Live from DNC: Bill Get His Digs In
Biden's speech? Surprisingly good. Bill Clinton's? Read between the lines and you see what he thinks of Obama...
8/27 8:05 pm PST
I’ve never been called a man of few words, but let me say this as short as I can — yes, yes, yes I accept the nomination.
Going in, I was dreading Joe Biden’s speech. The man can talk, maybe even as much as I can. Distilled essence of Biden is, I think, the active ingredient in Ambien. So how’d he do tonight?
Short answer: Pretty darn good.
Biden provided us with some very touching biography. Sweet, honest, and affecting. “You know folks, my dad used to have an expression. A father knows his success when he looks at his son or daughter and sees they came out better than he did. I’m a success!” he said, speaking of — and to — his three children.
Some of the speech was awkward. There was one joke where he claimed that, “the eight most dreaded words in the English language [are], the vice president’s office is on the phone.” Huh? And he mangled quite a few words, a couple times when he should have rang them out on applause lines. And he called McCain “a good soldier,” when in fact he was a naval aviator. But those are quibbles.
He got the crowd going on the chant line, “that’s not change, that’s more of the same.” More importantly, Biden delivered the speech the Clintons couldn’t or wouldn’t. It was based on Obama’s themes, not his. His delivery wasn’t Clinton smooth. But he proved an enthusiastic supporter for the top of the ticket, and a pointy-toothed attack dog against the opposition.
Was he right on the facts? He made quite a few mistakes, such as confusing the Taliban for al Qaeda. And who knows where he got the idea that Obama will save us all $2,500 a year on our medical bills. But none of that much matters tonight — Biden did the job required of a veep, and he did it pretty well.
Tonight, when many Americans got their first good look at Joe Biden, the Biden they saw was the best version of Biden I’ve seen in 21 years of watching him. Biden 3.0 came off as smart, likable, feisty — and mercifully, uncharacteristically brief.
“I watched how Barack touched people, inspired them. We have the power to change it. Change is what Barrack Obama will do.”
Oh, Barack has changed plenty just in the last year — on Iraq, the surge, unconditionally meeting with tyrants, his relationship with Weather Underground bomber Bill Ayers.
I can’t wait to see how he changes next.
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Stephen Green writes, broadcasts, and enjoys the occasional lovely adult beverage at the home he shares with his wife and son in Monument, Colorado.
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38 Comments
1. Pajamas Media » Live from DNC: Bill Keeps It Short(Day 3):[...] a little more calm reflection here. If only because, unlike Steve, I don’t drink, so I’m not properly fortified to listen to [...]
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:11 pm 2. TexEd:Willie damned by faint praise! Willie failed to talk about Hussein’s positions on waxey buildup and crabgrass. Willie did, in fact, emphasize that Husssein would be guided by a grown up, Biden, the plagiarizer.
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:13 pm 3. Bob:I really like the 3 star general (ret) named Kennedy. Her (!) blather was also faint praise. Does anyone believe that she would have nade general had she not been a Kennedy?
He did mention “hope.” Pointedly, it was Bill Clinton’s “a place called Hope.” Even Clinton’s riff on his and Obama’s similar amount of youth and experience when running for President and criticism thereof by opponents was slick and ironic. Clinton had been a Governor for eight years. In a word: Obama ain’t me. Ain’t gonna win too.
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:19 pm 4. Pat Patterson:I guess my only question would be did Pres. Clinton get his pound of flesh before or after the anaesthetic was administered to Sen. Obama?
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:25 pm 5. tim maguire:I was surprised at how much camera time Michelle Obama’s scowl got. And Bill’s laundry list of programs that Obama has that are better than McCain’s? I’m real interested in knowing what those might be and after hearing Bill talk about them, I’m still interested in knowing what they might be.
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:36 pm 6. Eric:wow, you didn’t watch the same speech the rest of the world did, did you?
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:39 pm 7. Evil Pundit:What speech were you watching in your imagination, Eric?
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:46 pm 8. Peter Shalen:“When Michelle really smiles, she lights up the entire Pepsi Center.”
Be young and fair and debonair,
Aug 27, 2008 - 7:49 pm 9. ZEITGEIST:Be sociable! Have a Pepsi.
[...] STEPHEN GREEN POSTS a wrapup on Bill Clinton’s speech. [...]
Aug 27, 2008 - 8:08 pm 10. Will T. Power:I come to praise Obama, not bury him. Well, sort of.
Aug 27, 2008 - 8:11 pm 11. Patterico’s Pontifications » Bill Clinton Endorses Barack Obama (Updated):[...] UPDATE: Compare the AP’s positive spin to this thoughtful analysis by Stephen Green at Vodkapundit. [...]
Aug 27, 2008 - 8:20 pm 12. Californio:Wow – this commentary was the anti-Leni Riefenstahl take that I needed after hearing most commentators croak their hoarse thanks to OB_MA, may his name be praised, for deigning to accept the nomination of our newly christened Obamanation. If I were a leftist, I’d be bitterly disappointed about now – BIDEN? Wow, maybe this means every poor person in america will have the chance to incurr debts at 18-36% interest, compounded hourly, and not be able to discharge it in a bankruptcy.
Aug 27, 2008 - 8:55 pm 13. Bullfrog:I am no fan of the Clintons, but I gotta tell you, “Slick Willie” is as impressive as ever; and those on the left are eating it up as much as he is. I think Obama owes him one for the “razzle-dazzle” factor.
Aug 27, 2008 - 9:08 pm 14. Californio:The cheers! The masses of devoted followers! The overbearing cult of personality! So – which is closer to Denver right now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE30CRoFLvk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BddVfcQX-v4
They report – you decide!
Or is it more:
http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/6107.html
Aug 27, 2008 - 9:27 pm 15. wew:Wow, Californio, it only took you 12 comments before you violated Godwin’s Law. Awesome.
One thing I hate about the Democrats, they always try to be civil. Both Biden and Kerry called McCain their friend. One thing I’m looking forward to when the Republicans hold their convention is the absolute unbridled hate, resentment and air of superiority that will be on display. Noone will be calling Obama or Biden their friends. They will be depicted as subhuman vermin, along with the rest of the DemocRATS. Unfortunately, as pleasant as that may be to watch, I don’t think it’s gonna be an effective tactic this year.
Aug 27, 2008 - 10:06 pm 16. Bill Clinton And Biden Wow Democratic Convention But Will It Be Enough?:[...] –Pajamas Media’s Stephen Greene: Going in, I was dreading Joe Biden’s speech. The man can talk, maybe even as much as I can. Distilled essence of Biden is, I think, the active ingredient in Ambien. So how’d he do tonight? [...]
Aug 27, 2008 - 10:52 pm 17. Dave II:Wew-..wow, who’s spewing hate now???
Think I’d wait on deciding who’s showing the most “air of superiority that will be on display” until AFTER you see Obama’s Greek Coronation tomorrow and compare that with McCain’s humble acceptance speech. The difference will be clear to everyone then…
America will surely KNOW who the POMPOUS ASS is after seeing the two men and their TOTALLY different take on becoming the nominee…and the poll’s after will reflect it. Just watch.
Aug 27, 2008 - 11:40 pm 18. S:be thankful Bill Clinton showed up to give this convention some coherence and a theme to work with…and to give a nod of credibility to Obama…
what a bunch of ungrateful twits some of you can be…
Aug 28, 2008 - 12:27 am 19. Lyddea:It was obvious by inspection, Bill did not want to deliver one of his main delegations… it is hard for the Obama camp to admit it but this is a huge problem…
Aug 28, 2008 - 1:32 am 20. Lyddea:That was an incredible speech.
It knid of killed the disunity meed that people have been racing after any aanswwers.
But Why?
Aug 28, 2008 - 1:35 am 21. jvon:Republicans are hateful? Really? You’d never know it from observing Democrat behavior and comparing it to everyone else. Maybe they keep those hateful Republicans caged up somewhere except during the conventions. I’ll keep an eye out.
Aug 28, 2008 - 1:43 am 22. Dark Helmet:Once again , it’s everything that is wrong with America, brought together by ‘obammy glue ‘.
When just about everyone who is a cancer to our nation gets together, it’s pretty damn revolting.
Aug 28, 2008 - 3:39 am 23. crossover:Democrat logic/leadership is so stupid.
They pick a man Biden, that gets 1 percent of the votes.
And we play throw 18 million votes Hillary, off the train.
Bill Clinton makes both of them look like candy asses.
Maybe he should run again in 2012?
Aug 28, 2008 - 4:04 am 24. Plumb Bob Blog » It Depends on What “Ready” Means:[...] Bill Clinton invited us to parse carefully the meanings of the words he uses, and commentator Stephen Green at Pajamas Media does exactly that with Clinton’s speech at the Democratic Convention last night. You have to [...]
Aug 28, 2008 - 5:16 am 25. Wed. Night at the Convention Races:[...] was the speech by Bill Clinton. We will see some of our friends on the Right struggling to “read between the lines” and stir more trouble, but Clinton delivered above and beyond the limit in making it clear [...]
Aug 28, 2008 - 5:28 am 26. Never Yet Melted » The Semiotics of Clinton’s Speech:[...] Stephen Green provides some help in reading between the lines of the former president’s address to the democrat convention last night. [...]
Aug 28, 2008 - 6:03 am 27. Convention Synopsis « Thinking Things Through:[...] too boring for words, but would like to get a little more insight than legacy media gives you, this synopsis is pretty [...]
Aug 28, 2008 - 6:42 am 28. SAL:what’s to say– Obama– maybe he might grow up sometime but who cares– having Biden as Vice President– worst idea Obama could had made– it will so good to have this whole thing over with and start have our new McCain!!!.
Aug 28, 2008 - 9:34 am 29. Believer:There’s one thing Slick Willy shares with the Obamessiah: they’re quite forgiving of evil.
Over at conservativegrapevine.com, Andy McCarthy writes of: “Obama’s Pal: Bill Ayers” giving us more information — especially how the activities continued into the 80’s — and Ayers’ lying about not wanting to kill anyone. The bomb that inadvertently killed his girlfriend was meant for US Soldiers at a dance. Ayers designed the bomb.
We’re reminded that among the many pardons Clinton handed out, one was given a member active in the 80’s. Dohrn had been found in contempt of court for refusing to testify against her.
Aug 28, 2008 - 11:56 am 30. surf66:Obama and the Carpenter
………..
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more–
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”
such is Denver
Aug 28, 2008 - 12:43 pm 31. kay:I think it was some of the best double-speak I have ever heard. Kudos to Bill Clinton with loads of it last night, it was quite brilliant. I love when he ran down his policy ideas one by one, not only are they not Obamas-but it shows he has the ability to explain to an audience who he IS and what he believes IN in 15 minutes that Obama hasn’t even come close to divulging one iota in 15 months. It was no accident Bill went through his policies and ideas in a line-by-line explanation in one place at one time, and squeezing it into a ‘pep-rally’ speech for another candidate shows how little Obama has ever said about doing anything but grandstand bumper-sticker sound bites. The idea was to make everyone realize what an empty straw man Barry is when he gives his acceptance speech tonight. I thought it was also a nice touch that he NEVER said McCain’s name once to give a usable sound bite to the DNC.
I have always been a conservative, but I dislike the Clinton’s the way I dislike the Giant’s being a Redskin’s fan. You can’t ever say Bill and Hillary don’t know what they’re doing.
Aug 28, 2008 - 2:58 pm 32. James:Kay: a brilliant summation of exactly what went on last night! And did you notice how subdued the crowd was when Mr. Wonderful (himself)made his ’surprise’ visit at the end? I still can’t get over the looks on the faces of the delegates in the hall during Hillary’s address the prior night…like, “where did this talented and brilliant lady come from and why isn’t she running for President?”
The Clinton’s are definitely smart and in a very cool way! Just goes to show the mentality of the mob now at the helm of the Democratic Party. This was all so above their intellects.
Aug 28, 2008 - 4:24 pm 33. kay:Wait until we hear the same old speech tonight the Dems have been giving us for 40 years. Of course, the fact that liberals create all these problems, from carefully engineered racial tensions to giving breaks to foreign companies(and enthusiastic donors) insuring our inability to afford to pay the American worker.
These are the same idiots that put Amercian flag and Obama stickers on Toyota Camrys not realizing that that car was made here in a plant subsidized by taxpayer dollars with huge tax loopholes in a poor area of the US(where any job makes a local politician a hero)by workers allowed to be employed in part-time uninsured positions at wages a domestic automaker would never be allowed to pay(ironically due to unions that also own liberal politicians). But its the Republican’s fault we have to have Fords built in Mexico…
Aug 28, 2008 - 6:48 pm 34. kay:Oh, but back to topic, Michelle Obama’s facial expressions were classic when Bill was on stage. That woman is so full of hate I thought I was going to see spontanious combustion for the first time live on TV.
Aug 28, 2008 - 6:53 pm 35. jennyjen:I really Love the Clintons, honestly. My boss is good buddies with Brother Bill and that gave me the opportunity to meet Bill- he is freakin awesome to hang out with. He’s just a normal guy, totally down 2 earth. I miss Bill
Aug 29, 2008 - 1:56 pm 36. kay:Hillary is smart-I’ve never really been a big fan of hers but I’d choose her and 10 like her before I voted for Obama
At least with the Clinton’s you have a couple of powerhouses that believes in their party and can come up with a plan-and can lead this nation, for better or worse. With Barry, you just have a puppet, completely controlled by his handlers. Just look to the desperate rush to get Hillary back in the running through the last few primaries. They were in a panic attack that Obama was really going to win the nomination. An Obama sticker on a car should just read ‘SUCKER on board’….
Aug 29, 2008 - 3:49 pm 37. John M:Let’s skip to the real problem in America. It is called lack of shame
Aug 29, 2008 - 7:25 pm 38. Peoples Press Collective » Impeached Prez Speaks to Dems– Biden Talks Long- Messiah Appears:It is time Americans became accountable to God. In the end he will Judge everyone so wake up and stop the Lying,cheating and also the Genocide of our future end Abortion.Some say women will lose their rights how about refraining from bad choices and honor God so he can honor you. All great Nations fall because of a Lack of Morality.God can mend broken marriages,broken dreams,loss of jobs the list goes on
and God has all the answers.In Acts 2:38 it saids Repent and be Baptized. In Romans I till tells us who is going to Hell if they don”t
heed Acts 2:38.Before it is too late pay attention to this not the Politicians of either party they will also be Judged aswell.
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Aug 31, 2008 - 8:17 pm