Written by: Beck

"Thank you my fellow Democrats." How long ago was it that you were a Republican Wesley? Updates to follow.

Update: Clark opens with a thank you to the troops, past and present. Shouldn't this have been done on Day 1? Actually, one of the speakers yesterday did the same, but still.

Wesley's son's name is Wesley. I've never been a fan of people giving their children the same name. How's that for incisive political criticism?

Update: Clark, having finished reciting his resume, "Anyone who tells you that one political party has a monopoly on the best defense of this nation is committing a fraud on the American people."

Update: He's delivering an ode to the American flag. I gotta say I'm enjoying it. The American flag is one hell of a symbol. One of the more distressing things during the initial Iraq war was when troops were encouraged not to make overt displays of the flag for fear of offending the locals.

Update: "Kerry has heard the thump of enemy mortars." Clark is by far the best of the military types so far at evoking the power of combat experience. To be honest, Clark was one of my least favorite of the original Democratic field for president. He seems unprincipled, his change in stance from support of the war when he was serving to opposing the war once it was politically fashionable is offensive. Still, he's making a good opening speech for today.

"John Kerry will join the pantheon of great war time Democrats." Does that mean the Democratic party is finally acknowledging that the War on Terror constitutes a real war and not simply a police action?

Among the pantheon of "great wartime Democrats" is Bill Clinton for "ending the genocide in Yugoslavia." Sorry, but Clinton showed up late, and when he got there, we were ineffective. Furthermore, there's no mention of the Somalian debacle.

Update: Other heros Clark lists: "Firemen, policemen, teachers..." Well, two out of three ain't bad. Assuming you're discussing batting averages.

I wish I had the full quote he just rattled off. Basically it was an adoption of the end of the Boy Scout Oath, "I will keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." He even used the word "physically."

David Brooks: I thought this was a great speech. Weak start, but he ended really strong.

Dave Shields: ...Really a great exhortation...