Democratic Convention

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What it was not:
A repeat of the 1968 Convention

Republicans and Conservatives were salivating of over the apparent similarities with 1968. A party divided, expected riots in the street, and the convention was held in Chicago.

Yes there were protests with some scuffles but the amount of protesters were a lot less then forecast and there was nothing resembling the “Battle of Michigan Avenue”.

In ‘68 there was chaos not only outside but on the inside of the convention hall with tear gas wafting in and delegates screaming at each other on live TV.

About that divided party going anti American and woke? No evidence of that.
While a few flags were burned on the outside, inside was all flag waving and USA chants.

Israel? Harris remarks were just a repeat of Biden’s contradictory policy. Israel has a right to exist and we will help them do that. The hostages must be released now, 10/7 was horrible. As a women Harris’s remarks about sexual abuse carried more weight. OTOH what happening in Gaza is horrible and we need to have a ceasefire now. Implying Israeli war crimes but not saying it. A hostage family spoke followed by chants of “Bring them home”

Walz speech was preceded by the people he coached and Football Jerseys. Not America hating but all American symbolism.

Add Harris’s promise to middle class taxes at times I thought I was watching a pre Trump Republican Convention, anything but the party supposedly being taken over by neo marxists.

Now the critics are saying they did not mean it, it was all for show. I can not discount that, they are politicians after all. If so that they felt like they had to fake it says a lot.

Other thoughts
Michelle Obama’s speech was by far the best. She once famously said “When they go low, we go high”. That was then, this is now. She is pretty effin good at going low. If she had decided to run IMHO this would be no contest.

The others speeches including Harris’s that went after Trump were pretty good. A word of caution. Going after Trump both legally and personally has largely failed. No more people are going be convinced he is a threat to democracy. Fraud yeah it’s bad but they all do it, it’s all a bunch of numbers a lot of people do not understand etc. I do not know if it will work but they ought to try the sexual predator angle again. It did not work after the Hollywood access tape, but that was before he was held liable, it could plausibly have been blown off as bragging, that was before #MeToo. I really would like Harris to say to his face “You are a rapist”.

Both Walz and Harris’s speeches were well delivered, little Harris “word salad”.

Biden did not have another shutdown which they would have rightfully been harshly criticized for.
A cheering crowd, and teleprompter helped.

I am wondering if there is something seriously medically wrong with Bill Clinton. Not only was his speech noticeably not as well delivered as his former ones but he said he did not know how many more conventions he would be able to attend. At age 78 this would be no surprise and since he is not running has no obligation to tell us.

I was pissed off at NBC spending half the time strongly suggesting Beyonce was going to preform. She did not. Both parties would do well by deemphasizing celebrity appearances. There are many voters that find it offputting.

Beyond the convention to the election
Prior to Biden dropping out I was saying if the election were held today Trump would win. Now I say not only would Harris win if the election but due to enthusiasm she would win by more than the two points shown in the polls.

For 2 years the polls were consistent. Harris is doing 7 points better then Biden was. Very big deal.

It is not only a “sugar high” among Dems created by Biden dropping out but how rattled Trump seems by it. I wonder if it is more then being rattled by the switch in opponents. Trump got shot. While his first gut instinct was “fight, fight, fight” I wonder if being within inches of death has sunk in and shaken him.

That “sugar high” has been followed by a well run convention providing some sort of bounce for Harris.

The good news for Harris is that the enthusiasm has lasted two months with just a two plus months to go. The potentially bad news is looking great in a controlled environment such a convention is one thing, now comes the at times unscripted, exhausting times, and opposition research. Joy alone won’t cut it. There still is the seemingly endless history of seemingly impossible Trump comebacks.

The good news is that many speakers reminded the delegates of this.