Democratic National Convention: First impressions
Day one of the Democratic National Convention is now over. What are your impressions of how things have gone so far: the traffic (or lack of it), the tightened security, and the opening-night speeches?
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I though the speches were intelligent, lucid, and made the case for a change at the top. Jimmy Carter layed out his reasons for change in an incredibly straight-forward way. I have also heard that the traffic was not as bad as some thought initially, that may change, but so far so good. The crowd went crazy when Bill Clinton came out, he really worked the podium. Way to go, Democrats!
George, Leominster
Bill Clinton's speech was one of the best I've ever seen. Honest, glib, funny, straightforward, entertaining, meaningful and, most of all, positive. He is a master of rhetoric and can now play a stronger role as a uniter of Democrats than he ever did as president.
David, Wilder, VT
I can't believe the nerve of these guys shooting off fireworks at midnight for 20 minutes, I live in Brookline and was 1.5 hours into my sleep (because some of us work and need to get up at a decent time and aren't here just to party for a week and are here trying to make money to pay taxes to cover all the costs of a week long party for people who don't even live here that have completely disrupted a whole cities' lives) when i was jarred awake by loud fireworks. What a complete slap in the face for the few of us that decided to stay and work that now we are being subjected to this completely rude behavior. I mean people were complaining last year when springstein played until 10:30 and now this at 12:20, remember i'm in Brookline, i can't imagine people that live even closer to the event. There is NO WAY any event like this would ever get approved no matter what the cause other than for the DNC. I can only shake my groggy head (lack of sleep) in bewilderment at another example of just the blantant disregard/insult for/to the people of Boston
Doug, Brookline
The first day of the DNC has basically shown us that all these events and hoopla is basically for nothing. All the DNC does is give a reason for the democrats to spend our money in order to have a big party. It is a complete waste of resources. The rich getting richer. The next three days will show the city and the country how much this event doesn't matter in the minds of our citizens.
Jeff, Allston
I think everything went on without a hitch. It would seem like someone said that those of us who stayed got rewarded with lack of traffic, less crowded trains and just a very pleasant commute. The speeches were invigorating. Happy to have the DNC here.
Mo, Stoughton
So, after a long day of dealing with the massive inconvenience of the DNC, I am finally relaxed and sleeping in my downtown apartment. All of the sudden I am awaken by a series of thundering booms in the sky. Suddently, I jump out of bed, concerned that something terrible must have happened. Stunned, I look outside my window to see the bright flashing lights and booms of a midnight fireworks show over the harbor. No, not 9:00pm, or even 10:00pm, but MIDNIGHT. Maybe I was still sleeping and all of this was just a nightmare. If not, I do have one dream: knowing the name of the person in the city government responsible for permitting this astoundingly moronic show. I can't think of a better reason to reinstate public hanging in the Boston Common.
Don J, Boston
Great - except the damn fireworks at 12:00am!!!!! I'm glad that everyone is having a good time at the expense of the city. I'm even up for all the inconveniences that were supposed to hinder my schedule but ultimately ended up making the city empty and my commute the best it's ever been - but really, I'm not one of those people that could afford to take the week off to get out of here so I need my sleep so that I can get to work and it doesn't help that there are fireworks going off in the middle of the night! Really, one night is tollerable but 2 in a row was ridiculous.
Gigi, Brighton
Hillary Clinton should be the President - she spoke with eloquence and confidence.
Donna, St. Augustine, FL
I wish that coverage was more a steady stream of the doings on the floor...too much pundit talk is annoying.
Shari, Jamaica Plain, MA
I'm upset about day 1 of the convention. Did anyone else hear the fireworks that went off at midnight on monday night? I've never lived in Tel Aviv, but I had very serious fears that these loud explosions outside my window were explosive devices being detonated around the city. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep last night even after a friend confirmed that they could see fireworks from their Brookline window. After all of the security concerns and fears that they've planted into our heads, on night one they shoot off explosive devices into the sky - that is what I call excellent planning!
Mike, Dorchester
