The Osterley Times: Bill makes the case for Obama with surgical skill.

Anyone who feared that Bill Clinton had damaged his reputation with the Democratic base, during the bruising battle between his wife and Barack Obama, would have had those fears instantly subdued when they witnessed the reaction of the Denver crowd to their former president.

They cheered so much it began to seem as if they were never going to allow him to talk in the first place.

And, when he did get to speak, he assured them that he was there "to support Barack Obama".

He then emphasised the main point of Hillary's speech last night:

"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 voted for her to vote for Barack Obama."

He then went on to make a speech on policy that reminded us all of why we loved him when he was president. He lambasted the Bush administration's legacy in a devastating manner:

Our nation is in trouble on two fronts: The American Dream is under siege at home, and America’s leadership in the world has been weakened.

Middle class and low-income Americans are hurting, with incomes declining; job losses, poverty and inequality rising; mortgage foreclosures and credit card debt increasing; health care coverage disappearing; and a big spike in the cost of food, utilities, and gasoline.

Our position in the world has been weakened by too much unilateralism and too little cooperation; a perilous dependence on imported oil; a refusal to lead on global warming; a growing indebtedness and a dependence on foreign lenders; a severely burdened military; a backsliding on global non-proliferation and arms control agreements; and a failure to consistently use the power of diplomacy, from the Middle East to Africa to Latin America to Central and Eastern Europe.

Clearly, the job of the next President is to rebuild the American Dream and restore American leadership in the world.

And there it was laid bare, the faults of the Bush administration, the stupidity of Cheney and the neo-cons insistence that the US needed no-one and could bully it's way to whatever it desired.

Standing there, Clinton reminded us all of his time in office, of an America that listened, co-operated, an America that appeared to believe in the rule of law. After eight years of Bush those halcyon days seem a long way off. It's unthinkable that Bill Clinton would have given us Guantanamo Bay, would have dispensed with Habeas Corpus, would have wiretapped outside of FISA.

His very presence reminded us of how far the US has strayed from her ideals and the reasons why so many of us, who had always loved her, found ourselves unable to do so during Bush's arrogant tenure.

And then he delivered his endorsement:

Everything I learned in my eight years as President and in the work I’ve done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.

He has a remarkable ability to inspire people, to raise our hopes and rally us to high purpose. He has the intelligence and curiosity every successful President needs. His policies on the economy, taxes, health care and energy are far superior to the Republican alternatives. He has shown a clear grasp of our foreign policy and national security challenges, and a firm commitment to repair our badly strained military. His family heritage and life experiences have given him a unique capacity to lead our increasingly diverse nation and to restore our leadership in an ever more interdependent world. The long, hard primary tested and strengthened him. And in his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park.

With Joe Biden’s experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama’s proven understanding, insight, and good instincts, America will have the national security leadership we need.

Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Ready to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be President of the United States.

He then summed up, in a single sentence, where the Bush regime went wrong and where he had always got it right.

People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

If you ever want a definition of the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats Bill gave it in that single sentence. Bush always favoured the latter and, through his use of torture, his suspension of Habeas Corpus, and a myriad of other crimes and misdemeanors, he utterly squandered the former.

Bill laid out what the last eight years of Republican leadership has meant for American workers.

Look at the example the Republicans have set: American workers have given us consistently rising productivity. They’ve worked harder and produced more. What did they get in return? Declining wages, less than ¼ as many new jobs as in the previous eight years, smaller health care and pension benefits, rising poverty and the biggest increase in income inequality since the 1920s. American families by the millions are struggling with soaring health care costs and declining coverage. I will never forget the parents of children with autism and other severe conditions who told me on the campaign trail that they couldn’t afford health care and couldn’t qualify their kids for Medicaid unless they quit work or got a divorce. Are these the family values the Republicans are so proud of? What about the military families pushed to the breaking point by unprecedented multiple deployments? What about the assault on science and the defense of torture? What about the war on unions and the unlimited favors for the well connected? What about Katrina and cronyism?

America can do better than that. And Barack Obama will.

But first we have to elect him.

He then turned on McCain, acknowledging his sacrifice in Vietnam, and his ability to sometimes go against his party's instincts, but noting that "on the two great questions of this election, how to rebuild the American Dream and how to restore America’s leadership in the world, he still embraces the extreme philosophy which has defined his party for more than 25 years."

The Republican party finally got control of both houses and one only has to look at what they have done with it to see the bankruptcy of their philosophy.

They took us from record surpluses to an exploding national debt; from over 22 million new jobs down to 5 million; from an increase in working family incomes of $7,500 to a decline of more than $2,000; from almost 8 million Americans moving out of poverty to more than 5 and a half million falling into poverty – and millions more losing their health insurance.

Now, in spite of all the evidence, their candidate is promising more of the same: More tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that will swell the deficit, increase inequality, and weaken the economy. More band-aids for health care that will enrich insurance companies, impoverish families and increase the number of uninsured. More going it alone in the world, instead of building the shared responsibilities and shared opportunities necessary to advance our security and restore our influence.

They actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more. Let’s send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America: Thanks, but no thanks. In this case, the third time is not the charm.

He reminded everyone that, in 1992, the Republican charge against him was that he was "too young and too inexperienced", the exact same charge that they are today laying at the door of Barack Obama.

Bill made the case for an Obama presidency with an almost surgical skill, cutting through their arguments with facts and figures, and deriding the cynicism which holds together their entire philosophy. Last night we were treated to a masterclass, to a timely reminder of why hope should always transcend fear. And, yes, to a reminder of why words matter.

Click title for transcript of Bill's speech.