This Convention's a Downer

[NashVegas]

I've been watching C-Span and think the Democratic Party is doing one thing very, very wrong. For the last two nights I've watched a number of people come to the podiums and talk about their lost jobs under George Bush.

What the Party ought to be doing, IMO, is instead focus on individual success stories that are able to be told because of Democrats' state-level initiatives in places where there are Democratic governors and Dem-controlled legislature.

Last week I was putting together a media presentation of 1984 events, and included the convention speeches by Mario Cuomo and Ronald Reagan.

Jesus christ on a corndog, what a difference. Mario gave his famous, stirring "City on a Hill" speech, and Reagan talked about a fifth-grader's perception of what the President does.

No matter how much truth and intelligence was behind Cuomo's speech, and irrelevance behind Reagan's, here's what it basically came down to:


US: "Life is tough, governing is serious business. President's got to take care of all these problems. We gotta roll up our sleeves."

THEM: "President? No problem. Let's party."

Ya better believe that helps them win elections.

Just sayin'

[goldcanyonaz]

1. Yeah, it is a real snoozefest, wtf are they thinking?

[BlooInBloo]

2. HAHAHAHAA!!!

[grannie4peace]

4. those people are just like you & me. that is the point

[Cha]

24. Of course, they are..it's a rousing

beautiful Convention..I love every minute and anyone who bitches about it would complain if their ice cream were cold.

[BeyondGeography]

3. You're a downer

[Cha]

21. You stole my line!

:) THat's exactly what I was going to write. And, not just with this OP..always.

[blogslut]

5. Are we watching the same convention?

Cause the one I've been watching is very exciting.

[NashVegas]

6. Yep

Are there high points? Sure.

But then you put on Ray, the unemployed steelworker with no public speaking skills, and the entire floor goes back to their Swedish meatballs and gossip and it's very telling what the majority of delegates really think about Ray.

[blogslut]

10. Oh, come on

Obviously you've noticed over the years that certain speakers get the early slots and there's not a lot of media coverage during those hours. The man had his say and I think the audience was comparably receptive to him versus early speakers in the past - maybe more so. Those podium slots are the convention equivalent of a dinner show.

[SteelPenguin]

11. Have you been to many conventions

Not just democratic ones but others?

It's nice these guys get to use the big stage. At other conventions (non-political) I've been to, the big rooms were for the keynote speakers and big names only. most of these people would have been relegated to a small room and been lucky to have 20 people in them, or they would be in a crowded display hall and have a lecture area tucked in between things. Here sometimes people pay attention, sometimes not, during their schmoozing. They're at least given the stage though. How many out of work steelworkers are going to be speaking at the RNC? Not one, I'd wager.

I don't think the majority of the delegates think negatively about Ray, but everyone isn't required to sit there and listen to every speaker throughout the day.

[NashVegas]

13. Nope.

It's not just "Ray" that's the problem, though, as much as the overall tone in messages.

[blogslut]

15. Well, I guess there's no pleasing you

I hope you didn't complain about that happy happy fest they had for the 2004 Democratic convention.

[Kokonoe]

17. Oh man , my refrigerator is dying and i bought meatballs at costco

We are facing a double whammy of MSM and "democrats" with voice boxes.

The MSM will never put Obama in a good light, as they get paid to like McCain.

The money handlers need to consider, elect Obama.

[eShirl]

7. It has to be a MAJOR DOWNER for the Republican party

[geek tragedy]

8. Was that one person for every electoral vote Mondale won that year? n/t

[DevonRex]

9. Oh look! Crisco is spreading joy again. nt

[bbrady42]

12. Try checking 1980 instead of 1984

Maybe try looking at the 1980 GOP convention instead of 1984. In 1984 the GOP was *defending* its administration of the past four years. Of course it was all positive. In 1980 they mercilessly attacked Jimmy Carter.

[SteelPenguin]

14. I disagree

The talk should be about the failures of the past 8 years, and how McCain would continue that string of failures with more of the same policies. If you hated the last 8 years, McCain isn't going to change anything and you're going to hate the next four.

Then list out succinctly the democratic plan for america. Health Care for all. Tax Cuts for everyone making less than 250k. Alternative energy plans to bring your bills down. Securing social security for the next generation. Bringing the troops home from Iraq, and not starting any more needless wars. Rebuilding our alliances abroad. And so on...

I think it's been a good convention so far, but I wish they'd attack McCain and Bush a touch more with the prime time speakers. Overall though the main speakers have been great. Kennedy, Michelle, Schweitzer, Casey, Warner, Clinton, and though he was on earlier Kucinich, were all great. We've ended both nights with female speakers who were absolutely amazing and really hit the ball out of the park, regardless of how the MSM wants to spin it.

Bring on the big dog, and then bring on Obama.

[NashVegas]

16. re: Talking About Republican Failures

That didn't work so well last time.

Dems have four nights to show Americans the positive changes they can make, and that's what they should be doing, wall-to-wall.

Would you more likely buy a wedding dress from a designer who tells you, in detail, how your extra pounds are going to look in a certain designer's dress, or one who tells you how fantastic you're going to look in theirs?

[Butch350]

18. Well what's your idea of a perfect convention, the RNC ?

[NashVegas]

22. Already Answered

In the OP.

[SteelPenguin]

19. I think you need to do both

It's not a black or white proposition. We need to bring up topics, point out the failures of Bush, how McCain is more of the same, and what the Democrats would do differently, and present Obama as the person to vote for to make that happen. We ignore pointing out what's wrong with our competitors at our peril.

If we were trying to sell a car we wouldn't just stand there and talk about how great our gas mileage is we'd say...

Gas prices hurting you? (raise the topic) Well this car here gets 40 miles to the gallon (what we can do for the problem). It's best in class, in fact the other closest competitors car only gets 20 miles to the gallon. (point out what the competitor lacks) If you care about saving money on gas then this is the car for you. (provide the solution)

So you're right that we need to show the positive changes we're offering, but to not call out the competition on why they don't solve the problems would be a wasted opportunity to sow doubt in the other 'product'.

[NashVegas]

29. Fair Enough

This is what's needed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKoKHCxWYM8

note how pathetic he is NOT.

[blogslut]

23. What are you talking about: "last time"?

In case you forgot, the Democrats made a point to air a positive convention full of rainbows and puppies. What "last time" are you talking about?

[H2O Man]

20. Eeyore

[JNelson6563]

25. Sadly, I've had cause to say this on DU a lot lately

There are people in this world who could watch someone literally shit a brick of gold and they would whine "Why not platinum?"

Oy.

Julie

[Starry Messenger]

26. That! is a good line.

And that's all I'm going to say on this thread.

MPK

[Forkboy]

27. Or, "If jesus walked on water someone would say it's because he can't swin."

That works too. :)

[mopinko]

31. yup

amazing.

[emulatorloo]

28. yeah, right n/t

[MISSDem]

30. I love every minute of it! My only regret is

that my Daddy is not here to enjoy it with me. He would absolutely go crazy over the historical significance of it all and the strides that have been made.

[pnorman]

32. WAKE UP AMERICA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4EN7ibO1ec&feature=email

Otherwise, n/t


pnorman

[Peacetrain]

33. The campaign is building each day.

Just as it should be. Great planning on the Obama team

[Zavulon]

34. The only "downer" for me

is that we have to waste so much convention time pleading for unity. You'd think after 7+ years of Bush it wouldn't be necessary.