Bill Clinton never really attacked John McCain — only indirectly by identification with the Bush Administration. Was this a sign of things to come, an aversion to go after McCain? Or is this Clinton being unwilling to go the extra step to dismantle Obama’s opponent? Hard to say.

But he actually set out the argument for Barack Obama. Unique at this otherwise mess of a Convention.

Well, you have to give it to Bill Clinton. He did what he was supposed to do. He spent very little time talking about himself–unlike Hillary.  And he said all the right things about Obama.  He didn’t attack McCain, which was smart.  Most importantly, he kept it succinct and lively, and the crowd loved him.

Well, yes, Bill, you were.  Thanks to you al Qaeda had eight years after the first WTC bombing to plan an even more spectacular attack on American soil.

This isn’t just red meat. It’s Grade A Prime Kobe beef.

This is pretty much a home run — an attack on the Republicans, credit to John McCain’s heroic service and an indictment of McCain for identification with Republican orthodoxy on the economy and national security. “Thanks, but no thanks” on four more years he says. “The third time is not the charm.”

The world, Clinton says, has more “been led by the power of our example than by the example of our power.” That sure sounds a terrific line. I’m sure the Europeans liberated from the Nazi yoke and the peoples of the Pacific who were freed from Japanese domination were more grateful for “the power of our example.”

About Barack Obama: “He is ready to be President of the United States.” Better than his wife did. For the first time he is actually talking about Democratic policies (again a laundry list, but it is an improvement over every other speaker). This is what they should have been doing since the Convention started.

With lines like this, Bill Clinton has just single-handedly shoved the entire Democratic party back on track.

Clinton’s just done his usual laundry list, this time of Obama’s characteristics.  But I’m still waiting to hear that he has the experience to be commander in chief.  Oops, here it is Biden’s experience and Obama’s insights! Say what?

He races — and I mean races — through a list of good things about Barack Obama. It took less than 20 seconds, which I think was the point. Now he is on to saying nice things about Joe Biden.

Bill Clinton has just, in three minutes, summarized the entire case for Obama. “The task of the next president is rebuild the American dream and restore American leadership in the world. Everything I learned in my eight years as president and in the work I have done since has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.” Would that he had been this direct a speaker when he was boring us to death during his presidency.

 And he cleverly reminds them that there are 18 million “of us” — who of course will now support Barack Obama. We are now on to what is wrong with the country since he left office. Whoops — did he forget to say what is so great about Obama? Seems so.

“I’m here to warm up the crowd for Joe Biden” and “the campaign generated so much heat it increased global warming.”  Somehow his pledge to do everything he can to elect Barack Obama sound a little flat in comparison.

Says Bill Clinton. And then “warm up the crowd for Joe Biden.” But I suspect that’s not all.

First words of the speech: “I am here first to support Barack Obama, and second, I’m here to warm up the crowd for Joe Biden.”

Michelle Obama doesn’t like Bill Clinton too much either, judging from the reaction shots.

An inescapable conclusion from watching a few more hours of convention coverage:  the main story line of the past three days has been “Clinton.” Obama seems merely a subplot.  Tonight, the main story continues:  “What will Bill say?”  Will these people never go away?

Ok, I’ve put on a pot of coffee and I’m sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for Bill Clinton to take the stage.  And I say this as someone who never managed to stay awake during a single one of his State of the Union addresses.  But I suspect tonight will be different.  I’ll be hanging on every lip-bite, watching his face get redder and redder, searching for secret digs and back-handed compliments–and delighting in every minute. Barack Obama has managed to do something I never thought possible: make me (and millions of others on the right) nostalgic for the ’90s.

Karl Rove on Fox says he has “no idea” what Bill Clinton will say, but thinks he should talk about economic, not national security which is his “assigned” topic.  About the Convention as a whole, Rove says, “I don’t know if I’d call it a disaster, but it’s a little inexplicable.” Why give the Clintons two nights? Rove says it should have been one “Clinton night.” Rove deems the Mark Warner speech “Terrible.” As for Joe Biden, Rove says he needs to reassure us about Barack Obama, remind us of his foreign policy expertise, tout his Catholic roots and play the attack dog. And Obama? “He should have used all four days” to sell himself.

What is noteworthy is that his take is quite similar to that of Obamaphiles and the MSM.