Conventional Politics

Some bloggers covering the convention can be be found at conventionbloggers.com.

Kerry et al are evidently trying to have a more positive message for the Dems Convention this week, Primary season may be for firing up the base, but both parties seem to try to tone down partisanship for these gatherings, meant to appeal to the less-than-fanatical voters out there. Will the coverage be one of ideas, or do the conventions have only slogans? Will the news talking heads debate such important topics as is Kerry too ugly, is Cheney's underbite too creepy, and other issues that surely should be of prime concern in a time that nuts keep crashing planes into us, North Koreans with bad hair threaten to nuke us, and South Koreans crown themselves the Messiah.

The NY Times said In Boston, Democrats Are Seething but Also Celebratory. Reading the article indicates no direct reportage of "seething". I guess we can assume some may be seething, but I'm not exactly sure how this is news. When the Republicans have their convention, I'm curious how their emotional states will be conveyed.

There was already much media hand-wringing about how these conventions are not real "news" events, which I would assume is an excuse in advance for any lack of coverage in favour if important programming like the amazing life-like Julie Chen, an advanced cyborg hosting CBS's 'Big Brother'. On the other hand, The Amazing Race is just about the best damn thing on TV right now, if anyone will watch it...

Despite the recent demise of our household ReplayTV (it's like TiVO) I'll stay glued to the set for the conventions - though I harbour little hope that Pat Buchanan will call for "Culture Wars II" in one previous convention's few interesting moments - and try to see if there's naught but chaff in the sorting basket.