Sam Boyd

Obama‘s speech was remarkable, a synthesis of ideas and particular policy proposals. The AP, however, seems to have been watching some other guys talk as Keith Olbermann just pointed out: But instead of dwelling on specifics, he laced the crowning speechof his long campaign with the type of rhetorical flourishes thatRepublicans mock and the attacks […]

Wow, Obama started with some good shots at McCain but he’s now transitioning into a full-blown critique of conservatism as an ideology (full transcript here): “John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you […]

How long do you think they had to search to find a guy named Barney Smith who could say we need to “put Barney Smith ahead of Smith Barney.” And the crowd loves it — they’re chanting “Barney! Barney!” The whole series of speeches by ordinary folks from swing states about why they like Obama […]

“When we talked about an open convention this is what Democrats meant.” — A nice way to push back against the idea that the fact that a bunch of people want to see Obama talk suggests he’s somehow suspect. Other than that it’s a largely unremarkable introduction for a series of speeches by people hurt […]

Gore‘s speech did a nice job of making the case that Obama‘s experience is actually just what is needed in the country right now. It’s a rare example in this campaign of a Democrat trying to turn a weakness into a strength — mostly the speeches have, like they did in 2004, focused on Obama’s […]

Maybe simply ignoring Obama and ripping McCain was the best approach. After all, her hardest core supporters probably aren’t going to be convinced that Obama is awesome. And, as an anti-McCain speech, it was great. Plus on purely aesthetic grounds, it was the best speech I’ve ever seen her give. –Sam Boyd

It’s pretty strong, and that’s good for Democrats. But without a strong pro-Obama message it reinforces the sense that Obama is the lesser of two evils that dominates her speech. Sure, that’s probably what she thinks, but it hardly seems like the best job she could have done to convince her strongest supporters. –Sam Boyd

Clinton asks her supporters: “Were you in this campaign just for me” or for “all the people in this country who feel invisible?” It’s a good line, but it needs to be followed by a case for Barack Obama. “We need a Democrat” is a weak case, and I can’t imagine it’ll do anything but […]

Most of this speech could have been given a year ago. It has nods to Obama, but it’s almost entirely about her. It’s not an attack on McCain, it’s not a case for electing Obama, it’s just nostalgia and platitudes. –Sam Boyd

Call me crazy, but shouldn’t it be bigger news that four people may have been planning on assassinating Barack Obama? CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot to kill Barack Obama at his Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver. All are being held on either […]