The opening showing Obama's life story was great, and those are some cute kids.

I'm quite enjoying it.
He's a bit to the right of where I am, but you can't beat his enthusiasm and drive. :)

I like what he's saying about equal pay for his daughters.

I like that he hasn't given up making reference to his early opposition to invading Iraq post-Biden.

"We may not agree on abortion, but we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies"

"We can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers deserve to visit their beloved partners in the hospital" (ok, more or less a quote)

I think he's doing really well at talking to a broad American audience.

I enjoyed it. I thought he did a good job touching base on everything and I think he hit on a good tactic with McCain by hinting that he is clueless about what's going on outside of his own circle and that he is still looking at things from a past view.

This is really random, but does anybody know who narrated the video they showed right before Obama came out?

Who chose the batman music? The kids playing in the confetti are adorable, though.

Elissa, that was bugging me to...I think it was David Strathairn, the dude who played E.R.Murrow in "Good Night & Good Luck." Nice!

He nailed it!!! He touched on EVERY important point. All questions I had about him were answered. Very exciting. Now I can just hope that he is our next president.

Awesome equal pay shoutout. I'm liking his speech. I wanted Hillary, but Obama is my candidate now, and I support him 100%.

Maybe it was all the hype associated with this speech but I was not overly moved or excited by this speech. I must proclaim the best speech of the convention was that given by Hillary. I am not even a fan of hers but she was the one that moved me.

Oh, it was him! Thank you so much - it was bugging me throughout the whole thing!

The size of the crowd is what really blew me away. I'd like to see McCain try and fill that stadium.

The speech was alright, but Obama has always been an excellent speaker; that should surprise no one. The political theatre is just a bit over the top for my tastes, but definitely impressive, and I think it probably presented well to the public.

I remain underwhelmed, as usual, and came away with the same feelings of superficiality that Obama [Clinton, too] always leaves me with, knowing that he wants things both ways: to appeal to discriminatory fucks while still securing my vote, even though he barely supports the basic rights that affect my life the most.

I'm being melodramatic, I'm sure, but if McCain wins at this point, I think I'll be profoundly crushed in a way I never have before. I just literally cannot empathize with someone who can look at these two candidates and support McCain.

Amazing speech. Every speech this week has been fabulous, but he hit this one out of the park. Now lets work to make sure he's elected!

Pretty good I'd say! Mentioning stuff about his Mom, women, his daughters, auto workers, health care, college debt...he got me!

I don't know why. I can't explain it but I continue to be un- enthused by Barack. I want him to get more fired up or something. I think it was a pretty generic speech. But I completely agree, 8 is enough!

I loved it - personally I think there was a bit too much of the whole "America is great. America is proud" kinda stuff which just screams "Empire!!" to me, but then again I'm coming at it from an international perspective.

I agree that Clinton's speech was more moving, but I think Obama's speech distilled all doubts that he's a serious contender who will BRING IT!

I also have to say that as an Australian looking in, I honestly am just shocked that issues such as universal access to health care, the right to have an abortion, and equal pay for equal work are still things being debated over there. A few years ago ONE Australian politician tried to speak out against abortion in Australia and now he is basically the most disliked politician on the Australian scene (Tony Abbott - vomit!!). Any overly religious reference to God on the political scene is met with a raised eyebrow (they usually just refer to it as "my faith" or "my beliefs" - but never "Jesus" for example). If any politician tried to argue against universal health care, people would just be gobsmacked. There are some issues which are political suicide here, and those are some of them. Anyway, I just hope that Americans finally get to experience these things as part of the basic political landscape like we do here - our system's not perfect by any means, but there are some things which should be rights which you guys don't have. And I don't feel like the rest of the world will change until the empire, umm, I mean superpower of the world changes in respect to those.

/rant

Nebraska, I've heard that apparently the RNC is having trouble finding 10,000 people who want to see McCain's acceptance speech next week.
If there's so much disparity in personal popularity, it boggles my mind how people can not support Obama. I just don't get what McCain could possibly have over him.

"The size of the crowd is what really blew me away. I'd like to see McCain try and fill that stadium."

When my local news came on right after Obama's speech, they talked about the 84,000 or so people in attendance tonight. Then they showed the auditorium where the Republican convention will be held and said, "The venue holds about 20,000 people."

So it's safe to say THAT ain't happening.

I think this speech and the Biden speech last night were both a good representation of the two men and a great "hey this is who we are" kind of introduction some Americans may not have had yet (you know the 2 people who don't watch Oprah). I also liked that he directly attacked McCain. He hit right on many issues that people are concerned about in a personal instead of general way. I'm not sure I am ready to stick a Obama bumper stick on my car just yet, but I liked what he said and I want to hear more.

Wonderful. It made me cry. There is a chance for something amazing to happen.

A symptom of our Puritanical roots, Goanna. Seriously, I know it's more complex than that, but there's something to it.

I'm just...not feeling any of it.

Don't get me wrong - there is no way in hell I'm voting for McCain - but did it have to be so...Canned Political Speech? That goes for all the other speeches at the convention, too. They all sound the same. They all have the same pauses - and the same inflections. They all have the same variations on a touching story. They all use the same repetition that gets pointed out in English classes. And they all close on a rousing but ultimately familiar note of hope and future success!

Just once - just ONCE! I want to see a candidate who bursts onto the scene with a honed, concise nugget of truth and awesomeness. He'd lose the election. But it would bring me so much joy.

Goanna - I don't know what part of Australia you're in, but in Victoria and New South Wales abortion is still technically illegal. It's been all over the news lately because Victoria is just now facing legislation to change this fact, and many politicians have openly come out in opposition to legalised or decriminalised abortion. Tony Abbott was in no way the only politician to speak out so strongly against RU486 either. Also, both Rudd and Howard played the religion card in the 2008 election and it seemed to work for, rather than against, them. Sure, America's not perfect, but Australia's still got a long way to go as well.

My mom, originally a Hillary supporter, says "Barack Obama is a misogynist pig." *sigh* She also says "the Clintons never said anything racist" "sexism is a longer-standing, bigger problem in our society than racism" and she thinks Bill Clinton is a fine man because he loves his mother, and "no man would turn down a blowjob if they thought they wouldn't get caught". And she thought he was a good president.

I mean, I think Obama has used some unfortunately patronizing language towards Hillary and other women in the past, but I think it's a stretch to call him a "misogynist pig" with his voting record and the way he generally conducts himself.

When I try to debate with my mom she usually calls me "naive" or something more offensive. *Sigh* So, she's voting for Nader.

I guess she's one of those women the media has been talking about. Any ideas for comebacks you'd like to give her?

It was, at least, a start.

@Nina: What state does your mom live in? Because if she lives in California she can vote for Nader all she likes. If you guys live in Florida hold on while I deploy the emergency response team.

Nina: I think you should stage an intervention. Get a group of people she likes and trusts and have them talk about what might be if McCain wins.

sidenote: I'm writing from near the Nutter Center where McCain is going to unveil his VP. I actually know some people who are going to see him today, but none who are actually going to vote for him. They're going to listen, but I imagine they'll be like anchors in the crowd weighing the mood down a bit... okay, maybe not. I hear that it is really hard getting anywhere near campus. blah! this whole McCain being here is really draining my buzz from last night.

I'm glad Obama said something to offset McCain's "celebrity" series of attack ads, tying in the video about his life in the beginning.

I would agree that, as a woman, Hillary's speech really meant a lot to me and I had more of an emotional response to what she said. Still, Obama is certainly a moving rhetorician and this was such a historic moment, as well as a critical moment for America right now. He rose to the occasion.

I missed the speech(intentionally), but did look at the review of the speech at

www.SavagePolitics.com:

Reminiscent of the Nuremberg Rallies, which Adolf Hitler invented to emulate the Roman Triumphs, thousands of people were naturally obliged by the atmosphere to mindlessly chant “Obama, Obama” and “Yes We Can” in an irrational and ridiculous frenzy. But: What were they truly celebrating last night?

It CAN’T be the “first African American nominee” of a major party, since Obama is at best an interracial man and at worst the offspring of White slave owners from Kansas and Muslim African traitors, who actively participated with their Arab neighbors in raiding and pillaging Kenya’s countryside. Obviously, and as it should be generally known, both of these historical backgrounds are VERY FAR from the ethnic and historic backdrop that actually makes a person an ‘African American’. So: What were they celebrating last night?

Were they reveling in the fact that there was finally an interracial candidate who, with the active help and corruption of his WHITE handlers and puppet masters, has been able to steal, lie, and cheat into a major political party’s nomination? Was America celebrating the fact that the WHITE and CORPORATE Mainstream Media has manipulated the public into believing the distorted propaganda of an unqualified hustler from Chicago?

#####

SavagePolitics.com does not love Obama. Interesting POV?

Barb, I'm not sure that Savage Politics has an "interesting" POV but a misguided and misleading one. I don't see how you can call Obama "very far from African American". He is a black man (because that is how he identifies himself) in America, raised in America, so I don't see how he's not an African American. As far as referencing his mother's family being slave owners, that's just ridiculous. How long ago was that? She has nothing to do with it. And "distorted propaganda of an unqualified hustler"? Again, not sure you can find any evidence of Obama being a "hustler" in the sense of the word that they're trying to evoke here. I think Savage Politics is simply using lofty vocabulary to make an invalid point.

I was really happy to hear him mention equal pay for equal work. My opinion is that he has been a bit quiet about women's rights, but I feel reassured after watching his speech.

Now it's time to beat McCain!!!!!

AWESOME!!! LAST NIGHT WE WATCHED HISTORY!!! I'm stoked!!!!!

Here's the thing: as a motivating and moving speaker, we have seen, time and time again, Obama packs the heat. I don't often get all misty-eyed at political speeches, but this felt like a milestone (watching it in a communal setting, with other people flooded with renewed faith and optimism in politics certainly had something to do with that, though. Even at a bar. and I met an awesome guy, pro-choice AND sexy...but I digress). The "let's all rally together" does smack of nationalism, something I'm wary of after one too many books on post-colonial theory...but I have to say, if we can come together on the issues, and rise above our petty politics with Obama, then I'm proud of the Democrats for choosing him as our lucky ticket. The highlights for me: clever McCain attacks, the point that we've been in a downward spiral of mistrust and loss of hope in American politics but we can turn it around!
low points: overly cautious on gay marriage/abortion

there are rumors flying about that McCain has chosen Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska. Does anybody know anything about her? How do you think this will affect the race if its true (there was a chartered plane from Alaska to Dayton from the McCain camp, so I'm thinking its likely)?

NBC says its sarah Palin

CNN is naming Palin as well. I hate thinking this, but I can't help but wonder if she is simply being used as a token to draw Clinton supporters. Of course, I think that a lot of die-hard conservatives will balk at the ticket because "women don't have a place in politics."

Who knows how this will pan out...I can't decide if I am scared or relieved.

yeah it's mccain's attempt to be "edgy" so he doesn't look quite as backward as the obama campaign will make him out to be. and maybe to draw and clinton supporters who could actually be wooed to his side.

i don't know much about her, but from what i read on huffpo just now she's been governor of AK for about two years (i guess you only need experience if you're black, right?) and she's anti-choice.

Can you just hear the IWF and similar organizations/people claiming that she is the *real* feminist choice, and that anyone who criticizes her positions and credibility must be the true anti-feminists.

And yes, rileystclair, only POC's need real experience, I believe in the conservative world, white people come pre-programmed to lead.

It was, at least, a start.

well yeah, it's in our magical milky genes!

and oh man i just read palin's wiki. she is a member of feminists for life, so totally IWF approved.

I think it is important that initially we welcome her into this race. This is great! Sort of thought/hoped the democrats were going to do this... but still important that a woman is a big part of this election.

She seems to sort of reinforce the McCain image of him being an outsider, even among republicans. But she is also anti-choice, so... its sort of like what I felt about McCain in 2000. I liked him, or maybe I just respected him, or, well, I at least didn't hate him, but I never wanted him to be president.

I look forward to hearing what she has to say and I guess I'll sort of be watching her through this campaign even if I'm not rooting for her.

(I'm a little worried about the Biden/Palin debate. I really hope he doesn't say something stupid.)