Weekly Reading List [9.9.12]

Now that both conventions have come to a close, I thought I'd put up speeches from each conventions major speakers. Let's compare their values, and platforms side by side. Where do you stand? Do you really think that the party you most closely align yourself with will actually be able to fulfill their lofty goals and ambitions? Or are you fed up with all this already?

1. Paul Ryan

2. Joe Biden

3. Michelle Obama

4. Ann Romney

5. Barak Obama

6. Mitt Romney

7. Condoleeza Rice

The Wall Street Journal has also compiled videos of all their speeches and posted them here, in case you'd rather watch them.

Personally, after watching the two conventions, I have to say, I may not agree with the Democratic platform and their views on the role of the government. However, I walked away feeling ridiculously inspired, and uplifted and excited about the future. Their tone was vastly different from the Republican conventions. I should be upfront, I love Joe Biden. It would be hard for me not to like his speech and Obama is just a great orator.

I think in this election (as in the last) presentation and marketing is half the battle. The Republicans are still behind the eight ball (in my opinion) they need to step up the marketing and branding. They can't just shout that Obama is the devil and dragging us down, they need to inspire and light the way. I think Obama may beat them again just with slogans, videos, and genuine use of social media. The Republican convention still seemed 5 years behind the times.

I also couldn't help but notice, that the Republican convention was filled with white caucasians; while the Democratic convention was filled with white's and blacks, and hispanics, and the old and the young. Republicans, need to expand the base. The last census told us that white caucasian american's will be the minority by 2050. If they can't engage the rest of the country they will have no place in politics. Or they will be overrun by extremist groups, which might be worse.