Democratic Convention Highlights, Day 4

Joe John Wayne Biden Accepts the Nomination:

Well, bless my soul. That's the best damn speech I ever heard in my life. What a MAN. Just what we needed to see. BALLS!

You nailed it, Joe. Proud of you. I'm behind you all the way. So is every decent man and woman in this country.

Now come on, boys - let's saddle up and go take our country back!

Yeeeeeeehaw!

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Transcript excerpt::

You know, American history tells us that it’s been in our darkest moments that we’ve made our greatest progress, that we’ve found the light.

In this dark moment, I believe we’re poised to make great progress again, that we can find the light once more. You know, many people have heard me say this, but I’ve always believed you can define America in one word: possibilities. The defining feature of America, everything is possible.

That in America, everyone, and I mean everyone, should be given an opportunity to go as far as their dreams and God-given ability will take them. We can never lose that.

In times as challenging as these, I believe there’s only one way forward: as a united America. United in our pursuit of a more perfect union. United in our dreams of a better future for us and for our children. United in our determination to make the coming years bright.

Are you ready? I believe we are. This is a great nation. We’re a good and decent people. For Lord’s sake, this is the United States of America. There’s never been anything we’ve been unable to accomplish when we’ve done it together.

The Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote,

History says, Don't hope
On this side of the grave,
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme.

This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme with passion and purpose. Let us begin. You and I together. One nation. Under God. United in our love for America. United in our love for each other.

For love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. And light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment. This is our mission. May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here, tonight, as love and hope and light join in the battle for the soul of the nation.

And this is a battle we will win and we will do it together. I promise you.

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For the record, a few more notable videos from last night's convention, selected by your Head Trucker.  And for the benefit of my overseas truckbuddies, let me point out that these particular speakers reflect, as does the Democratic Party in general, a broad spectrum of backgrounds and viewpoints, united in working for a more perfect union of these United States, with liberty and justice for all, not merely the favored few.

Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico:




Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey:




Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin:




Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg of Indiana:




Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a wounded veteran, calls Trump the "Coward-in-Chief":




And Governor Gavin Newsom phones it in from an evacuation center in wildfire-stricken California:

Democratic Convention Highlights, Day 3

Speeches from the third day of the virtual convention, selected by your Head Trucker.



Former President Obama:  "Our Democracy Is at Stake"
Excerpt:

Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala's ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better. But here's the thing: no single American can fix this country alone. Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional – you give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry. So I am also asking you to believe in your own ability – to embrace your own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure.

Because that's what at stake right now. Our democracy.

Look, I understand why a lot of Americans are down on government. The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easier for special interests to stop progress than to make progress. Believe me, I know. I understand why a white factory worker who's seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a Black mother might feel like it never looked out for her at all. I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether there's still a place for him here; why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and crazy conspiracy theories and think, what's the point?

Well, here's the point: this president and those in power – those who benefit from keeping things the way they are – they are counting on your cynicism. They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote does not matter. That's how they win. That's how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life, and the lives of the people you love. That's how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected, how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks. That's how a democracy withers, until it's no democracy at all.

And we can't let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you're going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too. Do what Americans have done for over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this – all those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching, keep pushing in the face of hardship and injustice.

A poignant speech by former Representative Gabby Giffords:




Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:




And Senator Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for Vice-President:




What I Say: To be perfectly honest, some of tonight's speeches - including several others not posted here - gave me the feeling I was listening in on the chatter at girls' night out: lots of cutesy smiles and talk about babies and mothers and ooey-gooey feelings, and who loves you best. Well now, sisters, that's fine, that's fine - I suppose you all feel your time has come, here at the centennial of Women's Suffrage, and why not celebrate being girls in power together?  Whee!

But it's a damn hard, cruel world out there, and you're not being elected to toss posies and wave from the back of a convertible. You are all entrusted with the fearsome responsibility of saving this Republic from destruction in the midst of the most terrible crisis since the Second World War - or the Civil War - maybe even since our country was founded. As Obama said, our democracy is at stake, threatened by malicious, cunning forces within and without.  Cutesy, gooey, kissy-kissy feelings just won't cut it.

I'm not saying any of you ladies aren't strong - I'm just saying, you'd better be prepared for a helluva big fight against some mighty mean and ugly desperadoes - and fight to win, by wit and grit. We are counting on you, Kamala, and all the rest of you - and so are unborn generations who will grow up in liberty or slavery, depending on how you meet the challenges of today.

So go get 'em, girls. But leave the powder puffs at home.

Democratic Convention Highlights, Day 2

For the record, a few notable speeches and presentations from the second night of the virtual convention, selected by your Head Trucker.

Former Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders:




Democratic former President Bill Clinton:




Republican former Secretary of State Colin Powell:




Republican Cindy McCain, widow of the late Senator John McCain:




Gay Democratic former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg:




The Republican former Governor of Ohio, John Kasich:




And to wrap it all up, a scathing "Memo to Trump" from the Reverend Al Sharpton, who as usual tells it just like it is: