Kennedy: perfect bastard

The Boston Herald offers Democrat convention attendees a look at Teresa Heinz Kerry that they may be not too familiar with. Teresa is quoted on the article from a book published when she was still a Republican married to Senator Heinz, where she got her billion

In comments published in a little-known 1975 book about political wives called ``The Power Lovers: An Intimate Look at Politicians and Their Marriages,'' Heinz Kerry lashed out at the senator she'll share the primetime convention stage with tonight:

"I know some couples who stay together only for politics,'' Heinz Kerry said at the time. ``If Ted Kennedy holds on to that marriage (to ex-wife Joan) just for the Catholic vote, as some people say he does, then I think he's a perfect bastard.''

It is also reported that Teresa stated, ``The Democratic machine in this country is putrid.'' Excerpts of the comments appeared in The Boston Herald American in January 1976.

Bush bashing starts

Analysis by Roger Wm. Hughes

After being told that there would be no Bush bashing at the Democrat Convention, that was the fare of the opening night. It started with Al Gore saying that the election was stolen from him. He also, like Sen. John Kerry and the rest of the Democrats speaking at the convention, sought to sell American interest off to foreign governments:

"Wouldn’t we be better off with a new president who hasn’t burned his bridges to our allies, and who could rebuild respect for America in the world? Isn’t cooperation with other nations crucial to solving our dilemma in Iraq? Isn’t it also critical to defeating the terrorists?" Al Gore said.

Former President Jimmy Carter called Bush a liar without saying Bush’s name or the word liar:

"Truth is the foundation of our global leadership, but our credibility has been shattered, and we are left increasingly isolated and vulnerable in a hostile world. Without truth, without trust, America cannot flourish. Trust is at the very heart of our democracy, the sacred covenant between a president and the people. When that trust is violated, the bonds that hold our republic together begin to weaken," said Carter

Carter went on to call Bush extreme without using his name several times. This all happened without ever calling the Islamic terrorists extreme:

"What a difference these few months of extremism have made. The United States has alienated its allies, dismayed its friends, and inadvertently gratified its enemies by proclaiming a confused and disturbing strategy of preemptive war. With our allies disunited, the world resenting us, and the Middle East ablaze, we need John Kerry to restore life to the global war against terrorism," said Carter.

The grand finale was former President Bill Clinton, who failed to mention anything about "doing" Monica Lewinsky just because he could. He instead referred to his era of prosperity. He failed to mention that it only began after Newt Gingrich and the Republicans took control of the House and Senate. Clinton also continued with the socialization of America, which the first two years of his Presidency is most noted for. He covered it up by dividing the nation into class warfare:

"On the other hand, Republicans in Washington believe that America should be run by the right people, their people, in a world in which America acts unilaterally when we can, and cooperates when we have to. They believe the role of government is to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of those who embrace their economic, political and social views, leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves on important matters like health care and retirement security," Clinton said.

Clinton brought down the house with his closing metaphor of Kerry’s service on a swift boat:

"Since we're all in the same boat, we should choose a captain of our ship who is a brave, good man, who knows how to steer a vessel through troubled waters to the calm seas and the clear skies of our more perfect union. (Cheers, applause.) That is our mission. So let us join tonight and say to America in a loud, clear voice: "Send John Kerry!" Clinton said. (standing ovation)

The likelihood of tonight’s convention being less egregious in its bashing of Bush, despite the word that there would be no Bush bashing, is unlikely. Sen. Ted (Chappaquiddick) Kennedy -- who has called for the impeachment of President Bush -- is scheduled to speak.

Vote to impeach ad to run

The Vote to Impeach organization announced that their ad to impeach President Bush will run in the Boston Globe while the convention is in town. The organization previously ran the ad in the NY Times. Here is an excerpt from the announcement:

Dear VoteToImpeach / ImpeachBush.org Member,

The ImpeachBush/VoteToImpeach.org members have done it again! The Boston Globe full-page ad is set to appear this Tuesday, July 27th. This is a tremendous accomplishment. The entire national and world media are in Boston this week for the Democratic National Convention. By placing a full-page ad in the Boston Globe, the Impeach Bush campaign will not only reach a large New England audience but most of the world media. 

Convention Yawn

Networks ratings were terrible for opening of Democrat Convention despite both Clintons appearing. Reports are that viewership was at an all time low:

ABCNEWS JENNINGS WITH 3.5 RATING/5 SHARE [DOWN FROM 4.5/8 IN 2000]; NBCNEWS BROKAW 3.3/5 [2000:4.8/9]; CBS DAN RATHER 3.2/5 [2000:3.8/7... TRAIL ALL OTHER PRIME-TIME MONDAY PROGRAMMING [CBS:MIAMI RERUN ON CBS PULLS 8.6 RATING/13 SHARE].