2016 DNC Convention notes, night 1
Dan O'Brien scenes for outside the dnc in Philly
Scale of 1 to infinity how hard was it to get around philly during dnc?
Did you see any celebs, or quasi celebs?
Sum up seeing the westboro baptist church jabronies in person?
Any other protesters worth seeing?
Were people there Bernie bros feeling the bern everywhere?
Here's a take I want us to address tonight on the pod.
Do I believe candidate x is more qualified for the job than anybody I've personally met in my life (and at the time of their candidacy)
So Reagan is up against less than Obama based on my age at the time - would love you take on the prez's and losing candidates of your life time too
6:13PM first speech i see Rep. Nita Lowey D-NY from White plains 17th district — she’s fighting an uphill battle of chanting “Bernie Sanders” supporters
If the DNC is going to “lose the crowd” due to “Boo Birds” philly is def a city that is could happen in.
NY Congressional Delegation all came out — Charlie Rangel - 1) how is he still a Rep 2) Weirdest looking body i’ve seen in a while
Adriano Espaillat - First Dominican Born Elected US Rep - also first undocumented immigrant to be elected — and he says, “Take that Donald Trump”. He’s hammering Trump.
Bernie fans are losing their minds — The DNC Speakers are so much more heavy weigh already Bernie and Michele Obama on night #1
Kevin De Leon — State Senator from CA — Donald Trump, we don’t build walls, we tear them down.
Stacey Abrams (GA State Rep and Minority leader) — Grace and togetherness — “new american majority” solve problems together
Jim Kenney - mayor of Philadelphia — first line “Yo Pennsylvania” — Talks about the 1840’s - discrimination against irish immigrants — those “no nothings” are back… and he’s right — xenophobic feelings are the same now as they’ve been. Soda Tax — passed in philly — supporting schools
Gov. Daniel Malloy of CT - lift up those who fall behind — told a story of himself as once thought of as “learning impaired” couldn’t tie his shoes, was bullied, etc. “Stronger Together” continues to be the mantra
Marty Walsh - Mayor of Boston - Admits to being an alcoholic - most quintessential boston accent ever. Talks about his family and the “labor unions” giving him the second chance at health and getting his life together.
DNC Video segments — shown on CSPAN — clearly setting these up as meme’s and social media videos, smart move.
Sen. Bob Casey of PA — 8:30 speaker — doubles down on Trump since all of his Trump products are made abroad. "The man who wants to make America great, doesn’t make anything in America”
Irony Alert - Democrats are for outsourcing everything but jobs — Republicans are for keep everything in America the same as it ever was except for getting rid of our jobs.
Al Franken - Still a Sen. from Minnesota — you can see the “pop” that celebrities (actually celebrities) get.. Lumping Trump in with Right Wing Megalomaniacs — Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, and Donald Trump. Crushes Trump University.
10 minutes later Al Franken comes out with Sarah Silverman (Bernie Sanders supporter) - think she’s going to “make the pivot” to Hillary. She did and Bernie hard cores booed her. And she ended with Booya Babagooy and then told the “Bernie of Bust people” they were being ridiculous . Stuff got out of hand with the crowd — really embarrassing — Silverman was ticked off big time. Paul Simon’s band was delayed and they had to sit out there and take the heat — then Paul Simon comes out and sings “Bridge over troubled Water”.
Paul Simon - to quote Randy Jackson — little pitchy, dawg. Susan Sarandon is in the crowd
Corey Booker seems to have crushed it, Michelle Obama seems to have double crushed it.
Elizabeth Warren - really strong public speaker — she’s from OK and went to community college in texas? Dad was a janitor? Knew none of this
Rep. Keith Ellison D-Minnesota — good speaker — not voting is being a coward — voting is the fighting back — well said. Gonna introduce Bernie
Bernie - 5 minute standing ovation — gives major props to Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Warren and his “Feel the Bern” followers — had 2.5 million donors making 8 Million donations averaging $27 - jeez
13 Million voters. 1,846 pledged delegates
Bernie just keeps telling it like it is — he really does cut through the bullshit of media and bells and whistles. He stays on message and people love him.
Thanks Obama and Biden for pulling us out of 8 years of Republican Trickle down economics
Election is about which candidate understands the real problem and has offered real solution.
Endorses Hilary — and ties it to the minimum wage of $7.25 being a starvation wage — and over turning “Citizens United” — The first fear of the night - imagine Trump appointing supreme court justices and the civil liberties they’d over turn. Talked about America becoming an oligarchy and about a plan to revolutionize hire ed in America.
$125,000 or less families guaranteed to go to public college tuition free.
He’s taking Green Party Elements mainstream
Climate Change - and leaving the world healthy and habitable
Bernie does a good job of swinging the room — he’s “in” and he’s in for a democratic sweep in 2016 in terms of the house and senate
DNC Coverage Night two on C-Span
Elizabeth Banks - comes out to discuss health care advances made by Hillary since 90’s - Banks references being a starving waitress and needing to go to Planned Parenthood for check-ups and the advances made with Clinton’s help
Elizabeth Banks directed “Pitch Perfect 2” - DAMN! Clinton went to over 190 nations
Democrats’ use of videos makes it hard to be snarky, because they are well done and polished
Erika Alexander - actress - Cousin Pam from Cosby show — grew up as the “Working Poor”
Howard Dean - Mentioning the Harry Truman had envisioned universal health care (was unaware of that fact)
8 Million children have health insurance - Obamacare added 20 million more. 90% of americans are covered under Obamacare — how’s that bad? The people who can afford it, are paying for it anyway
Every Time Howard Dean speaks i’m waiting for him to end it with “AHHHHHHHHHH” — and 30 seconds later — Howard Dean actually DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! standing Ovation - he lampooned himself — fantastic
The Democrats have human trafficking on their platform - very interesting/ and sad to hear that it’s the third most committed crime in the world.
Madeleine Albright — sounds so much different than she looks — no offense, just saying
Bill Clinton - 10:09 intro time — starts telling his story of meeting Hillary.
Hot Take - Chelsea Clinton — only person in history who had both their parents be President. Is it worse to be Jeb Bush? Might be harder to follow up both parents being president. Talk about being able to spoil your grandchildren
Clintons once watched 6 police academy movies in a row
10:48 calls hillary the real one and trump a two dimensional cartoon — your children and grandchildren will bless you forever if your elect her
10:53 ends speech
Elizabeth Banks is back — and she’s making a fundraising pitch and a cappella fight song jam
Meryl Streep - bringing impeccable “girl power” /"first woman to do anything” talk — grit and grace
even the Streeper is introducing video // Alicia Keys performing live — they are going A-list style trying to get out the youth vote
DNC Convention Night 3 -
Gavin Newson - Lt. Governor — Seen him on Bill Maher a bunch — he’s a solid speaker and he takes down Trump as “Defeatist and Retreatist”
Calls Mike Pence America’s most anti- Gay or Lesbian Governor - and frankly if he’s not #1 he’s in the top 5 for sure
When Democrats are backing John McCain because of how Trump disparaged him — you know this candidate is literally the candidate of the whiny, the excuse ridden, then indecent
There are a lot of chumps in America and Donald Trump is the leader of their party. Smart Republicans, decent republicans, should vote for Gary Johnson
The theme of the 7pm hour of night 3 of the DNC — Time take down Donald Trump — wonder if it’s a night long theme? Could be a lot of fun
Seems to be a theme related to the military personnel backing Hilary and her legislation to help veterans - Families of soldiers got $12,000 and then Hilary worked on a bipartisan bills to increase survivor benefits to $100,000 - that’s legit actually.
Martin O’Malley - Former MD Governor — this is my first time hearing him speak. He’s actually got a lot more charisma than i’d be led to believe. He’s taking Trump down on economic policy, on believing in scientific evidence of climate change.
Trump’s been a bully his whole life and bully’s are just cowards in disguise — Called Trump a Bully Racist — ended with a crescendo
Sigourney Weaver - aka Dana Barret - shows up next. Her voice is fantastic — and she’s taking Trump down on Climate Change
The only hint of “fear” during this whole convention is Climate Change
Came back from a Run at 8:45 - Leon Panetta former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense — She was down with going after Bin Laden. She’s determined to defeat ISIS and their like minded spin-offs and cronies. Call her the single most experienced person to ever run for President of the United States
No more war chants from the Doves and Peaceniks in the building — these people are the uber left and likely should join the Green Party.
Jill Biden - the only gig more anonymous than Vice President might be that of the spouse of the Vice President.
Joe Biden Video - didn’t know he was leading the “It’s on US” campaign against sexual assault
Should he have run?
Joe Biden comes out to the Rocky Theme song — nice choice — timeless Jam! — Crowd loves this dude - and he’s from Scranton / Delaware Senator
Goes poignant regarding his son Bo or Beau Biden - quotes Hemingway “ the world breaks everyone and afterwards most a strong at the broken places” - that’s the unbreakable spirit of the people of America (see i like that message) — I’d rather believe in that and take the road of self awareness, self improvement and self control — than what i hear from Donald Trump
If women don’t band together on this one — it’s going to be a huge missed opportunity to lift the spirits of little girls everywhere.
Trumps - cynicism is unbounded - lack of empathy is summed up by “you’re fired” — just used the phrase “that’s a bunch of malarkey”
Biden "Cannot elect a man who betrays our values and whose rhetoric will make us less safe. Biden - "It’s never been a good bet to bet against America”
21st century is the American Century - We don’t scare easy - we never bow, never bend never break — which makes me thing that made Joe Biden is running for Prince of Dorne in Westeros in 2017
Kasim Reed - Mayor of Atlanta - good speaker - introduces Michael Bloomberg - here for one reason - explain why it’s imperative to elect Hillary clinton - bad look for the GOP — and this is him speaking to the independent and unaffiliated voters — who frankly are going to decide this thing. Calls Trump a dangerous demagogue. Too Important of an election to sit out. We need a prez who is a problem solver, not a bomb thrower.
Clinton worked with GOP in washington to ensure NYC got what it needed.
Bloomberg "I’m in New Yorker and I know a con when i see one” - Richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy. Dude is LIGHTING Trump up. Risky Reckless and Radical choice.
We have never retreated in Fear — and we mustn’t start now — he’s right — Independent’s votes matter now — wants to be joined by independent’s for Love of Country. Let’s a sane, competent person with international experience - ahhh it’s sad that’s even a choice we have to make in the FINALS OF THE Bracket
Watching C-Span — lots of “roadies” setting up stage for President Obama’s DNC Speech — so he lit it up in 2004 as an unknown, Crushed it again in 2008, Had more to lose in 2012 but tonight he can essentially go for an jugular or angle he wants to pursue — this has a chance to be “Peak Obama”
Lenny Kravitz comes out playing jams — hence the roadies — makes so much ore sense - they set up very quickly. Lenny’s face hasn’t aged a Day in 20 years man — guy is Handsome like the Effffffff - Fake band name “ Handsome as F”
How do we feel about the Elizabeth Banks & Friends “Fight Song” a cappella video
Rep. Bobby Scott of VA — introducing Tim Kaine — followed by Tim Kaine hype video — the narrator for Tim Kaine video — on point — might’ve been Alec Baldwin
He’s got a an interesting speaking style — good and authentic — not necessarily great and dynamic — but good and authentic ain’t exactly growing on shelves any more. But the dude appears to be proficient if not fluent in Spanish — that’s nice skill set as a white dude in a very diverse party and a great point of distinction from the rhetoric that Donald Trump is providing with respect to immigration.
His father law was Republican Governor of VA who integrated public schools
His spanglish is getting people fired up
Good line — did your candidate have a passion prior to taking office and did they hold onto it throughout their career
He’s doing a Trump “believe me” impression — it’s not too shabby — Bill Clinton seems to love this impression
He cites that Barbara Bush said she doesn’t know how any woman could vote for him.
Co-Author of Trump’s autobiography said lying is second nature to him — not a good sign (or another case of horrendous vetting by Trump’s team)
Someone is playing the cowbell down front — actually two cowbells
The great grandmother who ran and won for school board in ohio — really liked her
Obama Hype video was on point /// Obama comes out to U2 “beautiful tonight” - Saved Wall Street, Saved Auto Industry, Killed Bin Laden, Passed Healthcare and Gay Marriage - that’s a little something for almost everyone — and and the 200 nation climate agreement
More optimistic than ever before - Unemployment 8 year lows 15 million more jobs — Lance Bass is in the Audience - what up Lance Bass.
Choice is fundamental this november - RNC wasn’t Republican or conservative - it was just hate filled, blame tossing… pessimism
Makes a great case for Hillary — he could “read the phone book” — but he says Hillary is more qualified than Him and Bill Clinton to step into the Oval office. Bill loved it.
Don’t Boo Donald Trump, Vote - "The Donald is not a plans guy or a facts guys”
"America is already great, and strong and doesn’t depend on Donald Trump” - He makes the point that we are “Pioneer Stock” in america - He’s selling the people short.
Not the timid souls but someone who is in the arena — Teddy Roosevelt
We don’t like show offs, and those you cut corners in the heartland — these heart land rubes gotta get with this
DNC Convention - Night 4 the Hillary Fiesta Finale
Here’s a thought - in 2006 — American started drifting away from George W Bush and Dick Cheney’s policies during the midterm elections. Obama mobilized millions who’d sat out in 2004 during the 2008 campaign and he held on for the 2012 win — 12 years after W’s 2nd election, America has shifted demographically — this is the scared old white people’s absolute last election to win — and frankly if Trump wasn’t a “celebrity candidate” — i don’t think this election would even be in play for the scared old white people.
I once again ask — What are mainstream Republicans going to do between now and 2020? No matter who wins this election — i don’t think the coalition that has traditionally made up Republican interests is ever going to have an electoral college majority equation again.
Sheila E and the E Family — she is an ageless wonder and an fantastic drummer — props all day and pour some out for Prince for putting her on the map back in the day
Chelsea Clinton — might be the first time i’ve ever heard her voice — thought she did a great job. Also, she corroborated the Bill Clinton loves police academy
Morgan Freeman narrated Hillary’s hype video — Mic Drop in terms of narrators. Guy is the best narrator in the history of Narration
Kareen Abdul Jabbar is in the house - waving a flag — nice Kareem sighting
10:29 Hillary starts the speech with Thank Yous — Rocking White Pant suit — it’s summer time in Philly - go for it!
Some fun quips about Bill Clinton, Touching moment about Chelsea, And Props for Obamas and Joe Biden — doubling down on Obamas
Explaining who Tim Kaine is. Thanks Bernie Sanders - your cause is our cause
Talks about 1776 and how close we were to not starting America at all. Founders embraced the enduring truth that we are stronger together.
Work together, so we can rise together.
Republicans “morning in American to midnight in America” - FDR “ Fearing fear itself motto”. Everyone who wants a good job can get one… sounds like House of Cards “American Works” platform - interested to learn more.
Don’t believe anyone who says, “I alone can fix it” — coming at him strong on his narcissism.
Is Katy Pery there??? Glitterati for days at the DNC
Self-awareness — no one knows what to make of me — so let me tell you. Grandfather worked in a Scranton lace mill of 50 years. Dad played football at penn state and enlisted in Navy after Pearl Harbor. Mother was abandoned by her parents at young age - worked as a maid at 14
Sweats the details in policy - because it’s not a detail if it’s your family, it’s a big deal and it should be a big deal to your president too
"When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit” - playing the lady vote hard, grandmother, daughters, mothers and even men
“Get ahead and stay ahead” - Credit Obama and Biden for saving us during the recession — auto industry just had best year ever (relative to forever or just since 2008)
How to empower americans — create good jobs, with rising wages in the United States - our economy isn’t working the way it should cuz our democracy isn’t working the way it should. Get “corporate money” out of politics via Supreme court or pass an amendment to abolish “Citizens United”
Looking to close corporate tax loop-holes and “I believe in Science” — which is amazing that we have to say this — thinks that climate change can create jobs along with solutions. Believes sending immigrant back is self-defeating
Women’s rights is going to be huge in this election’s outcome
Biggest investment in new paying jobs since WWII - Transform education - college free for the middle class and debt free for all - eliminate millions of people who already have student debt. Make it easier for small businesses — too many dreams die in the parking lot of banks.
Playing the women card, then deal me in — family leave and equal pay — and we’re gonna pay for it with Wall Street and Corporations paying their fair share of taxes.
How are your going to breakthrough the gridlock — her plan is that she’s done it before
Donald Trump - he stiffed small businesses in Atlantic City. He can start making america great, but actually make things in america again.
Determined enemies that must be defeated. Put a lid on Iran’s nuclear program w/o firing a single sport - Willing to stand up for NATO allies especially against Russia.
He lacks respect for the military and its personnel
A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons — Jackie O — Cuban Missle crisis - war might be started by little men over by fear and pride
Can’t afford a president in the pocket of the gun lobby — she doesn’t want our guns, she just doesn’t want us to get shot by a person who shouldn’t have a gun in the first place.
Pledging to reform the criminal justice system from end to end
Hillary "People have laughed off trump’s comments as funny — but he meant it and it’s too hard to fathom”
“America is great, because America is good”
11:27 pm speech ends — Katy Pery’s “Fire work” ends it!
Holy Balloons — balloon company made a billion bucks on the DNC finale