Party stars send their message (Boston Globe)

[Snazzy]

Party stars send their message
Top Democrats press case for Bush's defeat
By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff | July 27, 2004

Democrats raised the curtain on their four-day presidential nominating convention last night with spirited speeches urging voters to elect Senator John F. Kerry for his national security credentials and the economic and social programs he promises.

A star-studded group of Democrats took turns onstage at the FleetCenter to laud the presumed nominee, culminating with appearances by former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a prime-time hour broadcast live across the nation.

Clinton repeatedly brought the crowd to its feet with a pointed series of contrasts between Kerry and Bush, accusing Republicans of favoring wealthy voters, purposely polarizing the electorate and squandering the economic prosperity that ballooned in the 1990s.

"They need a divided electorate, but we don't," Clinton said.

"The president had an amazing opportunity to bring the country together, under his slogan of compassionate conservatism, and to unite the world in the struggle against terror," Clinton continued, referring to Bush during the period after the Sept. 11 attacks. "Instead, he and his congressional allies made a very different choice. They chose to use that moment of unity to try to push the country too far to the right."

....

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/07/27/party_stars_send_their_message/

[Dover]

1. Did anyone notice that Carter's words were a little slurred?

I wondered if perhaps he had had a stroke or some other health issue.
I know he's somewhat frail, but the slurring concerns me.

[NJCher]

2. no

Both my husband and I watched him and neither of us thought his speech was slurred. My husband is very sensitive to any type of speech impediment so I'm sure he would have mentioned it if he'd noticed it. We also were amazed that anyone could look so good at that age.


Cher

[rhino47]

3. I thought the same thing Dover

It did sound a bit like he had a stroke to me.

[shockingelk]

5. He didn't move his left arm either n/t

[Piperay]

4. I noticed it too

it worries me. :(

[lumpy]

7. Hey, Jimmy Carter is no spring chicken

and his speech has always been well measured. His speech was wonderfull, he did a great job pinpointing the corrupt practices of the Bush administration using the velvet tongue method. Bless his heart. He speaks for many many older citizens who have lived long enough to see that leadership in this country has gone in the wrong direction. He is one of those rare individuals who truly expresses his concern, especially by deed, for this nation. Don't be too worried, he can leave this world when the time comes knowing that he has been true to his heart and soul.

[shockingelk]

6. I was literally stunned by Clinton's speech

It disarmed major Republican tactics, indeed turned them against them - "strength and wisdom are not opposing values," they can't invoke cowbow strength without invoking lack of wisdom.

Each time Repubs try to frame an issue in terms of the personalities involved, it will come back to "The republicans need a divided electorate, we don't. We all want the same things, we just see different ways to get there. " The same thought disarms "Kerry is an out of the mainstream liberal."

They can't try to criticize Kerry's military record without invoking the thought that Kerry said "Send me, I'm willing to serve" which in turn invokes, "I'm willing to serve in the WH, send me." - also associating the image of steering a boat was genius.

[lumpy]

8. Clinton always inspires.

He is probably one of the greatest orators the world has known. He ranks in the same category as Winston Churchill. A man of intelligence is a rare find in the world of politics.

[JerseygirlCT]

9. He's got plenty of faults, but the guy is undeniably brilliant.

I thought the speech was GREAT. And yes, I agree -- everytime we're hit with negativity (which is all they have, after all), we just respond with "we don't need a divided electorate; they do".

[Gin]

10. Clinton was wonderful...he can weave messages in ways that are

thought provoking while slamming the opponent. We need that man more than ever.

[lottie244]

11. Did anyone notice that Carter's word are being omitted from most coverage?

He gave the most honest speech that hit Bush in the balls. Ouch!!!
But the media is purposely ignoring Carter's zingers. It's up to us to get his words out.