DNC speakers announced 8/27 UPDATE: Crist will speak

[後援会]

Also, the GOP made a good move by focusing their convention on the economy. Why is the DNC devoting a billion damn speeches to birth control and gay rights?

I think one speech on both of those issues would be a good idea. And not from politicians - but rather from "normal people", like an emotional gay couple.

But getting Sandra Fluke, the head of Planned Parenthood, the head of NARAL, AND Mikulski (who will talk about abortion) is ridiculous. If they spend the entire convention harping about birth control, abortion, and killing Osama, and then an awful jobs report comes out the day after the convention; it will be the worst convention since Chicago.

[Ogre Mage]

Ignoring the other people under discussion, it's worth pointing out that ex-Presidents and Vice Presidents are usually invited, and it seems to me quite possible that Gore just turned down an opportunity to speak rather than that he wasn't offered one.

In 2009, Gore described himself as a "recovering politician."

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2009/11/quotes-of-the-day-im-a-recovering-politician/

[J. J.]

Also, the GOP made a good move by focusing their convention on the economy. Why is the DNC devoting a billion damn speeches to birth control and gay rights?

The "framing," those people/events surrounding the nominee, is hideous, but it can be changed by one good speech from the nominee.  

The framing is like 30% of the grade (30 points), the VP speech is about 10% (10 points), but the nominee's speech is about 60% of the grade (60 points).  

Obama it capable scoring all 60 points.  If he has a bad speech, or goes along with this theme, he is in big trouble.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Also, the GOP made a good move by focusing their convention on the economy. Why is the DNC devoting a billion damn speeches to birth control and gay rights?

The "framing," those people/events surrounding the nominee, is hideous, but it can be changed by one good speech from the nominee.  

The framing is like 30% of the grade (30 points), the VP speech is about 10% (10 points), but the nominee's speech is about 60% of the grade (60 points).  

Obama it capable scoring all 60 points.  If he has a bad speech, or goes along with this theme, he is in big trouble.

I agree. Obama usually surprises people with his speeches. The one he gave in 2008 was quite detailed about his plan for the economy. I think the women will probably get the first day for the "War On Women" crap that no one cares about. Day 2 and 3 will probably be about the things Obama has accomplished, where he wants to go, and where Romney wants to take us.

[Averroës Nix]

Republicans are lucky that their unpopular ex-President is sensible enough not to appear at their convention in person. (Although I suppose we have no way of knowing whether he'll choose to participate in conventions two or three decades from now.)

[Free Palestine]

Why Rahm Emmanuel?  Isn't he a gigantic twat?

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Why Rahm Emmanuel?  Isn't he a gigantic twat?

Pretty much.

[後援会]

I agree. Obama usually surprises people with his speeches. The one he gave in 2008 was quite detailed about his plan for the economy. I think the women will probably get the first day for the "War On Women" crap that no one cares about. Day 2 and 3 will probably be about the things Obama has accomplished, where he wants to go, and where Romney wants to take us.

I have yet to meet a Democrat in real life who didn't mention the "War on Women" or gays as one of their top two reasons for voting Obama. Hell, even Bain seems like a distant second.

I am starting to think you are quite unusual for a Democrat. Unusual in a good way. Which kind of makes me want to try to poach you for our side one day.

"Where Romney wants to take us." There's absolutely no way Obama won't start talking about "war on women" and abortion/planned parenthood/gays. That's probably issue #1 for at least a third of his supporters, if not half.

[Joe Biden is your president. Deal with it.]

Something tells me they will get George Clooney to speak.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Why Rahm Emmanuel?  Isn't he a gigantic twat?

Pretty much.

It's because he's Obama's buddy.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Rahm is one of my favorite Democrats.

[Comrade Funk]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Happy now?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

How do that many speakers fit?

[Comrade Funk]

How do that many speakers fit?

A lot of that is just a bunch of women Senators/Congresswomen on one stage.

[BM]

Well that full list is slightly better.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Crist gets to speak, but not Cuomo?  What.

[後援会]

Well that full list is slightly better.

Yeah. In all honesty, part of what makes the Democrat Convention naturally not as good as the Republicans in terms of new political talent is that the Democrats just don't have the sheer numbers. The Republican Class of 2010 is very very large. The Democrat Class of 2010 is not very large. There's not much they can reasonably do about that. Practically every single Democrat governor that won in 2010 (even the extremely unpopular ones like Quinn, Chaffee, and Malloy), and they still don't even have that many.

[Mr. Morden]

How does the list get selected? Is it from the candidate's campaign, the national committee, a combination of the two?

Effectively, the presumptive presidential nominee has carte blanche to run the convention however they want.  The national committee becomes more or less subordinate to them once a putative nominee emerges.  Which is why a contested convention in the modern era would be so wild...

[Beet]

How does the list get selected? Is it from the candidate's campaign, the national committee, a combination of the two?

Effectively, the presumptive presidential nominee has carte blanche to run the convention however they want.  The national committee becomes more or less subordinate to them once a putative nominee emerges.  Which is why a contested convention in the modern era would be so wild...

Thanks for the reply. You, Ernest and a couple other people are the only ones who make this board worth reading.

[Adam Griffin]

There is a fairly rapid-growing coalition on Facebook (Bring Betty White to the DNC) to demand that Betty White speak next week. It's got about 10,000 likes as of right now. If we get any celebrities, this is the one to get.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's the musical entertainment:

http://www.demconvention.com/pressrelease/dncc-announces-full-performance-schedule-for-the-2012-democratic-national-convention/

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I would have liked to see more rock, but oh well.

[Lief 🗽]

Should have booked Jay Z.

[Tender Branson]

The Foo Fighters alone would draw the 75.000 people into the stadium.

Obama's Team should not be concerned anymore to fill all of the stadium seats.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Crist gets to speak, but not Cuomo?  What.

Cuomo's trying to avoid becoming a lightning rod like his dad in 1984. He doesn't want to get ahead of himself and become a national figure before 2015 or so. He doesn't even do Sunday Talk Shows.