The first day on the (Democratic) Convention floor simply revealed what cynics amongst us have already known: that nothing you see on television, read in the newspapers and listen to on the radio is connected to what is happening in “reality.”
The actual floor of the Convention is organized chaos. It is a huge gathering of relatively middle age people (where are the younger folks who are ready to rock the election?), dressed up in funny costumes, sitting in their own enclaves watching a badly paced, theme-less set of proceedings. Speakers and performers straddle in, at a pace that is hardly energetic, providing networks, bloggers and journalists enough time to schmooze with the delegates, spin the expectations and performance game, while everyone waits for what is expected to be headline for the evening, again dictated by the pundits and their comrades.
Ted Kennedy’s speech was not a public speaking success. The film made by famed documentarian Ken Burns touted his accomplishments and guaranteed that if they want to embrace Kennedy, they will be also waiting for his name attached to the plan. It was mildly nostalgic but, mostly a swan-song for someone who has played such a large and constructive role for the Democrats, even in adverse circumstances. But much of it was theater. Well orchestrated to stir emotions and also to applaud an elderly statesman of the Party. The speech did not have a focus, no sharp definition of theme (other than invocation of “hope” and change) and certainly did not have a clear progression of argument or a position. But you read the blogs the next day, watch TV the same night and read the columnists and this was said to be a great success. True, many were thankful to have seen the Dean of Senators and glad to have watched the occasion.
A large part of the floor is taken by the TV networks, a clear testimony to their power. The lesser known horses were galloping from farther away.
It is like watching an event and then following its representation. The latter washes away what you had seen earlier. What are you going to believe, me or your eyes? |
