Conventions Do Matter

So, will "Yes, We Can" become "Well, Maybe Next Time"? Could the Obama campaign end in a whimper?  

Watching the first night of the convention, I can imagine seasoned and grizzled Democrat operatives around the country starting to get the first taste of the night-terrors that visit every time their party blows an election. The odds are still in their party's favor, no doubt. And the GOP is saddled with an unpopular president, a fragile economy, and a nominee who has spent a considerable part of his career alienating his party's base.

And yet, the last week looks like the opening paragraph of a political suicide note from the Democrat Party. Let's recap:

The "Change We Have Been Waiting For" candidate names as his VP pick a 36-year veteran of the U.S. Senate. A VP candidate whose only real job has been to be a U.S. senator, working in that Washington that supposedly needs changing.

A tribute to Jimmy Carter. (Really, Carter?)

An emotional tribute to Ted Kennedy, complete with an ocean of "Kennedy" signs. (Were Mondale and Dukakis not available?)

A droning speech by some guy from Iowa who used to be a congressman and might have been a Republican at one time, so isn't that interesting.

Needless to say, this is not the change I've been waiting for.

Comments

[Rosilyn]

"A tribute to Jimmy Carter. (Really, Carter?)"

While it's true that back in the 70's he planted the seeds for radical islam, he's building shacks for the poor now, so it balances out.

[SIV]

You either need to work out the bugs or drop the split H&R/Convention blog.

[joe]

Any ex-president looks good in hind sight these days.

[joe]

What you need is a big button on H&R, and another on the convention blog, that is the convention blog home. I'm scrolling my ass off over here.

[Questioning Jessie Jackson Jun]

Is this really "the first Presidential convention to take place within sight of a mountainn top"? How can ANYONE make the claim that at least part of tonight was about race?

As they say in Atlanta with regard to the disfunctional King children: MLK's dream has been realized; his children are being judged by the content of their character.

[joshua corning]

After reading through like 1000 reason articles on the convention i have one thing to say to the reason staff:

You guys are huge Nerds.

While it's true that back in the 70's he planted the seeds for radical islam, he's building shacks for the poor now, so it balances out.

And as we all know WW1 and that US/UK backed coup in Iran had nothing to do with it

[WWI Casualty Jimmy Carter]

Thanks for your support

[Gabe]

Operation Ajax took place well before Jimmy Carter was president...you know where the CIA killed innocent women and children in Iran and staged the attacks to look as if they were from Mohammad Mosaddeq supporters.

Ya I think some now might call that terrorism but it helped out BP so it's all good.

[Stevo Darkly]

I liked this comment on Twitter.com from a guy named zombiekiller:

Unimpressed by this "convention" on tv. No good costumes. The programming is dull. And most of the participants live in fantasy land

[Same S***, different century (]

Is this really "the first Presidential convention to take place within sight of a mountain top"

The first democratic one was probably in 1908 in Denver.
(unless Cincinnati has mountains? dems were there in 1876 and pubs in 1880

Or do the Missouri Mound Builder sites count for St Louis?

[BDB]

They're already talking about Diebold conspiracies in Ohio and Virginia on Kos.

Thats not a good sign for for Democratic partisans. That usually means they're feeling desperate.

[P Brooks]

the last week looks like the opening paragraph of a political suicide note from the Democrat Party.

Unfortunately, I anticipate a murder-suicide; the Demos are planning to take us with them.

[joe]

BDB,

Go through the Kos archives from October and early November 06.

Talking about voting machines and voter suppression strategies is most certainly NOT something they only do when they're feeling desperate.

[R C Dean]

the last week looks like the opening paragraph of a political suicide note from the Democrat Party.

I really can't believe the Repubs will do any better, though. They are probably racking their brains already to match the Dems.

"I know, a tribute to Gerald Ford!"

"We can't go to the polls without our own Washington insider to offset the candidate's "maverick" image!"

"Fortunately, we already have the droning speech by some guy from Connecticut who used to be a Democrat."

[Gilbert Martin]

I heard on CNBC this morning that the Democrats and Republicans each get $50 million of the taxpayers money to subsidize their respective conventions.

Supposedly it's to pay for security at the events.