I never listened to her speeches before, so I have nothing to really compare it to, but I did not think it was an especially great speech. But it did two things really well - it stuck it to McCain and energized the crowd. We will need that kind of energy for another 10 weeks.

Thanks for the reassessment, though it wasn't any better than the first one. She mentioned Obama's name 12 times, that's hardly ignoring. Sure, she didn't talk about his childhood, or his love of St Augustine, but she praised him as the only one in this contest capable of changing the course of this country.

SOMEONE had to do the attacking.

Firking Warner.

Exactly! All day I was hoping she would really pile onto McCain in her speech, but was worried she'd just say nice things about Obama.

People have been saying nice things about Obama all week -- who cares. The only way to get those few remaining Democrats over is to remind them of the alternative.

And as Anthony says above, SOMEONE had to do it.

Geez, Sam ... it sucked a few hours ago, but soon you'll be calling it the Gettysburg Address.

I think I must have been watching a different speech. The one I watched had Hillary saying lots of good things about Obama, and making a good case for him to be president. Sure, it had a lot about Hillary in it too, but that's to be expected as she is one of the few Democratic superstars.

Also, it made perfect sense for her to go most on the offensive against McCain, for multiple reasons. One big one is to reverse all the times during the primaries that she said McCain was ready to be president while Obama was not. Another big one is because she has a rep as a battler, having been the target of the VRWC lo these many years.

I thought it was a great, inspiring speech, and that Hillary was playing the perfect role for her at this convention. And she removed any fig leaf her "hardest core supporters" might have had to justify spurning Obama.

What can a country achieve in 7 years?!?

"...the culmination of seven years of national investment, planning, concentrated state power, national mobilization and hard work."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/opinion/27friedman.html?ex=1377576000&en=1b1efd63601e7e7a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

"...Seven years ... Seven years ... Oh, that’s right. China was awarded these Olympic Games on July 13, 2001 — just two months before 9/11."

And what have we done in the past 7 years. Entered into an unnecessary war in Iraq, and couldn't finish a war in Afghanistan. Budget surplus ,to record budget deficit. High employment and rising wages, to higher unemployment and lower or stagnant wages. World leaders to also-ran. From a shining city on the hill, to bitter national, racial and religious divide.

I'm not complaining. I take as much blame for the past 7 years. I, we, didn't do enough to make sure the administration changed in 2004. This year can be different.

Instead of complaining, I, we, can ask "what do I want the next 7 years to be like? What world, country, and future do I want to look back on in 7 years? And what candidate believes in what I believe in?"
--
Kevin B

I'm saying it now: President Barack H. Obama, Jr., 2009 - 2017

The self-fulfilling prophicies have been fulfilled...there was no way Clinton was going to win with this speech, even though it was a grand slam for partisan Democrats.

What if she had, indeed, said that Obama was now ready to be President? Wouldn't the media have endlessly debated whether she truly meant it or was just being calculating? Wouldn't the media have discounted it?

Give her a break...she did an absolutely terrific, wonderful job--and this coming from an Obama supporter who strongly disliked Clinton's tactics in the primaries.

First, I thought the speech was the best she could have given.

She was in an almost no-win situation. But she pulled it off (pundits be damned).

Basically, her speech, while addressed to the whole party, was really meant for her supporters. She talked about herself and the reasons she ran in order to help validate their efforts. And I think it was brilliant the way she posed the question, "Did you support my candidacy for me? Or for [the examples of hardship I just named]?" It was a way of saying to her supporters, "Yeah, we fought hard, but the primary battle is not nearly as important as the general election. So quit sulking and face reality. McCain is not going to support your values."

She didn't need to rehash any of her comments (as some on PBS thought she should have) because then she could have gone down the road of bitterness (or been perceived to do so).

The theme last night was about moving forward and looking to the future and that is exactly what Sen. Clinton did with her speech.

her hardest core supporters probably aren't going to be convinced that Obama is awesome

Or even more: they're turned off by speeches about how Obama is awesome. I don't think Obama is so vain that he thinks everyone will be won over by a message of his awesomeness. It'll win some people and distract others. Hillary did a good job of making a case for voting Obama that has nothing to do with liking him (read: that's persuasive to people who don't like him).

What have we done in the past 7 years. Entered into an unnecessary war in Iraq, and couldn't finish a war in Afghanistan. Budget surplus ,to record budget deficit. High employment and rising wages, to higher unemployment and lower or stagnant wages. World leaders to also-ran. From a shining city on the hill, to bitter national, racial and religious divide.