Moby
08-27-2008, 05:53 AM
I never give much credit for speeches and there's no way I'd make a voting decision based on speeches because they're written by others and can have little to do with a politicians actual beliefs.
However, Mark Warner made some interesting points. This is just from page 2 of a transcript so feel free to check out the rest. Of course much of the speech is the usual stuff but there are some points I feel are note worthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26text-warner.html?pagewanted=2
He never really asked us to step up. Think about it. If after September 11th there had been a call from the president to get ourselves off foreign oil, so we would no longer be funding the very terrorists who'd just attacked us, every American would have said, "How can I do my part?"
(APPLAUSE)
This administration -- this administration failed to believe in what we can achieve as a nation when all of us work together. John McCain promises more of the same, a plan that would explode the deficit and leave that to our kids, no real strategy to invest in our crumbling infrastructure, and he would continue spending $10 billion a month in Iraq.
I don't know about you, but that's just not right. That's four more years that we just can't afford.
(APPLAUSE)
Barack Obama -- Barack Obama has a different vision and a different plan. Right now, at this critical moment in our history, we have one shot to get it right. And the status quo just won't cut it.
Now, let me tell you, if you think you've seen dramatic changes in the world and technology in the last 10 years, you ain't seen nothing yet. The race is on. And if you watched the Olympics, then you know China's going for the gold.
You know, America has never been afraid of the future, and we shouldn't start now.
(APPLAUSE)
If we choose the right path, if we choose the right path, every one of these challenges is also an opportunity.
Look at energy. If we actually got ourselves off foreign oil, we can start to make our country safer, we'll start to solve global warming, and with the right policies, within 24 months, we'll be building 100-mile-per-gallon plug-in hybrid vehicles right here, with American technology and American workers.
(APPLAUSE)
Look at health care. If we bring down costs and actually cover everyone, not only will America be healthier; we'll be more competitive in the global economy.
Just think about this. In four months, in just four months, we will have an administration that actually believes in science.
(APPLAUSE)
And we can again lead the world in live-saving and life-changing cures.
Think about education. If we recruit a new army of teachers and actually give our schools the resources to meet our highest standards, not only will every child in America be given that fair shot, but the American economy will be given a shot in the arm. And whether they want to be an engineer or an electrician, every kid will be trained for the jobs of the 21st century.
(APPLAUSE)
Or look at America's standing in the world. If we rebuild our military and rebuild our alliances, we can rally the world to defeat terrorism and restore America's leadership.
Now, which candidate -- which candidate understands these opportunities? And which candidate -- which candidate knows that we don't have another four years to waste? Barack Obama.
But Barack Obama also knows this, as well. We need leaders who see our common ground as sacred ground. We need leaders who will appeal to us not as Republicans or Democrats, but first and foremost as Americans.
(APPLAUSE)
You know, I spent 20 years in business. And if you ran a company whose only strategy was to tear down the competition, it wouldn't last very long. So why is this wisdom so hard to find in Washington?
I know we're at the Democratic convention, but if an idea works, it really doesn't matter whether it's got a "D" or an "R" next to it, because this election...
(APPLAUSE)
... this election is not about liberal versus conservative. It's not about left versus right. It's about the future versus the past.
(APPLAUSE)
In this election, at this moment, at this moment in our history, we know what the problems are. We know at this critical juncture we only have one shot to get it right. And we know that these new times demand new thinking.
We believe in success. We believe that everyone should have an opportunity to get ahead. And with that success comes a responsibility to make sure that others can follow.
I think we're blessed to be Americans. But with that blessing -- with that blessing comes an obligation to our neighbors and to our common good.
However, Mark Warner made some interesting points. This is just from page 2 of a transcript so feel free to check out the rest. Of course much of the speech is the usual stuff but there are some points I feel are note worthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26text-warner.html?pagewanted=2
He never really asked us to step up. Think about it. If after September 11th there had been a call from the president to get ourselves off foreign oil, so we would no longer be funding the very terrorists who'd just attacked us, every American would have said, "How can I do my part?"
(APPLAUSE)
This administration -- this administration failed to believe in what we can achieve as a nation when all of us work together. John McCain promises more of the same, a plan that would explode the deficit and leave that to our kids, no real strategy to invest in our crumbling infrastructure, and he would continue spending $10 billion a month in Iraq.
I don't know about you, but that's just not right. That's four more years that we just can't afford.
(APPLAUSE)
Barack Obama -- Barack Obama has a different vision and a different plan. Right now, at this critical moment in our history, we have one shot to get it right. And the status quo just won't cut it.
Now, let me tell you, if you think you've seen dramatic changes in the world and technology in the last 10 years, you ain't seen nothing yet. The race is on. And if you watched the Olympics, then you know China's going for the gold.
You know, America has never been afraid of the future, and we shouldn't start now.
(APPLAUSE)
If we choose the right path, if we choose the right path, every one of these challenges is also an opportunity.
Look at energy. If we actually got ourselves off foreign oil, we can start to make our country safer, we'll start to solve global warming, and with the right policies, within 24 months, we'll be building 100-mile-per-gallon plug-in hybrid vehicles right here, with American technology and American workers.
(APPLAUSE)
Look at health care. If we bring down costs and actually cover everyone, not only will America be healthier; we'll be more competitive in the global economy.
Just think about this. In four months, in just four months, we will have an administration that actually believes in science.
(APPLAUSE)
And we can again lead the world in live-saving and life-changing cures.
Think about education. If we recruit a new army of teachers and actually give our schools the resources to meet our highest standards, not only will every child in America be given that fair shot, but the American economy will be given a shot in the arm. And whether they want to be an engineer or an electrician, every kid will be trained for the jobs of the 21st century.
(APPLAUSE)
Or look at America's standing in the world. If we rebuild our military and rebuild our alliances, we can rally the world to defeat terrorism and restore America's leadership.
Now, which candidate -- which candidate understands these opportunities? And which candidate -- which candidate knows that we don't have another four years to waste? Barack Obama.
But Barack Obama also knows this, as well. We need leaders who see our common ground as sacred ground. We need leaders who will appeal to us not as Republicans or Democrats, but first and foremost as Americans.
(APPLAUSE)
You know, I spent 20 years in business. And if you ran a company whose only strategy was to tear down the competition, it wouldn't last very long. So why is this wisdom so hard to find in Washington?
I know we're at the Democratic convention, but if an idea works, it really doesn't matter whether it's got a "D" or an "R" next to it, because this election...
(APPLAUSE)
... this election is not about liberal versus conservative. It's not about left versus right. It's about the future versus the past.
(APPLAUSE)
In this election, at this moment, at this moment in our history, we know what the problems are. We know at this critical juncture we only have one shot to get it right. And we know that these new times demand new thinking.
We believe in success. We believe that everyone should have an opportunity to get ahead. And with that success comes a responsibility to make sure that others can follow.
I think we're blessed to be Americans. But with that blessing -- with that blessing comes an obligation to our neighbors and to our common good.