August 28, 2008
Stepping into a Trap (A.B. Stoddard)
What would Martin Luther King Jr. think of the ancient Greek temple replica Barack Obama is set to give his nomination speech from? Invesco Field, the 75,000 people idea, that was bold. It is the 45th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech, but does he have a Charlton Heston fantasy he is living out tonight?
Last night was great — bravo to Bill Clinton for a huge speech on many levels, I didn't think the Big Dog had it in him. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) was smashing, everyone was weeping, and his attack on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) finally filled in the large blank at the Democratic National Convention. I even thought the surprise Obama drive-by to rally the troops was a great touch.
But the Hollywood gimmick planned for tonight sounds really wrong. The expectations about the speech are already a Mile High, as everyone keeps joking. But the set sounds like a trap for a Republican commercial to me — this time I think I can see flashes of Madonna in strange get-ups romping around a similar stage. Come on, admit it, you can too.
We thought that the "Vero Possumus" lesson had been learned. The fake seal was embarrassing, the staffer was fired and the whole incident felt much like looking at a possum, something you don't forget. Just what is going on here?
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK OF THE DEM CONVENTION! Ask A.B. returns tomorrow as we wrap the convention, discuss John McCain's VP pick, and look to the Twin Cities next week. Write to me at askab@thehill.com with your questions and comments. Thank you.
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Obama thinks he was born to save the capitalist sewer hole from itself. He wants to arrive like a godlike creature and be worshipped. In reality, he is creating some atavistic Nazi-like rally that will only highlight his cult of personality orientation.
Comment by Igor R. — August 28, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
A.B.
When the republican did that for Bush in 2004, I didn't hear one word about it fromthe likes of you. Now that Obama and teh dems are going to try it you have a problem. Hypocrite are we?
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 28, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
Unlike Roman emperors before him Obama cannot stage gladiator fights in Roman Coliseum, but given his plans to tax this country into depression, destroy our health care system and create new Democratic voters out of 12 million illegal Mexicans to permanently shift demographic balance in his favor he must do everything he can to deflect attention from media and voters that might otherwise study his proposals. SO, he finds new ways to impress his followers by staging grand entrances, torch marches, huge rallies, etc. Even at the expense of Republican jokes and ridicule, it still brings its benefits because an in-depth examination of what Obama's and Charlie Rangel's vision for this country are frightening.
Otherwise, I have no problems with Obama playing Caesar and holding gladiator and animal games to entertain his Democratic supporters. For example:
Tied up and naked Rep.Kucinnich is lowered into a stadium full of hungry lions as an appetizer early in the morning, for a few quick bites to warm up the crowds thirsty for blood. That brief scene is followed by Senators Larry Craig and former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey in a real knife fight to the death in a portable toilet with video cameras projecting close up images to a large screen, Harry Reid armed with a fully loaded stapler duking it out Nancy Pelosi defending her honor with a stack of appropriation bills, etc.
But folks, before we can begin enjoying these games we must first work our hearts out and elect Barack Hussein Obama as our Caesar.
Comment by MIsha — August 28, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
AB, perhaps you shouldn't have played the "Charlton Heston" card against Obama, seeing as how McCain is going to give his speech with a pyramid as a backdrop.
So, is McCain being nominated for "Pharaoh", will he be carried in atop a plush chair hoisted by slaves, and should we start referring to McCain as "Ramses"?
And since columns seem to rub the Obama-bashers the wrong way, will they immediately insist that the Virginia GOP apologize for their use at their convention earlier this year?
How about the now remodeled White House press briefing room, should we chuck the columns now in place there?
And how about all those federal buildings and courthouses using columns as well, should we immediately tear those buildings down, seeing as how the use of columns, apparently, represent everything the right-wingers are bashing Obama's backdrop for?
Comment by KingCranky — August 28, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
A prediction: The coronation footage at the temple will appear in a future ad further defining the concept of Obama as a self-believer and a hypocrite. If the Republicans have any brains they will take that footage and superimpose Obamas head over a person playing a violin while William Ayres throws bombs in the background and the price of gasoline continues to rise while he fiddles.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — August 28, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
By the way, I don't want to sound curt, but Clinton sounded like a moron, and it's already been determined that Joe Biden is a moron.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — August 28, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
I don't get the references to Greek Temples.
The set looks like EVERY Government building in Washington DC!
Trying to refer to Obama as a Greek God is a Losing strategy.
You are nuts for reading into this too much.
Comment by Arliss — August 28, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
Robert Rosencrans: How bout we make an ad showing John McCain killing someone with Joe Bonano?
Comment by Arliss — August 28, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
KingCranky,
"And how about all those federal buildings and courthouses using columns as well, should we immediately tear those buildings down, seeing as how the use of columns, apparently, represent everything the right-wingers are bashing Obama's backdrop for?"
No, idiot. These columns perform the supporting role in a building designed to last 340-50 years from the structural point of view while presenting a pleasant physical appearance. As slow Obama supporter, you misunderstood that we are talking about the fact that Obama cannot seem to deliver a speech unless it has some special, dramatic backdrop setting. So, for 35-minute speech they spent millions to construct the facade that would be wasted later tonight.
Comment by Misha — August 28, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
Sorry to disappoint you Misha, but I'm not Pro-Obama, I'm anti-McCain.
And seeing as how "Ramses" McCain will be speaking with a pyramid as a "special, dramatic backdrop setting", then the terms "idiot" and "slow" more properly apply to yourself, especially considering how Bush Jr gave his 2004 acceptance speech in front of the same kind of backdrop you're whining about with Obama.
Face it, if McCain could get 75,000 people to attend HIS convention speech, he'd do so in a heartbeat. That he can't draw that large an audience speaks volumes about how genuinely unenthusiastic even his own party is about Ramses McCain's candidacy.
Do try to keep up, it's not THAT difficult.
Well, at least for MOST people it's not.
Comment by KingCranky — August 28, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
In answer to your initial question: The Rev Dr King would be rightfully proud that a man who happens to be black also is a qualified candidate for the presidency. If you were judged on the content of your character you would not measure up.
Comment by pghremodeler — August 28, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
KingCranky,
Why is it necessary to assemble 75,000 people for a political speech in a day of television, Internet live feeds and XM radios? Have you noticed how many more people are on the streets of poor, uneducated neighborhoods as compared to more affluent ones? Did it ever occur to you that those who produce won't have time to attend the speech, while it's OK for those who play basketball all day to take a break?
It does not speak volumes at all, it's just common sense, and those who cannot grasp this simple point are a bit slow in my book. Don't take it personal, please.
Comment by Misha — August 28, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
pghremodeler, if Obama is qualified than anybody who can deliver a speech is as well. There is nothing more to this Marxist community organizer than speaking with soaring rhetoric about how the Democrats will spend other people's money.
Comment by Igor R. — August 29, 2008 @ 12:01 am
It was one of those nights, where many years from now I will remember where I was watching Barack deliver his acceptance speech on TV on 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech and just two days after 88th anniversary of giving our cherished women a right to vote. It was a breathless evening, with my right leg tingling a little from Barack's soaring rhetoric, and I had to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream…
On a second thought, just forget it. So much symbolism, so much nonsense from these Democrats…
Comment by Misha — August 29, 2008 @ 2:59 am
Misha, obviously you don't know a thing about architecture!
Those columns on the buildings in Washington are Facades.
They are about as structurally sound as John McCains campaign… HA!
Comment by Arliss — August 29, 2008 @ 11:42 am
Misha;
Come on and admit it. You liked the speech. Between you and me, I won't tell.
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 29, 2008 @ 12:06 pm