My Notes on Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day: Part V

N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'

Elizabeth Warren, con'td.:

She "grew up on the ragged fringes of the middle class," her father was a maintenance man, her brothers went to the military and moved on to other jobs, she was a waitress at thirteen and then an elementary school teacher and now a mother and grandmother 'married to a great man.' Hails the opportunities of America. A bit of agitation against "Wall Street CEOs" who arrogantly demand taxpayer handouts despite their reckless handling of the economy resulting in terrible losses. Generally an argument for equal economic opportunity. "I got mine; the rest of you are on your own": her interpretation of the Republican ethos. 'Corporations are people': — I haven't written this down perfectly — 'no — people have hearts and they have children, they live and they love and they die; and that matters.' Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, survived by grace of President Obama's steadfast support in the face of enormous corporate opposition. No to "free ride" and "golden parachute." Main Street/Wall Street talk. She was a Methodist Sunday school teacher, too, and quotes "Inasmuch," which also cropped up in the Republican convention.

10:31 p.m. Antonio Villaraigosa: introducing Bill Clinton, via a film treating him a little like a rock star and mentioning the Clinton Global Initiative as well as his presidency and its economic triumphs. High enthusiasm for Bill Clinton.

10:34 p.m. The man himself. Loud cheers for characterizing Obama as man who is "cool on the outside" but burning with fervour for America on the inside; and "after last night," the man "who had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama." He recapitulates the dire picture which the Republican National Convention speakers drew of the Democratic economic philosophy, then says that "We're all in this together" is a better philosophy than the Republican "You're on your own."

Hate of far-right Republicans for Obama and some Democrats is in his opinion unprecedented. (Chelsea Clinton is there too!) Says that understandable frustration in hard times may make for good politics, but cooperation leads to good policy. Despite this extreme climate, Obama deserves encouragement because he is "still committed to constructive cooperation." Cheers for Joe Biden for his role in that cooperation. Praising Obamas' support for serving military, veterans and their families.

Criticizes prioritizing putting Obama out of work to putting people in work. Dissects Republican economic platform and says that is identical to or worse than Bush-era policy which got America into the current situation. Banks are beginning to lend again, house prices beginning to pick up again, but economic recovery has not been felt by many yet. But no president could have "repaired the damage that he found in just four years." Clinton mentions cutting greenhouse gas emissions! Student loan reform: fixed low percentage of income for up to 20 years. It means that college graduates can still take low-paying jobs like teaching or police work.

Clinton explains parts of health care law which have already gone into effect, e.g. extended family coverage for young people, insurance for people with preexisting conditions soon to arrive, 80-85% of health care premiums required to go to payer's health care instead of to company profits or premiums. "Raid" on Medicare was no such thing; it was a reappropriation of money that was being misused by health care providers to close a loophole. (I don't know what that means precisely either.) Says that under Romney's proposed policy, Medicare would end in 2016 due to bankruptcy. Seriously criticizes proposed cuts to Medicaid: nursing home care, care for people with disabilities — autism, Down's syndrome, etc. — as well as services to poor people will be diminished.

Rebuts welfare work requirement (which Clinton helped legislate into being) claims of Republican campaign ads, quotes Republican pollster who said that he wouldn't let the campaign be run by fact-checkers, jokes that "Finally I can say: 'that is true!'" About the economic plans in general, says that "arithmetic" is the distinguishing offering of the Democrats.

Then the speech ends, and Barack Obama comes out to shake hands and hug.