“We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against”. She’s a hard worker who-as her longtime friend actress Mary Steenburgen said Thursday night-will get knocked down seven times and stand up eight. Her speech offered an olive branch to those unsure about her possible presidency, pointing out that she alone cannot fix our problems – as Trump asserted he could. What we heard was a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other and turn away from the rest of the world.
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As for Clinton’s claim that Trump can’t handle a political campaign, he noted that he defeated a field of Republican hopefuls to win the GOP nomination.
President Barack Obama seems to be very pleased with Hillary Clinton’s speech at the Democratic Convention. The sectors of the American population that are growing – non-white people – tend to vote Democrat.
“Some people just don’t know what to make of me”, she commented with a frankness that is unusual in American politics.
“Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. He wouldn’t know what the hell happened”, Trump said.
He was her biggest cheerleader, reciting a resume of her accomplishments, referring to her as “the best darn change-maker I ever met in my entire life”.
As Hillary Clinton accepted her nomination, people captured poignant images of young children watching the historic moment.
And in a bold admission for a candidate seeking to build on Obama’s policies, she said the economy “is not yet working the way it should”.
And she expressed strong support for the US military, offering a shout out to Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, whose son serves in the US Marines, and to Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war who Trump said was not a hero. “He’s making America hate again”. Now, to complete her game of ultimate women’s-history bingo-from Ivy leaguer to first lady of Arkansas to first lady of the United States to senator from NY to secretary of state-all Clinton has to do is become president of the United States.
“When any barrier falls in America, for anyone, it clears the way for everyone”, she continued. “When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit”. Clinton made an explicit play for Republicans and independents alienated from Trump, building on earlier appeals from President Obama. With the waving flags, chants of “USA!” Police officers and firefighters who run toward danger? He spoke for 70-odd minutes – and I do mean odd.
Clinton also went Trump for having his ties, suits, furniture and picture frames produced overseas. Clinton’s reference tonight was brief, but she promised, “We will defend all our rights – civil rights, human rights, and voting rights, women’s rights and workers’ rights, LGBT rights and the rights of people with disabilities”. Imagine, if you dare, imagine, imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis.
Judging by the way they are talking, both campaigns appear to have decided that there is not much crossover in the groups they appeal to.
“I think we’ll stay here all night because I don’t really want to go home and watch that crap”, he said.
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Trump has portrayed the country as being under siege from illegal immigrants, crime and terrorism and as losing influence in the world. Rather, Ms. Clinton is showing every sign of doubling down on the other attributes her surrogates ascribed to her in Philadelphia: toughness, relentlessness and resolve. “Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims”, he said.
