I was repeatedly irritated by the constant "Let's go to the panel..." coverage of everyone but C-Span. Yes, I enjoy watching Pat Buchanan and Rachel Maddow zing each other on MSNBC but we're covering the convention right? Not just ourselves. Aren't we?
I was really ticked when MSNBC gave a pass to the speech of former Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA). There is a reason a man who served in congress for three decades as a Republic(an) got a prime time slot. This was quite possibly the most virulent anti-Bush and anti-McCain speech of the latter half of the evening. Here it is, in case you missed it, which you probably did (again thanks to cspanjunkie):
Now I am not saying that Jim Leach is the world's most inspiring speaker. Clearly not. But the man said what James Carville, Paul Begala and the entire liberal blogosphere told the Democrats they needed to say, over and over, for the convention to be a success. George Bush screwed up. John McCain is more of the same.
Nobody else seems to be delivering this message. Just the Republic(an). And, of course, the networks don't show it. Isn't that grand?
First, I think democrats need to learn:
- what the message is
- how to stay on it
Then, they need the Jim Leach's of the world to teach them how to do that. I will say this for the Republic(an)s, even when they are fighting with one another, they have a knack for staying on message.
Finally, we need a network other than just C-Span willing to show someone at the Democratic Convention who is attacking McCain and Bush.
Does banter about how Michelle Obama's speech is "scripted" between Nora O'Donnell and Pat Buchanan get better ratings? Perhaps it does. Maybe we are all just doomed.
The Republic(an)s will replace 2004's "9/11" with "POW" this year. And the networks will have the speaker on camera with every utterance of it.
I can so see the liberal bias. Wink, wink..nudge, nudge.
UPDATE
At least someone else noticed Jim Leach's speech, From Talking Points Memo: Did The Tree Fall?
Comments welcome,
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