(Cross-posted from Obamaism.org)

    Though I didn't have the chance to glue myself to the whole day/night of DNC coverage, I was at least able to catch some big hitters.
    Mark Warner (former Virginia gov) showed why wonky isn't always bad: he was not the most exciting guy, and his speech was not exactly the "Obama 04" speech. But people understand that details on creating jobs and other economic stuff are not always light and fluffy; MW's somewhat technical-tinted presentation added some intellectual ballast to the evening. --Warner wouldn't have been a bad Vice President!!

    Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana was somewhat in the same vein, though more exciting and excited. His presentation was largely about energy issues, and his joke about McCain's proposed $4 billion tax break for oil companies not being the kind of "change" we need echoed a "change" pun I'd wanted to make for a while.

    (kinkiness below)

Now that we have seen the very passionate, very aggressive, very clear in her support for Sen. Obama (the Next President of the United States of America!) speech from Sen. Clinton the Dog is wondering if we are seeing a political head fake. This might be too clever by half, but stick with the Dog on this.

We know that summer is a usually a time where most voters are more interested in the Olympics or the Pennant Race in MLB or even the recalcitrant brown spot in the middle of the lawn than the presidential politics. It is a time of framing and dirty tricks precisely for this reason. But this summer has been a little different. We had a primary process that was not over until the beginning of June, so there was more awareness going into the summer. Then we had the PUMA’s pop up. They got plenty of air time claiming that they would not support Sen. Obama, no, no, no, never! This went on, even though Sen. Clinton appeared in Unity, NH with Sen. Obama and gave her unequivocal support. It kept a story line going that would get play on every network everywhere, right up to this week and the convention.

While the Democrats celebrated Hillary's second-place finish as a yet another phony "triumph" for women's liberation, Susan Faludi sketched the big picture in an editorial for the New York Times.

I turned on C-Span to look at the convention, and realized the roll call was beginning to start...

Okay, you guys, turn on CSPAN  and watch history in the making.  It's fun to hear the speeches, see the enthusiasm, feel the excitement.

Arkansas had some wonderful things to say about Senator Clinton and Bill Clinton their former governor and first lady, yet they awarded all their votes for Barack Obama in the spirit of unity.

The American Samoa delegation has just voted, casting all 9 votes for Senator Obama.

The land of endless blue skies (Arizona) and on behalf of crazy old man McCain's state; 40 for Obama, 27 for Hillary Clinton.

Arkansas is up now.

Bill Gwatney's widow is speaking on behalf of Arkansas

Arkansas casts 47 votes for Barack Obama.

Total current

1549.5-341.5 currently.

Halfway there!!!

By Purple Onyx from Eyes on Obama:

As Howard Kurtz pointed out in his column this morning, Hillary will never be a great speaker. But she gave the best speech she’s ever given last night. I expected her to do the usual self-serving, self-important speech she always gives. And she did, but then she took all that self-important, self-serving blather and turned it into the reason she supports Barack Obama. She married her interests to his in a way she’d never done before.

I know there are a lot of these so just think of it as a reference sheet more than a diary.  

Print this off and have reluctant Clinton supporters read it. The Democratic Party needs their votes.

This part 3 of Voting Record Comparison. I’ve added Hillary Clinton’s voting record on the important issues to Obama’s, Biden’s and McCain’s so that Clintonites and Hillraisers can judge whether or not they want to vote for Obama or McCain based on the issues not based on an emotional attachment to their disappointment.

While the example that I’m going to give is extreme, bordering on the ridiculous, it will illustrate the absurd nature of switching from Hillary Clinton to John McCain. If Mother Theresa, Mahatma Ghandi and Joseph Stalin were running and you couldn’t vote for Mother Theresa. Would it make sense to now vote for Joseph Stalin? A final word to Clinton supporters: Silence gives consent.

A lot of people have asked me, in media interviews and the like, what bloggers are covering in the convention that's different from what the traditional media is covering.  After 2 1/2 days, I figured out the difference.  Bloggers are, by and large, COVERING THE CONVENTION, whereas the traditional media is covering a fantasy world of their own making based on a group email written about a week ago signaling the storylines they are going to cover.  

Hillary Clinton delivered a strong, gracious, professional speech that made the definitive case that Democrats must unite for the good of the country and support Barack Obama.  It was incredibly received in the room and was an EXTENSION of the unity seen here in Denver.

John Dickerson, Slate.com's chief political correspondent, was less than thrilled with Hillary Clinton's DNC speech last night.  

Contrary to the long list of political and media pundits, Dickerson felt she left quite a bit off the plate.  What she served was a 5 course meal minus 4 courses.  

In the end, she may have not given enough reason for her supporters, whether they be delegates, fundraisers, or more to the point, her voters, to get behind Barack Obama in his campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America.  

More after the jump...

One of the great things about the existence of the state bloggers at the DNC this year is that in contrast to all the stupid traditional media narratives about disunity, we have reporting from people seated with the individual state delegations, giving their takes on the crowd response.

I was with the New Hampshire delegation last night, and I can say that there was not one sign of disunity there despite the primary having been so heated. The same people who were in tears as Hillary Clinton began speaking and roaring with applause constantly throughout her speech were enthusiastically waving Obama signs and chanting his name throughout the entire evening.

Here are some other reports from bloggers sitting in the middle of the crowd of delegates.

Calitics:

If there was any doubt that we would get a barnburner on unity tonight from Hillary Clinton, put that to bed. The California delegation went crazy for Clinton, waving Hillary signs that were distributed just ahead of Chelsea's introduction and even holding a few homemade signs like "18 million cracks". Obama/Hillary/Unity signs are spreading through now.

Goldy:

A stunning lack of disunity... that was my immediate reaction watching the crowd respond to Hillary Clinton’s speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention.  No doubt there are Clinton delegates who remain unconvinced, and no doubt many will cast their ballot for Clinton come roll call, but if folks were expecting any drama tonight, they’ll just have to make due with the uplifting kind.

Accustomed to watching conventions on TV I almost feel as if I’m missing the show sitting on the floor in person, so I’ve no idea how Clinton’s speech came off to the millions of Americans watching, but she was a hit here in the building.

Turn Maine Blue has pictures of the sign-waving crowd.

Right now, on radios and televisions, websites and blogs across the land, the cry is going out: the province of Anbar is safe, thanks to the brave efforts of Coalition forces and their Iraqi partners. Iraqi security forces are ready and waiting to take over. This will free up American troops to rotate out of country and into the once again restive theater of conflict in Afghanistan.

In reality it's... not quite going down like that .

Let's check the news together below the break.

I didn't vote for him in the primary.

I didn't advocate for him in the blogosphere until he won the nomination.

But damn it, I'm fired up.  I'm ready to go.  

And I'm proud to be an Obama supporter.  I'm proud to say you will hear no condemnation from me about Barack Obama between now and November.  I am proud to aspire to be Obama's biggest cheerleader on DailyKos.

I've already given three reasons for supporting Obama.

Well, here are three more:

Hillary hit a home run last night. I have listen to many MSM pundits dispute the fact that she was spot on.

While I was never a Hillary supporter, I spent most of my time, on my feet, last night in front of my television. She received from my family, standing ovations, rounds of applause and sheer adoration.

Ok, so I was  watching the convention last nite and came across one of the Clinton delegates on PBS saying her support for Sen. Obama depended a lot on what Sen. Clinton said last nite.  Now let me be clear I am not going to bash Hillary hold-outs and after her wonderful speech last nite I think Mrs. Clinton made it very clear that she is behind the big O.

Yes it has happened, former Clinton camp spokesman - Howard Wolfson, just absolutely skewered K.O. and Tweety on Faux News for supposedly questioning his Democratic Creds on air the other day. Seems Howard has developed some sensitivities regarding his "Fair and Balanced" political punditry on Faux News. He didn't like being called a "Tokyo Rose" and a "Toy Soldier" by K.O. and Tweety.....lol!!

So Keith, personally, I'd like a "Special Comment" but I know you probably think that this here episode might not warrant one.  But at least, ya gotta respond to this douch bag, I mean the balls on this guy? working for faux news? Oh well...

So what happened? Here are some excerpts from whenst this was culled -

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


click to enlarge

One unintended benefit of all the buzz about whether Hillary Clinton will support Obama and how strong that support will be is that it heightens interest in the convention overall.    If many in the country are interested in what Hillary has to say, more will watch the convention on television.  From what I have seen in the ratings numbers, that is what is happening.  Of course some of the interest in Obama could be driving that, as well.

The next question is to see how many people will tune in to hear what Bill Clinton has to say?  I predict he will do a great job, like he always does.  The traditional media is asking the question of how strong is his support of Obama?  That could drive viewers, too, and if he does as good a job, as Hillary did, it could benefit the Democrats.  Maybe we doth protest too much.  Maybe they are smarter than we are!

While watching Hillary last night, I was again struck by the difference that eight years makes.  As First Lady, she was pilloried for being too liberal, for changing her hair too much, being the feminist Yale lawyer and now she is the darling of the blue collar vote.  Who'da thunk?