I Can't Stand It Any Longer

I have held to my self-imposed news burnout black out on things political since Sunday. But I can't stand it any longer. (In fact I actually started writing this two days ago but not posting until today. Won't I be upset if news and facts trump me and I look like one just jumping on the news wagon?)

I guess the old poli-sci major in me finds that these things still intrigue me. I love to follow them- and this year has become quite interesting.

Anyway as I start this on Tuesday the Republicans are getting their convention back in gear after the disruption of Gustav. The liberal bloggers and non-Fox News media are having a field day over Veep-choice Sarah Palin. Conservative bloggers and Fox News-types have been going ga-ga over the choice. Obama is being called a sexist since he has supposedly challenged Palin's credentials and ability to be Veep. And the breaking news is that the father of Palin's grandchild-to-be may be showing up at the convention as part of the family image portrayal.

Why I don't even know if Palin will still be on the ticket by the time I plan to publish this on Thursday. Which is the first thing that has struck me in all this. I was suddenly reminded over the weekend of Thomas Eagleton. (Who?) He was George McGovern's first choice as a running mate in 1972. Then it turns out that Eagleton had been treated with shock therapy - and the skeleton bones rattled - and George dropped Tom replacing him after 18 days with Sargent Shriver. So Sarah has 12 days to go to break this record.

I will not be surprised to see Sarah follow Eagleton into that non-candidate Neverland. Although I would be very surprised if McCain gave in. He is stubborn and will do things his way. Even if it cost him the election I have a hunch he will stay with Palin. Unless, of course, he decides to change his mind. The other day oddsmakers in Great Britain were lowering the odds supporting her being dropped from the ticket.

More importantly to me, however, is the reasons why so many Republicans have been rejoicing about Palin- she is ideologically correct. While the liberal side has Political Correctness, the conservative side has Ideological Correctness. Palin has said all the right things for a long time. She has all the right-wing street cred. Which McCain doesn't have. He truly is too much of a maverick. Many have probably not forgiven him for the things he said about their prophet Jerry Falwell in 2000.

I don't know what kind of ability Palin has or how she might be able to grow into the job. But to her supporters that isn't the issue. It is simply that she stands for the right things and balances against their uncertainty with McCain himself.

Who knows how all this will play out, but it is becoming an interesting race.

So now it is Wednesday and I am blogging while watching the convention. I am struck as I listen by how so much of this is actually meant to be enjoyed by the party faithful - especially those in the convention. Earlier this year I was a delegate to the county DFL Convention. In essence it is meant to be a big pep rally. Oh, maybe there's a quote here or there from some famous speaker or well-written speech. But overall it is meant to pump up the volume. At least until the Big Speakers, i.e. Palin Wednesday and McCain Thursday.

I also realize, cynically of course, that we all respond to what we already believe. Or what we want to believe. Democrats want to believe that change will come with an Obama-Biden administration. Republicans want to believe that McCain-Palin will bring experience. As I listened I was giving all the counter arguments just as many did when the Democrats spoke last week.

Bold, historic, and courageous. That's what they are saying the choice of Sarah Palin was on McCain's part. Followed by country music. And close-ups of the Palin family looking and acting like a normal American family. Which they are. And McCain's isn't, of course. Perhaps that is why he chose her. She truly is the American family image.

Then there's Rudy Guiliani. He picks on experience as the issue since Obama (supposedly) has none. And they pick on the Democrats just as Democrats picked on them last week. It's the same - just from the other side. What will be a deciding factor most likely will be the debates. Just as it was 48 years ago when an "inexperienced" JFK defeated VP Nixon. But Guiliani did a fine job of shooting the arrows. The keynote speaker. As Jim Wallis commented about both party's conventions- politically predictable. You can't and shouldn't expect anything else.

Finally, Sarah Palin. Politically predictable- and quite well done. A good dose of irony- given with a charming smile. Even a throw-off joke about hockey moms. Well, barring some unknown and unpredictable information or problem- she will probably go all the way to November. She is not a lightweight. She has a presence about her- even more than McCain.

If she truly becomes the reformer she says she is- many of the people sitting in the convention last night won't like it. They are as much the entrenched interests as the Democrats they say are. As of this moment- and for today at least- John McCain's choice appears better than it did Monday.

There will most likely be a bump in support. But it is still 61 days until the election.

I hope the candidates make it....

And I hope we do, too.