Certainly the conventional hoopdeedah, patriotic balloons, loud music and raucous cheering are missing, and with them the manic gusto we out here in tv land usually enjoy.
In addition, I had a sick feeling that Trump was probably watching, and that crossed into my concentration now and then specifically, what he must have been thinking and mumbling. Not fun.
It is a sober, virtual convention but with lots to celebrate: The emphasis is on youth, racial diversity, and the large number of women added to our roster of representation, local and national. which is great.
But first of all, I kind of miss appearances by old goldies like Barbra Streisand, whom youth love too. We had Meryl Streep in 2016.
All the celebs glowed with unfurrowed brows--the nonpoliticians anyway.
But what hurts me much more is this:
A presidential candidate who wins fully one-third of the votes cast at a party's convention is a force to be reckoned with, not ignored: first to be aired, soon to be dismissed, his nominations brief though AOC stole all four days for some of us.
And progressives know that Bernie's elimination in the 2016 and 2020 primaries smacked of untoward manipulation, GOP tactics that shame the blue party.
When the Vermont delegation announced its distribution of candidate votes, Bernie and Jane Sanders stood stage right in the rustic setting, unsmiling, totally ignored by MSNBC's commentators. I don't know how other tv stations behaved, but my heart broke. Bernie did receive the most votes from his home state, 11, but so what? At least voters chose their native son, but Biden collected five votes and uncommitted netted eight: 13 vs. 11.
I think that one time slot should have been reserved for all the Republican celebrity supporters, speaking in succession.
This is a short observation on a huge subject.
