A sad note, there was a slide show of Texas deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. It went on forever, could have been even longer than the long opening prayer. The music that was going to play over the speakers had problems so they turned it off. Several times songs were started up from the floor - Battle Hymn of the Republic "My eyes had seen the glory" but I think no song, not even Ani Difranco's anti-Bush "Self- Evident" would have lasted long enough.
"My father always told me to vote and to always vote Democratic. If I didn't I had no right to bitch when they screwed us." That may have been from a Rosa Walker, my notes aren't clear.
Senator Edwards gave a great speech. Even before he spoke there seemed a vast preponderance of sentiment for him to be the Democratic VP candidate. I had also seen him before in a small meeting. Very good speaker, very personable, JFK charisma, and he would attract moderate voters in swing states.
Representative Kucinich also gave a great speech. For the vast majority of Democrats at the convention his speech was even more rousing than Edward's was, which was hard to believe considering the tremendous reception and many standing ovations for Edwards. Of course, Kucinich spoke to our patriotic and idealistic ideals, not to our practical and electable sides. I feel Kucinich is correct but not practical until we move the country back to the middle. He is getting much support for next time. I don't see how anyone should be a Green with Kucinich in our party and the support he has. As the Populists did in the late 1800's the Greens should join the Democrats and work to support universal health care, sane environmental laws and incentives, instant runoff voting, and the other issues which are an urgent and pressing necessity.
"No More War, No More War, No More War."
"With NASA, Houston can be a new center of technology for peace."
The Texas Killer D's were honored and fortunately Turner and other non-supporters like Whitmire didn't speak. There really wasn't a good place on the program for them and their positions were tremendously unpopular on the floor. This was not a divided party, no one supported them giving DeLay that easy of a victory in redistricting.
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