"Ann and Nancy Wilson are pissed at the Republican Party and have fired off a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign." - Chris Reed via Bookmarklet
My son has to be at school at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning so I'm debating whether to go to bed now or just stay up and sleep after I drop him off. - Trish R
i just clocked in about 30 mins ago. i'm still dizzy from reading some of these political comments - Cee Bee
Been here all day! Cee: Check my stream, no political / religious crap there! - Mona N.
I was out and about Mona.. but truth be told. I just missed you all too much - Kyle Lacy
Did anyone play the McCain "my friends" drinking game tonight? I meant to and forgot. - Trish R
Trish- I didn't want alcohol poisoning. ;) Mona- I've been in and out today (and what a nice greeting.) - Abby Martin
frankly, i don't even know if i'm part of this FF Night Crew. If I was it would need to be called morning crew here...it really is a big mess :D - Zee at WeDoCreative
I disagree, I thought it was a good speech, but does it matter? - Larry Huffman
i only heard the last ten minutes on the way home from dinner, and i thought he ended beautifully... watching it on tv, not so much... if he didn't look so much like the head of Santa's elves, he might landslide victory... but, alas... - Rob Reed
I'm glad he's told it so many times. Otherwise, I might forget about it. - Nathaniel Payne
I respect him for it too..... again .... and again .... and again .... and again.... - Chris Reed
one can talk about the past so much. everything out of his mouth was bland and generic - Cee Bee
it's the last thing you should honor about dude. he's been riding that story for 30 years and all week. what's he gonna do?? - Baratunde Thurston via twhirl
I am so glad that Mr. Eddy is raising the quality of the debate. I love US Politics. - Stephen Pierzchala
@Craig Exactly. Entitlement... the devils volleyball. - John Denver
It's called a life changing experience. I'm paraphrasing, but I seem to remember him stating that before that incident he was a selfish person living life for himself. That experience taught him that there's something bigger and more important to serve than himself. - Chris Mayer
@Chris what he's doing is saying "I was tortured, I refused to go home early, therefore I'm a great American, love me, overlook my many faults and ELECT ME". He's shamelessly using the torture incident for his own political ends. - Mark O'Neill
it is also far more sincere than last week in Denver. I live in Chicago, I have heard that speech before. But I bet you most people already decided what grade they would give McCain before he started speaking - John Head via twhirl
He did about as good as his wife. She almost got lost in her speech a couple times. - Jim Goldstein
Agreed. In that I include the "protestors" who dropped sandbags from an overpass onto moving vehicles and the morons who had stockpiled buckets of urine and weapons to disable vehicles. Of course their real goal is to get arrested so that they can scream brutality. - Soulhuntre via twhirl
Yeah nobody should ever protest. - PC Easy via twhirl
People have the right to protest, but there's also the common decency of letting someone be heard...... That said, it was kind of funny.... - Chris Reed
@Chris I think common decency is not high on their priority list - John Denver
"People have the right to protest" -- not inside a private gathering, they don't - Craig Eddy
this was a great example of Prince Barak's supporters. - Tony Kanzia
I like to think that the choice of choosing a president is a public matter. - Chris Reed
Indeed it is, Chris. But the confines of the convention building are not particularly public. - Craig Eddy
People have a right to protest, but not the way they did. - Molly
it is a lack of respect and says so much about those people. same with the anarchists starting violence. - John Head via twhirl
Karim, there is no way you can justify interrupting a private event - Craig Eddy
On the deplorability scale I think it's not quite as bad as credentialed press having their faces slammed to the curb. - Karim
I hate to say it a lot of the Democrats who are protesting aren't being very respectful, but I know some may say why should they show respect if McCain doesn't show respect to America. *rolls eyes* - Molly
So John McCain dropping napalm on the Vietnamese is justified, but someone NON-VIOLENTLY interrupting a speech can *never* be justified. Hmmm. - Karim
John, and the exaggeration was? Did I get it wrong and it was high explosive instead of napalm? - Karim
@Karim what ever happened to being respectful? And not all the protests have been non violent at the RNC. Protests should be peaceful and without violence. - Molly
@Karim How exactly can you compare the acts of a few extremists with the job that a soldier performs during a time of war? - John Denver
John, just so I understand you, the "extremists" are the ones who protest non-violently, and the moderates are the ones who drop bombs on people. Did I get that right? - Karim
The choice is simple: A new direction or more of the same. - Chris Reed
I was leaning in one direction up to now and wanted to see if tonight's speech would cause me to lean a different way. Instead, it caused me to lean further in the direction I was headed. See you at the polls! :) - Kevin C. Tofel
Feels like at any moment, the chroma-key will activate and we'll hear,"And now,here's John McCain with the weather." - Chris Reed
Looks like the frantic behind the scenes folks toned town the green with a cornfield. Waiting for Shoeless Joe to come out... Wait! It's blue now.... My eyes! - Chris Reed
"Live interactive broadcast: With multiple camera feeds
Picture-in-picture: Superimpose any of four camera feeds" Web broadcast begins at 7 p.m. ET - Andrew Smith via Bookmarklet
"This product is only available to US customers. International users please check out" BOOOOO - Andrew Smith
Testing it out myself and so far..... While impressed to have an NFL game online,the presentation itself is unimpressive.Would have been nice as a companion to watching it on the tube,but the lag stinks... But Eli is looking good. - Chris Reed
Some HD coverage on cable right now seems garbled and studdering. Certain angles and replays. Anyone else? - Andrew Smith
A major home run? When did a candidate ever not hit a home run when addressing their convention? - Drew
I would not call Obama's convention speech a "home run" the way he made himself look like Emperor with that giant Romanesque set. And where is his bump in the polls? The numbers look the same as they did before Denver. But yeah, I guess the twitter population really isn't any indication of how well Sarah Palin performed in her convention speech. - pitlord via twhirl
@Drew. Biden didn't, and I really wonder if McCain will tomorrow night... - Andrew Leyden
using twitter to judge "America" is probably not a wise sampling... - Jeremy Toeman
Not a difficult task to hit a homer when you're playing an exhibition game on your home field with all your adoring fans cheering you on. - Larry Kless
I love how she named some countries. That was very impressive! - PC Easy via twhirl
Like her or hate her, she pulled this off. She has good time, obvious passion and became very comfortable as it went on. I don't know how McCain will do but Biden certainly came as close to flopping as you can on the home field. - Soulhuntre
Yea, naming some countries was cool. I want to see Obama name all 57 states!! Go ahead Obama. - Raymond Phillips
Yeah Raymond, I am just glad that whole Alaskan Independence Party didn't work out for her. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to be vice president. - PC Easy via twhirl
"Palin hit a major home run"? Were we watching the same speech? I thought it was very well delivered, but not her own words, it was written for her. I also heard very little discussion of how the Repubs will solve many of the issues that plague the country. She did talk about energy but with no real details. What about the economy, health care, education? - Jeff P. Henderson
They've really locked down Alaska's 3 electoral votes now! - Steve Follmer via twhirl
I'm giving props to Palin. And Giuliani did a masterful job as well. - Hutch Carpenter
Jeff, that's why I feel like the conventions are a waste of time. No one watches except for those members of that same party who have already decided who to vote for. Pointless grandstanding; preaching to the choir; etc... - WazNeeni via twhirl
Jeff P "not her own words, it was written for her" What % of speakers at either convention do you feel write their own speeches? I'll say is less that 25%. That is why the debates will be so important for those that have not made up their mind yet... then it is up to who has the best political machine and in 2000 and 2004, it was the Republicans. - Julio
@Julio, I was watching ABC TV here in the SF Bay Area and the news commentator clearly said that the speech was written for her, with some input. You are very correct about the debates, this is where we will see who has intimate knowledge of key issues and who can think on their feet. So far we have only seen how well each candidate can deliver a prepared speech. Clearly all four candidates are very well spoken. - Jeff P. Henderson
@Julio, I think what I really meant in my earlier post was that it is unclear to me that the speech that Sarah delivered were her own words or the words of the party and their speech writers. I can't say I really know what she stands for and if she can think on her feet until I see her put on the spot in an unscripted environment. - Jeff P. Henderson
Jeff P: Have you heard a single resolution from Obama? Any mention on how he is going to 'change' America? We already know he hasn't actually done anything in his career, except fall in with machine politics. Hmm.. I wonder if we didn't hear the same speech, too. I watched it live and uncut on the RNC website. You didn't watch it on MSNBC or CNN, did you!? - Kody Brown
Hmmm...a well-spoken president? That's something I can't wait to get back to. This coming from a conservative Rep. who proudly voted for Dubya twice. I don't think he's dumb or anything, but c'mon. - WazNeeni via twhirl
The one that hurts the most is the failed attempt at the "Fool me once..." addage. I cringe every time I hear it. - WazNeeni via twhirl
@Kody, I watched both Obama's and Palin's speeches live, uncut on network TV. In his speech, Obama outlined what his goals were for fixing Taxes, Stimulating the Economy, Growing domestic jobs, Energy Independence, Development of alternative energy sources with specific goals, Global Warming, Education, Heath Care and Insurance, His stance on the middle east, Iraq, Iran, His stance on the Russia/Georgia issue. I probably missed a few issues. - Jeff P. Henderson
Before tonight, all most knew of Palin was that she was once a mayor of a small town, governor of Alaska and had a longtime husband and a couple of kids. The only thing we learned that was new tonight was she hates Obama. This was like a stranger walking into a house and criticizing the furniture. Your first reaction is, "Who the heck are you?" - Chris Reed
sarcastic, petty, unimpressive. Palin makes me love Hillary and I used top hate her. - David Jacobs
WazNeeni - agree that conventions are a waste of time. The Palin speech was the only part of ANY of the conventions (there are more than two political party conventions) that I bothered to watch, or will bother to watch. - Ontario Emperor via fftogo
The one unbiased source I saw (Los Angeles TV station KTLA) gave Palin positive marks. - Ontario Emperor via fftogo
Were we watching the same speech? Cuz I saw a nutjob hockey mom try to run from her record. - Bill Sodeman
Ok enough with the great speech. Let's get down to business. She has not foreign policy experience. She has no real economic experience. This selection for VP is such a joke. SHe has been off this continent 1 time. Stop this madness. - PC Easy via twhirl
<celebrity> Sarah Palin </celebrity>, But McCain & GOP prefer to ignore their failed code. No 12 step program for hypocrites! - Roney Smith
At this point it seems that she was picked in hopes of picking up voters disenfranchised that HRC isn't on the democratic ticket. Aside from their gender Sarah and HRC are no where close to each other. The important thing about her speech last night is the Republicans like her, now let's see if America can like her once all of her dirty laundry is out in the open. - Bryan
One thing is for certain... she can adequately read off a teleprompter. Kudos! - Rob Reed
Rob, except for that "Hockey Moms" joke - she seemed to improvise well too - Jesse Stay via twhirl
Actually,have to give her an A for effort on her teleprompter skills, which have improved immensely from her sports anchor days (see the youtube videos) - Chris Reed
He was also liberal, and progressive. Although, not in exactly the same way those terms are used today. But he did fight the established order of his time. - Nathaniel Payne
Except that he wasn't a 'community organizer'. You can, however, say that Paul of Tarsus was one. - Akiva Moskovitz
Jesus brought together a group of people who joined him on a crusade to change the world. If that isn't a community organizer, I don't know what is. Maybe he was mayor. They have more responsibility, you know. - Nathaniel Payne
He sought an earmark for a bridge over the Sea of Galilee, but canceled it when he realized he could just walk right across. - Nathaniel Payne
Christianity didn't start until after Jesus died; he had nothing to do with it. It was Peter and Paul that actually turned it into a religion. Jesus was just a radical Essene Rabbi. - Akiva Moskovitz
Reminds of the movie Hamlet 2 I just saw (my gf says it's funnier if you were in high school drama) - Chris Lamprecht
Akiva's closer to pegging it than the original quote. Jesus didn't handle much of the organization tasks, even for his own circle of disciples. - Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Mark: So he was good at delegation? Akiva: Who mentioned Christianity? I'm talking about the man and his life, not the later global repercussions. - Kevin Fox
Akiva: that's about as accurate as saying "Judaism didn't start until after Moses died; he had nothing to do with it. It was Joshua and Samuel that actually turned it into a religion. Moses was just a used car salesman without a lot." - Mark Trapp
Oh, well, in that case, that quote is even more wrong. - Akiva Moskovitz
Yeah, this creepy faith-based stuff has been around a long time. ;) - Jay Tannenbaum
From http://www.nycahn.org/communit...: "Community organizing is a long-term approach where the people affected by an issue are supported in identifying problems and taking action to achieve solutions. The organizer challenges those he or she works with to change the way things are—it is a means of achieving social change through collective action by changing the balance of power." Yup, that sounds exactly like Jesus. Just read John 2:13-16. - Rob Reed
Mark Trapp, except that's a hell of a lot more words than I used with a hell of a lot more subtext. It's also wildly inaccurate as Moses did found a religion (although not really by choice) and, as far as I remember, Jesus didn't have any interest in creating a new religion. If I recall correctly, Paul of Tarsus didn't get the ball rolling until some 50 years later. - Akiva Moskovitz
Akiva: You're proving my point. Jesus was trying to foster social change through the grassroots, but wasn't trying to create a religion. The *last* thing I'm trying to say is that community organizers (Obama or others) are trying to proselytize into an organized religion or overthrow the status quo. Rather they're trying to help people at the community level, and that acting to better your community shouldn't be disdained or belittled. Politics is already seen as the vacuum of altruism. - Kevin Fox
I just ate a mango. Where's Sean for our lecture on Judaism? - Jay Tannenbaum
Ghandi was probably a good community organizer, too - Mark Dykeman
Akiva, you're belaboring a woefully ignorant understanding of early Christianity that isn't supported by any documentation we have of that time. St. Paul was converted, as most historians agree, circa AD 36, 3 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Paul, prior to his conversion, was persecuting those spreading the Gospel (indicating that there were religious missions pre-dating Paul). He immediately worked with James and Peter (Apostles of Christ who knew Him personally) before starting his own mission shortly thereafter. Most of our primary sources from Paul are dated 48-55 AD, 15 years after the crucifixion. - Mark Trapp
Akiva, In fact, the Gospel according to Mark is dated as early as 70 AD, only 40 years after the death of Jesus. In all four gospels, Jesus rejects the covenant God has with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel and supplants it with a new everlasting covenant. Josephus, the only independent historian contemporary of Jesus, confirms that Jesus wasn't a Rabbi, but preaching a new religion. Jesus was, by all accounts, preaching a new covenant, not a modification of the old. You know not what you speak. - Mark Trapp
Mark, I appreciate the information; it's been a long time since I've read up on Early Christianity. However, your final statement was an unnecessary punctuation on an otherwise well-appreciated mini-education on something I have never, ever claimed expertise in. I do appreciate you correcting where I was wrong but there was no need for that closing remark. - Akiva Moskovitz
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Rabbi, what is it?” (Luke 7:40)
A lawyer asked him a question to test him: “Rabbi, what is the greatest commandment in the Torah?” (Matthew 22:35-36)
And behold, a [rich] man came up to him and said, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16)
And someone in the crowd said to him, “Rabbi, order my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (Luke 12:13)
And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Rabbi, rebuke your disciples.” (Luke 19:39)
Some of the Sadducees came up to him…and they asked him, saying, “Rabbi….” (Luke 20:27-28) - Jay Tannenbaum
Akiva, you made a completely inaccurate claim about Christianity with a level of conviction conveying a statement of fact, then pressed the issue when I pointed out that it was inaccurate. As I know you can appreciate, as I've seen you mention it before on FriendFeed, misrepresentations of one's religious beliefs only serves to frustrate those who believe and alienate those who don't. - Mark Trapp
Akiva, going back to my original comment: obviously it's offensive to you to have someone just come in and say Moses didn't really have anything to do with Judaism and was of a completely different profession. It's just as offensive to hear from someone, as you're now saying, who isn't well versed in the literature make a statement of fact that is completely contradictory to everything a Christian knows and believes. - Mark Trapp
I think a rabbi in those days (and these days) was a learned man, a teacher -- as the text itself reflects. He was certainly both. - Jay Tannenbaum
Jay: in most other English translations, it's translated as "teacher," not Rabbi, as it would be an equivocation to assume Jesus was of the Rabbinical tradition. Just because Rabbi literally means teacher doesn't infer that teacher means Rabbi. I don't really get it. Do you see any of the Christians here waxing intellectual about Judaism? How do you not see this as offensive? - Mark Trapp
Didn't Jesus' "community" willingly give him up to the Romans? - Sprague D
Oh, and honestly: what does whether or not Jesus started the religion have to do with Kevin's point? I don't get how that was considered a method of refutation to what Kevin is suggesting. - Mark Trapp
Mark: As you can see from my comment. I think we agree. No waxing. Jesus is all yours. Sorry. - Jay Tannenbaum
Mark, calm down. I was simply wrong about something and was gracious when corrected. If you're offended, that's your problem. I write and speak with conviction. That's just how I am. If there was any conviction in my tone here, it's because I thought I was right about something. I wasn't. I'm fine with that. No need to continue to be an ass about it especially when I've already expressed appreciation for having been corrected. - Akiva Moskovitz
@Mark: It's all a moot point, anyway, as Jesus wasn't running for President. He might make a good president, but I don't think even the most fervent Obama supporters claim he has the power to work miracles (which might give Jesus the edge over your typical community organizer). - Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Okay, 'ass' is too strong of a word. You're not being an ass. Overly defensive and offended, perhaps. But you're not being an ass. I apologize for that. - Akiva Moskovitz
Mark, I think a lot of people would've been asking if America was ready for a Muslim president, by virtue of him coming from Galilee. Even if it pre-dated Islam by 600 years. Akiva, I think you hit two hot points for me, and I went off, for which I apologize. The first of course is the misrepresentation of Christianity, but the second is the tendency in social media for people to say things strongly and forcefully first, then do a "mea culpa, I didn't really know" when corrected. That's just the way a lot of people are: usually I take it in stride, but the two combined really hit a nerve. It's not really personal, I like you, so again I apologize for going at you like such. - Mark Trapp
If Jesus was a community organizer, he didn't do a very good job of it. His community didn't seem to take kindly to what he was trying to do (which is mostly teaching). - Glen Campbell
Seriously, Ghandi... community organizer... good example, right? - Mark Dykeman
@Rizzin - it seems Jesus was close to being a political ruler. That one of the reasons why he was crucified. - Joel
