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Day 3 Recap:
- It was revealed last night that the undisclosed location Dick Cheney has been known to frequent was actually the dark side of the moon, so removed from reality was his assessment of the successes thus far of the Bush administration. After polishing the President's non-existent laurels, he launched into a mean spirited attack on John Kerry that was dishonest, dishonorable, and, alas, highly effective.
- Zell Miller completed his conversion to the Dark Side and cemented his reputation as an embittered old redneck with an axe to grind, as he delivered a foam-flecked diatribe against John Kerry in particular, the Democratic Party in general, and Yankee liberals just for the hell of it.
- Antsy Dems continued to push Kerry to retaliate in kind to Republican attacks. Kerry is said to be studying the issue. After all, on one hand attacking Bush may help. On the other hand, attacking Bush may not help. On the other, other hand... Oh, those blasted nuances!
Day 4 Preview:
- The mainstream press will tip it's hand tomorrow with the type of coverage they give to the Cheney/Miller diatribes. If the speeches are characterized as "pointing out sharp differences", for example, rather than "attacks", the press may be turning on Kerry.
- George W. Bush gives his acceptance speech. A fun drinking game might involve downing a shot every time he fumbles a line, or says "tax cuts". Teetotalers can drink every time he mentions Osama Bin Laden (trust us, won't happen).
- The whole miserable thing finally comes to an end. Oh, wait, there are still two months of campaigning to go. Wanna bet the level of discourse rises out of the gutter and approaches something like the substantive, issues-oriented debate on big ideas that is so necessary for a vibrant, healthy democracy? Didn't think so.
Also: Are Republican attacks really unfair, underhanded cheap shots? Or are we just Exhibit A in the case of the whiny liberal press? You tell us.
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I'm really enjoying your convention recaps.
I don't think there's any question that Republican attacks are underhanded, dishonest cheap shots. To me the issue is why the American public seems to respond to them (noticed George Bush's bump since the Swift Boat ads started?), and why the Democrats are so ineffective at deflecting them.
Democrats are ineffective at deflating them because Republicans have the shield of God and patriotism. When Zell Miller got up there and espoused the rhetoric of protection, retribution and religiously motivated patriotism it brought down the house. Kerry can't respond to that in kind without trashing either God or America--both of which would be terrible PR maneuvers.
He can (and does) rip apart Bush's record, but so long as Bush has his wrathful nostalgia trap, Kerry is swinging in a sand trap.
What I really want to know is why all the people who are touting Bush as a tough military leader aren't disturbed in the least by the fact that our Commander in Chief has never seen active duty.
Karl Rove + ignorant electorate + complacent mainstream media + a Democratic campaign that can't shoot straight = bad news.
The thing that kills me is how much political capital W banked in that one photo-op at Ground Zero. Enough already. As the song says, "What have you done for me lately?".
Yup, you're definitely whiny liberal media. But that's OK, I like your site anyway.
I understand that Zell Miller's takedown of John Kerry was so harsh, Kerry put in for another Purple Heart today...
I was especially impressed by Miller's fiery words last night. For a man who espouses as much contempt for the modern Democratic party as he does, he sure is determined to go to his grave clinging to the name. I don't like Democrats any more than he does (nor Republicans, for that matter), but his stubborness borders on the ridiculous, not to mention the hypocritical.
Miller's speech was unhinged, ridiculous, and full of lies. Most of the media has been ridiculing him for it. Last night helped Kerry quite a bit.
When Chris Matthews starts attacking the GOP's most rancourous speaker you've got to wonder if Zell Miller has fallen between the rocks. If both parties attack you where does that leave you? Nader-land seems to be a lonely useless place.
I've heard a couple radio reports quoting "young Democrats" talking about how terrible the protestors are which makes me think they must be having some psychological impact despte much coverage in the national consumer press.
Oops. Zell's bells.
I meant "young Republicans."
(They tend to blur for me. I'm in the camp that believes both parties are coopted by corporations it's just that the left is slightly more humane.)