LiveBlog on Obama's acceptance speech

11:45pm - Adam Who-Should-Become-a-Rabbi has uncovered the secret behind Obama's speeches... Aaron Sorkin, writer of The American President and The West Wing. Martin Sheen would make a great Chief of Staff.

11:43pm - Greta Van Sustren says "it was a dazzling speech."

11:42pm - FoxNews is reporting that the McCain camp is estimating a 15-point bounce for Obama after tonight. Did they like his speech that much too?

11:30pm - I suck at liveblogging. I'll try and do this again for McCain. Maybe. It'll still suck, but with a Republican twist.

11:12pm - Had to switch away from CNN to be able to watch the final prayer. To be honest, PBS has been doing a great job during the convention. They've shown almost every speech with just a little commentary in between. Yay to PBS and Viewers Like You!

11:10pm - I expected better. Though I think it's funny how the CNN trio of Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, and John King all think it was the best speech in the world. They've clearly been drinking the Kool-Aid. It was a focused speech and he did hit some points and had some great lines. But, I can't wait until the debates.

11:00pm - And then the Democrats ruin the moment with fireworks, streamers, and music that's way too loud. And the people cry and wave their flags.

10:59pm - I think he lost some steam at the end. But, the Democrats in the stadium seem to love it. Flags waving and people on their feet. The beautiful girls come out to give dad a hug.

10:55 - Wrapping up with the American spirit and promise. I was waiting for him to hit this part of the speech. Channeling the preacher from Georgia.

10:50pm - The bipartisan speech. AK47s and gays. Though we don't agree, we can agree. Can we?

10:43pm - I love this line, "But he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives." The Dems have been pushing the whole war in Afghanistan, not Iraq thing. Would Obama hop in the cave with a gun and grenade? Does he even know how to use them?

10:33pm - An Obama speech: No blue or red states, just the United States. Good line, but has been repeated too often, I think.

10:27pm - Is it me, or does Jill, Joe Biden's wife look overwhelmed and scared?

10:16pm - The video clip for Obama. Who narrated that? It was bland. However, as he stepped out to a crowd of 70,000, with the lights, the camera angles, the music - pretty neat. But then they stopped the music a little too suddenly so they could get the speech started. Should have given him a little more time to bask.

9:10pm - How did Al Gore become such a "cool" guy in the last eight years? He's like a superstar.

8:30pm - Bill Richardson kicked ass in his speech. Secretary of State, hands down.

8:20pm - Did anyone see the ad John McCain sneaked in to the Primetime convention coverage. He tried to put on his sincere face. But, there's something about how he said "How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day" that made me cringe.

I actually stopped it (thanks DVR) and watched it three times. It gets worse each time. Am I the only one?

Biden

By the time I got home last night at 1am, the news outlets already had the "Breaking News" that Obama was picking Joe Biden as his VP. I asked my friend, Adam Who-Should-Become-a-Rabbi what he thought about the pick via text message. A one word response: boring.

In some ways Biden does nothing to bring Obama up in the polls. People don't really know him too well, and those who do tend not to like him because he shoots from the hip. Biden also delivers the state of Delaware - already a Blue state. He's a Catholic! (that can go either way in the polls).

I think that tells us that Obama's not worried about needing a boost in the polls or winning a certain state. He needed to build some foreign policy experience on his ticket, and he got it. Biden's got tons of Foreign Relations experience and has been in Congress longer than even McCain.

I like Joe, even with his lack of filter. I think he's one of those politicians who says what's on his mind so you always know what you're getting. I like that.

I wonder who the Maverick, John McCain, picks now...

Guesses?

(Photo courtesy of http://biden.senate.gov)

Obama-Kennedy 2008

I thought about this back when Barack Obama announced that he would have Caroline Kennedy lead his VP search. But, with no actual political experience, I figured it would never happen. But, Michael Moore has written an open letter to Ms. Kennedy pleading her to run. Maybe they'll surprise us? Here's Mr. Moore:

Dear Caroline,

We've never met, so I hope you don't find this letter too presumptuous or inappropriate. As its contents involve the public's business, I am sending this to you via the public on the Internet. I knew your brother John. He was a great guy, and I know he would've had a ball during this thrilling and historic election year. We all miss him dearly.

Barack Obama selected you to head up his search for a vice presidential candidate. It appears we may be just days (hours?) away from learning who that choice will be.

The media is reporting that Senator Obama has narrowed his alternatives to three men: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine. They're all decent fellows, but they are far from the core of what the Obama campaign has been about: Change. Real change. Out with the old. And don't invade countries that pose no threat to us.

Senators Biden and Bayh voted for that invasion and that war, the war Barack ran against, the war Barack reminded us was the big difference between him and Senator Clinton because she voted for the war and he spoke out against it while running for Senate (a brave and bold thing to do back in 2002).

For Obama to place either of these senators on the ticket would be a huge blow to the millions that chose him in the primaries over Hillary. He will undercut one of the strongest advantages he has over the Hundred-Year War senator, Mr. McCain. By anointing a VP who did what McCain did in throwing us into this war, Mr. Obama will lose the moral high ground in the debates.

As for Governor Kaine of Virginia, his big problem is, well, Obama's big problem -- who is he? The toughest thing Barack has had to overcome -- and it will continue to be his biggest obstacle -- is that too many of the voters simply don't know him well enough to vote for him. The fact that Obama is new to the scene is both one of his most attractive qualities AND his biggest drawback. Too many Americans, who on the surface seem to like Barack Obama, just don't feel comfortable voting for someone who hasn't been on the national scene very long. It's a comfort level thing, and it may be just what keeps Obama from winning in November ("I'd rather vote for the devil I know than the devil I don't know").

What Obama needs is a vice presidential candidate who is NOT a professional politician, but someone who is well-known and beloved by people across the political spectrum; someone who, like Obama, spoke out against the war; someone who has a good and generous heart, who will be cheered by the rest of the world; someone whom we've known and loved and admired all our lives and who has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good for all.

That person, Caroline, is you.

I cannot think of a more winning ticket than one that reads: "OBAMA-KENNEDY."

Caroline, I know that nominating yourself is the furthest idea from your mind and not consistent with who you are, but there would be some poetic justice to such an action. Just think, eight years after the last head of a vice presidential search team looked far and wide for a VP -- and then picked himself (a move topped only by his hubris to then lead the country to near ruin while in office) -- along comes Caroline Kennedy to return the favor with far different results, a vice president who helps restore America to its goodness and greatness.

Caroline, you are one of the most beloved and respected women in this country, and you have been so admired throughout your life. You chose a life outside of politics, to work for charities and schools, to write and lecture, to raise a wonderful family. But you did not choose to lead a private life. You have traveled the world and met with its leaders, giving you much experience on the world stage, a stage you have been on since you were a little girl.

The nation has, remarkably (considering our fascination with celebrity), left you alone and let you live your life in peace. (It's like, long ago, we all collectively agreed that, with her father tragically gone, a man who died because he wanted to serve his country, we would look out for her, we would wish for her to be happy and well, and we would have her back. But we would let her be.)

Now, I am breaking this unwritten code and asking you to come forward and help us in our hour of need. So many families are hurting, losing their homes, going bankrupt with health care bills, seeing their public schools in shambles and living with this war without end. This is a historic year for women, from Hillary's candidacy to the numerous women running for the House and Senate. This is the year that a woman should be on the Democratic ticket. This is the year that both names on that ticket should be people OUTSIDE the party machine. This is the year millions of independents and, yes, millions of Republicans are looking for something new and fresh and bold (and you are the Kennedy Republicans would vote for!).

This is the moment, Caroline. Seize it! And Barack, if you're reading this, you probably know that she is far too humble and decent to nominate herself. So step up and surprise us again. Step up and be different than every politician we have witnessed in our lifetime. Keep the passion burning amongst the young people and others who have been energized by your unexpected, unpredicted, against-all-odds candidacy that has ignited and inspired a nation. Do it for all those reasons. Make Caroline Kennedy your VP. "Obama-Kennedy." Wow, does that sound so cool.

Caroline, thanks for letting me intrude on your life. How wonderful it will be to have a vice president who will respect the Constitution, who will support (instead of control) her president, who will never let her staff out a CIA agent, and who will never tell her country that she is "currently residing in an undisclosed location."

Say it one more time: "OBAMA-KENNEDY." A move like that might send a message to the country that the Democrats would actually like to win an election for once.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com