Who gave the best speech of the night tonight?

[Jackson4Gore]

Pick your choice!

[IronLionZion]

1. Does anyone have a clip of Gore's speech?

cause that man would have made a kick ass president! Damn!

[Wonk]

26. RealPlayer video archives here for those who missed it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x11140

[Scorpious_Maximus]

34. Gore Speech

I think MSNBC has clips from all the televised speeches.


Anyone else think Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC is an Annie Coulter Wannabe?

[Jackson4Gore]

54. We now have the video

http://s8.invisionfree.com/Al_Gore_Support/index.php?showtopic=455&view=getnewpost

[cynthia]

51. I thought he showed unbelievable grace

under the circumstances. I loved his digs at how Bush stole the election. I think one of the reasons that he didn't do as well as he should have in 200 is because he uses so many big words. The discrepancy between Gore and * in verbal ability is laughable.

[Prodemsouth]

2. Hillary, the Rev from SC, and Bill all close.

n/t

[never_get_over_it]

3. The Big Dog

is a freaking ROCK STAR!!!!

[zach]

4. wow

the Big Dog without a doubt in my eyes.... Absolutely perfect.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. You should put Rev. Alston in your poll

[Th1onein]

23. I agree. I cried during his speech, too!

eom

[FredScuttle]

41. Amen

I'm thankful I happened to switch over to C-Span in time to hear the Reverend...as mesmerizing as Clinton was, Rev. Alston delivered one of the most rousing, inspirational speeches I've ever heard at a convention. Add the emotional wallop of his service in the swift boat under Kerry and you've got one for the ages. His appearance was incredible.

Preach on, Rev!

[cynthia]

52. I am reading the book about Kerry's years in Vietnam

but the Rev's speech was moving. I was thinking that we were hearing more of it on C-Span, because the delegates were cheering so much that I'll bet they were drowning him out.

Sometimes the best seats in the house are at home.

[spooked]

63. FOX was showing commercials during Alston's speech!

I thought Rev. Alston's was the *Most Moving* of the night, while Bill Clinton's was the most *Electrifying* and *Unifying* !!

I keep thinking how can they top that tonight!?

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. For me it's a toss up between Al Gore and Jimmy Carter.

Both well done. Heck, they were all well done! :hi:

[jdj]

17. I loved Jimmy Carter.

And then on PBS Lehrer asked him to confirm if he meant to say that there was previous planning to go into Iraq before 9/11, and Carter stated yes, that if you looked at some of the statements members of this admin had made previous to 9/11 that their intent was clear...he didn't mention the PNAC, but he may as well have.

Actually, I like his interview on PBS better than the speech, because he was so strong and did not back down one iota from his positions. He is being so well recieved now because people realize how freaking right he was about everything in the 70's, he was way before his time, and possibly one of the only truly moral presidents we have ever had. My only wish is that he were not 80 years old, I wish he would be around for another 20 or 30 years.

[Walt Starr]

7. I voted Bill Clinton because...

Strength and Wisdom are NOT opposing values.

[Jackson4Gore]

8. Al Gore never gets any love here

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Yes he does! He got it from me...lots of it!

:hi:

[Cleita]

9. I can't vote in this because all of the speeches were outstanding.

I must say Clinton's was the icing though.

[Virginian]

22. I agree.

I couldn't pick one that wasn;t great. It was a truly inspiring evening.

[cynthia]

53. absolutely

Of course having Bill Clinton's last was like the grand finale of a fireworks show. It was an impressive night with many great speakers. Bill topped it all off beautifully. He is such a gifted orator.

[scarletwoman]

10. I can't choose -- I don't WANT to choose!

So many absolutely AWESOME speeches! Carter blew me away! Big Dawg TOTALLY laid it on the line! Gore and Hillary rocked! The swift boat guy was totally inspiring!

I think each and every one was BRILLIANT! I'm PUMPED! :bounce:

sw

[lottie244]

11. Carter gave the best but Clinton was great. Different speeches for

different reasons. First off, Carter as Nobel, humanitarian could easily bash Bush and not have to back down. Clinton was perfect to explain to the dittoheads exactly what Bush is doing to them and to teach the idiots about what is facing them.

[AngryAmish]

12. Ric Flair

But he always does.

[WindRavenX]

14. it's not even a contest- Bill Clinton gave one of the best speeches...

Seriously. Slame dunk.

[Endangered Specie]

18. 3 2-run homers, and a grand slam

[union_maid]

15. Gore, Alston and Clinton

I missed Carter, unfortunately. Loved the reverend, Gore was excellent and Bill Clinton was transcendent.

[Spiffarino]

38. If you can get a link to it, listen to Carter.

He's 80 years old now and a little hard to understand at first, but his words are just as strong and true as always. He hit every one of his points out of the park. It made me really miss his courage and candor as president.

[Guaranteed]

16. I missed Gore's speech...if someone has a link,

I'd love to see it.

[NightTrain]

19. Gore runs a close second, but I had to go with Bill.

That's man gift for oratory is TRULY "talent on loan from God!"

[cmf]

20. Best. Speech. Ever.

That's what Bill Clinton gave tonight. The other speeches were awesome, but Bill just stepped up to the plate with that one.

[cmf]

21. Dupe n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. Bill Rocked the house,

the party, the WORLD tonight! The entire WORLD heard that speech. He not only gave US hope, He also gave hope to our former allies. and the rest of the World.

[LWolf]

25. Toss-up.

Clinton/Gore.

I can't choose between them.

[mellowinman]

27. There is no contest.

Clinton was on fire.

Everyone else was great though.

Carter was particularly good.

[Beloved Citizen]

28. My vote went to Clinton...

...but Jimmy Carter kicked some serious Bush ass.

[markses]

29. I have to say that I dislike Bill Clinton, BUT

He just gave one of the best political speeches of the last 30 years.

Seriously. It will be studied by rhetoricians. It was a beautiful speech.

[Spangle]

30. Carter

He pointed out things that I had been saying and worring about. But our politicians in DC have not been talking about. His speach maded me feel like that "they" understand and are worried about those issue too.

Carters speach wasn't "veted." And is said to be the most "anti-bush" speach to be stated at the convention. But I don't see it as "anti-bush". I see it talking about some serious issues that Bush has created that MUST BE REALISTICLY DEALT WITH! We the people, need to understand the issues. Carter explained them well.

Everyone who spoke tonight did well.

I missed most of Gores speach. I caught the part where he talked about Clinton and the house went wild. Later in the evening one of the media commented on it and made some sort of rude remark. Basicly, he totaly missed what the Democrats were doing. Showing Gore that what he was doing, is what he should have done 4 years ago! Gore and the rest of them should not have run from Clinton. Yes, Gore mentioned the name Clinton. But it wasn't a "Clinton momment." It was a "Gore and the Democrats" momment. Gore finaly got our message and was letting us know it.

Man, our team ROCKS!

[avenueb]

31. carter

at 81 he gave an awesome speech

[DemBones DemBones]

32. They were all good speeches, but Bill is still the BIG DAWG!

Besides, he's an established star so of course he can do no wrong among us Dem faithful!

Good move to have him on tonight, far from the speeches by John Edwards and John Kerry. I'm sure they'll both give great speeches but seeing Clinton makes us all remember the good old days. He could probably give a lousy speech (assuming that were possible) and we'd love it.

Edwards and Kerry need to have the spotlight on them after this. But damn, Bill was good, wasn't he?!

[LTR]

33. I thought Gore would be a tough act to follow

But Clinton nailed it!

[BayouBengal07]

35. Clinton's speech was great

I noticed earlier in the day that al-Jazeera was reporting from the convention; I hope they get all those speeches over there to show we aren't all like Bush and his war-hard on cronies.

[Morning Dew]

39. Gore WAS tough to follow -

I felt so sad after his fantastic speech... sad that we've not had him as our President these last (nearly) 4 years ... things would be so much better than this train wreck we've had under shrub.

That said, I can't vote on who gave the best speech tonight. Our guys are great. What a helluva team we have.

[tilsammans]

36. It's a great night to be a Democrat!

Let's hope we can "Kerry" the momentum!

:kick:

[OneBlueSky]

37. Bill Clinton gave a perfect speech for the occasion . . .

he managed to draw the line between us and them clearly and concisely, in a way that everyone can understand . . . noting that a vote for Bush puts money in Clinton's pocket must have exploded more than a few freeper heads tonight . . . the man is an oratorical genius . . . and he makes it look so easy . . .

again, Clinton's speech was absolutely perfect . . . the best I've ever seen, with the exception of King's "I Have A Dream" . . .

[Athame]

47. Also acknowledging that among those who avoided Vietnam

he included himself, in contrast to Kerry. Absolutely brilliant!

The same self-mocking jabs about character and charisma in John Edwards, but what Edwards did with his talents...

He is truly a master. I am glad he is on our side.

[wabeewoman]

40. I have to say Carter

I loved Bill Clinton's speech but Carter's was extraordinary. He is such a world figure and so far beyond partisan politics and yet he gave a very hard hitting speech without ever naming bush. I felt his sincere concern for the future of our country.

[Radical Activist]

42. Bill has still got it

was that a great speech or what? Amazing.

[Scorpious_Maximus]

43. TRANSCRIPTS

Available here.

http://www.dems2004.org/site/pp.asp?c=luI2LaPYG&b=92959

[jobycom]

44. "They need a divided America, but we don't"

That line literally took my breath away. Clinton has a way of summing it all up in the simplest phrases.

Carter is such a beautiful person it's hard for me to judge him. He was overwhelming tonight, but I can't remember ever seeing him when he wasn't.

Gore, Senator Clinton... Damn, it was a good night for southern accents. Real southern accents, at that.

[drdtroit]

45. Clinton dug in at the plate, bases loaded

and crushed it out of the ballpark. All the speeches were fantastic (why do the Democrats always sound so much more intellectual and thoughtful than the GOP?, oh I guess that's rhetorical) but the Bambino laid it out!

Tune in next month when "Mighty Casey" gets his AB. :eyes:

[Bake]

46. JC was fabulous, but the Big Dog, batting cleanup, hit the grand slam!

God bless Jimmy Carter, a true elder statesman whose stature has done nothing but increase. Jimmy loaded the bases.

And then the Big Dog stepped up. The master of oratory. The master of closing the deal. The REAL "Great Communicator." There'll never be another in our lifetimes. Big ol' fast ball down the middle, letter-high. And he hit the GRAND SLAM. He was at ease, he was clear, concise, persuasive, simple, yet eloquent. He was THE MAN!!

If anybody puts aside personal prejudice and just judges IDEAS, our ideas win. Hands down. Especially given the way they were put across tonight. I am happy to be a Democrat!!

Bake

[Warren DeMontague]

48. Carter hit it out of the park, no question.. And Gore ---

was no slouch either. Hillary did an admirable job.

But, again, all you have to do is watch Bill Clinton for 5 minutes, and you understand why he is the political mozart of our time. Watching him give a stump speech is like watching Michael Jordan play basketball, back in his prime.. You're watching someone with such obvious natural gifts.. One wonders, when seeing his grace and ease today, if maybe he wasn't president too soon. At the very least, the mind boggles at what he might have been able to accomplish if he hadn't been forced to spend half his energy fighting off ridiculous attacks from idiotic fundamentalists like Ken Starr and the crazed partisans of the Mellon-Scaife axis.

[psychopomp]

49. The former boat-mate

(Sorry, I forgot his name) and now current minister gave a fine speech and deserves some recognition.

Please help me out with his name?

[psychopomp]

55. The Reverend David Alston

He's from Columbia, South Carolina and is a Vietnam Swiftboat Crewmate of John Kerry's. His speach was powerful!

[psychopomp]

56. Honorable Mention!

:-) :bounce:

[psychopomp]

66. I guess nobody else was as impressed?

:shrug:

[Tiberius]

50. Big Dog by a mile

I was sitting on the couch, trying to be Mr. Tough Guy, but crying... and it's just boggling how much the country has changed in four years, it seems like a million years ago that he was President.

TIVO'd it, I'm going to be watching that speech for a long time.

[Dover]

57. Did anyone else besides me hear a little slurring of words in Carter's

speech? I know he's a bit frail at 80, though he doesn't really look it, but his slurring made me wonder if he might have had a small stroke or some other problem.

[mockmonkey]

58. I had that same thought

But then again maybe he just needed some water. He sounded ok during the interview afterward.

[Disturbed]

59. C-Span

I watched C-Span. There were no dud speeches. Pres. Carter was blistering in his laid back manner and B. Clinton topped everyone. If he were running there is no doubt that the election would be his.

[Bridget Burke]

64. Carter could have been having a denture problem.

That can cause slight slurring.

It's evident that, whatever his physical status, his mind is still 100%.

[NicRic]

60. President Clinton ,simply the best !

.

[SarahB]

61. Bill Clinton

Close second by David Alston because his words were completely from the heart and he was able to give insight into John Kerry's character that will serve to help him in powerful ways. His speech didn't carry the political clout of the Big Dog's, but it held power in a more personal way.

[GreenArrow]

62. I'm not a Bill Clinton Fan,

by any means, and have never heard him give a good speech, but last night's was really quite excellent. The contrast with Dubya is breathtaking.

[Gothic Sponge]

68. I'm not a big fan of Bill Clinton .

He was the best republican president we ever had. However, i was blown away by his speech! As much as i disliked his DLC stance, i wanted to vote for him again last night!

[against all enemies]

65. "Strength and wisdom are not opposing values"

How smart people say "Bush is an idiot"

[Zynx]

67. I've never heard a better speech than the one Bill gave.

I've had a number of bad things to say about Bill over the years, but he made up for many of his previous shortcomings with such a fine speech.