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"My fellow Virginians, we stand here this morning at this defining moment, a defining moment that yes, started with two people on a walk, and a defining moment that is now millions of Virginians walking together. Walking together, sharing dreams and hopes, just like the ones that have always been planted on my own heart, dreams and hopes for a Virginia that soars, a Virginia that never settles, a Virginia where the Virginia Promise comes alive for everyone that calls this Virginia home. Together, we will change the trajectory of this Commonwealth. And friends, we are going to start that...

Start your livers. The DNC drinking game Monday night was so painful (and Tuesday was worse), that I’ve decided to shorten the game tonight to cover Joe Biden’s acceptance speech only. I watched Biden speak probably a half-dozen times during the primary campaign, and perhaps a half-dozen times before. He has definite tendencies, and his stump speech hits the same six or seven notes every time, but convention addresses are different. Every line, every word, will be scripted. There shouldn’t be ad-libs, freak-outs at hecklers, etc. Guessing what an unscripted Joe Biden will do at any given moment is pretty...

It was undoubtedly the most important night of Donald Trump's life when he was elected as the next president of the United States. But for his ten-year-old son Barron, the excitement was all too much. The youngster could barely keep his eyes open as his father made his late night acceptance speech on Tuesday after being voted the 45th President of the United States.

Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business. I’ve just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us, it’s about us, on our victory and I congratulated her and her … Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division. We have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and Independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be President for all Americans and this is so important to me. For those who...

Fear is a powerful instinct. Fear is so potent, and the innate drive to protect one’s self from harm is so overpowering, that it can override almost every other instinct, including those related to intellect and judgment. Which is why Donald Trump desperately wants to frighten you. The obvious problem with the Republican presidential nominee’s convention speech last night is that it was less a speech and more a series of strung together scary falsehoods. [Snip] Trump wants you to be afraid of criminals. And immigrants. And Democrats. And refugees. And government regulations. And quite possibly the monster that could...

Donald Trump's campaign is considering booking one of Cleveland's big sports venues for his acceptance speech in July, two GOP sources familiar with the planning of the upcoming GOP convention say. The sources said First Energy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns, and Progressive Field, home of the city's Indians baseball team, are the two sites under consideration for Trump's acceptance speech on the final night of the convention. One of the sources said the campaign is closing in on signing a contract for use of one of the two venues, with the football stadium currently the favorite for Trump's...

Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. – Jer 33:24 KJV Really?… Whom the Lord hath chosen?So when we have been cast down, even by the chastisement of the Almighty, consider not what others may think, say, or do.You are of them – which the Lord hath chosen.Though thinks look bleak, depression and grief are our companions, and the calendar is a frightful thing, it is not up...

You just knew Hollywood couldn't get through an Oscars broadcast without subjecting viewers to self-important statements of left-wing politics. War, AIDS, gay marriage, global warming - pick a liberal hobby horse and chances are an entertainer used the Academy Awards to give America his or her opinion on it.

Clip of Barack Obama's Democratic nomination acceptance speech, as portrayed by Eddie Murphy. Sounds just like him -- a whole lot of nothing.

Why Palin’s Speech Worked A former vice-presidential speechwriter breaks it down. 4 September 2008 Last night, Sarah Palin, the previously obscure governor of Alaska, demonstrated before a national audience that she has an extraordinary ability to communicate with Americans. As someone who used to make her living writing political speeches, I can say that Palin certainly knows how to deliver one. She is talented at properly inflecting words to maximize dramatic punch, and she doesn’t stumble over timing. These skills, and not the writing, are what make it possible for an audience to really hear a speech. Consider that the...

Happy Labor Day!About 30 - 35 years ago as a young man, I read a book entitled, "The Defense Never Rests" by celebrity attorney F. Lee Bailey (By the way, I never have found out what the "F" stands for). In the book (written WAY BEFORE the OJ trial), attorney Bailey made the assertion that it did not matter what was said but it DID make a difference as to how words were stated in court (The Triumph of Style over Substance). I found Bailey's claim DISTURBING then, and especially after watching Sen. Obama's acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee...

In tone, Obama's big speech was small, partisan, often defensive and occasionally snide. "I've got news for you, John McCain," he exclaimed. "We all put our country first." It was a pattern for the night: I'm not weak -- you are the one who hasn't killed bin Laden with your bare hands. I'm not inexperienced -- you are the one who is old and out of touch. None of this assault was made with grace or wit. And some of the attacks were simply unfair. Is it really credible to blame McCain for a tripling of oil imports during his...

Happy Labor Day!About 30 - 35 years ago as a young man, I read a book entitled, "The Defense Never Rests" by celebrity attorney F. Lee Bailey (By the way, I never have found out what the "F" stands for). In the book (written WAY BEFORE the OJ trial), attorney Bailey made the assertion that it did not matter what was said but it DID make a difference as to how words were stated in court (The Triumph of Style over Substance). I found Bailey's claim DISTURBING then, and especially after watching Sen. Obama's acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee...

Recently, there has been a great deal of chatter concerning whether some are assigning god-like qualities to the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. Fuel will be thrown upon the cult of personality fire surrounding Barack Obama, after his acceptance speech on Thursday night. Obama will be separated from the common people, who will be back at the Pepsi Center--where most of the Democratic Party's Convention has taken place this week. Obama and Party officials have decided to move what may seem like a coronation to many out of the convention hall ...

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 3, 2004 President Bush Thanks Americans in Wed. Acceptance Speech Remarks by the President in Acceptance Speech The Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. 3:08 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We had a long night -- and a great night. (Applause.) The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory. (Applause.) Earlier today, Senator Kerry called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call, he was very gracious. Senator Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters...

Dear Editor, the Tribune: I can’t understand why the media, including the Tribune, have virtually ignored the heart of President George W. Bush’s speech at the Republican convention. The only time he seemed sufficiently committed to move the audience was when he talked about his vision of our mission in Iraq. He promised a "successful democracy in the heart of the Middle East" and called this "the wisest use of American strength." He said, "The progress … will not come easily or all at once," but "America has done this work before," in Germany, when we established "a new democracy...

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I spent Thursday evening on the floor of the Republican convention, and I can report with confidence that the delegates didn't once break into a chant of "OWN-ER-SHIP." They were happy, of course. They would have been happy if George W. Bush had read from the phone book. But when he started discussing his "ownership society," some looked as if they thought he was reading from the phone book. Still, despite dazed delegates and dissing pundits, the first half of President Bush's speech was probably the most enduring part. It may not help Mr. Bush win the election of 2004,...

Monday 6th September 2004 The Republican convention and the specter of dictatorship By Bill Van Auken, SEP presidential candidate George W. Bush's closing speech Thursday night at the Republican National Convention should serve as a warning of what is being prepared by his administration in its pursuit of the interests of America's ruling elite. The festival of fear, intimidation and hatred staged inside Madison Square Garden carried with it the implicit threat of escalating war abroad and dictatorship at home. It expressed the perplexity of a ruling elite that perceives itself as besieged by economic and social contradictions that are...

NEW YORK -- It demonstrates how much confidence Karl Rove has in his candidate that he left so much of the necessary work of the Republican National Convention to be accomplished by President Bush's acceptance speech on the final night in Madison Square Garden. The confidence was not misplaced. Bush did almost everything he could on Thursday night, with a major assist from speechwriters Michael Gerson and Karen Hughes, who can write circles around their counterparts in John Kerry's campaign. [snip] The words he speaks on that subject come from Gerson and Hughes, but the emotion is his own, and...