Convention Liveblog
I am sitting here listening to the speakers at the last day of the Democratic National Convention. Call it a liveblog. I will be posting here throughout the night, although I am going to shut things down when the final hour begins, so I can pay attention to the most important speakers. As I write, Tammy Baldwin is taking the stage, for context.
Attending the Democratic National Convention has, so far, been the experience of a lifetime. It has been so overwhelming that I haven't had time to type out any thoughts or reactions yet. I hope to make up for this in the next few days, and to jot down some random thoughts tonight.
Getting There
Our airplane flight out was somewhat of a nightmare, as the plane was held in Phoenix because of concerns about thunderstorms. Of course, Fox News immediately went live on the air with the conspiracy theory that Obama himself had caused the bad weather and that he really didn't want us to attend. Or something -- it's hard to tell what with all the nonsense and folderol being broadcast about Democrats and the weather this week. More on that in a bit. But enough travel stories, as they are really only interesting to people on the same flight in any case.
We got in around midnight, and after a $50 cab ride arrived at our hotel.
Day One
We awoke and headed out to explore the scene. The weather looked pretty overcast, once again, because of divine intervention (according to the righties... sigh...). Throughout the day, the skies opened up repeatedly for stormy downpours and the occasional thunder and lightning. We had to put up with occasionally getting soaked.
We roamed the city center ("uptown" for Charlotteians... Charlotteers, maybe?) and found all sorts of parties and events we would return to throughout the week. Of particular note was "The PPL" (supposed to be pronounced "The People" but we couldn't keep from saying "The Pupple" ourselves...), an alternative site for those media who couldn't score the official press credentials to get inside.
Also of note was a private museum-style exhibition hall set up by a private political memorabilia collector, complete with a replica Oval Office, replica "Resolute" presidential desk, and replica segment of the old (707) Air Force One. I spent a pleasant time here, mostly enjoying the way their roof kept the torrential rain off my head.
The most fun thing during the week was the private parties. When you have a press pass, you do not "crash" such parties, you instead "cover the scene for your publication." In other words, free food and liquor from all sorts of different organizations. The best of these was a pub quiz put on by Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post (who writes "The Fix" blog), and a party thrown by Real Clear Politics.
One thing you'll note in this reminiscence is a lack of blow-by-blow descriptions of what happened inside the arena on the first day. There is indeed a reason for this, and the reason is that my lovely wife and I had only a single press credential to share between us. Due to logistical problems with going in and out of the arena (security, torrential rainfall, etc.), we decided not to swap off throughout the night and so she went inside for the first evening to see Michelle Obama's speech and all the rest of the speakers.
I was left to fend for myself. The problem I had was finding a venue where there was not only a television on, but one where the sound wasn't muted. Most of the events were filled with blasé media types who weren't paying the slightest attention to what was going on at the actual convention. Finally, I took a gamble and headed over to the Real Clear Politics party. There, I found a GIANT projection television, with more-than-adequate sound.
Deval Patrick's speech was inspiring, what with his "It's time for Democrats to grow a backbone" theme. Julian Castro is obviously headed for bigger things within the Democratic Party, as he held the arena rapt for his entire speech. His best line was a comeback to Mitt Romney's suggestion that a college student "borrow money off your parents" to start a business -- "Gee, why didn't I think of that?"
I sat in front of the screen at the RCP party, as oblivious to the hipsters as they were to me, and watched the final few hours of the evening. Michelle Obama, quite obviously, knocked her speech so far out of the park they're still waiting for it to come back to Earth.
My wife and I met up afterwards at yet another private shindig, where the bar was open and the livin' was easy. We got back to the hotel after 3:00 A.M.
The big secret of political conventions? Nobody sleeps, apparently. "You can sleep when you get back home" is the motto.
Keep checking back throughout the evening. I will be adding to this article as time goes on, but have to pause occasionally to post so you can read it. My apologies for any errors, as I simply am not going to have time to check text before posting.
Day Two
Day Two didn't really start all that well, truth be told.
In fact, by mid-day, I was considering writing an article with the title "Cat Herders' Convention," since the confusion and chaos seemed to be mounting by the hour. The security here is un-freaking-believable, and this is coming from someone who has seen events in Washington D.C. with half a million people in attendance (to say nothing of inaugural events with upwards of two million). There are cops here from seemingly every state east of the Mississippi River, completed by an overwhelming amount of Secret Service and Capitol Hill police. I rode a bus with a cop from Chicago who seemed bemused to even be here.
Of course, I can laugh at this now, but Wednesday morning it seemed anything but funny. We had an event scheduled with the PBS Newshour, in (of all places) the NASCAR Hall of Fame, at 9:30 in the morning.
Now, our hotel is approximately 20-25 miles away from the city center. There are shuttle buses which are supposed to convey us painlessly to the main events, but they don't start running until early afternoon. This leaves either a $45 cab ride or the local public transportation. The woman behind the counter at the hotel was extremely helpful in this regard, and we took the bus to the only light rail line in the city (we were lucky, as our hotel was at the end of this route), and rode fairly comfortably downtown (oh, excuse me, "uptown"), for the princely sum of two dollars. So far, so good.
However, overnight, the security zone had been massively expanded, which meant that "you can't get there from here" was no joke. We hiked a good half-mile in one direction, gave up, hiked back, and finally found the one street we were allowed down. Then we had to circle the building, with all routes but one closed off (the last one we tried, naturally). We finally did make it to the event -- at 11:00 A.M., as it concluded.
The really annoying thing, for me, was that I had put on my new suit (with a "Jerry Garcia original" tie, just to add California flavor) for the occasion.
Now, Charlotte is in the South. For those of you unaware, the South in the summertime has to be experienced to be believed. I, in fact, grew up close to the region (close enough that the weather was the same), which is one of the major reasons I moved away in the first place. The temperature was somewhere in the 90s, and the humidity was at about 140% (yes, I am aware this is impossible, but that's what it felt like). To put this another way, this is not optimum weather to hike a few country miles in a suit and tie.
I will pause here for rude comments from the peanut gallery. "Wimp!" I hear those of you cry who have the misfortune to live where such meteorological conditions are commonplace. "You weakling Californian!" jibes might also be flung. Well, I do not deny it. Guilty as charged. My California wimpitude must be acknowledged. It is was it is, but I simply am not used to (1) wearing a suit in the first place, and (2) wearing a suit in sauna-like weather. Especially when I'm running on about two or three hours' worth of sleep.
In any case, the consolation prize was getting to meet the president of PBS, and attempting to convince him that I'd be a dandy interview subject, any time Gwen Ifill had an empty chair. Which was fun, I have to admit.
Also, checking out the NASCAR cars was a blast as well, including a racing Hudson Hornet from long ago.
From there, it was off to pick up my daily press credentials. Once again, the herding cats logistics raised their furry heads. Bloggers were forced to pick up credentials every day, before noon (making sleeping in all but impossible, seeing as how the public transportation took about an hour and a quarter each way). In the daily blogger press briefing, I did get to meet Sandra Fluke, and I have to say that anyone who annoys Rush Limbaugh is automatically OK in my book. So there was that.
With several layers of clothing sticking to me like a soggy second skin, we headed back to the hotel for a brief few hours of napping before the evening's events got underway. Gratefully, I then removed my suit and packed it away for good. By this time, I also had to bandage several blistered toes in order to be able to even walk, due to chafing in the muggy, muggy atmosphere.
OK, that was probably too much information, right? I do apologize for the lapse.
Getting back to the morning, we got one piece of good news (rumor, but still...) and one piece of disappointing news. The good news was that the Romney team had pulled all its money and advertising out of Michigan. This is a big deal, because it means they've completely given up on the state (which at one time seemed like a possibility for Mitt). This begs the question, of course -- will Romney lose all four of his "home" states? Massachusetts and California were never going to vote Republican, but New Hampshire and Michigan were seen as possibilities when the race began. Now Mitt's down to fighting for the Granite State, and if he loses it he'll have a clean sweep of four losses in the four states he can claim kinship with. Pretty pathetic, n'est pas?
The disappointing news, of course, was the announcement that the main event had been moved from the stadium to the indoor arena. The weather had been horrible up to this point, with the aforementioned torrential downpours and lightning storms. Of course, perversely, from about the hour they announced the shift, the weather cleared up and we haven't been rained on since.
A word about the rightwing conspiracy theory surrounding the move is necessary, here. According to the convention planners, 65,000 people had been issued "community credentials" to attend the stadium show, and an additional 19,000 people were on the official waiting list. Republicans claimed that the move was necessary because "Obama couldn't fill the stadium." I have first-hand knowledge that this is complete moose poop. As mentioned, my wife and I are sharing one press credential. Because of this, we have been trying for weeks to score one of these community credentials (a fancy way of saying "a ticket for the stadium event"). Weeks. When we arrived, we increased our attempts by contacting all the press and convention officials we could (quite a substantial number, some of them quite high up). We tried everything to get her in to the stadium -- to no avail. She wasn't even on the official waiting list.
Got that, conspiracy nuts? [Yes, I am looking in your direction, ChrisWeigant.com contrarian who-shall-remain-nameless!] We've been busting... um... "chops" (shall we say) all over Charlotte trying to pry an extra ticket loose. There were no tickets to be had -- even when powerful people tried to get their hands on one.
Now, if Obama were having problems filling the stadium, don't you think they would have been trying to give away tickets like candy? I can personally attest that this was not the case. So let's have less of the rightie nonsense, shall we?
Ahem. Where was I?
Oh, right, the second night. I'm going to cut things off here, so I can post what I've got so far... stay tuned for more....
Day Two (evening)
Somewhat rested, I headed off to the arena for the second night of the festivities, press pass clutched in my sweaty hands. Well, OK, that was poetic license (bordering once again on "too much information"), as it was actually on a lanyard around my neck.
Through the security, through the second (and third) levels of security, and I was finally inside. Now, I know what you're thinking -- "What an exciting moment!" Well, yes. But you have to understand that out of the reported 15,000 press present, I was on the bottom rung of the lower staircase. No fancy suites for us, in other words.
But even so, it is admittedly pretty cool to be an official card-carrying member of the Fourth Estate. I had (by now) ditched my suit and tie and was back in comfortable California attire of T-shirt and jeans. And baseball cap.
The baseball cap was actually a big hit. I had no idea, because I've been a little busy for the last few days, but when I headed to the elevators to explore the hallways, I found myself in line behind none other than George Will. I had to shake his hand, since it was actually the second time in my life I had done so (the first was in high school, but that's a whole 'nother story). He complimented me on my hat, and informed me that the Baltimore Orioles were actually leading their division.
This late in the year, this is either news of a miracle, or a sign of the immanence of the coming of the apocalypse, I should mention (for those non-baseball fans who may be reading this). After all, the O's are in the same division as the fabled New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. My hat was in fact a big hit all night long, and I even got an admiring comment from a Yankees fan. As I said, either a miracle or the end of the world approaching, take your choice.
But enough of sports stuff. We're supposed to be on the politics page, right?
My press pass allowed me to roam every hallway in the arena -- the public areas where delegates were allowed, as well as the behind-the-scenes areas in the halls outside the major television skyboxes. I have to say, this is the best-dressed crowd I have ever seen inside a basketball arena (except for those of us in casual wear, or in flamboyant costumes). I was even able, for brief periods, to get a temporary pass to roam the floor of the arena, and approach the podium. If you look closely at ABC's wall-to-wall coverage, you'll see me doing just that behind an interview with Debbie Wasserman Schultz from the floor (I'm easy to spot, just look for the Orioles cap!).
Being on the floor is pretty thrilling, I must admit in all honesty. I've seen conventions on television before, but standing ten or fifteen feet from a person giving a speech at one is indeed unique.
I leave it for others to comment on the blow-by-blow of the evening. The speeches were the usual sort of thing all night, although the tone seemed to go on a rollercoaster from ecstatic highs to long and serious lulls. The theme of the evening was business and how Democrats are not the success-hating caricature Republicans keep trying to paint them as. A quick look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average when Obama took office and now proves this, but we got many personal stories to offer up further proof, if any were necessary.
A few high points are all that are necessary. Sandra Fluke, whom I had met earlier in our blogger press briefing, was fantastic, and really woke everyone up. Elizabeth Warren got the biggest hand, and the biggest crowd response.
Of course, the biggest speech of the night was the Big Dog himself, President Bill Clinton. But that'll have to wait, as I want to get on to what's going on now, as we approach the final hour of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. So maybe I'll revisit Clinton's speech tomorrow, or over the weekend. Right now, I'm taking a break to post what I've got so far, then I'm moving straight on to the main event I am now witnessing.
The Main Event
OK, I am now rushing things a bit. I promise tomorrow (or at some point) I will go over the speeches themselves and delve into the prose and rhetoric.
Tonight I have been listening to speech after speech, and the intensity has been slowly building. I am inside the arena's bowl, and hearing these speeches live, which gives a much different flavor than viewing them on television.
John Kerry, so far, gave the most memorable speech, showing humor that was noticeably absent when he was running for president himself. I particularly liked his turning "was for it before he was against it" around on Romney.
But I'll go over all that later. Joe Biden just took the stage.
Biden gets a lot of ribbing from late night comics, Republicans, and the media. But the crowd here certainly does love themselves some Joe. Which will, no doubt, warm the heart of another ChrisWeigant.com commenter we all know and love.
Joe Biden, punchlines aside, is an excellent politician. He knows how to give a speech, he knows how to hold an audience in the palm of his hand, and like an orchestral conductor, he knows how to bring the volume up, and lower the intensity to where you can hear a pin drop.
Biden oozes humanity in a way few politicians can match. This is why Barack Obama relies on him so heavily out on the campaign trail. Biden is the consummate Average Joe, who can relate to Americans' everyday hopes and fears in a manner few can match. His skills are on full display tonight, and the crowd is eating it up like a New Jersey governor on a chili dog. So to speak (ahem).
Earlier, the Second Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, showed her own humanity with a remarkable speech. As I write this, her husband is playing the crowd like a violin, showing his remarkable range.
OK, I am going to wrap this up here. I may have time much later tonight to conclude with my impressions on President Obama's speech, but I am certainly not going to be typing during this momentous event. So, for now, I will bow out, and I do promise to cover the content of what was actually said over the past three days in my next few articles. One of the benefits of being official press is I get every speech "as prepared for delivery" emailed to me -- so I will have the opportunity to look over all this oratory at leisure, and pick out the best of the lot.
Until later... I leave you all to enjoy the biggest speech of the night yourselves.
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
his "It's time for Democrats to grow a backbone" theme.
A theme that was promptly demolished when Democrats couldn't agree on the platform... :D
Michale.....
OK OK OK....
I have done enough pissing on the wedding cake..
I am hereby declaring a moratorium on all postings from yours truly til Monday, 10 Sep @ 0400hrs ...
I'll let ya'all have your moment in the sun....
Toodles
Michale....
Michale -
Even if your conspiracy theory we're true (it ain't, but even so), Obama can pack more people into a stadium than Romney can dream of.
Google "Romney Detroit empty stadium" for proof.
Heh.
:-)
-CW
Just posted an update... reload this page to see it...
-CW
CW,
jill biden was so right about being a teacher. it isn't what you do, it's who you are. i'll save my esoteric snark for later, but i want liz to know i found dr. biden to be a great speaker.
on another note, why not ask FW if she'd write another column here about the events of day 1? she's a damn fine writer in her own right, CW - how about running it by her.
Michale,
The Democratic Convention must have been an unprecedented success to have succeeded in shutting you up for the next THREE WHOLE DAYS!!!
I think I miss you already. :)
Joshua,
I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed Jill Biden's speech. Unfortunately, I got home too late to hear it and even missed the first little bit from Vice President Biden. :(
Chris,
Biden gets a lot of ribbing from late night comics, Republicans, and the media. But the crowd here certainly does love themselves some Joe.
Would you believe that I was thinking PRECISELY the same thing, verbatim, as I watched the vice president tonight ... with a big ole grin on my face, I don't mind admitting to. I am so glad you are there at the convention because it really feels like a part of me was there, too.
As you have probably guessed by now, my interest in US politics began at almost the same time that I first began to realize what an excellent politician Joe Biden is - about 25 years ago - and following his career since that time has largely sustained my interest over the course of those many years.
Thanks very much for your kind words here tonight ... and for your thoughtful words over the fun-filled years I’ve spent here at CW.com and for your great generosity of spirit that you have always so graciously shared with all of your readers. It’s why we all love us some CW and we get to indulge in it on a daily basis. We are indeed an extremely fortunate bunch!
Michale,
I hope you'll take a hiatus from your hiatus to respond to my response: http://www.chrisweigant.com/2012/08/23/guest-author-trickle-down-trickle-out-and-trickle-up/#comment-25965
Last night President Clinton had me smiling very wide, which had me thinking at the time 'odd thing.' I'll laugh at stuff, but things rarely seen on TV bring out such a genuine, happy smile. President Obama had me at one time with sad tears and another tears with pride that never happens to me, aside from when I had mixed tears of that and some other emotions at a Dylan concert a few years back, political veneration (Homer drools.) And he threw facts and a couple slams in there, amazing speech. Would love to see you on the NewsHour, hope they listened.
Great reporting, Chris. Loved it. You had me sweating right along with you.
CWC
I will take a moment from my Hiatus to respond to you here. It would simply be rude not to..
The comments for that particular commentary are now closed..
When I return from my self-imposed exile, I'll pick the most convenient parallel dimension...
"Gozer the Gozerian? Good evening. As a duly-designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or to the next convenient parallel dimension."
-Ray, GHOSTBUSTERS
er.... I mean the most convenient open to semi-open thread to respond...
:D
Michale...
Liz (Again, would be rude NOT to respond..)
The Democratic Convention must have been an unprecedented success to have succeeded in shutting you up for the next THREE WHOLE DAYS!!!
Au contraire....
The Dem Convention was such a debacle for Democrats from start to finish, plus my comments have been so successful in exposing this debacle for all to see, that I actually felt guilty because I was rubbing it in so well.. I really did.. So'se I said to myself, I says, "Self, why not let them ENJOY their moment in the sun without you dragging them back into the cold reality all the time??"
Hence, my hiatus...
But, it would be rude not to respond to direct/directed questions/comments so, if ya'all really WANT me on hiatus, then ya'all will have to stop talking to/about me.. :D
Now, if THAT's not egomaniacle, I don't know WHAT is! :D
Just let me finish up by saying that I hope people will take the I SIDE WITH test.....
http://www.isidewith.com/presidential-election-quiz
..... and share their results..
My results were an eye opener for me and I bet they would be an eye opener for ya'all as well..
Now, let me enjoy my exile, damn it! :D
Michale.....
I thought the Obama speech was pretty average. Slightly disappointing. I don't know if maybe my sights were set too high after Clinton's storming speech. Biden was pretty good - very, very serious though. Some of the best lines imo from the DNC:
Now, when Congressman Ryan looked into that TV camera and attacked President Obama’s Medicare savings as, quote, the biggest, coldest power play, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry — because that $716 billion is exactly, to the dollar, the same amount of Medicare savings that he has in his own budget. You got to get one thing — it takes some brass to attack a guy for doing what you did.
- Bill Clinton (hard to pick a top line since they were all so good but I'll go with this one)
After all, Mitt Romney's the guy who said corporations are people. No, Governor Romney, corporations are not people. People have hearts, they have kids, they get jobs, they get sick, they cry, they dance. They live, they love, and they die. And that matters. That matters because we don't run this country for corporations, we run it for people. And that's why we need Barack Obama.
- Elizabeth Warrn
Now, our friends at the Republican convention were more than happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America, but they didn't have much to say about how they'd make it right. They want your vote, but they don't want you to know their plan. And that's because all they have to offer is the same prescription they've had for the last thirty years:
"Have a surplus? Try a tax cut."
"Deficit too high? Try another."
"Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!"
- Obama
Also very good trip report CW. I was wondering about the security levels after seeing them being mocked on the Daily Show, their sketch makes much more sense now in light of your problems!
One more:
He [Obama] organized a rescue, made the tough calls and saved the American auto industry. Mitt Romney saw the same crisis and you know what he said: "Let Detroit go bankrupt." Sure, Mitt Romney loves our lakes and trees.
He loves our cars so much, they have their own elevator. But the people who design, build, and sell those cars?
Well, in Romney's world, the cars get the elevator; the workers get the shaft.
- Jennifer Granholm
I particularly enjoyed President Obama's reminder of citizenship and civic duty. If we are responsible citizens and vote, WE are the government. And I loved that he said this while turning the Republican BS that he is self-centered and all about him with the "YOU did this" list of accomplishments.
"...In fact, the forecast hadn’t called for severe weather, and conditions were fine Thursday night. The change caused thousands to be turned away, and the crush of crowds at the arena led authorities at one point to lock down the building for a second straight night – leaving some delegates on the street while lobbyists enjoyed the proceedings inside.
It was quite a comedown from that heady night in Denver four years ago when Obama accepted the nomination in front of about 80,000 at Invesco Field. The candidate, on a stage set resembling a Greek temple, spoke about remaking the nation and the world.
The demigod turned out to be entirely human, and his results were disappointing. On Thursday night, as Obama admitted to “failings,” Democrats who dreamed of the biggest and the best in 2008 were learning to accept good enough...."
- Dana Milbank
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-obama-lowers-the-bar-on-hope-and-change/2012/09/07/dbf3ea82-f8dc-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_story.html?hpid=z4
I hope O isn't planning on that jobs report being "good enough."
"Mitt Romney slammed President Obama over a disappointing August jobs report in a statement Friday, declaring that "if last night was the party, this morning is the hangover."
"For every net new job created, nearly four Americans gave up looking for work entirely. This is more of the same for middle class families who are suffering through the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression," Romney continued. "After 43 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, it is clear that President Obama just hasn't lived up to his promises and his policies haven't worked. We aren’t better off than they were four years ago."
The economy added 96,000 jobs in August, and unemployment fell from 8.3 to 8.1 percent. But economists had expected around 150,000 jobs to be added, and the 368,000 people who dropped out of the workforce last month is the highest amount in years...."
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/248147-romney-if-last-night-was-the-party-this-morning-is-the-hangover
Romney tied up in the National Polls this week. He still has not been ahead on the RCP Average during 2012. In fact, this time 4 years ago the RCP average was McCain +1. So McCain was at a better stage than Romney this point 4 years ago. And the convention bounce of the Democrats is only just coming through.
Plan A was economy - it didn't work.
Plan B was lie about welfare/Medicare - it didn't work.
Brace yourselves for Romney Plan C in the coming week.
I see that in order to manufacture a bump for Obama, Gallup had to do "national adults." LOL! Rasmussen's Likely Voters tells a slightly different story, needless to say: 46% approve, 54% disapprove.
I am going to break my hiatus VERY temporarily for a special occasion...
http://www.google.com/
How kewl is THAT!!!! :D
OK, I'm gone...
I miss you, Michale ... :(
:D Aww p'shaw...
Tomorrow will be here soon..:D
Michale
The good news was that the Romney team had pulled all its money and advertising out of Michigan.
I heard that only the PACs had pulled their money out (probably because the Romney campaign itself is now using its campaign cash to advertise there).
On a side note...
Democrats Said to End Convention $15 Million Short
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-07/democrats-said-to-end-convention-15-million-short.html
Chris,
Thanks for your first hand impressions of the convention. I wish I had known you needed another press pass. I would have sent you mine, as I decided to take my own advice and register people to vote during this period of time. I ran into Alan Grayson (who had just returned) at a meeting Thursday evening and he told me that he just couldn't take the crowds and that the security was unbelievable. I hope you and Fiona survived the trip and are doing OK.
I am going to address all the comments regarding politics in the morning, when my hiatus ends..
I just wanted to post this, to commemorate the auspicious 46th Anniversary of Star Trek.
Probably the ONE thing that binds us ALL together.. :D
And, since "TEE SHIRTS" are in.... :D
http://sjfm.us/temp/46th.jpg
Tomorrow....
It's On!!!
Michale.....
UPDATE FROM CHRIS:
I am hijacking Michale's comment here, because my browser won't let me post a new one for some reason, and it is past 2 am and I need to get to bed.
Here's an update: Probably due to being out in the rain Tuesday so much, and then immediately going in to frigid air conditioning, and then back out into the muggy atmosphere, and then getting rained on again, I got sick during the convention.
This is a big reason why there haven't been more postings. But while I did have a mild low-level flu sort of thing, I have bounced back and am now back home again and relatively healthy and clear-headed.
Oh, in the midst of my sick delerium, I climbed a mountain, also in the pouring rain. That sounds like a punchline to a joke, but it isn't.
Anyway, check back Monday for me doing all of last week's work. I am much better now, if not 100%, so the flow of writing from me will soon recommence.
Just wanted to update everyone wondering why last week was so light...
But for now, I gotta get to bed...
[Again, Michale, sorry for hijacking your comment...]
-CW
I am honored to be hijacked by the Grand Poobah himself! :D
Take care of yourself, CW!
Michale
OK, so many comments, so little time.. :D
Let's jump in, shall we...
According to Fact Checkers, Bill Clinton's speech was as rife with misconceptions and bad facts as anything that came out of the GOP..
So, those who live by the Fact Checkers will die by the Fact Checkers.. :D
Plan A was economy - it didn't work.
Seriously!!!???
The economy is what this election is about. You said it yourself. And, ALL the relevant polls say that the American voters care for Romney and the GOP over Obama and the Democrats when it comes to the economy...
So, since it is FACT that the economy is the number one issue and it is FACT that voters prefer Romney to Obama on the economy, what's the logical conclusion??
"Come on, you can say it. They know, go ahead..."
-Vinnie Gambini, MY COUSIN VINNY
As far as the overall polls???
Let's take a trip down memory lane..
In Sep of 1980, Carter was ahead of Reagan in the polls by 4 points. In Oct of '80, that lead in the polls jumped to 8 points..
We all know how THAT election turned out.
After the DNC Convention in 1988, Dukakis lead Bush(HW) in the polls by 17 points.
We also know how THAT election turned out.
So, I wouldn't be all happy-happy joy-joy.....
"All I wanna do in bury Cocteau up to his neck in shit, and let him think happy-happy thoughts forever.""
-Edgar Friendly, DEMOLITION MAN
.... about any lead that Obama has created in the here and now.
“Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
-Darth Vader, STAR WARS
I particularly enjoyed President Obama's reminder of citizenship and civic duty. If we are responsible citizens and vote, WE are the government.
Actually, the Democrat theme for their convention was that we all "BELONG" to the Government.
That, somehow, some WAY, the Government OWNS us..
Considering the Democratic Party's history with slavery, I am not sure it was wise to invoke a theme that indicates people are property...
But, maybe that's just me...
Regarding and Dem's claim that Obama had "saved" Detroit. What hogwash...
Even if you allow that the auto bail-out was successful (it wasn't, as the facts show) the simple fact is Detroit is much more than Chevy and GM...
All Obama did with the auto bailouts is put a band-aid on a heart-attack patient and allow the auto-companies to give the unions enormous benefits and compensation, continue failed management policies, screw the middle class and kick the can down the road 5-10 years when the auto companies will need ANOTHER bail out..
And all of that leaves tax-payers on the hook for 25 BILLION (with a 'B') dollars!
Wouldn't it had made MORE sense to let the auto companies fail, and then build a newer better manufacturing system that would emphasis responsible management, fuel efficiency technology and better safety programs??
Reminds me of that old Quantum Leap episode where Sam leaped into the body of a female secretary for a big Auto Company CEO in the early 60's. During a meeting the big cheese was going on and on about the next big thing Sam asked, "What about fuel efficiency??". The big cheese promptly laughed and said, "Who cares!?? Gas is 30 cents a gallon!!!"
You see the point? Imagine what kinds of vehicles we could be putting out if we had built an ENTIRE industry from the ground up in the here and now!?? We might actually SEE flying DeLauren's in our lifetime!
But Noooooooo.. Bush and Obama had to accomplish things that are the textbook definitions of insanity.. Doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result...
It's hilarious that all of the "victories" that Democrats claim during this election (ObamaCare/Tax, Auto Bailout, etc etc) are Pyrrhic victories, AT BEST...
Democrats Said to End Convention $15 Million Short
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-07/democrats-said-to-end-convention-15-million-short.html
And Democrats wonder why the American people don't trust them on the economy! Dems can't even handle their own finances!!
I ran into Alan Grayson (who had just returned) at a meeting Thursday evening and he told me that he just couldn't take the crowds and that the security was unbelievable.
I find it interesting that, besides a few mentions here, no one on the Left EVER complains about the increased security and surveillance policies of the Obama Administration..
Why is that???
Why is it that, when a GOP administration puts these practices into play, it's the beginning of a "police state" and soon there will be "midnight knocks at the door"???
But when it's a DEM administration that has these practices in play, no one says dick...
And ya'all wonder why I believe that the '-D' or '-R' is practically the ONLY determining factor.. The evidence is all around...
A fact that will become more apparent once President Romney is sworn in...
There is one thing that Democrats have said that is dead on ballz accurate.
In this election, there is no ambiguity about the choice we have. This election is about two diametrically opposed viewpoints..
The Democrats way is that Government is the way to go. That nothing good happens without Government involvement and everything bad happens when Government is not involved. This philosophy is epitomized by Obama's "You Didn't Build That" rant.. Everyone must be subservient to Government and the Government way is the BEST way, the ONLY way...
If you believe that, then you must vote for Obama.
On the other side, we have the idea that Americans aren't subservient to the Government, it's the Government that should be subservient to Americans. The idea that ANYONE can succeed AND enjoy the fruits of that success if they work hard, persevere , pull themselves up by the knickers and MAKE it happen.. The idea that hard work and ingenuity will trump laziness and sloth every day of the week and twice on Sunday...
If THIS is the kind of America you believe in, then you have no choice but to vote Romney...
So, yes. The Dems got something right. This election IS the starkest contrasts in choice we have have seen in quite a long time...
Whew! Glad I got all that out of my system!! It's been percolating all weekend!! :D
Michale.....
Ya'all have to ask yourselves ONE question...
If Romney is so bad and Obama is so good, why is the race so close???
Only one of two possibilities exist.
Either Romney is not as bad as ya'all claim...
OR
Obama is not as good as ya'all claim....
Which is it??
Michale.....
Only one of two possibilities exist.
"There are two possibilities. They are unable to respond. They are unwilling to respond."
-Captain Spock, STAR TREK II, The Wrath Of Kahn
:D
Michale.....
The Democrats’ GM Fiction
A single dominant factor — the United Auto Workers union’s extortionate contracts with GM — prevented the carmaker from either reducing its work-force costs or making its products more efficiently. And its hidebound management didn’t help.
Advertisement
Admirers of the GM bailout should bear in mind that it was the Bush administration that first decided to intervene at the firm, offering a bridge loan on the condition that it draw up a deeply revised business plan. President Obama’s unique contribution was effectively to nationalize the company, seeing to it that the federal government violated normal bankruptcy processes and legal precedent to protect the defective element at the heart of GM’s troubles: the financial interests of the UAW. It did this by strong-arming GM’s bondholders into taking haircuts in order to sweeten the pot for the UAW. The Obama administration also creatively construed tax law to relieve GM of tens of billions of dollars in obligations — at the same time that Barack Obama & Co. were caterwauling about the supposed lack of patriotism of firms that used legal means rather than political favoritism to reduce their tax bills.
nationalreview.com/articles/316379/democrats-gm-fiction-editors
As long as the Unions are protected, screw the rest of the middle class!!!
Yea, gotta love them Democrats...
Insight: GM's Volt - The ugly math of low sales, high costs
The weak sales are forcing GM to idle the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant that makes the Chevrolet Volt for four weeks from September 17, according to plant suppliers and union sources. It is the second time GM has had to call a Volt production halt this year.
reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/us-generalmotors-autos-volt-idUSBRE88904J20120910
Remember... An "idle" plant is a "shut down" plant..
Yea, the Auto Bailouts were a COMPLETE success!
These kinds of "successes" are exactly why the country is in the shape it's in and why Democrats have proven beyond any doubt that they cannot lead..
Michale.....
Romney's plan for the Auto bailout still would have been a band-aid on a heart attack patient..
But at least, under the Romney plan, the only people who would have lost their jobs would have been the 1%'ers CEOs with their cushy executive suites and the fat cat Union 1%'ers with their plush benefits and salaries...
Under the Obama plan, those two groups are the ONLY groups that made out bigtime. The middle class and non-union workers were screwed...
Michale.....
Plan A was economy - it didn't work.
Plan B was lie about welfare/Medicare - it didn't work.
Brace yourselves for Romney Plan C in the coming week.
I think we found out Plan C over the weekend:
- Obamacare isn't that bad (almost all of it, except the part that pays for the good stuff)
- Taxing the rich isn't that bad (close their loopholes, although not sure which ones...)
So Plan C is the long-awaited pivot to the centre! Wow. This might be one of the latest pivots ever seen. I can only assume that he had to get through the RNC convention and shore up his base before he pisses them off... Couldn't risk being booed on stage by being moderate to the current extremist GOP!
Michale
As an ex-army guy, what do you think of Romney's failure to talk about the military at all during his RNC speech? Then when asked about it his line:
you talk about the things that you think are important
So how do you feel that the candidate you support does not consider the military important?
Michty,
Yea, I wish the military would have got more of a sound-out.
Especially condemning the Obama Administrations failure to implement the procedures that Democrats themselves passed to make sure the military isn't disenfranchising from voting..
But Republicans and the military are a given.. We don't need politicians blowing smoke up our arse to know that we matter...
Which is why I am not *TOO* peeve'ed when Democrats diss the military...
Like Republicans and their support, Democrats talking down to the military is a given...
Par for the course...
Nature of the beast...
Having said all of that, it WAS a real bonehead thing to say.. But I don't think it will have a real impact..
The grunts on the ground know that, as bad as Romney will likely be, Obama will be 20 times worse...
Like Obama told the Russians, he ain't going to have to worry about the American voter, if he's re-elected.. He can do what he wants to do and will answer to no one...
Such a man could do a LOT of damage if he were so inclined.. or even just by virtue of incompetence.....
Michale.....
Michale.....
The Government Accountability Institute examined President Obama’s schedule from the day he took office until mid-June 2012, to see how often he attended his Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) — the meeting at which he is briefed on the most critical intelligence threats to the country. During his first 1,225 days in office, Obama attended his PDB just 536 times — or 43.8 percent of the time. During 2011 and the first half of 2012, his attendance became even less frequent — falling to just over 38 percent. By contrast, Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush almost never missed his daily intelligence meeting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-is-obama-skipping-more-than-half-of-his-daily-intelligence-meetings/2012/09/10/6624afe8-fb49-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html
That's our POTUS....
Always voting "present".... Even when he ain't....
Michale.......
Lol "The Government Accountability Institute, a new conservative investigative research organization, examined President Obama’s schedule from the day he took office until mid-June 2012..."
I can just imagine what you'd say if someone posted evidence on here that openly stated it came from a 'liberal investigative research organization'.
I can just imagine what you'd say if someone posted evidence on here that openly stated it came from a 'liberal investigative research organization'.
I *would* consider the source in my evaluation, this is true..
But the facts, first and foremost, would trump ANY other consideration..
So, do you have anything that disputes the FACTS that Obama has missed so many PDBs??
I don't think you do...
I understand why character assassination of the messenger is the order of the day..
It just would be sure peachy keen wonderful if the Left in general would at least TRY addressing the MESSAGE...
The facts show that Obama is not the Foreign Policy giant that Democrats would like us to believe..
Here's another message you can try and address...
Among the many falsehoods pushed at last week’s Democratic Convention is that this is the party of the people, unafraid to hold Corporate America responsible for its many ills.
Judging by the records of the last two Democratic administrations, just the opposite appears to be true. Certainly, President Obama and, to some extent, Bill Clinton like to talk a good game in terms of class warfare, but under both men, real corporate crime-fighting has been at best a side issue — despite the immense amounts of white-collar fraud their administrations faced.
In fact, neither Obama nor Clinton can hold a candle to the corporate crime-fighting record of George W. Bush, that supposed lapdog for large corporate interests.
Corzine, a well-connected Democrat is facing no charges despite losing $1.6 billion — whereas Bush team jailed Republican fat cats.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/soft_on_wall_street_hLRbrpn9LH6QULzx47UcaI#ixzz265xAcQVr
Once again, the FACTS run counter to the Democratic Party's message...
Michale.....
Consider the outlandish case of MF Global, the brokerage firm run into the ground nearly a year ago by Obama’s pal and campaign-cash bundler, Jon Corzine. It isn’t just that the former Goldman Sachs CEO and New Jersey governor took outsized trading risks that destroyed the firm; his firm appears to have misused and lost $1.6 billion in customer funds in the process.
Under securities laws, those customer funds were supposed to be kept sacrosanct — yet not a single MF Global employee, much less Corzine, has been charged in the matter by the Obama Justice Department or the Securities and Exchange Commission.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/soft_on_wall_street_hLRbrpn9LH6QULzx47UcaI#ixzz265zzwBXG
Yea, Obama and the Democrats are TOUGH on Wall Street fat cats, ain't they??
Pardon me, I just threw up in my mouth a little...
Michale
Actually in the last 30 years the only time inequality fell in America was during the Clinton administration in the 90s - look at a chart of the Gini Coefficient http://combatingglobalization.com/img/CG-chart-1.jpg. I've already written much about this in my Trickle Down article.
So yes, Democrats are by FAR willing to stand up to Corporations and fight for the best interests of the average American.
Aside from this, look at the two candidates and their records and try telling me there is any chance in hell that Romney is the candidate of the 'average America' and not the 'super-rich-wealthy-trying-to-buy-the-election-so-they-can-get-a-massive-tax-cut American'.
August fund-raising. Romney gets 31% (!) of his donations from those donating under $250. Obama gets 98% of his donations from this same group.
Yes, the facts are clear Romney represents the party of the people, if you define 'people' as 'very rich people who are giving him money because they will save more money when he gives them a juicy little tax cut'.
And it looks like Romney's attempts to buy the election are going to come to nothing: VP pick + RNC and he is still out-raised by Democrats in August. This is what happens when your candidate is that awful.
So yes, Democrats are by FAR willing to stand up to Corporations and fight for the best interests of the average American.
And yet, Bush's administration had a FAR better record in punishing financial criminals...
Why is Jon Corzine still walking around free??
Because he is Obama's buddy...
You claim Clinton has clean hands???
Forget insider trading, where traders are basically ripping off each other. During the Clinton years, big Wall Street firms came up with new and imaginative ways to screw the average investor — who for the first time was turning to the stock market to save for retirement. Yet there wasn’t much of a peep from Bubba’s Justice Department or the corporate watchdogs at his Securities and Exchange Commission.
You can slam Romney all you want. Hell, I'll likely agree with most of it.
But we're not talking about Romney and Republicans
I am asking you to explain why Democrats claim they are against Wall Street fat cats, yet they have an abysmal record of prosecuting financial criminals...
Let's finish this discussion, then we can move on to Romney and the Republicans...
If your ONLY defense of Democrats is that Republicans are worse, then I would say that it is a pretty piss poor defense...
When all is said and done, there is one fact ya'all simply CAN'T escape from.
We don't know how bad a Romney presidency will be.
We DO know how bad an Obama presidency has been..
Despite the laughable antics of the Dem Convention, Americans know that they are NOT better off under Obama..
And THAT is what they'll be taking to the polls...
Basically you're picking out a couple of things that have not gone how Democrats would like during their Presidency and extrapolating these to mean 'Democrats won't take on Wall Street/Corporations'.
I agree Obama hasn't been tough enough on Wall St and I think Dodd-Frank was just the beginning and didn't go far enough. But you're preaching to the choir - the other side and Mr Romney are so, so, so far right on this they'd practically pass a bill that allows banks to take your money to a casino and gamble it on red or black...
The choice in this election is pretty clear, as both candidates have pointed out. And as Clinton put it:
You see, we believe that “We’re all in this together” is a far better philosophy than “You’re on your own.”
or
It turns out that advancing equal opportunity and economic empowerment is both morally right and good economics. Why? Because poverty, discrimination, and ignorance restrict growth.
Democrats believe in making society more fair; Republicans quite simply don't. This is the heart of the issue when talking about taking on Corporations and stopping America becoming a plutocracy.
Democrats believe in making society more fair;
I see no evidence of that. Obama's Democrats only believe in making society more fair for Obama's Democrats..
In the Auto Bailout, guess who lost their jobs and their pensions? NON UNION workers...
Obama, on a campaign stop. Says he'll buy a beer for everyone in the place. EXCEPT the one guy holding a Romney sign...
Obama is acting like a petulant little child..
Americans are not better off.. This is fact..
It's time to give Romney a chance...
That's all there is too it..
Basically you're picking out a couple of things that have not gone how Democrats would like during their Presidency and extrapolating these to mean 'Democrats won't take on Wall Street/Corporations'.
Why is Jon Corzine still walking around free??
Because he is an Obama Bundler...
I see no evidence of that. Obama's Democrats only believe in making society more fair for Obama's Democrats
Lol what?? I guarantee many of the 31 million people who just got health insurance are Republicans; or those who just got allowed to stay on their parents insurance; or those with pre-existing conditions. Millions and millions of Americans - including Republicans. Although they may no LONGER be Republicans given what Mitt and his party think of equal access to healthcare...
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/09/10/obama-and-democrats-want-to-conquer-america-not-unite-it/
Pretty much says it all..
And the majority of American voters see it THAT exact same way...
Lol what?? I guarantee many of the 31 million people who just got health insurance are Republicans; or those who just got allowed to stay on their parents insurance; or those with pre-existing conditions. Millions and millions of Americans - including Republicans. Although they may no LONGER be Republicans given what Mitt and his party think of equal access to healthcare...
You mean the health care "reform" that the majority of Americans didn't want and the majority of Americans want repealed??
The new "reform" that levies hundreds of new taxes??
THAT health care??? :D
If your ONLY defense of Democrats is that Republicans are worse, then I would say that it is a pretty piss poor defense...
I mean, seriously.. Look at it..
That's about the best (and ONLY) argument that the Left has...
Where is all the high and mighty "Hope" and "Change" and grand aspirations?? Where is all the "Not Red States, Not Blue States, But A UNITED States"???
NOW, the ONLY argument that the Left has is...
"The other guys are worse!!"
How completely and utterly pathetic....
Let's see if Obama can win on THAT....
Michale.....
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/80998.html
Poor guy..
This is the mood of the country against Obama...
And in a SWING STATE no less...
Michale.....
Defense firms confirm layoff warnings
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81007.html
And, for Obama.....
"The hit's just keep on comin'!!!"
-Tom Cruise, A FEW GOOD MEN
Why is Jon Corzine still walking around free??
same reason scooter libby is still walking around free. same reason there hasn't been a single CEO prosecuted for the subprime housing crisis.
in the USA of citizens' united, the ultra-rich and politically connected don't have to live by the same rules as the rest of us.
same reason scooter libby is still walking around free. same reason there hasn't been a single CEO prosecuted for the subprime housing crisis.
Apples and Eskimos..
Libby WAS prosecuted...
Corzine hasn't even been arrested...
All I am saying is that Democrats give GREAT lip service to taking on Wall Street...
But, as the facts clearly show, Bush was a LOT more aggressive in going after Republican white collar crooks than Obama has been against Dem white collar crooks. ...
Was Bush perfect?? Of course not.
But, compared to Obama, he is damn sure close...
Now, if you are a polling agency that gives a poll that Obama doesn't like, he'll go after you like gangbusters!
But if you are a Dem bundler/donor?? You get carte blanche
On another subject..
What's your take on the Chicago teachers strike, Joshua??
Michale.....
in the USA of citizens' united, the ultra-rich and politically connected don't have to live by the same rules as the rest of us.
I completely agree..
What MY beef is, is that your average hysterical Lefty believes that THAT group is ONLY made up of Republicans..
The Left doesn't realize that they are supporting leaders that are part of the PROBLEM, not part of the solution..
Michale....
And so it begins...
http://washingtonexaminer.com/rahm-the-president-supports-me-against-striking-teachers/article/2507638#.UE-b_1GnzUJ
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/09/10/breaking-teachers-strike-expected-to-enter-2nd-day/
I have a feeling that Unions are going to become very inconvenient to the Obama administration...
What's your take on the Chicago teachers strike, Joshua??
although i personally disagree with a general work stoppage, i fully support the reasons behind the strike. standardized tests, charter schools, "merit" pay, cutting benefits, longer school days, "value-added," it's a hit list of everything that costs a lot and doesn't help.
the obama administration's version of "reform" is wrong in every imaginable way, and it was only a matter of time until it got so bad that someone got out the torches and pitchforks. because my first priority is the well-being of the students, my solution would be to work under protest, refuse as a group to participate in any of the invalid reform measures; allow students to experience first-hand the meaning of civil disobedience. why not hold an international food fair on standardized testing days - it would probably do substantially more good.
the president has put himself in a position of weakness by trying to have it both ways. either he throws his union supporters under the bus or he admits his own plan is garbage, which of course it is.
the president has put himself in a position of weakness by trying to have it both ways. either he throws his union supporters under the bus or he admits his own plan is garbage, which of course it is.
The day that Obama admits his own plan is garbage is the day that I am crowned Plenipotentiary Emperor Of The Universe..
Will you attend my coronation?? :D
Michale.....
I do have to admit... I don't really know enough to see eye to eye with you on the issue of standardized tests as it pertains to ensuring quality education. I mean, on the face of it, it makes a LOT of sense..
But I read an analogy that also seems to make sense..
“The only plan is to give students more and more standardized tests,” said McIntyre, who is chairman of the international studies department at DePaul University. “It’s like trying to make a calf grow by weighing it enough.”
Now THAT explained things too me a LOT more than anything else...
Michale.....
I mean, on the face of it, it makes a LOT of sense..
that's part of the problem - the people who make (and sell) the tests substitute code words like "learning gains," which imply that test scores and learning gains are the same thing. but they're not. testing once every few years gives a rough picture of the student and allows educators to identify outliers like the gifted and learning disabled, but the tests don't cover enough material to tell anything meaningful about the student from year to year much less about the school or the teacher. if they covered that much material, there would be no time left to teach the material.
standardized achievement tests once every few years are very useful to find areas of strength and weakness, and predict a student's future performance. however, they follow an economic principle called diminishing marginal utility. simply stated, the more you test, the less good it does.
Let me ask ya this, NY...
Are you against testing in general??
Or just grand mandated standardized testing??
Michale.....
Michale,
I am in favor of using tests for the purposes that they were originally designed for, and which they best serve. along with project based learning, teacher-created content area exams are a bedrock of successful evaluation of students. they're incredibly cheap and highly valid, because they are specifically designed to assess what was taught in each classroom.
low-stakes standardized achievement tests, perhaps once every three to four years, are also very useful to weed out the high performing students for enrichment and the low performing students for special remediation. the top and bottom 15% might benefit from additional evaluations that are targeted to their ability grouping, but for the 70% in the middle it's basically just a waste of time that could have been spent learning.
when standardized tests become high-stakes for non-elite students, it creates an atmosphere of high stress that they're not prepared to handle. often it sours them on school in general, and makes it difficult for them to learn anything else for weeks before and after the test dates. essentially, high stakes standardized tests remove about a month of learning from each school year. since the institution of NCLB it's no wonder that our international ranking has tanked. yet reformers insist that the problem must somehow stem from not testing enough. it boggles the mind.
~joshua
Thanx, Joshua..
I learned something new today.. :D
Michale.....
Always happy to educate :)
"For me, being a teacher isn’t just what I do -- it’s who I am.
~Jill Biden
"For me, being a teacher isn’t just what I do -- it’s who I am.
~Jill Biden
She stole that line from James Woods.. :D
"You're not gonna learn what it means to be a cop by eating hot dogs and picking your teeth and asking stupid questions. We live this job. It's something we are, not something we do!"
-James Woods, THE HARD WAY
But I understand the sentiment and kudos to Mrs Biden. And to you. :D
Michale.....
james woods (or whoever wrote the script for the hard way) stole the line too. it's been a folk saying for substantially longer than i've been alive, and probably you too.
My guitar is not a thing. It is an extension of myself. It is who I am.
Joan Jett
james woods (or whoever wrote the script for the hard way) stole the line too. it's been a folk saying for substantially longer than i've been alive, and probably you too.
Touche' :D
Michale.....