Last night I, along with millions of Americans, watched Senator Ted Kennedy give a raucous speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Whether you love him or you hate him, you have to admit that it was good to see the man standing up on his own power and speaking with the force and passion that defined his political career. I thought the opening tribute video was a nice summary of his political accomplishments, too.
I understand, however, how some people will never be able to forget his connection to the Chappaquiddick incident. But putting those issues aside, the man looked pretty good for someone who has recently undergone brain surgery and chemotherapy.
As for the rest of the convention, I thought it was a good night. And I don’t subscribe the theories that the Democrats should have been stronger on the attack. Americans have been promised “change” and a “new politics” and I think the Democrats are carrying out their end of the deal by not using their convention to bash the opponents. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gave a nice speech (giving a great shot out to Italian-Americans – whoo hoo!). I didn’t care for Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s speech, but that’s because I don’t think he really said anything…which is par for the course.
Michelle Obama gave a good speech, too, but mainly because she has completely changed course from her previous anti-American stances. I’m sorry, but when a person says that “America in 2008 is a downright mean country” and that this is the “first time in my adult life that I am proud of my country,” those are extremely negative statements. But her speech tonight was very well written and very well spoken. An excellent job by Michelle Obama!
Unfortunately, these conventions are always marred by morons on the outside. The anarchists who are protesting the DNC should be ashamed of themselves. They represent that worn-in crud on the boot of American politics and, frankly, that’s too high of a position for them. I saw one article that reported there were anti-Obama, anti-gay, anti-black, anti-war, anti-Democrat, anti-government, anti-American, and anti-FOX News protesters outside of the convention yesterday…to name a few.
Talk about people who are brainwashed!
America in 2008, and long before that for that matter does seem like a downright mean country. At the very least it doesn’t seem like a place I’d ever want to live in. I’m sorry to insult your homeland, but that’s the way that pretty much every other country sees you. I have more Americans tell me they’d love to move to Canada than I’ve ever heard Canadians say you know, that America looks like a great alternative. The only reason any Canadian ever goes to the States is to work or to retire to a better climate, and I don’t mean that in a political sense. Canada is far from perfect, but it has it’s advantages. We’ve still got a few civil liberties left for one thing. We’re also not throwing people who accidentally wash up on shore on the wrong side of a river after an accident in jail either.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/485451
The part about this being the first time she can be proud of her country is garbage though don’t get me wrong.
That’s the perspective of some people out there and as an American I can appreciate it. But when I see the American anthem booed in other countries I really don’t rank those countries to high on my list anyway.
America was founded on people speaking their minds and doing what is right for their families and their neighbors. I sincerely hope that if the folks you talk to would prefer to live in Canada that they pack their bags and move as it must be – in their mind – their best option.
But for what it’s worth, while the world may judge America’s people by its government, the vast majority of American people (myself included) have nothing but kind words and open arms for our brothers and sisters around the world – American or not.
I’ve got nothing but kind things to say about many Americans. It’s just a shame that your choices for leaders are such a poor advertisement for what your country is truly supposed to represent.
It’s a free country and I’m all for people speaking their minds, but I’m not so down with booing people’s anthems either. It’s just an old song that did nothing to you. Boo the idiots making the decisions now when they come to your area. It means more.
Well, Americans take many issues into consideration when choosing their leaders and the very bottom of that issue-list is how the outside world will view our choices. With respect to Bush, many areas of our country are viciously overtaxed and in 2004 many people made a decision between a guy who would not raise taxes and a guy who would. I feel that many people will make their decision based on the same criteria this year (though the introduction of a black man and white woman on different tickets adds a new element).
And I agree about booing anthems. I thought it was a classless (and mean) move in 2002 when the Canadian fans booed the American national anthem at a hockey game and an equally classless move when the fans in Atlanta returned the favor.
Some employees are simply irreplaceable. Take Michelle Obama: The University of Chicago Medical center hired her in 2002 to run “programs for community relations, neighborhood outreach, volunteer recruitment, staff diversity and minority contracting”.
In 2005, the hospital raised her salary from $120,000 to $317, 000 nearly twice what her husband made as a Senator.
Oh, did we mention that her husband had just become a U.S. Senator? He sure had. And that he immediately requested a $1 million earmark for the UC Medical Center, in fact?… You betcha by golly… He surely did. Way to network Michelle!
But now that Mrs. Obama has resigned, the hospital says her position will remain unfilled. How can that possibly be??? Especially if the work she did was vital enough to be worth $317,000?
Oh, by the way, let me add that Michelle’s position was a part time, 20 hour week job at $317,000.00 per year !!
“IN GOD WE TRUST!!”–we better because you sure can’t trust your elected officials.
The Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson