Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

Giving up is unforgivable.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

The arc of the moral universe does not bend itself. it is up to us to bend it.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

You cannot love your country only when you win.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

Republicans in disarray!

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

The world has changed, and neither one recognizes it.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2012 / DNC Open Thread and Semi-Live Blog #1

DNC Open Thread and Semi-Live Blog #1

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Positive change comes from the middle out, not the top down. A great theme, that one.

Also too, the Big Dog is gonna eat tonight.

I’m watching CSPAN.  Also livestream here without commentary.

Jim Hunt, former governor of North Carolina, showing us that there are still living and breathing progressives even in the heart of old Dixie.

Gabrielle Giffords Will lead the DNC in the Pledge of Allegience tomorrow, according to Roll Call.

Cecile Richards, daughter of Ann Richards, late Governor of Texas is speaking, 7:14 CT.

Rep Steny Hoyer is up, 7:20 CT

Veterans issues now.  The video, featuring a VN Vet is up.  Vet Ed Meagher is speaking.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki will speak tonight as well.

Secretary Shinseki, GEN, USA (Ret) is speaking.  I’d follow that man to hell, not that he’d know who I was.

Governor John Hickenlooper, Colorado

Tweeting:

@soonergrunt

@AngryBlackLady

@JohnGCole

@TomLevenson

@ZandarVTS

Reader Interactions

114Comments

  1. 1.

    mark

    i’m kinda pissed about the convention coverage here. cole is basically MIA. its like we sent him on a vacation instead

  4. 4.

    Josie

    Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to join twitter in order to keep up with things. I thought that was what the blog was for. But what do I know?

  5. 5.

    John O

    And eat is what the Big Dog will do. Bill Clinton is the Man I like, had he God-like power.

    Barack would be OK too. They both remember how to smoke dope and have sex, I’m pretty sure.

  7. 7.

    MikeJ

    @Baud: cspan is the only way to watch it. I do have to admit to a perverse curiosity about Fox’s coverage, but not enough to watch.

    I did read a decent article on Fox Latino the other day. I think they know the core audience aren’t as stupid on that net.

  9. 9.

    The Dangerman

    Along with the BD, I’ll watching the NFL game to see if the Ref’s can make it to the second half before fucking up royally (best guess is they don’t make it out of the first quarter).

    ETA: If there’s a big mistake that costs the Vegas books some bucks, expect to see the real Refs real soon.

  10. 10.

    Schlemizel

    @Baud: Watch CSPAN – no talking heads BSing their way to retirement over the actual convention. Nobody telling you what you should be thinking about what you just saw/heard

  13. 13.

    PsiFighter37

    That right there is the future of America.

    (to be clear, I’m watching C-Span, so it was a young lady who just became a citizen and is able to attend college on Pell Grants)

  17. 17.

    mai naem

    I think I am screwing up this link but Fallows has a piece up on Paul Ryan the Mountaineer with an update from the Romney campaign which I don’t understand. What’s the real life difference between 40 climbs vs.40 peaks. He climbed the same mountain ten times? Is that practically going to take that much less time than climbing ten different peaks.Do people really climb the same mountain ten times? Makes no sense to me.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/09/paul-ryan-mountaineer/261904/

  20. 20.

    Schlemizel

    @mark:

    Cole? . . . Yah, I sorta remember a guy by that name . . . did he retire or something? Don’t remember hearing much from him recently.

    Maybe that fund raising deal was just a scam & he took those several hundreds & ran off with it?

  24. 24.

    WaterGirl

    @mai naem: I read something that week that you could take 10 steps up a mountain and call it a climb. Any amount of climbing is a “climb”.

    You only get a “peak” if you get to the top.

    Pelosi: “The character of our country is on the ballot.”
    Vote for Medicare. Vote for Barack Obama.
    Vote for Social Security. Vote for Barack Obama.
    Vote for Women’s Righs. Vote for President Obama.

    Edit:
    Democracy is on the ballot. Democrats will work to overturn Citizens United.
    Vote for Democracy. Vote for President Obama.
    Vote for the American Dream.
    Vote for Strong democratic majorities in the house & senate
    Vote for Joe Biden
    Vote for President Barack Obama.

    Love Nancy Smash!

  25. 25.

    MikeBoyScout

    I said it last night, and I’ll say it again tonight.

    I am so damn happy and proud that this convention is TRUMPETING its liberal right positions on policies across the spectrum, from equal pay to education funding to marriage equality.

    These positions have never been anything to be ashamed about. And it is damn good time we testify to the power of it.

    Obama/Biden and a Democratic Congress. Yes We Can. Yes We Will!

  26. 26.

    Schlemizel

    @Soonergrunt: sorry, I hate twitter. too often it devolves into trying to be clever in few words. When it doesn’t it still trys to boil down big ideas into too few words or obnoxious abbreviations.

    But the worst is it really does not provide for the sort of exchange that takes place here

  29. 29.

    Spaghetti Lee

    Can someone give the condensed version of whatever Israel-related BS happened earlier? I’ve been internet-less all day.

  30. 30.

    Jay in Oregon

    Romney’s campaign paid to promote the #FailingAgenda hashtag on Twitter. Fortunately, the Twitterati out there have hijacked Romney’s hashtag and are beating him over the head with it.

    twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23failingagenda&src=hash

    Dear Romney: You cannot buy popularity.

    I’m strongly tempted to create a throwaway Twitter account to go trolling. Man, there are some dumb-ass conservatives on the #FailingAgenda hashtag. And we won’t even talk about the Top Conservatives on Twitter #tcot tag…

  31. 31.

    gnomedad

    @Schlemizel:

    Cole? . . . Yah, I sorta remember a guy by that name . . . did he retire or something? Don’t remember hearing much from him recently.

    He’s at home, being held prisoner by Tunch, while ABL gets random beefy guys in shorts to cover their faces and pretend to be him.

  32. 32.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @John O:

    Larry O’D says there is no chance HRC fails to run in 2016.

    Larry O’Donnell says stupid stuff about half the time.

  35. 35.

    MikeBoyScout

    @34 MikeJ: LOL! No.

    Edit: Yes, actually they did. To close the convention they had a gospel group singing America the Beautiful, but that was it.

  37. 37.

    Baud

    @JPL:

    Should we worry about John?

    I was wondering the other day what would happen to his blog if something happened to John, since this is really the only blog I can stand to participate in…

    Maybe I’ll use the free time to do something productive…

  38. 38.

    JPL

    Last night while watching PBS, I noticed Brooksie’s jowls falling and falling and falling after every speech. Can’t wait until Clinton speaks just so I can see David’s reaction.

  40. 40.

    Soonergrunt

    @Spaghetti Lee: for the first time in about 30 years, they left the plank that Jerusalem should be the capitol of Israel out.
    The Obama campaign ran a voice vote and put it back in. Chuck Todd claimed that the Nay’s (the don’t change side) had a louder response but that the chair, Antonio Vilaregosa (sp?) declared that in the chair’s opinion, the Ayes had it, and it’s back in the platform.

  43. 43.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    @MikeBoyScout:

    Yes, actually they did. To close the convention they had a gospel group singing America the Beautiful, but that was it.

    The amusing thing about it was the performance was headlined by BeBe Winans, a long-time Democrat, who was only there for the paycheck.

  45. 45.

    SatanicPanic

    @mai naem: I know people who have hiked the same mountain more than once, mainly because they liked it or someone else wanted to go and they went along. Or they took a different route. It’s not that strange, but saying “I’ve hiked peaks A B and C a total of 40 times” sounds less like an accomplishment and more like mania. I would assume he wants us to think that most of the hikes were on different peaks. I don’t buy his # of 40 though, that strikes me as pretty implausible. But who knows.

  46. 46.

    ? Martin

    @mai naem:

    What’s the real life difference between 40 climbs vs.40 peaks. He climbed the same mountain ten times? Is that practically going to take that much less time than climbing ten different peaks.Do people really climb the same mountain ten times? Makes no sense to me.

    There’s a big difference actually. Some of the 14ers are pretty damn easy to climb – like Pikes Peak (which has a road to the summit) and some have higher base elevations. Pike’s Peak base is 6500 feet, so it’s a bit more than a 7500 foot climb. Others like Little Bear are way out of the way, have fairly treacherous stretches, and require scrambling or vertical climbs beyond just a straight hike. Some are manageable by average joes, others require real training and skill and preparation.

    My aunt has climbed Longs Peak probably 10 times. It’s close to Boulder and a popular climb with lots of people around to help if you get in trouble. She likes helping friends and family do their first 14er, which is why she’s done it so often. If you climb Little Bear or Sunlight, you might be the only one out there. If you get stuck you’ll quite likely die. I know people that have climbed Mt Whitney here in CA a dozen times. It’s also a relatively easy 14er due to the trail and number of people that summit.

  51. 51.

    Randy P

    @Soonergrunt: Parliamentary geekery: Can’t somebody demand a vote count in those circumstances? I suppose it depends on the particular rules of your organization, but I think that’s what Roberts would say (too lazy to go find mine).

  55. 55.

    PsiFighter37

    So I guess we screwed up a couple of stupid little things in the party plank? For as tight an operation as the O-Team runs, this should never have been an issue. Looks like they took their eye of the ball.

  59. 59.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Comrade Mary:

    I meant to ask this on the original blue-shirt thread but it was late or FYWP was giving me problems or something, I don’t remember.

    ANYHOW: Is everybody just trolling me (it’s all about me, I hope you know) or what? Because the picture John Cole posted only showed the other guy but nothing of John, only a little sliver of blue which I assume was his new shirt. But I’m confuzzled because lots of people posted comments strongly implying that they could actually see JC with his hand in front of his face. I guess it could be just the way the picture displayed on the iPad, and maybe I should save this question until I get to a proper computer and can check it out.

  60. 60.

    Soonergrunt

    backing up what ? Martin said: Somebody who claims to have climbed a 14er, or worse, summited, will be looked upon as a guide or advisor.
    I have friends who still live in Colorado. Unlike Ryan, they’ve lived there for decades, and are experienced climbers and hikers and haven’t climbed or summited 40 peaks.
    And they live there.
    It’s more of the sub-3-hour marathon bullshit, but there are no registries kept. I suspect that if a professional guide were to grill him, he’d start trying to weasel out of it right quick.

  61. 61.

    nominus

    @Jay in Oregon:

    After #failingagenda had the exact opposite effect, they turned to promoting #16TrillionFail – and the liberals are drinking AFP’s milkshake there too. 3 promoted tags in 3 days that have backfired horribly.

  62. 62.

    Elizabelle

    I can’t wait to see newlywed Mr. Barney Frank.

    Maybe he really can talk to a table this time.

  63. 63.

    SpectreXx

    What the democrats did today on the jerusalem issue was disgusting. They undermined the party democracy that rear ally rejected the motion. They undermined their Arab American constituencies. They undermined the anti-war base. And they undermined the president of the united states, who had continued 40 years of u.s. foreign policy on Jerusalem. Once again the party hierarchy shows it’s true colors.

  64. 64.

    Schlemizel

    @Randy P: You can demand a roll call (unless they fixed the rules in some unusual way) but of course the chair might not hear the request & move on to the next item.

    Back in the day the anti-abortion Dems would try and “run out the clock” by demanding roll call votes on every damn thing. The ploy is to get people who had day jobs, give up & go home to get some sleep while they sat up all night. When it works the minority can become the majority for the purpose of passing crap at the convention (see: Paul, Ron). More than once I saw the chair fail to hear a call for roll call after a long night of calls when the outcome was obvious.

  65. 65.

    Soonergrunt

    @Randy P: They could, but it would be REALLY bad optics.

    The best tweet I’ve seen tonight, from the Cobra Commander feed:
    @Cobra4President
    The #DNC is unwatchable drivel. Cobra!!! #VoteCobra

  68. 68.

    WereBear

    I’m sure John will be cluing us in later. He’s there to soak up info and give us the Balloon Juice perspective; I consider my meager dollars well spent.

    Speaking of which, we did another round of donations for special Democratic folks, and indulged in some Barack Obama coffee cups and COASTERS. I can’t get coasters where I live.

    Will be great for our election night shindig.

  70. 70.

    Comrade Mary

    @SiubhanDuinne: Aw, I’m sorry. I was definitely kidding about the Reggie pic, but John did show up in a couple of other pictures this week. Only in the one where he and ABL are flashing the BJ gang signs could you see his face.

  71. 71.

    arguingwithsignposts

    I have a question: I didn’t actually watch any of the GOP Convention (ok, I watched 5 seconds of Paul Ryan before protecting my laptop from GBH), but did they have any of these troop-related videos or speakers?

  72. 72.

    Elie

    @lamh35:

    She LOOKS like her great Mom — but she doesn’t seem to have the political insights or skills. Those skills are rare gifts and not necessarily passed from one generation to another — in fact — rarely in any significance —

    Still she represents an important organization and constituency — though clearly, a person with “those gifts of speechifying and messaging” would be a true blessing for Planned Parenthood right now..

  74. 74.

    JPL

    @Schlemizel: She appeared really surprised in a nice way. It took a few minutes for her to get back on track.
    PBS was just asking whether pro-life members were allowed in the party. The democratic party is pro-life. ACA provides pre-natal care and health care for all. They are the pro-life party. ugh.. The democrats need to grow a spine and discuss what pro-life means.

  75. 75.

    Elie

    @lamh35:

    She LOOKS like her great Mom — but she doesn’t seem to have the political insights or skills. Those skills are rare gifts and not necessarily passed from one generation to another — in fact — rarely in any significance —

    Still she represents an important organization and constituency — though clearly, a person with “those gifts of speechifying and messaging” would be a true blessing for Planned Parenthood right now..

  76. 76.

    Turgidson

    @John O:

    Agreed. Still think her 08 campaign spent too much time in the gutter, but I’m over it and she and Bill appear to be as well. And she’s been one of the finest Secretaries of State in recent memory. I can’t think of a better one offhand since…hell, I don’t know…Marshall and Acheson? Rusk?

    Bill Clinton’s SOS’s were decent but, meh. For a GOP administration, Baker’s tenure under Bush I wasn’t all bad I guess. Who else was there?

    Anyway, back on topic: even though I argued strenuously against the very notion of a primary/coronation in 2008 (partly because I was an early OBot, I confess), I wouldn’t fuss if Hillary rolled to the nomination in 2016. And unless ol’ Uncle Joe decides to run (which apparently he’s still considering), I suspect the Obama team would quietly but not secretly line up behind Hillary. In other words, she might have Plouffe and Axelrod’s braintrust running her campaign instead of Mark.fucking.Penn. Clinton and Obama’s machines united can probably withstand any amount of SuperPAC slime and hold the White House with Hillary, I think.

  77. 77.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    @Soonergrunt:

    John Cole posted only showed the other guy but nothing of John, only a little sliver of blue which I assume was his new shirt. But I’m confuzzled because lots of people posted comments strongly implying that they could actually see JC with his hand in front of his face

    I assume you’re talking about the picture with Cole and Reggie Love? Yeah, that was a total communal troll job. I expect the next picture of Cole will be just his hand.

  80. 80.

    geg6

    @Schlemizel:

    So with you on that. I just hate, hate, hate Twitter. Tried it, about three times now. Can’t stand it.

    Wish they’d post a bit more here. I get why that might be hard, but it kinda bums me out.

  82. 82.

    Suffern ACE

    Watched brief snippets of Ryan droning on about Jimmy Carter and how great the Clinton economy was. I think he comes of as Chandler Bing when he talks.

  83. 83.

    arguingwithsignposts

    THERE ARE PLUG-INS AND EMBEDS THAT WILL ALLOW THE TWEETS TO SHOW UP ON THE FP. TBOGG DID IT THE OTHER DAY DURING THE ROMNEY SPEECH.

    sometimes I swear this blog is stuck in 2004, before there were other comment platforms, iframes and shit like that.

  84. 84.

    Schlemizel

    BTW – FP is failing under the current load. Once you press Submit Comment it may appear to fail but check it or we are going to end up with hundreds of duplicates & make the problem worse

  87. 87.

    Elie

    @Soonergrunt:

    I climbed for a while. Noothing at all fancy. My biggest “peak” was 10,000 ft Mk Baker in WA state.

    Climbing is hard — even for lower altitudes. First, you have to prepare — physically and mentally. While Ryan is “fit” — you need the time and psychology to deal with hard slogs. Mountains are very fickle. You turn back as much because the weather is bad and other unforseen things happen. That’s mountain climbing. You also turn back to help your team or others, who are having difficulties. Its all good cause the real issue for true mountaineers, is the love of climbing and mountains — not bagging peaks…

    So I am thrilled with my 10,700 ft Mt Baker and the wonderful experience that I had reaching the summitt. I also love the many times my hubbie and I climbed without reaching any summitt, but enjoying the mountains..

    Paul Ryan just has no idea — NO idea — how much more real and meaningful he would seem — if he just talked about loving being outdoors — of loving challenges and incredible beauty. Its just so far from just bagging peaks and its truly sad for him..

  88. 88.

    jl

    @Suffern ACE:

    ” … Ryan droning on about Jimmy Carter and how great the Clinton economy was… ”

    Like they are baiting Clintion or something. Will be interesting to see whether BC responds.

  94. 94.

    MikeJ

    @Elie: The summit is optional. Returning is not. Ain’t no way you climb anything more challenging than the drive up Pikes Peak 40 times without turning back many times.

  95. 95.

    Robin G.

    Deval Patrick is owning this Q&A and just made Brooks look like a fool. And he’s doing this with a smile. He’s got national success written all over him.

  97. 97.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Suffern ACE:

    Watched brief snippets of Ryan droning on about Jimmy Carter and how great the Clinton economy was.

    So a repeal of the Bush tax cuts is nothing to fear, right? I’m sure that was the point made by all talking heads, and the point will be made to Ryand on his next hand-holding with David Gregory. I’m very confident of that.

  99. 99.

    Mary G

    I am my sister’s keeper! Love it!

    ETA: ABL’s Twitter says they are not letting them in. Boo hiss.

  103. 103.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    @Elie:

    Still she represents an important organization and constituency—though clearly, a person with “those gifts of speechifying and messaging” would be a true blessing for Planned Parenthood right now..

    Where are the great young white orators? Are they all in megachurches now?

  105. 105.

    PurpleGirl

    Okay, I’ve given in and I’m watching the C-span livestream. Gov. of Delaware is on right now. He’s talking about Biden and Nextel. Hitting Romney right now.

    ETA: Not a great speaker or electric but he’s continuing the themes from last night.

  107. 107.

    Ann Rynd

    I could live happily if John chose to never post another picture of himself. Isn’t it clear he doesn’t want us to know him that way?
    I do want to know how many fourteeners he’s climbed and what he was wearing.
    I’m loving how they’re undressing Paul Ryan one article at a time. It might not even be true that he has a 14 inch penis.

  110. 110.

    Steeplejack

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    You saw all of the blue-shirt picture that there was. There were earlier pictures with Cole hiding his face, or trying to (the “gang signs” picture with the Wonkette crew and the “Heil Hitler” picture). And I think some people made jokes about being able to see all of John in the blue-shirt picture.

  111. 111.

    Sargon

    It’s good to know that the NC Dems were able to pull out Excalibur and get the Once and Future Governor to appear. He must be getting ready to run against Pat after he and the regressive State Leg. completely @#$^! things up and try to make us a clone of South Carolina

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