If you could only pick one, who gave the best speech tonight and why?

[OmahaBlueDog]

**Bonus Question** Was there any particular line, thought, or quote you took away from tonight?

[scheming daemons]

1. Deval Patrick

[my2sense]

2. +1

[marybourg]

3. +2

[OmahaBlueDog]

5. If we want to win elections in November and keep our country moving forward...

“If we want to win elections in November and keep our country moving forward, if we want the privilege to lead, it’s time for Democrats to grow a backbone and stand up for what we believe."

Deval Patrick

and

“With a record and a vision like that I, for one, will not stand by and let him be bullied out of office — and neither should you!”

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20220905patrick_defeating_mitt_takes_backbone_slams_former_gov_for_job_in_massachusetts/srvc=politics&position=

[Historic NY]

13. Gov. Patrick - for giving Democrats a Backbone again.

[cynatnite]

4. And my mother fought hard for civil rights so that instead of a mop, I could hold this microphone...

Julian Castro's story was it for me.

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. The Castro bros. give me hope for Texas politics

I haven't heard that kind of talk out of Texas since the days of Ann Richards and Molly Ivins

[lob1]

8. "The Presidency doesn't change who you are, it reveals who you are." 1st Lady.

[OmahaBlueDog]

14. That was a great quote, wasn't it?

One of many, this evening.

[cynatnite]

23. That was a great quote...it should be an ad on it's own. n/t

[OmahaBlueDog]

22. "He just has no idea how good he's had it."

"Some people are lucky enough to borrow money from their parents, but that shouldn't determine whether you can pursue your dreams," continued Castro. "Not in American, not here, not in the 21st century. I don't think Governor Romney meant any harm. I think he's a good guy. He just has no idea how good he's had it."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57506160-503544/julian-castro-romney-has-no-idea-how-good-hes-had-it

[tnvoter]

7. top three

Michelle
Deval
Julian.

Michelle's delivery was epic and her message struck the right balance - compelling enough to draw tears, inspiring enough to offer hope and affirmative enough to build confidence in President Obama's vision. Hard to pick out the best line, but the series of historical milestones that beg us to continue the legacy of making our country a more perfect union was just spectacular.

I liked Deval's and Julian's messages equally, but Deval's delivery, fueled by his conviction, tipped the scales. Both have great careers ahead by proving tonight that they can persuade America with a clear vision.

[OmahaBlueDog]

11. Mrs. OBD was hitting the kleenex hard by the end of FLOTUS' speech

The sacrifice or parents and grandparents resonates.

I liked Deval Patrick and Julian Castro about equally, for different reasons.

[standingtall]

9. I original said Deval Patrick

But Castro was awfully close. Maybe even a tie. Patrick got me fired up, and ready to go, but Castro connected more so emotionally. Bye tomorrow I could change my mind to Michelle Obama. It was kind of an emotional night, and her speak was last, and I was kinda tapped out emotionally. So maybe I didn't give her speech the attention it deserved, and her speech was also very emotional.

[msongs]

10. deval patrick telling the president to stand up for democratic values n dump bipartisanship nt

[mvd]

18. I loved that moment

Hope he heard it in case his talk of more compromises isn't just a fake out.

[LaydeeBug]

12. I *loved* Deval Patrick, but TAMMY DUCKWORTH made me cry. nt

[OmahaBlueDog]

17. Duckworth was awesome. What an American heroine!

A great narrative of growing up in humble circumstances, and her account of her comrades not letting her die in the desert after the RPG blew off her legs. She will be one helluva Congresswoman.

[longship]

32. She made Joe Biden cry, too.

PBS camera flicked over to Joe a couple of times during Tammy's speech. He was visibly broken up, as was I.

Damn! We need her. Tammy Duckworth. She has charisma == 18. Ya can't go wrong with that. If she wins we defeat an idiot bagger, we get +1 in the House, and we get an incredibly industrious Congresswoman. (She was Obama's hand picked under secretary for Veteran's Affairs.)

I am awed by her.

[BeyondGeography]

15. I've worn myself out praising Michelle

She will keep me up all night with that speech. It reminded me of the great Jackson and Cuomo speeches at the '84 convention. Each told you why you were a Democrat and what is at stake in the election. Even moreso, they were full-bodied, soul baring, spiritual statements that rose way above mere politics.

All that said, how about a vote for Lilly Ledbetter's plain-spoken, almost apolitical speech about the most basic workplace right, equal pay. I confess to being a Yankee who loved the sight of this very conservatively turned out southern lady throwing haymakers on behalf of our President. I fear the networks ignored it (I was watching C-SPAN all night), but, in terms of political value, she was right up there.

[highplainsdem]

16. Michelle first, Deval and Julian tied for second.

Michelle CONNECTED. I agree with Anderson Cooper -- best speech ever by any First Lady.

[Marie Marie]

19. Michelle for sincerity and Deval for passion

[young_at_heart]

26. I agree!!

I can't pick just one---they were all great, but those two were fantastic!

[reformist2]

20. Michelle - Because her speech was so *real*.

What struck me in particular was how transformational the past four years has been for her, as she described so well in her speech. I think she is a different person than she was four years ago.

[OmahaBlueDog]

33. This graphic says a lot

[AsahinaKimi]

21. going with this

"Being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are." - @MichelleObama

[OmahaBlueDog]

24. I hate to respond to myself, but Kal Penn

He also gave a gem of a speech.

"I ask all of you young people to join me. You don't even have to put pants on. Go to commit.barackobama.com and register right there. And you know what, the oldies out there, you can do it too," Penn said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/kal-penn-speech-_n_1856255.html

[Kalidurga]

27. Even better...

He gave specific instances of how policy effects people on a personal level. He gave concrete examples of how people are better off. It isn't just about money, it's about well I hate to get sappy, but this convention is about how we love each other. He shows how it's not just an empty word like some people just say it like they think it is magic *cough cough* not mentioning any names. He shows that it is about hard work and dedication to making policies for people that actually work.

[rbrnmw]

25. 3

But Michelle Obama , Deval Patrick Then my first love Ted Strickland "his money needs a passport"

[Basic LA]

28. Lilly Ledbetter rocks.

W/ her downhome Ozark(?) delivery, Lilly Ledbetter rocked the house. She & Michelle were the two heavy hitters.

[Rowdyboy]

31. She certainly does...what an amazing lady....

She sounds like one of my aunts.

[Firebrand Gary]

29. Julian Castro's and Michelle Obama's speeches are forever intertwined. I pick both!

[Jennicut]

30. The great thing is, we had so many to chose from. Repubs had crap for 3 days.

And we still have Biden and Clinton and Barack Obama to go.

I thought Deval Patrick said what needed to be said. Dems need to fight, not back down. I loved Michelle second and Castro third (rising young star).