Roy Carter took his battle for Virginia Foxx's seat in Congress to the airwaves last night, running this ad in the district during Barack Obama's triumphant acceptance speech and ESPN's coverage of Wake Forest football's decimation of Baylor.

Message: GAME ON!

Last night was the speech that I have been waiting for Barack Obama to make since he entered the race. As a supporter of John Edwards I often took Obama to task for clinging to the middle ground, for being too wishy-washy to stand up to the Republicans. It wasn't that I didn't believe in change or in the middle ground, it was that I wasn't sure he would stand up for the true middle, but would instead allow himself to be pulled to the right. Last night ended those worries.

I have never thought that I would vote for John McCain in this election. Never. I won't vote for a Republican any time soon, perhaps ever again, thanks for George W. Bush, Karl Rove, Jack Abramhoff, Dick Cheney, Grover Norquist, James Dobson, and John McCain. However, I was not fired up and in that way I was probably like many of the Clinton delegates. In fact, almost all my passion for politics evaporated with the exit of John Edwards. I tried to get excited again, but my heart was just not in it. Even earlier this week I was dispassionate about the process. But, Democrats this week finally ignited my passion again and I have to believe that it converted all those supposed PUMAs once more into Democrats.

A masterpiece, fierce, strong, meaty, best convention speech since Kennedy, 44 minutes of fireworks, were the reactions of pundits immediately following Obama’s historic acceptance speech, “America’s Promise.”

Obama Accepts the Nomination

I've just about given up on the practice of pointing out hypocrisy. It lies too much (pun intended) at the heart and soul of modern politics. Still, when a guy talks about wanting the change the culture out of one side of his mouth, while grippin' and grinnin' to suck in special interest money on the other side, well, it's hard to ignore. This from a Perdue campaign email:

“Pat McCrory says he wants to change the political culture, but he’s bringing George Bush’s special interests and failed policies to North Carolina. And he’s doing it with open arms,” said Perdue spokesman Tim Crowley. And here’s what McCrory and his hometown paper have said:

Despite the questionable fundraising tactics employed by the RGA NC 2008 PAC, Pat McCrory “is welcoming the association's help.” [Charlotte Observer, 7/24/08]

“This concept where the Observer keeps doing headlines, ‘McCrory takes PAC money’ as though it’s something illegal, I accept PAC funds, because it’s not only legal, I think it’s a good thing.” [WDYT 1220 AM (Charlotte), McCrory interview, 8/5/08]

It was 45 years ago today that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told the world of his dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

Here is another snippet from Nancy Pelosi's presentation at Unconventional Women.

James Andrews is the president of the AFL-CIO. He got us riled up at Monday's breakfast with a great speech. Then on Tuesday morning I heard him talking with a reporter. His answers were so good, I knew I had to get him on tape. Our interview went so well that it stretches 14 minutes. So I split it in two.

Watch the clips to hear his take on the impact of race on the issue and how we're going to engage white voters across North Carolina. He also asks me some great questions about how young people look at labor organizing, social security, and health care.

Here's the first video:

Part 2 is below the fold.

As many of you know, SEIU has made Universal Health Care a top priority, not just in their endorsement of candidates across the country and in the Presidential race, but for after November.

Well today, a McCain adviser said we can all go home, nothing to see here. Everyone has Health Care! Is it time to celebrate? I think not.

I hadn't met our North Carolina delegation until I walked in Monday night. I asked all the people in charge where the North Carolina delegation was sitting so I wouldn't have to walk in and trudge around the floor looking for them. I finally found our delegation. Thinking back, I don't know why I didn't spot them from across the floor. They were the only delegates who were on their feet, dancing, singing, waving signs and cheering and that was at the beginning of the night before any of the big name speakers were on.

Their energy and enthusiasm are infectious. The first night we had more camera crews hanging around our area than any other delegation. They just kept coming and the energy of our delegates never waned.