Thursday, October 9th, 2008
My Dear America:
It has certainly been a wild and bumpy ride on this year's Road To The White House and it is far from over yet. This has been a year of incredibles in every way, shape and form and it is only prudent to expect that there will be more mind blowing incredible things to come, although it is difficult to anticipate what could be more incredible than what we have already seen.
What have we seen that is incredible. Well lets see.
One incredible thing that has happened or more accurately two incredible things that have happened is that both Democratic and Republican Last Candidates Standing were not the Candidates that the party pros would have picked at the beginning of January. The Mavericks in both parties took the lead the hard way. They earned it. And now they are racing each other toward the finish line. INCREDIBLE
Hillary Clinton proved to be a formidible candidate and a very aggressive opponent of Barack Obama. After the bloodletting Primary Campaign was over even though many of Hillary's backers were angry to begin with when Hillary endorsed Barack she meant it and both Hillary and Bill Clinton proved to be Barack backers with a Capital B at the Incredible Denver Convention. Barack, Joe Biden,The Clintons and the Convention were INCREDIBLE.
The Republican Convention was just as Incredible as the Democratic Convention. John McCain immediately took the wind out of the Democratic Sails on the Friday after the Democratic Convention by announcing his Vice Presidential pick, Sarah Palin. The Conventioners loved her and she was especially greeted with enthusiasm by the Republican Religious Right, who were overjoyed to see someone who was just as extreme as they were taking the second spot on the ticket. Sarah soon showed that although she was an attractive Hockey Mom Governor she had a few skeletons in her closet. Her unmarried daughter was pregnant and evidence was mounting that Sarah had put pressure on the Alaska Director of Public Safety to fire her ex brother in law. Although the ex brother in law was still on the job the Alaska Director of Public Safety was no longer in his. He had been fired. Sarah said it was for reasons other than refusing to fire the ex brother in law. Now the McCain Campaign is involved in trying to shut down the scandal before it completely finishes their candidate. INCREDIBLE.
And then there is the most Incredible development of all. The impending Financial Collapse on Wall Street. McCain at first claimed that it was all an illusion and that the fundamentals of our ecomomy are sound. Shortly after he realized how dire things really were he changed his tune and the man who claimed to know nothing about the economy was suddenly acting like an expert and claimed to suspend his campaign while he flew back to Washington to help alleviate the crisis. He also threatened not to show up for the First Presidential Debate and wanted to delay the debate. Obama refused to follow the bait. He allowed McCain to suspend his campaign and rush back to Washington. Then Bush and his financial team came up with the idea of a bail out package for Wall Street with a price tag of 700 Billion Dollars. Not only was that amount incredible. The original proposal from the White House and Henry Paulsen would have placed that amount of money in Mr. Paulsen's hands with no oversight of any kind. He would not even have had to answer to the courts in the first proposal. That proposal was not approved and finally a more realistic proposal with oversight and with some curtailing of million dollar parachutes for escaping wall street executives was part of the final deal.
McCain and Bush, the proud deregulators had insisted "Hands off Wall Street". These guys wanted no part of Nationalizing Health Care but now they wanted Wall Street Nationalized.
Just think of what the rest of us could have done with 700 Billion Dollars. We could have paid for a National Health Care Program. And where in the world is this money going to come. From Chinese and the Middle Eastern Bankers who must be continuing to chuckle as we continue to show them that they are in charge of our financial situation, not us.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
I fear for our safety in the future and what I fear most is that this Ship of Fools that we are on could possibly Continue with Captain McCain taking over for Captain Bush. If that happens, God Help Us.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Invasion Of The Mind Snatchers
Saturday, September 13th, 2008
My Dear America:
On a Saturday afternoon in a decade long past I went to the movies in Clark Summit, Pennsylvania and saw a film called "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". It was a science fiction film, a genre I really enjoyed. Unlike most science fiction films, though, It didn't have a giant Ant, Gorilla,Creature from the Black Lagoon or some other scary monster that you could see and by seeing be less scared of because you figured that the plot of the movie probably couldn't happen.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was different. It was the story of a Doctor who returns to his small town and finds that one by one all of the people he has known in his town are being replaced by emotionless individuals who have been grown from pods that have dropped from the sky and when placed by a person when they sleep they replicate the body and mind of that person. Just not the emotions. I still remember coming out of that theater feeling more than a bit paranoid as I looked at the people of my small town going about their business just as if nothing had happened. Of course nothing had happened to them, unless they had seen the movie like I did.
I had that same strange feeling as I watched the Republican Convention less than two weeks ago that I had when Kevin McCarthy (the Doctor in the Movie) woke up and realized just how dangerous his world had become. We have seen in the past two weeks some mind control of epic proportions.
Sarah Palin has arrived on the Republican Scene and this hot looking bible beating, book banning, Barack bashing, mother of five and Governor of Alaska has transformed John McCain from an also ran into a fast runner. Palin was noticeably absent from Sunday Talk Shows last Sunday, the Sunday after the Republican Convention. Certainly there may have been a lot of reasons for that, such as her meager foreign policy experience. But one has to really wonder about the power of the Religious Right Wing, who have embraced Sarah Palin as one of their own and a reason to finally get on board the Straight Talk Express.
Many bizarre and weird things have happened since Sarah has arrived on the 2008 Political Scene. Many of the most bizarre scenes occurred at the Republican Convention in St. Paul. There was the Night of a Thousand Political Losers starring Arkansas Traveler, Mike Huckabee, Plastic Mitt Romney and, Of Course, Ruthless Rudy Giuliani. One had to admire Texas Congressman, Ron Paul for having the good sense to avoid the Republican Convention like the Plague. He had his own convention of his own offbeat followers across the river from St. Paul. I only saw Romney's and Giuliani's speeches. I missed Huckabee's speech, although I saw a comment about it on Jon Stewart's "Daily Show". I got the impression from Stewart's show that Huckabee's speech was hard to fathom. Romney and Giuliani sounded like completely different people than they were in the campaign, where they had little good to say about John McCain. While that was not surprising, the level of venom spewed by Romney and especially Giuliani was extremely mean spirited and obnoxious.
Giuliani looked and sounded like a snake snarling and spitting into the St. Paul night. It was a surprisingly disturbing sight. Rudy on a good night looks Ugly. On this night at the convention, though, Rudy looked as though he had truly been beaten to within an inch of his life with the Ugly Stick.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
My Dear America:
On a Saturday afternoon in a decade long past I went to the movies in Clark Summit, Pennsylvania and saw a film called "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". It was a science fiction film, a genre I really enjoyed. Unlike most science fiction films, though, It didn't have a giant Ant, Gorilla,Creature from the Black Lagoon or some other scary monster that you could see and by seeing be less scared of because you figured that the plot of the movie probably couldn't happen.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was different. It was the story of a Doctor who returns to his small town and finds that one by one all of the people he has known in his town are being replaced by emotionless individuals who have been grown from pods that have dropped from the sky and when placed by a person when they sleep they replicate the body and mind of that person. Just not the emotions. I still remember coming out of that theater feeling more than a bit paranoid as I looked at the people of my small town going about their business just as if nothing had happened. Of course nothing had happened to them, unless they had seen the movie like I did.
I had that same strange feeling as I watched the Republican Convention less than two weeks ago that I had when Kevin McCarthy (the Doctor in the Movie) woke up and realized just how dangerous his world had become. We have seen in the past two weeks some mind control of epic proportions.
Sarah Palin has arrived on the Republican Scene and this hot looking bible beating, book banning, Barack bashing, mother of five and Governor of Alaska has transformed John McCain from an also ran into a fast runner. Palin was noticeably absent from Sunday Talk Shows last Sunday, the Sunday after the Republican Convention. Certainly there may have been a lot of reasons for that, such as her meager foreign policy experience. But one has to really wonder about the power of the Religious Right Wing, who have embraced Sarah Palin as one of their own and a reason to finally get on board the Straight Talk Express.
Many bizarre and weird things have happened since Sarah has arrived on the 2008 Political Scene. Many of the most bizarre scenes occurred at the Republican Convention in St. Paul. There was the Night of a Thousand Political Losers starring Arkansas Traveler, Mike Huckabee, Plastic Mitt Romney and, Of Course, Ruthless Rudy Giuliani. One had to admire Texas Congressman, Ron Paul for having the good sense to avoid the Republican Convention like the Plague. He had his own convention of his own offbeat followers across the river from St. Paul. I only saw Romney's and Giuliani's speeches. I missed Huckabee's speech, although I saw a comment about it on Jon Stewart's "Daily Show". I got the impression from Stewart's show that Huckabee's speech was hard to fathom. Romney and Giuliani sounded like completely different people than they were in the campaign, where they had little good to say about John McCain. While that was not surprising, the level of venom spewed by Romney and especially Giuliani was extremely mean spirited and obnoxious.
Giuliani looked and sounded like a snake snarling and spitting into the St. Paul night. It was a surprisingly disturbing sight. Rudy on a good night looks Ugly. On this night at the convention, though, Rudy looked as though he had truly been beaten to within an inch of his life with the Ugly Stick.
After Rudy slithered off the Convention Stage even a Half Ugly Human Being would have looked good. Certainly Sarah Palin following Rudy Giuliani was like a movie star following the Hunchback of Notre Dame on stage.
Sarah was folksy for a bit and then got quickly to her message which obviously was to trash and shred Obama. Disrespect was the watchword for Sarah and she did her shredding job as well as McCain or anyone else could have expected.
McCain on Thursday Night was the Man, The Candidate, The Honorable One and then the Convention ended on a high note and has continued since then on a series of low notes. But clearly what looked like an iffy pick for Vice President has turned out to be a positive for John McCain.
The mind snatchers have returned once again. Watch out for the Pods, America. This is a very scary time.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
John McCain, Where Are You
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
10:30 AM
My Dear America:
Even Democrats may be starting to feel sorry for John McCain these Days. On what was to be the second day of the Republican Convention it seems as though John McCain has disappeared. He was spotted at the end of last week introducing his Vice Presidential pick, Sarah Palin to the world. He really did something on Friday that I would not have thought was impossible. On the day after Barack Obama's incredibly successful Acceptance Speech at the Democratic Convention John McCain's stunning Vice Presidential announcement stole Barack's momentum and lit up the airwaves and McCain's Conservative support, which had at best been lukewarm up until then. But it didn't take long for the bloom to come off McCain's unlikely pick.
To be sure Sarah Palin is an Exciting American Story. She was a good student, standout basketball player and coach and a Hockey Mom who married her High School Sweetheart. She started with the PTA and graduated to City Council, Mayor of a small town and ended up a popular governor of Alaska. Although she seems to be very popular with Alaskans one Alaskan State legislator indicated that he could not figure out why John McCain picked her and questioned whether McCain had a recent head injury.
Television Talking Heads who claim to know something about the process say that John McCain was steadfast in wanting to pick former Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate, Joe Lieberman but was finally convinced by a McCain Confidante that anti Lieberman sentiment was so high in the Republican Party that it could quite possibly blow up the Republican Convention. At the last minute McCain backed down and out came Palin on Friday. And along with Palin is word that she fired Alaska's Commisioner of Public Safety because he would not buckle and fire her ex Brother in Law, who is a State Trooper and is involved in a custody battle with Palin's sister. As if that wasn't enough bad news for McCain, word also leaked out that Sarah Palin's teenage daughter is pregnant.
One has to admire Barack Obama for letting the world know very quickly that the families of candidates should be off limits and that he would have nothing to say about Sarah's daughter's situation. Obama was kind enough to remind reporters that his mother was a teenager when she had him.
In addition it seems odd, to say the least, to note that after James Dobson's prayers for rain to ruin Barack's Acceptance Speech night, that the rather sick joke was on Dobson. Barack could not have asked for better weather for his big night in Denver. On the other hand Hurricane Gustav virtually shut down the Republican Convention in St. Paul Monday. The first night of the Convention was on the same day Gustav hit landfall in New Orleans and elsewhere in the Gulf Coast. Yesterday, Monday night, Bush and Cheney were scheduled to speak but of course they didn't. In the end that might have been more of a plus than a minus for John McCain.
Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, who was also scheduled to speak this week at the Republican Convention said he wouldn't make it either. He is running the show in Louisiana and has had the good sense to continue to put his concentration where it needed to be. Jindal was on McCain's short list of VP Contenders. He is doing a magnificent job this time out in making sure that there is no repeat of Katrina. He is doing so well that I am sure there are many Republican hand wringers who are saying:
"Bobby, Why didn't he go with Bobby J."?
McCain may very well be one of those hand wringers.
So to Dr. Dobson who prayed for rain to drown the Democrats I can only Say "Hey Brother Dobson, God has answered your prayers. You wanted rain. You got rain. God just got to it a little later than you wanted him to. And it did, in fact, ruin a Convention. Just not the one you wanted ruined, Dr. Dobson."
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
10:30 AM
My Dear America:
Even Democrats may be starting to feel sorry for John McCain these Days. On what was to be the second day of the Republican Convention it seems as though John McCain has disappeared. He was spotted at the end of last week introducing his Vice Presidential pick, Sarah Palin to the world. He really did something on Friday that I would not have thought was impossible. On the day after Barack Obama's incredibly successful Acceptance Speech at the Democratic Convention John McCain's stunning Vice Presidential announcement stole Barack's momentum and lit up the airwaves and McCain's Conservative support, which had at best been lukewarm up until then. But it didn't take long for the bloom to come off McCain's unlikely pick.
To be sure Sarah Palin is an Exciting American Story. She was a good student, standout basketball player and coach and a Hockey Mom who married her High School Sweetheart. She started with the PTA and graduated to City Council, Mayor of a small town and ended up a popular governor of Alaska. Although she seems to be very popular with Alaskans one Alaskan State legislator indicated that he could not figure out why John McCain picked her and questioned whether McCain had a recent head injury.
Television Talking Heads who claim to know something about the process say that John McCain was steadfast in wanting to pick former Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate, Joe Lieberman but was finally convinced by a McCain Confidante that anti Lieberman sentiment was so high in the Republican Party that it could quite possibly blow up the Republican Convention. At the last minute McCain backed down and out came Palin on Friday. And along with Palin is word that she fired Alaska's Commisioner of Public Safety because he would not buckle and fire her ex Brother in Law, who is a State Trooper and is involved in a custody battle with Palin's sister. As if that wasn't enough bad news for McCain, word also leaked out that Sarah Palin's teenage daughter is pregnant.
One has to admire Barack Obama for letting the world know very quickly that the families of candidates should be off limits and that he would have nothing to say about Sarah's daughter's situation. Obama was kind enough to remind reporters that his mother was a teenager when she had him.
In addition it seems odd, to say the least, to note that after James Dobson's prayers for rain to ruin Barack's Acceptance Speech night, that the rather sick joke was on Dobson. Barack could not have asked for better weather for his big night in Denver. On the other hand Hurricane Gustav virtually shut down the Republican Convention in St. Paul Monday. The first night of the Convention was on the same day Gustav hit landfall in New Orleans and elsewhere in the Gulf Coast. Yesterday, Monday night, Bush and Cheney were scheduled to speak but of course they didn't. In the end that might have been more of a plus than a minus for John McCain.
Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, who was also scheduled to speak this week at the Republican Convention said he wouldn't make it either. He is running the show in Louisiana and has had the good sense to continue to put his concentration where it needed to be. Jindal was on McCain's short list of VP Contenders. He is doing a magnificent job this time out in making sure that there is no repeat of Katrina. He is doing so well that I am sure there are many Republican hand wringers who are saying:
"Bobby, Why didn't he go with Bobby J."?
McCain may very well be one of those hand wringers.
So to Dr. Dobson who prayed for rain to drown the Democrats I can only Say "Hey Brother Dobson, God has answered your prayers. You wanted rain. You got rain. God just got to it a little later than you wanted him to. And it did, in fact, ruin a Convention. Just not the one you wanted ruined, Dr. Dobson."
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
Saturday, August 30, 2008
On a Beautiful and Historic Night in Denver Barack Obama Gives The Speech Of His Lifetime and Knocks It Out Of Mile High Stadium
Saturday, August 30th, 2008
2:19 PM
My Dear America:
Thursday, August 28th, 2008 was a night that was destined to go down in history. There was no doubt about that. Barack Obama was coming at the end of this evening to accept the Democratic Party's 2008 Nomination for President of the United States of America.
The Warm Up Music included performances by Michael McDonald, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder. The Warm Up Speakers included Howard Dean, Bill Richardson and Al Gore. You knew that this was going to be a Super Important Night. Of that there was no doubt. There was a stageful of retired Army, Navy and Air Force Brass. I can't recall any Marine Generals, although there may have been one or two. The group included Wesley Clark, although he was not the one who spoke for the Millitary Brass. The gentleman who did speak for the group made it clear that these Generals and Admirals had confidence in and had already pledged their support to the man who would soon accept the Democratic Mantle.
But the most impressive speakers in the Pre Barack show included a bunch of regular folks, at least some of them recently retired from the Republican Pary, who told their heartbreaking stories of being left behind by the Bush Administration during the last 8 years. They were people who had worked hard and expected their government to help them and be there for them in their hour of need but found out the hard way that when they lost their jobs and their health care and their businesses that they were no longer the deserving party faithful.
They were on their own.
But on this special, historic night in Denver they had finally found an audience willing to listen to these voices crying out in the wilderness for help. There were plenty more stories like theirs out there and tonight they were speaking with and for the multitude.
Barney Smith was a proud, Ex Republican, who was one of the group that graced the Mile High Stadium Stage. He was certainly one of the least impressive speakers of the night but he had what was probably one of the most impressive speech lines of the night when he informed the nationwide crowd:
"I want a President who cares more about Barney Smith than about Smith Barney."
Clearly the crowd reaction told Barney Smith that he was not alone.
And then came Senator Dick Durban, the Illinois Senator who had introduced Barack Obama at the 2004 Convention where Barack, not even an elected Senator yet, gave the Keynote address and brought the house down. Dick Durban was back on the podium in 2008 introducing Barack Obama again. This time, though, Barack Obama, was more than the keynote speaker at this Convention. He was the key speaker. He was the 2008 Nominee.
The stadium crowd erupted in adulation for this kid from the wrong side of the tracks who had turned his life around and in so doing turned a lot of other kid's lives around. As Barack, the Talented Orator took off you could feel it even watching the show on TV. This was a night of profound history. As Barack gave his Acceptance Speech it was the 25th Anniversary of the day that Martin Luther King gave his "I have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C..
At the beginning of this Campaign when the Debate Stages were still filled with such Democratic hopefuls as Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Hillary Clinton, it was hard to imagine that on this August Night in Denver it would actually be Barack and not Hillary making their acceptance speech. It had been a long, sometimes ugly but always interesting Democratic Primary Campaign. The Democratic Party Convention, even at the beginning of this Convention week looked as though it could still turn ugly again. After all, The Clintons were being featured on two Convention speech nights. Certainly that was dangerous, others must have told Barack Obama and Howard Dean. But if there is one thing that the Clintons understand about Politics it is that politics truly does make some strange bedfellows and that Unity is everything in Democratic Party Politics.
So in the end after this ugly and contentious primary The Clintons came through for Barack Obama and on this beautiful Denver night Barack gave the speech of his lifetime, thus far, anyway. The speech was a well crafted litany of why Barack should be elected and why John McCain should not be. Anyone who has not seen it should see it and hopefully pay attention to it.
In the end the entire Democratic Denver Convention went off very smoothly and it was certainly a love fest for not only Barack and Michelle Obama and their kids. But it was also a love fest for the Clinton's, as well, Those Democratic Stalwarts, who went home from the Denver convention with as many good memories and as much good will as The Obamas and the Bidens.
It had, indeed, been a historic night in Denver and in America Millions of Black Youngsters had been shown just what heights they could aspire to. America would never quite be the same country again.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
2:19 PM
My Dear America:
Thursday, August 28th, 2008 was a night that was destined to go down in history. There was no doubt about that. Barack Obama was coming at the end of this evening to accept the Democratic Party's 2008 Nomination for President of the United States of America.
The Warm Up Music included performances by Michael McDonald, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder. The Warm Up Speakers included Howard Dean, Bill Richardson and Al Gore. You knew that this was going to be a Super Important Night. Of that there was no doubt. There was a stageful of retired Army, Navy and Air Force Brass. I can't recall any Marine Generals, although there may have been one or two. The group included Wesley Clark, although he was not the one who spoke for the Millitary Brass. The gentleman who did speak for the group made it clear that these Generals and Admirals had confidence in and had already pledged their support to the man who would soon accept the Democratic Mantle.
But the most impressive speakers in the Pre Barack show included a bunch of regular folks, at least some of them recently retired from the Republican Pary, who told their heartbreaking stories of being left behind by the Bush Administration during the last 8 years. They were people who had worked hard and expected their government to help them and be there for them in their hour of need but found out the hard way that when they lost their jobs and their health care and their businesses that they were no longer the deserving party faithful.
They were on their own.
But on this special, historic night in Denver they had finally found an audience willing to listen to these voices crying out in the wilderness for help. There were plenty more stories like theirs out there and tonight they were speaking with and for the multitude.
Barney Smith was a proud, Ex Republican, who was one of the group that graced the Mile High Stadium Stage. He was certainly one of the least impressive speakers of the night but he had what was probably one of the most impressive speech lines of the night when he informed the nationwide crowd:
"I want a President who cares more about Barney Smith than about Smith Barney."
Clearly the crowd reaction told Barney Smith that he was not alone.
And then came Senator Dick Durban, the Illinois Senator who had introduced Barack Obama at the 2004 Convention where Barack, not even an elected Senator yet, gave the Keynote address and brought the house down. Dick Durban was back on the podium in 2008 introducing Barack Obama again. This time, though, Barack Obama, was more than the keynote speaker at this Convention. He was the key speaker. He was the 2008 Nominee.
The stadium crowd erupted in adulation for this kid from the wrong side of the tracks who had turned his life around and in so doing turned a lot of other kid's lives around. As Barack, the Talented Orator took off you could feel it even watching the show on TV. This was a night of profound history. As Barack gave his Acceptance Speech it was the 25th Anniversary of the day that Martin Luther King gave his "I have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C..
At the beginning of this Campaign when the Debate Stages were still filled with such Democratic hopefuls as Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Hillary Clinton, it was hard to imagine that on this August Night in Denver it would actually be Barack and not Hillary making their acceptance speech. It had been a long, sometimes ugly but always interesting Democratic Primary Campaign. The Democratic Party Convention, even at the beginning of this Convention week looked as though it could still turn ugly again. After all, The Clintons were being featured on two Convention speech nights. Certainly that was dangerous, others must have told Barack Obama and Howard Dean. But if there is one thing that the Clintons understand about Politics it is that politics truly does make some strange bedfellows and that Unity is everything in Democratic Party Politics.
So in the end after this ugly and contentious primary The Clintons came through for Barack Obama and on this beautiful Denver night Barack gave the speech of his lifetime, thus far, anyway. The speech was a well crafted litany of why Barack should be elected and why John McCain should not be. Anyone who has not seen it should see it and hopefully pay attention to it.
In the end the entire Democratic Denver Convention went off very smoothly and it was certainly a love fest for not only Barack and Michelle Obama and their kids. But it was also a love fest for the Clinton's, as well, Those Democratic Stalwarts, who went home from the Denver convention with as many good memories and as much good will as The Obamas and the Bidens.
It had, indeed, been a historic night in Denver and in America Millions of Black Youngsters had been shown just what heights they could aspire to. America would never quite be the same country again.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
Thursday, August 28, 2008
And Now For Your Listening Pleasure -The Main Event - From Mile High Stadium - BARACK OBAMA
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
11:00 AM
My Dear America:
The 2008 Democratic Convention could not have come off any better than it has so far. It has been a love fest for the Clintons and the Obama's featuring nearly every Democratic Luminary in the country. Teddy Kennedy's Rousing speech, Michelle Obama's Impressive speech, Hillary Clinton's Home Run followed by Bill Clinton's short (by his standards) Excellent speech noting the fact that the Republicans back in 1992 called him "too young and inexperienced" also. Bill Clinton is always a hard act to follow but John Kerry and Joe Biden did it as well as any politicians could have.
It was a bit sad to see, John Kerry, the nominee the last time out on the podium in a completely different role than 2004. But Kerry was hard hitting and effective as he pointed out John McCain's numerous Republican faults.
Joe Biden was also clear about his freindship with McCain being a long one but he also zeroed in on the inexplicable changes in John McCain's views over the past few years. Vice Presidential Nominee Biden may have been disappointed by the changes but he certainly used them effectively last night to show that McCain was nothing more than McBush and simply a shell of the progressive maverick that he once had been.
Over the Course of the Convention there have been many Great Speeches by many Great Democrats. Many Great short films have also been featured, such as the ones for Ted Kennedy, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton.
But tonight comes the night that all Democrats have been waiting for. Among Barack Obama's many leadership qualities perhaps his gift for public speaking may be his most impressive gift. I got the chance to see and hear him during the Pennsylvania Primary at Muhlenberg College Memorial Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Although the speech was basically the same stump speech that I had heard on C Span many times before, Barack Obama seemed to be able to make it somehow more relevant in person than it had been on television. It was a packed hall and most speakers would probably have been intimidated or at least tired from many months of campaigning. But Barack was relaxed and on message when he spoke that night. He was not in any way a showboater. He was just a truly Great public speaker.
No matter how many people show up tonight I don't believe that it will make much difference to Barack. He is going to be speaking on the anniversary occasion of Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech. He will be speaking to a crowd of Democrats many of whom just participated in his Nomination as the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States. He is also going to be speaking to millions of Democrats, Republicans and Independents over the Television airwaves.
As Barack said last night when he arrived for the last couple of minutes of the Convention "Hillary Clinton Rocked the House Last Night". Tonight it will be Barack Obama Rocking Mile High Stadium and like may of his fellow Democratic speakers at this week's Convention he too will be "hitting it out of the park".
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
11:00 AM
My Dear America:
The 2008 Democratic Convention could not have come off any better than it has so far. It has been a love fest for the Clintons and the Obama's featuring nearly every Democratic Luminary in the country. Teddy Kennedy's Rousing speech, Michelle Obama's Impressive speech, Hillary Clinton's Home Run followed by Bill Clinton's short (by his standards) Excellent speech noting the fact that the Republicans back in 1992 called him "too young and inexperienced" also. Bill Clinton is always a hard act to follow but John Kerry and Joe Biden did it as well as any politicians could have.
It was a bit sad to see, John Kerry, the nominee the last time out on the podium in a completely different role than 2004. But Kerry was hard hitting and effective as he pointed out John McCain's numerous Republican faults.
Joe Biden was also clear about his freindship with McCain being a long one but he also zeroed in on the inexplicable changes in John McCain's views over the past few years. Vice Presidential Nominee Biden may have been disappointed by the changes but he certainly used them effectively last night to show that McCain was nothing more than McBush and simply a shell of the progressive maverick that he once had been.
Over the Course of the Convention there have been many Great Speeches by many Great Democrats. Many Great short films have also been featured, such as the ones for Ted Kennedy, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton.
But tonight comes the night that all Democrats have been waiting for. Among Barack Obama's many leadership qualities perhaps his gift for public speaking may be his most impressive gift. I got the chance to see and hear him during the Pennsylvania Primary at Muhlenberg College Memorial Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Although the speech was basically the same stump speech that I had heard on C Span many times before, Barack Obama seemed to be able to make it somehow more relevant in person than it had been on television. It was a packed hall and most speakers would probably have been intimidated or at least tired from many months of campaigning. But Barack was relaxed and on message when he spoke that night. He was not in any way a showboater. He was just a truly Great public speaker.
No matter how many people show up tonight I don't believe that it will make much difference to Barack. He is going to be speaking on the anniversary occasion of Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech. He will be speaking to a crowd of Democrats many of whom just participated in his Nomination as the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States. He is also going to be speaking to millions of Democrats, Republicans and Independents over the Television airwaves.
As Barack said last night when he arrived for the last couple of minutes of the Convention "Hillary Clinton Rocked the House Last Night". Tonight it will be Barack Obama Rocking Mile High Stadium and like may of his fellow Democratic speakers at this week's Convention he too will be "hitting it out of the park".
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
Monday, August 25, 2008
Its Monday Night Live in Denver at the Michelle and Teddy Show
August 25th, 2008
12:20 AM
My Dear America:
The First Night of The Democratic Convention in Denver was truly a memorable night for two Reasons. Those two reasons were Teddy Kennedy (and Family) and Michelle Obama (and family).
There were quite a few interesting speeches such as that by Jerry Kellerman, who hired Barack Obama to be an Organizer in the South Side of Chicago when Obama was just graduating from Columbia University. Clearly Barack's old boss liked him, respected him and still considered Barack a friend. There was also Jim Leach, a former Iowa Congressman who prior to running for office, left the Nixon Administration when Nixon fired Archibald Cox and others in the Saturday Night Massacre, which led to the final downfall and humiliation of Richard Nixon. Leach, I am sure did not make any friends in the Republican party tonight as he endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama. Claire MCaskell and her children were impressive also, as were Caroline Kennedy introducing her "Uncle Teddy" Kennedy and Michelle Obama's brother introducing her.
The night belonged, however, to "Uncle Teddy" Kennedy, who, against his doctor's advice, came to Denver anyway tonight to show the Democratic Party where he stood and who he stood behind. Although Teddy Kennedy has done his share of shameful things in his life it was hard to watch Ted Kennedy tonight as a Democrat without feeling an extreme amount of Pride. Clearly Ted Kennedy even in his deteriorating health can still give a Firebrand Speech and although his speech wasn't as fiery as some he has given at previous Democratic Conventions it was still a barn burner and it lit up this convention floor. As he promised to be there in January to watch Barack take the oath of office his energy and his vigor made it seem like he might truly be on his way to full recovery and may yet return to the Senate in good health.
Speaking of Good Health, Michelle Obama seemed to be the picture of beauty, good health and good looks as she closed down the First day of the Convention with a speech that showed that she may be a new kind of First Lady, feisty, sexy and opinionated possibly beyond even Hillary Clinton. In Michelle's speech she once again mentioned the cracks in the glass ceiling that Hillary had made for the daughters and sons of the future. Following Michelle's speech Barack's image showed up on the Giant Onstage Screen and his youngest daughter in what was an adorably unscripted moment asked Barack on the giant screen "Daddy, what city are you in". Barack calmly explained that he was in Kansas City, where he had watched Michelle's speech and expressed his admiration for her eloquence and her being "Cute".
It was, overall, a Great night for the Democrats and a good start for the Convention.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
12:20 AM
My Dear America:
The First Night of The Democratic Convention in Denver was truly a memorable night for two Reasons. Those two reasons were Teddy Kennedy (and Family) and Michelle Obama (and family).
There were quite a few interesting speeches such as that by Jerry Kellerman, who hired Barack Obama to be an Organizer in the South Side of Chicago when Obama was just graduating from Columbia University. Clearly Barack's old boss liked him, respected him and still considered Barack a friend. There was also Jim Leach, a former Iowa Congressman who prior to running for office, left the Nixon Administration when Nixon fired Archibald Cox and others in the Saturday Night Massacre, which led to the final downfall and humiliation of Richard Nixon. Leach, I am sure did not make any friends in the Republican party tonight as he endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama. Claire MCaskell and her children were impressive also, as were Caroline Kennedy introducing her "Uncle Teddy" Kennedy and Michelle Obama's brother introducing her.
The night belonged, however, to "Uncle Teddy" Kennedy, who, against his doctor's advice, came to Denver anyway tonight to show the Democratic Party where he stood and who he stood behind. Although Teddy Kennedy has done his share of shameful things in his life it was hard to watch Ted Kennedy tonight as a Democrat without feeling an extreme amount of Pride. Clearly Ted Kennedy even in his deteriorating health can still give a Firebrand Speech and although his speech wasn't as fiery as some he has given at previous Democratic Conventions it was still a barn burner and it lit up this convention floor. As he promised to be there in January to watch Barack take the oath of office his energy and his vigor made it seem like he might truly be on his way to full recovery and may yet return to the Senate in good health.
Speaking of Good Health, Michelle Obama seemed to be the picture of beauty, good health and good looks as she closed down the First day of the Convention with a speech that showed that she may be a new kind of First Lady, feisty, sexy and opinionated possibly beyond even Hillary Clinton. In Michelle's speech she once again mentioned the cracks in the glass ceiling that Hillary had made for the daughters and sons of the future. Following Michelle's speech Barack's image showed up on the Giant Onstage Screen and his youngest daughter in what was an adorably unscripted moment asked Barack on the giant screen "Daddy, what city are you in". Barack calmly explained that he was in Kansas City, where he had watched Michelle's speech and expressed his admiration for her eloquence and her being "Cute".
It was, overall, a Great night for the Democrats and a good start for the Convention.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
Welcome to Demoland from Barack O and Regular Joe
August 25th, 2008
My Dear America:
Well, Democrats the day has finally come.
It has been a long haul from those early 2008 January days of Iowa and New Hampshire when the possibility of Barack Obama's name being considered for the Democratic Party's Nomination for President seemed like a pipe dream that only Barack and a select few were having.
This week that long shot pipe dream will become a reality in Denver, Colorado at the Democratic Party Convention where Barack will become the Democratic Party's annointed One and Delaware Senator, Joe Biden, will become the Democratic Party's choice for Barack's Vice Presidential running mate.
From where I sit, at home, in my easy chair watching this spectacle unfold on Television I am somewhat envious of my fellow Democrats sitting on the Convention floor in Denver. They are watching something that is truly historical. A black man is not only running for President of the United States but has a very good chance of being successful at winning the presidency. Who in the world would have thought this would ever have happened in America. But it has happened. He is running and if he is able to bring this Democratic Convention together, which I am sure he can and will do, he is well on his way to his Innauguration in January of 2009.
Can it happen. Yes it Can
Will it Happen. I believe it will.
I, like many other Hillary Clinton supporters was disappointed that she will not be the Candidate for either President or Vice President.
But Hillary when she lost her opportunity she lost it with class and very soon after her concession did her best to throw her support to Barack. It was in my estimation, Hillary's finest hour, until now.
Now, Tomorrow, in Denver, Hillary will take the stage and soak up the adulation that, until now was reserved for her husband. Bill will also get his share of Respect this week but Tomorrow night, Tuesday night, will certainly be Hillary's night. It will be a night she certainly deserves. It will be a sad night for those of us who are having trouble understanding why it didn't happen for her but did for Obama.
But after tomorrow, Democrats, will come Wednesday, with Bill Clinton and Joe Biden on tap, among others. And Thurday Night in Mile High Stadium it will be Barack Obama's night. And what a night that will be. Barack blew the lid off the arena in Boston when he spoke four years ago.
Is that all it was. Four Years ago.
In Boston Barack showed what he had and I don't think that there was a Democrat that heard him giving that speech that didn't realize that this was a Democratic Politician who was going places.
What we didn't realize back then, when Barack was not even a national politician yet, was just how fast this guy was going places.
This week the place he is going is to Denver.
Its probably a good thing that he is giving his speech in a stadium so that there is no roof to blow off when this Extraordinary Public Speaker gives the most extraordinary speech of his life. This is a Convention that will long be remembered and in my opinion Barack Obama will not only set this Convention on fire he is going to leave this convention spreading his message of Hope like a wildfire across America.
America is hungry for change and if Democrats can survive the Republican smear machine which is in high gear right now and stay together there is no stopping this Dynamic Democratic Ticket.
Stay Together Democrats.
This election is ours if we can stay together
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
My Dear America:
Well, Democrats the day has finally come.
It has been a long haul from those early 2008 January days of Iowa and New Hampshire when the possibility of Barack Obama's name being considered for the Democratic Party's Nomination for President seemed like a pipe dream that only Barack and a select few were having.
This week that long shot pipe dream will become a reality in Denver, Colorado at the Democratic Party Convention where Barack will become the Democratic Party's annointed One and Delaware Senator, Joe Biden, will become the Democratic Party's choice for Barack's Vice Presidential running mate.
From where I sit, at home, in my easy chair watching this spectacle unfold on Television I am somewhat envious of my fellow Democrats sitting on the Convention floor in Denver. They are watching something that is truly historical. A black man is not only running for President of the United States but has a very good chance of being successful at winning the presidency. Who in the world would have thought this would ever have happened in America. But it has happened. He is running and if he is able to bring this Democratic Convention together, which I am sure he can and will do, he is well on his way to his Innauguration in January of 2009.
Can it happen. Yes it Can
Will it Happen. I believe it will.
I, like many other Hillary Clinton supporters was disappointed that she will not be the Candidate for either President or Vice President.
But Hillary when she lost her opportunity she lost it with class and very soon after her concession did her best to throw her support to Barack. It was in my estimation, Hillary's finest hour, until now.
Now, Tomorrow, in Denver, Hillary will take the stage and soak up the adulation that, until now was reserved for her husband. Bill will also get his share of Respect this week but Tomorrow night, Tuesday night, will certainly be Hillary's night. It will be a night she certainly deserves. It will be a sad night for those of us who are having trouble understanding why it didn't happen for her but did for Obama.
But after tomorrow, Democrats, will come Wednesday, with Bill Clinton and Joe Biden on tap, among others. And Thurday Night in Mile High Stadium it will be Barack Obama's night. And what a night that will be. Barack blew the lid off the arena in Boston when he spoke four years ago.
Is that all it was. Four Years ago.
In Boston Barack showed what he had and I don't think that there was a Democrat that heard him giving that speech that didn't realize that this was a Democratic Politician who was going places.
What we didn't realize back then, when Barack was not even a national politician yet, was just how fast this guy was going places.
This week the place he is going is to Denver.
Its probably a good thing that he is giving his speech in a stadium so that there is no roof to blow off when this Extraordinary Public Speaker gives the most extraordinary speech of his life. This is a Convention that will long be remembered and in my opinion Barack Obama will not only set this Convention on fire he is going to leave this convention spreading his message of Hope like a wildfire across America.
America is hungry for change and if Democrats can survive the Republican smear machine which is in high gear right now and stay together there is no stopping this Dynamic Democratic Ticket.
Stay Together Democrats.
This election is ours if we can stay together
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
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