From the State Democratic Convention: still goin' | by Carrie
While we are all groaning from too many hours sitting in the convention center, waiting for copies of the platform (and while I've ducked into another room to charge up my laptop), I'll share some of the best communications I heard.
Best lines:
- John Courage - "Texas isn't red. Texas is for all people."
- Maggie Charleton, on why mentors are so important for new teachers - "Doctors do residencies. We wouldn't expect them to be able to cut us open and do surgery on the day they graduate from medical school."
- Glenn Melancon - "I'm a college professor, and my wife is a school counselor. We're in the future business."
- Pete Laney - "Being ethical means doing more than what is required. Being ethical means doing less than is allowed." (from the video)
- Pete Laney again - "It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit." (also from the video)
The blue ribbon winner for good lines was Chet Edwards:
- "They talk religious values, but pass mean-spirited budgets that take the most from those that have the least... can you tell me one religion in the world that teaches those values?"
- "'Leave no child behind' should not be a campaign slogan. It should be a moral imperative."
- "Tom DeLay told us he wanted to govern in the worst possible way, and that's one promise he kept."
We still have several Ds who, God love 'em, REALLY need a public speaking coach. They're either all style, no substance, or decent substance, no style. And Jesus H. Christ and his talking frog, who the heck was picking the music? "Who Let the Dogs Out?!?!?!" What year is this?! And I'm all about the Willie Nelson, sure, but "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys?" Is this inspiring? Jeez. Let's do a better job of setting a positive tone next time, shall we?