Hope You Can Listen To
The Democrat National Convention began today in Denver. After listening to the first night of speakers it is clear that the theme for the convention is the same of Senator Barack Obama’s campaign- hope and change you can believe in.
Sitting here watching the convention on television I have heard the word hope and change mentioned dozens of times by at least as many speakers. I hear a lot of great words but I still have not heard what this hope and change really mean. Now don’t get me wrong I like a good speech as much as anyone, but some of the speakers were no where near what I would call hope I could believe in. Jimmy Carter talked for a while about Obama being in favor of helping the little man and if we could just elect him then finally “people would get help.” Wow, that is something! After listening to a one term president from 1976, tell me that his candidate represents real hope and change for the future, I kept waiting for the punch line. As Democrat Gary Hart once said, “where’s the beef?”
Inspirational speeches are great but at some point you have to actually talk about real issues. I hear a lot of grand rhetoric about the need for change and hope for the future. That sounds all good and well but what do you mean when you say hope and change? Surely not leadership from the likes of Jimmy Carter and George McGovern.
In the end, Democrats are in trouble if they cannot match their rhetoric with real policy substance. Inspirational speeches are good but in order to have real hope for our future you have to be able to see the vision and understand it, not just listen to it.
Cam,
I agree with you on this one. Sort of.
When I link to the Alabama Republican Party website and look to the GOP News, I find the following:
08.26.08 - 3 Days Until Dodging Democrats Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith Endorse Obama?
08.25.08 - 4 Days Until Dodging Democrats Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith Endorse Obama?
08.23.08 - ALGOP Statement on Obama-Biden Team
All of these items are located underneath a dated photo of your fearless leader, Mr. Hubbard.
What I didn’t find was a listing of Republican Congressional or legislative successes to date. There are some aren’t there?
So I guess my question is, when in the hell are the Republicans going to worry about themselves rather than the Democrats. It’s really not supposed to be about how bad the Democrats are is it? Isn’t it about how good you guys are?
And when are the Republicans going to locate several speakers who can motivate anyone through any means? (other than fear and anger - the bedrocks of Republican motivational speaking) Reagan, God rest his soul, has passed. His memory cannot carry you all another two decades.
So while “hope” and “change” are rather hollow in nature, at least they’re not malicious in spirit.
Always a pleasure, Cam.
Comment by Gunney Highway — August 26, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
Amen!!! Amen Gunney !!!!! All Hubbard can think about is Hubbert (and maybe how much money he is making off Troy and Auburn) All you hear from him is negative negative, negative, same old, same old, about Pelosi, Rangel, Biden, etc. Bad, bad, Democrats and their liberal ways that are taking us all to hell…… Where is the postive, good, humanitarian things R’s are doing ???
Comment by straight arrow — August 26, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
I guess I can kinda see the points of the two comments above, I dunno. If it’s nothing but hot air it’s nothing but hot air. It doesn’t matter what the Republicans say or do.
But I will agree with one thing. This Presidential election the Democrats (candidate and pundits alike) have offered something to believe in, even if it’s lacking. The Republicans have so far done little more than attack that thing to believe in. Not an excellent strategy, and I’m sick of hearing how ridiculous Barack Obama is. I get it… seriously. He’s not the Messiah, he’s not the bestest candidate ever because he’s black. Some of his friends make me uncomfortable. Oh, and I’m not a modern liberal who thinks government can solve everything. But I’m still leaning towards voting for either Obama or a third party. Give me a reason to like McCain besides that he’s a former POW and thus beyond any reproach.
Comment by Dan — August 27, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Well Dan I have to disagree with you on this one. You said “This Presidential election the Democrats (candidate and pundits alike) have offered something to believe in, even if it’s lacking.” What has been offered? I have heard hope and change a lot but what exactly is being offered to appeal to your philosophy? Granted McCain is going to have to produce at his convention as well but he does have a track record of bucking the establishment to run on. I still have not heard what Obama is actually going to DO to make changes in America that he talks about and how he is going to DO them.
Comment by Cam Ward — August 27, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Woah woah. I think I didn’t come across right. I was just saying that they offered “something” as in they offered you a candidate and said, “You should vote for this guy because ‘Barack Obama is the FUTURE.’”
That doesn’t make any sense, but it’s something positive. The Republican strategy seems to be nothing but “Obama sucks, and John McCain is the only viable alternative.”
I guess my point is that I listen to too much talk radio and they talk about Barack Obama more than the “liberal media” does. I’m seriously so frickin’ sick of hearing about Barack Obama, and I don’t watch much TV. It’s all conservative radio and my conservative friends and co-workers. Sometimes it seems like that gay guy who compensates by bashing gay people all the time.
Comment by Dan — August 28, 2008 @ 7:25 am