Day One Wrap-Up

My time at the Big Tent was cut short today. While running around trying to interview as many bloggers as I could, someone came up to me with a black market convention pass. With a pass for the Pepsi Center marked “Vendor” I left the big tent for the big event. Instead of getting to take advantage of all of the free Fat Tire beer, the free massages, and the free Chipotle burritos, I watched as countless speakers (including the Speaker of the House) praised Obama as a leader. There’s nothing unique about saying the convention is just a pageant, but unless you are really there it’s hard to tell how unbearable it is (on tv, you can just change the channel).

Amidst the Pelosi-led chanting of “McCain is wrong,” the people dressed as super heroes (including the Captain Morgan), the instructions of the Megatron to “Text which state has the best cheering section to 62662,” it was Daniel Boorstin’s very definition of a pseudo-event (a superficial, planned, self-fulfilling news event). It felt more like American Idol than American Democracy. 

I have to admit, however, that listening to Ted Kennedy speak was moving. It’s hard not to listen to a dying man, especially one who has accomplished so much good in his life. When Kennedy pledged to be there in January standing beside Obama when he takes office, it was the injection of hope that was otherwise lacking from an Obama-less rally.