Chicago Dispatch 2 - Do Something!
Tuesday nights can be sleepy at national political conventions. Not the excitement of Night 1, not the nominating speeches of Wednesday or Thursday.
Michelle and Barack Obama broke that mold, as they’ve broken so many others. They engaged in an hour of soaring political rhetoric designed to energize the faithful while conducting a psychological warfare operation against Donald Trump’s ever-softening gray matter.
How MAGA feels about the Obamas
In 2020 I remember a friend of mine telling me, with a straight face, that Joe Biden was going to nominate former First Lady Michelle Obama as his vice president, win, and then immediately resign, making her president. When I asked whether he really thought this was going to happen, he broken into a smile. “No, it sounds crazy.”
Because it was, and it is. The level of vehement vitriol that MAGA freaks feel for Barack and Michelle Obama causes those weird forehead veins to bulge. After last night, their entire vascular system probably erupted.
Donald Trump is the illegitimate father of the ‘birther’ movement. Even now, some eight years after the Obamas left the White House, Republicans have deployed yet more goons to Hawaii to further investigate the former president’s birth certificate.
When Barack Obama was president, I was still a Republican. I criticized him for policy positions and actions he took while in office. I didn’t 1) question his legitimacy as president 2) ever worry that the Republic might end on his watch.
As I noted in my last post, I was in Denver for his 2008 convention speech. His power an orator and political communicator is second probably only to that of his wife, the former First Lady.
Do Something!
Former First Lady Michelle Obama once famously stated, “When they go low, we go high.”
She’s over that.
Her speech last night was fiery and formidable. She put Donald Trump and Republicans on notice that Democrats will not go quietly into November. Nor should they.
The refrain from her speech, “Do Something!” is a call to all pro-democracy activists and voters that sitting on the couch this fall is not an option. If you can get involved, you must get involved. There are no excuses this time. Tired? Sleep in December.
If you’re ready to DO SOMETHING, head on over to JoinTheUnion.us and get involved. We have lots for you to do.
An Appeal to Americans, All Americans
Barack Obama’s speech last night reminded me why he won the state of Indiana in 2008. His ability to speak in lofty rhetoric while creating, then reinforcing an emotional connection with his audience is innate: You can’t teach it.
As a former Republican, I also thought his use of values when discussing individual liberty, and of all things, reducing regulatory barriers to home construction was a beautiful stolen march on the Republican Party. The GOP has ceded so much turf, so so much, that Democrats must go and claim it.
The Obamas demonstrated something vital for Democrats this fall and into the future: Be the party of a big tent, big ideas, and diverse opinions. Be open to those who disagree in method, but not substance.
Incredible Shrinking Trump
Anyone seen the incredible shrinking orange baby?
If there is one think that this last five weeks has shown me, it’s that Trump’s ‘professional’ campaign types have given up, been pushed aside, or both. The MAGA campaign is starting to make 2016 look like a well-run machine.
Few events, no press coverage, little ability to dent Kamala Harris or Tim Walz, and flailing in the face of a united, energized Democratic Party. This week, Trump’s Political Director, a senior role in his campaign, accused Vice President Harris of hiding an alcohol problem.
This is what passes for Republican politics now. I’m so glad I left.
RFK Is For Sale (What?!?)
Is anyone else not surprised that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ‘running mate’ Nicole Shanahan said on a podcast this week that she and Dead Bear Bob might drop out of the race and endorse Donald Trump? Or that there was an explicit quid pro quo offered by the Trump team who are seeing their guy losing votes?
Kennedy has always been a stalking horse for Trump. He was supposed to beat up Joe Biden in a Democratic Primary but Biden didn’t take the bait. By then Bobby caught the bug and wouldn’t drop out. Now Chris LaCivita and Steve Bannon’s monster is out of the cage and they can either kill him (politically) or co-opt him.
Be back tomorrow!
Reed
Trying to wrap my head around what the GOP hopes to gain further investigating Obama’s birth certificate. Do they think if they could prove he was not born in the US, they get a “do over”? It’s insane!
I think a lot of people are misunderstanding the Trump campaign’s apparent quiescence. They’ve actually told us exactly what’s happening: They know they’re probably going to lose, and are therefore focused on building the case for stealing, with campaigning taking a back seat. See eg Trump’s statement in NC about having enough votes, and that they’re focusing on watching for evidence of Dem cheating.