The coach gets to be the quarterback for 1 night

Tim Walz got the premier closing slot at Wednesday’s Democratic National Convention, and he did a lot with it, in only 16 minutes.

I note some media outlets were calling it “coach’s night,” rather than “teachers night” or “National Guard night” or “governor’s night.” When a writer makes a choice s/he is doing it with something in mind.

But what? Why “coach” rather than “teacher”? Why did the signs handed out in the convention hall say “Coach Walz”?

Mull it over.

Once again, convention planners allowed time to be slowed so that the keynote speaker, Tim Walz, got to speak well after 11 p.m., losing most of the East Coast, including battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.

He started with his bio, stressing his small-town roots and values, took a few shots at Donald J. Trump and JD Vance, before promising that Kamala Harris will cut taxes on the middle class, create affordable housing, and reduce medical costs.

The crowd appreciated it all. 

There was a check list of Democratic desires, with him saying health care and housing are “human rights.” 

This sort-of bests Bernie Sanders.

Yes, he is pro-choice and anti-gun, at least assault weapons. 

He prominently mentioned his National Guard service, but chose not to confront the controversies concerning his rank, and the timing of his decision to retire, shortly before his unit was sent to Iraq.

A video bio preceding his speech made reference to him rising to command sergeant major, which is precisely the rank around which the controversy revolves.

As governor, he cut taxes, ordered paid medical family leave, and free breakfast and lunch for all students.

Republicans ban books, we banish hunger, he said.

Basically, he was sunny, and so was Bill Clinton, who spoke earlier, and somewhat weakly. There was a light frailty to his voice — he is 78 — and his hands trembled slightly, as they have for a few years.

He even said he didn’t know how many more conventions he might make. As far as I know, he was the only speaker to mention Ukraine, in connection to how the U.S. has helped the embattled nation. There has been almost no mention of foreign affairs. 

Clinton read his remarks from sheets of paper rather than a TelePrompTer, and went well overtime. He was as folksy as Walz, but got fewer standing ovations, perhaps because he never allowed himself to reach a crescendo.

The opposite was true for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who blew the roof off the place in his remarks about freedom.

Americans have to choose between chaos and extremism, and decency, honor, and progress, he said.

He has a special device when he is uncorking a good one — he says, “And hear me on this.”

And people listen.

He defined three great American principles as valuing freedom, cherishing democracy, and loving this country.

Oprah Winfrey made a (surprise?) appearance, and was very effective, but I choose not to cover entertainers.

She said she was a registered independent. (One that always endorses Democrats.)

There was one important moment, when New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker introduced Jon and Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh is one of the 109 hostages still held by the Hamas devils.

Even before they began to speak, cameras picked up tears rolling down the cheeks of some female delegates. Before the parents were through, some men were crying, too.

I include this note for those who wrongly believe the Democratic Party is anti-Semitic.