presented at President Biden's inauguration. It's particularly poignant now. Her beautiful words are eclipsed only by her recitation.
https://youtu.be/LZ055ilIiN4?si=mmI-r1Co8Rp-Fr-q
I'm not sure, but I think it was Joe himself who quoted Amanda Gorman: "For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."
So grateful you posted this as already it is timeless and unique, but specifics in the poem also stand out as perfect in this moment. I’ll be honest, it made me cry. So grateful for this reconnection.
Here's the song he quoted from:
https://youtu.be/sdjnAFqapg4?si=T2qslYA_zDvmhdqt
I hadn't heard it before. Gorgeous and meaningful!
And he’s not through yet. Joe on fire is a good thing. He’s still got some time.
As he was speaking about his remaining 5 months, unencumbered by the need to campaign for re-election, I was imagining him saying, "I'm going to spend the next few months doing my job to the best of my ability. I'm counting on all of you to do yours!"
He will make max use of his time. No doubt about it.
Blue wave, blue tsunami. https://www.fieldteam6.org/
They will get at least half of what I can give
He is so *not through*! I have a feeling his behind-the-scenes genius, which gave us the amazing progress he detailed (finally) for us last night, is hard at work laying down a ten-year blueprint that because of his expertise, brilliance, knowledge of human nature, and love of this country, will actually work! Harris can execute. If we can get two terms for her, I believe we will have secured our nation for the next 50 years or so. And can I just say that Joe Biden is the best-looking, sexiest, 81-year-old I have ever seen? He was on fire last night. His righteous anger at what is happening to our country was inspiring. He lobbed a lot of effective but soft zingers in all the right places. How dare readers here criticize him for "being angry?" He was not angry for selfish reasons. His anger is necessary to spread the fire to the rest of us that is needed for us to do the work to ensure a Harris victory. In my opinion, if you are *not* angry right now there is something wrong with you.
Couldn’t agree more
To the list of outstanding speakers, I add Jamie Raskin as better than ever, and he had already set the bar really high.
I didn't see his speech. I was in an emergency board meeting. New fires near our mountain community in the Sequoia National Park.
Oh, prayers for containment, safety maintained and restored. 🙏🏽
https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/rep-jamie-raskin-recalls-hearing-pounding-on-house-door-during-jan-6-217497157931
Best of good luck!
lord, hope for a slow wind and a quick end to the fire.
Yikes! Hope all is well.
Totally agree.
I. Am so proud and happy to be a Democrat, a woman, and an American in the revolutionary year of 2024. The future is looking bright for America.
I think we may all be on a similar wavelength. There has been a lot of noise which needs filtering. Trump has been the loudest while Joe Biden quietly got things done. Hot air over substance. We have a lot of work to do but perhaps we also need to find time to be still and reflect.
If Biden was going to get anything done, it had to be quietly. Insurrection-man was out to intimidate the people Biden needed. A testament to Biden's goal to get things done, not to take noisy credit. But he had his platform last night!!!!!
Biden had his platform – *last night*(!) – after, weeks earlier, Democrats (among others) roughly shoved him off. I sensed (unintended) irony in the “We love you, Joe” chants, and wonder how Biden felt, deep inside.
In part, Biden got a lot done quietly, and without taking credit, because he had to overcome opposition from both the left (AOC et al.) and the right (Manchin); the only way to accomplish that was by quiet, behind-the-scenes negotiation and persuasion. Biden excelled at it, and compiled a remarkable, underestimated, record of legislative successes.
“We love you, Joe” (now get out of the way) – indeed!
I agree with you, Michael; I too think Joe Biden took a look, strategized with his 50 years of brilliance and wisdom, and decided to pick his battles and work tirelessly behind the scenes to get structural things done for America that (a) didn't attract the ridiculous sound-and-fury of the do-nothing Congress or the nutso MAGA media, and (b) were wisely chosen to turn the nation in directions it needed to go, like turning the fabled ocean liner. But I'll go further: I think he was also the architect behind the changeover, not its victim. I'll posit that he timed it (do you think it was an accident the announcement came a week or so after the RNC, taking all the wind out of its weird sails?). It wasn't an accident that "suddenly," loyal Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Jame Raskin began to call for him to step down. He needed some cover for the announcement he was planning. And what about the seamless, shocking, surprising, instantaneous emergence of Harris as THE candidate, with no fighting, argle-bargle, or insane infinite divisive process? Do you think that was magic? Did Tinkerbell just wave her wand and Harris emerged and was accepted? I think not. I think Joe Biden planned it all. It was too perfect to be serendipity. He's like the most wonderful father in the world who figured out what his massively-needy kids needed, and just quietly arranged for it all to happen. With every day that passes, I think he's greater even than I thought he was the day before. Our nation has always been blessed by some divine providence to have the right person in the right place at the right time, and that sure is happening now. In more ways than we dim surface-dwellers can appreciate.
I think they meant the love they expressed. For those of us he helped, we will continue to show him that love. Like we show it to Obama, and Clinton, and Carter; even Hillary Clinton continues to command an audience. Her efforts are not forgotten. Biden's sacrifice to "spend" his power to lift everyone up by passing the baton to the one who will cross the finish line will not be forgotten - in his lifetime, and after.
Hi Robert and All!
Wow!! I was laughing and crying and texting friends all across the country!! It’s soooo exciting!! I feel the hope that we truly are in the middle of history soup! We can’t see it quite yet but we are busy working it out one action at a time and in 100 years, because of us, children will be able to read an amazing story of how the people stood up against cruelty and oppression and made it right!
I want only to add to Robert’s terrific report, that Cortez reminded us that winning the Congress and winning it BIG is part of this picture. There’s no wiggle room and we who work as organizers have to help voters to vote only for sensible, heart-healthy, intelligent, relation building candidates who have integrity. Harris without the Congress is not acceptable. We can’t do that to her or to ourselves and each other. Voters don’t all know that. Let’s help them to see how potent their down ballot vote is.
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s newsletter!!! I’ll be vibing with all of you again tonight and so glad you’re out there!
VERY IMPORTANT… winning Congress is absolutely required to give Harris the whole deck for this challenging time!
Amy, you are so right! On every postcard we write, we mention that the president has to have a supportive legislature. We say it in a simple way: "We need leaders at every level who work for democracy. Vote blue up and down the ballot!"
It makes me giddy to feel the excitement. I wore my “Dems Make Life Better” shirt on a dog walk and ran into three neighbors fawning over a new Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. One burst out with “I love your shirt!” The other two remained conspicuously silent. We all enjoyed our time with the puppy and talks of summer coming to an end. Our kids are in grade school together.
It wasn’t a snub. It was a community woven with different threads.
I buy my threads at BeantownStrong.com and www.DemsMakeLifeBetter.org and it feels good to be part of all this.
"A community woven with different threads." Nice!
I like that message: "Dems make life better."
Bob, it really nails what it’s all about. Dems Make Life Better is the best response to Make America Great Again without feeling like a reaction to MAGA. It’s forward thinking and all inclusive.
Liza Donnelly ( some may be familiar with her New Yorker cartoons) is watching and drawing the DNC speakers with selected quotes.
https://open.substack.com/pub/lizadonnelly/p/live-drawing-the-dnc-day-one?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
“Are we ready to vote for freedom?!” Joe Biden
❤️🤍💙
Thank you. I will share. I appreciate it when readers provide helpful links!
Liza is a treasure ! She “took one for the team” and did the same thing while viewing the entire RNC.
Thank you, Kathy, for showing us the Liza Donnelly drawings. I’ve now subscribed. Fabulous way to resavor the DNC!
Thank you for this link. What a joy, to say nothing of talent.
This is fabulous! Thank you for posting! I signed up because I want to see more! So very great!
I realize there was a ton to focus on in primetime, but spare a moment for Mallory McMorrow, who should absolutely come back every night with 10 more minutes of riffing on Project 2025. If she does she'll be the breakout star of this convention. https://www.threads.net/@kamalahq/post/C-30wZ2vzAF?hl=en
Hillary was spectacular! Kamala, though, is dealing with a different moment. Maybe we needed to see Donald in all his evil strength to get someone for this moment. Hillary's moment brought us to this moment. Just like Warnock's mother brought him to us. It is an extraordinary moment in history that is here because of the goodness in so many fine people on OUR side!
As Tony Goldwyn eloquently said after she spoke, "I think we can agree that we ALL stand on Hillary Clinton's shoulders." Hear, hear!
My late husband, also a mensch and a close follower of politics, always said of Joe when someone was criticizing him, "I have a lot of time for Joe Biden." He recognized Joe's great qualities of strength and inner wisdom. For those readers who saw stridency and anger, another way to see it is passion. Stridency and anger have been words used to denigrate women who are passionate and strong. So Thank You Joe. I wish my husband were here to see this. Maybe he is.
Joe's passion (which I would prefer to stridency) was evident and I think appropriate because this matters. 2016 was one thing, and even 2020 was significant. But American democracy is up against the wall, and if Trump wins in November we will get no second chance. Passion, even ferocity is warranted, but that can be conveyed with the quiet resolve and the clarity we saw in many speakers and especially in the women and men affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, one thing Trump can actually take credit for.
Patrick, I agree. The dispassionate wrath of someone who is not serving himself but expressing wrath on behalf of others is rarely, if ever inappropriate, I think. This wrath is fully justified. I want to see more of it. No more lying down and letting Trump stomp on us. Nobody respects that, and it's not good for anyone. Joe's passion and wrath were directed effectively against the bully who has been hurting tens of millions of people for nine long years.
Precede “stridency” or “passion” or “ferocity” with “righteous”, and all will be fine.
Yes, Pam. 'Maybe he is.'
It's good to be lifted up. It's good to see that even in states like Ohio and Texas, there are government officials who see their jobs as helping their constituents, not lining their pockets. It's good to see a wide array of Democrats talk about service to our country as the priority, not giving more of our wealth to the rich through tax cuts. It's good to hear about the future, not rake over the coals of the past. I hope Ohioan, Texans, Nevadans, and the rest of the country think. Then I hope they vote. And if Trump manages to discourage his base further and further, well that's to the good. The ads we see of flip-flopping Vance and Putin-loving Trump in their own words are devastating and I hope run up right through November 5th. Especially poured into the swing states where one or another voter might decide to prioritize country and children over the coddling of the extremely rich.
Too bad Hillary didn't give a speech like that one in 2016 - she'd have won the Electoral College as well as the Popular Vote.
What would be, would be...but what is, what is...we are in this moment now because of all past moments.
Hillary was pilloried. And we moved on. Dare I pontificate we would not be as strong now if we didn't live through the crucible of Donald.
Very much agreed.
I do think that you are right! She did give a great speech - However - Biden was amazing (and I do think Clinton had too much baggage) And the joy and enthusiasm and the ticket - Harris and Walz is, I think, a dream ticket
A good point, Joe! I wish we didn't have to go through this, but perhaps we were all half-asleep, thinking that what our country meant to us was how everyone saw it. Trump's followers are blind and have been easily swung over to the yelling ignoramous's fake world view. We must overwhelm them at the ballot box, as Robert has said all along!
Inshallah
I must admit that I don't know what "inshallah" means!
Inshallah is an Arabic language expression meaning "if God wills" or "God willing"
Thank you, Karen. It's a beautiful word!
Thank goodness we know the Trump playbook and that of his fellow Teufel and we can all respond to it better. The things that got Hilary then look like a stroll on the beach on a summer day compared to what we know about Trump and his doings now. Treason much?
I loved when Mallory McMorrow came on with the jumbo copy of Project 2025.📕
MI State Sen Mallory McMorrow has great presence. That thumping down of the giant book was a great move.
I think she probably did give a speech like that in 2016, but the nature of that campaign didn't allow for speeches to matter.
And for many her speech will not matter this year, though she helped heal some wounds and present a united front. I was thrilled by her speech, but there were many other heroes last night: those Republicans who said on air they would never vote for Trump, those speakers recounting their own suffering and sorrow at the hands of a post-Roe world, Shawn Fain of the UAW calling Trump a scab, the other union leaders who will impact GOTV efforts in swing states, AOC emerging as a tough progressive voice who refuses to be typecast by the Right as a Marjorie Taylor Green of the Left, Raphael Warnock's passion and Christian kindness speaking to believers to dim the false idolatry of those who see God speaking through Trump, etc. And Rev. Warnock's tough prayerful wish that the Bible does not need Trump;s endorsement, but he wished Trump would read it sometime,and the ticking off of the Biblical admonitions, including "love thy neighbor," and "walk humbly with thy God," cut to the cold heart of the false faith of Donald Trump and the evangelicals who support him. And Joe Biden's speech and his whole ethos tells us again that here is a good man and a great leader who has thought and felt deeply about his faith, his people, and his country. Robert called him so accurately a mensch. Has anyone ever referred to Trump as a mensch? I could find dozens of other terms in my copy of Leo Rosten's "The Joys of Yiddish" to refer to Trump, but mensch would not be one of them. Trump walks humbly with no one. He is pathetic and dangerous. Joe Biden walks humbly with his God, his country, and the people he has loved, served, and led throughout his life. He SEES America, like all our great leaders, as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz do too. Our role as citizens is not to rate the DNC 's first night on a one-to-ten scale, as the wise heads of the NYT's did for us this morning. Our role as citizens is to make sure that the bright vision of American democracy lives and thrives in coming years. Trump is still our clear and present danger; and he is right: HIS America is a vision of carnage. We must not allow that. We must not let up. For Joe's sake, for Hillary's sake, for the sake of the women and men and children of this country we must take on as our responsibility. Go Kamala Harris!
Patrick, your eloquence is wonderful. Thank you. A small note on Trump as mensch (he is not): Gov. Hochul said, I think, that if we think we're tired of Trump, we should visit New York.
I just want to point out that I was humbled and astonished by the long, long, ovation the crowd gave Hillary. Almost no one is talking about that. It seemed to go on for ten minutes! It was longer than anyone else's, I think, and was loud, heartfelt, and very emotional it seemed to me. I felt it was an outpouring of love, respect, and gratitude. It recognized her place in history and thanked her for her many, many years of service to America. No one talks about that either. Even on this strand I read a lot of criticism and negativity about Hillary. She certainly is a lightning rod.
I woke up with puffy eyes after my sobbing last night, but also filled with gratitude, renewed patriotism and my own personal moving on. The embrace of Joe as a great President and better person was so deserved and a sight to behold.
For the first time, I watched the whole event on the DNC You Tube Channel which I would highly recommend if you want to see it all - the videos, Jaime Harrison's adorable sons saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and zero pundits or commentary.
I wish our eyes could tell the difference between sad sobbing and happy sobbing, because the puffy was real this morning! 😮💨😮💨😮💨
Very nice summary! The emotion was incredible during Biden's speech. I came away thinking about how NOBLE his character is...
https://barrygander.substack.com/p/the-nobility-of-joe-biden
Ah, the word I searched for..”Noble”. In the end, Joe’s nobility will be forever remembered. Thank you, Joe, for your long service. And he is not finished yet!