spoiled's breaking down Who Won the Summer? with five different features from five different contributing writers and editors. If you're looking to see who lost the summer? We got you right here. All of these features will be found in a special edition of our newsletter which you can subscribe to on the homepage.
Don't call it a comeback―well actually yeah, you can call it that.
After the Republican National Convention went ahead and stoked the flames of fear and vitriol in Cleveland, The Democratic National Convention made Hillary Clinton the first ever woman nominee of a major U.S. party and took major steps towards unifying the Democrats.
Admittedly, the DNC did not get off to a smooth start.
Democratic Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz's attempt to gavel in the convention on Day 1 was met with "boos" from Bernie Sanders supporters as an email hack revealed that she had not remained impartial during the primaries.
Although, did anyone really believe she was ever impartial? Anyone? Bueller?
As Stefon would say, this DNC had everything: POTUS, FLOTUS, Lena Dunham, Broadway legends, Paul Simon singing off-key...all were on hand to stand together and say #ImWithHer.
1. Speeches!
Where. To. Begin. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey calling for Americans to rise up and love one another had us all crying/tweeting marriage proposals at him. President/Future First Husband Bill Clinton warmed our hearts with the story of the day he first met Hillary in the law library.
But the winner has to be FLOTUS herself: Michelle Obama. We knew she would nail it, because she is perfection and grace and can rock a jewel-toned dress like no other.
[anad]
She gave us our new mantra that night: "When they go low, we go high." She didn't even have to say his name, so we won't either because we are trying to be more like Michelle Obama and class it up rn.
2. Celebs!
Did anyone else have moments where they felt like they were watching the Golden Globes?! The DNC was a veritable who's who of Hollywood - and if you weren't there or live-tweeting your support than I am honestly terrified of you and your beliefs. LOOKING AT YOU SCOTT BAIO. Apparently Chachi doesn't love immigrants or a woman's right to choose, y'all! Anyways...
At the DNC, performers included Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, Paul Simon, and many Broadway stars. Speakers included Meryl Streep, Lena Dunham, Angela Basset, America Ferrera, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Debra Messing.
And there were some can't-miss cuts to the audience with sightings of Lance Bass, Bradley Cooper, and sad Susan Sarandon! Cheer up Susan! Actually you know what, do you - you have to feel your feelings. Please vote for Hillary though, please? Love your work!
3. Real talk.
These events can run the risk of looking like an overblown episode of My Super Sweet 16 what with all the famous folks and balloons (we'll talk about those later) but real people were on hand to talk about the real issues that are affecting them today and why they need a President that is going to do something about them.
Henrietta Ivey, a home care worker from Michigan, spoke on Thursday night about the fight for a $15 minimum wage.
Erica Smegielski spoke on Wednesday night about commonsense gun violence prevention measures. Erica’s mother Dawn was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary and was killed while trying to protect her students.
Mothers of the Movement spoke on Tuesday night. The Movement includes nine women whose unarmed African-American children have been killed by law enforcement or due to gun violence.
4. What's a glass ceiling?
We made history, you guys― or rather, herstory ―sorry, had to! Hillary Clinton accepting this nomination is a BFD. And not everyone is seeing it that way. Which might also be a BFD? Taking the attitude of, "Well, of course a woman can be President, duh" is GREAT, but go ahead and call your Mom, call your Grandmother! I'll wait.
How'd it go?!?! Did she ever think she would see this day? Chances are, most women did not. Remember, there was a time when us ladies had to FIGHT LIKE HELL to even be able to vote. Or own land, divorce our husbands, etc. And we are STILL fighting for equal pay, the right to decide what we do with our own GD bodies OMG people this is a big f*cking deal!
Hillary winning the nomination is so important and I hope you can see that. If you can't, I am sending you light and love or something. If you are still Bernie or Bust, I am sending you this picture of Sarah Silverman.
5. Khizr & Ghazala Khan
Arguably the most powerful moment of the convention was Khizr Khan's speech and his direct address to Donald Trump. Khizr and Ghazala are the parents of Muslim U.S. army captain, Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. Khizr put his grief and anger into action when he directed his speech to Donald Trump:
"You are asking Americans to trust you with our future. Let me ask you: Have you even read the U.S. Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words "liberty" and "equal protection of law."
[anad2]
Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of the brave patriots who died defending America―you will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one."
You can find the entire text and video of Khizr Khan's speech here.
6. BALLOONS!
No one loves balloons as much as Bill Clinton.
No one. On the damn planet. Has ever been happier to meet a freakin' balloon.
Bill, you're a firework.
That's it, kids! The DNC totally won Summer 2016, now let's help Hillary win on November 8th!
[Feature Image Courtesy BuzzFeed]