Obama Is In It To Win It

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is laying out his plan to lead the country into an era of change after what he called eight years of failed policies.

Obama was greeted by tens of thousands of cheering supporters chanting "yes we can."

He emphasized his humble roots and the example of his grandparents' service to the nation and their family.

"I don't know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine," he said. "These are my heroes. Theirs are the stories that shaped me. And it is on their behalf that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as president of the United States."

He brushed aside critiques from his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, accusing him of being out of touch.

"It's not because John McCain doesn't care. it's because John McCain doesn't get it," he said of economic problems facing the country.

Point by point, he compared McCain's policies on the Iraq war, the economy, offshore drilling and health care, accusing him of pursuing the same policies as the Bush administration.

"Next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third," Obama said. "On November 4, we must stand up and say, 'eight is enough.' "

My response:

Let the haters say what they will, but Barack brought it tonight. I am impressed. The two things that impressed me the most is his plan to cut taxes and his plan to push Univeral healthcare. Now, I know my fellow Republicans have a problem with that but on that issue they can kick rocks. If they have ever been without health insurance and really needed it they'd switch parties faster than O.J. will jump on a white woman.

But, I know what it's like to be sick and have to grin and bear it. I know what it's like to watch your child suffer for two days because you are thinking to yourself, "I can't afford to take her to the ER just for them to tell me she has a stomach flu." So for two days I just kept giving my daughter gatorade and anti nausea medicine thinking she would get over it. But when I came home and found her in a coma, I had no choice but to go to the ER. I still thought it was a stomach flu -- a real bad one. When I got to the hospital, the doctor and the chaplain were waiting on me. They told me my child may not make it through the night. She didn't have a stomach flu. She had diabetes. My child almost died because I was worried about an emergency room bill. If I had taken her earlier she would not have gone into such a crisis. Normal blood sugar is around 120 to 140. Hers was 1200. Prayer is what kept her alive.

So, yeah, I'm a Republican, but on this one...I'm with Barack and the Dixiecrats... I mean the Democrats. And if these Republicans tick me off I'm switchin' parties -- again.

Sherraye Speaks: On Bill Clinton's DNC Speech

I cheered when Kendrick Meek introduced him. I forgot I was mad at him. Then I saw the look on Michelle Obama’s face and I remembered. Oh, yeah, we mad at him. But dang it, it’s hard to stay mad at one of the greatest President’s in the history of our country. Despite how badly he behaved over the last few months. I still love him. And so now, I’m not angry at him anymore…I’m hurt. I would have expected a lot of the things he said to come out of some other politician’s mouth, but not his.

Michelle is smiling now and I’m so glad because I want this Obama/Clinton rift to heal. I want to love the Clinton’s again. I want Hillary to be President (in 2012) and I want her husband’s legacy to remain intact. I’m hanging on every word. I want him to make it right. Much like a woman who has been betrayed by her man. We just beg them to say something that will make it easier to do what we want to do any way. We want to forgive them because we love them. That’s how I feel about the Clinton’s right now. I want to forgive them because they have meant so much to African Americans over the years. I want to go back to a time when I was enamored by them and in awe of them. Back to a time when we knew they were on our side.

“Come on, Bill!” I’m thinking right now.

“Say something that makes me love you again. Say something that makes me believe in you again.”

He’s saying all the right things, but despite the claps and smiles, Michelle is looking like she ain’t buyin’ it. And frankly, I hate to say it, but I’m not either. His words seem forced, contrived, rehearsed. You know, like when he looked in the camera and adamantly declared,

“I did not have sex with that woman.”

Michelle is still smiling and now it’s even wider and even brighter. Maybe it will be okay after all. Maybe.

Dang. I guess I still love you, Bill, but I’m sorry…I’m just not sure if I believe you…not yet. Make me believe.

Michelle Obama Rocked It

Michelle Obama took center stage at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, stressing her love for the nation and making her case for why her husband should be the next president.

I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president," she said of her husband, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Michelle Obama -- who could be the nation's first African-American first lady -- pushed a theme of unity in light of controversial comments she made on the campaign trail that resulted in speculation about her patriotism.

"All of us are driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won't do -- that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be," she said, closing the first night of the convention.

"That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack's journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

"And you see, that is why I love this country," she said to a standing ovation.

Read the rest here.