Day: August 26, 2008

Hillary Clinton speaks at convention. The press concocts a story

From a useful look at past conventions by Eric Boehlert:

Many in the press have portrayed Clinton’s planned convention address, as well as the fact that her name is being placed into nomination, as an unprecedented, heavy-handed power grab.

Fact: It’s not. In years past, Democratic candidates who won lots of primaries and accumulated hundreds of delegates (sorry, Howard Dean and Bill Bradley) have always been allowed to address the convention and very often place their name into nomination. It’s the norm. It’s expected. It’s a formality.

Forever clueless

Wolf Blitzer on CNN, Sunday: “You’re looking at live pictures of the Pepsi Center here in Denver, Colorado. Normally, the Denver Nuggets would be playing basketball here. Not this week. The Democrats — they have their convention inside. We’re inside.” [Note to Wolf: the NBA season begins October 28.]

Found at Altercation, where it is pointed out that the NHL Colorado Avalanche also plays in the Pepsi Center, but no one has mentioned them. The Avalanche has been the far more successful franchise (two Stanley Cups since 1995).

Two best lines from The Daily Howler

We love it when Dems know enough to mention people who work on “the day shift” and “the night shift”—and “military families, who say grace each night with an empty seat at the table.” (On Saturday, Biden specifically cited the “cops” and the “firefighters.”) We love it when Dems know enough to say: We know what real people really do.

But let’s get back to those families. Forget Obama’s Kenyan father; even on his mother’s side, his personal story is very unusual in the American presidential context. No one has ever run for president talking about a decent, lovely, sweet-natured mother who spent years doing doctoral work in anthropology in Indonesian villages. Many American voters have never known anyone remotely like that ….

The Daily Howler

Amendment XIX

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”

It’s only been 88 years (August 26, 1920).

Best redux line of the day

The truth is that there’s no difference in principle between saying that every American child is entitled to an education and saying that every American child is entitled to adequate health care. It’s just a matter of historical accident that we think of access to free K-12 education as a basic right, but consider having the government pay children’s medical bills “welfare,“ with all the negative connotations that go with that term.

Paul Krugman, first posted here one year ago today.

Of course, Krugman overlooks the fact that many on the right would eliminate public schools as well.

New McCain Ad Attacks Obama Kids

In what might be his most controversial attack ad in a campaign dominated by them, presumptive G.O.P. presidential nominee John McCain today launched a new TV spot attacking Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill)’s two children.

. . .

In the ad, which is being broadcast in key swing states, an announcer intones, “They’re the cutest children in the world – but are they ready to lead?”

. . .

The commercial goes on to blast the Obama children for “smiling and giggling but refusing to state their position on offshore oil drilling.”

While some critics questioned how well the ad would play in living rooms across America, Sen. McCain defended it, telling reporters, “It played very well in all of my living rooms.”

Andy Borowitz