YearlyKos: Day Two

General Wesley Clark

This morning, Gen. Wesley Clark addressed YearlyKos 2007. NATO's former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe struck all the right notes in a muscular speech—video HERE—that attacked the Bush Administration's abysmal domestic policies and "reckless" non-strategy in Iraq. However, the general was very specific on confronting terrorism—and Iran if need be.

Clark is "very solutions-oriented," explains noted intelligence and foreign policy blogger Steve Clemmons. "He has clear-headed views on how complex military, political, and economic systems need to be molded to achieve results. And he is open to the feedback of failure."

At 8am, the main conference hall at McCormick Place was packed to the rafters with hundreds of people to hear this speech. Quite impressive because most of us are not morning people. Here is a look-see at the crowd waiting to be seated:

McCormick Place, Main Hall

Is the religious right dead? "No," say three distinguished panelists at a packed session at this afternoon's Yearly Kos. "Not only is it not dead," adds Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, the distinguished progressive theologian and president of the Chicago Theological Seminary. "But the religious right capable of multiple rebirths

"The congress has changed a bit," says writer Frederick Carlson. "But the state legislatures have not changed. It's very important no to lose sight of this."

Chip Berlet—one of the most prominent right-wing researchers in the country—was more blunt. After the 2006 elections, he says, more "white evangelical Protestants told pollsters they voted Democratic because they opposed the war in Iraq and they opposed corruption in the Republican Party. But they didn't change their position on abortion or gay rights one inch." Berlet emphatically says reaching out to evangelicals—as Pam noted yesterday—means changing message but not priorities. "I respectfully refuse to consider women’s rights and gay rights as a commodity to be traded for votes from evangelicals.”

Sen. Hillary Clinton will personally Q&A with bloggers in breakout sessions after her Saturday speech to the convention. Last night, there was some confusion about her schedule but team HRC confirms the candidate will take questions from invited bloggers, including this one.

Comments

[Otis]

Alright Rod, congrats to you and Pam! Let Hillary know you are there to represent!