Now that both the Republican and the Democratic National Conventions have wrapped up, I don't even need to look at the polls to see which party enjoyed the greater bounce. All I had to do was watch the conventions themselves.
There were some good speakers at the RNC. I enjoyed hearing Mia Love (Mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah). And while I may not agree with the politics of Condoleezza Rice or Governor Nikki Haley, I enjoyed listening to them.
I enjoyed Clint Eastwood too, but for different reasons. I used to think Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was the rock bottom of reality TV. Clint proved otherwise.
But there were far more downright amazing speakers at the DNC. Not simply because their politics resonated more closely with my own views, but also because they gave me a clearer picture of what they stood for and how that philosophy would translate into policy.
In short, the RNC gave platitudes. The DNC made plans.
I was not pleased to see that the DNC convention chairperson committed voter fraud where it came to changes to the party platform vis a vis the word "God." I might actually register as a full-fledged Democrat if they'd drop the pretense of being just as religious as Republicans.
However, I was genuinely impressed by the spirit of generosity at the DNC in referring to Republicans in a kind and positive manner. President Clinton's speech elicited applause for President George W. Bush's good works on natural disasters. Vice President Biden's speech elicited applause for Governor Romney as a good and decent human being, albeit one with whom Democrats disagree strongly.
I watched the RNC. I saw none of that same generosity. No acknowledgement whatsoever that in spite of our disagreements on philosophy and policy, Republicans and Democrats have our country's best interests at heart.
It was disappointing, but it was one more reminder of why I left the GOP.
In fact, I wasn't the only one who showed up at the DNC party. Governor Lincoln Chafee spoke at the DNC, as did Governor Charlie Crist. Perhaps the RNC would have had a more compelling assortment of speakers (not to mention more decent and humane rhetoric) if they hadn't spent the past four-plus years chasing moderates out of the party.
Even though I believe the DNC was the more inspiring convention by far (and polls indicate that I'm far from alone in this opinion), President Obama is no shoo-in for a second term. The Democrats may have gotten the bigger bounce, but the Republicans still have the bigger coffers.
This post is part of a weekly conversation with our Moms Matter 2012 political bloggers. To see the original question and what the other writers have to say, see Which Convention 'Won'?
Image via Salon.com
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Comments 12
Julie, simple-mindedness makes it easy for the Obama camp to keep people impressed. I guess you're part of that. Honestly, not all that surprised.
The DNC made plans.
Really? What plans, exactly? All I heard was 'go team!!!!'.
As far as the Rs failing to give a hoo-ray to the Ds - well, that's because Obama's D administration does NOT have the country's best interests at heart. Apparently even the DNC can see that.
And this surprises who?
More like, you don't dare look. 1 1/2 weeks after the R convention and 1/2 week after the D convention, Romney and OWEbama are once again neck and neck.
"the RNC gave platitudes. The DNC made plans."
You have that precisely backwards. Or do you consider "Forward!" into more 8+% and rising unemployment and the democrat debt explosion with no budget passed for four years a "plan"?
"I was not pleased to see that the DNC convention chairperson committed voter fraud where it came to changes to the party platform"
I you think you are "not pleased" about that, consider how "not pleased" conservatives are to democrats committing voter fraud in the general election! Or for that matter, listening to shrill cries of "racism" at even the most minimal attempts to prevent it?
"generosity at the DNC in referring to Republicans in a kind and positive manner"
All you have done for the past three and a half years is try to blame the democrats voting record on Bush, and shriek "racism" at any opposition to the democrat debt explosion.
"I watched the RNC. I saw none of that same generosity"
You must not have watched much of it, at several points they said they believed OWEbama was a good person, even if his policies have unfortunately proven to be disastrous.
"RNC ... (not to mention more decent and humane rhetoric)"(repeat the lie over and over and hope it sticks) " if they hadn't spent the past four-plus years chasing moderates out of the party."
Left wing hypocrisy knows no bounds. Name some democrat "moderates"? Let's see, there is Lieberman, and... who is the other one? If JFK was alive today, the democrats would kick him out of the part for being too much of a "radical right wing extremist"... (at least in contrast, from their current perspective)
"The Democrats may have gotten the bigger bounce, but the Republicans still have the bigger coffers."
Actually, the democrats closed the money gap last month, but don't let the facts get in the way of the rhetoric...