For some reason Mindy Kaling announces, from the rostrum: “Ben Affleck – hang in there!”
If you’re like me – and I know I am – then that was a genuinely funny “random” moment.
Phil, I think you’re right, and this speech will tank Bill Clinton’s career. In fact, I predict Clinton won’t ever be elected to any public office again.
This is the worst Bill Clinton convention speech since 1988, which almost tanked his career.
Okay, I was wrong. Bill Clinton is old.
Very old.
A far cry from Bill Clinton’s 2012 convention address, which earned him the moniker “secretary of explaining stuff” from a grateful Democratic Party and its allies in the press. Apparently, the hall is rapt, but this address isn’t translating for the folks at home. The pacing and downbeat tone is a departure from past speakers, and opening with a reminder to Democrats that they just gave their infirm president a Viking funeral is kind of depressing.
Jeff’s assessment is right. It’s not that the Bill Clinton of 2024 is a terrible speaker, but he’s just a shadow of his former self. The voice is really hoarse and scratchy, his energy is significantly lower than we remember. His words come out slower, there’s no narrative momentum. He looks almost gaunt. The delegates are applauding politely when they’re supposed to, and mild chuckles at the laugh lines. But this is like watching Joe Namath close out his career with the Los Angeles Rams – a spent force who just doesn’t have the energy or the skill the way he used to.
A fascinating fact: this is Bill Clinton's 12th convention speech.
Do you know who Bill Clinton reminds me of right now, delivering this speech?
Joe Biden.
That’s not good.
Clinton’s voice is weak and raspy, and the speech is a bunch of one liners strung together without a broader theme.
Clinton was never known for being a focused speaker – I am old enough to remember my parents griping about his interminable (and supposedly “career-killing”) speech in 1988 – but his lengthier, grandfatherly rambling tone here is unfocused even for him. Even great political talents age.
Clinton strides out onto stage as if teleporting in from an entirely different era of politics, Democratic “triangulation” of the 1990s. His voice is raspier than ever, though, and he loses his spot for a moment working from his written speech.
He notes that he turned 78 two days ago, and that he’s still younger than Donald Trump. What about Joe Biden, who was about to be renominated?