For those of you who couldn't or didn't watch CSPAN, or those of you who just want to relive some highlights, or those of you who prefer your convention in small bite-size chunks...
Maxine Waters (Rep. from California):
"Democrats are working hard to help struggling homeowners keep their homes, but John McCain doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem. Maybe that’s because none of his seven houses are in foreclosure."
Michael Wilson (Iraq War Veteran, Lifelong Republican):
"You know, there’s an old saying: 'If you always do what you did, you’ll always get what you got.' America needs new leadership in the White House, and that leader is Barack Obama."
Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader):
"For the past eight years, the man in the Oval Office has tipped his hat over his eyes, kicked back his chair, and snoozed at his desk."
Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader):
"For over a quarter of a century, the Republicans have sold their magic beans with a promise of a giant beanstalk and gold over the horizon. Look what they’ve done to our country. Look what they’ve done to our planet."
Evan Bayh (Senator from Indiana):
"Let's start with some good news. In less than five months the Bush Administration will be gone, finished, outta here. Forever. Unless, of course, John McCain is elected, in which case we'll have to endure four more years of the same old thing."
Rear Admiral John Hutson (Ret.):
"I have a confession: For my entire adult life I was a registered Republican." But today I have traveled from my home in New Hampshire to declare myself a proud member of the Democratic Party and to endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States. Why? Because the Republican Party I once knew has become something different, something I no longer recognize. The "Grand Old Party" is no longer grand. It’s just old. The same old, failed policies. The same, old Washington culture."
Patrick Murphy (Rep. from Pennsylvania and Iraq War Vet):
"For eight long years, we’ve had a president who rushed to stand with soldiers at political rallies but abandoned them at Walter Reed. We’ve had a president who spent billions on private contractors but not on body armor for our troops. We’ve had a president who was there for the photo ops, but AWOL when it came to doing right by our veterans. It is time for a change."
Tom Udall (Rep. from New Mexico):
"[Under Bush], gas prices reached a new record, the deficit reached a new record, food prices reached a new record, health costs reached a new record, college education costs reached a new record. This administration set more new records than Michael Phelps."
Pres. Bill Clinton:
"Last night, Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she is going to do everything she can to elect Barack Obama.
That makes two of us.
Actually, that makes 18 million of us. Because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November."
Pres. Bill Clinton:
"With Joe Biden's experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama's proven understanding, instincts, and insight, America will have the national security leadership we need.
And so, my fellow Democrats, I say to you: Barack Obama is ready to lead America and to restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to honor the oath, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States."
Pres. Bill Clinton:
"They actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more.
Now, let's send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America, a simple message: Thanks, but no thanks. In this case, the third time is not the charm."
Pres. Bill Clinton:
"We prevailed in a hard campaign in which Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief. Sound familiar?
It didn't work in 1992, because we were on the right side of history. And it will not work in 2008, because Barack Obama is on the right side of history."
John Kerry:
"To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician: I say, let’s compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain.
Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once called irresponsible. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain’s own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote.
Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you’re against it!
Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself."
John Kerry:
"Years ago when we protested a war, people would weigh in against us saying: 'My country right or wrong.' Our answer? Absolutely, my country right or wrong. When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right."
Future Vice President Joe Biden:
"Since I’ve never been called a man of few words, let me say this as simply as I can: Yes. Yes, I accept your nomination to run and serve alongside our next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama."
Future Vice President Joe Biden:
"Let me make this pledge to you right here and now. For every American who is trying to do the right thing, for all those people in government who are honoring their pledge to uphold the law and respect our Constitution, no longer will the eight most dreaded words in the English language be: 'The vice president’s office is on the phone.'"
Future Vice President Joe Biden:
"I’ve never seen a time when Washington has watched so many people get knocked down without doing anything to help them get back up."
Future Vice President Joe Biden:
"As I look out the window at the homes we pass, I can almost hear what they’re talking about at the kitchen table after they put the kids to bed. Like millions of Americans, they’re asking questions as profound as they are ordinary. Questions they never thought they would have to ask:
* Should mom move in with us now that dad is gone?
* Fifty, sixty, seventy dollars to fill up the car?
* Winter’s coming. How we gonna pay the heating bills?
* Another year and no raise?
* Did you hear the company may be cutting our health care?
* Now, we owe more on the house than it’s worth. How are we going to send the kids to college?
* How are we gonna be able to retire?
That’s the America that George Bush has left us, and that’s the future John McCain will give us."
Future Vice President Joe Biden:
"These are not isolated discussions among families down on their luck. These are common stories among middle-class people who worked hard and played by the rules on the promise that their tomorrows would be better than their yesterdays. That promise is the bedrock of America. It defines who we are as a people. And now it’s in jeopardy. I know it. You know it. But John McCain doesn’t get it."
UPDATE: h/t madame defarge
Pres. Bill Clinton:
"People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."