European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

Hmph. I'm digging through my huge pile of emails that accumulated while I was away - which is not fun.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:35:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

komedy knight at kos (4.00 / 2)

Mittens: McCain earned all 10 homes, Obama earned none by smintheus Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 10:30:05 AM PDT
A big tip of the hat to aspiring VP (and real estate expert) Mitt Romney for pitching in yesterday to help prolong the national discussion about John McCain's four seven eight ten superabundance of homes. Showing the kind of political acumen that made him stand out on the campaign trail this year, Mittens brought his insight about the houses flap straight to reporters.
Speaking to reporters at a lunch sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, Romney said that while McCain deserved his houses because of the "hard work" of himself and his family, "Barack Obama got a special deal from a convicted felon."
Nearly all the dozen or so homes were bought by Cindy McCain, who inherited her fortune. Obama by contrast bought his one house from what he earned from the books he wrote; he got a "special deal" on his house from nobody, felon or otherwise.
"I think it was a strange thing for Barack Obama to seize upon," Romney said. "If homes is going to be the topic of discussion that Barack Obama is going to end up on the short end of that one."
It's been working out so poorly for Obama that McCain went on Leno the previous day to explain why he can't remember how many homes he owns (hint: it involves the fact he was once a POW).

i saw the leno klip, man mcpain is sure going to run that POW thing right into the ground, or die trying.

but then, what else does he have to be proud of?

i expected the whole audience to stand up and salute, or break into tears...

one trick pony-

"Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do." Jim Hightower

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:39:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: komedy knight at kos (4.00 / 2)

The Globe deserves an award for that subliminal photo of mitt: It trashes him, and unfortunately Denver, in one shot!

A mile high and an inch deep
Denver is the mile high city, the inch deep seems very negative every way you want to spin it.

Not ready 08
Look who is standing proudly behind it, while you can barely see Obama´s picture on it.

I don´t know marketing, but I wouldn´t want to be promoted near that imagery, in case it´s catchy!

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:08:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Milliband loses control (4.00 / 3)

David Milliband has gone to the Ukraine !!!!!

Guardian - Miliband - Russia has big responsibility not to start new cold war

The British foreign secretary, David Miliband, today said Russia must not start a new cold war as he accused Moscow of trying to redraw the map of Europe in the wake of the war in Georgia.
Miliband was speaking in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, a Russian neighbour that, like Georgia, wants to join Nato.
The Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, yesterday defied the west by recognising as independent the breakaway Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"The Georgia crisis has provided a rude awakening," Miliband said in a speech to students. "The sight of Russian tanks in a neighbouring country on the 40th anniversary of the crushing of the Prague spring has shown that the temptations of power politics remain.
"The old sores and divisions fester. And Russia is not yet reconciled to the new map of this region. Yesterday's unilateral attempt to redraw the map marks a moment of real significance.

words that are not rude fail to grasp my feelings about this. What the f--- is he doing in Ukraine ? Apart, I mean, from taking a stick and pushing it into a hornet's nest to see what happens. How are Britains interests advanced like this ? How is europe's or NATO's ? who promoting this frenzy ?

Jeesis H Christ on a bike, what sort of clowns are running this country ?

Let russia station soldiers in Cuba, let russia put missiles in Mexico and then we'll see how a free nation reacts.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:33:45 AM EST

Re: Milliband loses control (4.00 / 2)

I posted a similar item in the Salon this morning...

As to the WTF question, I think he's vying for the Labour Party leadership. We all know that being "strong on foreign policy" is necessary to appear statesmanlike.

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:49:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I didn't know that strong and stupid were synonyms. But Labour apparatchik speak is quite different from english.

I recognise that Milliband is vying for the leadership of the Labour Party, but he's doing it in the Blair-ite way of never allowing himself to be outflanked on the right by the conservative party. If Cameron can go and make an arse of himself in Tblisi, Milliband must go to Kiev. What next ? Picking up a rifle and fighting with the chechens.

And I go back to my earlier question, what has this got to do with Britain's interests ? Blair's ideology is a busted flush for the Labour party, the more he indulges in this neocon lunacy, the less likely it is that most Labourites will support him.

Now, on a personal basis, watching Milliband cut his own throat is fine by me, but he's there as the Foreign Secretary. We get our gas from Russia, how is pissing them off going to help fuel prices this winter ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:01:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Don't be a spoilsport, he has been

holding talks ... with international partners and [is] visiting Ukraine [today] to ensure the widest possible coalition against Russian aggression in Georgia

This is clearly an important task.

And, to quote a page linked to by ceebs this morning...

In the first half of the [nineteenth] century France as the British bogeyman gave way to Russia, leading finally to the Crimean War in 1854. In 1839 the obsession in British India was that the Russians, extending the Tsar's empire east into Asia, would invade India through Afghanistan.

So clearly Russia has been "Britain's bogeyman" for 150 years.

Why are you surprised?

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:09:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

We get our gas from Russia, how is pissing them off going to help fuel prices this winter ?

I'll pull a Jerome and claim that unless Ukraine or Poland decide to close the pipelines, Gazprom will still deliver the contracted amounts of gas.

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:11:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, I'm sure. Except, afaik, the UK doesn't enter into long-term contracts, it pays a spot price all the time. now, I'm no economist so correct me where I'm wrong but this price can always be manipulated if GazProm decide to deliver the contractually agreed amounts to their more "reliable" customers and leave little in the tank for the UK, then we have to pay a very high spot price.

I'm not saying they would. In this I side very much with you and JaP that Russia have a lot to lose and little to gain if they took such shenanigans too far. But we are not a reliable customer, we are not a good partner and they have no reason to do us any favours if we keep pissing them off.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:34:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Milliband loses control (4.00 / 5)

Yes! Russia! They are clearly the ones eager to restart the cold war. They and only they. The glorious and great West™ really don't, but must now regretfully inform that Russia gives us no other choice after they have chosen to so stubbornly defy us.

TEH STUPID. IT HURTS.

by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:12:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

TEH STUPID. IT HURTS. (4.00 / 5)

This is from Channel 4 yesterday, via Colman...

Russia has done it again. It has recognised the breakaway Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in direct defiance of the United States and Europe. The Russians have gone even further, saying they don't care about joining the World Trade Organistaion if the West chooses to freeze them out. They have already turned their backs on partnership with Nato and are doing everything they can to take away all the diplomatic threats the West thought it had. It is hard to see how we are on anything but an irreversible pathway to a new Cold War. The question is what will the consequences be? Will Russia win or lose in the end? And in the meantime, with Europe so dependent on Russian gas, does Moscow seem to hold all the cards?

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:14:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Milliband loses control (4.00 / 2)

Helen

...what sort of clowns are running this country ?

Cousins, it would appear, of those running things over here.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:54:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Where do I send the royalties in order to borrow this line?

Jeesis H Christ on a bike, what sort of clowns are running this country ?

I love the smell of roast chicken in the morning!

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:37:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wednesday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

For those interested in electoral reform in the UK, I've just been to a short conferance on MMP (which UKanians call "Alternative Member", for some reason) looking at how it has worked in NZ, with some reference to Scotland, Wales, and the prospects for reform in the UK.

Posts (and links to papers) here and here.

by IdiotSavant on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:54:48 AM EST

Perhaps the good professor could, in the final revision of his paper, include the title for which MMP is the acronym. Looks interesting though, especially for UK and former Commonwealth countries.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 12:00:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mixed-member proportional representation, the electoral system used in Scotland, Wales, NZ, and Germany.

(And I'm not a professor, just a very interested bystander)

by IdiotSavant on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 04:44:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you very much. You had made no claims on academic status of which I am aware. It was the author of the otherwise excellent paper to which you provided a link that I referred. Sorry, one of my pet peeves is mystery acronyms. Unless you are certain your product is addressing only a known audience, provide a clue.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 07:55:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

To be fair, I think they were expecting to be addressing a known audiance who would know exactly what it meant. But this is a conversation they should be having with the wider public as well as among themselves, and while most NZers, Scots and Welsh would likewise understand, a key audiance they should be talkign to - the English - probably have no clue still.

by IdiotSavant on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 09:44:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

EU and US slow venture capital investments (none / 1)

Europeans retrench on venture investing
By Claire Cain Miller, International Herald Tribune

European venture capitalists are investing less money in fewer companies, mirroring a trend seen in financing for American start-ups, according to a report Tuesday by Dow Jones VentureSource.
Venture capital firms in Europe invested in 167 young companies in the second quarter, 42 percent fewer than in the period last year. Venture dollars invested declined 35 percent, to $1.3 billion. The quarter was the worst since at least 2000, when VentureSource started tracking European data.
"If there is a prolonged lag in investment and if the liquidity environment continues to be constrictive, then it is concerning for the venture capital industry," said Jessica Canning, director of global research for Dow Jones VentureSource.
The information technology and health care sectors had the biggest drop, while investments in energy companies reached new highs. In Britain, long the leader in European technology innovation, venture investment fell 49 percent last quarter, while Germany vaulted to the head of the list because of a single large investment in a solar technology firm.
The European slowdown tracks similarly tight conditions in the United States. Investments by United States venture firms fell 19 percent in the second quarter.

by Magnifico on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 11:59:37 AM EST

Re: EU and US slow venture capital investments (none / 1)

Taking down the flag and bringing in the laundry before the shit storm hits?

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 12:01:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BBC NEWS | Technology | Computer viruses make it to orbit

A computer virus is alive and well on the International Space Station (ISS).
Nasa has confirmed that laptops carried to the ISS in July were infected with a virus known as Gammima.AG.
The worm was first detected on Earth in August 2007 and lurks on infected machines waiting to steal login names for popular online games.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:00:00 PM EST

Re: Wednesday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

BBC NEWS | Health | Robo-skeleton lets paralysed walk

A robotic suit is helping people paralysed from the waist down do what was previously considered impossible - stand, walk and climb stairs.
ReWalk users wear a backpack device and braces on their legs and select the activity they want from a remote control wrist band.
Leaning forwards activates body sensors setting the robotic legs in motion.
Users walk with crutches, controlling the suit through changes in centre of gravity and upper body movements.
The device effectively mimics the exoskeletion of a crab.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:03:09 PM EST

FYI (4.00 / 4)

For Firefox users who haven't yet upgraded to v3.0, if you're like me, you kept putting off the upgrade, telling the unsolicited prompt to <go away>. I finally gave in, just now, and am very glad I did.

Pages load much faster, type displays infinitely better, and the new, neutral design is a lot easier on the eyes. Highly recommended.

While I'm at it, there's a wonderful little firefox add-on I'd recommend for those who need to keep an eye on the weather, called forecastfox, which displays a chronically updated, several days' worth of weather forecast in the footer. It helps me to know when I need to get out and water thoroughly, for ex. [like right now], but it's a good, discrete, all-purpose weather predictor.

Bonne soirée de Paris, où il fait très beau.
.

by Loefing on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:13:49 PM EST

Re: FYI (none / 1)

Thanks Loefing, for the information. I keep getting the information to update and have avoided it till now. I am worried that the tribtext will not work well or anymore. But after your comment I am seriously considering it.

And here in Switzerland it is also great weather! :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:16:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (4.00 / 2)

Tribext works fine for me in FF3, except that I can't rate any more. Hence I make more random comments, in acknowledgement of others.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:50:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

You mean you can not rate at all, or you have not 4 button?

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 01:52:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (4.00 / 2)

For various reasons I can't seem to rate at all, but it hasn't affected everyone, just me and a couple of others.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 02:05:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

So, I guess I might as well give it a try. I have to use IE anyway for ET, because on firefox I can often not access ET. The only thing I would have a problem with if tribtext would not work, would make the Salon more difficult.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 02:08:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

Just downloaded the new version. I can rate!!! and everything works fine, even ET seems to be accesible again. And I also hope the browser will stopp crashing.

But the first impression is, Loefing was right, it is an improvement.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 04:47:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

I did have a similar problem at one point. had to remove and reintall Firefox to get tribext to come back.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 04:56:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

Just updated to FF3 on the Mac and I can't rate either.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:28:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

On the upside, dKos seems to have stopped crashing in FF3.

Which is a good thing.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:39:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI (none / 1)

Timely comment since my upgrade comment just popped up again! I'll give it a go.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 02:51:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wednesday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

I'm about to go missing for a few days, the grand house move is commencing tomorrow. However due to the reason that BT for some reason needs five days to swap internet connections over, and possibly ten days to swap phones over I may be suffering from massive ET withdrawl

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 03:48:51 PM EST

Replumbing intertubes is hard.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 03:50:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

strangely less hard in other countries.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 03:52:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

They have to pull one plug out of its hole and drive that end of the wire all the way to its new location.

You're lucky it only takes 10 days or so.

Good luck with the move, anyway.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 04:02:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well I did lose a whole day after it took talking to three seperate BT people to get them to admit that they even had a line already to the new house. the fact that the old owners had phone and internet provided by BT appeared to be a complete mystery to them on my first two calls.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 04:54:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

So does this mean you will be making it to Paris?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:50:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

it still depends on when the removals men can deliver the furniture. if they cant do it this week, then its stuck to being a weekend due to my girlfriends work comittments, and even though there's a shortage of people moving at the moment, at least the next two weekends are booked solid. soat the moment i'm still solidly in the don't know category.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:57:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hope it goes smoothly (none / 0)

Come back soon, ceebs! and bring Sven back with you. (;

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:12:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hope it goes smoothly (none / 1)

I'm not moving that far North ;-)

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:50:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Looking at the numbers ...

The Hispanic Vote

In 2004 Bush captured 45% of the Hispanic Vote for (roughly) 4.14 million total. This year McCain is carrying around 32.5% for a 2.99 million total.

Obama is getting (as of Aug. 26) ~6.21 million (67.5%) for an estimated net gain of 2.07 million over Kerry.

No one could have predicted

by ATinNM on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:39:00 PM EST

32.5% for McCain? Where'd you find that. All the polls I've seen have had him at 20-23% and Obama at about 63-67%.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:57:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Average of polling plus a bit. (OK, more than a bit.) The numbers we're seeing are almost too good. I'll keep cynical until we get closer to Der Tag.

No one could have predicted

by ATinNM on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:17:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Optimism! Ya schmuck. ;)

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:22:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Burned-out on optimism 'bout the time you were born.

(Ya young whippersnapper.)

No one could have predicted

by ATinNM on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:59:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What'd you think of Hill's speech last night, btw? I thought it was quite good.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 05:58:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hillary (4.00 / 3)

was that an orange suit?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 06:12:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I agree. Both content and delivery. The campaign has clearly improved her speaking skills. But you do know that she secretly telegraphed her support for McCain in POW hand gesture code, right?

by MarekNYC on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 06:18:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The delivery was excellent. The content was very good.

Then again, it's her husband I worry about tonight, not her.

I also want to see Joe Biden go up and just cut McCain's fucking balls off tonight.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 06:56:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I didn't see it. (He announced, sheepishly.)

No one could have predicted

by ATinNM on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:21:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Don't miss Kerry's speech. They've got a few bits of it over at HuffPo ("disgusting," "pathetic," "desperate"). Kerry is going to absolutely tear into McCain, it seems.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:53:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Have to get it on CSPAN web broadcast, if I can get it at all.

No one could have predicted

by ATinNM on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:57:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You can probably get it online. That's where I'm getting the coverage I'm watching - I have a TV, but no TV (no cable, no reception - it's good for dvd's)

by MarekNYC on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:12:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The best place to watch the convention is at The 2008 Democratic National Convention official site

They have excellent live HD coverage and you can find the videos of all the speakers.

"Ce qui vient au monde pour ne rien troubler ne mérite ni égards ni patience." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 04:47:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So I was trying to book a flight from Sydney to Singapore on Singapore air this evening.

I looked through the flight times which included equipment type.

B747-400
B777
A380

Wait...A 380!! Hell yeah! Super jumbo jet time!! Gimmie!

So I enter my billing info, and the site bombs while trying to charge my credit card. Now I seem to be IP banned. Damn it, this is the back end of the aviation age, I want my uber-jumbo jet flight before it's too late! I'll try again tomorrow at work.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 at 08:28:59 PM EST

Watching Bill after Hillary last night was interesting. Both gave good speeches. Both were well delivererd. Hers was better written as a coherent whole, his less so. But the guy's a natural, you could tell the difference between someone who has learned how to speak well, and someone who simply developed his enormous natural talent.

On the substance - I liked it, the comparison of Barack today, and himself in 1992 was, I think, particularly effective by reminding everyone that he also was accused of being too young and inexperienced. It was also interesting (and impressive) to see how he managed to seamlessly blend the self-serving with the Obama support by talking up his presidency, contrasting them with the godawfulness of the past seven and a half years, and presenting an Obama presidency as a return to the good years (that 'long nightmare of peace and prosperity' that The Onion famously declared to be over at the start of 2001).

by MarekNYC on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 12:13:59 AM EST