DNC, Day 2 open thread #2

Hillary Clinton is about to come on ... here's a new open thread for you, and I'll continue the live blogging here ...

8:37 p.m.: What a cool video about Hillary, talking about how she wanted to be an astronaut as a kid ... great pix of her and Bill ... "We all do better when everybody has a chance to live up to his or her potential." ... self-deprecating SNL clip about her laugh ... some nice narration from Chelsea ... do I sense a catharsis coming?

8:41 p.m.: Chelsea is onstage. "I am very proud to introduce my hero and my mother: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton." ... Bill beaming in the audience ... Hillary signs aloft ...

8:45 p.m.: Hillary starts speaking ... "I am here tonight as a proud mother, a proud Democrat, a proud senator from New York, a proud American, and a proud supporter of Barack Obama ...My friends, it is time to take back the country we love and whether you voted for me or Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. ... we are on the same team and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines. This is a fight for the future and it is a fight we must win together."

8:50 p.m.: She's recounting the highlights of her campaign: the people she met, the stories she heard. She's giving thanks to those who "never gave in and never gave up." Mentions slain Arkansas party chair Bill Gwatney, who envisioned a Democratic South, and Stephanie Tubbs Jones, "who never gave up her quest to make America stronger and better."

8:56 p.m.: She says she mostly ran on behalf of the people "who are invisible to their government," and that's why she's supporting Barack Obama. Asks her supporters: "were you just in this for me," or for the people whose struggles she recounted ... "for all the people in this country who feel invisible."

9:00 p.m.: "I cannot wait to see Barack Obama sign into law a health care plan that covers every single Americans." ... praises Michelle Obama and Joe Biden ... says John McCain is a colleague and a friend who has served with honor and courage, "but we don't need four more years of the last eight years."

9:04 p.m.: Shout-out to the Seneca Falls pioneers who fought to give women the right to vote. The 19th amendment was ratified 88 years ago today. And to Harriet Tubman, who helped slaves escape to freedom. ... "and even in the darkest moments, Americans keep going ... and before we can keep going, we must get going by electing Barack Obama the next president of the United States."

Comments

[Julie in Boise]

That is SUCH a critical line, Untamed. I do think that this generous speech will bring about a lot of healing.

[untamedshrew]

Her comments on health care seems to be getting the biggest reaction from the crowd.

[untamedshrew]

Julie - I agree. I think she's saying exactly what's needed to help her supporters move to Obama.

[Tara Rowe]

I may just have to come out of my semi-blog "vacation" to post about all this!

[Julie in Boise]

Surely the 30% or so of Hillary supporters who said they'd vote for McCain will change their mind tonight. Right?

Great line about the "Twin Cities" where Bush and McCain will both appear next week!

[untamedshrew]

Especially since she's really hitting on women's issues. (I'm assuming most of those supporters are women.)

[Tara Rowe]

I hope all the Clinton critics and those that said she'd make a fuss are happy with what is one of the greater speeches I've ever heard from a politician. It wasn't about winning or losing, it's about the road we take. Amazing.

[Julie in Boise]

So I've switched over to MSNBC to see if they interview any Hillary supporters who planned to support McCain ... Chris Matthews: "She challenged people as to their motives." He's also saying there was no sense of defeat in her speech, but a sense of purpose.

Very nice.

[Julie in Boise]

Tara, this whole night seemed to be about the road we take. I look forward to your post!

[untamedshrew]

Remember last spring when so many were worried about a divided party at the convention? What a relief and a joy to see Hillary take the high road tonight.

I can hardly wait for Obama on Thursday!