Still your turn

After losing 18 years of his life, Robert McClendon walked free yesterday. McClendon had been convicted of raping a 10 year old girl. A new DNA analysis of semen stains in the victim's underwear did not match McClendon's DNA profile.

Three journalists who traveled to the Twin Cities to document any police misconduct that might be directed at Republican National Convention protesters may have difficulty doing their jobs. The police have already confiscated their video cameras, cell phones, and a laptop computer.

The group said police detained them for about an hour after asking whether they knew about a rash of car burglaries in the area. The officers searched them without their consent and confiscated their belongings, the group said.

The police say the journalists were trespassing. Even if that's true, how did that offense justify a decision to confiscate the journalists' cameras? Were the officers actually motivated by a desire to prevent the journalists from documenting police misconduct?

Okay, it is noon in the East, but it is your turn now.

It is most revealing that the pundits who, apparently looking for things to criticize about Hillary Clinton, complain that Hillary's speech was not about Obama the person, it was about why Democrats should support the Democratic nominee. This is classic personality driven punditry. They do not believe the issues matter. To them it is not about the American People and their lives and issues, it is about their silly Freak Show. Anglachel captures why Hillary Clinton's speech was so powerful and why it was the best possible endorsement that could be delivered for Barack Obama:

It was, first and foremost, a speech about politics. It had plenty of "human interest" and even humor in it. We most certainly got a look into the mind and heart of this woman. But what it was, from the first line to the last, was a full-force evocation of what it means to be a Democrat. In a season where we have been bombarded by bipartisan, everybody let's hug, don't say anything bad about the Republicans, don't be partisan be Obamacan, Unity Ponies for everyone balderdash, Hillary took the party by the scruff of its dithering neck and made it look at the reason we are a party in the first place.

It was a Politics of Contrast/Fighting Dem speech, and the type of speech Barack Obama and every Democrat should be giving. It was about why folks should vote for Democrats and why they should not vote for Republicans. The reasons are bigger than Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Alaskan Republicans demonstrated their reverence for the presumption of innocence by voting overwhelmingly for the indicted Ted Stevens in the Republican primary. Or maybe it's this:

Mr. Stevens, who has been in office for 40 years ... is revered for bringing home billions of dollars in federal spending ....

Stevens' trial is scheduled for late September. If he's convicted, Alaskan Republicans will have the opportunity to vote for a candidate who will serve his senatorial term in a prison cell.

TPM posted the speech on You Tube:

From last night's speech:

No way, no how, no McCain. . . . Now, John McCain is my colleague and my friend. He has served our country with honor and courage. But we don't need four more years of the last eight years...

AUDIENCE: No!

Senator Clinton: ... more economic stagnation and less affordable health care...

AUDIENCE: No!

[More . . .]

From last night's speech:

We need to elect Barack Obama, because we need a president who understands that America can't compete in the global economy by padding the pockets of energy speculators while ignoring the workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas.

We need a president who understands we can't solve the problems of global warming by giving windfall profits to the oil companies while ignoring opportunities to invest in the new technologies that will build a green economy.

[More . . .]

If you missed Hillary Clinton's speech tonight, you can watch it at this C-Span link .

If you are in Denver with tickets to the Daily Show taping Wednesday, be forewarned.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome, please be civil and no personal attacks.

[Updated to show entire video]. I saw this CNN interview after Hillary's speech.

It's clear that Sen. Barack Obama has a big sales job to do on many, many Hillary supporters.

Why is he in Montana, watching the convention at a house party? Shouldn't he have come to Denver for the entire convention? It's more than half over and he's still not here. He's missed a great opportunity.

Update: Commenters point out it's tradition for the nominee not to appear at the convention until the final day. I didn't know that. Now that I do, I think this would have been a good year to break that tradition. He's got a lot of work to do and his physical presence at various events this week, and the media portrayal of it, might have helped.

The media is using superlatives to describe Hillary Clinton's speech tonight.

The Republicans are saying she didn't do anything to dispel the idea that Obama lacks the experience to lead the country.

I think it's a great night for Democrats, but what will the final effect be?

Did Obama made the biggest mistake of his campaign by not choosing Hillary for his VP candidate? How many Democrats will sit the election out?

And yes, watching Joe Biden made me cringe.

Anita's reaction: [More...]