More talk.

The language did not soar. The rhetoric, tone and demeanor were down to Earth.

I give this speech, in this place, at this time, an A+. It was the right speech, with the right delivery that needed to be delivered by Barack Obama tonight. Even towards the end, where change was the discussion point, it was down to earth. And then a quick shift to why AMERICA is great. Of course the end was the soar. But it was just the end. In the live blog I wrote:

His moment approaches. I'll live blog the proceedings from 10:00 pm on below the fold. Here is the prepared text of Obama's speech:

. . . Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land – enough! This moment – this election – is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: “Eight is enough.”

Al Gore giving a great speech.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Um, so the message tonight is that Democrats like to go to concerts? And the "Yes, We Can" song? With Obama speaking cuts in the middle and big pictures of Obama? Not a good idea.

In my opinion of course. I'm not following what this is supposed to be achieving tonight.

Speaking for me only.

The people already in Invesco Field were just treated to Will.I.Am (of the Black Eyed Peas) and John Legend, backed by a sizable choir, singing "Yes We Can," based on a Barack Obama speech, with the words of the speech echoing in the background, as in the video above. Whether you like Obama or not, it was pretty cool to watch.

Lewis’ role in tonight’s program “shows the magnanimity of Barack Obama,” said House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, who is the highest ranking African-American in Congress. Clyburn, who like Lewis was jailed as a civil rights activist in his younger days, acknowledged Lewis’ significance to African-Americans’ battle for equality.

An utter disgrace.

Speaking for me only

photos are here or something like that.

Bill Kristol lying about Bill Clinton:

Clinton was too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief in 1992. . . . He was handed an enviable situation in foreign policy . . . Over the rest of the decade, Clinton managed to allow further erosion in the position of American strength he inherited. Clinton didn’t, as he now claims, lead us “to a new era of peace.” He inherited a hard-won peace, failed to lead, and part of his legacy is 9/11.

Heh. The Left blogs are now back in the business of defending Bill Clinton, so you can see the refutation of this nonsense in other venues. But Kristol's use of the word "inherited" brought the famous Onion headline Bush: "Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Over", to mind. More. . .

I'm on the press bus to Invesco. The crowds are huge. Security lines way too long.

It wasn't too bad getting in. Speeches are going on. I'm in the MSM press filing area. No laptop, just my iPhone. I hope Big Tent or TChris are around to fix typos . If not, please try to guess what I meant to write.

This thread is not about heroin. Instead it's a thread where you can talk smack.

About college football, which kicks off tonight.

I'll start. The SEC is easily the toughest conference in the country. The Big Ten stinks especially the Badgers (shot at TChris' team and conference.) If Jeralyn cared about college football, maybe I would take a shot at Ralphie, but she doesn't. So it would be wasted.

This is an Open Thread and you CAN talk smack, about college football. Go Gators!

Well, that explains it. It seems that the seizure of video recording equipment from reporters who traveled to the Twin Cities to keep an eye on police interactions with protesters was just an exercise in homeland security.

Minneapolis police spokesman Bill Palmer said the incident happened at 1:40 a.m. and that the group was stopped on suspicion that they were trespassing in a nearby railroad yard. ... Palmer also said the officers appears to have acted reasonably and would have stopped anyone seen near transportation infrastructure late at night.

How silly. First, walking past a railroad yard does not justify a "suspicion" of trespassing. Either the officers saw the reporters trespassing or they didn't. Second, does Palmer really believe that the police are entitled to stop anyone who is "near" a train late at night?

The "national security" spin still doesn't explain why the recording equipment was confiscated. Is homeland security compromised by folks who take pictures of trains?