US Opinion and Commentary

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Conventional Clinton Takes on Trump

Posted July 29th, 2016 at 5:23 pm (UTC-4)
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Americans have been fed a steady diet of political rhetoric over the past two weeks, trying to convince them that two people they have known for decades — and generally do not like — should be their next president.

Hillary Clinton finished off this week’s Democratic National Convention with a speech in which she had to walk a fine line to mollify Bernie Sanders’ supporters while reaching out to independents and Republicans who are looking for change, but are wary of Donald Trump.

Polls conducted in the days ahead will show us how the Democrats’ message has been digested. Meantime, reviews and comparisons of the two conventions are coming in. And the acceptance speeches of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton can be found below, a way to pass the 102 days still to come before Election Day.

The Makeover of Hillary Clinton

Posted July 27th, 2016 at 4:25 pm (UTC-4)
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When you’ve been in the public eye for 25 years and your unfavorable ratings are an average of 17 percentage points higher than your favorable ratings, what do you to try to change things?

Hillary Clinton’s re-branding effort reached its peak Tuesday night with a lineup of speakers who shared personal stories about her impact in their lives.

The most personal came from her husband, former president Bill Clinton. By reflecting on their courtship, parenthood and her commitment to public service, Clinton the former president did his best to humanize Clinton the wannabe president.

While accentuating the positive, he left out the negative challenges the couple faced, which wasn’t lost on the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Trump has his own 17-percentage point deficit in favorability ratings. Who did a better job to close the gap will be played out over the next few weeks.

Foreign Visitors Admire U.S. Conventions and Fear Trump Isolationism

Posted July 27th, 2016 at 10:56 am (UTC-4)
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By Barbara Slavin PHILADELPHIA – Hillary Clinton has made history as the first woman nominee for president of a major U.S. political party after a hard-fought primary campaign and a bumpy beginning to the Democratic National Convention. Die-hard supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have either stopped their booing any mention of her name or walked […]

Democrats Standing United?

Posted July 26th, 2016 at 4:51 pm (UTC-4)
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From the opening gavel through most of the evening, the old Will Rogers trope “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat” appeared to hold true for the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

Bernie Sanders supporters rained boos upon any speaker who uttered the name Hillary Clinton. They also jeered keynote speaker Elizabeth Warren as a traitor to the progressive cause. Not until first lady Michelle Obama delivered a speech that drew near unanimous acclaim did it appear that there would be any semblance of unity.

Sanders closed Monday evening’s session with a strong endorsement of Clinton, taking most of the air out of the Bernie of Bust movement.

Tuesday’s roll call of states to vote on her historic nomination may be the last chance for Sanders supporters to protest Clinton’s rise to head the Democratic Party. After she wins the nomination, it’s all about Hillary.

Her husband ,former President Bill Clinton takes the stage Tuesday night as well as House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, both focused on giving the first woman major party presidential nominee a post-convention boost.

Conventional Unity for Clinton?

Posted July 25th, 2016 at 4:00 pm (UTC-4)
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Simmering tensions that ran through the primary campaign between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders grew to a full boil Monday as the Democrats began their national convention.

Hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee show party leaders were not necessarily neutral brokers, seemingly tilting the scales toward Clinton’s candidacy. The revelations cost the chairwoman of the Democratic Party, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, her job.

Sanders has not withdrawn his endorsement of Clinton, and is expected to reiterate his support in a speech Monday night. But will Sanders’ supporters follow suit?