Notice Anything Different?

Gotta love that "Republican rebranding". Late last month, G-O-TEA media personalities were rushing to defend embattled racist billionaire slumlord Donald Sterling soon after they finished their worship ceremony for embattled racist "welfare cowboy" Cliven Bundy.

But now, Donald Sterling is trying to defend himself. So he went on CNN yesterday. And he declared Magic Johnson is not "a good example for the children"...



Because he is HIV positive. Oh, yes. That's right. He went there. (/facepalm)

After all, abusing one's tenants is far more honorable than someone who actually puts his money where his mouth is. How dare that Magic Johnson give back to his community! What kind of example is he setting up for the children?

Oh, but he's HIV positive! Yes... So? A number of Americans are. And they go on to live their lives. HIV is not a crime.

Harrassing tenants, however, is. And being a negligent landlord most certainly is. And Donald Sterling is most certainly guilty on both counts.

And speaking of negligent, let's return to our favorite negligent "welfare cowboy".



As we mentioned yesterday, the BLM is pursuing another court challenge to make Cliven Bundy pay up. Yet somehow, not even this is stopping his fan club from making a pilgrimage to Salt Lake City tomorrow to demand the feds give up land that has been federal land ever since The West became US territory. After all, Cliven Bundy knows a thing or two about "proper stewardship"...

And about [redacted]. And now, Ann Coulter & Rush Limbaugh want to tell us something they know about First Lady Michelle Obama. Because she dared to go to Twitter to demand Boko Haram release the 300+ Nigerian school girls they kidnapped.

Apparently, screaming at Michael Sam and HGTV wasn't enough. So G-O-TEA Culture Warriors are now throwing shade at Michelle Obama for demanding the safe return of the kidnapped Nigerian school girls. And they're reading Magic Johnson to filth for giving back to his community. And of course, they're still lusting after that "Range War" Cliven Bundy promised them.

So how's that "Republican rebranding" coming along? We're still wondering what's changed. Has the "brand" even been changed? We don't notice anything different.

"The Closer" Opens Up

Remember when Michelle Obama came here to Henderson in June? Remember when she pumped up the crowd? And remember when she so beautifully and seamlessly tied powerful personal stories to progressive policy and Presidential politics?

Well, she did it again last night. And she may have very well outdone herself in Charlotte.



TPM's Benjy Sarlin may have very well nailed the pure political beauty of what Michelle Obama accomplished in Charlotte last night.

[Mitt] Romney’s name may have never come up in the First Lady’s speech once, but it was impossible to miss the message when she described learning from her parents that “you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules — and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square,” or that “helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.”

“[Obama] believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity you do not slam it shut behind you,” she said at one point. “You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”

Throughout her speech, Michelle Obama portrayed her husband as someone who didn’t just know what it was like to be down and out, but someone who had enacted his major policies specifically because of it. She singled out health care reform in particular, of which she said, “He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically — that’s not how he was raised — he cared that it was the right thing to do.”

“Barack knows the American dream because he’s lived it,” she said. “And he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.”

What was truly amazing about Michelle Obama's speech was that she was able to paint a rather detailed portrait of the choice voters must make this fall, yet she was able to do it without mentioning Romney by name. Perhaps she didn't have to. It's not too hard to figure out who Mitt Romney really is and what he's out to do.

What Michelle Obama did last night was remind Americans that her story and her husband's story are truly American stories. They came from modest beginnings, worked their way through school, and struggled their way to success. And in progressing on their journey, they took advantage of the unique opportunity, which is the American opportunity of giving anyone a chance at success by providing public education and a social safety net meant to prevent Americans from becoming trapped in poverty. What makes America great is our middle class, and that's what Michelle Obama truly personified.

And this is why her husband somehow still manages to defy the DC pundits' odds. It's been said OFA staff refer to Michelle Obama as "The Closer". Last night, America had a chance to see why.

Notes from Michelle Obama's Visit

In case you thought I was exaggerating yesterday, I have video evidence for you. Pay attention to the crowd when OFA Nevada "super volunteer" Teresa is speaking. She's also a registered nurse, so she was explaining why "Obamacare" works. That got plenty of applause.



She then introduced First Lady Michelle Obama, and the crowd really went wild!



Michelle Obama then tied together all the President's achievements and worked them into a clear message of economic justice and standing up for Nevada's 99%. It really resonated with the crowd.



As I was saying yesterday, it's hard to look at this and conclude that "Democrats have an enthusiasm gap". No really, it's not 2010 any more. It's 2012, and Nevada Democrats are increasingly looking fired up and ready to go. All you have to do is see the cheering crowds for yourself.

Michelle Obama Liveblog #1: Anatomy of Enthusiasm

This is how it looks inside.





This is how it looked outside.



Oh, yes. It's madness over here at the Henderson Convention Center. Michelle Obama will soon be here. And the crowd is already starting to go wild as the "pre-rally pomp and circumstance" begins.

There's already plenty of shouting and cheering happening. Again, it's clearly looking like Nevada Democrats are fired up and ready to go.

So I just wonder how the media will spin "the enthusiasm gap" this time. After all, Democrats are mostly getting excited about reelecting Obama. Republicans, on the other hand (and especially Nevada's G-O-TEA), aren't all that happy. Hmmm... I wonder why?

The event is now beginning, so I'll go back to Twitter @atdleft to update you on what's happening. So far, it looks like there will be plenty of cheering and shouting here in the mosh pit.

Yes, I'll Finally See Michelle Obama Today.

That was the scene yesterday @OFA_NV's Henderson office. As you can see, there was plenty of excitement ahead of today's visit by a certain special someone.

And she couldn't have picked a better time to come here. Folks are still processing the President's new immigration order. Local governments are dashing to plug into renewable energy. Oh, and the housing market finally seems to be looking up. Yep, it's good timing that FLOTUS is coming here today.

Oh yes, and then there's the fact that she's here just three weeks after this guy came back to town. Ha, perfect timing.

So anyways, I'll finally have a chance to go today. Check @atdleft on Twitter starting around 1:00 PM today for updates on what's happening at the Henderson Convention Center. And as soon as I can do it, I'll provide fuller updates here on the blog.

Hey, I can't leave you out of what should be the "funnest" Tuesday I've experienced in some time.

How's That Enthusiasm Gap Looking Now?

So we had a very special visitor in town today.



And the crowd looked quite fired up and ready to go. Oh, yeah. It was like that.

I remember hearing so much about "the enthusiasm gap" not too long ago. And maybe it still exists... Albeit in a way that the big DC pundits hadn't expected. And that's playing out right here in Nevada. Look at what happened at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas today, then look at what's about to happen at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks this weekend.

Need I say more?