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July 27, 2004
Conventional politics
I bought Joe Trippi's book, and while it's easy to see where he is glossing over things or embelishing too much. He definitely has a point about transformational politics versus transactional politics, and how the internet can help us get away from influence peddling and move towards more open democracy. In some ways, after the interactive, hands on experience of the primary, a convention is well, conventional. You go and listen to speeches. A lot of speeches. It's exciting, and an honor, but it's also the same way the thing has been done for years and years, with the possible exception that nothing actually happens at conventions any more in terms of deciding the platform or the ticket. That would at least make it a little bit more participatory. The ought to be some way to let delegates participate, without risking the message and theme and so forth. For instance, if they had policy sessions earlier in the night, at the main convention center, where people could submit questions in advance or even vote through a simple paper or electronic live ballot somehow.
Don't get me wrong, the main speeches are great, and the center is packed, the atmosphere is charged. I just wish being at the convention felt more like a responsiblity, as opposed to a gift I won (even if I'm paying for it myself).
Here is an updated list of people I walked right past in the last 24 hours:
Chaka Fattah, Frank Lautenberg, Andrew Cuomo, Alan Hevesi, Al Sharpton
Another time I'm talking to this other delegate. I saw "Hey, isn't that Andrew Cuomo" then he yells "Hey, Andrew" and Andrew turns around and comes back and he introduces him to a reporter from his local paper.
Then at the convention, the lady I'm next to leave but says she'll be back. Never comes back, but I try to save the seat. Which is hard where there are no seats. Dozens of delegates in the aisles and entry ways. It's crazy, and the floor level infront of the podium is even worse. No idea how the live broadcasters did it. Anyway, this guy about my age sits down in her seat, I tell him it's saved and he says "I don't care. Who are you again?" I introduce myself and shake his hand, and he leaves after a minute. All he had to say was, "I'll leave in a minute" but instead he wanted to try and show me how important he was or something so he started talking about running this or chairing that. Politics definitely attracts egos the size of the Fleet Center.
Yet another reason we need regular people to be involved in the process.
Posted by Mike at July 27, 2004 11:14 AM
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That Mike at TopDog04 You go and listen to speeches. A lot of speeches. It's exciting, and an honor, but it's also the same way the thing has been done for years and years, with the possible exception that nothing... [Read More]
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