Live blogging: Obama’s big night
August 28, 2008 at 9:42 pm by Wayne GarciaI’m here. Let’s rock this joint.
The good thing about having Al Gore go first is that there is nowhere for Obama to go but up.
(For those who missed last night, the speech is shown above. Take a look and let us know in comments how you think he did.)
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Just got here myself. Glad everyone, including the candidate, plans a late night.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
My apologies to you all, I got stuck over in Pinellas and had to drive back over to Tampa. I listened to last half-hour on NPR, and it sounded better than it really looked. The NPR folks are out of their minds with glee, which is really unbecoming
August 28th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
MSNBC claiming 11 minutes to magic hour.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
if Al Gore would’ve spoken like that in 2000, he might’ve won.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Barney Smith/ Smith Barney - loved him
August 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
i love barney smith. good ol’ midwesterners
August 28th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Hey did you hear the news that Republicans might postpone their convention, or compress it, if Gustav hits New Orleans bringing up uncomfortable associations with Brownie-you’re-doing-a-heckuva-job?
August 28th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Alex — He must’ve looked better than he sounded.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
And if anyone saw it, did Michael McDonald badly flub some of the lyrics to America the Beautiful?
August 28th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
DW — perhaps the rebuilt Superdome in NOLA is open next week and the GOP can move its convention there to show its resolve with the people of New Orleans
August 28th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Mark whatsisname on PBS - very funny - Gore’s teeth “a tribute to American orthodontists” - he’s tired of these dutiful politicians taking “the Cotton Mather approach to politics”
Brooks not bad either - more young people at this event than at Pepsi Center and “they actually look good dancing”
August 28th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Mad Max Superdome!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Dickey D!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
let’s see how many Dick jokes we can log
August 28th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Dick Turban - new Democratic novelty condom
August 28th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Dick’s hair is blown!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Feel the excitement that is Dick Durbin.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Durbin needs a better wig
August 28th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
My mother caught me dick-durbin’
August 28th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
It’s a wise choice by Obama to follow Durban. He could get a triple and it would look like a grand slam.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I am willing to fly to Denver tonight and pay $100 to hear a Democratic speaker say something original, heartfelt and real instead of the canned and old rhetoric that has characterized many of the speeches that I have heard. Except for Brian Schweitzer
August 28th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Is it just me, or does he look like Mel Torme?(That’s the Velvet Fog, nerdy-looking singer with great voice, for you youngsters)
August 28th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Most arbitrary ending of a speech ever!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Seriously, if you were the head of the DNC, and you had the choice of any Democrat in America, would you choose Dick Durbin warm up the crowd for Obama? Methinks not.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Torme-esque
August 28th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Here comes the feel good movie.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
did anyone else think the “REAL” americans were coached with their hand signals?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I’ve noticed that PBS seems the only network that shows the pre-produced films full screen; the cables show it from a screen in the stadium pulled back so you can see where it is being played
August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Mother’s mini-dress with the zipper - fashion police alert!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Anyone read Robert Novak having a heart attack that McCain might select Lieberman as VP. That worked so well for Gore.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
good evening gents. and ladies. are there ANY ladies here?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Speaking of the film, Ken Burns and Spielberg produced the other nights’ big films, but tonight’s was done by the hacks at the Party? C’mon, given the progression, shouldn’t Coppola or Scorsese done the Obama flick?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Now we get the mandatory biographical film.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Stephen is like those dudes who pop into AOL chat rooms and do a sex/age check
August 28th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
j/k stephen
August 28th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
They were going to use Scorsese, but they couldn’t get the clearance for all the Stones songs he wanted to use.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
i think Olbermann went overboard with reading advance quotes from the speech. Matthews finally got him to shut up about it. Those two definitely do not get along.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Holla!! From the brewing company in sarasota.
Biden rocked and stevie? Hello! I’m on an iPhone and getting little service so forgive me…
August 28th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
And tonight’s Better Living Through Circuitry award winner is: downtowner!
Way to represent.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Olbermann has been terrible covering this convention, I had a college student even complain to me about him tonight
August 28th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
glad to have Sarasota in the house
August 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
The informercial will make viewers change the channel. That’s change the Obama campaign doesn’t want. I’m watching this on C-SPAN.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Oh and there are lots of dems here and only one heckler so far
August 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
MSNBC shows the movie full screen. CNN shows the stadium setting with a smaller image of the film. But CNN is in HD so it’s a wash.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Here’s the info on GOP considering a convention delay: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tbo/news/~3/377661662/
August 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
sarasota. holla.
yeah. i said it.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I love the grandfather taking him to see the astronauts - OK, I’m totally being sucked in by this bio
August 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I’m an Olbermann fan and I would call his performance thus far an embarrassment.
I saw a note today somewhere about how the absence of Tim Russert has left a hole in the center of NBC’s election coverage. Unfortunately, all that’s left is a bunch of jackasses fighting for air time.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
At the brewing co. with downtowner. The vibe here is great. Lots of positive people have been attentively watching the big screens breaking into cheers at the occasional mention of Obama. More in a bit.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Stephen is like those dudes who pop into AOL chat rooms and do a sex/age check
Wayne, how would you know? Research, I’m sure.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
rocky theme. needed.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Pretty awe-inspiring entrance by Obama. That’ll definitely work in McCain’s favor. ;-)
August 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
wow. lots of flashbulbs
August 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
the grandfather, astronaut, waving a little flag thing was genius, best moment of the convention
August 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Barack and Michelle have this unfortunate tendency to purse their lips in times of triumph
August 28th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
thx joe! Lotof cheers for the last montage and… Obama!!\\\’
August 28th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
He’s going to thank the crowd individually.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
OK, I gotta get this laptop off my lap and just watch this thing
August 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
well, the suspense is over
August 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
DW caves to the new media pressure.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Garcia: How’s it look in Hi-Def?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
OK, I caved back in - and a question: Are the Clintons present tonight?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
“And now that I got the Clintons mention out of the way, let me get on with this speech …”
August 28th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Looks amazing in hi-def, you can see every one of Biden’s hair plugs
August 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
We knew the shout out to Hillary was coming.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
All right, you gotta admit the kids are the most adorable since Caroline and John-John (John Edwards’ kids could have competed, but Dad…)
August 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I knew you’d be back DW.
Hillary was supposed to be there, but Bill wasn’t going to be.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe, among other Clintonites, are reported to have skipped the big speech, pissing off some Dems
August 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
you know, if anything tips this, it might be Obama’s kids. they’re young and they really put off that Camelot vibe.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Hate what he does with his hands… so preacherly
August 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
He looks very presidential
August 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
thank you… thank you… thank you very much… thank you…
August 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Can I get a round of applause for falling home values?
Woo!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Enough!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Sits on his hands while a major city drowns - you go, Mr. O
August 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Pretty awe-inspiring entrance by Obama. That’ll definitely work in McCain’s favor.
Joe, if you read InstaPundit and Michelle Malkin then you will find out that everything works in McCain’s favor. I’m curious as to how the Bush convention endorsement will help McCain.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
finally he mentions New Orleans, indirectly.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
he actually looked angry there. wow, is that a democrat who can attack the republicans with spine?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Is_Enough
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
eight is enough - isn’t this his second reference to a cheesy family sitcom? (Michelle memorized every episode of the Brady Bunch, according to earlier bio video)
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
“8 is enough.”
Nice line.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
don’t mess with Dick Van Patten
August 28th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
i’m not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change - he’s doing it
August 28th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
“I’m not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change.”
the money line
August 28th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Michael: It will be great for McCain. Because it’s something that happens, and anything that happens is good for John McCain.
Because he’s a POW.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Or *former* POW, I should say.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
these are the Americans I know — Barack Obama
These are the Daves I know — Kids in the Hall
August 28th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
“John McCain doesn’t get it.”
August 28th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
But now for news that is really important, from HuffPo:
LOS ANGELES — David Duchovny has entered a rehabilitation facility for sex addiction.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Obama’s in attack mode. This is a surprise.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
It’s not just that he’s a good speechmaker - it’s that, unlike so many of these other speechmakers, he believes what he’s saying and he seems smart enough to do something about it
August 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
The truth is out there.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Barack is smoking hot tonight
August 28th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
backtrack - wasn’t David Duchovny in a TV show about sex addiction? What some guys won’t do to promote their projects
August 28th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
DW — bingo
August 28th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Mmmm … that is good Hi-Def.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
DW: I guess that was an under-the-radar reality show.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Duchovny played a sex addict on Californication
August 28th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Californication - Showtime unreality
August 28th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
ah reppin the grandma!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Full txt of speech:
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/08/obamas_speech.html
August 28th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
GREAT dig against the celebrity charge
August 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
thank you… thank you… thank you very much… thank you…
August 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
and of course, Duchovny played a chronic masturbator in Zoolander
August 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
It’s a Showtime series and the second season starts in a month. could this really be hype for it? what the heck is a sex addict, anyway?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Obama’s such a smooth speaker that when he does catch on a word, like he just did there on “drive”, I find it really jarring. Like when a great musician hits a bum note in the middle of a smoking jam but then gets right back on track.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I’ve been waiting for the no boots line
August 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Idiotwind: If you don’t know, you are one.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
i like the i am my sisters keeper
August 28th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
10 years to end oil dependence. It’s a hell of a goal.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
hey, just because i can type with one hand …
August 28th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
end our dependence on foriegn oil in ten years… hm. how is that possible?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Joe, McCain was a POW? I didn’t know. The Maverick’s staff needs to tell McCain to mention that at every poorly attended rally.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Washington’s been talking about energy conservation for 30 years, John McCain’s been there for 26 f them - excellent
August 28th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
not possible to end oil dependence in 10 years. flat out not possible
August 28th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Teachers gettin’ a raise.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
did he say recruit an army of nude teachers? I’m going back to school
August 28th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Gonna need it now that everyone’s going to college.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
WG: Don’t set idiotwind off with talk of nude teachers. He’s already down one hand.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Obama goes down as the only presidential candidate to give a State of the Union speech before being elected to the office
August 28th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Joe — Idiotwind can just type with his tongue for a while
August 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Thank God we don’t have webcams yet.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
oh, yeah, another politician promising to cut government spending. never heard that one before.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
This is the part where we get out marching orders. Am I going to have to sign a pledge that I’ll recycle?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
blogosphere is alive with reports that McCain won’t leak his veep tonight so as not to step on Obama
August 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Mitt’s gonna have to wait just one more day …
August 28th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
WG: Goes to show what a vacuum there is at the top.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
bring. it. on.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Anyone still really believe Bin Laden lives in a cave?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
snap! anyone got a flashlight!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
why does everyone assume that Osama is living in a cave? I bet dude has a sweet 3/2 condo in Kandahar with (you guessed it, Joe) HDTV with Dish Network
August 28th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
If Bin Laden is watching this on a better setup than I am, the terrorists have clearly won!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Obama: John McCain said he would follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, but he won’t even follow him to his cave.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Cue the Lee Greenwood!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
patriotism aria is amazing
August 28th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
A little “greatest hits” action from Obama with the red/blue/one United States of America line.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
very powerful stuff from Obama tonight on the war and partisanship, he looks supremely confident without being cocky, tough thing to pull off
August 28th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Duchovny played a sex addict on Californication
The Mulder character did read the Adult Video News.
Anyone still really believe Bin Laden lives in a cave?
It’s highly likely. bin Laden doesn’t want to be seen by a satellite.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
tread … lightly …
August 28th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
guns … gays … gulp …
August 28th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Obama is hitting on his message on how the red and blue states can find common ground. He’s nailing it. Someone bring Dirk Durbin back out.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
God no!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
guns.. gays… no gulp - he made a reasoned argument - hey, like someone sane and intelligent - imagine such a thing in the American presidency
August 28th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Gays With Guns would be a great name for a punk rock band
August 28th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
He slowed down over those lines, like he was making sure he got them exactly right. He also explicitly avoided saying “gay marriage” while showing solidarity with gays.
Shrewd.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
My political consulting strategy for Obama: pull the plug on all TV ads, staff, grassroots, etc. Run off a few million copies of this speech on DVD, mail them to centrist undecided voters with the offer that if they watch it all the way through, there is an offer at the end for a $50 check for their time and trouble.
He’d win in a landslide
August 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Gays with Guns - Gregg Araki already been there, done that - execrable movie called The Living End
August 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
inex-strip-ably linked?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
He really owns these moments. Will it be enough to lead?
We’ll find out starting in January.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
He had to make the best speech of the convention, and he did it
August 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
and he sticks the landing
August 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I remember Pat Buchanan’s culture wars speech at the 1992 Republican National Convention. It’s hard to believe a speech like this can be given at a convention.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Alan Jackson? Really? Alan Jackson?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
gawd, who the hell picked out the music at this convention?!?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
He just lost the youth vote!!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
a country song for the finale. nice.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I’m going to need more and bigger fireworks.
August 28th, 2008