CNN

Ha, one where Hillary is prohibited from attending.

Okay. The super delegates read their internal polling data and realize that Obama can not beat McCain (for example, PA and NJ are reportedly in great doubt). They then switch for Hillary, who CAN win, they nominate her and Biden and then we can win in November.

But I suspect that they will choose political correctness over victory in November. How unspeakably sad.

A successful convention will be beating back the media generated Clinton issue and showing party unity. It should be obvious that Hillary "supporters" who would vote for McCain and risk the overturning of Roe v. Wade are not true Democrats, nor are they true supporters of Hillary Clinton. They are either paid Republican shills or very stupid people. If their vote puts McCain in office, I hope their kids are ready for the draft.

The knives have been washed and put away. The Clintons have convinced they are truly on board, and the PUMAs have been quieted.

PS. My wife and I have finished reading your book, Jack. We enjoyed getting to know you a bit more and we recommend it to all those who enjoy your 'crankyness' and learn from your insights. Good Job. J&P.

It will be one which ends with solid unity among the party and the idiot PUMAs regain their senses before it is too late to save the country from a bushocracy.

The markers of success at the convention would be a tapering off of visibility for the Clintons and the absence of Hillary signs.

The best thing for the Democratic Convention would be if Bill and Hillary would come clean and admit they made some campaign gaffs that cost them the nomination and that the Obama campaign and/or the DNC weren't responsible for their loss.

Obviously, the dems need to show some unity and the diehard Clinton supporters need to get into the fight and get into it with a vengeance. Preseason is over and the game is really on now. I would also like to see Biden, the new democratic attack dog, get started on McCain about his ability to keep his word/vows.

The Clintons stop blaming Obama for their loss and show true support for his nomination.

A surprise nominee.

The Democrat convention will be a success if the name "Obama" name is mentioned more in the media reports than the name "Clinton". So far, things are not working out that way.

Coming out of it as Democrats united.

A successful convention hinges on how the Clintons handle their role. If Hillary and Bill are able to seamlessly transfer the focus and loyalty of her supporters to Barack Obama, then retreat from center stage, there will be huge momentum for the Democratic ticket. If not, 2008 will be remembered as the disaster in Denver.

I'll let you know if the convention was successful in two months and ten days.

Avoiding riots in the streets.

Remember the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Jack?

We'd lost Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy that year. President Johnson's reputation was in the toilet. The divisions over the Vietnam War were ripping us to shreds. Going into that convention, we had a major split in the Democratic party. The atmosphere was pure chaos, and the battles between Chicago police and anti-war protesters added violence!

What did we get out of that, Jack? The Chicago Seven. Hubert Humphrey as the weakened nominee. And, the Democrats wound up losing the presidential election to the infamous Richard Nixon.

Given the current split and messes in the Democratic party and the country, anything better than that will be a success....

Oprah has Dr. Phil talk to Hillary on the convention floor during the Oprah Show.

It will be successful if Bill puts away his ego and says the right things. It will be successful if Hillary tells people that she didn't want to be vetted for VP and that she has agreed to hold the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services under an Obama administration. And lastly, it will be successful if both Obama and Biden take off the gloves and give a mighty smackdown to McCain.

A successful convention will be that the Secret Service and law enforcement prevent any blood shed. Too many people have died that didn't play their part with the Clintons. And Bill and Hillary certainly aren't doing the happy dance.

One in which they successfully hide their policies and personalities from the Great American Public. For example:

One in which Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayres , Tony R and the Rev Pfleger are not mentioned on air.

One in which they pretend that Obama did not oppose measures to save dying babies as an Illinois legislator and that he does not support Partial Birth Abortion.

One in which the phrase 'above my pay grade" is not used by any anchor.

One is which people do not draw a parallel between Jimmy Carter and Obama on foreign policy or on energy policy.

One in which Obama's debate position that taxes should be for "fairness" instead of raising revenue is not noted.

In short any convention which focuses on unspecified good things to come from God's gift to the nation (per Rep. Pelosi) and which praises hope as a reason for support him( with Biden as VP change is no longer an actionable theme.)

Personally I'm glad that the Yanks are playing the Red Sox this week so I won't have to watch!

Successful if they don't self-destruct.

Success means the National Guard was not called into Denver to resolve the bloodbath in the Pepsi Center...

Must have party unity. The PUMAs have to step back and Hillary has to control the frenzy. This whole thing with her is nonsense. Is she the only woman in the world? And, exactly how much experience does she have? What I saw was some exaggerated overblown quotes from her, like in Bosnia. She has no Foriegn Policy experience except to accept some flower from a little girl. WOW.

Not endorsing Senator McCain for president.

If your expecting everyone to sing around the camp fire in total peace, forget it. I would like for this convention to be different from all others without the back door, smoke filled room deals that have cost the party the White House in times past. The Democratic Party has a grand opportunity to capture the White House and restore the reputation of American values around the world.

As democrats we should cork the bickering and unleash the whipping of a life time on the Republican Party. Vote Obama

Jack, A sincere display of UNITY!! The Democrats should have an unbeatable team. If not, than all I can say is that too many of the American people are still stunningly stupid!!!!!

Louise Indiana

It will be a success if Hillary and Bill Clinton convince her supporters that they really didn't mean it when they said that only she and McCain were qualified to be president and that they know for a fact that Obama is not a Muslim.

The Convention will be successful if those involved leave their ego and hubris at the front door. This is time to show the American people what true leadership is about and how the Democratic ticket can help to improve the quality of life for the citizens of this great country.

Simple, Hillary needs to get ALL of her supporters on board. She will be judged (right or wrong) on her ability to elect Barack Obama president. The question is what do Hillary supporters want her legacy to be? That Jack is what's at stake.

The success of the convention will have a lot to do with Hillary's supporters. Some of them still don't understand that Obama is Christian, and that he cares for America. Some of Hillary's followers I'm almost sure they're racist. It's a sad reality! I know one thing. We need to stop this republican mess!

If all the Democrats stay there!

If the power went out for a week in Denver that would be fantastic!!

One where the definition of a democracy is read first.
One where we are reminded that its one man one vote
One where we are reminded that the person that gets the most votes is the winner,
The Winner
Just because you have been denied by the glass ceiling in your professional life does not mean you let it overflow into your politics.
It's hard to believe that these brilliant women have been so easily dupped.
janjan
cherry hill, new jersey

If they can get out of this thing without Bill Clinton making an ass of himself.

The election of Barack Obama by an 8 to 10 point margin in November would constitute a sucessful convention for me. I will however settle for any victory bt Obama.

Hillary getting the PUMAs under control before the networks cover their bad behavior.

A successful convention will be one that:

A – keeps Bill from saying something too embarassing.
B – keeps Hillary from calling Obama her "opponent"
C – Will have good one liners the media will run for weeks to come
D – Will finally let all those who complain they "don't know Obama" a chance to know Obama...

What democrats have to do is come out with precise ideas like withdrawal from Iraq,a health care program,a energy policy that favors plans for renewable fuels, a enconomic plan,Bush tax cuts has to go,and as long as they say exactly what they are going to do let the republicans attack it but stick to what they say.

Jack, you've got one of the most intelligent , well researched educational sites available, I compliment you. Now, if only the rest of our country would learn to read and research information properly. Why don't you write a an article about the history of conventionsand the elections and send it to Senator Clinton so that she can start to do something for her country?

A 2-3 point rise in the polls. The Hilary supporters understanding that McCane is the enemy of freedom, especially for women and children. A united front against the idea of four more years that would be 95% Bush again.

If everyone returns home safe and sound.

The political results of the convention are a foregone conclusion.
The convention is just an expensive display to convince everyone that the Democrats have the solutions to each and every problem, that the Party is unified and that everone loves everyone. (Even Bill loves Hillary!)
Just put them in power for four years, and we all will be living in Heaven on Earth.

You buy it? Neither do I.

They cannot have a successful convention. They are far too divided and have no real way to come together. Hillary is intent on somehow winning the nomination, far too many will simply not vote for a black man and they have no united platform. Democrats are famous for pulling defeat from the jaws of victory and seem about to do it again.

If the riot police don't have to show up.

What the democrats need to have as a successful convention is to make sure that they are sending the right message that: McCain will continue the same policies as Bush, We as democrats will no longer tolerate anything that has negatively affected this country and we can make it better, and We provide a better future for everyone than the Republicans who care nothing more about money and business. Another key is that the Clintons speak the right message that Obama and Biden are the right people to lead this country in the right direction and that they are ready. The last key is for Obama to speak truly from his heart as he has shown during the primaries. He has given amazing speeches in the past, but if he completely delivers his best Thursday, a lot of people will have a lot of thinking to do to realize what is best for our nation and to move on in a completely positive direction that Obama has done the last 18 months.

The democrats getting whole heartedly united will constitute a successful convention. Now to get united Hillary’s willingness to release her delegates will definitely help. Bill in his speech should be especially careful to show that he was the president by the support of the democrats. He has still a lot to pay back. He should care more for what the general people who voted for him with ‘Hope’ think about him. Bill has to go extra mile in trying to restore the feelings of people about democrats.

One where Senator Clinton and Former President Clinton realize that it isn't about them and stop whining like spoiled children, get the party together before the country is being run by another out of touch, pretentious clone of Bush.

Unity. The Democrats have forgotten how badly the Republican party as mishandled foreign policy, the economy, Katrina, and the national infrastructure. The party needs major turnout in order to be able to overcome Republican opposition to changing healthcare, or healing our ailing nation.

Jack,

This one can only be answered by the folks that go there to cry foul. I hope they will grasp the reality here and see that this was not a sports game but an election. We voted, Barack won. Truth be told Jack I would rather you were on the ticket. That said, we need to come out in force and vote for the person who will represent what we Democrats believe in in the Gerneral Election.

Joe

St Louis,MO

Tonight Sen. Kennedy tells everyone to please come together as a party and win this one for him. If they won't listen to him and Caroline tonight, then nothing Barack can say will help

Michelle has the strength to get thru all of this under grace.

Also Bill should give the speech he is comfortable with. If it is good and convincing, that will be inspiring.

I have no doubt Hillary and Barack will do an excellent job.

Keeping the Clintons off of center stage would my gauge for judging how successful the convention was!!!!

If they can get through it without either Clinton undercutting Obama, without the left wing being too obvious and without Obama coming across as a great orator who is light on specifics, the Democrats may just save themselves and this country.

I'm afraid you are asking for the impossible. This is the same self-destructive bunch of nit-wits that couldn't get the war stopped, or Bush impeached, or the Constitution upheld, or the Clintons muzzled, or the economy turned around. It's too bad that Obama has to rely on such a disjointed and ineffectual party to support him. This convention is going to be painful to watch, because you just know there is a train wreck coming but there is no way to stop it.

A successful convention would include the moment where Barack Obama finally realizes that he needs to go after John McCain in his stump speeches and stop being the only one playing by the rules! Start defining McCain and his party for what they are, they can't be distinguished from the rest of Republicans and they can't be let off the hook for their failures of the last eight years from the lost war, to the economy to Katrina, we need to remind Americans what we're up against!

Jack - The only way the Democrats can have a successful convention is to have the various cable news networks declare it so!. With such intense efforts on their part to determine what could possibly happen and ask the same questions day-in-and-day-out means they are the most insightful. Should the Democrats perform nearly flawlessly there will always comments here and there that they could have done better. Ergo; the opening statement of this correspondence. El-Tee from the lower right hand corner of ND

A successful campaign will be when the American people see that John McCain is the past and Barack Obama is the future.

The party will come together but their will be bitterness because of the Obama camp supporters. Obama does not like to lose but if he does not bring in the flock then the republicans will run our country for the next for years and God help us. This country will be in a sprial of disstruction.

This will be a successful Democratic convention if the party becomes unified and enthusiastic about our candidates. It wouldn't hurt if Obama broke the news that he intends to nominate Hillary for Supreme Court Justice when a seat becomes available, and then Hillary enthusiastically accepts! Hillary has to do everything she can to convince her supporters to support the Democratic Party and to stop being so childish about giving their vote to McCain! If they support McCain, so be it. But how can anyone who supported Hillary now say they will vote for McCain?? Sour, sour grapes. The Republicans must be laughing their heads off.

If Hillary doesn't start talking about her 18 million supporters like she's the nominee.

One word Jack: UNITY. The democrats must unify in full support of Barak Obama. This includes the PUMAs.

Hillary should get her due as a woman that has come farther than any woman in history. That she almost won. She then must somehow convince her delegates that for the good of this Country they must elect Obama...that no one is forcing her to say that and she truly believes it. Bill must do what he does so well and give an inspiring speech that shows that the President who gave us peace and prosperity believes in Obama and wants him to return this Country to what it can be. And then Barack must close the deal on Thursday.

No we are worse off today. Costs for food, utilities, gasoline has skyrocked.
Libraries are being closed. Services in the towns and cities are being reduced. God help us when they start reducing medicare and medicade benefits for those that are in such need. Wake up Americans and stop being status quo.

A convention with the Clinton Basher left out side the door. To bring unity to the party the party has to extend a welcome sign out side the door to all party members.

Carol

A successful convention for the Democrats is if they can make a strong case that George Bush's policies were responsible for the downshift in the economy. Then the federal reserve tried to artificially float the economy with lower and lower interest rates. The final result is the destruction of the dollar that we see every day, at the gas station and grociery store. Oil's not more expensive, the dollars worth less. More McCain will make it Worthless. One House One Spouse – Obama/Biden 2008!

If, once everyone has had their say, democrats unite on the last day behind Barack Obama (including the Hillary supporters), then we will have had a successful convention.

A successful convention would be one where Democrats are aware of–and convey–what an amazing team Obama and Biden make. Obama is charismatic beyond all comprehension. He won states where virtually no black people live. And Biden is the real deal. I may not be thrilled with his associations with credit card companies, but he's really done everything Hilary claims to have done, such as international diplomacy. If Hilary had Biden's resume and he had hers, discussions over who's qualified to be VP would never even have started.

Unity. Hillary and Barack need to make it very clear that they are on the same side of the issues, and the McCain is not. Also, Barack needs to show the American people who he is and what he stands for, maybe that way more people will finally drop this nonsense that he's not "fundamentally American".

It'll be successful if the Dems will decide to vote for their party instead of against it. Unify already. The GOP don't like McCain, but they stand by him anyway............

I'm surprised at you Jack, with all of the other woes, you forgot to mention that since 2006 we have been subject to the whims of the democratic congress we elected. We got the change we asked for...a do nothing congress.

No chance for a successful convention for the Dems. Barack Obama doesn't have the experience it takes to unify the party and that speaks volumes about his ability to lead the country. He has shown by leaving Hillary off the Vice President short list that he doesn't know how to negotiate. Everyone wants Hillary to unify the party, but that's Barack's job now. He has a tough job ahead of him now that he has alienated 18 million voters.

A successful convention for the democrats will be one that tell the American people where John McCain stands on trade, Iraq, healthcare and taxes. Then tell where Obama stands on these issues. The Republicans are good at using smoke and mirrors, the only way to beat them is to go straight at them. Keep the focus on issues and we should be fine.

A successful democratic convention is one that leads to the election of Obama as president. I guess we'll have to wait until the general elections to find out.

A 6+ point bump in the polls.

There is really only one definition of success – a united party!

And with this unity they should they should be able to paint a vivid picture of the last eight years under George W. Bush.

And believe me, it has truly been an ugly picture for the vast majority of Americans.

If the Democrats cannot accomplish those two simple tasks, the American people should take a serious look at the leadership of this party and/or start looking around for a third party – hopefully one that can get the job done!

If they can manage to actually get the truth about Obama and his positions on the issues and plans for the country out to the undecided voters of the country, and push back against the tremendous amount of misinformation perpetuated by emails, bloggers, websites, and conservative talkers who dominate the public air waves of this country, and the negative 527 group commercials that are certainly to come. Not to mention what the Republicans and McCain campaign say about him. Politics has always been a nasty business, but it's really gotten even uglier since the Fairness Doctrine was eliminated.

The way to unite the Democratic party is for fans of Hilary Clinton, who would have indeed been a good candidate, to understand that she will not be the candidate,For those who, out of spite, vote for McCain are simply demonstrating that they do not understand the ramifications of 4 more years of the same. Senator Clinton has got to be mortified that this childishness is going on in her name. The lady has more class...let's support her in her current wishes and unite for everything she and Senator believe in. This is critical!

A successful convention for the Democrats is if the Hillary supporters stop whining and get behind the winner. I for one supported Hillary but I am so over it! We can do more together if we work on getting a Democrat back in the office and stop the Republican machine from destroying this country any further...

Belle in Florida