Yes, I'm here at the Democratic National Convention ... in Englewood, CO. Any advice? (More after the video.)
I'm headed to the Pepsi Center in a bit to get my credentials. My thoughts on Biden:
He's a serious, tenacious guy with a stirring biography. And he's charismatic. He had the funniest line in all the debates when he was forced to name his favorite thing about the opponent standing to his left - in this case, Kucinich: "Dennis, the thing I like best about you is your wife." He's good looking, too. Most people don't have HD, so they can't see his hair plugs. (Not being snarky, just realistic.)
The focus on his status as the "poorest" member of the Senate is, of course, totally misguided. The press and many Democrats still haven't figured out that most Americans want to be rich. That Biden is $300,000 in debt is hardly inspiring.
Also his Catholicism, another press obsession, is pretty irrelevant. The constant blather about working-class Catholic voters needing someone like Biden on the ticket is both condescending and just plain off-the-mark. That's because Catholicism isn't really a cultural identity like Judaism. (Filipino-Catholics have as much in common culturally with Irish-Catholics as Aleuts and Aussies.)
Most Catholics who self-identify as Catholic are practicing Catholics -- i.e., their Catholicism is defined doctrinally, not culturally. Most of these self-identified Catholics are likely to take issue with Biden's stand on abortion just as they did with Kerry. In other words, don't expect churchgoing Catholics to move in a big direction for Obama just because "one of them" is on the ticket.
***
ON THE PSYCHOANALYTIC FRONT:
Obama's startling introduction of Biden as the "next president" yesterday was more than a slip, make no mistake.
The anxiety Obama must be feeling since McCain's recent surge spilled out in that moment. Biden is meant to shore up the ticket's foreign policy cred (crucial since Russia's invasion of Georgia), yet Obama doesn't want people to think he depends on Biden in the way Bush depends on Cheney. (Biden will be a strong vice-president, yes, but not an above-the-title V.P. like Cheney.)
Likewise Biden's introduction of "Barack America" was a significant slip.
The campaign is still struggling with persistent nasty rumors that Obama isn't really American. Cementing Obama's love of country is high priority, hence the slip.
Or am I just over-therapied?
By the way, has anyone else noticed that spell check recognizes McCain but doesn't recognize Obama?
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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Biden My Time in Denver (At a Really Weird Motel)
Posted Aug 24th 2008 12:30PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 3)
31. Mo,
Suggestions for the headache, starting with the options I think would work:
1) Go accept the offer for the threesome.
2) Take some Advil, rest, drink water, but more importantly DO NOT TOUCH THE CHEAP POT PIE. It does not bode well for your refined New York palate.
3) Open your window and chuck honey nut Cheeros at the gypsy girls.
superduperstacy at 3:28AM on Aug 26th 2008
32. By the way, I absolutely enjoyed your Steely Dan spoof which is why I commented in the first place but pardon me for not being as "creative" as you... I certainly wasn't trying to start a fight...
xx
no fight intended. You and John giza leave me awestruck on occasion. You're both out of the box creative and seriously funny if there is such a thing. that jefferson spoof was four stars as was John's washday puns. I'm not just floored, I'm mop 'n glo-ed!
I was practicing my fingerstyle instrumental version of Josie when I was reading John's Glenn campbell, so up it chucked right then and there.
Sorry if Redd sounded abrasive. He came by it naturally. Did you know his real name, no joke was Fred G. Sanford?
Clif Kuplen at 1:16PM on Aug 26th 2008
33. Oh come on, even gypsies would like that song!
Rocca the Convention '08
FINN at 8:05PM on Aug 25th 2008
Dear Finn,
Less lyrics, more Django Reinhardt, please. We throw in scratched ticked for another dollar.
Yours truly,
The Gypsies
Clif Kuplen at 1:26PM on Aug 26th 2008
34. Careful Mo... they'll distract you and steal your pot pie!
I guess it wouldn't be that big of a loss because you really should avoid eating salty foods if you are dehydrated from the high altitude and dry climate.
Clif, I see your Gypsy and I raise you one Stevie Nicks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56AygasQZx4
Anyway, I sure hope the Dems can pull together behind Barack Obama this week. They really have only one chance at this message of UNITY they are trying to convey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hE5OmpKyc
Rocca the Convention '08
"Lightning strikes maybe once, maybe twice!"
FINN at 3:55PM on Aug 26th 2008
35. Clif, I see your Gypsy and I raise you one Stevie Nicks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56AygasQZx4
xxx
Villain! You have stolen our goat! Return her immediately or we shall curse your figs!
She bleats sweetly but is confused by the Nuages and looks ridiculous in a waxed mustache with a cigarette dangling. Return her at once or she will dine on your wicker!
Clif Kuplen at 7:02PM on Aug 26th 2008
36. Mo, I am cracking up over this one. I just had an interesting experience by staying at Candlewood Suites outside of Chicago.....
The "pantry" was interesting..... the food choices?? Not quite food.......
The "toiletries" for sale appeared to be left-over toiletries from a variety of other hotels, etc.
Thankfully, it was a "business" trip and I didn't have to stay too long!!!
Paula at 3:49PM on Aug 28th 2008