Mario Cuomo's 1984 Convention Speech

One of the best rhetorical performances ever given, at a time when people didn't want to hear it.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Cuomo
• 1984
• Democrat

[Flybkmami]

3:19-3:34 is the best part out of the whole video

[drawnm]

I watch this today, in 2011, and think to myself, NOTHING HAS FUCKING CHANGED.

[ottogunsche]

Cuomo really should have run for President.

Compared to Mondale and Dukakis, this guy had charisma, he talked a lot of sense. The USA would be a far better country if he had become President.

[FitterHappier100]

One of the most beautifully crafted political speeches I have ever heard. It's sad this speech applies to the world today just as much as it did back then.

[rlittleton11]

Muzzy337 has everything he needs, you are a self appointed guardian of the status quo. Do you every wonder what it would be like to go without muzzy? I'm sure you haven't, we have a system whereby all the fruits go to the upper 1%, we need a solution. The Venus Project.

[AngelOfDeath373]

@Muzzy337 Start talking when you break your fucking spine and can't find a decent job because you couldn't afford college tuition, or your school district is so poor that its a fight just to get through the day. Start talking when you're stuck in the ghetto and can't find your way out because some other assholes are cutting your job's pay so they can buy another yacht. Start talking when your own parents can't take care of you and you're on the street at the age of 9. You shouldn't be talking.

[mrjiveyjr]

He should give this speech again, and give it to his son, the son who ignores the student who cannot pay his loan, the homeowner who cannot pay his mortgage, and the ghetto resident who gives his life to the drug dealer.

His son is a Republican, who 'gives the tax break to a millionaire" The millionaire is is his common law wife Sandra Lee.

[alfredcaulin]

too bad his son, governor 1%, doesn't see things this way.

[BBQFanNo1]

This is the man who almost bought the New York Yankees in 1990 from George Steinbrenner and wanted to bring a Yankees team of talent like their past dynasty teams has not been seen since the late 1970s. But because of his commitment as Governor of NY changed his mind on the purchase deal.

[Muzzy337]

Sorry, Mr. Cuomo. There's far too much dead weight in this god forsaken country for it to ever be a model society. THE USA SUFFERS FROM A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY GAP. It has done nothing but get bigger and bigger as time marches on. There will always be poor people, no matter how much charity there is. Face it everybody- the world is a tough fucking place. Wear a helmet and shut the fuck up. Stop complaining and get to work taking care of yourself.

[Seasass]

@axxizzer Most of the political speeches of that time were just as vapid and platitude-filled as most of the political speeches today (and, I imagine, of other times). Mario Cuomo is an exceptional orator, and this was a landmark speech. Also, the Democrats were out of power when this took place, and nothing forces a sharpening of "the vision thing" like having been trounced in a recent election.

[Seasass]

@drawnm Correction: it's become even worse :(