DNC Remarks

The Democratic National Convention in Chicago was truly historic, with the first woman of color nominated for president by a major party infusing a sense of joy, unity, and purpose into the 2024 campaign. The enthusiasm, excitement, and energy radiated from the arena outward across the country. 

The light of hope for the future beamed brightly in contrast to the doom and gloom from the Mordor of the Republican convention. 

As Pete Buttigieg put it, "Darkness is what they are selling. The thing is, I just don't believe that American today is in the market for darkness." 

Damn straight. The darkness of Trumpism must, and will be, repudiated

Here are some of my other favorite remarks from this week's DNC:

===

Stephanie Grisham, the former Trump press secretary who quit her White House job on Jan. 6 said “Trump has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth.”

=

Michelle Obama asked the crowd, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?”

=

Former President Bill Clinton on turning 78: "The only personal vanity that I want to assert is that I'm still younger than Donald Trump."

=

Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz: “Never underestimate public school teachers.”

=

D.L. Hughley: "Trump is saying Kamala isn't Black. I guarantee you this. Kamala's been Black a lot longer than Trump has been a Republican. Trump will finally know what's it's like to be left for a younger woman."

=

Georgia’s former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan:

“I can spend my time revving up this crowd but I’m certain I don’t have to talk anybody out of voting for Donald Trump here. So I’m going to focus my attention on the millions of Republicans and independents at home that are sick and tired of making excuses for Donald Trump.

If Republicans are being intellectually honest with ourselves, our party is not civil or conservative. It’s chaotic and crazy. These days our party acts more like a cult, a cult worshiping a felonious thug. And the only thing left to do is dump Trump.”

Let me be clear to my Republican friends at home: If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 you’re not a Democrat, you’re a patriot.”

=

The "woman from Michigan" Governor Gretchen Whitmer: "Donald Trump doesn't know you — at all. You think he understands that when your car breaks down, you can't get to work? No! His first word was probably chauffeur. You think he's ever had to take items out of the cart before checking out? Hell, you think he's ever been to a grocery store? That's what the chauffeur is for!"

=

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger:

“The Republican Party is no longer conservative. It has switched its allegiance from the principles that gave it purpose to a man who’s only purpose is himself. Donald Trump is a weak man pretending to be strong. He is a small man pretending to be big. He’s a faithless man pretending to be righteous. He’s a perpetrator who can’t stop playing the victim.”

 ***********

Vice President Kamala Harris:

“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.

Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes. When he failed, he sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol where they assaulted law enforcement officers. When politicians in his own party begged him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite. He fanned the flames.

Consider what he intends to do if we give him power again. Consider his explicit intent to set free violent extremists who assaulted those law enforcement officers at the Capitol. His explicit intent to jail journalists, political opponents and anyone he sees as the enemy. His explicit intent to deploy our active-duty military against our own citizens.

Consider the power he will have – especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution. Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails. 

I believe America cannot truly be prosperous unless Americans are fully able to make their own decisions about their own lives. Especially on matters of heart and home.

But tonight, in America, too many women are not able to make those decisions. And let’s be clear about how we got here. Donald Trump hand-picked members of the United States Supreme Court to take away reproductive freedom. And now he brags about it.

I refuse to play politics with our security. And here is my pledge to you: As president, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed and I will sign it into law. I know we can live up to our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants and reform our broken immigration system. We can create an earned pathway to citizenship and secure our border.”

“When we fight, we win!”

 **********

And from the “weak man pretending to be strong, a small man pretending to be big, a faithless man pretending to be righteous, and a perpetrator who can’t stop playing the victim”:

~~~~~

“IS SHE TALKING ABOUT ME? LYING AGAIN ABOUT PROJECT 2025, WHICH SHE KNOWS, AND SO DO ALL DEMOCRATS, THAT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH!”

(At a Heritage dinner in 2022 Trump said, "This is a great group, and they’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do.")

~~~~~

And finally, from everyone else: “We’re not going back!”

A Cry For Help?

 “Just remember, what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what's happening.” – Donald Trump

Anyone who believes this psychotic nonsense and wants this man to rule our country is already brain-dead, morally impaired, and spiritually empty from the cult koolade.

The engine at the head of the Trump train has finally and completely derailed.

It seems he has fallen into the deep abyss of paranoid delusion. This may be his desperate cry for help.

Let’s invite Mr. Trump to relax on Dr. Dave’s metaphorical couch for a little therapy session.

Dr. Dave:

You seem unusually agitated today, Mr. Trump. Would you like to share what’s been bothering you lately?

Mr. Trump:

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport?

DD:

I can’t say that I have, Mr. Trump. You say Kamala was at the Detroit airport and cheated. What makes you FEEL this way and whom did she cheat?

Mr. Trump:

There was nobody at the plane, and she ‘A.I.’d’ it, and showed a massive ‘crowd’ of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST!

DD:

I see. 

The vice President made an announced campaign stop in Detroit, and nobody showed up to see her. Nobody at all. That sounds quite unlikely and most unusual. Do you believe she knew nobody would be there and went to Detroit just to unveil her new talent with artificial intelligence? What alerted you to this clever chicanery?

Mr. Trump:

She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane.

DD:

I see. This sounds sort of weird.

A maintenance worker who was not there at the time but was adept at spotting AI exposed her ruse. He sounds like he would be an, um, unimpeachable source. It’s also fascinating that you see a mirror-like finish while the rest of us see a blue and white plane. Perhaps you feel your keen eyesight provides you with an acuity the likes of which has never been seen?

Could you explain all the video of the event that showed an overflowing and enthusiastic crowd?

Mr. Trump:

She’s a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the ‘crowd’ looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake ‘crowds’ at her speeches.

DD:

Do you mean to say her amazing act of deception has been ongoing at ALL of her rallies? And you believe nobody went to see her at ANY of her appearances?

Mr. Trump:

This is the way the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATING. And they’re even worse at the ballot box.

DD:

Of course, I would imagine anyone who can see a mirror-like finish on a blue and white plane could also see massive fraud at the ballot box. It would be a unique and special gift of vision that you alone have.

Mr. Trump:

She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!

DD:

Well, you certainly are the expert on election interference and cheating, Mr. Trump. 

Yes. It’s just not fair when everyone is out to cheat you, isn't it? It must FEEL like you are a VICTIM of an evil conspiracy. It's no wonder you FEEL nobody has ever been treated so badly as you have been. Your FEEL that your suffering is due to your standing in the way of evil leftists, Marxists and communists who plot to destroy America and oppress every wholesome white American. You BELIEVE you are the ONLY ONE who can save them, as if you are their messiah.

Similar cases of grandiose delusions have been extensively documented.

You’re probably not getting enough sleep, and your high levels of stress, anger, paranoia, and emotional strain can trigger psychosis with similar delusional BELIEFS.

For a patient who hears voices that no one else hears, or sees things that no one else can see, and becomes increasingly agitated, we would prescribe medication and therapies to treat this type of condition. 

Your case is unique to these recent and difficult times. We now have a diagnosis for your sociopathic and paranoid delusional disorder with its additional feature of incessant compulsive projection. 

We call it “Trump Derangement Syndrome”.

And it is way beyond weird.

Fake News Flash!

 

News Flash!

After Donald Trump learned “terrible things” about Kamala Harris from fellow helicopter passenger Mayor Willie Brown, their revealing conversation was interrupted by a dire emergency.

Mr. Trump noticed an unusual sound from the transmission, and that the pilot had lost consciousness. The aircraft started going down steeply.  

“I got this!” Mr. Trump announced.

Acting on sheer instinct, Mr. Trump heroically took the controls of the crashing helicopter and proceeded to successfully execute a “perfect landing”.  

The passengers’ shock soon transformed into loud cheers, accompanied by an effusive outpouring of praise of gratitude.

“How can we ever thank you enough?” a relieved passenger asked.

“Saving your lives is all the reward I need”, the modest hero replied.  

As witnesses stood in awe, other helicopter pilots gathered around. They were all amazed, as they unanimously agreed that Mr. Trump proved to be the “best helicopter pilot ever”.

~~~

Sounds "weird", doesn’t it?

Whodathunk this fake news is based on a fake story from the narcisstic pathological liar and criminal presidential candidate?  I was only taking the same liberties as you-know-who ALWAYS does.

The malevolent mendacious messiah of white nationalism actually told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that Mayor Brown informed him of “terrible things” about Kamala Harris. “He was not a fan of hers very much, at that point.”

“I know Willie Brown very well. In fact, I went down in a helicopter with him. We thought maybe this was the end. We were in a helicopter, going to a certain location together, and there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing and Willie was, he was a little concerned. So I know him, I know him pretty well.”

Get it? Trump kept his cool while the Black guy panicked.

Going from Trump’s fake news to real news, Brown told the San Francisco Chronicle that he’s never been in a helicopter with Trump.

AP reports:

“You would have known if I had gone down on a helicopter with Trump,” Brown told the paper.

The longtime Democratic politician said he has never disparaged Harris to Trump, either.

“Hell, no,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t say anything bad about any woman to him.”

Former California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, and Trump did ride in a helicopter to survey wildfire damage in 2018. But no problems with the flight were reported.

Current Gov. Gavin Newsom was also on the aircraft. A spokesperson for the Democrat, Izzy Gardon, said Friday there was no problem with the flight, no emergency landing, and no conversation about Harris.

The San Francisco Chronicle wrote back in September 2004:

“Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown walked away unharmed from a harrowing emergency landing Friday night after his helicopter buzzed a Malibu high school football game before landing in an adjacent elementary school field.

Brown was traveling from a Santa Barbara fund-raiser to Los Angeles International Airport when the helicopter he was riding in experienced transmission problems shortly after 9 p.m. Aided by the lights from a football game at Malibu High School, the pilot brought the helicopter in low just south of the football stadium before making a hurried landing at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School.”

Trump must have liked the story, so he stole it.

"A Normal Guy"

 

Gov. Tim Walz

Attacked for being liberal, Gov. Walz responded, “What a monster. Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn, and women are making their own health-care decisions.”

Yes, many of us white male liberal progressive types actually grew up in small rural towns. We hunted and fished like most of our neighbors. 

We are normal people. We're not authoritarian personalities. We may offer advice, but we don't tell other people what to do.  And  as long as it is none of our business, we respect them enough to let them make their own personal decisions. 

Speaking of decisions. Vice President Kamala Harris has decided on Minnesota governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.

Today's rally was marked by unity, joy, hope, and conviction. Not a bit like a Trump rally with its whiny false victimization, anger, scorn, blame and hate. The contrast is like night and day and darkness and light.

Three new terms apply to this Democratic campaign. Enthusiasm, Excitement & Energy.

 By all appearances, the Harris/Walz team held a massive a pep rally.

The home team is rallying in the 4th quarter of this election year by adding a new coach. And winning defensive coordinator Tim Walz is equally capable of offense. 

Surprisingly, the following piece is from FOX (R) News. I went there so you don't have to.

This piece is by former Republican Representative Charles Djou:

I served with Tim Walz as a Republican in the House. He'll be a good vice president.

More than ever, America needs a normal guy like Tim Walz to help lead our nation and bring us together.

Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is a normal guy. I say this as a former Republican representative who served with Tim in Congress. In these times of bitter political division, America needs someone who can calmly and humbly serve the nation without all the unnecessary shouting and bluster that too often defines our politics today.

Tim and I represented different political parties – he as a Democrat, and I as a Republican – yet we found common ground and worked together on numerous issues for the betterment of our constituents and our nation. More than ever, America just needs a normal guy to help lead our nation and bring us together. I’m excited Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Tim as her running mate.

In Congress, Tim and I bonded over our shared experiences as soldiers and cultivated a mutual respect that transcended party lines. As both of us served in the U.S. Army. We understood that even if we might disagree on a specific policy issue of the day, we both shared a deep love of country and a willingness to defend America in military service. As fellow veterans, Tim and I understood there is no such thing as Republican military service or Democrat military service, only American service 

Before becoming governor of Minnesota, as a congressman, Tim championed issues that resonate with a broad spectrum of Americans. While serving in Congress, I observed Tim’s leadership of the House Veterans Affairs Committee where he advocated for veterans' rights, pushed for educational reforms, and addressed health care disparities.

Refreshingly, and sadly increasingly uncommon in D.C. today, Tim did not advocate issues to improve his partisan political standing or increase his social media presence. Instead, Tim demonstrated a simple commitment to policies that would improve people’s lives regardless of any political advantage.

When I deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Infantry Division, Tim was still serving in Congress. He visited me at my forward operating base in Kandahar. It was clear Tim was not looking to burnish his credentials on national security by obtaining pretty photographs with troops in the field. Rather, Tim had the confidence that comes from being a former Army Sergeant Major and an understanding of what it is like to lead troops in a combat environment. Tim’s visit to Afghanistan was not about him, but about making sure our soldiers had what we needed to effectively prosecute the fight our country had called us to. That’s exactly the type of leadership America needs right now.

More recently, Tim and I met at the observances marking the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in June. As soldiers, we both intrinsically understood the sacrifice made by those brave Americans in WWII fighting to overcome extremist right-wing fascism. Tim and I reconnected because he and I recognize we are both Americans, happily married husbands, proud dads of great kids and Army veterans. These characteristics are far more important to us and America than any partisan political identity.

Tim’s ability to listen, collaborate, and find pragmatic solutions earned him respect from not just Democrats but also Republicans like me. Even if we sharply disagreed on an issue, I do not recall a single time Tim did not have anything other than a friendly smile, warm handshake, and affable style that put everyone, regardless of political party, at ease. He understands that America’s strength lies in our ability to come together as fellow Americans, not in shouting at each other with petty name-calling.

America has more than enough showboat politicians who talk with bluster, self-aggrandizement and a toxic partisan tongue over endless social media posts. Instead, America needs a gracious and kind individual who talks as a friendly neighbor, understands your community like a local high school football coach, knows the commitment of military service as a veteran and advocates policies for all Americans -- not just for Republicans or Democrats.

This is exactly my friend Tim Walz.

~~~~~~

Charles K. Djou is Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. An Afghanistan war veteran, he represented Hawaii's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from 2010 to 2011. He left the Republican Party in 2018 and endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020.