Who Won The Battle of the Conventions?
Pandora commented in a thread with the following smart thought:
One of the biggest things the average voter will take away from these conventions is the chatter surrounding them – and the positive chatter surrounding the DNC will influence people. Of course, this feeling can be lost at any time before the election, but as it stands now the DNC won the battle of conventions.
Odd doing a comment rescue from a contributor but there it is.
I’m still befuddled that the GOP lost the national security issue. I know Obama whacked Osama, but losing the national security issue will haunt the Republicans in many elections to come.
What is was their “National Security” case when they had the issue? “We are more bellicose than the Democrats.” That’s not even an American sensibility and when put into practice by Bush it actually made us less secure.
They can’t say he’s a wimp when he ordered Osama killed
They can’t say he’s ignoring vets when things are improving (still atrocious, but improving)
They can’t say he’s soft on terrorists when he’s kept Gitmo open
They can’t say we need to fight more wars when Americans are sick of them
They can’t challenge his lack of military service when their candidate didn’t serve either (did any of the GOP hopefuls this year except Paul?)
So that’s how.
Beau Biden’s service sure came up a lot last night.
I was impressed that the convention ran pretty much like clockwork. With a few exceptions, speakers kept to their time, which kept the whole thing really moving along AND there was a pretty wide variety of people speaking on alot of topics. You really saw the Big Tent on display. If there is anything that Team Obama is leaving the party with is how to manage these big events with polish and interest to a great advantage.
Wow! I’ve never been comment rescued! 🙂
Here’s the thing with most voters… It’s a vibe. They look around and see how others are responding – which probably explains red and blue cluster areas.
Consider this: What is Romney’s biggest problem? People don’t like him. This really isn’t about his policies. It’s about the “vibe” he gives off.
BTW, we lived this four years ago in the primary between Obama and Hillary, because that sure as hell wasn’t about policy differences since none (basically) existed.
More importantly perhaps, is that the Dems were truthful; with the Repubs, there were more than a handful of “pants-on-fire statements” A rep from politifact on NPR the other day was almost despondent that Clinton’s 48 minute speech was mostly true. They pulled out a couple facts that could be interpreted one way or the other, but bold faced lies did not take center stage in Charlotte the way they did in Tampa. I was holding my breath hoping that the Dems would triple check their facts, and it looks like they did.
Unfortunately, Markell got a pants-on-fire for his statement that Romney likes firing people.
“Unfortunately, Markell got a pants-on-fire for his statement that Romney likes firing people.”
I know what Romney said, and what he meant, and I’m OK with that slight misinterpretation. It suits Romney. It only takes a quarter-turn of the screw to get there anyway. Unlike the Republican lie about gutting welfare reform, or cutting Medicare to support Obamacare.
Wasn’t Politifact the same outfit that gave Democrats “Lie Of The Year,” because some Dem once said “Republicans plan to end Medicare” but one time forgot to add “…as we know it?”
Political fact checking is a joke.
While I did not watch either convention gavel to gavel (I am not into S&M), I did watch enough of both to give the following opinion.
RNC: Not much going on. No real ideas. No real passion. Gonna create jobs (not sure how but I could tell it involved tax cuts and less government somehow). A competent but lackluster convention. I wish I could say more but it was kind of a snooze fest for me. Plus there where no shout outs to the boys in uniform (what up with that?). All it all it made me sleepy. Mostly I it’s because the GOP is really devoid of ideas and proposals to do anything because they are too used to saying “No” to everything.
DNC: Somewhat similiar to 2008 in tone. Great speeches by folks who can rise to the occcasion (Clinton, Obama, et al). Good passion. Ideas; kinda more of the same. Stay the course (hope and forward vs hope and change and all that). Good military shout out and points for national security credibility. Did get points for pointing out that we are better off – not by a large margin but things are getting better. Silly demerits for the Jerusalem and God thing, which weren’t even issues, until they were taken out (don’t platform committees have adult leadership anymore and don’t people realize that platforms mean nothing in the scheme of things)? Anyway, the DNC did a good job.
Dave, That’s a great summary. I would only add that each convention seemed to have its own leitmotif. For the RNC it was, “This is intensely personal.”
For the DNC it was, “We still have work to do.”
Thanks,
I’d like to add that a couple of things really resonated with me, who is a practicing cynic;
“It will require common effort, shared responsibility”
“remember that not every problem can be remedied with another government program or dictate from Washington.”
“We insist on personal responsibility and we celebrate individual initiative. We’re not entitled to success. We have to earn it.”
and finally,
“But we also believe in something called citizenship- a word at the very heart of our founding, at the very essence of our democracy; the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations.”
All in all, I was impressed with his speech, but as they say, talk is cheap.
Seriously, I didn’t know what Romney actually said, and all this time I thought he, as head of Bain Capital, liked playing his role as Donald Trump… and saying YOU’RE FIRED….
I was truly suprised he was talking about switching services when one found a better deal…
They can’t say he’s a wimp when he ordered Osama killed
They can’t say he’s ignoring vets when things are improving (still atrocious, but improving)
They can’t say he’s soft on terrorists when he’s kept Gitmo open
They can’t say we need to fight more wars when Americans are sick of them
They can’t challenge his lack of military service when their candidate didn’t serve either (did any of the GOP hopefuls this year except Paul?)
So that’s how.
You underestimate the insanity of the GOP!
Killing OBL was an “easy decision” according to the RWNJs. Never mind that Obama would have been crucified by the GOP if the mission had failed.
RWJS are spinning keeping GITMO open as a “broken promise”. Never mind that the only reason it isn’t closed is RWNJ opposition to either prosecuting these people in a real court or setting them free & repatriating them.
The extremist RWNJs want to take on both Russia (fucking RUSSIA!?) and Iran. Immediately.
There are far too many Americans who live in the Right Wing Echo Chamber. These people believe everything that shows up on Fox News, and they vote in large numbers. These morons scare me.