On a night filled with raw, raucous enthusiasm and star power, the Democrats ended the third night of their national convention on a high note – President Obama’s speech in support of Hillary Clinton.

In typical Obama fashion, he commanded the room. The crowd of delegates at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, cheered and hollered as the President made his case for why his former Secretary of State needs to be our nation’s 45^th president.

Perhaps the line of the night came when Obama said, “I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman, not me, not Bill, more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America.”

In an obvious appeal to disappointed Bernie Sanders’ supporters, the president reminded them, “That even when you’re 100 percent right, getting things done requires compromise.”

The President didn’t hold back on his criticism of Republicans and their presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Talking about the Republican National Convention, Obama said, “ … what we heard in Cleveland last week wasn’t particularly Republican – and it sure wasn’t conservative. What we heard was a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other, and turn away from the rest of the world. There were no serious solutions to pressing problems – just the fanning of resentment, and blame, and anger, and hate.”

The President spoke after a well-received speech from Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary’s vice presidential pick, who followed Vice President Joe Biden’s rousing oratory.

But the highlight of the night? No, it did not have anything to do with speechmaking.

After President Obama ended his speech, Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance onto the stage. What followed was a truly amazing moment… the two hugged each other very closely and when she pulled away, Hillary looked into Obama’s eyes with what can only be described as googly eyes. They then continued their close embrace, with Hillary resting her head on Obama’s chest.

What we say on that stage was what Obama had been talking about – American greatness. That the two former rivals, in pursuit of the common good, could morph into soulmates was inspirational.

Eyes can talk. What Hillary’s seemed to be expressing was how deeply thankful she was for the President’s complete and unqualified support.

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Photo | washingtonpost.com

In a speech many observers are calling ”controversial,” Bill Clinton began his keynote speech in support of his wife’s candidacy by telling the story of their courtship years. “In the spring of 1971, I met a girl,” Clinton said. The reason some political analysts thought it was a risky move was because of the very good chance it might stir up some of the love story’s many rocky moments – Bill’s numerous betrayals and infidelities.

Nevertheless, the former president, in a long-winded narrative, went on to tell the story of Bill and Hill. He spoke of how they met at Yale Law School; how he couldn’t work up the nerve to ask her out; how he proposed marriage three times before she finally succumbed; how he bought a small house in Arkansas, which Hillary had had her eye on, that finally helped seal the deal.

Of course, Bill went on to talk about all the great things Hillary accomplished after law school and beyond. He talked about how she devoted herself to the public good and became the champion of ordinary people. He dwelled on her tenacity, her smarts, her organizational skills and her accomplishmensts. He said of his wife, “She’s the best darn change maker I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

While some political analysts, including Rachel Maddow, thought the start of Bill’s speech was odd and atypical for the gifted speaker, fellow MSNBC analyst, Joy Reid, thought it was perfect. It was Reid’s contention that Bill was targeting a specific demographic that tends to vote Republican – white, married women. The strategy was to humanize Hillary in the eyes of this voting group. What better way than to learn about the early years of perhaps the most famous and talked about couple in political history?

Bill Clinton ended his speech by pointing out how Republicans have portrayed Hillary as “a cartoon” and not a real person.

“They’re running against a cartoon. Cartoons are two-dimensional, they’re easy to absorb. Life in the real world is complicated and real change is hard, and a lot of people even think it’s boring,” said Bill Clinton. Not for Hillary the “change maker,” of course.

Bill Clinton is not only a master communicator but also a great political strategist.

Will Bill’s gambit of trying to humanize Hillary with their “love story”resonate among undecided voters or even some Hillary haters? This remains to be seen and won’t be known until after the convention and the start of targeted polling.

My bet is that the next possible “First Gentleman” got it right. We’re all suckers for love stories.

Photo | freep.com

What Republicans have proven over the first three days of their national convention is that they are adept at ineptness.

From not utilizing the right speakers for primetime speaking slots, to getting caught red handed plagiarizing other peoples words, the Republican National Convention has devolved into the “Amateur Hour.”

Tonight’s fiasco, however, takes the cake (well, at least for now).

Convention organizers allowed Ted Cruz to address the delegates. The RNC was not required to offer Donald Trump’s biggest primary opponent an opportunity to speak. But heck, they were short on speakers, why not?

Ted Cruz has yet to endorse Donald Trump for president. He has not encouraged his many supporters to get behind the Republican Party’s nominee. And after tonight’s speech, that is still the case.

Ted Cruz told convention delegates to “vote your conscience,” or in political parlance, vote for the candidate you prefer, not the one you’re pledged to support through the nominating system.

The convention delegates didn’t take kindly to Cruz’s advice. Shouts of “endorse … endorse” could be heard coming from the loud Republican crowd even over a chorus of boos. Yet Cruz stood his ground. No endorsement was offered.

Why Ted Cruz would be allowed to speak at the convention without a guarantee he would endorse the Republican presidential nominee is the question everyone is asking. The answer, however, may be as simple as “pure, unadulterated ineptitude.”

Instead of talking about the great speech given by the vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, today’s news cycle will be devoted to stories of Ted Cruz’s selfishness and disloyalty to his party.

Cruz is probably one of the most hated, distrusted, and devious Republicans you will ever find. A man who only thinks in terms of his own political future. Former House Speaker, John Boehner, has called Cruz “Lucifer in the flesh” and a “miserable son of a bitch.”

Well, the evil one pulled a fast one on the RNC. It was payback time for all the nasty things Trump has said about Cruz and his wife. What better way to humiliate the man who saddled him with the nickname, “Lyin’ Ted?”

Thanks to the generosity of a disorganized political convention, tonight’s “political sabotage” will no doubt be referred to as Cruz’s first speech in his bid to becoming the 2020 Republican presidential nominee.

Photo | rawstory.com