Only 36 percent of those who listened to or watched the Republican convention said that it made them more likely to vote for Romney, versus 46 percent less likely. As far back as 1984, there is no precedent for a convention that repels more voters than it attracts… While the impact of the Democratic convention was below average, the Republicans managed to stage the least effective convention in modern political history.Mitt Romney’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Campaign | The New Republic (via felixsalmon)
The bump is actually happening. I know there was some debate whether it would happen… but it’s here.Ipsos pollster Julia Clark • Referring to speculation over a polling bounce in favor of President Obama, as a result of the Democratic National Convention. The Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released today, from a pool of 1,457 likely voters, shows Obama with a 4 point lead over GOP rival Mitt Romney, 47% – 43%. source
I will not take God out of our platform, I will not take God off our coins, and I will not take God out of my heart.Mitt Romney • Speaking in Virginia Beach today. His remarks have stirred up discussion over the implication of the words above – is he suggesting President Obama aims to remove the word “God” from American currency? Romney is clearly ramping up his rhetoric on faith to try to take advantage of the Democrats’ embarrassing platform fracas at the DNC last week. source
The Words They Used At The National Convention
I’ve pointed out “women” because one of the bigger impressions I got from the DNC was that the Democrats clearly think they can use the divide on women’s rights (see: Akin, Todd) to their advantage. One of Obama’s biggest rhetorical flourishes last night involved a girl growing up to be president. Almost every speaker spoke to the issue of gender equality as it related to choice and occasionally as it related to equal compensation. I was surprised at how much they seem to feel they have the advantage pressing the attack there. The only thing that surprised me more (at least as far as speech content was concerned) was the repeated, frank mention of voter suppression — maybe a bit cynical on my part, but I assumed that was an issue the media would complain about but would not be spoken about on a national political stage.
- Jason
This chart also includes a nice list of excerpts where some of the words were used. Pretty rad.
Jared Leto’s beard made an appearance at the DNC. Jared Leto’s happiness did not.
That’s not Jared Leto, that’s the dude from Iron & Wine.
“We believe that a little girl who’s offered an escape from poverty by a great teacher or a grant for college could become the founder of the next Google, or the scientist who cures cancer, or the President of the United States – and it’s in our power to give her that chance.” (Above: Second Lady Jill Biden.)
After all, you don’t call Russia our number one enemy – and not al Qaeda – unless you’re still stuck in a Cold War time warp. You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can’t visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally. My opponent said it was “tragic” to end the war in Iraq, and he won’t tell us how he’ll end the war in Afghanistan. I have, and I will.Obama mocks Romney’s foreign policy. (Anyone think a Cold War Time Warp sounds like the name of a great chillwave band?)
Play along at home, but as Bill Clinton proved last night, don’t follow too closely.
According to excerpts of his prepared speech released by the campaign, Obama intends to appeal for more time to fix the nation’s problems.
“I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy. I never have. You didn’t elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear,” the president will say, according to the text of the remarks. “You elected me to tell you the truth. And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades.”
Yet he will offer a hopeful note: “But know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place.”
Looking forward to the speech? We certainly are.
Governor Romney says he’s against same-sex marriage because every child deserves a mother and a father. I think every child deserves a family as loving and committed as mine. Because the sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other to work through the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. It comes from the love that binds us; that’s what makes a family. Mr. Romney, my family is just as real as yours.Zach Wahls, speaking at the Democratic National Convention. Wahls, a young man from Iowa with two mothers, spoke to the Iowa state legislature in early 2011 on behalf of marriage equality and the video of his speech went viral. (via pantslessprogressive)
Former President Bill Clinton’s stem-winding nomination speech was a fact-checker’s nightmare: lots of effort required to run down his many statistics and factual claims, producing little for us to write about.
Republicans will find plenty of Clinton’s scorching opinions objectionable. But with few exceptions, we found his stats checked out.
As fact-checking is in vogue at the moment, here’s a look at Clinton’s speech. While they nicked him for overselling the Affordable Care Act, the key phrase is this: “Other exaggerations and missteps were minor by comparison.”
Thunderous applause for Bill Clinton at he #DNC2013 (Taken with Instagram)
Bill Clinton’s speech, seen from above.