Various thoughts from Day One:
Better Get a Bigger Bus: Donald Trump says that Hillary Clinton threw soon-to-be-former Democratic National Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz under the bus for acting swiftly to dump her after the hacking and leak of some embarrassing emails from the Democratic National Convention (DNC). This, Trump says, shows Mrs. Clinton’s instinctive disloyalty when someone becomes a public negative to her. All I can say is, Corey Lewandowski better make room under that bus because Trump tossed his loyal manager there weeks ago.
Bernie Supporters feeling burnt. Bernie Sanders delegates, rightfully, felt angry after reading those leaked emails that showed DNC staff had its thumb on the scale for Mrs. Clinton. I’d agree with that description except that I don’t agree it was an institutional decision but personal actions that created that reality. Wasserman Shultz is guilty too largely because of the debate schedule the DNC put together, which clearly favored Mrs. Clinton. Still, comedian Sarah Silverman captured the reality when she ad-libbed last night “you’re being ridiculous” to Bernie supporters for booing whenever Mrs. Clinton’s named was mentioned. They are rightfully angry but the game is over. Hillary is the candidate and would have been if the thumb weren’t applied to the scale.
The New Revolving Door. Used to be that political staffers, when they lost an election, became lobbyists and when they were back in power, they slipped back through the “revolving door” to get political jobs. Today, that door leads into TV studios. Donna Brazile, who has been vice chairman of the DNC all the while she’s been a talking head on CNN and ABC, now has been tapped to be the interim national Democratic chairman starting the day after the convention ends. Ms Brazile will continue appearing on air until then, the networks said, but won’t be paid, as if that changes things. Ms Brazile is a woman of integrity and has pulled off the dual roles by offering partisan yet fair views. Which can’t be said for all the talking heads. And why does CNN need a panel of eight people to describe what we’re watching happening anyway?
Out of the mouths of babes. Karla Ortiz, the 11-year-old American daughter of undocumented immigrants, who spoke last night was fabulous. How does an 11-year-old get the poise to speak to thousands in the hall and millions on TV? And did you notice as she was leaving the podium, she did so reluctantly? If her mother weren’t leading the way, I think she’d still be talking – and I’d still be listening.
More than able. As was Anastasia Somoza the disability rights activist who has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia since birth. She had fantastic poise and gave another outstanding presentation that had the rowdy audience rapt.
Tears. When I watched the Republican convention, the only time tears welled up was when I watched the roll call. A roll call that in the past resulted in the nominations of outstanding people like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. But to watch that roll call go to Donald Trump – tears of sadness. Last night those tears welled up when Ms Samoza and Ms Ortiz spoke. Scott Baio didn’t draw any tears last week.
Disunified Unity. The night started out a disaster with Bernie supporters ticked off and shouting down speakers and even chanting “lock her up ,“a line plagiarized from the GOP convention. Not what you want if you’re Hillary Clinton about to become the first female presidential candidate. As the night wore on, that wore off. And when Michelle Obama spoke, it disappeared. She, too, was fabulous offering a commanding speech not as First Lady but as First Mother. She put the election debate into the context of what’s good for our children and grandchildren (the future) – much as that very effective ad the Clinton campaign is running featuring young children as they listen to Donald Trump insult folks on television. Mrs. O has come a long way in the public speaking world since her husband began his term. She was the star of the night.
Summary: A night that started off as a potential disaster turned into a good night. This is what happens when you have pros running the convention and speakers who know how to give a good, on-message political speech. Unlike last week’s convention which was not run well and where there were no memorable speeches.
Better Get a Bigger Bus: Donald Trump says that Hillary Clinton threw soon-to-be-former Democratic National Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz under the bus for acting swiftly to dump her after the hacking and leak of some embarrassing emails from the Democratic National Convention (DNC). This, Trump says, shows Mrs. Clinton’s instinctive disloyalty when someone becomes a public negative to her. All I can say is, Corey Lewandowski better make room under that bus because Trump tossed his loyal manager there weeks ago.
Bernie Supporters feeling burnt. Bernie Sanders delegates, rightfully, felt angry after reading those leaked emails that showed DNC staff had its thumb on the scale for Mrs. Clinton. I’d agree with that description except that I don’t agree it was an institutional decision but personal actions that created that reality. Wasserman Shultz is guilty too largely because of the debate schedule the DNC put together, which clearly favored Mrs. Clinton. Still, comedian Sarah Silverman captured the reality when she ad-libbed last night “you’re being ridiculous” to Bernie supporters for booing whenever Mrs. Clinton’s named was mentioned. They are rightfully angry but the game is over. Hillary is the candidate and would have been if the thumb weren’t applied to the scale.
The New Revolving Door. Used to be that political staffers, when they lost an election, became lobbyists and when they were back in power, they slipped back through the “revolving door” to get political jobs. Today, that door leads into TV studios. Donna Brazile, who has been vice chairman of the DNC all the while she’s been a talking head on CNN and ABC, now has been tapped to be the interim national Democratic chairman starting the day after the convention ends. Ms Brazile will continue appearing on air until then, the networks said, but won’t be paid, as if that changes things. Ms Brazile is a woman of integrity and has pulled off the dual roles by offering partisan yet fair views. Which can’t be said for all the talking heads. And why does CNN need a panel of eight people to describe what we’re watching happening anyway?
Out of the mouths of babes. Karla Ortiz, the 11-year-old American daughter of undocumented immigrants, who spoke last night was fabulous. How does an 11-year-old get the poise to speak to thousands in the hall and millions on TV? And did you notice as she was leaving the podium, she did so reluctantly? If her mother weren’t leading the way, I think she’d still be talking – and I’d still be listening.
More than able. As was Anastasia Somoza the disability rights activist who has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia since birth. She had fantastic poise and gave another outstanding presentation that had the rowdy audience rapt.
Tears. When I watched the Republican convention, the only time tears welled up was when I watched the roll call. A roll call that in the past resulted in the nominations of outstanding people like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. But to watch that roll call go to Donald Trump – tears of sadness. Last night those tears welled up when Ms Samoza and Ms Ortiz spoke. Scott Baio didn’t draw any tears last week.
Disunified Unity. The night started out a disaster with Bernie supporters ticked off and shouting down speakers and even chanting “lock her up ,“a line plagiarized from the GOP convention. Not what you want if you’re Hillary Clinton about to become the first female presidential candidate. As the night wore on, that wore off. And when Michelle Obama spoke, it disappeared. She, too, was fabulous offering a commanding speech not as First Lady but as First Mother. She put the election debate into the context of what’s good for our children and grandchildren (the future) – much as that very effective ad the Clinton campaign is running featuring young children as they listen to Donald Trump insult folks on television. Mrs. O has come a long way in the public speaking world since her husband began his term. She was the star of the night.
Summary: A night that started off as a potential disaster turned into a good night. This is what happens when you have pros running the convention and speakers who know how to give a good, on-message political speech. Unlike last week’s convention which was not run well and where there were no memorable speeches.
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