Keynote Speaker in Denver

[AllentownJake]

Assuming Obama wins.

Who do you think it should be. I personally think if Hillary does concede graciously she is the perfect person. She could do a real job talking about John McCain, it would get the highest ratings, and it could unite the party.

Thoughts?

[KAZ]

1. Check back with me on Wednesday.

[Pisces]

2. Bill Richardson, Jim Webb if he isn't the VP choice.

[BlooInBloo]

4. NOT Richardson. I love him but he BLOWS at public speaking.

[AllentownJake]

5. Richardson isn't the greatest speaker

Webb would be a good pick.

[Cha]

13. Yeah, Bill Richardson would be great..

The Keynote Speaker should be someone who emanates dignity and class. It's an important postion ..look who it was 4 years ago.

[Cha]

3. Not hilary.. I don't want to hear anymore of her

damn lies.

[AllentownJake]

7. I'm thinking about

TV ratings and Party Unity.

Everyone would tune in just to hear what she had to say.

[Cha]

39. Obama will do the classy thing while hilary will

continue extorting with her selfish demands.

[StevieM]

19. Sorry, but if Obama wants her to campaign for him--and he does--he will have to give her

a prime time speaking slot. For someone to get as many votes, and delegates, as Hillary and not get to speak in prime time would be ridiculous. I know Obama supporter like to pretend that there was a crushing victory, but there just wasn't. Obama mastered the rules better, nothing more. So he dominated that caucuses. Under the Republican rules she would have killed him. And, no, he wouldn't have "campaigned differently." He tried his best to win MA, TX, OH, PA and CA--he just couldn't.

It would look ridiculous for Hillary to not speak in prime time, and if she didn't it would alienate many of her supporters. You may not like that Obama needs her help to win, but that doesn't stop it from being true. Sorry....expect to hear from Hillary in prime time.

Steve

[AllentownJake]

23. I agree

Do you like my reasoning for having her give the Keynote speech?

[Yael]

28. So she can torpedo his campaign along with her own sinking ship?

I have concerns about her staying on message.

I have visions of the stage hook pulling her off the dais as I don't see that happening.

[salguine]

46. "...he will have to give her"!?

I'm so fucking sick of hearing what Hillary Clinton is owed.

"Under the Republican rules she would have killed him"? I guess it's a great pity they weren't campaigning under Republican rules, then, isn't it? As far as her not speaking alienating her supporters goes—Let's see...she doesn't speak, her supporters are alienated; she does speak, everyone else is.

How come all the rabid Clinton supporters keep referring to her in virtually every instance as "Hillary"? They don't call McCain "John" or Obama "Barack". I think they've actually cultivated a bizarre type of empathy personality cult where they actually think they're close personal friends of Senator Clinton.

I guess it's too much to hope that she'll ever, ever, ever go away, ever.

[StevieM]

57. You realize what you just said don't you?

You wished harm on another human being. If Hillary is alive then she isn't going away. As for the nomination, that will be settled soon.

There have been plenty of races that were a lot less close then this one that went all the way to the convention. And Barack doesn't yet have the delegates required (a majority) to declare victory--when he does the race is over. There are a lot of Clinton supporters in states that have yet to vote that don't want the race to be over. I chose their feelings of warmth over your feelings of hatred.

Plenty of Obama supporters call him Barack. And I don't think I'm close friends with Hillary.

As for "what she is owed"....your inablity to grasp this point is what makes me think Obama will lose. The McGovernite arrogance is astounding. Any candidate who got as many votes as Hillary did, and as many delegates, would be given a prime-time speaking slot.

I doubt Obama wants her to go away as much as you do--he needs her help to win.

Steve

[Auntie Bush]

70. Put on your thinking cap as you are not thinking very well.

"As far as her not speaking alienating her supporters goes—Let's see...she doesn't speak, her supporters are alienated; she does speak, everyone else is."

So you are saying/admitting that you and Obama's supporters won't vote for him if she gives the convention speech? And we should still vote for Obama? You people make it a very difficult decision....which it shouldn't be.

I wonder if all the disgusting hate thrown Hillary's way by Obama supporters has anything to do with it? Naw! You just make me want to vote for him.

[Peace Patriot]

54. Don't be silly! If she would do it, it would be great!

That slot is usually given to a newcomer--someone who is being groomed for greater things. I remember JFK's keynote speech in 1956, and four years later, he won the nomination for president and the GE. Obama followed the same path. It would be unusual and electrifying if Obama and the party gave her that spot. She would certainly have the attention of the nation. If she did it right, you would have the undying gratitude of the party. And her supporters would have a chance to express themselves--much as Adlai Stevenson's supporters did, in their emotional demonstration at the 1960 convention--the one at which JFK won the nomination. It could be a healing moment, is what I'm saying. I am very anti-Clinton for strictly policy reasons. I have nothing against her personally. I haven't liked her campaign tactics, but I think they are par for the course in REAL American politics--which were often a brawl, back in the Old Republic. Lord, I remember the foul anti-Catholic pamphlets that were circulated against JFK in 1960. It's disreputable and disgusting, but certainly not unusual in American history. And I rather enjoyed this primary fight--and felt heartened by it--perhaps because the side I favored won, but also because it at least replicated the real thing--democracy. It was an exercise in democracy--in which the grass roots won. It empowered the People--which this country needed more than anything else--an activated citizenry. And we ended up with a fully tested, fully vetted, tough and unflappable candidate, who was given the experience of national politics that he lacked at the beginning. Clinton did us a favor! Really and truly. And the keynote speech would be a nice plumb as a reward.

[Shae]

Nice post. . .

I appreciate your take on it, and you make a lot of sense.

[LBJDemocrat]

6. Webb

If he's not VP, that is.

Webb. Webb. Webb.

Otherwise, Biden.

[Yael]

8. Edwards

[AllentownJake]

9. He'd be another great pick

He'd bring in some ratings too and he can deliver a good hit to McCain.

[Yael]

15. He can deliver a fireball of a speech and get the crowd riled up

That, and I can't bring myself to envision HRC "bowing out" and "gracefully" in the same sentence.

IF (and that is a big IF) she could bring herself to do that -- I would support it.

My only concern is her staying on message. She hasn't been able to stay on her own message all along. I will give her that it isn't HER message, it was Ickes, Wolfson and Penn's poll and focus group tested BS (not from the heart), but if I am as disciplined as the Obama campaign -- that is a huge concern...

[AllentownJake]

27. The Keynote speech

is reviewed by the candidate prior to giving it. Kerry knew every word of Obama's speech before he got on stage. Its a very choreographed event.

No one's speech isn't reviewed by the party or the candidate.

[Yael]

31. You trust HRC with a throng of pot bangers and an open mike?

Sorry, I lived through the 90s as a Republican. I don't have that much grace.

:(

[AllentownJake]

34. My main qualifier is if she concedes in June

By the end of August she'll be thinking of her future and the appearence she did everything she could for Obama is important to that.

[Yael]

37. Jake -- I give you that.

If she goes for the barn burner on the Convention floor, I wouldn't trust her to hand out hand wipes in the restroom.

[AllentownJake]

40. Me neither

This is only assuming it stops by Mid June.

If she's going for the torch to the party I think after the first vote she should be escorted from the convention.

[Yael]

43. Fair enough!

:toast:

[HooptieWagon]

53. No, and I'd worry about another public lie, ie; "sniper fire".

[lastliberalintexas]

66. Do you in any way think that your hatred of Clinton is based on that

rather than her supposedly nasty campaign this year? This race has actually been quite calm and clean as between the candidates, so it amazes me when Obama supporters complain about her vile campaign. Yet I've seen a number of Obama supporters who are very, very vocal Clinton critics who have admitted that they are former republicans. Don't you think that the 90s colors your perceptions even today?

I admit it does for me. I wasn't a Clinton fan then, I wanted Tsongas in 1992. Yet I defended the Clintons from tons of bullshit bile spewed by the right wing assholes in the 90s. I also worked in DC for a short time, and even as a no name worker bee caught glimpses of the battles the Clintons faced, fought and won because of hate radio, the actual right wing conspiracy, and the unthinking sheep who bought into the shit flung at them. Even though they were always more conservative than I, they earned my respect because of the battles they faced, fought and WON.

It might be a good idea for people like you, who admit to being republicans in the 90s, to take a step back and think about how that colors your world and your views of the Clintons. And to remember that the battles they faced were in part because good people like you bought into the BS back then. Is it then so inconceivable to think that you just might also be buying into it again?

[Hart2008]

10. Gary Hart-It is his hometown. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

11. Sebelius or Napolitano?

[AllentownJake]

14. Sebelius

Bombed the response to the state of the union. That's my only concern. Still like her alot.

[Yael]

25. Great minds and all that.

:D

The keynote needs to be a firebrand, not a begging for support plea across the aisle.

[Yael]

22. I like Gov. Sebelius on face, but her response to the SOTU sucked huge.

She isn't a keynote.

[HooptieWagon]

44. Missed it, wasn't sure about her oratory skills

Still, I think a woman keynote speaker would help mend fences with the bitter dead-ender Clintonistas - but not hillary herself... she'd only pour gasoline on the embers.

actually a thought just occurred to me... Alex Sink. Not well known outside FL, but she's former BoA of FL president, current State Treasurur of FL, wife of Gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride, and well spoken and a real charmer. Another possibility from FL would be US Rep Kathy Castor - she's well spoken, and an Obama supporter.

[Yael]

50. I hear ya and I do understand.

:toast:

[Labors of Hercules]

61. I'd prefer a woman VP and a male keynote speaker...

if you don't mind? ;-)

[El Supremo]

12. Brian Schweitzer

A western convention - a western governor.

[FrenchieCat]

16. That sounds line a mighty fine idea!

[AllentownJake]

17. Great pick

I've never heard him speak though how is he.

No one is going to top 2004's keynote speech.

[fishwax]

20. unless he's the VP

:D

[fishwax]

18. Scott McClellan

:rofl:

[Drunken Irishman]

21. Chuck Hagel

[AllentownJake]

41. If it was another candidate than Obama

I'd say great...love to see Zell Miller redux.

[TahitiNut]

24. Jeremiah Wright

It's be the highest-rated broadcast EVAH!

[AllentownJake]

36. It sure would

[scarletwoman]

42. Testify!

:spank:

[Raine]

26. Teddy Kennedy

for one thing the keynote should be by someone who backs the nominee. Plus after the diagnosis that Teddy got it would be a good time to give him this honor.

[peoli]

29. agree

[AllentownJake]

30. That would be awesome

Teddy can give a hell of a speech to and the passing of the torch metaphor would be very strong.

[Yael]

32. w00t!!! 110% behind this. nt

[JI7]

48. agree, Ted Kennedy

[politicasista]

65. Yes, Uncle Ted all the way n/t

[hisownpetard]

51. Teddy Kennedy was my first choice. Second choice would be Sheldon Whitehouse.

[me b zola]

55. I was going to say Al Gore

...but Teddy would be great. Teddy could speak about passing the torch to a new generation of leadership. It would be even greater if Teddy were to talk about how his convention push in 1980, in retrospect, was a mistake, and one that we should not repeat. I don't know how Kennedy feels about that matter, so it is presumptuous for me to bring it up--but a Dem can dream, can't she?

[ebayfool]

56. Ted Kennedy would be perfect! n/t

[LordJFT]

69. bingo

[rwheeler31]

33. I want a new voice, how about one of the new congressmen?

[AllentownJake]

35. Al Franken?

[HooptieWagon]

47. US Rep from FL, Kathy Castor - elected in '06

[elizm]

38. I would hope that it would be Hillary...

But somehow I'm not thinking she could be that gracious.

[HooptieWagon]

"But somehow I'm not thinking she could be that gracious." - my fear also.

[gmudem]

45. Somebody new on the scene

Brian Schweitzer would be a good idea, although idk if he is a good public speaker. I would also like Jim Webb if he's not the VP.

And as long as it's in Denver, Bill Ritter or Mark Udall should be considered as well.

[dansolo]

49. It will be a woman

But I don't think it will be Hillary

[ruggerson]

52. It won't be Hillary, because she will have her own primetime speech on another night

the keynoter is usually a young, up and comer (bc or obama) or a party veteran (such as cuomo).

The best keynote speech of the last fourty years was Barbara Jordan, imho, followed closely by Cuomo's.

[MadBadger]

58. I want Patrick Murphy up there

Though he isnt the best of speakers.

[Shae]

68. Good choice.

I like Murphy too.

[scheming daemons]

59. Al Gore ... That would be fucking awesome

[undeterred]

60. John McCain

Well, it would be interesting :hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

62. I suppose whoever gives the speech

will be running for president in 2012? (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

[Yotun]

63. George Bush

No, seriously, Hillary. Perfect spot to unite the party, if she's willing to do it and actually be supportive.

[Thrill]

64. Expect a rising star in the Dem Party. Probably Murphy from Penn or Ryan from OH

[canadian_is_cold]

67. clinton

[OhioBlue]

71. John Boccieri candidate for Ohio 16th

He's a great speaker, and his race has consistently been ranked in the top 5 likely to change from Republican to Democrat. Ralph Regula is retiring after like 34 years or something. Boccieri is a State Senator and running against another State Senator that had a tough Primary battle and lacks charisma. John has a bunch of charisma. He served *I think* 4 tours in Iraq as a member of the Reserves.

He would be my second choice tho - Ted Kennedy would be my first.

[HooptieWagon]

72. Radical idea here - outsourcing

How about a left-leaning foreign leader - say the new PM of Australia? Can talk about the importance of rebuilding America's image abroad, etc., and how Obama is just the guy to do it.

[AnnieBW]

73. Jim Webb

Presuming he isn't the Veep.

[ruby slippers]

74. I don't know about keynote, but they need to have another Obama there like he

was in 2004 for introductory remarks.....they chose well last election.

[billyoc]

75. Some young Iraq Vet. This is about party building, not the same tired old stump speeches

the country has been suffering through for 2 years.