Capitol Connection notes the “stark” differences between Buffalo’s Convention and Garden City’s.

At least the air conditioning is working well down there.

HT to BuffaloGeek, the movie that was shown before Hillary’s speech is online right here.

Did you tune in to WBEN this afternoon/evening?

I did - I wanted to hear the traffic report, but it was off the air.

At around 5:50 I tuned back in, and I could hear Tom Puckett reading the news very faintly - as if they were talkin through a tin can.

Soon, Tim Wenger, Sandy Beach, and even Tom Bauerle and Ron Dobson joined the fun, and probably one of the best nights of Buffalo AM radio in a long time went to air.

There had been a power outage out by Sweet Home, and WBEN (actually all of Entercom’s stations) was affected. To make matters worse, their emergency generator didn’t work. Instead, the engineers somehow managed to get them back on the air, and they all sat around the engineer’s room passing a wired handmike back and forth.

No computers, no accuweather, no traffic, no phone calls, no nothing. Just a bunch of guys hanging out, eating pizza and shooting the shit during a blackout. They somewhat gently debated and discussed topics such as the casino and the Sabres, and seemed to be having a jolly old time.

The quality was so bad, it sounded like I was listening to a forbidden BBC shortwave broadcast from behind enemy lines.

But it was compelling, and it was funny, and they were enjoying themselves under those strange circumstances. Ultimately, that’s what makes for good radio; not screaming, angry callers. Not the Teresas of the world.

To paraphrase Dieter from Sprockets, the speculation about Hillary’s run (or not) for the White House has become tiresome for me. Is she? I don’t think so. But I could be wrong. How’s that for decisive?

Seriously, was today’s speech really the kick-off for her Presidential run? Yes and no.

Stylistically, I thought her speech was pretty darn good. Her delivery was flawless, and she got a bit of anger in her voice when called for.

As far as content, she covered a lot - from environmental protection, to growing New York’s economy by simultaneously researching alternative energy sources, to kitchen-table economic issues, to the fact that the Bush Administration has substituted facts with ideology. She hit on all the key issues that people are concerned about.

She sure sounded like a candidate running for federal office. The Senate.

Back to “yes and no”.

I don’t think she’s decided to run in 2008, but I think this speech (and this campaign) is/are indeed a dress rehearsal for a future Presidential run. If the themes that she struck reverberate with voters in New York, and Democrats in other races around the country adopt those same themes, and they reverberate as well in Peoria as they do in Binghamton, then maybe she figures she has a shot in 2008. Or maybe 2012. Or beyond.

Call it a trial balloon. Call it throwing it against the wall to see if it sticks.

And as I left the convention, I could picture the Senator huddled with her advisors coming up with 4 or 5 themes to run on in 2006, and carefully crafting them in such a way so that they could be applied successfully and effectively anywhere in the country. Has she done it? Will she strike a chord with moderates and liberals alike?

This line will go a long way towards attracting middle-of-the-roaders:

Democrats need to not only criticize, but provide alternative solutions.

What’s notable about Clinton is that she has two records on which to run - hers and her husband’s. She took advantage of that today, comparing the budget surpluses under Bill to the deficits under George II.

Come November, she and the other Dems throughout the country will be playing to that 70% of the population that has had it with George Bush and the Republican Congress. The substitution of evidence with fairy tales has been sad to watch; the fact that the Bush Administration had not long ago worn it as a badge of honor is horrifying.

By using their former boast against them, Clinton may have something onto which moderates - people who aren’t political hacks for either side - can latch.

You win primaries by appealing to the wings. You win elections by appealing to the center. Today, Clinton appealed to both.

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” was the last song played as the assembled dignitaries filed out to a media horde. Indeed.

The convention is adjourned at 1:13 pm; ahead of schedule, believe it or not.

A couple of final photos, and I’ll do an epilogue later.

Hope you enjoyed the liveblogging. These things don’t come around that often, so it was a fun thing to see and be a part of.

Here it comes…the designee of this convention is Hillary Clinton. The nominations are closed. “Aye” resounds through the hall.

The lights dim.

A movie. Bush gets boos.

There’s Lazio right in her face again. I won’t summarize the whole movie, because I’ll bet it’ll be linkable within hours.

I think the movie’s name should be “Kudos”

I’m also betting that there’s a helluva light show or something when she takes the stage. Music is reaching a crescendo - the movie’s almost over.

And it’s done.

Here she comes. The crowd goes nuts. Lights back on.

“This will be an Everlasting Love” plays.

She accepts the nomination. (Surprise!)

She thanks a whole mess of people, including her husband (who gets a standing ovation). She quips that she’s had the same hairdo for a long time, looking at the film.

She sounds themes of personal responsibility and service. Strong educations, the dignity of work with a fair wage, strong communities, and “Working together.”

We are free because of our values. We need to invest in the stuff that makes us stronger and smarter.

FYI - I’ve been updating the Flickr set as we go along.

“I believe in a government that makes decisions based on facts” and that seems to be a rarity in Washington nowadays, she quips. Moynihan once said that everyone’s entitled to their own opinion - but not to their own facts.

The administration doesn’t find consensus and reach to solutions that will work, because they jettison inconvenient facts.

She has a plan for clean energy that will benefit us in New York - alternative fuels that will ease our dependence on imported fossil fuels.

ULSD engines being built in Jamestown; Corning building particulate traps. We need federal policy that creates a framework to enable the development of alternatives. Oil companies ought to put a portion of their profits towards alternative energy development.

She wants to create a strategic energy fund - invest in alternative energy, or else contribute to the fund.

We can become a net exporter of alternative energy technology & create thousands of jobs.

We also need to protect the environment. State and federal policies to protect & clean up New York’s environment is needed.

“Stand with Me” starts every agenda item.

Now, we’re on to healthcare: we spend more on healthcare than any other country in the world; 1/3 goes to administrative costs, yet not everyone is insured, and by international indicators, we don’t even have the highest quality healthcare in the world.

She says we need quality, affordable, accessible healthcare to every single American. It’s 1993 all over again.

Stand with Me - Manufacturing; a country that doesn’t make anything can’t maintain its standing internationally. We need to enforce rules against countries that don’t pay by the rules. China is alluded to, but not named viz. currency manipulation & IP protection.

Stand with Me - to raise the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t been raised in a decade. She introduced a bill to tie the minimum wage to Congressional pay raises.

Stand with Me - ensure that schools do their job and offer preschool. College needs to be affordable, and Congressional cuts have been “reckless” because kids can’t afford to finish school.

We need to help students in order to grow in the global economy.

We need to fix FEMA - Katrina was a disgrace, and the administration destroyed FEMA, which had been working under the Clinton administration, and stuffed it with cronies who did nothing and left people to fend for themselves. (she had some anger in the voice).

Enact the 9/11 commission recommendations - and NY should get its fair share under “threat-based” funding for our first responders.

Let’s win back respect for our country.

Let’s stand by our troops and remember those who have given their lives - putting a sticker on the back of the car isn’t enough - let’s make sure they have all the protection they can get, and we can give.

Let’s make the Bush Administration take the blame for its mistakes, and let’s put together a plan to enable the Iraqis to really create a government that will permit American troops to come home.

Let’s make decisions based on reality, not ideology;
Facts - not politics
Real solutions are needed.

(crowd is hushed)

It’s more important to actually accomplish the missions than to put up a sign that says “Mission Accomplished.”

Let’s stand against “voodoo economics” and return to the path of fiscal responsibility we had just 5 years ago thanks to a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress.

Let’s stand against the silencing of scientists who have the nerve to warn us about global warning. We need to stand up for science and for evidence.

So, part of the theme is to attack Bush & company for not being reality-based.

Democrats need to not only criticize, but provide alternative solutions.

When the election comes around in November, we’ll again know that the American journey will continue, and we can stand up for the Empire State and the country, and send a message far and wide:

America is Back.

Light show, balloons, confetti.

Clever closing number: “We gotta get right back to where we started from”

Segue to “Ain’t no Mountain High Enough” but the Michael McDonald version.

At the very end, all the nominees took the stage, as did some guy named Bill Clinton.

Co-chair Denise King begins the process. Chuck Schumer will put her name in nomination.

Schumer plugs Redlinski’s, Charlie the Butcher, and otherwise praises Buffalo for the great place it is.

“The Democrats are rising, on the go, and it’s true in NY & throughout the country.”

And it’s official. The crowd goes wild.

I wish I could channel Rick Jeanerette for this stuff.

Schumer starts and ends his speech by holding a replica Stanley Cup aloft.

“We are the party presenting ideas and candidates to New York and the nation that will have them coming back to the Democratic Party in droves in November.”

Hillary peeps waving signs like mad.

He mentions some farmers he met in Orleans County who weren’t “Democrats…yet”, and that they originally didn’t know what to make of Clinton, but now they dig her.

He calls her a great Senator in the sense that our founding “fathers…and mothers” intended.

She has been a fighter for New York, and has delivered for New York. Bioinformatics. Acid Rain. Helicopter factory in Binghamton.

Two people will second the nomination; the first is Leecia Eve.

“Welcome to one of the greatest cities in America…my hometown of Buffalo.” That was nice.

NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn seconds (thirds?) the nomination. She gives a nice speech about Clinton’s fighting for Title IX issues.

No other nominations.

Mark Green assails Andrew Cuomo for taking that nomination and not supporting the idea of all the other candidates to also be placed on the ballot without the need for petitioning.

Seriously, ballot access is a joke in this state, and there should be a much lower threshold than 25%; getting 5% of the state delegates’ vote is enough proof that you’re a serious contender. You oughtn’t need to supplement those efforts with a hyper-technical petitioning process.

Without opposition. Seconded by a guy from SEIU.

Hevesi takes the stage to an almost MIDI version of “Happy Days Are Here Again”

He calls himself an “opening act” for Hillary. That’s about right.

Everyone is a Sabres fan today.

Hevesi gives props to his immigrant parents, and to all the other nominees.

He reiterates his desire to fight unresponsive, irresponsible, and fiscally unsound government. He called it “stupid government”.

He manages the State pension fund, and notes that in 3/03, it had $95 billion, and as of 3/06, it had $140 billion; it is 99.7% funded, which is “where you want it to be”, and the State can satisfy every pension obligation, past and future.

As shareholders, they pressured Cracker Barrel and Texaco to reverse anti-gay policies, and other discrimination, respectively. Cracker Barrel creeps me out.

He doesn’t seem to be reading off a script, but is chit-chatting with the audience.

He takes credit for auditing school systems, and auditing the MTA in the City, exposing corruption.

He praises the team of Democrats who are going to “murder” the Republicans. (He meant it rhetorically, peeps).

Standing O, and the State Comptroller leaves the podium.

MIDI version of “Happy Days are Here Again” plays …

… again.

Fox News Channel is here because that’s the go-to channel for people who despise Hillary Clinton.

I just watched their guy do a couple of promos.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is about to accept her party’s nomination for re-election to the Senate.

But is this a precursor to a run [pregnant pause]

for the White House.

We’ll have it for you tomorrow…

…on FOX! NEWS! LIVE!

They feel the news at you.

Gregory Meeks (NY-6; Queens) is giving great speech right now. Protect the poor and powerless with an inclusive government.

We can take back the House because we believe we can. He’s motivating the troops. He wants Charlie Rangel to be the next Speaker of the House, and that Nita Lowey, Jerry Nadler and others will be Chairs of subcommittees. Louise Slaughter will chair the Rules Committee.

Call: How long before we [insert progressive Democratic agenda item here]

Response: “Not Long!”

Next up: State Senator David Valesky (NYS-49 (Syracuse)). He’s sounding themes having to do with state loss of manufacturing jobs and other economic decline.

The podium is now clear. Denny Ferrell takes it, and recognizes Arthur Eve and Crystal Peoples.

Now, Crystal Peoples takes the stage. She can barely be heard at first.

Hillary’s here today, so of course Fox News is here to give succor to the Hitlery haters and other freeper types.

Crystal Peoples thanks everyone for coming to Buffalo, and introduces Byron Brown. He says we’re all “fired up” about having everyone here in Buffalo, but only he can be “fired up” with a monotone.

Byron Brown places Alan Hevesi’s name into nomination. Shorter version of Byron’s speech:

Alan Hevesi is the most awesome State Comptroller in, like, the world.

Unfortunately, it took him like 15 minutes to say that.

Check here for another post I did for Buffalo Rising, which examines a media kit that the City of Buffalo left on our chairs yesterday after lunch.

Ahem

It wuz not reely good put togethur.

The gavel drops at at about 9:35.

Opening joke:

The President has declared war on bird flu.

He attacked the Canary Islands.

FYI, WNYMedia is streaming live again.

Right now, Manhattan Congressman Jerry Nadler is talking about the need to protect our civil rights and protections against unlawful search & seizure. First time the Magna Carta’s come up that I know of.

He calls on the need for a Democratic majority in the House & Senate.

Now, he’s moving on to assailing Bush’s pretexts for invading Iraq as not “mistakes, but deliberate lies”. Congress must investigate this, but this “Republican congress” won’t - it hears, sees, and speaks no evil when it comes to this war, and asks no questions.

The crowd starts chanting “No more war!”

Hillary Clinton spoke to the faithful this morning at a Breakfast held downstairs at the Convention Center

Introduced in turn by Ferrell, Lenihan, Brown, and Higgins, the Senator took to the podium to a standing ovation.

She congratulated the assembled, and said that November 2006 would bring about a Democratic government from top to bottom in New York, and “we’ll show the country what that means.”

The Senator indicated that it’s important that the rest of the state know how hard Western New York is working, and how hard its challenges are.

Finally, she relayed a story from her 1999-2000 campaign.

As her campaign heated up, Clinton began staying in a downtown hotel when she came to town, and she befriended the maid who cleaned her room every day. (At this point, the crowd was so quiet you could hear a pin drop).

On the last day Clinton stayed in that hotel before the election, the maid approached her and wished her luck in the campaign.

The maid then pulled from her uniform pocket a snow globe in which there was a little model of a Buffalo. As she handed the former First Lady that gift, the maid said, “Mrs. Clinton, don’t forget Buffalo”.

And the crowd went wild as the Senator said, “I won’t…I’ll do everything I can to help Buffalo”.

She then talked about projects that had been initiated lately, including revitalizing downtown, the bioinformatics projects, building on our “strengths and assets” (whatever that means), work with local electeds to revitalize the waterfront, save the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, improving quality and access to healthcare, protecting Social Security, and improving education.

Lastly, playing to the local crowd, she mentioned fighting for the rights of former local steelworkers - who were exposed long ago to uranium and contracted cancer - to ensure that they are justly compensated for that injury.

To close, she reiterated that she won’t forget Buffalo or New York State, and said, “we’re one game away. Go Sabres!”.

Another standing O.

Attorney General Spitzer came by to greet the Senator before she took media questions, took photos with supporters, and departed.

John Kerry is vigorously defending himself against the claims of the Swift Boat Veterans for Character Assassination.

Too bad it’s about 2 years too late.

Looking forward to 2008, we really need someone with some fire in the belly who’s not afraid to mix it up.

(MOVED THIS UP TO FACILITATE THE THREAD - ed.)

Today’s the day.

Bill and Hillary will be in town, and Hillary will assuredly be unanimously nominated to run for re-election. Some see this as the kick-off for her Presidential campaign.

I’m not so sure.

I certainly think she wants to run for the White House, but I don’t think 2008 is the time.

One thing I am sure of.

I’ll bet there’s a guy named Hank in North Carolina who secretly wishes he could see Hillary’s speech today. I know beneath all the Hillary-bashing he secretly digs her.

C’mon. Admit it.

Not for nothing, but honestly I couldn’t care less about the Clintons’ marriage.

I got a chance to ask Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan two-three (for my Brooklyn readers, that’s “too-tree”) questions today. WNYMedia’s got it.

Cuomo gets the official nod at 67%

Green 19%

O’Donnell 10%

King 5%

Maloney .04%

“Ain’t no Stopping us Now” begins to play.

Earlier today, BuffaloGeek asked a very relevant question:

During the upcoming three day Democratic wankfest and Spitzer coronation, perhaps someone might ask our statewide candidates if they support redistricting and fair elections for all of New York State.

Spitzer’s answer (courtesy of Syracuse’s Political Notebook):

In accepting Democrats’ designation as their candidate for governor, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today pledged to end “lifetime appointments to the state Legislature.”

Was that a shot at the state Legislature’s leaders, who gerrymander legislative districts and raise millions of dollars to protect incumbents?

“I don’t think they (lifetime appointments) exist right now,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, a Spitzer supporter. “What he made very clear is, we’re going to have a working partner in the governor’s office. We welcome that.”

Well, “clear” might be the wrong word.

Here’s an unofficial running tally, courtesy of Capitol Confidential:

Andrew Cuomo - passed 60 percent

Mark Green - 16.3 percent

Charlie King - 5.2 percent

Denise O’Donnell - 3.5 percent

Sean Patrick Maloney - 0.04 percent

WNY delegates are voting now for AG, and it’s split quite a bit. O’Donnell, Green, and Cuomo all have a respectable number of votes. Charlie King has a couple, but WNY’s own O’Donnell is getting quite a bit of love from the locals.

The fact that we’re up to Erie County means, at least, that this excruciatingly long process is almost through.

One delegate punctuated her vote with “Go Sabres”.

FWIW, here’s a round-up style post I did today for Buffalo Rising about the convention.

They’re still voting.

We’re up to Dutchess County, working our way around the state.

Cuomo’s got it. Not clear (but doubtful) that anyone else will.