John McSame Doesn't Get All GOPers Love

The relevant words are in bold. From Salon.com:

No home run for McCain

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- John McCain started off slow. And for a moment, when anti-war protesters broke in and heckled him, distracting his crowd's attention, it seemed that all might be lost and that he might fall completely flat on a night in which he needed to shine.

But the Republican nominee and his speechwriter had saved the best -- in this case, the story of McCain's time as a prisoner of war -- for last. It was a moving section, one that seemed to make the entire Xcel Center go silent. And it made for a good transition into his closing argument, a call for Americans to join with him to fight for their country. Now the McCain campaign just has to hope that voters at home kept watching long enough to see the big finish.

So far, the reviews aren't good. CNN's Jeffrey Toobin calling this " the worst speech by a nominee that I’ve heard since Jimmy Carter in 1980" is one thing. But the harsh critique that former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson delivered on MSNBC (which Barack Obama's campaign was quick to blast out to reporters) was something else entirely.

"Pretty disappointing," Gerson said. "I think that was a missed opportunity. Many Americans needed to hear from this speech something they have never heard from Republicans before. And in reality, a lot of the policy they’ve heard from Republicans before."

― Alex Koppelman

Most Watched Convention Speech Ever...

...and more US viewers than those tuning in for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies. Click here for the preliminary numbers from Nielsen courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter.

Officially on the Ballot

Barack Obama and Joe Biden sign the papers that officially put them on the Nov. 4 ballot as Democratic Party nominees for President and Vice President following Barack's acceptance speech in Denver.

The Speech

A Balanced and Inspirational Effort

Barack Obama said things in his acceptance speech Thursday that were expected and unexpected. He reminded us of the vision that we've come to admire and of the tough Chicago street organizer many have possibly forgotten or never knew he was. Part offense, part defense, plenty of lofty phrases but also plenty of plain talk about specific policies.

He understood the American people need to hear all of it, whether he was speaking about cutting middle-class income taxes while closing large corporate tax loopholes, ending our disastrous and unnecessary involvement in Iraq or taking the title of a 1970's TV drama and creating a rallying cry from it for all who've had enough of the Bush-Cheney policy disasters that John McCain proposes to continue. Indeed, Senator, "Eight is Enough," whether you're trying to pay your mortgage, buy food for your family or gas and oil to keep your car going so you can make it to work each day.

He played to his strong suits but also addressed what his detractors have called his weak points. This is a man who can win November 4. He needs as he did Thursday to keep playing at his own tempo and not McCain's, but I think he's smart enough, and yes, experienced enough to do just that.

Joe and Bill Set the Record Straight

Nominating Words to Remember and Inspire

“With eyes firmly fixed on the future in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and country, let’s declare together in one voice, right here and right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president.”
- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)

Hillary Speaks

Michelle Speaks