Entries for August 2008

Sarah Palin (or Susan Palin, as a Fox News reporter kept calling her this morning in a sign of how truly out of left field—deep, deep north-left field, beyond the Canadian border—this pick was) represents a gamble by John McCain that the Hillary factor is more important than the "experience" issue. It also shows (I hope) how little he understands the women's movement, and displays the arrogance that has marked his campaign so far.

DENVER—In case you weren't sure, Barack Obama is one of us.

Obama's speech this evening addressed three issues—Obama, McCain, and the nitty gritty, and did it well.

DENVER—One thing occurs to me on the pre-released Obama remarks we've seen: Where's Harry Truman?

DENVER—At sporting events the big board is used for various (often inane) gags to keep the fans amused between innings or downs or plays. The Obama campaign is certainly keeping in that spirit.

DENVER—Here are the first advanced excerpts of Barack Obama's speech tonight, which is apparently called "The American Promise." (Thanks to my colleague Liz Halloran.)

Nothing very surprising here: some good language on national security, the promised greater level of specificity policy-wise, and I like the line about a 10 percent chance on change.

We'll see what the rest of the evening brings.

DENVER—You'll see soon enough but the stage tonight looks nothing like a Greek temple, the Lincoln Memorial or a Spinal Tap-esque mini Parthenon. It looks like nothing more or less than a generic Washington, White House-esque building.

Score another for the GOP spin machine.

DENVER—Here are a couple of good curtain-raisers on tonight's big speech from The Denver Post and Bloomberg (and I don't say they're good just because they quote the author of White House Ghosts). And of course I commend you to Jack's take as well.