I am guilty, once again, of underestimating John Kerry.

[elperromagico]

I love John Kerry; I'm proud to support him for President. But after watching three nights of convention speeches, I found myself saying, "There is no way John Kerry can top this. He can't top Clinton. He can't top Obama. He can't top Edwards. He's too formal. He can't do it."

Well, guess what? I underestimated John Kerry... again.

I've read the stories about Kerry's '96 Senate campaign, when he ran against William Weld, probably the most popular Republican in Massachusetts at the time. Observers said Kerry couldn't beat Weld; the race was a dead heat until almost the end. But Kerry beat Weld by a comfortable margin.

Yet I still underestimated John Kerry this week.

I watched the stories about Kerry's failing campaign for the Democratic nomination. I read the polls which had him trailing badly behind Dean, Clark, Lieberman, Gephardt... and sometimes even Carol Moseley Braun. I read how he was low on money, having to loan his campaign money just to keep from going bankrupt. But Kerry pulled ahead in Iowa, won decisively in New Hampshire, and went on to win landslide victories in almost every primary and caucus in the nation.

Yet I still underestimated John Kerry this week.

How is it, after the political miracles Kerry has worked in his career, that I and so many others can still underestimate John Kerry's ability to bring the fire when he needs to?

[sandnsea]

1. I was nervous all day

And I love the guy to pieces. He had a seemingly impossible task. The pundits all week. Those other totally amazing speeches. Then, I heard those terrific introductions by his daughters and Max Cleland. How in the world do you come out and live up to their portrayal? Without seeming arrogant or grandiose? But he did it. I'll never doubt him again!

[kainah]

2. I totally agree

I've been nervous all week & as the speeches got better, I got more nervous. Last night, I was kind of glad that Edwards seemed pretty flat, compared to some of his great speeches in the primaries. But I was glad, figuring that someone had to fail and maybe, somehow, karmically, Edwards's failure gave Kerry a better shot. But, as he started -- too fast, seeming kind of nervous -- I was really beginning to get worried. Then he let loose with a few barbs and I just sat back & watched in awe and amazement. I honestly did not know that he had it in him. He's made this race very tough for * now. I'm sure Rove isn't sleeping well tonight & that they'll be scrambling for new strategies tomorrow.

[fujiyama]

4. I felt the same way

I was so nervous for him because it was so important.

He did not dissapoint.

[lapfog_1]

3. I think that * has/will misunderestimate President Kerry too!

[Enraged_Ape]

5. The soft bigotry of high expectations

Color me completely blown away by Kerry's speech last night. After Clinton's and Obama's speeches earlier in the week, the buildup of all the speakers "witnessing" for Kerry, and the massive attempts all week by the whore media to suggest what an impossible challenge Kerry had ahead of him in making a memorable speech, how the hell could anyone handle that kind of pressure? It seemed he'd have to perform like John F. Kennedy to meet or exceed all those expectations.

Well, he did! He was magnificent. Count me in the ranks of those who went last night from being an Anyone But Bush Democrat to 100% for John Kerry and John Edwards. I don't think the Democratic party has seen a team like this EVER. I feel like we've got the Terry Bradshaw Pittsburgh Steelers and the other side has the Danny White Dallas Cowboys.

[non sociopath skin]

6. All week in the UK the media have been talking Kerry down ....

... even the supposedly user-friendly media like the BBC and the Guardian. Too formal, too patrician, too boring, Clinton outclassed him, Edwards outclassed him, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. I could so easily have been tempted not to watch his acceptance speech....

And he was excellent. Articulate, funny (sorry, but his winning lopsided grin appeals to me rather more than Edwards's Pepsodent twinkle), impassioned, his speech was everything it should have been.

And as for the remote Brahmin thing, the Freepers should try watching their Tory pals here in the UK ... now there's arrogant remoteness for you!

But even now, the Beeb is saying, sure he wowed the converted, ANYBODY could do that but how will it play with the REAL Americans?

It's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!

The Skin