…the Republican Love-in currently cluttering up PBS?
Hey, where’s the fire? Where are the creative knives at the Democrat’s throats? Where are the freakin’ FLAMES??? The tiny bit there’s been are pretty tame. I’ve seen more action and passion at a town meeting in Fairfield, Vermont (which are a hell of a lot of fun, by the way. I’d like to one day attend another. Some great people up there).
I’m hoping that the Democrat’s ‘Hooray-fer-us’ at least gives out a little adrenalin-producing emotion, but I’m not optomistic. We seem to be stuck in a ‘kinder and gentler’ political society, and ain’t that a crock of shit.
The first conventions I watched were in '64, start to finish. And that was all day and much of the night in those days–I was as boring a ten year old as I am an adult. And I watched the '68 ones and part of the '72 ones, proving that I didn’t learn anything in '64.
Ah, the good old days…John Chancellor getting thrown out. Dan Rather getting thrown out. “The whole world’s watching!” I still can’t go through the intersection of Michigan and Balbo without wondering where all the people went. Julian Bond. Ed Muskie. Anne Richards saying, “George Bush (Sr) was born with a silver foot in his mouth.” I go into the Congress Hotel knowing that it was the home of the original “smoke-filled room.” [tapping my foot while waiting for somebody to provide the link that bursts THAT illusion]
There was tension back then. Who was going to win the nomination? How fun will the floor fights be? Who’s he going to pick for VP? What did Mayor Daley say to Abe Ribicoff?
I hate the primary system, but the parties probably love them. Conventions today are preordained and prerecorded. It’s like watching Disneyland. I admit to wondering if Pres Ford’s “stroke” was also planned.
I, too, have hope that the Dems will make it more interesting. Gore’s ad running around here has him at his most wooden, but that speech he gave to the NAACP was a good, old-fashioned barn burner. The boy does have a pulse, after all. I need more like it to maintain anything approaching interest.
The only good thing about the RNC is that it made a National Post columnist use the word “faggots” on the front page of that paper, which simply confirmed what everybody already knew about the National Post.
I was about 5 when this happened, my mom was watching it on TV, and I was sorta paying attention. But this caught my attention, and I never forgot it. In my 5 year old imagination, I thought she literally meant it. I pictured this freak of nature somehow born with a big piece of silver in his mouth. I figured it happened when God was putting him together, and He made a mistake. Of course, this was an image that never left me.
I believe the lack of comment on the RNC of late can be directly related to the fact that no one gives a shit. It’s not like there’s anybody riveted to their set thinking “Oooh gee whiz, I wonder the Republican’s are going to nominate.” Games over. We know the winner. AND WE DON’T CARE.
Technology is a beautiful thing. We’ve got four hundred channels of crap to choose from. We are no longer forced to watch RNC because it’s the only thing on.
Wake me up in November.
The good ol’ days (1992 and before) had great “Attack Nights” during the convention – when the most ardent members of the party like Ann Richards and Pat Buchanan would go medieval on the opposing party’s candidate.
But, this year the Republicans are selling themselves as a kinder, gentler Republican party and are basically shutting up and shutting out the far right-wing from the scarred American public.
I imagine the Dems will be hiding the Kennedys in a few weeks, too, alas.
Here are a few amusing remarks about the RNC orgy, courtesy of the AP.
On Comedy Central’s ‘‘The Daily Show’’:
–’‘Some of the GOP education goals are very, very controversial,’’ said correspondent Nancy Walls.
‘Listen to this one: Making sure every child can
read. Now that’s going to be pretty unpopular with
the powerful illiteracy lobby.’’
–Host Jon Stewart noted that George W. Bush was
beamed into the convention by satellite from an Ohio
classroom, with children at their desks behind him.
‘‘What this tells us is Bush is committed to
education. So much so that he’s willing to keep
school children in class until 10:30 p.m. – in August.’’
–Upcoming segment: ‘‘Our own tribute film to
George W. Bush, ‘From Wealth to Riches: The
Story of an American Hero.’’’
On CNN:
Correspondent Jeanne Moos wondered why an
empty lot has been dressed up with patriotic
bunting. ‘‘There’s nothing more welcoming that
bunting on a junk yard,’’ she said.
------
From a column by Dave Barry of The Miami Herald:
–’‘There are dozens of these parties, sponsored by
large corporations with a sincere public-spirited
desire to become larger.’’
–’‘Rep. J.C. Watts … is the most prominent
African-American Republican in Congress, in the
same sense that Ringo was the most prominent
drummer in the Beatles.’’
From ‘‘Late Show with David Letterman’’ on CBS:
‘‘At the Republican National Convention last night,
listen to the folks they had speaking: They had a
Native American speak, they had a Latin American
speak, they had an African American speak, and … a
Jewish guy spoke. And I’m thinking, well, that’s
great, but that’s a foursome you’ll never see at a
Republican country club.’’
MR
That David Letterman quote was dead on. I had a great laugh comparing the speakers and presenters, who looked like a Benetton ad, and the delegates on the floor, who made a sea of white.
I know it’s usually “de rigueur” to be cynical when it comes to talking politics but let me defer on this occasion. Can anyone tell me if the Republicans have taken any stance vis-a-vis the possibility of Quebec seceding from Canada and the partnership the U.S. would have with Canada should this event occur?
Another amusing quote from the Daily Show’s convention coverage.
Correspondent is interviewing a elderly man attending the convention. Correspondent: Who do you think is America’s greatest enemy today. Old man [thinks for a minute and then chuckles]: Probably ourselves. We are our greatest enemy. Correspondent: There you have it, Jon. With Republican George Bush in office, America will soon be bombing it’s own people.