Clinton

I just watched Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic Convention, introduced by his wife. He did the best job I've seen yet of attacking the tax cuts, making them seem unappealing, even unpatriotic in a way that must have gotten through even to some Repugs. How? He pointed out that he's now one of those millionaires in the top 1% who benefitted the most from the tax cuts! Take that, Repugs! Your tax cuts went to Bill and Hillary, and Barbara Streisand and Linda Ronstadt and the Dixie Chicks and Michael Moore and John and Teresa Kerry, when the money could have gone to veterans and firefighters and leaving fewer children behind and increasing port security. Clinton also described where the money for the tax cuts came from: out of Social Security and by borrowing from the Japanese and Chinese. He also did a nice job of framing Kerry's Vietnam service by saying that not only Bush and Cheney, but he himself found ways to stay out of Vietnam, while Kerry went.

Jimmy Carter went after Bush pretty strongly:

"Our dominant international challenge is to restore the greatness of America -- based on telling the truth, a commitment to peace, and respect for civil liberties at home and basic human rights around the world," Carter said.

Carter said the primary issue in November is whether "America will provide global leadership that springs from unity and integrity" at home, "or whether extremist doctrines and manipulation of the truth will define America's role in the world."

Carter said at stake in the election "is nothing less than our nation's soul."

Before the Clintons spoke, CNN reminded me why I almost never watch CNN. Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff and Jeff Greenfield (?) had a ridiculous discussion about whether Kerry being photographed in a clean-room outfit at Cape Canaveral was his Dukakis moment. The level of stupidity was just astounding.

BTW, here's a page full of photos of the "free-speech zone" near the Fleet Center. If John Kerry really wants to make a statement about America, he should take his secret service and some cops, and maybe a nice big pair of bolt cutters, and step outside the Fleet Center and go dismantle that abomination. Show America that he respects the right of free speech and is not afraid to see and hear his critics, unlike the current pResident.