The Duc Pond

I hope that on Thursday they’ll accidentally nominate me instead of John Kerry. I’d grudgingly accept the task.

Anyway, watch the speeches here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5344731/

Gore’s (1), Carter’s (3), Clinton’s (5), and Clinton’s (9) entire speeches are available (along with smaller clips) under the “Free Video” section at the top right.

Transcripts:
Al Gore
Bill Clinton

I liked Al Gore’s speech a lot. There was enough criticism, but not so much as to seem harsh and Bush-bashing. He reached out to last election’s Bush voters, asking them if they got what they expected.  Also, he was funny.

“I had hoped to be back here this week under different circumstances, running for re-election. But you know the old saying: You win some, you lose some. And then there’s that little-known third category. I didn’t come here tonight to talk about the past. After all, I don’t want you to think I lie awake at night counting and recounting sheep.”

“Let’s make sure not only that the Supreme Court does not pick the next president, but also that this president is not the one who picks the next Supreme Court.”

Quite a speech at the end. People can say what they want about Bill Clinton’s policies and his failings as a man and a husband, but even his harshest critics have to admit he is a consummate politician. His intelligence is unmatched by almost all officeholders (unlike most who rely on advisers, Clinton would do the heavy reading and studying of economics and other stuff himself). Only Al Gore seemed comparable to me, and he of course never got a chance to shine in office. Clinton’s also very affable and quick on his feet.

I’ll point to something my friend Ben posted on his site earlier:
Clinton with Democracy Now

Yeah, it shows him losing him temper (barely, really; I think the amount of annoyance he conveys is far less than what I’d show if I were trying to get past a 2-minute phone conversation), but it also shows how smart and well-spoken the bastard is, even when someone’s is on the offensive with him out of the blue. He never has to pause. It’s bloody amazing.