Observations on the Convention

by: tremayne

Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 09:50


I've watched all the prime time speeches and several of those leading up to them over the last two days mostly on PBS and MSNBC. Here are some quick observations:

1. Women. Okay, the two big speeches over the last two days were good (they better be) but one of the best things is that both were delivered by women. It's one thing to be a party that works for women and another to be a party with women front and center. Increasingly, Democrats are demonstrating both. Besides the moral benefits there is the electoral benefit of this. There are a) millions more women than men in the U.S. and b) an historically higher turnout rate on election day among women. Obama is already ahead with women but it would seal the election if he could further increase that margin. That said, Wednesday appears to be "tough men" night.

2. Themes. Quick, what was the main theme for Tuesday? Right, it was.... it was... unity no the economy, no, what was it? Not entirely clear, huh? Officially it was "Renewing America's Promise." What's that mean? Sure there was some "economy" in there but not so much in Hillary's speech. Collectively it was a bit hodge podge.

3. Katrina. Wasn't there a big storm three years ago that nearly wiped out a major American city? Wasn't such a storm foreseen by all the experts years ahead and forecast by all the weatherpeople days ahead and yet the Bush Adminstration said "No one saw this coming"? Wasn't this morally unconscionable and a perfect example of the inability of the Republican-controlled government (2005) to do even the most basic "government things" right? Remember "Brownie"? Isn't it a perfect example of cronyism and anti-expert governance? Don't we have the perfect visual to juxtapose against the devastation in New Orleans:

Why was Katrina barely mentioned? Wasn't the theme something to do with "Renewal"? Wouldn't this fit in? If I don't see the above photo in campaign ads repeatedly over the next several days (the 3-year anniversary) I think my head will explode.

4. How many cars do the McCain's own? Seriously, somebody has to ask this question.

5. I saw Bill Richardson interviewed on MSNBC and he looked good. Bearded Richardson equals insightful, devious, a little scary and Secretary of State. Unbearded Richardson equals Secretary of HUD.

6. I think Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann don't like each other. Matthews was having a bad day in general (or maybe a bad year). Maybe it was the wind messing up his hair but he was unusually testy and got angry at Olbermann at least once. See it here. I have to say I missed the commentary very little when watching it on PBS. And MSNBC didn't air the Schweitzer speech (NBC may have didn't either, see comments).

7. I'm looking forward to Biden tonight. 
tremayne :: Observations on the Convention

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Observations on the Convention | 17 comments
chris matthews (4.00 / 1)
is a rw talking points boy toy, he will slant everything in an attempt to hurt obama and elect mccain, when he shows compassion for the hilary supporters that empathy is directed at hurting the obama campaign and ko realizes this, matthews might not be as obvious as pat buchanan but he is more dangerous.
you would think (0.00 / 0)
after planning these conventions every four years that the planners would be able to put on a coherent focused show that would effectively sell the democratic brand and in particular the presidential candidate. but apparently the planners are idiots. this convention has no focus, and oh, what's up with the "thanks to our savior jesus christ" bullshit at the end of each night? WTF?!

these clowns should watch a little late night tv to learn how to sell a product.  

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

Do you know who runs the convention? .. (4.00 / 1)
and no .. I don't mean Obama ..  have you heard of Leah Daughtry? .. if you haven't .. look her up

I know the Great Orange Satan had a post on her ... but there is this:

http://www.democrats.org/a/200...

She is a part time preacher .. and if IIRC .. also against same sex marriage

[ Parent ]
Nice catch n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Wait, where do you get IIRC? (0.00 / 0)
The bio says she is a pastor at the House of the Lord in DC.

Besides which, being Catholic does not automatically mean someone is opposed to same sex marriage! You need to meet some better Catholics.

Montani semper liberi

[ Parent ]
NBC (4.00 / 2)
did not air the Schweitzer speech.  They saw he was getting the crowd worked up and cut to him.  But by the time they got the audio up, he was winding down.  All they showed was the last line of his speech.  
Yeah, this really bothered me (0.00 / 0)
MSNBC wasn't showing it - as if we are all so desperate to hear an extra 7 minutes of pundit chit chat - so I switched to CNN. I generally enjoy MSNBC's coverage, much more than CNN, but this really pissed me off. Schweitzer's speech was fantastic, even though he of course had to mention natural gas and carbon sequestration.  

"Don't hate the media, become the media" -Jello Biafra
[ Parent ]
I had c-span on and whenever I felt the crowd was getting into a speech I would (4.00 / 3)
quickly click over to MSNBC or CNN to see if they were covering it....

of course not, SILLY ME!!!!

Schweitzer's speech was fantastic and his non verbal communication skills were off the chart fantastic as well. He came across as totally authentic as he pitched a progressive populist theme.

[ Parent ]
Thank Goodness for C-Span (4.00 / 1)
where I can watch the convention without commentary from the nitwits.   Fewer commercials too.    
Sorry for the Hijack (4.00 / 1)
But has anybody seen the pictures of the stage at Invesco (now on the front page of Drudge). Its a freaking ancient greek temple. OMFG, how did somebody decide that this would be a good idea for a candidate who already has a problem with coming across as presumptuous?

John McCain: Health insurance for low income children represents an "unfunded liability."
Saw it on Morning Joe (0.00 / 0)
And the pundits were teetering shamelessly about it.

That stage is a Nightmare!



Laugh hard. Its a long ways to the bank.  

[ Parent ]
Hmmnn (0.00 / 0)
Okay, they appear to actually be recreating the Lincoln Memorial to mark the anniversary of Dr King's speech.  Still somewhat risky but a whole lot better than just a run-of-the-mill greek temple stage set.

John McCain: Health insurance for low income children represents an "unfunded liability."
[ Parent ]
To address your 4th point - (4.00 / 1)
Why can't someone point out LOUDLY that we still haven't heard from the voice of John Mcsame the actual number of homes his family owns come out of his mouth.

Now, that suggests  a couple of things to me:

  • he still doesn't know
  • he and his campaign would rather he choke and gag than come up and actually say the number outloud because the number is so obscene
  • they know that once he actually says the actual number he's toast because this is resonating with the public
  • by not saying it I personally believe that McSame is exhibiting cowardice and certainly showing how his naked ambition is trumping his so called 'straight talking' 'maverick' persona

    Get him to  state outloud the actual number of homes and cars  and the make and models of the cars  cause I bet they are all gas guzzlers.

    Bet he knows what kind of jet they own though.  

    • Schweitzer said it (0.00 / 0)
    When he was talking about how drilling won't solve our energy problems, he said, "If you drilled in every one of John McCain's backyards, even the ones he doesn't know he has..."
    [ Parent ]
    Dish Network (4.00 / 1)
    Dish has a live feed. No commentary, no commercials and in HD. This thing is fantabulous. They show the entire affair including the down time and vids between speakers. Again, no bias whatsoever.

    After Hill's speech my wife and I chatted a bit then switched over to CNN and was absolutely disgusted at the commentary. Then to make us puke even more we stopped at Fox just in time to hear Hume, Krystal and Kondraki (sp?) take a huge dump on the whole night.

    Won't make that mistake again. We'll just turn it off after the speech and think for ourselves.  

    Laugh hard. Its a long ways to the bank.  

    For what it's worth (4.00 / 1)
    I had the same thought on the McCain-Bush cake picture and changed my facebook profile picture to that pic and asked my friends to do the same.  It's no nationwide advertising campaign, but if a lot of folks did it, it'd start filling up people's news feeds.  Just a thought.

    John McCain
    That picture... (0.00 / 0)
    Needs to be put next to what was happening in New Orleans.
    Observations on the Convention | 17 comments




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