Those who call the DNC an "Extreme Makeover" are WRONG!

[UdoKier]

Whether it's bareback Andy, or Hannity calling it the "Reinvention Convention", the right are acting like the show we saw last night was not the real democratic party. That we were acting more centrist than we are. I couldn't disagree more. It just shows how little these people know us. Apparently they really think we are all dope-smoking hippies or black panther radicals. We're every bit as much "regular folks" as they are, except that we are not all-white, and we don't force our gay people to hide who they are.

The right always assumes that because many of us democrats vehemently opposed the filthy Iraq war (while may of our elected "representatives" ignored our pleas) that we don't believe in military action when necessary. We do.

They think that none of us are believers. Most of us ARE. They think that we didn't "get" 9-11. We did - a lot more than they did. We "get" that an attack like it helped turn Weimar Germany into the Third Reich and how important it is to be vigilant against that, just as much as it's important to be vigilant against terrorism.

Clinton hit on some resoundingly DEMOCRATIC, class-based themes last night, most pointedly on the tax cuts for the super-rich. It has been tempting for dems to shy away from such topics in the past - afraid of being accused of "raising taxes" but Bill, as usual, handled it deftly.

It was not an extremist convention because it is not an extremist party. We the liberal activist base are indeed to the left of the party in many ways, and will continue to do our best to pull it our way. But I'm quite sure that most of us are totally at ease with the themes espoused last night. I for one did NOT feel shortchanged.

[vi5]

1. Ask them why Trent Lott, Tom Delay or Pat Robertson aren't...

..going to be speaking at the republican convention? Ask them about all the pro-life, pro-gay rights speakers at their convention. Then ask them who is doing more reinvention.

[underpants]

2. Here is the line-up for the Repub. convention-Repub lite

http://www.2004nycgop.org/contents/newsroom/releases/062804.shtml

Monday, August 30, 2004
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg
- Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
- Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

Tuesday, August 31, 2004
- First Lady Laura Bush
- Secretary of Education Rod Paige
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Wednesday, September 1, 2004
- Mrs. Lynne Cheney
- Vice President Dick Cheney
- Senator Zell Miller (D-GA)

Thursday, September 2, 2004
- Governor George Pataki
- President George W. Bush

[vi5]

3. So let's crunch the numbers....

4 Pro-Choice, Pro-Gay rights (Arnie, Bloomberg, Pataki, Rudy) plus 1 guy not overly hostile to those positions (McCain).

As someone else said, the only guy other than Cheney on the speaking schedule who actually agrees with bush's positions, is a democrat (Zell).

So which party is reinventing itself?

[ClassWarrior]

4. They KNOW we're not all dope-smoking hippies or black panther radicals.

The want the American PEOPLE to think we are. The "two Americas" strategy. "They need a divided America." (Bill Clinton last night)

Read "What's The Matter With Kansas?" by Thomas Frank.