February 03, 2007
DNC Winter Meeting: Biden, Vilsack and Richardson On The Stump
DNC Winter Meeting: Joe Biden On The Stump
Who: Sen. Joe Biden
Standing Ovations: 4
Introduced by: MI Dem Chair Mark Brewer
Subtle Theme: Iraq is the big issue, I have the experience to deal with it
Overt Theme: Iraq is the big issue, I have the experience to deal with it. “We’re looking for someone to restore America’s greatness and that seems to be me.” “We must stop this war.”
Bragging: “The next president … will have to immediately end the war in Iraq.” “I am absolutely, positively sure that the American people are ready and so I am.”
Playing to the Crowd: Opening with “So how was your week?”, “Mr. President the majority of Americans” disagreeing with you “are not emboldening the enemy -- that’s the one mission you have accomplished.”
Cliches: “Restore America’s greatness,” “We need a plan,” “I have a plan,” “May God bless you and may God protect our troops.”
Discordant Note: Dealt with the “clean” comment at the beginning and got it out of the way. Kept speech short.
Howard Dean Suck Up: None
Self-deprecation: “So, how was your week?” “It’s been a hell of a week.
Blooper: A blooper free, short speech – the new Biden strategy?
DNC Winter Meeting: Bill Richardson On The Stump
Who: Gov. Bill Richardson
Standing Ovations: 7
Introduced by: DNC Finance Chair Phil Murphy
Subtle Theme: Be positive and my resume rocks.
Overt Theme: I’m “calling on all other candidates to agree to run only positive campaigns.” I “call on the Democratic National Committee to pass a resolution” calling for clean campaigns. We need a president who “brokered international agreements … served as a governor, balanced budgets … turned an economy around.” And I went to Darfur.
Bragging: In New Mexico, we’ve created jobs, many in the high tech industry and we “didn’t abandon union families along the way.” “One of the first things I did as governor was re-instate collective bargaining for employees.” “Rather than using tax cuts to reward the wealthy, I used them to put people to work.” “The first thing we did was give teachers a raise and we did it every four years.” “Expanded health insurance -- we insure every child under the age of five.” “My state has become the clean energy state.” “We need someone who can win in every region in the country.” “As someone who’s served in Congress 14 years …”
Playing to the Crowd: Intro written by the wife of journalist Paul Salopek, the reporter Richardson rescued from the Sudan. Richardson, referring to the time limits on the speeches - “I don’t need seven minutes – I can do it in four words – elect a Democratic President.” Giving the nod to the other ‘08ers: we’re “better off with any of them serving in the White House – as my vice president.”
Cliches: “Don’t tear each other down,” “We believe in offering them a hand and help them up.” “I’m tired of hearing the Democrats don’t stand for anything – we do.”
Discordant Note: Played to the crowd so much he had to shout over applause.
Howard Dean Suck Up: “I just told Gov. Dean I’m almost finished and he said ‘Yeah right.’” “By the way Howard Dean was right about rebuilding our party in 50 states.”
Self-deprecation: “I know that rap on governors – that we don’t know anything about foreign policy. Maybe you can say that about certain governors from Texas but not this governor.”
Blooper: Speech time limit was seven minutes (as Howard Dean pointed out at the beginning of the morning). Richardson spoke about 18 minutes.
DNC Winter Meeting: Tom Vilsack On The Stump
Who: ex-Gov. Tom Vilsack
|
Standing Ovations: 3
Introduced by: DNC Vice Chair Lottie Shackelford
Subtle Theme: Be not afraid. Change is good.
Overt Theme: “Sadly today so much of what takes place is motivated by fear.” “I am tired of a government that reminds me every day to be afraid and only talks about evil and never talks about promoting goodness.” “I’m not talking about small change, I’m not talking about incremental change but bold change.” “It requires courage for real change in this country.” “If we have the courage to make change we can turn America from red to blue.”
Bragging: “As a governor … I balanced eight budgets … and we had to make tough choices but I’m proud of that record as governor.” “We built a renewable fuel energy.” “We created new jobs and better paying jobs.”
Playing to the Crowd: “In this city they talk about no child left behind. Well the fact is I was a child left behind.” “I’ve always understood what it felt like not to belong.” “The war must end and our troops must be brought home now.” “Those who voted for the war, those who voted to fund the war, can surely vote to stop the war”
Cliches: “How privileged I am to be here this morning.” “Before hope is courage.” “We are a party of outsiders … and a reminder to you we win as outsiders.” “We know what we have to do all we need is the courage to get it done."
Discordant Note: The DC insiders have had their chance – go with the outsider.
Howard Dean Suck Up: I want to “take this opportunity to acknowledge the chair … for the support and the confidence you had in all 50 states.”
Self-deprecation: On the time limit -- “I see the time … take it off the next speech I give.”
Blooper: As the final speaker (and with things running late) Dean was encouraging him to wrap it up
Posted at 01:35 PM
Comments
Vilsack is an outsider? He used to be head of the DLC. That's not very outsiderish.
Ghost of Tom Joad | 02.05.07 12:35 AM
 |
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
