The Political Chase

Kerry Delivers Outstanding Speech

(Update I and Update II below)

I thought John Kerry delivered one of the best speeches of the convention (if not the best), and certainly one of Kerry’s best speeches ever. He delivered a side of very rare red meat to John McCain.

The stakes could not be higher, because we do know what a McCain administration would look like: just like the past, just like George Bush. And this country can’t afford a third Bush term. Just think: John McCain voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. Ninety percent of George Bush is just more than we can take.

Never in modern history has an administration squandered American power so recklessly. Never has strategy been so replaced by ideology. Never has extremism so crowded out common sense and fundamental American values. Never has short-term partisan politics so depleted the strength of America’s bipartisan foreign policy.

George Bush, with John McCain at his side, promised to spread freedom but delivered the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time. They misread the threat and misled the country. Instead of freedom, it’s Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban and dictators everywhere that are on the march. North Korea has more bombs, and Iran is defiantly chasing one.

Our mission is to restore America’s influence and position in the world. We must use all the weapons in our arsenal, above all, our values. President Obama and Vice President Biden will shut down Guantanamo, respect the Constitution, and make clear once and for all, the United States of America does not torture, not now, not ever.

Here’s the full text of Kerry’s speech

Update: TPM has the video of Kerry’s speech.

Update II: Gail Collins obviously wasn’t paying attention when John Kerry gave his speech last night because she takes a rather hard swipe at Kerry in her column today. But then, why should she bother listening to Kerry’s speech before she slams him in her column today? Just business as usual. And of course, every negative critique of the Obama campaign must come with an appropriate dose of Michele-bashing, especially if the punditocracy wants to continue cozying up to their favorite candidate.

Hillary looks 10 years younger than she did when she thought she was about to become the first woman president. She’s developed this … glow. It appears that not only does she possess superhuman resilience; she positively thrives on crushing disappointment.

Michelle, on the other hand, has been looking slightly frayed. At the joint event, after the paean to Hillary, her speech went a little astray. Her mouth twitched and she seemed preoccupied with something else during her ritual call to reject the world as it is in favor of the world as it should be.

Obviously Collins didn’t savor her cathartic moment during roll call today. Isn’t it time to give it a rest and get on with life?