Conventional Wisdom
Marc Comtois
Wow, conventions are BORING. I'm serious, whether it's Dem or GOP. It's all about preaching to the converted and talking points galore for a media obsessed with reporting on the spins and the spins of spins--and even trying to spin themselves--as well as the imagery, the pomp, the aesthetics, the show, the production, the message. Everything but the substance.
And the measurement of "big mo" relies on polls--tracking, flash, Gallup, Pew, Frank Luntz. Snapshots in time collated from answers given by people just waking up to an election year. All to help gauge the phenomena described by the word of the season: bounce.
"Is there a bounce?" Nope, no bounce? No Biden Bounce? Nope. Might be a bounce coming....not yet--no bounce. Ahh, but tomorrow night there'll be a bounce....Probably, usually is a bounce after the speech...Will McCain announce his Veep to dampen the bounce? Will that work, I mean, it could be quite a bounce and McCain risks having his Veep announcement bounce getting out-bounced by post-speech bounce! Well, we know that the GOP will get a bounce after their convention. They're bound too, right? Maybe. But one thing's for sure: the media will let us know.
I hope the Sox and Yankees go 18 innings tonight, because if I hear Terry McAuliffe, James Carville, Paul Begala or that young dweeb spokesman for McCain one more time, I am going to projectile-vomit.
I haven't become violently ill yet because I've decided to think of Pat Buchanan as the crazy uncle and Chris Matthews as the loveable town drunk.
Sorry...
...that I can't share the enthusiasm of some, but this is an orchestrated "Pep Rally" for the Democrats - and that is all!
The Republican convention will be the same for the Republicans.
These conventions are nothing more than the pharmacist's convention or hardware conventions in Vegas. A reason for everyone to dress up, look silly, act silly and pat each other on the back. In this way I think they hurt the chance of their candidate more than help, as everyone thinks it's a done deal.
This campaign will be decided by everything that goes on from now 'til election day EXCEPT what is said and done at the conventions.
Just my opinion...
BTW - who let Cicilline into the DEMOCRATIC convention???
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A "WORKING CLASS HERO" is something to be.......
These conventions are therapy sessions for people to go over and give back rubs to those were calling child-eating demons a few weeks ago.Bunch of two faced scumbags.Just once I'd like to see someone get punched out for something they said about someone else.
Just like the Taiwan legislature-more fights than a hockey game.
I expect there to be a bounce, but it is likely to be a dead cat bounce, with a short duration with no reverb. The Republicans are much better at convention stagecraft. Let's assess after a week from Friday.
The most interesting part of this whole convention was when Joe Scarborough called out MSNBC correspondent David Shuster and other MSNBC personnel on the air for being shills for the Democratic Party
Apparently, Tom Brokaw expressed reservations about MSNBC's less-than covert bias and Ketih Olbermann has tried to get Brokaw booted from any MSNBC coverage.
At least that's got some drama.
I saw bits and pieces of it on TV. What a joke! It was all a bunch of angry whiny losers whose only "idea" is.. to bash the opposition.
Jack Reed was his typical self, an angry, goofy little man.
Joe Biden, what a joke. He does not impress me at all. Joe Biden is the biggest windbag on Capitol Hill; he loves to hear himself talk.. more than any other pol I have ever heard.
Why would Obama, the deified agent of change, pick a Washington insider for a running mate if he really wanted change?
Change for the sake of change? No thanks.. unless you are talking about changing Congress, and then in that case I think it is a great idea to boot them all out on their hindquarters.
Health care as a fundamental "right?" Hell, No!!
Good, honest, accountable government is a right. Reasonable taxation is a right. Duty to country at a time of war is a right.
Asking the government to manage health care, another entitlement program on top of the others it has already bankrupted, is certifiable insanity.
I have been forcing myself to at least watch some of the coverage of the DNC every night ... kind of reminds me of the ancient practice of corporal mortification.
Anyway, the first night was a dud. Basically, it was Teddy K. is still alive and has a great sailboat night. The second night was The Hillary Show (setting her up well for a 2012 run), and I'm still not too sure what to make of tonight. Interesting contrast of the orange pantsuit and the blue background. I thought her delivery was pretty good, though on some levels, unconvincing.
Bill Clinton did a pretty good job at boosting Bill Clinton's presidency. He seemed to be trying to employ some version of the transitive property (A=B, B=C, therefore A=C) regarding his own presidency and Barack Obama. However, that only works in mathematics.
Clinton made a serious error trying to make the case against Republicans for calling him "inexperienced" on foreign policy back in 1992. Let's see: Somalia, Rwandan genocide, getting hoodwinked by North Korea, the African embassy bombings, and ignoring the lead-up to 9/11. Yeah, great job!
I thought Biden came off well enough for this first time out, though he was overshadowed by Bill Clinton.
I'm actually looking forward to Obama's big speech tomorrow at the Temple of Doom (Berlin Speech, Part 2).
The best part of this convention has been watching as MSNBC "news" staff implodes. I've never seen media "pros" act so amateurish and dysfunctional!
-Keith Olbermann trying to get Tom Brokaw booted after Brokaw raises concerns about the network being a shill for the Democrats.
-Democrat Ed Rendell talking about MSNBC's bias for Barack Obama in the primary, only to have MSNBC President Tom Griffin try to defend his network as not having an ideology and countering that it's Ed Rendell who has the agenda.
-Olbermann and Chris Matthews taking shots at Howard Wolfson, Hillary's former communications director calling him the campaign's "Tokyo Rose" with Wolfson responding that he think they've "seriously damaged NBC's brand".
-Olbermann successfully banning McCain adviser-turned-NBC analyst Mike Murphy for the first two nights (at least) of the DNC convention.
-Olbermann suggesting Chris Matthews' commentary "stole" ideas from other MSNBC commentators and Matthews interrupting Olbermann on air to defend himself.
-Joe Scarborough calling out David Shuster for not showing up to work and telling the MSNBC audience that every MSNBC staff member was a Democrat even though they're registered "independent".
The DNC convention might be scripted, but the stories of the in-fighting and egos at the "All Obama, All the Time News Newtork" is like watching a plane's descent before hit crashes.
You know it's going to hit the ground and explode, you just don't know when.
When are the pundits and the media actually going to talk about some issues? Has anyone mentioned the national debt?
The MSNBC crew is more entertaining than the politicians.
As long as we're all at the stadium. let's have Scarborough, Matthews and Olbermann in a Triple Threat Hell in the Cell (could've been a Fatal Four-Way if Little Russ were still around - I don't think he liked any of those guys). And Brokaw and Williams would lurk outside the cage, handling out illegal foreign objects as needed.
Only problem: there's so much ego in there, the spectators would be crowded out.
"Olbermann suggesting Chris Matthews' commentary "stole" ideas from other MSNBC commentators and Matthews interrupting Olbermann on air to defend himself."
Love it. Thanks for the blow-by-blow, Anthony.
I WONDER WHY WE DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ABOUT JOE BIDEN AND HIS PLAGERIZING A FEW YEAERS AGO AND ABOUT HIS FALSIFICATION OF CERTAIN LAW SCHOOL RECORDS. IF THIS WAS ABOUT PALIN, IT WOULD ALL OVER THE MEDIA AND LIBERAL TALK SHOWS. THE ONLY PLACE I SAW IT WAS ON FOX.
WE NOW KNOW ABOUT OBAMA'S COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES---WORKING FOR "ACORN" AND HELPING THEM TO REGISTER VOTERS THAT ARE NOT VALID.
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I hope the Sox and Yankees go 18 innings tonight, because if I hear Terry McAuliffe, James Carville, Paul Begala or that young dweeb spokesman for McCain one more time, I am going to projectile-vomit.
Posted by: rhody at August 27, 2008 4:32 PMI haven't become violently ill yet because I've decided to think of Pat Buchanan as the crazy uncle and Chris Matthews as the loveable town drunk.
Sorry...
...that I can't share the enthusiasm of some, but this is an orchestrated "Pep Rally" for the Democrats - and that is all!
The Republican convention will be the same for the Republicans.
These conventions are nothing more than the pharmacist's convention or hardware conventions in Vegas. A reason for everyone to dress up, look silly, act silly and pat each other on the back. In this way I think they hurt the chance of their candidate more than help, as everyone thinks it's a done deal.
This campaign will be decided by everything that goes on from now 'til election day EXCEPT what is said and done at the conventions.
Just my opinion...
BTW - who let Cicilline into the DEMOCRATIC convention???
.
.
.
.
A "WORKING CLASS HERO" is something to be.......
Posted by: Tom Kenney at August 27, 2008 5:01 PMThese conventions are therapy sessions for people to go over and give back rubs to those were calling child-eating demons a few weeks ago.Bunch of two faced scumbags.Just once I'd like to see someone get punched out for something they said about someone else.
Posted by: joe bernstein at August 27, 2008 6:13 PMJust like the Taiwan legislature-more fights than a hockey game.
I expect there to be a bounce, but it is likely to be a dead cat bounce, with a short duration with no reverb. The Republicans are much better at convention stagecraft. Let's assess after a week from Friday.
Posted by: Chuck at August 27, 2008 6:55 PMThe most interesting part of this whole convention was when Joe Scarborough called out MSNBC correspondent David Shuster and other MSNBC personnel on the air for being shills for the Democratic Party
Apparently, Tom Brokaw expressed reservations about MSNBC's less-than covert bias and Ketih Olbermann has tried to get Brokaw booted from any MSNBC coverage.
At least that's got some drama.
Posted by: Anthony at August 28, 2008 12:39 AMI saw bits and pieces of it on TV. What a joke! It was all a bunch of angry whiny losers whose only "idea" is.. to bash the opposition.
Jack Reed was his typical self, an angry, goofy little man.
Joe Biden, what a joke. He does not impress me at all. Joe Biden is the biggest windbag on Capitol Hill; he loves to hear himself talk.. more than any other pol I have ever heard.
Why would Obama, the deified agent of change, pick a Washington insider for a running mate if he really wanted change?
Change for the sake of change? No thanks.. unless you are talking about changing Congress, and then in that case I think it is a great idea to boot them all out on their hindquarters.
Health care as a fundamental "right?" Hell, No!!
Good, honest, accountable government is a right. Reasonable taxation is a right. Duty to country at a time of war is a right.
Asking the government to manage health care, another entitlement program on top of the others it has already bankrupted, is certifiable insanity.
Posted by: Citizen Critic at August 28, 2008 1:08 AMI have been forcing myself to at least watch some of the coverage of the DNC every night ... kind of reminds me of the ancient practice of corporal mortification.
Anyway, the first night was a dud. Basically, it was Teddy K. is still alive and has a great sailboat night. The second night was The Hillary Show (setting her up well for a 2012 run), and I'm still not too sure what to make of tonight. Interesting contrast of the orange pantsuit and the blue background. I thought her delivery was pretty good, though on some levels, unconvincing.
Bill Clinton did a pretty good job at boosting Bill Clinton's presidency. He seemed to be trying to employ some version of the transitive property (A=B, B=C, therefore A=C) regarding his own presidency and Barack Obama. However, that only works in mathematics.
Clinton made a serious error trying to make the case against Republicans for calling him "inexperienced" on foreign policy back in 1992. Let's see: Somalia, Rwandan genocide, getting hoodwinked by North Korea, the African embassy bombings, and ignoring the lead-up to 9/11. Yeah, great job!
I thought Biden came off well enough for this first time out, though he was overshadowed by Bill Clinton.
I'm actually looking forward to Obama's big speech tomorrow at the Temple of Doom (Berlin Speech, Part 2).
Posted by: Will at August 28, 2008 2:11 AMThe best part of this convention has been watching as MSNBC "news" staff implodes. I've never seen media "pros" act so amateurish and dysfunctional!
-Keith Olbermann trying to get Tom Brokaw booted after Brokaw raises concerns about the network being a shill for the Democrats.
-Democrat Ed Rendell talking about MSNBC's bias for Barack Obama in the primary, only to have MSNBC President Tom Griffin try to defend his network as not having an ideology and countering that it's Ed Rendell who has the agenda.
-Olbermann and Chris Matthews taking shots at Howard Wolfson, Hillary's former communications director calling him the campaign's "Tokyo Rose" with Wolfson responding that he think they've "seriously damaged NBC's brand".
-Olbermann successfully banning McCain adviser-turned-NBC analyst Mike Murphy for the first two nights (at least) of the DNC convention.
-Olbermann suggesting Chris Matthews' commentary "stole" ideas from other MSNBC commentators and Matthews interrupting Olbermann on air to defend himself.
-Joe Scarborough calling out David Shuster for not showing up to work and telling the MSNBC audience that every MSNBC staff member was a Democrat even though they're registered "independent".
The DNC convention might be scripted, but the stories of the in-fighting and egos at the "All Obama, All the Time News Newtork" is like watching a plane's descent before hit crashes.
You know it's going to hit the ground and explode, you just don't know when.
Posted by: Anthony at August 28, 2008 8:51 AMWhen are the pundits and the media actually going to talk about some issues? Has anyone mentioned the national debt?
Posted by: Rasputin at August 28, 2008 10:23 AMThe MSNBC crew is more entertaining than the politicians.
Posted by: rhody at August 28, 2008 10:53 AMAs long as we're all at the stadium. let's have Scarborough, Matthews and Olbermann in a Triple Threat Hell in the Cell (could've been a Fatal Four-Way if Little Russ were still around - I don't think he liked any of those guys). And Brokaw and Williams would lurk outside the cage, handling out illegal foreign objects as needed.
Only problem: there's so much ego in there, the spectators would be crowded out.
"Olbermann suggesting Chris Matthews' commentary "stole" ideas from other MSNBC commentators and Matthews interrupting Olbermann on air to defend himself."
Love it. Thanks for the blow-by-blow, Anthony.
Posted by: Monique at August 28, 2008 5:01 PMI WONDER WHY WE DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ABOUT JOE BIDEN AND HIS PLAGERIZING A FEW YEAERS AGO AND ABOUT HIS FALSIFICATION OF CERTAIN LAW SCHOOL RECORDS. IF THIS WAS ABOUT PALIN, IT WOULD ALL OVER THE MEDIA AND LIBERAL TALK SHOWS. THE ONLY PLACE I SAW IT WAS ON FOX.
WE NOW KNOW ABOUT OBAMA'S COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES---WORKING FOR "ACORN" AND HELPING THEM TO REGISTER VOTERS THAT ARE NOT VALID.
Posted by: FRED at October 1, 2008 9:51 AM