Hillary rocks the convention!

Okay, quick -- which band covered You Really Got Me that started off Hillary's introduction video? I don't know -- didn't sound like Van Halen -- and it is driving me nuts! Regular readers may well guess that I was up and screaming when I heard that Kinks riff!

Green collar jobs are very much on the minds of Democrats across the country. Ohio has got to kick it in gear and get with the greening process, because if we don't, every alternative energy project we want to do will have to look for workers outside the state. We need technical and engineering training in support of the green economy. Kathleen Sebelius referred to her state's motto "ad Astra per Aspera" -- to the stars with difficulty -- as how we must view our movement forward to energy efficiency. I hope the Dems stick with this message and that the American public is finally ready to put our best brains and effort into a sustainable future.

What a grand night for the Democrats! From an impressive display of Democratic women senators and governors to working class people who had obviously never spoken into a microphone before and then the lively and fun governor of Montana who got the crowd really focused and ready for Hillary's speech.

And what a speech it was! She gave everybody their due, and provided the Obama campaign with great footage for countless commercials. Fabulous lines skewering the Republicans and igniting everybody who wants to see this country move toward health and happiness and away from terror alerts and bankruptcy. She had me in tears at many parts of the speech. As a woman, I could not help be moved deeply by her efforts and her accomplishments on behalf of those of us who still are making only 77 cents for every dollar that men make. I think that figure has stayed the same all of my adult life.

Thanks Hillary! Go Obama! You both "Really Got Me!"

Dems convene in my living room on CSpan

I figured out quickly that the best view of the convention was the one unadorned by punditry and available only on CSpan. I got to listen to every speech without interruptions and make up my own mind about what was said. If you didn't hear Jesse Jackson Jr's speech, you weren't watching CSpan.

There were plenty of other interesting voices on display, including a moderate Republican former Representative Jim Leach, who although looking typically Republican in appearance, came across as a man of principle. I cannot help but think that a country with more moderate and liberal Republicans would be better for us all, regardless of party affiliation.

The big speeches tonight were total tear-duct opening events. Ted Kennedy's speech with his big rousing words drowned out all the pettiness (from pundits mostly) and set the convention floor on fire. At home, I was cheering so loud, I startled the faithful huskador retriever out of his deep sleep. I hope he is indeed on the senate floor next January, ready to turn us all toward the notion that yes, health care for all should be a basic human right.

Michelle Obama was utterly delightful and such a splendid image of strength, intellect and caring. Loved the kids, the brother, the mother. Splendid people, these new millennium Democrats!

I had MSNBC on prior to the start of the evening and tuned back over after the final speech to see if the pundits had stopped talking about possible trouble with the Clintons and/or the latest polls. Tom Brokaw is now on my list of people to switch off as soon as I see his arrogant face. The way he spoke to Nancy Pelosi on Meet the Press yesterday was demeaning. He must have caught a bad case of Tim Russertitis, as he tried to go for the gotcha on various topics.
Questioning her about off-shore drilling, he refused to hear her very realistic answer in which she bluntly stated that the Dems will use off-shore drilling to reel in Republican votes on clean energy initiatives. Simply because it suited him, Brokaw refused to acknowledge her logic, rather cut her off with a dismissive, "So it sounds like we will have off-shore drilling," and then on to another attack.

I don't put much stock in those NBC/MSNBC babblers. They aren't happy unless there is controversy and quite frankly, the Dems look ready to pull together and go for the gold. I know I am ready for that.