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As the political convention season opens, Hardball launches a blog in its own rough-and-tumble image that no pol can afford to ignore
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• July 28, 2004 | 4:19 p.m. ET
One if by land, two if by sea (David Shuster) John Kerry chose the sea Wednesday. His Boston arrival was another highly choreographed and yet picturesque moment.
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This afternoon, I got a lift back to the MSNBC workspace from a Massachussetts state senator. (Note to convention goers: there are no taxicabs at Charlestown Navy Yard.) Anyway, the state senator told me that the navy yard (closed in 1973 and refurbished in the last few years) stands as a lasting symbol of the political "payback" that Richard Nixon liked to inflict. In the 1972 presidential election, Massachussetts was the only state to go with McGovern over Nixon. So, the Nixon administration retaliated by closing down the navy yard. Thousands of Massachussetts jobs were lost.
By the way, check out our report at 7:30 p.m. ET on VP nominees. It looks at the drama and chaos the running-mate selection process used to bring to the Democratic convention. It's our best work of the week.
The man behind Hardball's curtain (Dominic Bellone Hardball Producer & Briefing Editor)
So I was heading to the dock at the Boston Harbor waterfront behind my hotel this morning when I see a bunch of secret service types and a big boat. I figured someone important, maybe the Governor of New Jersey, was arriving. Turns out Kerry was on his way from the airport to take the water taxi over to Charlestown Navy Yard for his big "splash" arrival in Beantown. It was pretty cool to see Kerry kickin' it at the location where I was jogging this morning and catching the water taxi. Shuster was over covering his landing for the network.
Tonight's a big night as they do the traditional roll call of states announcing their number of delegates plus Edwards' big speech. My colleague Brian Doherty checks in from the Democratic "Tong" with this disturbing piece of news:
"This will not be a typical VP convention speech. There will be no mention of Bush or Cheney. It's Edwards view that we can get into the issues that are important to the American people without personal attack. He won't get into personal invective."
How boring.
By the way, The Tong is the nickname for the private briefing the Kerry camp gives to each television network during the day to push its daily message and goals for the night.
Going through our rundown tonight it appears we have another wingding of a show lined up...And folks our booking producers have been killing themselves for weeks to get these guests. You'd think booking people would be like shooting fish in a barrel but its not. Chris' big theme for the night is "Us vs. Them" politics, a play off of Edwards "Two Americas" campaign theme. Watch for him to ask questions in that vein.
Our 6-8 ET All-Star Panel is Ron Reagan, Dee Dee Myers (who owes me a blog posting), Chuck Todd of The Hotline & Pat Buchanan from Washington.
The 9-Midnight panel is Willie, Andrea, Howard and Scarborough. Some of our All Star guests: Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., Howard Dean, the dynamic duo of Russert & Brokaw, (Al Sharpton speech), Ralph Reed, Steve Buscemi (aka Tony "B" from The Sopranos) and Director Rob Reiner (Dig the Drudge piece today).
Frank Luntz wraps up the 11 o'clock hour with one of his famous focus groups from Ohio. We'll do the cool dial speech thing where the focus group members turn the dials up and down in real time as they watch the speech with instant reax. As always, this is just an aperitif for you and we'll have much more news, guests and surprises from Faneuil Hall.
And, yo, dig this hot piece of press published in The Boston Globe today.
• July 28, 2004 | 2:58 p.m. ET
From the Hardblogger mail box:
From: Holli, Alexandria, Va.
I wonder what Kerry's speech will be like. I really hope that he has a plan. I think that boils what the country is looking for down to one thing, a real actual plan for fighting terrorism that makes sense yet still holds to our American ideals. People want real leadership and I hope that's what Kerry shows on Thursday night. I know he's got it in him.
Re: Frank's post
From: Gordon Toggweiler, Lawrence, NJ
Both on the show yesterday and in his post today, Frank Luntz made the point that Tuesday was a far less effective day for the Dems than Monday because it was too partisan and wouldn't play well with swing voters. He missed the point however.Tuesday was the day for the liberal base not for the swing voters, because it was the day not being carried by the broadcast networks. Unfortunately for the Dems, the made the mistake of not putting Obama in broadcast prime-time.
Re: On What is "Middle America?"
From: Lauren Fischer, Chicago
I'm glad to see folks from Peoria and Kansas telling Joe Scarborough that he was incorrect when he said that Teresa Heinz Kerry would not strike a chord with people in "Middle America." I don't think it matters where you live -- if you're a woman, you have to love what THK has to say!!! Teresa Heinz Kerry rocks.
Re: Chris
From: Christine Flood, Casselberry Florida
"I am big fan of Chris Matthews but I do not understand his romantic ideas of small town life and people out in the hinderlands such as myself. We do not usually ask people who they would like to have a beer with as a means of selecting our candidate or eat at Busy Bee Diner and talk to our fellow diners over the mashed potatoes and meatloaf asking their opinion of Teresa Kerry speech. We go to the Outback wait for our table and talk to our spouses. I do not think these romanitized rural and small town folk are much different. Maybe Mr. Matthews should join us on a Saturday night at the Outback for a drink and some conversation and see the real America."
Re: Joe
From:Ellen Silver, Van Nuys, California
Joe, over the past several weeks from the selection of John Edwards as Kerry's running mate -- you have demonstrated non-partisan critiques that are heartfelt and professional. Last night when you spoke of your child's Type I Diabetes you went beyond partisan rhetoric and spoke of the hope that stem cell research would provide. As a Nation we all benefit by hearing and listening to opposing sides of an issue. Its called debate. You bring honest dialogue and are not 'nasty' or disrespectful of others with opposing views. MSNBC is smart to have you as their 'other' point of view.
And, in a more circular vein, some e-mails reacting to e-mails:
In "Re: the blog by Vinnie Chieco of San Francisco:"
Vinnie, Teresa Heinz Kerry was not adamant that she hadn't used the term "un-American." That is as inaccurate and revisionist a recounting of the event as it occurred as the original offense to Ms. Kerry was. As it was stated, Ms. Kerry referred to "un-American traits" in her speech, not "un-American activities" as she was accused. -Beth Christensen, Chatsworth
Vinnie from SF hit it right on the head about THK's "shove it" incident! But leave it to the biased, liberal press to gloss over the fact that she's on tape saying "un-American" for all to hear! She's doing the flip-flop as well as her husband.- S. Belano, Coconut Creek, FL
• July 28, 2004 | 12:40 p.m. ET
Obama envy? (Conservative magazine editor Terry Jeffrey) 
Barack Obama’s speech was sensational, introducing him as a new star in American political life. But with slight tinkering, Obama could have delivered the same speech at the Republican convention next month to just as rousing a response.
The speech was notable largely for the inspiring story of Obama’s family background, which he told with eloquence and passion, and not for any particular cause or issue that Obama wants to champion.
His call for national unity was indeed stirring: “There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America. There’s the United States of America.” But in the day-to-day politics Obama will encounter in the Senate next year (where he is almost certain to be elected), he will have to take unambiguous stands on profound issues that do deeply divide Americans.
Would he stand with Teddy Kennedy and the Democratic leadership, for example, in blocking by filibuster the appellate court nomination of California Supreme Court Justice Janice Brown, an African-American raised in rural Alabama, under segregation, whose personal story is as inspiring as Obama’s own? Stay tuned.