Dems in Denver: Day One notes

Dem Convention: Day One notes

I noticed this morning that the three major TV networks were providing one hour of primetime coverage. Disappointing, but that’s why we have sallelites. CNN, MSNBC and C-SPAN were my choices for the “gavel to gavel.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi was chewing gum during her speech. I was taught in high school that this is disrespectful. During her speech, CNN was interviewing Gov. Kaine. MSNBC let us chew on the Speaker. The gum was white best I can tell. It matched her dress anyway.

Rep. Jessie Jackson, Jr. gave a speech that deserved coverage. Excellent speech delivered with the vigor and eloquence of his father. CNN carried it live, while MSNBC carried commentary from Pat Buchanan.

President Jimmy Carter had a video about New Orleans. I have a fondness for the Carters, and was disappointed when after his introduction, he waved and left. No speech. I want to say it was 10 or 15 minutes went by before Anderson Cooper and cronies asked why.

God Bless Ted Kennedy, who overcame many barriers just to be there to symbolically pass the torch from the Kennedy family to the Obamas.

As prime time arrived, I thought NBC and ABC boiled the evening down fairly well into an hour. However CNN’s David Gurgen and James Carville were saying the Convention’s speaker lineup during prime time coverage was lack luster, and the night had no central message, so they thought the first night of the Convention was wasted. Donna Brazile defended her party as her microphone cut out.

Michelle Obama’s speech was insightful, educational, remarkably well written and delivered. She was clean and articulate, as Biden might say on a whim.

So as the day closes, the Kenndys and the Carters have passed the torch. In the next two days, the Clintons will pass the torch.

CNN and MSNBC provide more time to “their political teams,” and simply use the Convention as a backdrop or a new set for the same old show, plus a couple of speeches.

I know more about the Obamas now. Mission accomplished as far as I’m concerned. I'm sorry some were dissappointed. There was no big Bush bitch slap. Policy issues, which attract me to the party, were lightly touched vagueness. I heard more about the enviornment from the T Boone Pickens commercial.

I think the evening’s schedule was just fine for network prime time. They got Kennedy and Michelle and their own political teams in a neat tight package. THe schedule was designed to be boiled well and easily into that primetime hour.