Geraldine_Thompson's Blog

President Bill Clinton said during his prime time speech last night that detractors said he was too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief in 1992.  Those are the same things people are saying today about Senator Barack Obama.  President Clinton said it didn't work in 1992 and it won't work in 2008 because Americans see the failed policies of the past eight years and have decided eight is enough. 

Senator Barack Obama has been clear and consistent throughout this campaign.  He opposed the Iraq war before it began, and he will end it as President because it isn't making us safer.  John McCain has no plan to end this war, and he will continue it indefinitely.  John McCain was George Bush's biggest supporter for a war in Iraq that was the biggest strategic blunder in a generation. Instead of finishing the job against bin Laden and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, McCain supported the invasion and occupation of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.  President Clinton said America must restore its standing in the world and Barack Obama has a plan to begin that restoration.  He said the world will be impressed with the power of our example rather than the example of our power.

President Clinton said Barack Obama is ready to lead!  He indicated that a vote for John McCain would be a vote for a third Bush term.  In this instance, President Clinton said three times is not a charm.  He spoke about the American economy that went from a surplus to a deficit and said continuing the current course means more of the same.  Wednesday evening's presentations focused on the sacrifices of American military men and women and the necessity to provide for their needs once they return home from war. 

Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden pledged his support for Barack Obama and the average working American who is faced with rising gasoline prices, lack of health insurance, foreclosures and other effects of our failing economy.  He talked about the plan that he and Barack Obama have to turn the economy around while we address the energy crisis in America.  The excitement at the Pepsi Center was overwhelming.  Individuals as the Convention were energized to return home to work to get the Obama/Biden team elected.  Tonight, Senator Barack Obama makes his acceptance speech at the Mile High Stadium in Invesco Field.

Senator Hillary Clinton asked all at the convention to remember that in order to win, you have to keep going.  She said Harriett Tubman told people escaping to freedom to keep going, even when they heard the dogs barking.  She said keep going even when others want to take you back into servitude.  Senator Clinton stressed in her key note speech last night that Democrats have to keep going if we want students trained to compete in a global economy.  She said it's important  to keep going so that women will receive equal pay for equal work and seniors will be able to retire and having savings for their golden years.  She asked if her supporters were in the race just because of her or were they there because of the soldiers in Iraq and people who can't get medical care because they don't have insurance.  She made the point that the campaign was about all the people who are locked out of the American dream.  Therefore, she asked her supporters to unite behind Barack Obama and return a Democrat to the White House in 2008.

In Senator Clinton's words, though she did not break the glass ceiling, she put 18 million cracks in it.  She ran an awesome race and will serve as a role model for my daughters and granddaugthers who are trying to find their place in the world.  Democrats on Tuesday addressed the things that are important to the Party and to Americans.  Speakers before Mrs. Clinton addressed health care, equal pay, retirement benefits, funding for higher education, the freedom to collective bargain and join a union and a higher minimum wage.

To prepare for the future, Americans were urged to manufacture hybrid vehicles made by American workers.  We were encouraged to pay well qualified teachers and provide them with the resources necessary to prepare students to compete with nations like China, which is going for the gold.  Democrats were asked to focus on the future and not the past in a 21st Centure economy. 

Former Senator Bob Graham spoke to Florida Democrats this morning at breakfast and stated that  in his 40 years of service to Florida, this is his 10th Democratic Convention.  He reminded the group that John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech in the Los Angeles Coliseum, the largest stadium in America at the time.  He said he thought it is significant that Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at the MiIe High Stadium.  Though he served with John McCain for 18 years, Senator Graham asked Florida Delegates to support Senator Barack Obama who will help Americans begin the process of restoring our economy and our standing in the world.  Tonight Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden will speak followed by former President Bill Clinton. 

As Americans, we have the luxury of expressing different points of view which we would not be allowed to do in a totalitarian government.  My comments during my attendance at the Democratic National Convention are offered as my perspective on political events in America today.  Others may disagree , which is the right of Americans.  My comments will be focused on issues and the message rather than the messenger and what an individual might wear or how they might look.  The message is focused on the millions of Americans who are struggling to get by.  The policies of the last eight years have left the American economy out of balance.  Barack Obama believes that we must strengthen our weak middle class in order to have a strong America. 

Tuesday's Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack's concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness and expand opportunity.  Today's agenda began with a Democratic Caucus meeting during  an 8:00 a.m. breakfast.  Chairwoman Karen Thurman spoke of opportunities to pick up additional Democratic seats in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.  She reported that 283,000 new Democrats have registered to vote in Florida since January.  Many of these new voters are former Republicans and Independents.  Many are young people who are participating in the democratic process for the first time.  Karen Thurman urged Democrats to prepare for redistricting in 2010 to insure a fair process. 

Other speakers during the morning caucus included Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink who asked that Democrats work to send her more help in Tallahassee.  Senator Bill Nelson, who began his career in public service 36 years ago as a state legislator, reported on his conversation with Senator Joe Biden who is Senator Barack Obama's Vice Presidential running mate.  Senator Bill Nelson said Joe Biden realizes the importance of Florida in the upcoming election.  Therefore, Senator Biden expects to spend quite a bit of time in Florida.  Senator Biden, as well, is preparing for Vice Presidential candidate debates.  Other high ranking Democrats in attendance included former Senator Bob Graham, and Congressmen Kendrick Meek and Bob Wexler.  Former Cabinet member Bruce Smathers joined others at the breakfast. 

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime time speaker later today and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address.  Florida convention attendees will join New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for a reception after the Convention adjourns tonight.  Due to a two hour time difference, the reception is scheduled to end at 1:00 a.m which means it will be 3:00 a.m. in Florida.  I'll bring you up to date to Tuesday's schedule on Wednesday.

A major focus of the National Democratic Convention has been a recognition of the hard work and sacrifices that many have made that resulted in a climate where Barack Obama could be nominated as President of the United States of America.   On Sunday night, my first evening in Denver, I attended a Civil Rights Celebration and Recognition that was coordinated by Congresswoman Maxine Walters.  Organizations including the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, the Congress on Racial Equality, Rainbow/PUSH, SCLC, SNCC, the Urban League and others were recognized for the work they did in early years to lay the groundwork for an African American to receive the nomination to the highest office in the land. 

This focus continued during the first meeting of Florida Delegates held during a breakfast meeting on Monday morning at the Red Lion, the Florida Conference Headquarters.  Chairwoman Karen Thurman spoke of the efforts on behalf of Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to have full voting strength restored to Florida delegates.  The Democratic National Committee has restored full voting strength to both Michigan and Florida.  Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer emphasized the importance of Florida as a swing state with 27 electoral votes.  He encouraged Florida Democrats to be the agents of change in the 2008 elections.  Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles, spoke of the similiarity of challenges faced by Californians and Floridians.  Though he had been a strong support of Senator Hillary Clinton, he indicated that he is working for Barack Obama and encouraged others to do the same. 

Legal Counsel for the Obama Campaign recruited lawyers and law students to participate in voter protection efforts throughout Florida.  He indicated that voter protection is no longer an election day operation but must be begun early to insure that all votes that are properly cast are counted.  Working early would eliminate problems such as those that occurred in Ohio where some polling places have 30 machines and others have 5 machines that caused long lines and discouraged people, primarily minorities ,from voting. 

The evening opening session included electrifying speeches from representatives of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.  These organizations stressed that every child has a right to a quality education.  They touted change in Congress in 2006 and indicated that taking the White House was the next goal.  Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. indicated in his address that this is the first convention to be held so close to a mountaintop--alluding to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his reference to having been to the mountaintop and having seen the promise land.  Dr. King was certain that African American people would get to the promised land.  Many view the nomination of Barack Obama as moving closer to the promised land.

Caroline Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy spoke of Barack Obama as an individual who have returned hope, excitement and anticipation of a brighter future to American politics.  Michelle Obama shared the story of her family which included a father who suffered from a debilitating illness.  She talked of her mother and Barack's mother as women who sacrificed for their familiies and the opportunity for their children to achieve the American dream.  Mrs. Obama stressed that Barack's story was an American story and was one of the reasons she very much loved her Country.  Michelle Obama continued the focus on early sacrifices and reminded the audience that the convention occurs 88 years after women were granted that right to vote and 45 years after Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.