Wow. I loved John Kerry’s speech last night. Sure, it was a little long on time and short on specifics, but it was the perfect speech to sell him to the American people. For me, last night was when the election became more about electing John Kerry than defeating George Bush. When all is said and done, I think John Kerry will make a damn good president.

Since most political speeches these days are a collection of soundbytes anyways, lemme quote some of my favorite parts of the speech :

I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war. I will have a Vice President who will not conduct secret meetings with polluters to rewrite our environmental laws. I will have a Secretary of Defense who will listen to the best advice of our military leaders. And I will appoint an Attorney General who actually upholds the Constitution of the United States.

Great way to remind people that it’s about more than just Bush himself, but his whole administration.

They say this is the best economy we’ve ever had. And they say that anyone who thinks otherwise is a pessimist. Well, here is our answer: There is nothing more pessimistic than saying America can’t do better.

I love that he’s addressing the President’s attacks directly.

I know what kids go through when they are carrying an M-16 in a dangerous place and they can’t tell friend from foe. I know what they go through when they’re out on patrol at night and they don’t know what’s coming around the next bend. I know what it’s like to write letters home telling your family that everything’s all right when you’re not sure that’s true.

As President, I will wage this war with the lessons I learned in war. Before you go to battle, you have to be able to look a parent in the eye and truthfully say: “I tried everything possible to avoid sending your son or daughter into harm’s way. But we had no choice. We had to protect the American people, fundamental American values from a threat that was real and imminent.” So lesson one, this is the only justification for going to war.

And on my first day in office, I will send a message to every man and woman in our armed forces: You will never be asked to fight a war without a plan to win the peace.

Even with the Vietnam thing being repeated ad infinitum for a week, this is the most effective mention of his service I’ve seen yet. He’s basically saying “I know what it’s like to fight a bullshit war and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again”. Perfect.

For four years, we’ve heard a lot of talk about values. But values spoken without actions taken are just slogans. Values are not just words. They’re what we live by. They’re about the causes we champion and the people we fight for. And it is time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families.

Yeah, it’s essentially a one-liner, but it’s a damn good one.

Perhaps the most important part of the speech was when he aimed his words at President Bush :

I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush: In the weeks ahead, let’s be optimists, not just opponents. Let’s build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let’s honor this nation’s diversity; let’s respect one another; and let’s never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States.

My friends, the high road may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And that’s why Republicans and Democrats must make this election a contest of big ideas, not small-minded attacks. This is our time to reject the kind of politics calculated to divide race from race, group from group, region from region. Maybe some just see us divided into red states and blue states, but I see us as one America ? red, white, and blue. And when I am President, the government I lead will enlist people of talent, Republicans as well as Democrats, to find the common ground ? so that no one who has something to contribute will be left on the sidelines.

And let me say it plainly: in that cause, and in this campaign, we welcome people of faith. America is not us and them. I think of what Ron Reagan said of his father a few weeks ago, and I want to say this to you tonight: I don’t wear my own faith on my sleeve. But faith has given me values and hope to live by, from Vietnam to this day, from Sunday to Sunday. I don’t want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are on God’s side. And whatever our faith, one belief should bind us all: The measure of our character is our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country.

Damn good sentiment, but was the President listening? Of course not.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Kerry’s acceptance speech was “nicely crafted” — but contained “nothing new in terms of vision.”
. . .
The spokesman said the president didn’t watch Thursday night’s speech to the Boston nominating convention - but has gotten a briefing on it from aides.

So this is our ultimate decision. Do we want a president whose pledge to “enlist people of talent, Republicans as well as Democrats, to find the common ground” is validated by the fact that he married a Republican or one who is so allergic to opposing views that he can’t be bothered to watch a 45 minute speech by his rival?