Jefferson-Jackson Dinner
Friday night we attended the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, a fundraiser for the state Democratic Party, to hear former President Bill Clinton. The Cahaba Grand conference center was packed with smiling people who were really excited to see so many Democrats turn out for an event like this in Alabama. The original capacity for the dinner was 1,500, but demand for tickets added 300 more seats — and I hear the party still had to turn people away.
President Clinton’s speech was full of hope — vintage stuff for him, and one big reason why I miss the 1990’s. Instead of the constant fear-mongering we hear today, he talked about some of the big challenges we face in terms of opportunity. He pointed out that we could do tremendous good in the world in terms of economic development with a fraction of the money we’re spending on war. On the home fronth, he focused on job and wage growth, the need to develop sustainable alternative energy sources (to address national security and global climate change), and health care reform. Instead of pretending that global warming is a hoax, we can develop industry around new energy sources and conservation, which will lead to new jobs and a cleaner environment. We desperately need to bring health care costs under control in the US — he pointed out that health care spending in the US as a percentage of the total economy is significantly higher here than it is in other wealthy nations, while only 84% of the population has coverage.
I’m summarizing, of course, and Clinton being Clinton, he had all the statistics to support his assertions. The best way I can describe his approach is realistic optimism. It’s not some pretense that we don’t face real challenges, and even threats; it’s the clear-eyed acknowledgement of those combined with the belief that we can pull together to address them. Democrats must be in the solution business, and those solutions will benefit everyone.
Joe at Bessemer Opinions was there, and he has a post with some great pics up at his place.
The evening was a big success, in terms of raising funds ($350,000 to $400,000, according to the Birmingham News, a record for the dinner) and lifting spirits.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 am
Thanks for the morning chuckle Kathy, you really had me going there for a minute. Clinton optimism = calculated naive BS.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Actually I was there, BL, and I hope you’ll never call me some starry-eyed optimist liberal hippie blah blah blah…
It was a really great speech with clear statements of the challenges faced in a variety of issues (my only complaint is that he talked about EVERYTHING). After acknowledging the challenges, he offered possible ideas for solutions. Although he didn’t demand a specific course of action on many things, the overall implication was clear — we can do something, it’s more than possible, we just have to get it done.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:41 pm
wow, that sounds great! I’m feeling nostalgic for a president with a brain
April 24th, 2007 at 12:43 am
A president with solutions.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Yeah, some real great ideas, that sound good on paper or in a speech but could never actually work, but sound really good to the target audience. The only thing he executed well in eight years was a shot to the back of Monica’s throat. There is a word for that type of speech, pandering.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Poor Bottom Line. Living in the past with no future.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Roy - Was that comment you made supposed to make sense?
April 24th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
BL is totally correct. Thank God we now have an administration that would never let lofty ideals lead us to impractical strategies. We now focus on clear, obtainable objectives like bringing Democracy to the Muslim world. Now that is something we can all agree is a practical, effective plan.
April 25th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Bill, Do I sense sarcasm? Do I sense that Muslims are incapable of a Democracy? Why is this, are they genetically pre-disposed to letting dictators run their lives?
Yes, a much more practical plan would be to ensure economic prosperity and QUALITY health care for 100% of the population. A realistic plan that realies on taxation into prosperity, now there is an ingenious realistic plan. As for foreign policy, a realistic plan would be to identify threats around the world, beg them to be nice and then wish away all the problems that become politically tough to deal with. Now there is a model presidency.