"Hi, this is Comcast calling to confirm your service call. We'll be there between 9:00am and 4:00pm on a day ending in "y", and you must be home. If you thought you can have cable AND a life, we're sorry you made the wrong choice."
I’m in Hawaii and have Spectrum. Maybe it was different out here too. I saw genuine enthusiasm for Kamala mixed in with sincerity, love and extreme appreciation for Joe and how he allowed this moment to happen.
Maybe it’s the Aloha and abundance of sunshine that made me see a different show?
Biden's energy was 110% there; the clarity was 99% there; the edge, the anger (at Trump and MAGA and lies) were there; the pride in a life of service was there; and the excitement for our future was there. All of it. If you had told me that an 81-year-old pilloried for his "frailty" and "mental decline," the Biden of the debate, could deliver that speech as he did, could come anywhere near that level of forcefulness, I'd have told you you were kidding yourself. In those "difficult" circumstances, no less. But isn't the mark of a great speech precisely that it transcends such circumstances and rises above the awkwardness? It was, imho, a speech and a night for the ages, and that's not hyperbole.
Too much is made, by the calculators and scorekeepers, of primetime, camera angles, who goes first and who goes last (which reminds me of the gentleman and scholar who physically shoved aside the president of some shithole country so he could get to the front of the group for their photo-op). Unless you have some reliable inside info that Team Biden was "annoyed" and the whole thing a phony show, I'd go light on that theory and just take in the vibe of a remarkable night for the celebration it was and was meant to be. Not every punchbowl needs a turd in it.
This is a media invention. The first night of the Democratic convention was spectacular. I’d be pissed if I was a Republican that Trump was still my candidate lol.
Couldn’t agree more! What the hell was Cillizza watching? He couldn’t be more tone deaf if he tried.
The love in that room for Joe was OBVIOUS, the looks that Biden gave his family and the crowd, the warm-up by Dr. Jill and Ashley was warm and heartfelt, the chemistry between Joe and Kamala onstage at the end. It was a PERFECT send off.
I don’t know what Chris’s emotional sensibilities are, but he read *way* more into that night than was there.
Does Joe still hurt from how this all went down? I don’t have any inside track to knowing that (and absolutely NEITHER does Chris), but I would imagine he does. It would be hard to imagine *not* still hurting. But was ANY of that in evidence last night? Not that I could see.
To reiterate what the crowd chanted, continually interrupting him speak, “Thank you, Joe!”
I didn't see any awkwardness. The speeches and energy were off the charts. The length of the night was unfortunate, but that's what happens when people clap too much. Your texts must be influencing your version of the night. Those of us who didn't get the texts seem to have had a completely different experience, even with the long evening. I also wasn't paying attention to X, where people apparently were throwing fits about the lateness of Biden's speech. Years from now, no one will remember when he started speaking.
This Canadian couldn't keep her eyes from constantly leaking! I thought the handoff was done as well as could be expected. Joe deserved the chance to talk about his career and his accomplishments. His legacy needs to be cemented by a Dem victory (landslide would be nice). Now on to the future!
I usually agree with you, to some extent. I always enjoy reading and watching you.
But I think you are entirely wrong today. I think they managed tribute and handoff well. I think the number of union speakers showed that the east coast was not even the primary target audience.
Hillary was brilliant. Joe gave one of the best political speeches I’ve seen. It was a tremendous capstone and kickoff, and I suspect you had to scramble for that criticism.
It's true that reasonable people can disagree, but I think respectfully think that you missed the boat on this one. Ok, I agree that it wasn't great that he started late, but I didn't see any evidence of awkwardness, as he was appropriately celebrated and honored and she was endorsed enthusiastically and without reservation. How much better it could have possibly gone? And the earlier speakers (AOC, Hillary Clinton, Jamie Raskin, Bashear, the women who suffered because the abortion bans) could not have been more powerful. The fixation (note use of your old brand!) on how the Biden inner circle may be feeling misses the main point, which is that the first day of the convention was a great success for the party.
Chris, I think you're just disappointed that the first night went so well. Nothing was awkward there , except may be in your imagination. Did you miss all the "Thank you Joe" chants? And did you miss what I consider to be the qoute of the night by Biden: "I love the job but I love my Country more". Can the cult leader honestly say that? Well, it's considered a successful night by those that matter most. Nothing awkward there
Are you, in fact, reasonable? Can we reason with you, simply ask you to watch without preconceptions? Do you see the enthusiasm? The great lineup of speakers? The terrifying segment featuring ladies who dealt with tragic pregnancies? Steve Kerr? Biden's own great speech? Ocasio-Cortez?
How 'bout 'Thank you Joe! Thank you Joe!'
How 'bout Walz' kids doing the bunny ears behind him?
Yes, Chris was not being “reasonable” at all, just trying to gin up drama where NONE existed. All I’ll say is that the WaPo and CNN in Chris is on full display with this column: always find something for clickbait and sub money.
Chris, sincerely, stop acting like the dying media and think harder before you write/speak. You’re better than this.
No, it wasn't "awkward." It was great. I am close to 70 years old, a former Democrat now Independent, and I have never seen so much coalescence around the realization of purpose to preserve our democracy. There was joy, excitement, pride, and plenty of pathos on display last night. So just stop it with the petty critiques, already. And say it loud: We cannot go back. Donald Trump and his weird little sidekick, along with their bizarre plan 2025, are a disaster.
Whether Biden was upset or not, is irrelevant. It’s a nothing-burger with a side of “who cares? BTW: Absolutely No one! Unless you’re the Orange bloviator and his media moronic minions, of course. Obviously, it appears you need to create an issue that doesn’t exist, just to fill a newsletter.
That said, even if you’re right, Joe blew it during the debate. His team hid his cognitive decline from us, and whether he likes it or not, his legacy is tied to a Harris win. So he can ultimately eat crow if he doesn’t like it. We’ve moved on!
Furthermore, I watched the debate, and outside of possibly Biden, and a few protesters, everyone is on the same page with one goal in mind; defeat Trump at all costs, and have fun doing it! So MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Other than that, I think the convention Day One was a complete success, devoid of any drama that could potentially derail Harris’s campaign: End of Story!….:)
It was far more important now to move on, stop hassling about POTUS “sulking” about being forced from the race. He did so with honour and grace. Maybe it is time to start pushing Trump out of the race; cant understand how he gets away with his behaviour for so long. Read 2025, and you will see where we are heading with Trump in command!
Yes, the timing could have been significantly tightened, with Biden appearing earlier. And, yes, conventions are about as good as the award shows when it comes to staying on time. But, it was still Prime Time in much of the country when Biden finally hit the stage, and the early sleepers can always stream it this morning.
Final verdict: No harm, no foul, (and most important), no screw-ups.
The fact that we’re talking about the timing of his speech - and not something that Biden said or did during the speech - is a huge bullet dodged by the Harris/Walz campaign. The result could have been much much worse…
I see your points, I don't 100% agree, but thats ok. This newsletter / blog / site has been a great place to have discussion and that is the point right? We talk, we have different points of view, we bring out ideas, etc. The thing with Joe Biden now is that I am sort of forgetting about him, which is odd considering he is the current sitting President. The excitement and relief about Kamala and her poll numbers have sort of overshadowed everything else. It is very odd that the sitting President was relegated to almost the last slot on the first night, regardless of delay. I would have loved to see him do the closing night speech that leads to Kamala's big speech. Felt like they tried to cram way too much in. Also, can we talk about how amazing Hillary was?
Interested, however, in your take on Biden’s speech overall?
To me, he should have kept it to 20 minutes or less. He was sharper in the first 20 minutes, and then started to have an increasing number of teleprompter flubs, reminding everyone why it is better he is not the candidate this November. His shouting style, throughout, was also hard to listen to - fine if used to emphasize a point here or there - off putting if shouting nonstop. I thought the content, overall, was good. The delivery was challenging, and as I said above, despite how consequential he has been as President, it is sooo good he ultimately chose to step aside. And I say that as a person who defended Joe’s candidacy until The Debate.
I respect Chris' impartiality and he certainly likes to remind us that Biden was pushed out, but it was clearly the right decision for the party (and hopefully for the country). Even Chris admits that Biden was going to lose, potentially in a landslide and possibly taking some down-ballot candidates down with him. It was a shrewd political move by Pelosi, Schumer, Obama and others, but it's kind of old news at this point...just like Trump's felony convictions aren't talked about much anymore either. Should we just forget those?
Yes. The news cycle has moved on. So should Chris. Biden did a great job, handling his departure with class and grace. Of course there is a private story of whatever his thoughts and feelings about stepping back might be. Those are his to have, not ours to share.
I need to get my cable connection checked ASAP.
Maybe it was fallout from the storms on Sunday night.
Or maybe the phases of the moon got in the way.
Obviously my TV was showing a totally different show last night than they were showing in VA.
I saw joy, enthusiasm, excitement, a unified and solid message.
I'm calling Comcast right now. And sending them to Chris's house.
"Hi, this is Comcast calling to confirm your service call. We'll be there between 9:00am and 4:00pm on a day ending in "y", and you must be home. If you thought you can have cable AND a life, we're sorry you made the wrong choice."
so damn true. Oh, and reset your box first cause we are certain it is your fault, not ours.
It has to be a Comcast issue. I’m in VA, but have Cox, and I think I saw the same show you did.
Me, too! I'm in Richmond and watched on Fios.
I’m in Hawaii and have Spectrum. Maybe it was different out here too. I saw genuine enthusiasm for Kamala mixed in with sincerity, love and extreme appreciation for Joe and how he allowed this moment to happen.
Maybe it’s the Aloha and abundance of sunshine that made me see a different show?
Hmm, I'm seeing a trend here.
We've got Comcast and here's what we saw:
Biden's energy was 110% there; the clarity was 99% there; the edge, the anger (at Trump and MAGA and lies) were there; the pride in a life of service was there; and the excitement for our future was there. All of it. If you had told me that an 81-year-old pilloried for his "frailty" and "mental decline," the Biden of the debate, could deliver that speech as he did, could come anywhere near that level of forcefulness, I'd have told you you were kidding yourself. In those "difficult" circumstances, no less. But isn't the mark of a great speech precisely that it transcends such circumstances and rises above the awkwardness? It was, imho, a speech and a night for the ages, and that's not hyperbole.
Too much is made, by the calculators and scorekeepers, of primetime, camera angles, who goes first and who goes last (which reminds me of the gentleman and scholar who physically shoved aside the president of some shithole country so he could get to the front of the group for their photo-op). Unless you have some reliable inside info that Team Biden was "annoyed" and the whole thing a phony show, I'd go light on that theory and just take in the vibe of a remarkable night for the celebration it was and was meant to be. Not every punchbowl needs a turd in it.
Me too!!
sarcasm alert
This is a media invention. The first night of the Democratic convention was spectacular. I’d be pissed if I was a Republican that Trump was still my candidate lol.
And then there was DonOld trump standing in front of those totally bored biz execs in PA rambling on about nothing.
Couldn’t agree more! What the hell was Cillizza watching? He couldn’t be more tone deaf if he tried.
The love in that room for Joe was OBVIOUS, the looks that Biden gave his family and the crowd, the warm-up by Dr. Jill and Ashley was warm and heartfelt, the chemistry between Joe and Kamala onstage at the end. It was a PERFECT send off.
I don’t know what Chris’s emotional sensibilities are, but he read *way* more into that night than was there.
Does Joe still hurt from how this all went down? I don’t have any inside track to knowing that (and absolutely NEITHER does Chris), but I would imagine he does. It would be hard to imagine *not* still hurting. But was ANY of that in evidence last night? Not that I could see.
To reiterate what the crowd chanted, continually interrupting him speak, “Thank you, Joe!”
I didn't see any awkwardness. The speeches and energy were off the charts. The length of the night was unfortunate, but that's what happens when people clap too much. Your texts must be influencing your version of the night. Those of us who didn't get the texts seem to have had a completely different experience, even with the long evening. I also wasn't paying attention to X, where people apparently were throwing fits about the lateness of Biden's speech. Years from now, no one will remember when he started speaking.
Agreed 💯
This Canadian couldn't keep her eyes from constantly leaking! I thought the handoff was done as well as could be expected. Joe deserved the chance to talk about his career and his accomplishments. His legacy needs to be cemented by a Dem victory (landslide would be nice). Now on to the future!
I usually agree with you, to some extent. I always enjoy reading and watching you.
But I think you are entirely wrong today. I think they managed tribute and handoff well. I think the number of union speakers showed that the east coast was not even the primary target audience.
Hillary was brilliant. Joe gave one of the best political speeches I’ve seen. It was a tremendous capstone and kickoff, and I suspect you had to scramble for that criticism.
We’ll try again tomorrow. :-)
Oh, and watching from Denver, it was 9:30… and that’s not yet past my bedtime.
💯
What crap… it was great the way they handled it
Reasonable people can disagree!
It's true that reasonable people can disagree, but I think respectfully think that you missed the boat on this one. Ok, I agree that it wasn't great that he started late, but I didn't see any evidence of awkwardness, as he was appropriately celebrated and honored and she was endorsed enthusiastically and without reservation. How much better it could have possibly gone? And the earlier speakers (AOC, Hillary Clinton, Jamie Raskin, Bashear, the women who suffered because the abortion bans) could not have been more powerful. The fixation (note use of your old brand!) on how the Biden inner circle may be feeling misses the main point, which is that the first day of the convention was a great success for the party.
Agreed 💯
Chris, I think you're just disappointed that the first night went so well. Nothing was awkward there , except may be in your imagination. Did you miss all the "Thank you Joe" chants? And did you miss what I consider to be the qoute of the night by Biden: "I love the job but I love my Country more". Can the cult leader honestly say that? Well, it's considered a successful night by those that matter most. Nothing awkward there
Are you, in fact, reasonable? Can we reason with you, simply ask you to watch without preconceptions? Do you see the enthusiasm? The great lineup of speakers? The terrifying segment featuring ladies who dealt with tragic pregnancies? Steve Kerr? Biden's own great speech? Ocasio-Cortez?
How 'bout 'Thank you Joe! Thank you Joe!'
How 'bout Walz' kids doing the bunny ears behind him?
Yes, Chris was not being “reasonable” at all, just trying to gin up drama where NONE existed. All I’ll say is that the WaPo and CNN in Chris is on full display with this column: always find something for clickbait and sub money.
Chris, sincerely, stop acting like the dying media and think harder before you write/speak. You’re better than this.
No, it wasn't "awkward." It was great. I am close to 70 years old, a former Democrat now Independent, and I have never seen so much coalescence around the realization of purpose to preserve our democracy. There was joy, excitement, pride, and plenty of pathos on display last night. So just stop it with the petty critiques, already. And say it loud: We cannot go back. Donald Trump and his weird little sidekick, along with their bizarre plan 2025, are a disaster.
Agreed 💯
Chris,
Whether Biden was upset or not, is irrelevant. It’s a nothing-burger with a side of “who cares? BTW: Absolutely No one! Unless you’re the Orange bloviator and his media moronic minions, of course. Obviously, it appears you need to create an issue that doesn’t exist, just to fill a newsletter.
That said, even if you’re right, Joe blew it during the debate. His team hid his cognitive decline from us, and whether he likes it or not, his legacy is tied to a Harris win. So he can ultimately eat crow if he doesn’t like it. We’ve moved on!
Furthermore, I watched the debate, and outside of possibly Biden, and a few protesters, everyone is on the same page with one goal in mind; defeat Trump at all costs, and have fun doing it! So MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Other than that, I think the convention Day One was a complete success, devoid of any drama that could potentially derail Harris’s campaign: End of Story!….:)
I thought the evening was grand. Get over yourself.
Couldn’t wait to watch and I thought it was beautifully done. All around.
HRC, Raskin, Clyburn , AOC, Steve Kerr, Crockett, Warnock, the families and women who spoke - every one of them - excellent.
Couldn’t wait for Pres Biden to speak. Really moving and well done.
It was far more important now to move on, stop hassling about POTUS “sulking” about being forced from the race. He did so with honour and grace. Maybe it is time to start pushing Trump out of the race; cant understand how he gets away with his behaviour for so long. Read 2025, and you will see where we are heading with Trump in command!
Yes, the timing could have been significantly tightened, with Biden appearing earlier. And, yes, conventions are about as good as the award shows when it comes to staying on time. But, it was still Prime Time in much of the country when Biden finally hit the stage, and the early sleepers can always stream it this morning.
Final verdict: No harm, no foul, (and most important), no screw-ups.
The fact that we’re talking about the timing of his speech - and not something that Biden said or did during the speech - is a huge bullet dodged by the Harris/Walz campaign. The result could have been much much worse…
I see your points, I don't 100% agree, but thats ok. This newsletter / blog / site has been a great place to have discussion and that is the point right? We talk, we have different points of view, we bring out ideas, etc. The thing with Joe Biden now is that I am sort of forgetting about him, which is odd considering he is the current sitting President. The excitement and relief about Kamala and her poll numbers have sort of overshadowed everything else. It is very odd that the sitting President was relegated to almost the last slot on the first night, regardless of delay. I would have loved to see him do the closing night speech that leads to Kamala's big speech. Felt like they tried to cram way too much in. Also, can we talk about how amazing Hillary was?
Agree, overall.
Interested, however, in your take on Biden’s speech overall?
To me, he should have kept it to 20 minutes or less. He was sharper in the first 20 minutes, and then started to have an increasing number of teleprompter flubs, reminding everyone why it is better he is not the candidate this November. His shouting style, throughout, was also hard to listen to - fine if used to emphasize a point here or there - off putting if shouting nonstop. I thought the content, overall, was good. The delivery was challenging, and as I said above, despite how consequential he has been as President, it is sooo good he ultimately chose to step aside. And I say that as a person who defended Joe’s candidacy until The Debate.
Thanks
I thought he shouted a little too much. And went on WAY too long. But, for Biden at this stage of his career, I thought it was a pretty good speech.
I respect Chris' impartiality and he certainly likes to remind us that Biden was pushed out, but it was clearly the right decision for the party (and hopefully for the country). Even Chris admits that Biden was going to lose, potentially in a landslide and possibly taking some down-ballot candidates down with him. It was a shrewd political move by Pelosi, Schumer, Obama and others, but it's kind of old news at this point...just like Trump's felony convictions aren't talked about much anymore either. Should we just forget those?
Yes. The news cycle has moved on. So should Chris. Biden did a great job, handling his departure with class and grace. Of course there is a private story of whatever his thoughts and feelings about stepping back might be. Those are his to have, not ours to share.