Vouching for Father

Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry both comported themselves well before the convention and the millions watching at home. Actually, they looked more comfortable speaking than their father did.

I'll give you my take on Kerry's speech late tonight.

Return of the Superfriends

I know nothing about Kerry's speech other than the convention gave the Dems a five-point lead in a Zogby poll. On the more interesting Iowa Electronic Markets Bush and Kerry are virtually dead even in the Presidential Vote Share Market, and Bush took back the lead in the Winner Takes All Market. There's no big convention bounce in the markets, but they might not react the same way to conventions as polls do. We'd need to look at how the markets reacted in previous elections.

What did catch my eye was this picture of the Kerry Edwards team.

"Zogby Poll Shows Democratic Ticket Up 5 Points"

Feet to the Fire

Here's more proof that what's happening outside the Fleet Center is more interesting than what's happening inside:

The next day, the pantomime Gongsters are gone from Copley Square. In their place are shoes--thousands and thousands of shoes. Multitudes of boots are arranged carefully on the lawn, with a sign explaining, "These 907 pairs of boots represent the U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq war." Then there's a sloppy pile of shoes with another sign: "These 1,000 pairs of shoes represent a small fraction of the estimated 16,000 Iraqis killed in the war."

There are no million shoes for Saddam Hussein's Iraqi, Iranian and Kuwaiti victims; only his American victims seem to matter, and only those Iraqis killed in connection with a U.S. military intervention. Come to think of it, there also are no 3,000 pairs of shoes for those who died at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon--even though the group sponsoring this display styles itself Sept. 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.

We approach a middle-aged man of ample girth, who seems to be in charge. "How many shoes do you have for Saddam Hussein's victims?" we ask.

He stands silent, facing us. He seems to be staring us down, but we have no way of knowing for sure, as he's wearing sunglasses, even though the day is overcast. Finally, after perhaps 15 seconds, he breaks the silence:

"Shame on you," he says.

He explains that his group has simply chosen--arbitrarily, if we understand him correctly--to highlight the U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in the liberation. He offers an analogy: "There are books that are written about one thing, there are books that are written about other things."

We persist: Saddam's victims don't count unless they're American?

"Somebody else is dealing with that."

We point to the shoes representing the fallen soldiers: "Yeah, these guys are dealing with that."

Whereupon he says: "It saddens me deeply to see the anger in your face." And we suppose he has a point. We are ticked off at just that moment. There's something especially despicable about those who exploit the memories of American soldiers to further the false claim that they died for an unjust cause.

[via Hoystory]

Follow the Bouncing Poll Number

Well, well, well. Kerry Edwards is subdued about the effect of the convention on the polls.

Former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen told the group that her daughter graduated from USC Law School and that her son-in-law had been stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter. She thanked the delegation for the state’s hospitality to her kin.

Then she gave them a little downer and told them not to fret about it.

“We do not expect a huge bounce coming out of this convention,” she said, speaking of the lift in the polls parties typically enjoy after they hold these pre-election meetings.

"Former S.C. Gov. Jim Hodges Addresses DNC in Boston" [via Jeff Quinton]

Edwards' Speech

I wonder what the strongly anti-war delegates thought when hearing these words from Sen. John Edwards:

John understands personally about fighting in a war. And he knows what our brave men and women are going through in another war -- the war in Iraq.

The human cost and extraordinary heroism of this war, it surrounds us. It surrounds us in our cities and towns. And we will win this war because of the strength and courage of our own people.

and how about these words:

We will double our Special Forces, and invest in the new equipment and technologies so that our military remains the best equipped and best trained in the world. This will make our military stronger so we're able to defeat every enemy in this new world.

Kerry Edwards' foreign policy plan is whimsical. John-John assumes everything will be hunky-dory with France et al if Bush is booted. What makes them think the strong anti-war constituencies of those foreign lands will accept further involvement? What makes Kerry Edwards think the Iraqi insurgents will stop killing hostages that scare countries away? The U.N. has had plenty of opportunities to expand their Iraq presence. They've shyed away. Maybe those nations that were first opposed to Iraqi intervention would come around and help the U.S. But to assume it will happen is foolishness.

Suppose in the first term of a Kerry Edwards administration it was found Iran had a factory making nuclear weapons. Then suppose that even with all Kerry Edwards' diplomatic skills, France et al turned their heads and said, "Send in the inspectors"? Would a Kerry Edwards administration defy the will of the world and "unilaterally" (probably with Great Britain's help) attack? We have no idea, and because of that it shows the Democratic ticket isn't serious about defending America.

Chad Evans and James Joyner both comment on the speech. Steven Taylor writes, "I must say, I tire of this idea that most of us live on the brink of utter ruin." He then pops Edwards' "Two Americas" theme.

UPDATE: I have to link to Deacon's humorous take on the speech. "10:48 If you have stubbed your toe, help is on the way."

Protest Coverage

What's happening outside the Fleet Center is much more interesting than what's going on inside. Andy Carvin's coverage (with audio and pictures) of an anti-war rally tops everything I've read from the credentialed webloggers so far.

"Speeches, Songs and Arguments at Copley Square"