By J.R. EngeriserHow do you stop the Bush hate machine? Take away the ammunition. Last night we witnessed the three greatest Democratic speeches of our new 21st century, those of Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention.
In a work of brilliance, the Democrats clearly set the pace for a strong race. Any perception of a negative campaign has been erased. I present you with the new Democratic Party, with a positive message pointing ahead of and beyond failed Republican leadership.
"Take it from me -- every vote counts" Al Gore, knowing the unhealed wounds of the 2000 election, was not afraid to speak the truth about what happened four years ago. He allowed us to laugh about it, as we needed to, saying "you know the old saying: You win some, you lose some. And then there's that little-known third category", referring to our last election that was ultimately never resolved, leading to the Supreme Court appointment of George W. Bush. "And let's make sure that this time every vote is counted. Let's make sure not only that the Supreme Court does not pick the next president, but also that this president is not the one who picks the next Supreme Court," he said.
Addressing the Bush invasion of Iraq that has caused world outrage, Gore continues "Wouldn't we be better off with a new president who hasn't burned his bridges to our allies, and who could rebuild respect for America in the world? Isn't cooperation with other nations crucial to solving our dilemma in Iraq? Isn't it also critical to defeating the terrorists?"
"We have to be crystal clear about the threat we face from terrorism. It is deadly. It is real. It is imminent. But in order to protect our people, shouldn't we focus on the real source of this threat: The group that attacked us and is trying to attack us again -- al-Qaida, headed by Osama Bin Laden? Wouldn't we be safer with a president who didn't insist on confusing al-Qaida with Iraq? Doesn't that divert too much of our attention away from the principal danger?"
"We cannot lead if our leaders mislead"
Jimmy Carter took the stage next, giving his first speech at a Democratic National Convention since he accepted his nomination in 1980. Carter's words, spoken softly and eloquently, hit hard with a concise truth not heard in quite a while.
Carter made a significant connection between George W. Bush's sketchy military record and his choices regarding Iraq: "As many of you know, my first chosen career was in the United States Navy, where I served as a submarine officer. At that time, my shipmates and I were ready for combat and prepared to give our lives to defend our nation and its principles."
"At the same time, we always prayed that our readiness would preserve the peace. I served under two presidents, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, men who represented different political parties. Both of whom had faced their active military responsibilities with honor."
"They knew the horrors of war, and later, as commanders-in-chief, they exercised restraint and judgment and had a clear sense of mission. We had confidence that our leaders, military and civilian, would not put our soldiers and sailors in harm's way by initiating 'wars of choice' unless America's vital interests were endangered."
"We also were sure that these presidents would not mislead us when it came to issues involving our nation's security. Today, our Democratic party is led by another former naval officer - one who volunteered for military service. He showed up when assigned to duty, and he served with honor and distinction."
"John Kerry said, 'Send Me'"Bill Clinton, introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton, climaxed the evening with words that invoked a frenzy of tears and enthusiastic support. He spoke of his new financial status, being in the top 1% of the nation's most wealthy, and how well he is now taken care of by the Republican Party:
"When I was in office, the Republicans were pretty mean to me. When I left and made money, I became part of the most important group in the world to them. At first I thought I should send them a thank you note -- until I realized they were sending you the bill."
"They protected my tax cuts while:
- Withholding promised funding for the Leave No Child Behind Act, leaving
over 2 million children behind
- Cutting 140,000 unemployed workers out of job training
- 100,000 working families out of child care assistance
- 300,000 poor children out of after school programs
- Raising out of pocket healthcare costs to veterans
- Weakening or reversing important environmental advances for clean air
and the preservation of our forests."
The Democratic platform this year is out to bring America together as a nation, as the Republican agenda is seen as of late to be one of 'divide and conquer'. Anticipating the negative attacks from the right, Democrats are getting a good head start at taking away some of the ammunition surely set to be soon fired off. Repulicans are seen to falter if the focus is directed mainly at the issues.
You may view the full text of each speech by following these links:
Text of Al Gore's speechText of Jimmy Carter's SpeechText of Bill Clinton's SpeechNEW! Text of Barack Obama's Speech
I go for price when I visit the grocery store. So, price has made organic produce scarce in our home. The other day, the bananas were looking a little old and brown at Pick 'n' Save. However, the organic bananas looked fresh. They were only 20 cents per pound more, so I brought them home. The difference with the kids was amazing. Usually, I can't get my kids to finish a whole banana, and a lot goes to waste. With the organic, both kids finished the whole banana, then asked for more. The taste must be the reason. I tried one myself, and it does taste much more like a banana. My pocketbook is already crying out in pain because I know more organic produce is to follow. But, if we can have less waste, I think the extra cost might be worth it. More to follow....
