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You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2016 / Dems in Array*

Dems in Array*

by Betty Cracker|  July 26, 201610:52 am| 156 Comments

This post is in: Election 2016, Hillary Clinton 2016, Open Threads, Politics, Proud to Be A Democrat, Assholes, General Stupidity

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For me, watching the first night of the Democratic National Convention in some ways mirrored the experience of participating on beloved yet flawed internet hangouts, including this here blog: There were some incredibly thoughtful, fun and inspiring discussions and a handful of asshole trolls trying to ruin everything.

I’m still pissed off about the classless jackholes who chanted during Elijah Cummings’ speech. At times I wished the adjacent delegates had risen up against the jerkwads who heckled Elizabeth Warren, rolled them up in the handiest carpet and bounced them down the venue steps and out into traffic. I briefly wished I were in charge of floor security so I could disperse archers throughout the venue with plunger-tipped arrows ready to silence anyone cretinous enough to interrupt Michelle Obama’s amazing speech.

But one reason we’re so lucky to have a woman like FLOTUS in public life is that she inspires us to be better people. “When they go low, we go high.” Words to live by, and if she and her family can endure the abuse of hateful gasbags like Trump with poise and grace — creating in the process a contrast that shows just how small their detractors are — surely our party can put up with a handful of sanctimonious twits for a few more nights and show the nation by contrast what grace, fortitude and leadership look like.

*Shamelessly stolen from this tweet featured in the morning thread.

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Reader Interactions

156Comments

  1. 1.

    Trentrunner

    July 26, 2016 at 10:54 am

    I coined “Dems in Array” in a comment posted here a few weeks ago.

    Full many a flower is born to blush unseen…

  2. 2.

    Elizabelle

    July 26, 2016 at 10:55 am

    It seems that the convention program and highlights you all discussed on BJ, and what’s in the NY Times website headlines diverge rather pointedly.

    What is up with the NY Times?

  3. 3.

    aimai

    July 26, 2016 at 10:57 am

    Yup–“When they go low, we go high” is the breakout hit of a speech full of incredible lines.

  4. 4.

    Dr. Bloor

    July 26, 2016 at 10:59 am

    @Elizabelle: Selling papers.

  5. 5.

    Ian

    July 26, 2016 at 10:59 am

    If I were in charge, every jackass who tried to start shit yesterday wouldn’t be getting into the building today.

    “Sorry, there seems to be a problem with your delegate credentials. It seems that you are a horse’s ass.”

  6. 6.

    aimai

    July 26, 2016 at 11:02 am

    @Ian: I have to believe that a significant portion of the bernie or busters just won’t show up for the roll call. They must have been running on spite and excitement and once they have grasped that there’s no chance the superdelegates are going to see their shining faces and give them all the nominations I think they will just stay out of the hall entirely and not bother to come back.

  7. 7.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 26, 2016 at 11:04 am

    In the end, I’m almost glad they let the dead-enders heckle over the speeches. It showed them for the petulant children they are. No need to make a big show out of throwing them out or anything that would just give them more attention.

  8. 8.

    Poopyman

    July 26, 2016 at 11:04 am

    @Elizabelle: Eh, I only found the two articles at/near the top to have a negative headline:

    Democrats Try to Unite During Unruly Opening to Convention

    and the worse

    Sanders Supports Throw Convention into Disarray

    Which is typically over the top for the NYT
    The rest looked OK (no, I’m not diving in, tyvm). “First Lady Steals Show”, “Sanders Faces Task of Putting Down Revolt He Started”, “Michelle Obama Uplifts Her Predecessor (and ex-Rival)”

    I’m mildly surprised the reportage isn’t even more negative, given the source.

  9. 9.

    jeffreyw

    July 26, 2016 at 11:05 am

    Wait! Are Dems in dis array, or dat array?

  10. 10.

    Jeffro

    July 26, 2016 at 11:06 am

    A reason, but certainly not an excuse, for major media outlets’ behavior: they’ve been conditioned by decades of the Right screaming “LIBERAL BIAS!” that they’re afraid to state the obvious.

    The obvious being, in terms of party unity, star power, candidate: “Which party would you rather be right now?”

  11. 11.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:07 am

    @Ian: The building would be damn near empty then.

  12. 12.

    Arclite

    July 26, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Is it just me, or is Michelle Obama the hottest MILF on the planet? Intelligent, gorgeous, funny, how can she be fucking 52???

  13. 13.

    dmsilev

    July 26, 2016 at 11:07 am

    @aimai: I disagree. I think they’ll all show up, because it is Very Important to them that The World Must Hear Me Shriek. Besides, the more delusional of them are still hoping for a last-minute change of the outcome.

  14. 14.

    amk

    July 26, 2016 at 11:08 am

    @Dr. Bloor: nope, selling nontroversy ‘controversy’

  15. 15.

    The Thin Black Duke

    July 26, 2016 at 11:08 am

    The sane Bernie Sanders supporters that I know were embarrassed by the gibbering idiots last night, thankfully.

  16. 16.

    Soprano2

    July 26, 2016 at 11:08 am

    I hope the angriest people had a chance to get it out of their systems last night, although anyone who was enough of a jackhole to boo during a benediction shouldn’t be allowed back into the hall. Don’t these people realize that to the people watching the convention they appear to be classless assholes? They are sacrificing the reputation of their movement for a little bit of transitory pleasure.

  17. 17.

    Arclite

    July 26, 2016 at 11:08 am

    Also, will FLOTUS run for Senate? Then be a Sec of State, then run for POTUS? Stranger things have happened…

  18. 18.

    patroclus

    July 26, 2016 at 11:09 am

    Captain Janeway had to destroy the Array after the Caretaker died in order to protect the Okampa from the Kazon.

  19. 19.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    July 26, 2016 at 11:11 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: I’m seeing reports from last night that the worst of it was from a handful of idiots in the CA delegation. So no, I don’t think they’d have to revoke very many at all.

  20. 20.

    Trentrunner

    July 26, 2016 at 11:11 am

    @Arclite: Jon Favreau (Obama speechwriter 2005-13) tweeted last night that he would bet anyone any amount of money that Michelle Obama will NEVER run for office.

    So there’s that.

  21. 21.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:11 am

    @jeffreyw: Are day dem people or dose people?

  22. 22.

    Trentrunner

    July 26, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Oh, good! Nina Turner is on my TV!

  23. 23.

    Betty Cracker

    July 26, 2016 at 11:13 am

    @Arclite: I get the distinct impression that she hates politics and only puts up with it because she loves and believes in her husband. But she’d certainly be successful at it if she were so inclined. I’d volunteer, donate and vote for her in a heartbeat.

  24. 24.

    The Thin Black Duke

    July 26, 2016 at 11:13 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: What’s a “yoot”?

  25. 25.

    Amir Khalid

    July 26, 2016 at 11:16 am

    @The Thin Black Duke:
    A yoot is what you ain’t no more, once you hit 30.

  26. 26.

    dmsilev

    July 26, 2016 at 11:16 am

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: And apparently Sanders met with the CA delegation again this morning for the express purpose of wagging his finger in their faces and asking them not to be assholes. Hope it works, but I’m not optimistic. It would have been better for him to have started the deprogramming effort a month ago.

  27. 27.

    tinare

    July 26, 2016 at 11:17 am

    I felt badly for the non-political folks who had to deal with shouters and the general disruption while trying to speak. It bothered me especially with the woman who talked about her experience with Trump University. She is up there talking about her husband’s death and having to try to speak to a room that is loud and distracting. I can imagine that to be an intimidating thing for anyone, especially a non-professional speaker.

  28. 28.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:17 am

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: That was a jibe at the human condition. When you get right down to it, we’re all horses’ asses in one form or another. All it takes is pushing the right buttons.

  29. 29.

    liberal

    July 26, 2016 at 11:18 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    But she’d certainly be successful at it if she were so inclined.

    You say that based on the fact that she can read a speech well? LOL.

  30. 30.

    Luthe

    July 26, 2016 at 11:18 am

    NPR is still trying to make it a horse race. I wish there was a way for me to filter out the stupid coverage and only hear the interesting segments they do, like the reporting from Venezuela and the history of coffee in the US Army. A pie filter for the radio, if you will.

  31. 31.

    NorthLeft12

    July 26, 2016 at 11:18 am

    If you read the other tweets that follow the “Dems in array” tweet, you will see more than a few who misread it as the usual MSM comment, before being gently advised to read the tweet again.

    BTW, I read the speech by Ms. Michelle Obama this morning at work, and am looking forward to seeing and listening to it tonight. She is a pretty amazing woman. She and her family will be sorely missed……although I kinda expect them to be somewhat active in public life along the lines of Jimmy Carter.

  32. 32.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    July 26, 2016 at 11:19 am

    @Amir Khalid: Once you hit 30 twice, does that mean you’re an “old fart”?

  33. 33.

    Betty Cracker

    July 26, 2016 at 11:19 am

    @liberal: Yeah. The only thing Michelle Obama has ever showed us is that she can read a speech well. Jackass.

  34. 34.

    liberal

    July 26, 2016 at 11:20 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    But she’d certainly be successful at it if she were so inclined.

    Huh. Usually it’s considered good form to actually wait to see what position the person is running for, and whether you agree with them on the issues. I guess cults of personality don’t work that way, though.

  35. 35.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    July 26, 2016 at 11:20 am

    @liberal: Oh, you’re back. How nice…

  36. 36.

    liberal

    July 26, 2016 at 11:20 am

    @Betty Cracker: What else has she shown us, pray tell?

  37. 37.

    tinare

    July 26, 2016 at 11:21 am

    @dmsilev: Hopefully that helps. Either that or that they’re all horse from screaming last night.

  38. 38.

    maya

    July 26, 2016 at 11:21 am

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism:

    I’m seeing reports from last night that the worst of it was from a handful of idiots in the CA delegation.

    Yup. Someone from that group got prior CNN coverage. It was a big hit in Cannibus Country, where they’re from CA-02. So it was preordained that they had to make noise.

  39. 39.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:21 am

    @The Thin Black Duke: Dat’s dem guys wit der pants aroun der nees n der undies hangin out wile dey lissen 2 dat bappityrap crap.

  40. 40.

    MattF

    July 26, 2016 at 11:23 am

    @Poopyman: It’s not too bad right now, but Hilz has not appeared or spoken in person. That’s a trigger for OCD.

  41. 41.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    July 26, 2016 at 11:23 am

    @liberal: No, shit for brains. You can tell whether a person has the skills to be a successful politician separate from what positions they take.

  42. 42.

    Chyron HR

    July 26, 2016 at 11:24 am

    @liberal:

    So how many civil rights leaders are you guys planning on booing tonight?

    (Trick question, the correct answer is, “However many the neoliberals put on stage.”)

  43. 43.

    amk

    July 26, 2016 at 11:25 am

    @liberal: Idiot.

  44. 44.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:26 am

    @Luthe:

    I wish there was a way for me to filter out

    There is, it’s called their ‘website’. You can read thru and pick out the stories that interest you and skip all the stuff that infuriates you. This 21st century is amazing.

  45. 45.

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    July 26, 2016 at 11:26 am

    I’ll take my convention, with the squalling BernieBros who will all end up voting for Hillary anyhow, over the utter catastrophe that was the GOP’s Viking funeral last week.

  46. 46.

    magurakurin

    July 26, 2016 at 11:26 am

    @liberal: you should go to the thread downstairs. They are talking about mind control and brainwashing in the Sanders campaign. Spooky shit,actually.

  47. 47.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 26, 2016 at 11:26 am

    @liberal: I know I’m wasting my time, but Betty surmised that she’d be “successful at politics.” Not that she’d be good at this or that post. And I think if you had any 52-year old Harvard Law graduate who was clearly very intelligent, obviously attractive, and poised and comfortable speaking in front of a stadium full of people you’d surmise that said person might be “successful at politics.”

  48. 48.

    Amir Khalid

    July 26, 2016 at 11:27 am

    @Comrade Scrutinizer:
    i dunno, I’m not quite there yet.

  49. 49.

    Felonius Monk

    July 26, 2016 at 11:28 am

    “Children” should not be permitted on the convention floor.

  50. 50.

    Frankensteinbeck

    July 26, 2016 at 11:29 am

    @Jeffro:
    I think the reason is that the national news media are mostly Republicans. Older, wealthy whtie males dominate the group and control hiring and advancement. Watching CNN’s anchor declaring his confusion when Obama was re-elected because ‘America is a center-right country’, and watching a panel nod admiringly at his wisdom while Brokaw ranted about how Americans needed to learn to live without entitlements, really drove home what the people writing the news personally believe.

  51. 51.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:29 am

    @Betty Cracker: Meanwhile, liberal still hasn’t convinced anyone here that he is an actual human.

  52. 52.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 11:30 am

    @Chyron HR:

    So how many civil rights leaders are you guys planning on booing tonight?

    That’s how it’s done, people. Watch and learn.

  53. 53.

    Amir Khalid

    July 26, 2016 at 11:32 am

    @liberal:
    Just off the top of my head: intelligence, the ability to persuade people, likeability, a talent for public speaking, and a heart that’s very much in the right place.

  54. 54.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 26, 2016 at 11:33 am

    @Frankensteinbeck: Tom Fucking Brokaw, who owns a 5,000 acre “ranch” in Montana, should shut his fucking pie hole about people living without.

  55. 55.

    kindness

    July 26, 2016 at 11:34 am

    Has anyone else noticed that Huffington Post is the last organization outside Fox that is doing it’s best to continue to stoke the anger fires between Hillary and Bernie? Not that I ever spent much time there but it’s completely worthless right now (even more worthless than it usually is and that’s tough to do).

  56. 56.

    Iowa Old Lady

    July 26, 2016 at 11:35 am

    @Comrade Scrutinizer: Sounds right to me. And that’s why we’re meeting with our attorney this afternoon to update our wills and power of attorneys (powers of attorney?).

  57. 57.

    negative 1

    July 26, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Does anyone really think that extremely vocal extreme minority on display last night comprises more than 1% of the overall democratic electorate? I hate this shit. I heard one boo and immediately thought ‘here comes the false media narrative about dems being just as divided as the rethugs this time…’ and lo and behold I’m right.

    Take a look at the pictures online from the Bernie rallies outside the convention. If I’m generous I’ll give it 50 people. Seriously I think that’s practically all of them country-wide.

    The last poll I saw said that all but 8% of Sanders voters will vote for Clinton. That’s basically the amount of self-identified evangelicals that didn’t vote Romney last time (yeah I had to read RedState and do a little math for that so no, I’m not linking), and at this time in 2008 the PUMA crowd was still holding out in greater numbers (12% that I could find but it’s a little murky). In other words, basically it seems like about that amount of people every election year don’t vote for their party’s candidate, and this year’s election is in no more disarray than normal.

    This year, however, a few people booed so the whole f&%king party is in disarray. Despite the fact that every single person I can think of in a national position of prominence has signed on to the party’s ticket and endorsed it. Yup, disarray. F&%k it, media. One day we’ll have a media that will use, I don’t know, evidence, statistical or polling or f&%king something to back up their statements and we won’t have these f*$king articles.

    Rant over.

  58. 58.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 26, 2016 at 11:36 am

    @Amir Khalid: no no it’s 35.

  59. 59.

    jeffreyw

    July 26, 2016 at 11:39 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: This week it’s all dem peoples, dose peoples done had thier ting las week.

  60. 60.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 26, 2016 at 11:39 am

    @dmsilev:

    And apparently Sanders met with the CA delegation again this morning

    Hopefully he said something like, “Listen, guys, you’re going to have to shut the fuck up.”

  61. 61.

    Bill

    July 26, 2016 at 11:40 am

    Last night made me proud to be a Democrat. Bernie did everything he was asked to do, and did it well. Booker had his Obama in 04 moment. (My fav speech of the night.) And FLOTUS…well…all the feels. (I sincerely hope she’s exploring a Senate run in the future.)

    Silverman and Fraken were funny. (And Silverman had the best line of the night) The messaging was well conceived and coherent. Despite the Bernie or Bust crowd’s best attempts, the unity is real.

    The only low point was finding out Paul Simon’s lost the pipes.

    Great night.

  62. 62.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    July 26, 2016 at 11:40 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: Considered the possibility, but it didn’t quite follow. The comment you replied to didn’t suggest pulling credentials for general assness, just one particular example of dock lifting.

    Also wasn’t sure which version of the narrative you’d seen. Certain media seems invested in pushing the numbers of BernieBullies higher than they are.

  63. 63.

    kirbster

    July 26, 2016 at 11:41 am

    RE: The nitwit with the tape over her mouth. I hope it hurt like hell when she removed it, taking some skin off her “silenced” lips and leaving lots of sticky, waterproof residue behind.

  64. 64.

    singfoom

    July 26, 2016 at 11:43 am

    Was a great first night. As others have said I’m glad they let the BoBs boo and do their thing without animus. FLOTUS was awesome. Booker and Warren were great. Bernie did exactly what he needed to do. His speech was a little too stumpy but it was a strong endorsement. Good contrast to the Dumpsterfire in Cleveland.

  65. 65.

    sigaba

    July 26, 2016 at 11:43 am

    @negative 1: They want a contested convention and galldurnit if they’re not going to get one.

    Don’t worry it just increases the viewership.

  66. 66.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 26, 2016 at 11:43 am

    @negative 1: The stupid chanting at Elizabeth Warren was loud enough to hear clearly on the TV coverage, so it was more than a handful of people.

  67. 67.

    maya

    July 26, 2016 at 11:44 am

    @Gin & Tonic: Not only that but Brokaw and Dubya each have controlling interests in Iraq. I heard it from his own lips when he was interviewing Dub aboard the USS Mission Accomplished in May, 2003……. “Now that we own Iraq, Mr President……”

    One of his finer moments as a stenographer.

  68. 68.

    Punchy

    July 26, 2016 at 11:44 am

    @Bill: Wait, what? What happ’d to Paul Simon?

  69. 69.

    kindness

    July 26, 2016 at 11:44 am

    @kirbster: Haven’t you read about her? The one with the tape on her mouth? She is the Marketing Director for Upworthy. So here she was creating viral content for her own firm. With that in mind she’s less pure snowflake and more just another grifter.

  70. 70.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:45 am

    @jeffreyw: Oh. Dats rite.

  71. 71.

    Ian

    July 26, 2016 at 11:46 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: It was a very small % of Bernie delegates, dozens, not thousands.

  72. 72.

    bemused

    July 26, 2016 at 11:47 am

    @Bill:

    I winced and felt bad for Simon.

  73. 73.

    Frankensteinbeck

    July 26, 2016 at 11:47 am

    @maya:
    And the vast majority of his colleagues think Brokaw is a great sage. That right there is all the explanation anyone needs for how Republican-friendly the news is.

  74. 74.

    singfoom

    July 26, 2016 at 11:48 am

    @kindness: @negative 1: It’s almost if the mainstream media has a vested interest in the horse race whether its within or between two parties.

  75. 75.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:50 am

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism:

    Considered the possibility, but it didn’t quite follow.

    Yep, that was my bad. (I knew it right after I hit ‘post’ but let it lie, figured I’d explain if anyone commented)

  76. 76.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 11:50 am

    @negative 1:

    Does anyone really think that extremely vocal extreme minority on display last night comprises more than 1% of the overall democratic electorate?

    roughly 30 / 4,763 = roughly 0.63%.

  77. 77.

    amk

    July 26, 2016 at 11:51 am

    both sides do it.

  78. 78.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 11:52 am

    @FlipYrWhig: I heard they chanted “WE TRUSTED YOU!” at Bernie.

  79. 79.

    Hildebrand

    July 26, 2016 at 11:53 am

    @FlipYrWhig: I hope Bernie told them, ‘Thanks, assholes, nice tantrum – now everyone who watched thinks you are petulant children.’

  80. 80.

    AnotherBruce

    July 26, 2016 at 11:53 am

    @Bill: Jeez, I think he sang pretty well, but then I considered his age. And really, I think having Paul Simon on stage was a great idea and one of the highlights of the night. People danced and it was a calming moment that was very needed.

  81. 81.

    Amir Khalid

    July 26, 2016 at 11:54 am

    @Major Major Major Major:
    30, 35, it’s all the same to me now. i hit the 20th anniversary of my 35th birthday a week and a half ago.

  82. 82.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 11:54 am

    @amk: This one is even better:

    19 women have spoken at #DNCinPhilly tonight, and — weird for a convention! — none of them are related to Donald Trump.

  83. 83.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 26, 2016 at 11:55 am

    @Ian: See me at 28.

  84. 84.

    negative 1

    July 26, 2016 at 11:56 am

    @Gin & Tonic: But I guess my point is that wouldn’t you expect Bernie’s actual delegates, the people who ran (assuming my state is the norm, I confess ignorance to some degree) for the right to support him at a national convention, to be the most hardcore Bernie or Bust types? It’s not like ‘how many are there, who could know?’ because there is actual polling, and, like I said, despite the fact that the minority in the party seems to be real loud this time, statistically speaking it’s no f%$king different than any other year.

  85. 85.

    gbear

    July 26, 2016 at 11:57 am

    @Punchy:

    Simon attempted to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and showed why Art Garfunkle sang it on the record. It was pretty sad. He should have brought in a choir to help him. He’s got so many great songs that he can probably still sing that it left me wondering if the DNC really really wanted him to do that particular song.

  86. 86.

    negative 1

    July 26, 2016 at 11:57 am

    @different-church-lady: a.) thanks for that quick math and b.) that is now better reporting than the NYT did, so I hearby nominate you for a Pulitzer.

  87. 87.

    Face

    July 26, 2016 at 11:58 am

    @different-church-lady: Is Chelsea Clinton sked’d to give a speech?

  88. 88.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    @CONGRATULATIONS!:

    Yes, me too. I watched some on CSPAN last night — Franken, Silverman, Somoza, Booker, part of Warren, and I watched Obama on YouTube. The chanting was distracting, but didn’t really take away from the excellence of all the speeches. The camera pans of the audience made it clear that the Bernie booers were a small minority.

  89. 89.

    maya

    July 26, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: I wonder how large the War Booty Bonus’ were for the cast at NBC News for their stellar job in selling the Iraq invasion. GE got several billion in no-bid war contracts out of that and GE has always been good to it’s loyal employees.

    Years ago, 1984, there was an article in Architecture Digest – I still have it – that featured an all electric house that GE built and paid for in the late ’50s up in Pacific Palisades for Ronald Reagan. He sold many light bulbs for them on GE Theater and, they also recognized his political possibilities then.

  90. 90.

    Villago Delenda Est

    July 26, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    Totally OT, but something is wrong with the main page. It NEVER stops loading…some widget somewhere keeps being read in perpetuity so that the page never fully loads. I don’t know if the problem is that a widget’s site is broken, or the widget itself can’t load properly, or something like, that, but it’s annoying.

  91. 91.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 26, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    @kindness:

    The one with the tape on her mouth? She is the Marketing Director for Upworthy.

    The last time I watched the NFL draft they kept cutting to fans in jerseys in little gaggles. At one point, I think it was when the NY Jets made a pick, one of the fans was a kid, maybe 11 or so, who, when the pick was announced, immediately wailed and looked aghast… and proceeded to selfie himself wailing and looking aghast. That was very much the way the Sanders contingent came across to me all night.

  92. 92.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    @Bill:

    Yes, Paul Simon has no voice left, but still has musicianship. And his band was good. I took it as a bit of pleasant nostalgia.

  93. 93.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 12:03 pm

    @negative 1: Put it on the mantle with the others.

  94. 94.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 26, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    @kindness:

    It’s hard to believe that there was once a time when Huffington provided intelligent value on a fairly regular basis. I don’t know when it started changing, but I do know it’s been years — well over a decade, I reckon — since I deliberately went there (occasionally I’ll click on a link that turns out to take me to HuffPo).

  95. 95.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 26, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    @jeffreyw:

    How do dey do dat?

  96. 96.

    AnotherBruce

    July 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    @singfoom: Bernie was stumpy. But I think he approached it the right way. He pumped up his followers early in the speech because he knew he was going to have to let (some of them) down by praising and endorsing Clinton. I think he did the transition very well.

    I was struck by the tears of some of Bernie’s followers. I guess you could call it cult like. I’m more apt to believe it’s because some people, especially young ones fall in love. And Bernie does have charisma.

  97. 97.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    @AnotherBruce:

    His charisma is entirely invisible to me.

  98. 98.

    Soylent Green

    July 26, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Bernie has been basking in being treated as a god too long to upbraid his most ardent fans about their bad behavior. If he tells them anything, it won’t be effective. Many see him as a turncoat; they will be loyal to his “revolution,” not to him.

  99. 99.

    Bill

    July 26, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    @Punchy: He sounded terrible.

  100. 100.

    Villago Delenda Est

    July 26, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    @gogol’s wife: There’s a reason why Art did the vocals on the original, and Paul just sang backup. Paul never had the range for “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

  101. 101.

    philpm

    July 26, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    @kindness: I knew it had gotten bad when my right-wing family members started sharing posts on Facebook from there.

  102. 102.

    El Caganer

    July 26, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    @Hildebrand: I’d kind of go with the Otter Option: “Hey, you fucked up – you trusted me!”

  103. 103.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 26, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    @gogol’s wife: And to me.

  104. 104.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 26, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    @gogol’s wife: And to me too. His whole shtick comes across to me as “guy who takes up inordinate time at the staff meeting to complain that the staff meeting is a waste of time.”

  105. 105.

    EZSmirkzz

    July 26, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    Another good read for you Betty, via LG&M.

    When they go low, we go high…

  106. 106.

    catclub

    July 26, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    @negative 1:

    This year, however, a few people booed so the whole f&%king party is in disarray.

    Never mind Sanders, the number 2 candidate enthusiastically endorses.
    Ted Cruz, the number 2 GOP candidate, does not endorse.
    Mitt Romney does not endorse.
    All the Bush’s don’t endorse.
    John McCain cannot make it to the convention.

    Obama, Any top Democrat, endorses, enthusiastically.

  107. 107.

    Betty Cracker

    July 26, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    @liberal: Michelle Obama has shown us that she’s passionate about issues around children, families and wellness. She’s shown us that she understands the sweep of history and her place in it. That she cares about the future. That she’s intelligent and thoughtful about a range of issues. That she can connect with and inspire ordinary people. That she is optimistic about the future. People with those qualities can be pretty good at politics.

  108. 108.

    MomSense

    July 26, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    Best commentary on the Sanders speech was from my 12 year old who said that he did his job but then it started to become his stump speech. He thought Warren had a good message but she needs to mix up her rhythm because some of it gets lost. He said Booker was close to perfect but he should have ended 5 minutes earlier. He loved FLOTUS and couldn’t get over the image of the first family living in a house built by slaves. He’s very excited that we could have the first woman president right after the first black president.

    He cheered when Silverman told them they were ridiculous but at that point he had already told me that if the Bernistas booed Michelle we were going to drive all night to Philly to tell them to stop being idiots.

    There has been a lot of concern about the rust belt from the pundits and people like Michael Moore. I do think we should stress every single day that Trump stiffs the trades people who have made him rich. Build a gilded tower and then stiff the plumber? I think a lot of people can relate to that.

  109. 109.

    Matt McIrvin

    July 26, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    @CONGRATULATIONS!:

    I’ll take my convention, with the squalling BernieBros who will all end up voting for Hillary anyhow

    They’ll vote for Jill Stein, Gary Johnson or Trump, but it won’t matter, because they live in California.

  110. 110.

    Matt McIrvin

    July 26, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    @negative 1:

    The last poll I saw said that all but 8% of Sanders voters will vote for Clinton.

    Nate Silver pointed out that that poll is misleading: it was forcing a two-way choice between Trump and Clinton. Says nothing about how many will stay home, write in Bernie or vote for a spoiler candidate. There’s still a lot of “undecided/other” in this race, and if Trump wins it’ll probably be because we got Nadered by two or more Naders.

  111. 111.

    Betty Cracker

    July 26, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    @kirbster: LMAO! Amen!

  112. 112.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    @MomSense:

    Wow, you have a smart son there.

  113. 113.

    DissidentFish

    July 26, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    @gbear: So this is not important — but I saw a Paul Simon concert at Wolf Trap a month ago. I’m not a big fan but my companion that evening was. It was really very good! He had good energy, played over 2 hours, his band was full of great players, and he ended on solo acoustic “The Boxer” and “American Tune.” Which were pretty much breathtakingly beautiful. They didn’t play “Bridge over Troubled Water” at all.

    He did write it tho’. He probably never sounded that good singing it himself. Glad he sang it in Philly, even if it was objectively not beautiful.

  114. 114.

    ThresherK (GPad)

    July 26, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Is he another “Mohair” Sam Donaldson? Does Brokaw, too, get a six figure subsidy every year for “agriculture”?

  115. 115.

    Luthe

    July 26, 2016 at 12:37 pm

    @OzarkHillbilly: Alas, their website is incompatible with driving to and from work every day. Any other helpful suggestions? (and before you ask, public transit is crap in my neck of the woods, so driving is required).

  116. 116.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 26, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    @ThresherK (GPad): I am too lazy and disinterested to find out.

  117. 117.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 12:39 pm

    @MomSense:

    He loved FLOTUS and couldn’t get over the image of the first family living in a house built by slaves.

    Worked on an oral history project in Nachez, MS many years ago. There was a antibellum mansion on the outskirts of town (can’t remember which one). We interviewed whites and blacks about the place.

    The whites were proud of the mansion because their ancestors had lived in it.

    The surprise came when the blacks expressed just as much pride in the mansion, because their ancestors had built it.

    I was both moved and incredibly disconcerted by this situation.

  118. 118.

    Kathleen

    July 26, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    @OzarkHillbilly: Is he just a pissed off white guy or a pissed off white guy pretending to be a pissed off black guy? I need a playbill here.

  119. 119.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    @Luthe: Don’t you have one of those new cars you can talk to? (Because we all have $25,000 to spend on an iPad with wheels, right?)

  120. 120.

    raven

    July 26, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    @Kathleen: He’s a fucking punk.

  121. 121.

    different-church-lady

    July 26, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    @Kathleen: I use a simple rule: on the internet, nobody can tell if you’re a dog. But everyone can tell if you’re an asshole.

  122. 122.

    MomSense

    July 26, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    @gogol’s wife:

    Poor kid actually watched all of the debates, even the Republican ones, and the RNC convention. He did ask me last night how many conventions there are. When I told him this was it, he was very relieved.

    He talks about politics a lot with his brothers and their friends so I think he picks up quite a bit from them. Last year his social studies and language arts classes did a combined project. They did a brief public speaking segment before their oral presentations and I think that has influenced how he views these spectacles.

    I actually think that Michelle Obama’s line about listening to our children is important. They are watching, listening, and absorbing everything we do.

  123. 123.

    Elizabelle

    July 26, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    @Luthe: The NPR item on coffee looks fab. Thank you.

    If War is Hell, then Coffee Has offered some US soldiers salvation.

  124. 124.

    Elizabelle

    July 26, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    @MomSense: You raised a good kid. Giving credit to him, there, too.

  125. 125.

    Kathleen

    July 26, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    @raven: @different-church-lady: Ha! Thanks for the playbill!

  126. 126.

    eclare

    July 26, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    @MomSense: I wonder if Booker was told to stretch his speech out for timing. The first part was pretty tight on message, then he seemed to drift, but the convention needed to fill time to get to prime time viewing. Just curious.

  127. 127.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    @eclare:

    Wasn’t he already in prime time?

  128. 128.

    raven

    July 26, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    @eclare: I think he got distracted by the morons for a bit.

  129. 129.

    LAC

    July 26, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    @liberal: Well, she hasn’t shown us her ass, unlike you. Trump promised you a degree from his university?

  130. 130.

    Kathleen

    July 26, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    @Elizabelle: (“f@MomSense: Very perceptive young man. And the fruit never falls far from the tree!

    OT Now that I’ve finally figured out the double reply thing-y I will be a double replying fool. Now if I could just master the type descriptive text and post link thingy, which many folks here have explained but I still for the life of me can’t figure out, I would be a link posting fool.

  131. 131.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    If I’m reading the schedule correctly, tonight is Bill but no other big politicians. Is he going to do one of his marathons?

  132. 132.

    MomSense

    July 26, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    The whites were proud of the mansion because their ancestors had lived in it.

    The surprise came when the blacks expressed just as much pride in the mansion, because their ancestors had built it.

    I was both moved and incredibly disconcerted by this situation.

    It is such a complicated relationship we have with each other and with our country. It can be overwhelming at times. The Obama family in the White House has been so well documented in photographs and videos so it is tough to pick favorites but there was a photo of Michelle Obama giving a speech standing under a portrait of Abraham Lincoln that I just couldn’t get out of my head for the longest time. It made you wonder if Lincoln ever imagined this possibility and then the weight of being the first to achieve it. Making history surrounded by our nation’s history. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to live that.

  133. 133.

    eclare

    July 26, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    @gogol’s wife: I meant the time picked up by the main three, ABC, CBS, NBC. They picked up the convention at 10 EDT. I think Booker stopped speaking around 9:57. To me his speech should have ended sooner.

  134. 134.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 26, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    @eclare: Someone somewhere, maybe on another thread here, referred to the possibility that speakers were trying to eliminate gaps in their presentations so that the protest chants couldn’t pick up momentum. Warren in particular seemed to be struggling with pace and volume and I had the impression it was because she was getting distracted by the shouters.

  135. 135.

    eclare

    July 26, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    @raven: Could be.

  136. 136.

    Paul in KY

    July 26, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: If you see them on TV, as an announcer, they’re millionaires. So, they trend Repub.

  137. 137.

    gogol's wife

    July 26, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    @Kathleen:

    Copy your link. Then type your comment. Highlight the descriptive part. Click the “link” button on the menu. A window will pop up into which you can paste your link. When you close the window, your message will show the descriptive part in blue/purple, and that’s the part people can click to get your link. For example, here’s a cheering up number from Shirley Temple.

  138. 138.

    eclare

    July 26, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: That makes sense. And I have seen Warren speak before, I thought she was slightly off last night. Nothing compared to her speech before some lawyers association in the past few weeks.

  139. 139.

    Paul in KY

    July 26, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: I would say that whenever you have the option of Paul singing the song or Art singing the song…you should go with Art.

  140. 140.

    Humdog

    July 26, 2016 at 1:09 pm

    @maya: Cannibus country? That means they had to take at least three planes to get there, swapping our glorious 73 degree days for 98 degree and humidity, all to make jack asses of themselves? They even had to leave their pot at home! What a complete waste, of money, effort, time and sweat. There are plenty of places right here in humboldt where they could be jack asses for free and in comfort and as high as they want to be. I cannot comprehend.

  141. 141.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    July 26, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    You’re probably right, but the PIN to access our inner-horse’s ass is just one digit for some people. Others have ten-digit numbers, as it were, before we become braying, wounded morons.

  142. 142.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    July 26, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Some folks don’t dig poise, eloquence, a broad world view, and empathy. They want quippy, attitude-laden snark and venom, as so attractively presented by your Sarah Palin types.

  143. 143.

    Betty Cracker

    July 26, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    @West of the Rockies (been a while): I like that analogy.

  144. 144.

    Joel

    July 26, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    @kindness: Other than Pollster, which they acquired from Mark Blumenthal before the last presidential election, I have never read the Huffington Post, outside of a handful of linked articles. Something about the format of the site bugs me. Reminds me too much of Drudge.

  145. 145.

    Paul in KY

    July 26, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    @shomi: A competent Repub operation you would expect that from.

  146. 146.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 26, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    @shomi: I dunno if that’d be necessary. Proud Bernie Sanders supporters haven’t shown any reluctance to act up, talk trash, and generally call attention to themselves. I don’t think they need any help.

  147. 147.

    Mister Forkbeard

    July 26, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    @magurakurin: Can you send a link, or direct me to the right article? That sounds… well, interesting.

  148. 148.

    burnspbesq

    July 26, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    @Luthe:

    A pie filter for the radio, if you will.

    Every radio I’ve ever owned has had one. I think they call it a “power switch,” or something like that.

  149. 149.

    Feebog

    July 26, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    I watched damn near the entire night on MSNBC. Since I’m on the West Coast, I left it on for the post game show. Best part was Al Franken down on the convention floor holding court with all the MSNBC floor reporters. Al was relaxed and funny as hell. Loved his speech, especially the shout out to his peeps in the Minnesota delegation.

  150. 150.

    rikyrah

    July 26, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    @MomSense:

    He cheered when Silverman told them they were ridiculous but at that point he had already told me that if the Bernistas booed Michelle we were going to drive all night to Philly to tell them to stop being idiots.

    BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

  151. 151.

    rikyrah

    July 26, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    @MomSense:

    It is such a complicated relationship we have with each other and with our country. It can be overwhelming at times. The Obama family in the White House has been so well documented in photographs and videos so it is tough to pick favorites but there was a photo of Michelle Obama giving a speech standing under a portrait of Abraham Lincoln that I just couldn’t get out of my head for the longest time. It made you wonder if Lincoln ever imagined this possibility and then the weight of being the first to achieve it. Making history surrounded by our nation’s history. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to live that.

    I have never thought about my favorite FLOTUS picture in the White House.

    For POTUS, I have 3:

    #1 and above all – the picture that I think embodies the Obama Presidency, is the one taken in his first year in office, when the little Black Boy asks the President if his hair was like his. And, the President of the United States bends over to let this child touch his hair. I still get chills everytime I see it.

    #2 is POTUS holding this beautiful Black girl with Afropuffs. You don’t see POTUS’ face, but you see the little girl, and in the background, is the picture of Lincoln.

    #3 is POTUS meeting with MLK’s family in the Oval Office, and right there is the bust of MLK. MLK, in the Oval Office, with his family, meeting a Black President.

    I’ll have to think about FLOTUS.

  152. 152.

    Barb2

    July 26, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    One of the high points for me was Demi Lovato. I was totally unprepared for the message of this 23 year old hero. She has a wonderful voice and talent.

    Before she belted out Confidence – she gave a short speech about her personal experience with mental illness. Untreated mental illness is a major problem in this country, she told us. She packed a lot of information in her short speech.

    Finally, about time a presidential candidate recognizes untreated mental illness. Lovato tells us that Hillary cares!

    After her performance Hillary sent a twitter thanking Demi for her courage.

    Lovato is bipolar.

    For years I tried to get a mental health plank on the state dem platform – nope didn’t happen. This year attention has been given to mental illness treatment!

    Demi Lovato will make a difference. I cried. I don’t cry ever.

    My Sister is bipolar.

  153. 153.

    MomSense

    July 26, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    @rikyrah:

    Oh, all three of those photos are on my list. One of my favorite couple photos is the two of them on the balcony in Oslo on the night of the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony.

  154. 154.

    rikyrah

    July 26, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    @MomSense:

    One of my favorite couple photos is the two of them on the balcony in Oslo on the night of the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony.

    Oh, mine too. I love their ‘ look’ on that night, even more than either inaugural night. She looked so otherworldly that night.

  155. 155.

    Luthe

    July 26, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    @burnspbesq: While the pie filter is selective, removing only the asinine commentary, the power button is not as choosy. I’d miss WNYC’s series on urban heat islands, for one.

  156. 156.

    Applejinx

    July 26, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    @kindness: I read about that! One of the tape-over-mouth people (only one? or did she get others to do it?) literally works for Upworthy.

    So, her actions there LITERALLY work against everything Bernie’s wanted, in order to get personal gain for an unaccountable corporation trading on click-bait bullshit. True colors, shown.

    Fuck her and her tape. I really, really don’t like the ‘Upworthification’ of our country even when it’s trading on liberal softheartedness to try and Riefenstahlify progressivism. When it’s fighting against what our own political leaders are TRYING to do (namely, build a functional healthy coalition that can negotiate between itself), then it’s become an evil thing.

    They had me convinced at ‘Upworthy’. All you have to tell people is that tape-lady getting in the cameras was from Upworthy and that puts her in context right away.

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