Are you watching any of the Democratic National Convention? / LJWorld.com

Asked at Massachusetts Street on August 27, 2008

“Yes, I already have. I’ll watch Sebelius tonight, and when Barack gets there I’ll hear what he has to say.”

— Rae Johnson, social worker, Lawrence

“I would like to watch it if time permits. I just started graduate school and am pretty busy right now, but hopefully I’ll catch it somehow if I miss it on TV.”

— Micah Bailey, Kansas University graduate student, Lawrence

“No, I’m not. It’s boring. I know I’m in the wrong town, but I’m not really a fan of Sebelius or Obama.”

— Kitrina Lacen, KU senior, Lawrence

“I don’t have a television, but I’m going to watch whatever parts of it become YouTube-worthy.”

— Evan Saathoff, Kansas University junior, Lawrence

Sebelius blasts McCain's "country club economics"

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Aisling 5 years, 7 months ago

well said, Ms. Canada. I, too, am proud of my country but also embarassed and offended by the last 8 years.So, crucify me if you must but it won't change my opinions.

Jim Phillips 5 years, 7 months ago

I find it amusing that John Edwards wasn't allowed to speak at the convention because he lied about having an affair--so they got Bill Clinton to speak instead.

Bruce Rist 5 years, 7 months ago

why is everyone yelling? I understand Hillary ~ She yells at everyone.

tangential_reasoners_anonymous 5 years, 7 months ago

Just flipping channels ( on a rare night with the television on ) ,I passed and then returned to the Convention; Bill was at the podium.And as his broadcast words faded into my background, I briefly pondered those personal failings so exaggerated at the conclusion of those all-but-forgotten days... and I found myself unexpectedly overwhelmed with a sense of the glaring obscenity which the Bush/Cheney/Rove administration has proven itself to be in the opening decade of this, America's 21st Century.

Bladerunner 5 years, 7 months ago

Not just "No" but OMG Fing H E double toothpick NO!

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 5 years, 7 months ago

"more expensive for the government or more expensive on the individual?" - bombshellGovernment is financially supported by individuals, but an endeavor a individual could do for $1, it takes the government $3 to accomplish the same.

kujayhawk 5 years, 7 months ago

I watch and then get depressed about the leadership of this country.

beatrice 5 years, 7 months ago

Marion, thanks for the story from FauxNews that proved what you wrote about Ms. Obama wasn't true. I just curious, how is it even possible to sit at your computer sending messages when your pants are on fire?

dminear60 5 years, 7 months ago

Getting back to the convention...I really miss Tim Russert. And I hope Obama winds by a land slide.

dminear60 5 years, 7 months ago

Can anyone honestly say they are proud of how this country treated Native Americans, incorporated slavery into the Constitution, turned a blind eye to the deplorable black codes, denied Blacks and women the right to vote, interred Japanese Americans in prison camps, and delayed the liberating of the death camps in WW II? There are plenty of reasons why we should feel some shame for the mistakes our country has made. But, does that mean we do not feel pride or patriotism for our country? Of course not. The U.S. is not perfect and hindsight is always 20/20. I am proud to be an American but I am ashamed of some of our country's history.

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

more expensive for the government or more expensive on the individual?

sgtwolverine 5 years, 7 months ago

Gah! The more the government pays for college, the more expensive it's going to get. Maybe having some of it be "free" isn't the greatest idea.

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

.... as a student who paid her way through college, it sounds like I wish I would have gone to school while Obama was president - McCain seems more focused on just making it easier for students to borrow money... he doesn't say anything about reducing the price of college and thus reducing the burden new graduates have for repaying those bulky student loans plus compounding interest.these are things i think about and why I'm voting for Obama in November...just my two cents.

ms_canada 5 years, 7 months ago

Marion - it is possible to love your country and at the same time to be ashamed. I think if my Prime Minister, Mr. Stephen Harper, invaded another country on very spindley evidence of terrorist activity, I would be extremely ashamed to be a part of this country of mine. If you think seriously what it is about your country that you love, you might say something about the beautiful parks, mountains, prairies and lakes. Or you might recount all the great people that your country has produced. Abraham Lincoln, Martin L. King, Helen Keller, Billy Graham, super athletes and others I'm sure you could think of. Great things that have been accomplished by various citizens over the years. These are the things that bring pride and love of your country. But there are also events and acts that have produced severe shame in your heart for your country. I feel shame in my country for the foul treatment of our native people and the way that native youth were treated in the residential schools years ago. These people are still suffering from the effects of that treatment and I hang my head in shame. If you bury your head in the sand and have a one track mind, you are only fooling yourself.

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

McCain:Improve Information for ParentsInstitutions report on hundreds of factors to the U.S. government every year, but the government does nothing with the information. Making this information available to families in a clear and concise manner will help more students make more informed choices about higher education.Simplify Higher Education Tax BenefitsThe existing tax benefits are too complicated, and many eligible families don't claim them. By simplifying the existing benefits, I can ensure that a greater number of families have a lower tax burden when they are helping to send their children to college.Simplify Federal Financial AidToo many programs and a complicated application process deter many eligible students from seeking student aid. The number of programs also makes it more difficult for financial aid officers to help students navigate the process. Consolidating programs will help simplify the administration of these programs, and help more students have a better understanding of their eligibility for aid.Improve Research by Eliminating EarmarksEarmarking is destroying the integrity of federally funded research. Billions of dollars are spent on pork barrel projects every year; significant amounts come from research budgets. Eliminating earmarks would immediately and significantly improve the federal government's support for university research.Fix the Student Lending ProgramsWe have seen significant turmoil in student lending. John McCain has proposed an expansion of the lender-of-last resort capability of the federal student loan system and will demand the highest standard of integrity for participating private lenders. Effective reforms and leveraging the private sector will ensure the necessary funding of higher education aspirations, and create a simpler and more effective program in the process.

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

OBAMA:-Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year's tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due. -Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid: Obama will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application.

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

i just did some research on both mccain and obama's websites. mccain's website is full of the smear campaign we find in his ads, whereas obama's factcheck rebuttles all the hogwash found in mccains ads (factcheck.barackobama.com)anyway, i notice a difference in "Issues" portion of both candidateshave you all looked at the difference? look at the tax section from both candidates - mccains focuses on tax relief for entrepreneurs and lowering the corporate tax.obama has more focus on tax relief for the middle classi'm a recent grad from KU and beyond what academic scholarships offered me, I had to pay a lot of my tuition through student loans (i'm just bringing this particular issue up because it directly affects me) so heres what I found on the two sites about higher education...

macon47 5 years, 7 months ago

I can pick up the real facts tomorrow on fox newswont have to waste my time watching the rodeo in denver

The_Original_Bob 5 years, 7 months ago

"Vote Obama/Biden. It will drive Marion crazy."Not too shabby of a campaign slogan, Bea.

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

beatriceunfortunately... those whack-job right-wing hate mongers on the radio just get worse when their guys are out of power...and... I'm not making fun of these hate mongers... there is nothing funny about them... far too many sheeple and ditto-heads...it's scary stuff: they all sound like Hitler to me:

beatrice 5 years, 7 months ago

"and the "Mrs. H. Obama" crap is typical of right-wing hate mongering over the past 20 years:"And Exactly why the Republicans need to be soundly defeated in November. The only way the Republicans will change is if they are forced to. So far from McCain, I've only seen more of the same old, same old. He only runs attack ads. Does he even have a platform (besides just continuing Bush's failed economic and foreigh policies that is)? It is fun to make jokes about the hate mongering (and very well done, bombshell), but the truth is -- it is hate mongering! How can we award this behavior with four more years of the same failed policies? A conservative view can be beneficial in several areas of our lives, but when the hate is piled on top of it, the whole thing simply needs to get scratched and the hate portion removed. Vote Obama. It will drive Marion crazy. (crazier?)

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

and I'll just add... for myself... the last time I felt anything like pride for America was in July 1969...despite all the things there were to be ashamed of at the time...

Windlass 5 years, 7 months ago

In response, the Bush administration, with the bipartisan support of the Democratic Party and its presidential candidate Barack Obama, is preparing to deploy an additional 12,000 US combat troops, beginning with a brigade, possibly as early as November. The British government is reportedly preparing to send an additional 4,500 troops, boosting its troop numbers in Afghanistan to over 12,000. Other European powers are being pressured by Washington to send more forces.

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

so, Marion... did you lie? or did you just not know any better?

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

what is the distance between being ashamed and not being proud?how many miles?how many universes can pass through that distinction?~chuckle~anything that we are not proud of we are ashamed of?wow... what a concept...

Marion Lynn 5 years, 7 months ago

cont'd:But conservative outlets aren't so ready to let her off the hook."Can it really be there has not been a moment during that time when she felt proud of her country?" reads an article in Commentary magazine. "Forget matters like the victory in the Cold War; how about only things that have made liberals proud - all the accomplishments of inclusion? How about the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991? Or Ruth Bader Ginsburg's elevation to the Supreme Court?"The article then says Michelle Obama's comments suggest "the pseudo-messianic nature of the Obama candidacy is very much a part of the way the Obamas themselves are feeling."Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol said the comment "was sort of revealing.""She was an adult when we won the Cold War without firing a shot. She was an adult for the last 25 years of economic progress, social progress," he told FOX News. "I think the Democrats have to be careful : they're running against the status quo : You have to be careful not to let that slide into a kind of indictment of America. Because I don't think the American people think on the whole that the last 25 years of American history is a narrative of despair and nothing to be proud of."Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said Obama "shouldn't have said it the way she said it" but she gets the benefit of his doubt. He added that she most likely was just referring to the grassroots movement that's swelled to support her husband, but she needs to be more careful."The Obama's have to recognize they are now front-runners, and everything they say, it's now open hunting season for people," he said.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331288,00.html

Marion Lynn 5 years, 7 months ago

Michelle Obama Takes Heat for Saying She's 'Proud of My Country' for the First TimeTuesday , February 19, 2008Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, is under fire for leaving the impression that she hasn't been proud of her country until now, when Democrats are beginning to rally around her husband's campaign.Speaking in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, she said, "People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and : for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."Greeted with rousing applause after making the comment in Milwaukee, Obama delivered an amended version of the speech later that day in Madison, Wis."For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country : not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change," she said. "I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment."Obama was born in 1964, meaning her adult life began in 1982. Critics quickly seized on the newfound national pride."I am proud of my country," John McCain's wife, Cindy, said at a campaign stop in Brookfield, Wis., Tuesday. "I don't know if you heard those words earlier : but I am very proud of my country."During a follow up press conference, the Arizona senator was asked if they were responding to Michelle Obama and he deferred to his wife.McCain responded: "I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country."Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the candidate's wife wasn't trying to knock her country, only underscore the meaning behind her husband's campaign."The point is that of course Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn't be possible in any other nation on Earth," she said. "What she meant is that she's really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who've never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change."cont'd:

autie 5 years, 7 months ago

Ashamed to be an American? Never. But I might be embarassed at times..like when one of our citizens claims to forget Canada is even there and thinks Wayne Gretzky is the president.

dminear60 5 years, 7 months ago

Marion: She never said she was ashamed to be an American. bombshell is correct, Mrs. Obama's words were taken out of context.

Marion Lynn 5 years, 7 months ago

The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says: "Is Lynn your husbands middle name?"Comedy Gold, everytime!"Marion writes:TOB, laughing right along with you on that one!

invictus 5 years, 7 months ago

we Canadians do keep a sharp eye out on the goings on south of the borderWe Americans forget that Canada is even there, thanks for reminding us. Who is you president again? Wayne Gretzky?

The_Original_Bob 5 years, 7 months ago

"Is Lynn your husbands middle name?"Comedy Gold, everytime!

bad_dog 5 years, 7 months ago

You must be taking Marion out of context, bombshell...

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

bombshellI know what Michelle Obama said about being proud of America for the first time in her adult life... I suspect that Marion either doesn't know what Mairon is talking about or is out and out lying...typical on-line political junk... and the "Mrs. H. Obama" crap is typical of right-wing hate mongering over the past 20 years...it's the kind of thing you hear from Rush Limbough, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck...inane, 3rd grade mentality crapola...

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

she didn't say she was ashamed to be an Americanwhat she said was taken out of context, the same way a lot of what any of us (me, you, everyone)say, I'm sure, can be taken out of contextWhats with the Mrs. H. Obama? Is it customary for women in your family to take on both the middle name and last name of their husbands? Is Lynn your husbands middle name?

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

Marion do you have a source on Michelle Obama saying that she was ashamed to be an American?that is... assuming that you are referring to Michelle Obama...

Marion Lynn 5 years, 7 months ago

But a few months back, Mrs. H.Obama said that she was ashamed to be an American, now she loves the country?

ms_canada 5 years, 7 months ago

I am not terribly fond of watching political speeches. They never ring true to me. But, we Canadians do keep a sharp eye out on the goings on south of the border. I was very impressed by Michelle Obama. She a nice natural style of speaking that did not seem phoney to me. Hilary is too animated for my taste. But I did get a chuckle from the travelling Pant suit.

cds 5 years, 7 months ago

jumpin_catfish (Anonymous) says: How'd Kitrina get included? She's not speaking the party line and needs more re-programming.__Simple, she was the only one walking downtown at the time with bug eyed sunglass's!!__I won't waste my time watching pep-rallys, give me a debate with some actual substance and real answers and I might watch that. The convention to me is nothing more than an overly long comercial, politicians trying to sell themselves to you.

BigAl 5 years, 7 months ago

I caught the "fair and balanced" FOX news critique on Hillary's speach. The "fair and balanced" panel was Bill O'Reilly, Karl Rove, Dennis Miller and Laura Ingram. Seems fair and balanced to me. And later on Hannity & Colmes, their "fair and balanced" guests were Dick Morris and Mitt Romney.Yes sir, that liberal press is something......

spiderman 5 years, 7 months ago

yes watching for a glimmer of hope.Chomsky quotes the late John Deweyon class war part one - will Obama / Bidenaddress these issues?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbtpNb...

beatrice 5 years, 7 months ago

What has NOW done to deserve being impeached?

autie 5 years, 7 months ago

Impeach now? Actually I just had a really nice Arkansas peach. I do love the fresh peaches in August.

Windlass 5 years, 7 months ago

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=4528Impeach NOW

beatrice 5 years, 7 months ago

TOB, he was making fun of democrats? I just thought he didn't like Satan's rodents -- I mean, who does? bombshell, regarding the "experience" issue the GOP group harped on after the speech, all I could think of is that George W. Bush has 8 years of experience as President -- how has that helped us? Intelligence and vision are crucial. Obama / Biden!

autie 5 years, 7 months ago

jumpin catfish, how did Kitrina get included. Well, she is pretty. I'd stop and talk to her.TOB, instead of Lee Mercer, how about Roy D. Mercer? Now that would be worth watching. Maybe he could call John McCain and ask him, "How big of ole boy are ya?"

bad_dog 5 years, 7 months ago

Four more months!!!!!Bombshell, if you thought the Republican post-mortem was bad, I hope you had the chance to hear Karl Rove. His take on the inadequacies of Hillary's speech was both inane and hilarious. Almost as funny as Hillary's line about the appropriateness of having Bush and McSame in the "Twin Cities".

countrygirl 5 years, 7 months ago

Only if I can't sleep.

bombshell 5 years, 7 months ago

bea - i agree. and i have to say i laughed at the comment about the "sisterhood of the travelling pant suits" ... i think clinton did a good job of doing what she wanted to do with her speech - trying to rally the her supporters and obama supporters together as democrats to put obama in the White House and blatantly pointing her finger at some of her supporters who have been quoted as saying they're so mad hillary didn't get the nomination that they're gonna vote for mccain. that form of thinking is illogical to me (i understand maybe some of them are 'questioning Obama's foreign policy experience' but with Biden as VP I think that is less of an issue)Also, I think the Republican-post-Hillary-speech-commentary was rather upsurd. Each of them said the same thing "she didn't say that he was gonna be ready to be commander in chief from day one..." However, as I look at it, the fact that she reiterated time and time again that we need Obama to be our next president, No Way No How No McCain, etc pretty much shows she believes he's gonna be ready to be our president. She wouldn't back him if she didn't think he was ready.

The_Original_Bob 5 years, 7 months ago

"Isn't it funny that Marion tries to pass as an adult." BeaI am always greatly entertained by Girlfriend's posts. You see what he did... he typed DemonRat to make fun of democrats. That is just brilliant comedy. Kneeslapper.

jumpin_catfish 5 years, 7 months ago

How'd Kitrina get included? She's not speaking the party line and needs more re-programming.

beatrice 5 years, 7 months ago

I watched Hillary Clinton's speach, and it was terrific. Very moving. Pointing out that her mother wasn't allowed to vote, yet her daught was able to vote for her mother for President. That is powerful stuff -- if you believe women have the right to vote.Best part: No Way! No How! No McCain!It may not be poetry, but it gets to the heart of the matter. Obama for President!

beatrice 5 years, 7 months ago

Isn't it funny that Marion tries to pass as an adult.

sgtwolverine 5 years, 7 months ago

TOB, if they'd allowed Mercer to speak, the election would have been decided -- nobody can beat Mercer. Nobody.As to the question: politics bore me. Besides, football season starts this weekend, and that makes it hard for me to care about much else right now.

Marion Lynn 5 years, 7 months ago

No, the DemonRat convention is a poor imitation of Comedy Central.

mom_of_three 5 years, 7 months ago

No, I will not watch either convention. Boring, and if I miss what they say this time, I am sure they will say it later at a different date, so I am not missing anything.

N_Trenched 5 years, 7 months ago

I'm still waiting on the global warming study to come out of Denver. The "Dims" have that town lit up like Clark Griswold's house. I guess that issue only applies to the "NON ELITE" that live in the real world.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 5 years, 7 months ago

The only thing happening in Denver this week is ""conventional prostitution", "conventional drug use," and "conventional drunkeness", and television is no way to experience that.That being said, it's probably a good lead into the 4th Annual Modern Drunkard Convention at 3Kings Tavern in Denver on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

RonBurgandy 5 years, 7 months ago

Of course.

POCO 5 years, 7 months ago

Absolutely... I haven't missed watching both conventions for years. I love watching how both sides address issues. Conventions do not make me change my mind on who to vote for, but watching the players work out their moves is fascinating. Then, hearing the media tell us what we have just heard, one wonders if they have been listening to a different event.

canyon_wren 5 years, 7 months ago

autie said it for me. I have no TV, anyway, but somehow all those political things seem so contrived and planned as a "media event"--nothing genuine about them. November can't come too soon for me, except that it begins the 2012 campaign!

The_Original_Bob 5 years, 7 months ago

Um, no. Not a big fan of pep rallies. It is much too nice out to be sitting inside watching a bunch of gasbags. If anything newsworthy comes out of this staged media event, I can read it in the paper. Same goes for the other party's upcoming mastubatory gala.Now, if the Democrats had of allowed Lee Mercer, Jr. to speak, well, I'd be in Denver right now.

jonas 5 years, 7 months ago

Errr. . . is that going on right now? Oh well, back to work.

autie 5 years, 7 months ago

As politically aware as I like to be...NO. Why bother? A bunch of feel good speech making that says nothing we don't already know..It's not like the outcome was ever in question. Besides that, it would interrupt my watching the Royals getting their a**es handed to them...again and again and again.

Flap Doodle 5 years, 7 months ago

I'm watching the sock puppet echo convention on the Sock Puppet Channel (all sock puppets, all the time!)

GSWtotheheart 5 years, 7 months ago

what convention????

stuckinthemiddle 5 years, 7 months ago

if Katrina read the comments here at the LJW she'd know that there is no shortage of right-wing Sebelious and Obama haters here in Lawrence...

Tom Shewmon 5 years, 7 months ago

I'm enjoying the DNC. I'm enjoying it because it's quite interesting to see some of the biggest elitist of the Democratic Party, The New Party Of The Rich, tell America how Republicans have given them the shaft for eight years and even longer. What a spectacle. My wife is alot smarter than me and when I look over and she is squinting her eyes, massaging her temples, asking me to make her a drink and saying "Please change it Tom---that's enough!" I know for sure my sentiments are dead on.

ChristmasCarol 5 years, 7 months ago

I am going to watch Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands instead. I think it is much more historically beneficial to watch. If I get time I might settle in with Nightmare on Elm Street.He is soooo cute!!!!!!

milkman_dan 5 years, 7 months ago

Whenever my libido gets too high, I try to get a glimpse of Hillary or Michelle. They could bottle them to lower over-active libidos. It could cure rapists.

75x55 5 years, 7 months ago

Not to worry, BigPrune - it is obvious that Kitrina knows how to blend into hostile environments. Check out the big bug-eyed sunglasses in this downtown shot - she's obviously doing a great job as an agent of the VRWC. :D

BigPrune 5 years, 7 months ago

Kitrina is too young to realize the ramifications of her statement in this town. She should expect at least one failing grade. Freedom of speech is guaranteed for Democrats only. It's the fascist philosophy.As for the Democratic Convention for me, no way. Their patriarch is Ted "Chappaquiddick" Kennedy. Another reason why McCain leads in the polls/electoral college. Historically a significant bump is supposed to happen in the polls when the nominee announces the VP selection and at convention time. With Obama, he's actually lost supporters.

couranna1 5 years, 7 months ago

I do watch them. I like to know what it is going on

Reason McLucus 5 years, 7 months ago

I stopped watching the party pep rallies years ago. They were more exciting when I was in high school and college. For example, I still remember the 1960 Democratic Convention ( I was a high school freshman). Kennedy's nomination was still in doubt when the polled the Kansas delegation and Gov. George Docking and the Kansas delegation was caucusing. By the time they finished another state had pushed Kennedy over the top.

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