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Live Blogging Barack Obama (and Dick Durbin)'s Speech

By Margaret Lyons in News on Aug 29, 2008 1:54AM

8:53 ML: OK, we're gearing up in these parts, watching some goofy dancing and getting excited for Senator Dick Durban. Tonight, we'll have me (ML) and Marcus (MG) bloggin' up a storm. Join us, won't you?

8:56 ML: This sounds like the Oscar announcements so far. I remember watching Barack Obama's speech in my first post-collegiate apartment four years ago, and it's pretty exciting to be doing this—this way—tonight. Lincoln reference!

8:57 MG: Durbin makes a Lincoln reference and our first of many mentions of the word "change"

8:58 ML: I...eat cold pizza and sleep on the floor with astonishing regularity.

9:00 ML: Wait...didn't Obama vote for FISA? I'll buy this "privacy" rhetoric one of these days....

9:00 ML: Yes we can! When I hear "yes, we can," I think of a 2002 Disney Channel movie called Gotta Kick It Up!, which included the refrain "Sí, se puede--it means 'yes, I can!'" Anyway, that movie's pretty good.

9:01 MG: "A new generation"— Durbin is pressing the youth movement

9:02 MG: The pre-speech video is smart enough to holla back to his 2004 DNC speech that put him on the national political map

9:03 ML: Who's doing the voice over?

9:04 ML: Chicago!!!

9:04 MG The ladies in the room find college Obama hotttt

9:05 MG No Glamour Shots of Michelle yet. And Michelle makes fun of his name! No Hussein reference though.

9:08 ML: I don't know if Obama's getting choked up, but I sure am. And I think I have the same glasses as Barack's grandfather. W00t!


9:06 MG I am taking notes on "how to ask women out" from Barack's approach to Michelle

9:05 ML: Boys, are we listening? Giving rousing speeches about the state of the world = sexaaaaay. So true.

9:10 ML and MG: We think it's David Strathairn doing the narration. Good night and good luck to you, sir!

9:11 MG: This video has better production value than half the movies I've seen this year.

9:12 ML: What the eff song is this? Here we go!

9:12 MG: Invesco Field collectively shits itself as Obama takes the stage

9:13 MG Denver hasn't had this much to cheer about since the days of John Elway.

9:13 ML: I sort of wish he'd do a lap, Stephen Colbert style.

9:14 MG: We've lost count of the number of times he's said Thank You.

9:14 MG: Barack accepts the nomination! Man, we were worried he wouldn't do it for a minute!

9:15 ML: The first vote I ever cast in my life was for Hillary Clinton. I was really proud that day.

9:15 MG: Aaaaaaaand he gives props to the Clintons. If I didn't know better, I'd say one of them was getting nominated based on the media coverage

9:16 ML: Are we all feeling the Joementum? Also, my heart just exploded--"to the love of my life." Those are some damn cute kids. And it was apparently a U2 song.

9:19 ML: Spoiler alert! Here's the text of the speech.

9:19 MG: "merica, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this. " Good line.

9:20 MG: "We are more compassionate than a government...that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes. " Goddamn right. Glad somone remembers.

9:21 ML: Is that "eight is enough" chanting? I think.

9:21 MG: One thing we've learned this week is that democrats suck at call and response.

9:22 ML: That "what does it say about your judgment" line? Zing! Also, "change"--drink!

9:23 ML: Booo on nation of whiners. What's the opposite of "whiner?" Winner? Something? I want a better rhetorical flip on that.

9:25 MG: "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it. " Hitting hard at McCain without being totally negative. Not a bad move.

9:28 ML: Finally found the stupid The American President quote: "We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious men to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, friend, I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it."

9:29 MG: "I remember all those men and women on the South Side of Chicago" SOUTH SIDE REPRESEEEEEEEENT!

9:30 MG: "I don't know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine." OH SNAP!

9:30 ML: Clap clap clap. Tell me about this American promise.

9:31 MG: Harking back to his '04 speech again and so far he's on course to equal that speech.

9:31 ML: Here we go--the good rhetorical/oratorical action. Not this, this; not bad thing; good thing. This is singing like a church sermon.

9:33 MG: For all the hubbub about the stage (The Barackopolis), you can't really tell.

9:34 ML: What exactly is clean coal?

9:35 MG: "America, now is not the time for small plans...And now for my next plan: TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"

9:36 ML: Go teachers! Also, hook me up with that congressional health care, por favor. Mama's uninsured.

9:38 MG: The Obama girls look like they'd rather be at home playing Wii

9:39 ML: This is cool and everything, but... I also would rather be home playing Wii. I'd love to have a Wii.

9:40 MG: He says parents have to be responsible for their children. A novel idea but I doubt those that need to do it most will.

9:40 ML: As far as i know, deadbeat dads love watching political speeches.

9:40 ML: "Temperament" to run the country--dig! McCain's a hot head.

9:41 MG: He underscores his support for the war in Afghanistan. "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell – but he won't even go to the cave where he lives."

9:44 MG: So far, the gist of the speech is - I am the future, McCain is old and the past

9:44 ML: Mrs. Biden is going nuuuuuts. Cute jacket.

9:47 MG: He's hitting his stride. "They have not served a Red America or a Blue America – they have served the United States of America. " Holla!

9:47 ML: This is the good stuff--this patriotism knows no party is going to be the soundbite of this address, and it's hard to argue with that.

9:48 ML: Yay, uterus and gun chat! What are you, reading my diary?

9:48 MG: He's calming down a bit now...getting his third wind for the grand finale.

9:49 ML: Except Barack Obama isn't in favor of same-sex marriage. Civil unions are great--but that's not the same. That's why they're called different things.

9:51 ML: When I saw Obama's speech at UIC a few years ago, he said he was part of a movement--and wanted to "walk with" us. I didn't buy it then, but I buy it a lot more now. Sort of. This Kool-aid is delicious.

9:51 MG: He's focusing on his outsider status. I'm expecting him to yell "GO SOX, FTW!"

9:52 MG: "Change" is said something like 5 times in 30 seconds. We're hammered.

9:54 MG: He's mentioned 'hurricanes' twice, which is two more times than McCain will next week.

9:55 MG: He references MLK as he hits his stride for the home stretch

9:56 ML: Here's the preacher action. I love a good sermon, and here comes the crest. That line from scripture is from Hebrews 10:23. And this song is "There Ain't Nothing About You" by Brooks & Dunn.

9:58 MG: The Obamas strut down the runway for a well-deserved victory lap.

OK, time to talk to Marcus's mom about what she thought!

10:00 ML: Mama Gilmer, coming at us from Alabama, approves. "I think he did a fantastic job. I loved it. And I don't see what the big deal about his set is." Mama Gilmer has a crush on Obama.