Convention Takeaways: It’s A Lot

Kicking yourself for missing the prime-time presentation for each of America’s big political parties? Probably not but no worries anyway, for I watched all cumulative 18 hours (after all, I do hate myself).

How You Feel 8 Hours Into Convention Lifestyle

To political novices, that collective two-week runtime may seem like a lot of -er, content, but remember that traditional conventions would typically run about 8 hours a day for that whole week -with prime-time slots reserved for the most important speakers. Alas, with, well you know, the virtual format imparted an infomercial-style convention that appeared more succinctly rehearsed and yet, considering the reduction in time, much more diffusive in overall thematic qualities. Indeed, as one would expect, each convention presented contrasting narratives to justify a return or a continuance of power. Such made this convention cycle perhaps the most to the average viewer in generations-but that audience probably wasn’t tuned in anyway.

Anyhoo, let’s break down each conventions:

The DNC: The Real Housewives Try to Get You Pumped For Something; Anything, really.

Dems went first in both presentation and in preparation: Contrary to the RNC, Team Blue concluded much sooner that a virtual convention was the way to go and this expectation was apparent throughout its time slots. The material was either live streamed from elsewhere or prepped in advance to communicate effectively and creatively, using varying scenes, spaces, and speakers. All presentation and punditry had a chronic Covid undertone via incredibly awkward zoom cheering, distanced speeches, and frequent mask wearing that would give any NYC viewer chills and any rural viewer a head-scratch.

The moderators themselves embodied Hollywood’s strong connection to the left: Eva Longoria, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Julia Louis Dreyfus (despite rave reviews, this author found the last host’s jokes to be uncouthly personal and performatively ineffective without a live audience). As should be expected for the historically big-tent party, plenty of diverse opinions were presented, sometimes in seemingly a reality-tv style lens. The specific partisan outlook would vary by speaker, but all fit the Convention's Dual Theme: The chronic challenges in a Covid/Trump America and the hope that could come from a Biden Admin.

Michelle Didn't Come to Play Games

Each night’s slot had at least One Crown Jewell: Michelle Obama on Night One (by far the most blistering), Jill Biden on Night Two (meh), Barack Obama -oh I mean Kamala Harris, on Night Three, and of course, Biden himself on the final night. In addition the narrative communicated outwards, two insular developments stood out to me in particular: The consistent Obama Ascendance (now at a Reagan-esque level for the party) and a duel outreach to both progressives and moderates. Ironically, that former seemed the only solution to bridging disagreements in the latter. Indeed, I wonder if further fading from the Obama years will lead to a political split or overall partisan realignment for the Democratic Party as it currently (sort of) stands.

Trust Us On This One, Guys

On this same thought, although Uncle Joe cleared any low hurdles set out by both his own party and the media-writ large, I do wonder if it

really mattered. After all, as we will encounter via RNC, images of the VP are baked in, a persona-pastry that have always been more politically broad than other figures in similar positions. Still, the very longevity of such a political career give way to inevitable fatigue and the curse of age. But that very problem is why Biden's speech matters the least: Most people are not voting FOR him but THROUGH him to see Trump ousted and their respective policy platforms pursued on a national level. Yet even so, there must be one candidate that both forges this voting conglomerate and then actually convinces it to get to the polls. Especially considering the increasingly unstable coalition of a suburban America and its diverse urban core, how can Joe Biden can continue to juggle it all, especially as he starts to receive more press and the presidential polling inevitably narrows? After all, voting through someone still means you need to care enough to vote for them in the first place.

The RNC: Pushing Law and Order but Vibing Hoovervilles

Being the Media Mogul he is, Trump must have begged the RNC to add an extra half hour to each night---and what seemed like 12 extra for the final one- thus making that week everything you would expect. Republicans’ late embrace of the virtual convention is evident, from its occasionally speech heavy focus on nights 1 and 3 (snores) and corresponding video-light presentations.

Even with those constant reminders of rush, the actual narrative outreach (especially considering where expectations were) cleared any hurdles and maybe more. Much as the DNC jump roped moderate suburbia with democratically socialist cities, the speakers and thematic presentations by Team Red managed to both reinforce dog whistling at racial politics as well as engage in (what at least tried to look like) genuine minority outreach. I have to wonder if the astounding degree of Black Republicans there was actually meant to gin up black interest or simply to apply a Reagan-esque principle of minimal black outreach to assuage the moral consciousness of racially aware suburbanites on the fence. Still, Trumpists know how to have a good show. Having figures ripped from the headlines such as the infamous McCloskeys' (aka. St. Louis gun brandishers), Nick Sandman (aka falsely reported protest smirker), and otherwise managed to effectively sensationalize the audience in a period where sensationalism is God.

Klacik was one of many, many, MANY Black Trump Supporters Spotlighted Throughout the Week

The overall convention was also pretty excellent in trying to downplay a rough politics image by forcing a tear or two in some emotional tales- a reminder of the inevitable advantage that comes from actually being in office and doing presidential...stuff. Whether or not the cause, these speaker spotlights gave effective praise to Trump and occasionally blistering reprimands to Biden-KT AG Dan Cameron’s castigation on Biden’s Breakfast Club Comments of ‘Ya Ain’t Black’ were a brutal Social Justice style scolding-to the degree where it felt like it could have come from DNC!

Still, moreso than the Dems' Week, the dichotomy of the RNC's countering themes should tell you everything you need to know about the night’s long term impact or lack thereof. Just as Biden has been defined throughout his long career, Trump already IS the president, making his pledge to restore stability empty (considering he should then have already restored it) and his relationships with his black friends weak in comparison to a history of racially-questionable actions and policy.

I Don't Know Either

The spirited Biden critiques only further embody this: Most speaker's complaints seesawed between Biden’s sympathetic views towards the BLM movement and therefore his lack of Presidential Law and Order OR chastised him as an enemy to Black America via his work on several tough on crime bills a generation ago-something which would seem to scream Law and Order. These criticisms seemed succinct and sufficient on their own, but when understood cumulatively, absolutely contradictory. It made the progressive vs. moderate juggling of the DNC the week before look poetic -and that wasn’t even the most baffling moment (this author couldn’t help but scream when former FL AG Pam Bondi decried the scandals of Hunter Biden on the same night when THREE Trumps would be speaking).

Much of the convention strategy (and campaign one) is based upon Trump as an incumbent still trying to run much like an outsider-undefined, separate, and still ambiguous. Although none of those things could describe Trump ever, and certainly not in a political context, his evident success itself is still clear. His coalitions and opinions may scramble, but one thing the speakers never wavered on was their admiration for the outsider who proved everyone wrong by becoming President. After all, this Cult of Personality has been one of the most successful and mindboggling appeals of Trump. Who else could end their convention speech with fireworks and opera in the White House?

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Feeling Exhausted? Good thing it only gets louder from here. NR