DNCC Day 2: A rerun of 2004
posted at 7:45 am on August 27, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Yesterday, I watched most of the prime-time content at the Democratic convention in preparation for the speech by Hillary Clinton. I hadn’t tuned into Day 1 for scheduling reasons; I’m doing live shows at the State Fair for AM 1280 The Patriot most of this week. What struck me on Day 2 was that the themes sounded on the stage made little sense in 2008, and sounded like a rerun of 2004.
All night long, as one dreary speaker after another took to the garish and overwhelming stage, they talked about two basic issues: their misery and George Bush. This seems rather remarkable to me, since George Bush isn’t running for President again, and since almost everyone outside of Denver understands that. In 2004, that theme made sense, since John Kerry wanted to defeat Bush in that election, but John McCain isn’t George Bush, and most of the time the speakers were too lazy to even make the McSame case.
Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in 2006. One might have expected a Democratic convention to focus on the achievements of the party in legislation over that period, but then again, that might make for an extraordinarily short convention under the circumstances. Instead, person after person came to the stage to air their grievances that the Bush administration hadn’t helped them. Viewers might have asked themselves, “Why didn’t the Democrats do anything to help them in the last two years?”
Congress must be irrelevant to Democrats. Maybe they’d do us a favor and quit if they feel that way.
Mostly, though, few if any Democrats talking to the cameras had anything positive to offer American voters. They gave plenty of sob stories, plenty of vitriol, and plenty of arguments that the only way to make them happier would be to elect Barack Obama. One has to wonder whether American voters will respond at all to this kind of Maury Povich-like spectacle, or at least any better when their nominee actually did run against George Bush, and lost by almost four points nationwide.
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What is with all the crying, too. Are they all unstable?
bloggless on August 27, 2008 at 7:54 AM
I’m not surprised considering this is the party of whiners and crybabies. Why would they have anything constructive to say when they are all about victimhood and blaming others and their own country for their misery? And as Ed points out, with a spectacularly inept congressional majority, it’s best not to discuss any dubious “achievements.” I don’t think Nancy Pelosi’s stonewalling on drilling would endear them to the electorate. Thanks for watching Ed, so I don’t have to! :)
Dariaanne on August 27, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Bitter
forest on August 27, 2008 at 8:03 AM
This is why they should stop calling it the “Democratic Party National Convention”, and just call it for what it really is: WHINE-FEST!
Or maybe WHINE-A-PALOOZA!
pilamaye on August 27, 2008 at 8:03 AM
I noticed too how the speakers all blamed Pres Bush for our “horrible” economy and gas prices ..but the Dems has controlled Congress for 2 years, they have done nothing!
On another note…I am appalled by the number of protesters who are marching and they have no clue who ANYONE in government is.
I just watched some people who had no idea, when shown pictures, who Nancy Pelosi, Dick Cheney, Harry Reid or even Hillary Clinton was!! If you’re planning to protest at least …know your politicians!
I am scared about the future of our country. yikes!
becki51758 on August 27, 2008 at 8:04 AM
The better question is why hasn’t the GOP changed since they got tossed out?
ninjapirate on August 27, 2008 at 8:05 AM
They forgot the increase in minimum wage? Oh, and the lose of employment for people on full time minimum wage? The 2 go hand-in-hand.
TomJW on August 27, 2008 at 8:06 AM
It’ll be interesting to see the response of the non barking moonbat middle to this ‘Grapes of Wrath’ redux juxtaposed with Barry copping Apollo Creed’s entrance from Rocky.
A decade ago I’d have said it would be rejected out of hand, but this is the era of ‘American Idol’ so now I’m not so sure.
sven10077 on August 27, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Regarding the choice of the Orange Pantsuit:
bloggless on August 27, 2008 at 8:07 AM
because for all their bluff and bluster about the “Evil Imperial Presidency under Chimpinator the First” the only thing that bothered them about the notion was the (r) by his name.
sven10077 on August 27, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Imus goes on Cavuto yesterday while Cavuto covers convention, discuss Obama, Biden and McCain. Imus’s take on Obama he is a phony.
http://bellalu0.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/imus-on-obama-biden-and-mccain/
Dr Evil on August 27, 2008 at 8:11 AM
They have nothing else to run on other than “We hate George Bush”. If they were honest and told America what they really stood for (ie socialism), they would lose big time.
guitarplayer on August 27, 2008 at 8:13 AM
IMO Dems just feeeeeeel everything related to politics, education, religion, etc, etc. They are not capable of thinking an idea through - gotta feeeeeel it.
Ever notice how sentences start with “I feel that_____” instead of “I think that______”
Even with Hillary’s speech - as one commentator put it, “did she heal the wounds in the party”. Heal? Wounds? Feel. Pain.
vs Believe. Consider. Envision.
tru2tx on August 27, 2008 at 8:13 AM
And Gallup has McCain ahead by 2 today.
The Dems still want to see McCain as Bush’s “third term”…so they’ll keep attacking Bush. It’s something they can at least rally around.
Although the Keynote last night was a real snoozer…FOX News cut away minutes after it began. The other 2 cable newsies ran it, but the past couple of nights, the talking heads are yappin’ more than the speakers.
JetBoy on August 27, 2008 at 8:13 AM
Oh, but they have- just not for the better, unfortunately.
Fletch54 on August 27, 2008 at 8:13 AM
Meh… the first three days are there for the party faithful; they don’t really get watched by the much desired ‘undecided’ voters. This is the kind of white tofu that the Democrat Delegates need to take home and work their little volunteer heinies off for… you’ll see the same emotional pap at the Republican Convention, just different stories, different emotions. Same level of intelligence, though…
Mr Michael on August 27, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Hillary replayed the Civil War as if the Democrats had been the Republican Party. All speeches enhance the Yeeehaah Hate Thy Neighbor DNC Doctrine at the core of this convention.
So, rather than settling for clarifying the 1960s, with so many witnesses and participants still living with their own MEMORIES intact, Hillary had to drag us through the 1860’s knowing full well that 90% of American voters don’t have a clue what all was involved, but have swallowed her Progressive Party’s revised version of American history a la eraser, highlighter, and distorting proportional magnifying glass.
maverick muse on August 27, 2008 at 8:16 AM
The GOP has gone a lot more moderate the last couple of years. IMHO
JetBoy on August 27, 2008 at 8:16 AM
The Democratic National Convention - TL;DR Version:
BAWWW BUSH
ZK on August 27, 2008 at 8:19 AM
One word: Gravitas
TheHat on August 27, 2008 at 8:22 AM
tru2tx on August 27, 2008 at 8:13 AM
Thank Psychology for that.
Feelings are always justified.
Thoughts, however, are to be totally managed.
Stupid feels as stupid thinks.
Anyway, spontaneous thought is definitely eschewed. So, to hell with PC.
Without imagination, humans are nothing “special” in the animal kingdom.
maverick muse on August 27, 2008 at 8:23 AM
ORANGE CRUSH, highly appropriate for Denver.
Brat on August 27, 2008 at 8:30 AM
It is incumbent to denigrate one’s political opponent.
Republicans stick to records with no “smear” dependency.
The Democrat record, seen as a whole, self destructs as Marxism bent on repudiating our Constitution.
Whether the Democrats destroy their own party or our entire nation depends on how many votes they calibrate from the political machines and computer booths.
Maintaining the paper and pencil ballot as taught and exercised per examinations and tests at public schools is grounding. Therein find your gravitas, in the simplest of measures. Photo voter ID required in order to vote on paper ballots in ENGLISH only.
E pluribus unum
maverick muse on August 27, 2008 at 8:34 AM
And just like 2004, Democrats think all they have to do is find a gimmick. You know, the whole veteran thing was supposed to show us that it’s the Democrats who are strong on defense and totally not traitors.
This time they picked an inexperienced african american to show how the Democrat party is totally not racist unlike the really racist repuglicans, and I think they’re simply stunned that nobody is falling for it. Not even their own icons like Geraldine Ferraro.
Here’s the bottom line. For the first time in 8 years they are forced to realize that the enemy was not George W. Bush at all. The enemy is their childish ignorance.
jeff_from_mpls on August 27, 2008 at 8:37 AM
What’s wrong with you people.
You really don’t want universal pre-K, universal healthcare, free college tuition, and dramatic increases in social services, and higher taxes?
All you have to look at to see how great it would be is to look at Social Security, Amtrak, the IRS, Medicare, and the postal service to see how bright our future can be. Jeez, have a little Hope, mmmkay?
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the Public Treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the Public Treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy always followed by dictatorship.”
Alexander Fraser Tyler, “The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic”
hippie_chucker on August 27, 2008 at 8:41 AM
But Ed, that’s how you win an election!
http://thepajamapundit.com/
thePajamaPundit on August 27, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Well, they would certainly be the “special of the day” in the food chain!
JohnnyD on August 27, 2008 at 8:48 AM
and that is why I thank God every day we are in a Constitutional Republic…it gapped us a little extra time at a minimum.
sven10077 on August 27, 2008 at 8:53 AM
Every time I hear the idea of universal healthcare being floated, I cringe. While I’m very appreciative to have healthcare through the military, there are several issues with the way it’s run. These same people deplore the conditions and the treatment that our soldiers recieve at places like Walter Reed, and yet they’re going to wish the same thing on themselves in the end.
I have sat and stared at the screen, seriously wondering how these people function. All that hate, and all those nice-in-theory, nonfunctional-in-reality ideas they have bubbling around in their brains… I honestly just don’t understand.
Anna on August 27, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Running low on anti-nausea pills this morning?
DaveC on August 27, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Ed,
When one’s party is invested in identity politics for 20 years it is hard to stop either the repeats or the need to demonize someone.
Dr. Dog on August 27, 2008 at 9:10 AM
I gather you’re not a Drill Head, because speaking for myself, I’m impressed with the Republicans as of late
Buy Danish on August 27, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Hear, hear…
The House GOP has never been the problem it has always been the Senate GOP they acted shocked back in ‘94 when handed power and simply did not know what to do with it. The Senate is too isolated and incestuous to really make deep changes on the body as it was ran then so they wound up led by people like Juan and Specter to buy into the notion they must “moderate those psychos in the House”. 2006 was the Senate GOP finally getting their way and letting the donks run the show.
Politicos with balls would never have agreed to Dashole’s “power sharing” spiel and put them in their place.
Never forget when it was a tie game the donks felt they should share power….when Jumpin’ Jim jumped that was nowhere in sight.
sven10077 on August 27, 2008 at 9:14 AM
I remember the day after the ‘06 elections, a co-worker of mine was psyched (go figure - a gun owner all giddy that “New Hampshire is a blue state now”). I told him - “Yeah, they won. Now they have to govern. For the last six years if George Bush said ‘The sky is blue’ the Democrats have said ‘No, it’s RED!’ They have to offer us something different than knee-jerk opposition to Bush.” I’m still waiting.
crazy_legs on August 27, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Why isn’t the RNC putting out ads that compare/contrast how the country has done under Democratic vs Republican congresses. Ads made up of a few simple graphs comparing, say, oil prices, the stock market, etc between periods when the two parties have been in control over the past twenty years might illuminate a few people.
chromium on August 27, 2008 at 9:23 AM
The only thing good about America, according to Democrats, is Democrats.
The rest of the country can be divided into two distinct populations:
1) Evil capitalists/Republicans
2) Suffering, starving, down on their luck, toddling, whimpering, pestilence infested, last straw losers, whose only hope is that a Democrat politician will save them.
If your only hope in life is that a Democrat will help you?
Unless you’re an attractive young girl or boy, abandon all hope, ye who enter the DNC convention. You’re screwed. Because any “help” a Democrat gives you will be priced at twice what it’s worth.
NoDonkey on August 27, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Excellent observation, Ed.
But, it’s not surprising to see the party of victims hand wringing their way through yet another
infomercialconvention.As you well know, in order for us all to be victims, so that they-the selfless political intelligensia-can save us from ourselves, things have to always be going to hell in a handbasket!
That is until one of them gets elected, like Billy Jeff in 1992. Recall, it was amazing how almost overnight an economy that was tanking become the most vibrant and growth oriented in years!!
RocketmanBob on August 27, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Nice connection!!
kanda on August 27, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I’m pondering this one, as I count out pennies to put gas into my car. I need to go down to Wendy’s to pick up my teenager who got laid off when the “minimum wage” went up.
What would they trumpet? I’ve got nothin’.
drunkenmaster on August 27, 2008 at 11:04 AM
The overall platform is clear:
Give more deadbeats more money at the expense of the producers because the deadbeats are too stupid to be procucers.
Or, promote stupidity and punish productivity.
Real Smart.
saiga on August 27, 2008 at 11:25 AM
This Democrat Congress has succeeded at nothing of substance or meaning. It should be clear to all that the Democrats are not an effective political party. The President and the Congressional Republicans have succeeded in outflanking them at most every turn.
What I cannot understand is why there is not a general feeling that the Democrats should be thrown out of Congress! Could it be the fact that too many Republicans seem too unwilling to return to their conservative roots? Examples would be to seek to reduce the budget deficit through reduced spending (Can anyone say “No more earmarks?”) and elimination of wasteful and ineffective government programs and departments, not to mention a personal favorite mine, replacement of all income–personal and business–and payroll taxes in favor of an inclusive national retail consumption tax otherwise known as the “FairTax.”
Wildcatter1980 on August 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I was thinking the same thing. Did they repeal the 22nd ammendment? Bush’s name was uttered way too many times.
Hillary’s speech was the first time I saw emotion, cheering, clapping, standing ovation…. So nearly after the end of the 2nd day, there was finally something that resembled a convention. It’s been boring… except for Chrissy and Kiethy fighting. MSNBC has been totally entertainment, but aren’t they in the news business. It’s like watching the DNC PR spin room. When the FAA problems surfaced as “breaking news”, I had to slap myself as to why the DNC was breaking from it’s stride.
Sergei on August 27, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I’m hoping the GOP asks this same question during their convention.
The Ugly American on August 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM