From the Ridiculous to the Sublime: Day 1 of the Democratic Convention

 “Bernie or Bust” people? I am freaking disgusted with you. I’m done tap dancing around this. You’re acting like idiots who have disconnected your brains from your spines. And yes, Sarah Silverman is being too polite by a long shot when she informs you that you’re being ridiculous.

I’m so done with people who have their heads up their butts. You got to the front of the line at the ice cream truck and guess what? They don’t have Orange Dreamsicle. Orange Dreamsicle went home because it didn’t get enough votes in the primary. Your choices now are Strawberry and dog poop. Stop crying and get over it.

Give me a sec. It’s morning in America and Michelle Obama is waking up to watch her girls play on the White House lawn, but I’m still frothing at the mouth over the three nincompoops MSNBC found at
the Democratic Convention last night who asserted that they would never vote for Hillary. She’s a liar and a crook, one of them says without any proof of what she’s accusing Clinton of. I just don’t trust her, says another one.

And to the mainstream media — I’m looking at you, Andrea Mitchell, who should know better–stop asking if Hillary is “likable.”  This isn’t an election for Prom Queen, you’re not voting for “Miss Congeniality,” you’re not looking for a hook-up on Tinder. We are electing the President of the United States.  I don’t care if she’s likable, I care if she can get the job done.  Frankly, it may make her more effective to be unlikable.  I don’t need someone who goes on benders with Jeffrey Epstein, and wants to pal around with Vladimir Putin, I want someone who knows how to run a country. Jesus, Mary, Joseph. You people made Barack Obama sputter out “Likable enough” back in 2008 and he lost in New Hampshire. It’s a stupid meaningless question.

“Bernie or Bust” doesn’t “love” Hillary the way they “love” Sanders. “Not in my heart,” she says.  So how’m about you use your head instead, pumpkin? You people are so out of your gourds that you booed you own man. The one you profess to love. Just because he endorsed Hillary. LIKE A SANE PERSON.

Deep Breathing

Okay, I’m going to take a deep breath.  I’m good. I’m good.  Actually, when you get past those idiots, the convention Day 1 was good. Sarah Silverman and Al Franken got things back on track after Bernie’s disaster of a meeting with his “supporters.”Sarah Silverman, God love her, provided the perfect unscripted riposte to the BoB nonsense, and righted the ship.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker went long, but offered a rousing finish to prove that he’s definitely a light in  the party’s future. I love that when Trump jabbed at him with a post speech tweet, Booker responded with, “I’m just gonna keep loving on him. I’m gonna tell the truth about him but I’m going to keep loving on him. That kind of vitriol, that kind of meanness has no place in the presidency.”

 Then there’s Michelle. FLOTUS. “Renaissance” woman and grand slam specialist. Hers is a speech worth plagiarizing. Watch the whole thing if you haven’t already. It’s the best speech of the 2016 election so far.

And when I think about the kind of President that I want for my girls and all our children, that’s what I want. I want someone with the proven strength to persevere. Someone who knows this job and takes it seriously. Someone who understands that the issues a President faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters. Because when you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips and the military in your command, you can’t make snap decisions. You can’t have a thin skin or a tendency to lash out. You need to be steady, and measured, and well-informed.

…

That is the story of this country, the story that has brought me to this stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves and I watch my daughters –- two beautiful, intelligent, black young women –- playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters –- and all our sons and daughters -– now take for granted that a woman can be President of the United States.

I admit I got teary-eyed. I read it again this morning and yes, it is that good. 

Michelle Obama never said Donald Trump’s name during her speech at the convention last night, yet she offered a more effective rebuttal of the Republican nominee and the mantra that animates his campaign than any other Democrat has been able to thus far in 2016.

I love Warren and I respect Sanders–no, I don’t love him and I don’t have to. But Michelle hit it out of the park with a speech that was authentic, heartfelt and moving.

Speaking of Warren, she gave a good speech herself. And Sanders retooled his stump speech for the sake of his followers, but to his credit, he was full throated in his support for Clinton. I’m willing to let him have his victory lap, but now we have to pull it together.

Here’s the upside, before I work myself into a depth over three noodynods again.

Pew asked those consistent Sanders supporters whom they support in the general election. Ninety percent said they back Hillary Clinton.

Let’s hope that’s true.